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Notes and Thoughts while Reading Oathbringer


Sterbb

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Hello fellow Rosharans! I've been reading Oathbringer as of late, and anyone that knows me knows I get excited to talk about books with others.

With that being stated, I have had some things I'd like to note and discuss while reading this massive book. To make this easier for me, as I get a bit carried away with past experiences of noting each chapter, I'd like to instead do it on a part to part basis of the book. The general feeling on characters and plot beats. Feel free to comment about anything regarding Part 1 below!

 

As of now, I've completed (Part 1: United)

 

Of course, we have to begin with the night of Gav's assassination. I'm so glad we get to revisit this night through different points of view, and this time, it's my favorite Listener, Eshonai! Her entire worldview completely gets thrown out the window when confronted with Roshar's map... Wait till she figures out about space.

What struck me most is how Gav spoke. He seemed to think she would thank him for bringing back her Gods. Something about the way he acted was very odd, could be that he's just deranged from the visions, or something to do with the Sons of Honor, but he was ready to plunge the world into chaos again, because Roshar was apparently to still for his liking.

I felt bad for Eshonai of course, she endangered her entire people, subjected them to a six year war, all because the King wanted to get some action going. Of course the world will never know, well unless if she told the other Listeners? The leaders agreed to the assassination (Which means they knew why Gav had to die).. but they're dead. Does anyone else know, hmm I wonder.

Speaking of the Gods of past, just who or what are they? We hear terms terms and names thrown around. Such as the Unmade and the Princes. Are they simply just Odium Spren, or something sinister and different. Maybe the equivalent to Heralds?

Oh another thing of note, is how one of the Listeners, the name escapes me now, was lead to Szeth.. The yellow-white Spren of Odium perhaps? There's a lot we don't know, so its hard to really say anything. But I find it interesting that Szeth was in the right place, in the right time.

 

Moving on to Dalinar. I'm really happy with the dynamic shift of his flashbacks and present self. It was so surreal to see this stoic, well thought and preserved man turn out to be a warlord, capable of so much destruction and vileness. Of course, we knew he was the Blackthorn, but hearing about it, and actually seeing it are two different things. I was really surprised we began unveiling the story of his late wife, Evi, this early on.

Heh, I had this very non-serious but iceberg theory after reading Words of Radiance, that his wife was his shardblade, Oathbringer, and after breaking his oath, he killed her, and wiped out his memories from the pure guilt of it.

What really made this joke theory come to mind was when sometime during the Everstorm battle in Narak, he mentioned a familiarity to stormlight, I think it was that at least, it's been a long time since I read it. And I thought that he might have spoken oaths in the past, but forgot them after his visit to the Nightwatcher. Of course this is just for fun, but thought I would tell you haha :P

Anyways, it's not looking good for for Dalinar. He's a heretic to the masses and the Ardentia (Which I didn't think they had that much influence, as they are treated like slaves by the highprinces and such) and his interpersonal relationship with his own ardent is breaking apart as well. I'm rather interested in that character. A once soldier who saw the horrifying acts of Dalinar, turned Ardent, who is now against his own Highprince (Of course not officially, but the battle they had in the practice arena was basically such)

And on top of all that, his only ally from the monarchs is Tara himself! The one who is secretly the enemy! I love the dynamic between those two. They're both trying to save the world, but in two complete different terms. And the scene where Tara speaks to Dalinar in private, about choosing what to do when confronted with hard choices, was one of the highlights of this book so far. What troubled me, was his response to the questions of The Way of King book of Nohadon, how Tara seems to have reached a conclusion with his moral dilemma. We will have to see what that conclusion was. However I am not ready for Dalinar to witness who Tara really is, and the sense of betrayal that will follow.

Ultimately, I'm curious how Dalinar will unite the world, truly. His diplomacy is not up to standard with the game of politics, and his history does not help either.

