dhazellouise

To be honest, I never liked Shallan in The Way of Kings. I find her annoying and I had to skip her chapter when I first read tWoK. But in the second and third reread, I had to read her chapter, albeit begrudgingly. Even when WoR haven't come out yet, I already suspected that Shallan will be paired up with either Adolin or Kaladin. At first, I wanted Shallan to be paired with Adolin coz I find them both annoying...ahaha...However, when I read WoR, especially the interaction between Shallan and Kaladin. I changed my mind. I no longer find Shallan annoying, mainly because of her argument with Kaladin which I think is funny....ahaha.. Although, I still have to skim through Shallan's chapter in WoR during my first read.

"I'm not a fan of the traditional love triangle." -When BS said this, I don't think he means that he's not going to write about it. Actually, when he said "However" after those words I felt like he was saying something like this. "I'm not a fan of the traditional love triangle, but if it add conflicts to the present relationship. I won't mind doing a traditional love triangle." I don't know... When he said "However". It sounded like that to me... He may not be fond of the traditional love triangle. It doesn't necessarily mean that BS would not write about it. As long as he gets to add lots of conflicts in the the characters relationship. Well, thats what I think when I read his answer. I will disregard the idea of the untraditional love triangle.

I thought so too. When I read about BS comparing himself to Shallan and Kaladin to BS' wife, I think the possibility of Shallan ending up with Kaladin has increased. Just in my opinion. I think BS is going to do an untraditional love triangle. So he's going to write something about it just for the heck of making the relationship between the main characters more complicated.

I think BS has purposely left out the truth of Helaran's death later to drive a wedge between Kaladin and Shallan. Also the fact about the honospren and critics being hate each other, but it does not immediately imply that both Kaladin and Shallan are going to feel the same. I believe that external and internal conflicts would make a romance in a book more interesting. It will spice things up in the romance department. It will make the relationship stronger once they overcome it. A romance in a book without any conflicts is just... BLAH and BS doesn't do BLAH. It won't make the readers interested and drawn to them to the entire point that all of us could not help but feel frustrated when the two characters are both stubborn and hardheaded to admit that they are meant for each other. I would also like to say that Kaladin might have the strong desire to protect others while Shallan doesn't want to be protected. Like someone pointed out earlier, Kaladin's second ideal is this, "I will protect those who can not protect themselves." I don't think Kaladin and Shallan will have a problem with this because Shallan can clearly protect herself, as shown when both Kaladin and Shallan are in the chasm. Kaladin did not spend his time trying to protect Shallan, in fact Kaladin was the one who lets Shallan lead because she has the map, Kaladin also allowed Shallan to see the chasmfiend even when it was dangerous, Kaladin lets Shallan takes her pack even when he said to go in a different direction and escape, and at last, Kaladin was the one who suggested that Shallan climp up the chasm wall and create the little cubby. Kaladin wouldn't have allowed Shallan to do all these if Kaladin doesn't believe that Shallan is capable to do these things. Kaladin is not over protective like the way Adolin acted towards Shallan when she came back from the chasm. In fact, Kaladin admits that Shallan was the one who were saving them from being stuck in the chasm.

