Sparks

It'll be interesting to see if Radiants can indeed become worldhoppers without losing their Radiancy. As RoW has just informed us, it's difficult to travel away from the Roshar system the more one is Invested, and what are their bonded spren partners but Investiture made sentient.

Sisters, amirite? Can't live with them, can't turn them into mind-controlled voidlight monsters through nefarious plans.

Or alternatively, Teft actively may not want leadership and official officer's duties. In the real-world Army, there are plenty of great soldiers with tons of experience that want nothing more than to be the best Sergeant of all time and to look after his men. Not everyone dreams of becoming General one day.

Taravangian himself would approve (on his more intelligent, ruthless days)! Jasnah would too, in fact, Jasnah wouldn't even bother with the poison. She'd smoke him, open some windows, and never tell Dalinar to keep him compartmentalized..

If he's gonna name it Type 4 Invested Entity, then he's gonna have to go full Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians and name it Type 4 Invested Entity and the Search to Destroy More Evil, or some such.

There may also be a religious parallel at play here too; just as the Church is revealed not to be the building / temple it is housed in, but the hearts of the people that identify with the Church, Urithiru may be revealed not to be the tower that houses it, but instead the Sibling / Bondsmith pairing that resided in the tower all along for dramatic effect.

Urithiru falling smacks of Kholinar falling, and for similar reasons. If the Knights successfully defend and stay static in Urithiru, it makes for a less exciting story. Placing the good guys on the run, and having to scrap for shelter and safety raises the stakes for the Brandon avalanche at the climax. I think a good "win some, lose some" scenario for the climax of the second act of the book would be for Raboniel to be successful in driving the Radiants out of Urithiru; but Navani bonds or successfully awakens the Sibling and frees it from containment within the Urithiru gem pillar.

Great chapter! I'm glad we're getting more exploration of the Singer side. Is anyone else getting a strong "Imperial Seanchan" flavor from Singer culture? Also, it struck me that maybe what Venli is doing now - becoming a Willshaper and rebelling against Odium - is exactly what a splinter of the pro-Odium ancient humans did, many years ago. And possibly Odium's replacement strategy was to court and corrupt susceptible Singers with resentment, exactly the same way that Odium recruited Moash (and possibly Aesudan).

I think the real game plan for Odium is to limit the involvement of the Honorspren, who are deeply divided against allying again with the humans who they view as treacherous. The best way to do that is not to kill all the soft meatbags that bond with the Honorspren, because they can always find more soft meatbags to bond with. The way to do that is to remind the Honorspren of the Recreance, and convince the large majority of them that the humans are no more trustworthy to hold their bonds than they were previously. With Sylphrena being a celebrity Honorspren, her death (again) at the hands of Kaladin breaking more oaths due to worsening depression would pretty much seal the deal for the rest of the Honorspren on the fence, IMO. In that vein, I don't think Moash really wanted Kaladin to kill himself right then and there. He just wants to send him on the downward spiral that will lead to broken oaths.

New theory of mine for spren / Soulcasters / singers: Since Brandon has already said, "given enough time, Investiture will gain sentience" (paraphrased), my new pet theory is that Stormlight -> spren -> Parshmen / Parshendi / the Singers are all on one evolutionary line. Spren are investiture given energy, some form and possibly some sentience. The Singers are an offshoot of Spren that became more entirely grounded in the Physical realm, either by being trapped here or through slow evolution, but still retaining some of their Spren-like characteristics, like their magic communication, their influence by music and rhythm, and their ability to change forms. Humans were the invaders to the world of spren-made-people. Also, Soulcasters have weird Radiant spren. But I propose that they're normal spren that have died, similar to how the Shardblades in tWoK were spren that have died. Soulcasters associated with a living spren probably are the same different-but-the-same as Sylblade is to Oathbringer. And this would be why Navani messing with dead Soulcasters is making our mysterious messenger so very angry, in the same way that Kaladin messing with dead Shardblades disgusted Syl. Sorry if somebody else already something similar elsewhere!

*cries for the Rithmatist sequel*

I think the most interesting plot line that Kaladin’s new holdings would be Kaladin using it to create a land where listeners unaffiliated with Odium and humans live side by side. Such a society, and the alternative it offers of breaking the Singers away from Odium, is the most likely path to true victory for the Good Guys that I can see.