 

Now towards his sons, there's a lot of secrecy here, and still to come, so I'll keep it brief. Renarin is a can of worms waiting to open. We know almost nothing (At least I don't). We know he heals, but isn't he also a Truthwatcher? We catch him glimpsing into people, especially towards his brother. Does he know the murder of Sadeas was committed by Adolin? Is he aware of Shallan's troubled past, and her different personas. But most importantly, can he tell what broke the Knights Radiant. The secret of the Recreance. I am very excited to learn more about him. I feel as if he will have a very troubled story-line, with his new found Spren and surges.

Adolin... Oh Adolin. A character I enjoy, he's just so likeable, yet I can't but think about the impending doom coming for him. His murder will come to light eventually, right? Now the question really isn't whether that time comes or not, but rather, what will happen once it does. I feel that this will be the crucial point not for Adolin, but Dalinar. He will be forced to make the hardest of decisions. A person who is keen to upholding honor and seeing justice met, will have to face the reality, of seeing said justice, presented towards his beloved son. Either this will break Dalinar, or he will make the hard choice, but I will be fearing the day to come. 

 

Kaladin! Man, he just can't catch a break. His entire dilemma with Elohkhar and choosing to do what's right for the oaths is put to question once again. Really, I don't blame him. He was thrown into a war against his will, of course he chose to do so in order to save his brother, but still, neither should have gone, then betrayed and turned slave, after which running suicide missions alongside bridgemen. Oh and add being thrown into prison for speaking against Amaram too. He has had a.. rough journey. But he decided to look past all that for the greater good! For Honor!

But what is that honor exactly? The so called Voidbringers he is tasked with destroying are just your average person, trying to survive. They're survivors, just like he was. These mythical creatures of destruction are nothing but terrified families, lost and confused. And he is tasked with defeating them? Why, because something happened in the past, that may or may not be accurate.

What worries me is how Syl responds to his questions. She doesn't know either. She just thinks this is what must be done. I'm curious if he will break his bond again, or if she too will align herself with the Listeners alongside Kal. I mean he has made actual connections with them. They started to trust him, but his departure was quite tragic to see. They really felt betrayed.

Really, speaking about the Listeners, they are my favorite group of this story thus far. So much mystery regarding their history, their gods, and why they lost all senses (Identity and Connection I think they called it in this book? Speaking of which, I have read Mistborn Era 1, Era 2 excluding TLM, Secret History, Edgedancer, Warbreaker, Emperors Soul and Elantris, but my knowledge about Cosmere magic and systems are surface level at best) You know, considering the nature of Roshar, and how adaptive Listeners are to the storms, as well as the fauna, creatures, etc, I've had ideas come and go if humans are not from Roshar in the first place. But I suppose that's a mystery for another time!

 

And now, Shallan! My dear Shallan, how troubled you are. I've been rooting for her since her first chapter. A timid girl, gone to save her family, without little to no experience. I don't blame her for mistakes and errors in how she treats situations, I see it as growth in the long run, however I still have to comment on how she is really setting herself up for potential failure down the line.

Her story perplexes me. We know she spoke the ideals at a younger age, however she blocked off those memories due to trauma. So instead of speaking the ideals once more, she just has to remember her past, and accept the truths? I'm a little fuzzy with this, but time will answer it I suppose.

When it comes to Shallan's personas, such as Veil and Radiant, she uses them as a shield to her troubles. Sure, they work, and let her fight off whatever comes her way. But what if she suddenly loses her surges, she'll have nothing to fall behind. I respect her growth, like I said, but she is also self destructive. Which is a dynamic I really appreciate in this character study and exploration, and I am really eager to see it unravel.

Another thing of note, is her contact with the Midnight Mother. This was such a fun chapter to read. There is of course, a lot of layers to it, and I think I have to read more to really see it peeled, however as of now, we can clearly see the connections and resemblance between the two. Both study others, one through the powers of Unmade, the other through art and lightweaving. But there is more to it.. I just can't get my hand on it.

