bookspren

This. Must. Happen. It would solve everything. Seriously, though, that's not a bad idea; it might be possible. I can dream, right?

Someone on a LOTR fansite I belong to recommended The Way of Kings as one of their favorites. I thought it looked like good summer reading and checked it out of the library. I planned it to take a few weeks to read. Four days later I went back for Elantris and Warbreaker. Mistborn and the rest of the cosmere soon followed.

When you get fed up with bureaucracy and mutter "Obligators, ugh!"

Please keep posting these; they're great! I love Rysn's white eyebrows and Axies' blue fingernails! You have such attention to detail. And Elhokar with his bear--that's just too funny. Where did you get the Shardblades? You, sir, are amazing.

I'd want to be a Stoneward. I even picked their symbol for my profile pic. Dependable/resourceful seems like the best fit for my personality, especially since I also have stubbornness issues. Taln is just cool. Brandon's explanation of their surges sounds fascinating. Plus, judging from Dalinar's visions, I would get to hang out with Windrunners (cough*Kaladin*cough). Edgedancers would be my second choice because sliding everywhere sounds like a blast. Also I'm envisioning planting a sapling, using Progression, and having a five foot tall tree a few moments later. Tthat would be cool if it worked.

(Off Topic @Delightful: I know, I didn't have my phone with me at the time. That is the last time I'll ever leave it at home when I go to the bookstore. It was a new paperback edition, not the mass market paperback. I'd never seen it before.)

Great work digging up all those definitions, maxal! I've been thinking about this and I think Dalinar could be said to be pious in all three senses. In the third sense, he is certainly desperate and at times feels hopeless, as if his quest to "unite them" is vain. In the second sense, self-righteous does describe him quite well, though he certainly isn't insincere. The first sense is where it gets a little interesting. While Dalinar is not as outwardly religious as Shallan, he does have a strong commitment to what he believes is right. He believes he is seeing visions from the almighty and acts on them in the face of overwhelming opposition. When Navani wants to move in with him, he says no because it goes against Vorinism. He follows his religion even after knowing the god he worshipped is dead. Finally, in the battle at the end of WOR he claims to be a prophet. So I think pious is a surprisingly good (though not obvious) adjective for our highprince.

When you see a paperback edition of The Way of Kings that has an extra illustration of the Cryptics in the front and seriously consider buying it. (I already own the hardcover) When you finally decide not to buy it and wish you could take a Memory of it and redraw it when you get home.

My day just got so much better! I've read the manuscript he sends out and liked it. I'm super excited to see how it turns out.

IIRC, the female Radiant Dalinar sees in his "Starfalls" vision, who is apparently a Stoneward, has light tan eyes. (Checking, yep, Chapter 19 of TWoK says "light tan eyes") We've also seen Kaladin's eyes turn light blue. So it seems reasonable to me to assume that Radiants have eyes that glow a light shade of whatever color their associated gemstone is. Since Dustbringers/Releasers are associated with rubies I fully expect to see them with light red eyes. Which would look really scary. And evil. I just remembered that Shallan's gem is the garnet, which is reddish. I don't recall any mention of her eyes turning strange colors, but that might be because, as a Lightweaver, she is somehow able to disguise that, even unconsciously.

Incredible! I had to laugh at Lopen stuck to the wall. How did you get the pieces with Alethi writing or the tattoos on them?

Welcome aboard, Avela! Have an introductory upvote. Have fun reading the wonder that is the Cosmere. And might I suggest reading Warbreaker before Words of Radiance. (It makes the end a little bit more awesome.)

Brilliant. I regret that I have but one upvote to give for this post.

Interesting theory, signspace. I think you may have something here. Aimians being able to manipulate their bodies could mean they can also be voidbringers. It does seem to imply close ties with the cognitive realm. However, the orders that are more tied to Cultivation (Lightweavers for example) also seem to have a close connection to the cognitive realm. So my personal opinion is that Aimians are of Cultivation. I don't have any real evidence for that; it's just a gut feeling. The problem with trying to make theories about Aimains right now is how little we have to go on. There's one representative and a few lines throughout the series relating to them. Not much. Even if your theory is wrong, I can imagine a similar thought occurring to the people of Roshar leading them to try to exterminate the Aimians.

@Kobold Glad to see I'm not the only one. I think Jenet seems like the type of person Kaladin would go for--straightforward, does her own thing. Even if nothing happens between her and Kaladin, I'd like to see her show up again. She was cool. I fully expect the Shallan/Kaladin relationship to play an important part in the next book, but I'd rather see them as friends. I just really like Shallan/Adolin and I don't want Kaladin messing that up. He can find someone else.

When you see someone setting out copies of WoR in the store and get really excited. Even though you already own it.

These are great! I think I'll take the Stoneward gemstone. Thanks for making these.