I am tempted to write another really really long thesis again in response to this. However, a lot of you would probably prefer to read a short response than a long one. Actually, I wrote a lot of explanations regarding the relationship between Kaladin, Adolin and Shallan. In exact detail with a lot of quotes put together. But I would rather not repeat that since it is a time-consuming feat. I will start by saying that Kaladin and Shallan mesh so well because they are both contrasting characters. Not exactly opposite to the point that it would drive them apart, but they are opposite in a way that they balance each other out. They are kinda opposite when it comes to personality and in handling things, but when they are put together in the same place, they can create infinite possibilities in solving their problems like when they did in the chasm. They are not really opposite and not really alike but they are an equal sense of balance. They are similar because they have a strong desire to protect everyone they care about in their own way. They have went through a lot of hardship and they are both coping it in their own way. Because of this, they both understand each other immediately. They can see the person for what they truly are. Kaladin hated the light-eyes and he tried to hate Shallan actually, but he could not. After the chasm scene, Kaladin admitted that he was attracted to Shallan and he even smiled when he thought of her during the weeping. Shallan also thought of Kaladin after the chasm. Shallan compared Adolin to Kaladin, and in my opinion, his description of Kaladin was better than Adolin. When Shallan described Adolin most of the time, it was mostly about Adolin's handsome features and some such, while Shallan often describe Kaladin's personality rather than Kaladin's physical attributes. For example in this scene. Shallan describes Kaladin and Adolin, and its in italics! Its more than how she describes Adolin most of the time. Its even more than 2 sentences put together. She even drifted off space when she tried to describe Kaladin and did not even catch what Adolin was saying. Chapter 77 (Trust) Shallan did not thought only once about Kaladin. But she thought about him twice during the entire expedition. Here it is: Chapter 78 (Contradictions) Chapter 77 (Trust) In this scene, Shallan mentions Kaladin first before Adolin. Why would she do that? Why mention Kaladin first before Adolin when Adolin is her betrothed? Shouldn't she mention Adolin first or even mention Kaladin in the same breath as Adolin? Why would Shallan even mention Kaladin unless he is kinda important to her already? Why would she even do it if she still thinks that Kaladin is just a slave and a dark-eyed? Just think about it...Shallan doesn't care about what position you have in the society. She doesn't care about social standing at all. You also mention that Adolin was trying to make Shallan jealous. Yes, Shallan might not get jealous easily but the way Adolin is doing is not good for their relationship. It is immature and Shallan doesn't like that kind of stuff especially when Adolin acts overprotective. Adolin still needs to develop maturely. If Adolin continues to act that way, it will drive Shallan away. The book would be more interesting if the good guy would become a bad guy. BS always has a thing for forbidden love, or something like a love-hate relationship as was ingrained in most of his books. Like in Mistborn, between a Vin(skaa thief) and Elend(rich lord) or between the two characters in Elantris and Warbreaker, and lets not forget Steelheart. A romance would be more interesting and exciting if there are a lot of obstacles that they would have to go through. The romance would be a total BLAH if there are no obstacles that the two characters would have to face. It would just be way too boring, and BS's books are rarely boring. And yes about the chasm, they might be in a near-death situation but I would also like to mention this, if they were in a near-death situation why would Shallan even tell Kaladin about her past? They could have talked about other things but why would they confide in each other about their pasts? Why would Shallan talked about killing her father? Shallan did it because she felt that Kaladin would understand. They probably think that they might die soon, so does that entirely mean that they have to spill each other's hearts out? Does it mean that they wanted someone to know about their past before they die? I don't think so. Shallan asked Kaladin about his past, twice! The first time Shallan asked Kaladin to talk, Kaladin said something like this, "I'll talk about it later." The second time Shallan asked Kaladin, it was because they just wanted to drown out the thundering noises outside. They talked not because they think that they were about to die. They just talked because they want to forgot that they were facing a highstorm. They were both scared. Not dying. If they were about to die, BS would probably write something like this, "Since we are about to die, why don't we just tell each others secrets'' or something like that. Even so, Shallan would have never confided in Kaladin if she did not think that Kaladin was trust-worthy and would understand her. Shallan would have talked about other things and forgot about her past like she always does. But she sees something in Kaladin that made her talked about her past. If Shallan thinks that Kaladin was just a stranger stuck with her during the highstorm and in the chasm, I am certain that Shallan would have never told anything about her past. But after Kaladin told his story, I believe Shallan knew that Kaladin would accept her for what she did and what she had become.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you entirely. Yes, Shallan did try her best to act as someone expected of her station, a lighteyed woman. Adolin does not know that Shallan had a hidden agenda most of the time when she was with Adolin. Shallan nearly spend most of her time lying and deceiving Adolin into getting what she wanted like taking her to the platue to investigate Urithiru, another one was so that Shallan could talked to Navani by manipulating Adolin into thinking that it was an innocent and scholarly request on her part. I understand that Shallan just doing it so that she can immediately solve the mysteries of Urithiru and save the world, but lets be honest, Shallan remained tight-lipped even after they came to Urithiru. She did not tell Adolin what truly happened to her as was shown in the quote below. Chapter 87 (The Riddens) So do you think its good for their relationship if Shallan spends most of her time lying and deceiving? Shallan did not confide to Adolin what she was doing. I think she will continue to do so in the next book because she has her duty and she is pretty good at pretending to be someone else she is not. She is good at weaving disguises. I also think that it is good that Adolin is not so observant, and as what Shallan said "mentally direct" to notice anything, especially when it comes to deception and women for that matter. Kaladin would not do anything to steal Shallan from Adolin. Kaladin would probably pretend that he is not attracted to Shallan in the next book. And the bromance between Kaladin and Adolin? I wouldn't call it "serious" yet. Kaladin is still warming up to Adolin. Kaladin finally accepted Adolin's act of friendship when he told Shallan when they were still in chasm, that he was sorry for treating Adolin that way and Adolin was a "good man" or something along those lines. I would not call it serious. The "serious bromance" would probably happened when both Adolin and Kaladin finally treat each other as friends without any bias in Kaladin's part. And lastly, the possibility of Kaladin and Jasnah happening is like 25%. I don't know...I never read anything from most of BS's books of a romance between a younger man and an older woman together. Kaladin is like 20 and Jasnah is like 29 y.o. I've noticed that when BS writes a romance. The characters is mostly is near in age or the guy is kinda old and the woman is younger. Not the other way around. I think BS would stick to his ideal sense of romance? Writers tend to do that, especially BS since I noticed that most of his books are surprisingly alike in so many ways. His ideas from other books seeps into his other books. I don't think Kaladin and Jasnah are going end up together or even have some kind of romance. Most people just like Kaladin and Jasnah to end up together because they just want to. But if BS is going to write about them, then I'm not looking forward to it at all.