 

Other things of note:

The one with 9 shadows. I'm really curious who will end up filling that role. Primary candidate for me so far would be Moash. I think it'd play interesting for Kaladin. However, the spot can also be filled by Kaladin, if he learns of the secret that broke the knights, perhaps? There was that one epigraph that struck out to me in the first book

All is withdrawn for me. I stand against the one who saved my life. I protect the one who killed my promises. I raise my hand. The storm responds.

I always return to this passage. Who stands against their former ally, and alongside their enemy? Dalinar against Kaladin perhaps? Hard to tell of course this early on, but thought I should mention it!

 

The new Radiant, Malata. I feel as if painting her the fake, the one with a possible Honorblade, too obvious. I think rather, her being a Dustbringer, she will want to break the status quo, and really dig deep into what caused the Recreance. She basically openly questions how things work to Shallan. I'm quite excited for her storyline.

Speaking of a fake, I am also reminded of the epigraph of Words of Radiance,

One is almost certainly a traitor to the others.

This to me, could be shining light on either a traitor amongst the Radiants we know of as of now, or a so called Radiant, hoaxing with an Honorblade. We do know that Taln's blade was stolen, so there's that to remember.

 

Oh and Jasnah is back!

 

Finally, I wanted to mention how at first, I was positive the epigraphs were written by Jasnah. She is writing about her experiences in the book named Oathbringer, however upon reflecting on the epigraphs again, it struck me that certain passages were cleverly used to trick us, the reader. Now I'm curious if it's not Jasnah, but Dalinar. He is a heretic to the people, for his denouncement of Honor as God, and his recent marriage to Navani. His history was also filled with bloodshed and chaos. And the part of "killing someone dear to them" might be the event that caused him to erase his memories. He might have killed Evi. The Oathbringer texts might be leading up to a decision future Dalinar reached, in uniting the world together.

Or it could just be old texts written by the Sunmaker, but that's boring, I'm sticking with Dalinar for now :P

 

That's all I can really think of for now. I'll add anything else that come's to mind that is worth mentioning. Of course, please do not hesitate to add your thoughts or discussion points! All I ask is that you keep it up to Part 1 of Oathbringer, as of now. I will be writing something similar like this for part 2, once I have finished reading it, and will place it in this same topic.

 

Thanks for reading!

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Welcome to the Forums. You may also be interested in reading this thread, which is similar, but is chapter-by-chapter. Amira is not as far along as you (just starting OB), but the thread goes back to the first Prologue in WoK. 

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

Hello fellow Rosharans! I've been reading Oathbringer as of late, and anyone that knows me knows I get excited to talk about books with others.

With that being stated, I have had some things I'd like to note and discuss while reading this massive book. To make this easier for me, as I get a bit carried away with past experiences of noting each chapter, I'd like to instead do it on a part to part basis of the book.

Hope you are enjoying the book so far. 

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

Of course, we have to begin with the night of Gav's assassination. I'm so glad we get to revisit this night through different points of view, and this time, it's my favorite Listener, Eshonai! Her entire worldview completely gets thrown out the window when confronted with Roshar's map... 

If you enjoyed this, you will have something to look forward to near the end of RoW. 

Quote

What struck me most is how Gav spoke. He seemed to think she would thank him for bringing back her Gods.

It's become increasingly obvious why Sanderson felt we needed to see that night five times from five different viewpoints. I have not read the SA5 Prologue preview (avoiding spoilers), but if Gavilar bothered you here (as he did me), then you may really dislike him after the RoW prologue (as I do). 

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

Does anyone else know, hmm I wonder.

<snip>

Oh another thing of note, is how one of the Listeners, the name escapes me now, was lead to Szeth.

You will eventually learn more on both of these.

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

Moving on to Dalinar. I'm really happy with the dynamic shift of his flashbacks and present self. It was so surreal to see this stoic, well thought and preserved man turn out to be a warlord, capable of so much destruction and vileness.

They've been referencing him as The Blackthorn since the beginning - now we really know why. 

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

I love the dynamic between those two. They're both trying to save the world, but in two complete different terms.