Lift - To be awesome

I'm with the OP on this. Yes, Kaladin was incredibly frustrating at times. I mean, really, thinking Bridge 4 would be happier with him out of the way? At the same time, it was very in character and perfectly understandable. Like others have pointed out, Kaladin's life has been the opposite of easy. I was floored when he opened up to Dalinar so early in the book. I was furious when Dalinar went ahead and made Amaram a KR anyway. If I hadn't had the Dalinar POVs in TWoK, I would have been doubting him too. Similarly, I cheered when Kaladin told Moash he wanted nothing to do with the assasins, but I understood his uncertainty over Elhokar deserving it. The moping was necessary. If Kaladin always made the right choice easily, he wouldn't be relatable. It's so much more enjoyable (and causes an lot more yelling, hair-pulling-out, etc) when I see the hero grapple with the tough questions and come out stronger. When he said the third ideal, it felt so right, so triumphant. I thought it was perfect.

I think what Adolin did was disturbing (but very understandable) because he did it in anger. Had he tried to get Sadeas formally tried and executed like a Skybreaker probably would I wouldn't have a problem with it. I do think Adolin is going to get dangerously close to the dark side. I don't see him actually turning evil though. If anything, the murder could be a way for Shallan to reach out to him. She knows how he felt at that moment because she did the same to her father. They could help each other heal. I give Adolin an 80% chance of staying good.

So after several days of nothing but reading, I can sum up my reaction to WOR in one word: WOW!!! Never before have I eaten with one hand while holding a book with the other, but I couldn't stop reading long enough to eat. Twenty out of ten stars. The few minor gripes are negligible. So here's a few select reactions. Jasnah dead! NOOOOOOO! She can't be; she's way too cool to be dead. She has to come back. So that's where Gaz went. 'Atta girl Shallan. Make Jasnah proud. Hahaha, you stole his boots hahaha. "Being offensive and asinine is your job?" "No, I'm offensive and asinine on my own time too." still laughing way too hard about this ...All right, taking down Szeth..Wait WHAT NONONONONO please no...Oh YEAH!! And Hobber's still alive, nice. Be careful, Shallan, are you sure you know what you're doing? ...Wit! and more Wit and even MORE Wit *fist-pump* ...Dalinar, you honestly made Amaram a Radiant after what Kaladin told you. Ugh, I am so fed up with you right now. ...the whole chasm scene, just brilliant, hilarious, and poignant Several hundred (worrisome) pages later... whoa Voidbringers, and Szeth, and Elhokar is Dalinar's Tien, and Syl's alive *cries a few tears of joy* and, and Urithiru and and AHHHHHH too much awesome!!! Brain overloaded! Elhokar and Lopen's mom...just thinking about it cracks me up, that was great Yeah go save your parents and show Roshone who's in charge now. Also Dalinar is arguing with the Stormfather..cool. Whoa, Adolin, that was dark. I mean I hate Sadeas and all, but just stabbing him in the eye 'cause he made you mad. I've got a bad feeling about this. And of course dropping a Shardblade out a window is brilliant move, what could possibly go wrong? Haha, Hoid getting philosophical again and...HA I knew you weren't dead, Jasnah. Oh and "do you want to destroy some evil?" Not good. Since I could go on for hours, let me just say WOR is one of the best books I have ever read. It took me on a quite the emotional roller-coaster. I will definitely need a reread soon. I must admit I started reading as fast as possible after Syl disappeared because I was terrified she would actually be dead.

I too will soon be taking a break from these boards. It's just to hard to be on here without seeing unwanted spoilers and sadly I don't get the book until March 7 at the earliest. So, yeah, I better keep my distance for a bit.

I plan on reading it without skipping. It helps me get the flow of the story better that way. Actually, I'm going to pace my latest reread of TWoK so that I finish just in time to start WoR. Note to self: do not look at the Ars Arcanum till the end. I was wondering about that. Now that I think about it, that will be even more tempting than skipping ahead. I want to know how stuff works!

I voted "bad" although I'm convinced he thought he was right. If, in the next book, he has a really good justification for what he did while feeling horrible about it, I would consider changing my mind about him from "loser" to "misguided puppet". My impression of Amaram is that he was once a pretty good, honorable guy. By the time of TWoK, that's slipped a lot. He justifies murder by saying it's for the greater good. The problem with that is how he defines the greater good, i.e., highest average good for everyone or covering his own rear end because he can do a lot of good someday if he feels like it. I think the latter is true for him. I'm reminded of Shai's idea in TES that losing your way in life is a slow process that you don't notice till it's happened. I wouldn't be upset if Amaram was redeemed at some point. Like I said, I think he used to be on the good side. But absent a quick turn-around, I want see Kaladin mop up the floor with him.