The drawing that Shallan did does not imply that Shallan will end up with Adolin just because she wrote something in it with a double underline. It only means that Shallan finds Adolin attractive in a physical sense. If this were in real life, imagine Shallan as the nerd, wity girl while Adolin is the popular jock in school. Shallan is admiring Adolin's physical prowess as well as his physique, and lets not forget about Adolin's handsome features.

Well said

Yes, I agree. Adolin was itching to make Sadeas pay for his betrayal almost throughout the entire book. Yes, he stopped feeling the thrill but it still doesnt mean that Odium has stopped influencing hm. Odium has more influence upon those who are hateful. Adolin has been hateful towards Sadeas throughout the entire book. I don't know....suddenly killng Sadeas was extremely out of character of him? I read somewhere that someone ask Brandon Sanderson if Adolin will become a Skybreaker, and Mr. Sanderson said No. But another order of Knight will probably accept him which is said to Dustbringer, an order who focuses on obedience. And it seems Adolin doesn't fit this order at all? Adolin was obedient until he killed Sadeas. He broke his father's codes. I dont think Adolin will become a Knight Radiant.... As for Renarin, well we dont know yet that Renarin have already reached the same level as Shallan and Kaladin. But I think he is nearly there. I also think that Renarin has a spren like a long time ago...his supposed ailment is probably the cause of his ability to see the future. And he had it like a long time ago, which could mean that Renarin has the spren earlier than even Kaladin? So he can probably get his shardblade soon...maybe in the next book? I think the spren is the opposite gender of the Knight Radiant that they bonded with? Kaladin has a female spren. Shallan looks to have a male spren. Jasnah's seems to be male as well. Lift's is also male. Well, except for Danilar who has the Stormfather. But bondsmiths are rare... So Renarin has a female spren as well? But does spren really have gender?

Renarin already has a live spren of his own name Glys. I think Renarin will have to severe his connection with the dead spren before he can use his live spren as a shardblade, severing a connection with the shardblade was easy as shown by Salinor after he lost to Adolin in the duel.

I don't think Moash will be Odium's champion at all. Moash regretted betraying Kaladin in the end. He realized that he was fooled. Adolin on the other hand...well, he seriously lost control of himself. Moash plotted to eliminate Elhokar. He wanted revenge and yes, he is hateful towards Elhokar but he was patient enough to bid his time. Adolin just snapped and totally blank out. He was dazed after he killed Sadeas. He was blinded by his hatred and anger towards Sadeas that he totally forgot himself.

Jasnah has a shardblade. I think she will probably arrive in Urithiru by the next book. Or perhaps Renarin has a blade of his own. I think Shallan will probably leave Urithiru coz she has things to do with the Ghostbloods. Jasnah will arrive in Urithiru and will help things out with the affairs there while Shallan will go search in how to open the oathgates...and she'll probably hitch a ride with Kaladin so that he can drop her somewhere in Kholinar? or perhaps somewhere nearby hahaha...but i think that possibility is pretty far...

Don't worry. Kaladin will surely end up with someone out of his world of awesomeness, which is ME. ahaha

Hmn, Good point. If Shallan/ Kaladin will be an item by the end of the book three, Brandon will probably used Helaran's death to drive the wedge between them in Book four...hmn...