The parallel is purposeful. WoB:

Spoiler

Brandon Sanderson (OB and RoW spoilers removed)

for the average reader Taravangian is much more identifiable. I've been building him from book one to be a philosophical opposite to Dalinar. 

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

Speaking of which, I have read Mistborn Era 1, Era 2 excluding TLM, Secret History, Edgedancer, Warbreaker, Emperors Soul and Elantris, but my knowledge about Cosmere magic and systems are surface level at best)

Thanks for this, so many forget to let us know what spoilers to avoid. To clarify, you have not read: Rhythm of War (of course), The Lost Metal, Tress, Sixth of the Dusk and White Sand.

Is that correct?

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

why they lost all senses (Identity and Connection I think they called it in this book?

We have enought to speculate on this, but the specifics of the answers are still uncertain. However, if you have general questions on Realmatic Theory and/or Investiture, please ask. We'll either answer or tell you RAFO because the answer is a spoiler. 

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

I've had ideas come and go if humans are not from Roshar in the first place.

These are good things to speculate about. 

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

So instead of speaking the ideals once more, she just has to remember her past, and accept the truths?

Have you seen the Radiant Quiz? I'll spoiler tag this in case you want to avoid it (suffice to say there is a reason for what you noticed):

Spoiler

From the Radiant Order Synopsis:

Spoiler

Lightweavers

Lightweaver oaths are an oddity, perhaps because their spren tend to be the oddest among all Radiant spren. Instead of speaking specific words, or even words along a certain theme, Lightweavers speak truths about themselves—things they must admit to themselves in order to progress as people. It is theorized that because Lightweavers live on the line between reality and fiction, it is important for them to be able to separate the real from the lie, and only with the proper ability to do so can they move forward.

 

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

When it comes to Shallan's personas, such as Veil and Radiant, she uses them as a shield to her troubles. Sure, they work, and let her fight off whatever comes her way. But what if she suddenly loses her surges, she'll have nothing to fall behind.

Like Kaladin's depression - this isn't tied to her being Radiant or Surgebinding - it's meant to express a (abnormal) version of Dissociative Identity Disorder. She just reinforces those expressed traits through her surgebinding. 

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

The one with 9 shadows.

You will learn more about this in OB.

On 6/23/2023 at 2:49 PM, Sterbb said:

That's all I can really think of for now.

Thank you for the summary and thoughts. You have quite the ride in store over the next four parts (not to mention the Interludes). 

Happy reading.

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Thanks for this, so many forget to let us know what spoilers to avoid. To clarify, you have not read: Rhythm of War (of course), The Lost Metal, Tress, Sixth of the Dusk and White Sand.

Is that correct?

Oh I totally forgot that I did in fact read Sixth of the Dusk. And Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell ! So yeah, I have not read Rhythm of War, The Lost Metal, Tress and White Sand.

And thanks for letting me know about Amira's thread, I'll check it out. It's always fun to read what others think about certain moments and characters!

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All is withdrawn for me. I stand against the one who saved my life. I protect the one who killed my promises. I raise my hand. The storm responds.

I've thought this is one that's already come to pass, at the end of Words of Radiance - this is the moment Kaladin swears his third oath at the end of WoR, when he's protecting Elhokar against Moash.

"All is withdrawn from me" - Kaladin starts power-less and spren-less, having broken his oaths to protect.

"I stand against the one who saved my life": Moash saved Kaladin's life once, now Kaladin stands against him.

"I protect the one who killed my promises":  there's a chapter in Words of Radiance titled "The One Who Killed Promises" and is the chapter where Kaladin finds out Elhokar is the one who sent Roshone to Hearthstone, and decides that Elhokar has to die. And now Kaladin is protecting him. I think the chapter title is the clearest link, because it's such an unusual phrasing.

"I raise my hand. ": there's a very dramatic "stretch forth thy hand!" call from Syl, before Kaladin swears his oath, and then -

"The storm responds.":  Kaladin gets his powers back, plus the Sylblade.