Dalinar didn't know it, but there was a tenth there present for the battle: Venli. And if Timbre is a Willshaper spren, every order would have been represented at the Battle of Thaylen City. I actually thought Odium was referring to Dalinar. With Dalinar holding the bond to the Stormfather, he has the power to set the conditions to release the Oathpact and set Odium free. "The conduit of my freedom. The bane of Roshar." The bane of Roshar meaning the Blackthorn unleashed as Odium's Champion. Although it works to reference the knife as well, if the knife is what I think it is... I think it was in addition to the King's Drop. Both are weapons to Odium. My theory is that the knife is made of a godsmetal, like Atium or Lerasium - maybe even Tanavastium (since we haven't seen Honor's body yet)! A hemalurgic spike made of godsmetal can steal any property from a living soul, say, the special properties that make a Herald a Herald...

So, multiple things... I agree with the majority of the views in the podcast that Adolin is in a much better place, maturity-wise and emotionally, to provide support and understanding for Shallan as she is learning to integrate her multiple personalities in her psyche, for lack of a better way to put it. The huge red flag for me was in Shadesmar when Kaladin was like "YES! I could create a whole new Me like you, Shallan, and hide away from all my problems!" and Shallan was cringing and thinking inside "umm....sure....it sucks and it's tearing me apart and I need to fix it" and Kaladin is completely oblivious to this. Shallan opens up a bit with both Kaladin and Adolin over the course of the 3 books and they react in completely different ways to that revelation in their relation to Shallan. For whoever said, "Why didn't Radiant choose Adolin at the end?" It's because of who Radiant is. Radiant likes Adolin but agrees to go along with Veil because "there are definite advantages to two Knights Radiant getting together". If Veil is the approximate id, the transgressive side of Shallan, Radiant is the superego of Shallan, the part that would be more than ready to submerge her feelings for Adolin for a "better pairing" with Kaladin's new status. As someone who has watched way too many romantic movies on dates, I agree that Shallan/Kaladin is far and away delving into boring cliche Nicholas Sparks territory, from the girl-boy meet-cute to the I-hate-you now I-can't-stop-thinking-about-you to the forced companionship in the chasms and the inevitable soul barings. While Sanderson does have a string of arranged marriage successes, like you guys said, Dalinar/Evi and Gavilar/Navani definitely show the other side of what happens with not-so-rosy arranged marriages. And if someone is really anti-arranged marriage, Sebarial/Palona is definitely the Sanderson example that worked out really well. With all that, I don't think Kaladin/Shallan is necessarily done, either. Until Shallan truly resolves Veil/Shallan/Radiant, Veil (and really, Shallan deep down) is going to crush on Kaladin, no matter how much she stuffs it into a deep dark hole or whether or not she stays faithful to Adolin. (I could see a Guinevere/Arthur/Lancelot thing developing later down the road.) And, to pull an example from Dalinar and Navani's marriage to Gavilar, Kaladin can "give up" on Shallan and accept her relationship with Adolin without the attraction going away, either. The relationship I really was sad over in Oathbringer was not any part of the Triangle; it was Dalinar/Evi. I feel like present day-Dalinar and Evi would have been an amazing pair, and all of Evi's advice and nurturing for Dalinar turned out to be spot on. It was just the right relationship at the wrong time for Dalinar, and watching it develop to its abrupt end through the flashbacks in Oathbringer killed me. I forgive you, at the last, was the bittersweet knife twisting. Without Evi, Dalinar could never have developed into the man that could become Unity, but Evi never gets to see the payoff at the end (unless you're counting her spirit/ghost).

So...is Book 4 now going to be Venli’s book? I assumed somewhere along the way in writing Oathbringer, it went from being Eshonai’s book to being Venli’s book. Unless Kelsier is about to get some company from another shadow... I think we can add Renarin to the list. I think he’s going to end up occupying a lot of Jasnah’s on-screen time!

"I will always protect, even if the cause is hopeless." Even though it's rather Stoneward-y, the windspren are attracted to Kaladin most when he is attempting hopeless things, instead of giving up and throwing in the towel. He could have let those people die in the Highstorm. Syl thought he was crazy to stay. It's also a nice contrast to Amaram, who is perfectly willing to write people off for "the greater good".

Aww...it's been so long since I read Warbreaker. Well, I can't unhear in my headcanon! Maybe I'll read it in a slightly deeper male version of Failsafe. I bet Maya, when she revives, is going to be snarky as all get out. Maya and Shallan are going to have some real girl bonding time.