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On 6/24/2023 at 4:12 AM, ftl said:

I've thought this is one that's already come to pass, at the end of Words of Radiance - this is the moment Kaladin swears his third oath at the end of WoR, when he's protecting Elhokar against Moash.

"All is withdrawn from me" - Kaladin starts power-less and spren-less, having broken his oaths to protect.

"I stand against the one who saved my life": Moash saved Kaladin's life once, now Kaladin stands against him.

"I protect the one who killed my promises":  there's a chapter in Words of Radiance titled "The One Who Killed Promises" and is the chapter where Kaladin finds out Elhokar is the one who sent Roshone to Hearthstone, and decides that Elhokar has to die. And now Kaladin is protecting him. I think the chapter title is the clearest link, because it's such an unusual phrasing.

"I raise my hand. ": there's a very dramatic "stretch forth thy hand!" call from Syl, before Kaladin swears his oath, and then -

"The storm responds.":  Kaladin gets his powers back, plus the Sylblade.

Yes actually, you are right I believe... I totally didn't connect those two together.

Side note, but I love that scene. I think one of the few that made me tear up

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Okay so part two was shorter, and I just finished it. Woosh, that was a pretty great sequence.

 

Moash:

Past me: Moash chapters, very pleasing. He seems to have given up on humankind, curious if he'll join the void bringers. My theory of him being Odium champion goes one step closer.

Present me: Okay yeah, he's 100% joining the Singers, and their fight to capture Alethkar. I'm quite pleased with his current state of affairs. Let me tell you, I was not expecting Graves to outright die like that, and Moash being taken by the Fused. I was expecting more of the Diagram for Moash's arc, but it seems fate has something else in store for him.

I believe its safe to say that the parallels between Kaladin joining Bridge Four and turning into a leader is being showcased here with Moash and the Enslaved Singers.

I really liked his convo with Lady Leshwi, it felt like he was speaking to something ancient. Even when we've seen literal gods like the Almighty, and spren such as the Stormfather, something about her just felt surreal.

Anyways I'm very much looking forward to more Moash chapters, he's shaping up to be a very interesting character.

 

Parshendi:

I keep shifting between Parshendi, Parshmen, Listener and now Singer.. Is there an agreed upon name haha. Oh but this sequence really brought some more light, and more questions to their hierarchy. So the Fused, which are the Voidbringers ARE the Gods for the Singers. I assumed the Unmade carried that title but it seems not. Which makes me curious to why the fused are only able to use surges. Rlain spoke about the right form to take in stormlight, but Im sure theres a lot of mechanic workings here that Is too early for me to understand.

Talking about Rlain, I enjoyed his chapter. Finally got to hear what he's really thinking about, and man, I truly felt for him.

 

Dalinar:

He seems to have blind of rage moments, and that might tie in to his old magic. I'm suspecting he might have killed his wife by accident of the Thrill. But oh did his flashbacks with Little Adolin warm my heart. Even in present day, we got to see him supporting Ren at the scholar meeting. I appreciate him attempting to be there for his sons. However speaking of sons.. Adolin seemed to be quite hidden, hmm..

The vision sequences were a blast, even more so now than before, with the added characters. They all scratched at more mysterious, but the biggest shock was Odium showing up! That truly shook me. He seemed so... normal. Until he showed his true form, which felt so alien, eternal, destructive, and I loved it.

So he's not so much hate, but more so emotions... passion. The fused spoke about passion, and so does a religion exist about that down in Thaylen.. So there's that to consider.

But Odium is bound to something... and he wants Dalinar to free him, as Dalinar is tied to Honor, more than any other.. There's a lot to speculate about in this, but as I am aware,, Odium splintered Honor. I'm unsure if that means Odium has the shard, or not... and if he does not, does Dalinar hold a piece of Honor, enough to ascend.. Hmm, unsure. But anyways, I don't trust Odium. He wants to trick Dalinar, with pretty words and arguments, though I'm glad we finally have a face, and voice, behind this enemy.

I wonder if the Recreance, which Jasnah seems to know the reason behind, is from Odium's tricks, or a dark truth of Honor.

 

Jasnah:

I'm glad we got to see the more hidden side of her. She is quite soft towards her family, which is nice to see. Her chapters, as well as Dalinar's flashback with Gav, hinted at a troubled childhood. But anyways, I have to mention that I loved how she destroyed Amaram with words. That was a pleasure to see. And she's right, he will be a problem. He sees himself as a hero, and I can't wait till he fails horribly, and gets himself destroyed by Odium in the process.

She notices the oddness to Shallan's development. If she only knew she tied herself up to the Ghostbloods

 

Other tidbits to ramble about:

So I've been thinking about ancestry in Rohsar. Such as Lopen's fingernails, and Numuhukumakiaki'aialunamor hearing faint distant beats. Possible connection between the Listener's and "Humans" of Roshar? We know that Rock's people are more attuned and connected to the powers that work Roshar, if that Is even a correct way to state it. As in, they seem to see more than the average Rosharian, when it comes to Spren and maybe even Shadesmar itself. I remember there were things in the peaks which might have been a door into the other realm. The memory of it escapes me, but it also referenced Hoid as well. Which I thought was interesting to mention.

Loved the chapter where Skar and Lyn breathed in stormlight. "When you give up, that's when the dream dies." Remember that, folks!

Unfortunately my favorite Listener seems to have passed on... Poor Eshonai. Gone to soon.

The lighthouse interlude, it spoke about those lost at sea, glowing... Hmm. I like me a good world building mystery. For some reason I am reminded of those spindly glowing *things* in Dalinar's flashback in the thunderstorm.

The final march chapter was bittersweet.. But also packed with some Rock mystery.. He seems to have lied about his past towards the crew, but there's more to it, and his reason to not fight. Also there seems to be something happening in the peaks.. Perhaps the perpendicularity, if I am right, and Odium's shackles, are breaking.

Elokhar is getting massive death flags here, isn't he. I am excited for his development, but with Moash approaching the capital... and so is Kal with Elohkar... Yeah I'm sensing where the climax of this book is heading for these two.

I very much enjoyed the epigraphs for this sequence. It is clear that (Cosmere spoilers below, as well as Mistborn)

Spoiler

Hoid is sending letters to various shards, I am unfamiliar with most, I think.. However I am quite sure the last is towards Sazed himself. There's a lot of implications in the letters, however I again am not versed enough in Cosmere history to know it at the current moment.

I was quite worried if the Nightform spoken in the Listener's poems are foreshadowing hidden voidbringers, or lightweaving surges, hidden amongst the humans. A secret in plain sight hmm...

I wonder where Taln is, hopefully we'll see him this book.

Oh, did I mention, FLYING SHIPS! At first, the sketches confused me, I thought it might be some odd sketches for shadesmar, but no, we might be coming close to flying!

I'm very excited to see what hidden codes are in the library left behind by the Radiants..

 

That is all I can really think about at the current moment. I'll be sure to update this with any extra thoughts I get!

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I keep shifting between Parshendi, Parshmen, Listener and now Singer.. Is there an agreed upon name haha.

The parshmen are what Alethi call the whole race - the humanoids with marbled skin. In their own language, they use the more respectful term "Singers".

"Parshendi", an Alethi word meaning "parshmen who can think", is referring specifically to the group of parshmen/singers who live in the Shattered Plains. They call themselves "Listeners".

So, parshmen/Singers is the race, Parshendi/Listeners is a particular nation/group of them.

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Glad you are still enjoying the story. Thanks for your recap. 

7 hours ago, Sterbb said:

Okay so part two was shorter, and I just finished it. Woosh, that was a pretty great sequence.

Moash:

Anyways I'm very much looking forward to more Moash chapters, he's shaping up to be a very interesting character.

It will be interesting to see if, and how, this opinon changes by the end of Oathbringer and Rhythm of War.

Quote

So he's not so much hate, but more so emotions... passion. The fused spoke about passion, and so does a religion exist about that down in Thaylen.. So there's that to consider.