1) We need more Szeth and Lift. They can have a whole ongoing buddy series in small print, like Edgedancer, as far as I'm concerned. 2) Nightblood is the best. For any Destiny 2 players out there, do you hear Nightblood in Failsafe's voice? Because I do. 3) Poor Elhokar. Just when he starts to understand and change into a better man..... 4) A while back, I advanced the theory that Kaladin was going to be chosen as Odium's champion, because I thought his severe depression was actually an ongoing corruption from one of the Unmade. Oops, wrong Radiant! 5) I kinda feel like Warbreaker is getting its sequel worked into the Stormlight Archives already! 6) Mayalaran. That's going to be an awesome scene where she is revived. And I'm interested if Adolin/Maya can form a different kind of partnership - something new between men and spren - if Adolin's soul truly isn't broken. 7) I did not see Venli's redemption arc coming. At all! 8) Random speculation: what would happen if you Splintered Odium and then captured the pieces in perfect gemhearts? What are the Ghostbloods' goals? What are Vasher/Nightblood doing on Roshar in the first place? Will the plan be to create a new and better Oathpact?

Part of the reason of royal relationships in Alethkar being of similar age is because of the roles expected of them. Royal women in feudal Earth were there for childbearing, and in many instances, not much else. You had household staffs for domestic duties. Royal women in Alethkar are expected to participate in court politics, run networks of informants, arrange assassinations, scribe and excel in the “feminine arts”, which happen to include scholarship, performing arts, engineering and craftsmanship, and who knows what else. They are also expected to compete, and win, against each other, as part of the relationship team. It would actually be more beneficial for an older or widowed Alethi lady to marry a younger Alethi lord, as long as potential heirs are not a need for the male side of the family. As opposed to an Alethi lord marrying a younger, inexperienced girl that potentially brings nothing except childbearing to the relationship, the way many Earthly royal marriages were arranged.

Well, color me surprised, I’m famous!

My pet theory is that the yellow spren warning the Listeners is a Cultivationspren. I like the theory that only full spren can bond with people. If the Everstorm leaves some of the parshmen unbonded each time due to finite voidspren being available, it makes sense that another spren would be able to step in at that point.

Crazy theory. After reading the newest Chapters I'm increasingly convinced Renarin and Elhokar as potential Champions for Odium are red herrings being thrown out by Brandon. Reading about Dalinar under the spell of the Thrill and presumably the touch of one of the Unmade, it's clear that it induces a form of psychosis, including delusions of invincibility, unnatural rage and aggression and loss of judgement. Which led me to hypothesize, what if every Unmade can touch and alter humans like that? What if one of the Unmade can induce hopelessness and deep depression or even bipolar thinking that can alter judgement and behavior as well? Kaladin has been battling severe depression since the start of tWoK. But given how the Thrill works, it may not even be completely natural mental illness. Kaladin may be in the claws of one of the Unmade, and Brandon may be seeding hints of Kaladin (or at least a darker version of Kaladin) being influenced into being Odium's Champion through the touch of the Unmade on his mind. I can only imagine the state of mind any human would have with all nine shadows touching them. The key to this would be to tear away Syl. Syl hangs a lampshade on it, "My job is to bring light and joy and chase away shadows when you're being a dour idiot, Kal." I think this will be another one of Brandon's clever ironies before the series is done. As Syl's influence on Kaladin increases, his depression (and the touch of the Unmade?) shrinks and he becomes less...odious. As Syl's influence wanes and she grows more distant in the first and second book, when Kal was considering suicide or letting Elhokar die, his depression was worse. We saw with Dalinar that the closer he came to Radiant, the less the Thrill was able to affect him. And just as removing Syl from the equation would be the key to making Kaladin Odium's champion, reviving Syl would be the key to redeeming Kaladin and defeating Odium.

Mostly awesome book...still feel Firefight is the best book of the series. The ending felt rushed, mainly because the buildup and action in salty Atlanta was so much better than Obliteration yanking David away to the space station. Although Elantris kind of suffered in the same way; once Raoden was crowned King everything that followed felt kind of by the numbers. Wish both Mizzy and Megan had been given more to do independent of David's plans. A great way to have done that would have been to flesh out the conflict over Sam more (which I was really looking forward to after Firefight!), although I can see why that wasn't pursued due to pacing. This is YA, not the Stormlight Archives after all. Last major quibble: the Reckoners could easily have been a Cosmere book, for all the protestations that they weren't. Shards, Adolnalsium, Investiture, were all present in one form or another.

Here's a question that just occurred to me. Regalia says to David at the end that all Epics, in the right circumstances, can be gifters. What kind of circumstances would that be? Taking into account Prof, Conflux and Digzone (what little we know about them). Is it related to fear as well? Or it's opposite, courage? It also means that all the Epics could potentially be good, if we're still going with the theory that gifting their powers can keep the Epics sane indefinitely.

I really hope there's an illustrated guide to Epics coming out! To fill in the backstory on all of the one offs.