Odium claims that he is Passion (not just hate) - but if that's true, lie, or self-deluson is unclear at this point.

Quote

So I've been thinking about ancestry in Rohsar. Such as Lopen's fingernails, and Numuhukumakiaki'aialunamor hearing faint distant beats. Possible connection between the Listener's and "Humans" of Roshar?

It has been confirmed outside of the stories that the Herdazians and Horneaters both have some Singer blood in their ancestry. Good catch.

Quote

Unfortunately my favorite Listener seems to have passed on... Poor Eshonai. Gone to soon.

You'll get more Eshonai in Rhythm of War, since she and Venli are the flashback characters for Book 4.

Quote

I very much enjoyed the epigraphs for this sequence. It is clear that (Cosmere spoilers below, as well as Mistborn)

  Hide contents

Hoid is sending letters to various shards, I am unfamiliar with most, I think.. However I am quite sure the last is towards Sazed himself. There's a lot of implications in the letters, however I again am not versed enough in Cosmere history to know it at the current moment.

Yes, (Mistborn Spoilers)

Spoiler

That was Harmony in the Part Two Epigraphs. Note: Currently the events of Mistborn Era 2 happen between SA books 5 and 6 (So these letters would be a few years before Alloy of Law). 

Quote

I was quite worried if the Nightform spoken in the Listener's poems are foreshadowing hidden voidbringers, or lightweaving surges, hidden amongst the humans. A secret in plain sight hmm...

Hmm, indeed.

Quote

I wonder where Taln is, hopefully we'll see him this book.

You will at least get more info this book. RAFO.

Quote

Oh, did I mention, FLYING SHIPS! At first, the sketches confused me, I thought it might be some odd sketches for shadesmar, but no, we might be coming close to flying!

Could be interesting

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  • 4 weeks later...
On 7/2/2023 at 9:38 AM, Sterbb said:

 

Okay so part two was shorter, and I just finished it. Woosh, that was a pretty great sequence.

 

Moash:

Past me: Moash chapters, very pleasing. He seems to have given up on humankind, curious if he'll join the void bringers. My theory of him being Odium champion goes one step closer.

Present me: Okay yeah, he's 100% joining the Singers, and their fight to capture Alethkar. I'm quite pleased with his current state of affairs. Let me tell you, I was not expecting Graves to outright die like that, and Moash being taken by the Fused. I was expecting more of the Diagram for Moash's arc, but it seems fate has something else in store for him.

I believe its safe to say that the parallels between Kaladin joining Bridge Four and turning into a leader is being showcased here with Moash and the Enslaved Singers.

I really liked his convo with Lady Leshwi, it felt like he was speaking to something ancient. Even when we've seen literal gods like the Almighty, and spren such as the Stormfather, something about her just felt surreal.

Anyways I'm very much looking forward to more Moash chapters, he's shaping up to be a very interesting character.

 

Parshendi:

I keep shifting between Parshendi, Parshmen, Listener and now Singer.. Is there an agreed upon name haha. Oh but this sequence really brought some more light, and more questions to their hierarchy. So the Fused, which are the Voidbringers ARE the Gods for the Singers. I assumed the Unmade carried that title but it seems not. Which makes me curious to why the fused are only able to use surges. Rlain spoke about the right form to take in stormlight, but Im sure theres a lot of mechanic workings here that Is too early for me to understand.

Talking about Rlain, I enjoyed his chapter. Finally got to hear what he's really thinking about, and man, I truly felt for him.

 

Dalinar:

He seems to have blind of rage moments, and that might tie in to his old magic. I'm suspecting he might have killed his wife by accident of the Thrill. But oh did his flashbacks with Little Adolin warm my heart. Even in present day, we got to see him supporting Ren at the scholar meeting. I appreciate him attempting to be there for his sons. However speaking of sons.. Adolin seemed to be quite hidden, hmm..

The vision sequences were a blast, even more so now than before, with the added characters. They all scratched at more mysterious, but the biggest shock was Odium showing up! That truly shook me. He seemed so... normal. Until he showed his true form, which felt so alien, eternal, destructive, and I loved it.

So he's not so much hate, but more so emotions... passion. The fused spoke about passion, and so does a religion exist about that down in Thaylen.. So there's that to consider.

But Odium is bound to something... and he wants Dalinar to free him, as Dalinar is tied to Honor, more than any other.. There's a lot to speculate about in this, but as I am aware,, Odium splintered Honor. I'm unsure if that means Odium has the shard, or not... and if he does not, does Dalinar hold a piece of Honor, enough to ascend.. Hmm, unsure. But anyways, I don't trust Odium. He wants to trick Dalinar, with pretty words and arguments, though I'm glad we finally have a face, and voice, behind this enemy.

I wonder if the Recreance, which Jasnah seems to know the reason behind, is from Odium's tricks, or a dark truth of Honor.

 

Jasnah:

I'm glad we got to see the more hidden side of her. She is quite soft towards her family, which is nice to see. Her chapters, as well as Dalinar's flashback with Gav, hinted at a troubled childhood. But anyways, I have to mention that I loved how she destroyed Amaram with words. That was a pleasure to see. And she's right, he will be a problem. He sees himself as a hero, and I can't wait till he fails horribly, and gets himself destroyed by Odium in the process.

She notices the oddness to Shallan's development. If she only knew she tied herself up to the Ghostbloods

 

Other tidbits to ramble about:

So I've been thinking about ancestry in Rohsar. Such as Lopen's fingernails, and Numuhukumakiaki'aialunamor hearing faint distant beats. Possible connection between the Listener's and "Humans" of Roshar? We know that Rock's people are more attuned and connected to the powers that work Roshar, if that Is even a correct way to state it. As in, they seem to see more than the average Rosharian, when it comes to Spren and maybe even Shadesmar itself. I remember there were things in the peaks which might have been a door into the other realm. The memory of it escapes me, but it also referenced Hoid as well. Which I thought was interesting to mention.

Loved the chapter where Skar and Lyn breathed in stormlight. "When you give up, that's when the dream dies." Remember that, folks!

Unfortunately my favorite Listener seems to have passed on... Poor Eshonai. Gone to soon.

The lighthouse interlude, it spoke about those lost at sea, glowing... Hmm. I like me a good world building mystery. For some reason I am reminded of those spindly glowing *things* in Dalinar's flashback in the thunderstorm.

The final march chapter was bittersweet.. But also packed with some Rock mystery.. He seems to have lied about his past towards the crew, but there's more to it, and his reason to not fight. Also there seems to be something happening in the peaks.. Perhaps the perpendicularity, if I am right, and Odium's shackles, are breaking.

Elokhar is getting massive death flags here, isn't he. I am excited for his development, but with Moash approaching the capital... and so is Kal with Elohkar... Yeah I'm sensing where the climax of this book is heading for these two.

I very much enjoyed the epigraphs for this sequence. It is clear that (Cosmere spoilers below, as well as Mistborn)

  Reveal hidden contents

Hoid is sending letters to various shards, I am unfamiliar with most, I think.. However I am quite sure the last is towards Sazed himself. There's a lot of implications in the letters, however I again am not versed enough in Cosmere history to know it at the current moment.

I was quite worried if the Nightform spoken in the Listener's poems are foreshadowing hidden voidbringers, or lightweaving surges, hidden amongst the humans. A secret in plain sight hmm...

I wonder where Taln is, hopefully we'll see him this book.

Oh, did I mention, FLYING SHIPS! At first, the sketches confused me, I thought it might be some odd sketches for shadesmar, but no, we might be coming close to flying!

I'm very excited to see what hidden codes are in the library left behind by the Radiants..

 

That is all I can really think about at the current moment. I'll be sure to update this with any extra thoughts I get!

Brandon has confirmed the names of the other 2 shards. You know then eventually or we can just tell you since it's not much of a spoiler. 

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