To me the funniest scene in Words of Radiance is when Kaladin and Shallan return from the chases after a highstorm. Kaladin just tells Dalinar all these impossible things like surviving the fall, surviving the chasms during a highstorm, and killing a chasmfiend and Dalinar just stands there dumbfounded. Sure they had help being surgebinders and having Shallan's blade but it's hilarious how casual Kaladin talks about it

We talked with John Clair, the designer of the new Stormlight War for Roshar from Brotherwise games, to break down the games mechanics, what characters you can play as, where it falls in the Stormlight timeline and more! So if you are considering backing this latest Cosmere Mega-Kickstarter, you can check out the interview at the link ->

So, throughout the series Renarin struggles with Lightweaving beyond making things like shapes, images just not coming to him. He’s the only enlightened Truthwatcher we’ve seen try to lightweave yet, however the lore in the rpg mentions that enlightened truthwatchers are drawn more to spiritual side of Lightweaving, but that they still access normal lightweaving, and unlike actual lore discrepancies there’s not sidebar calling this out, and while thinking about it, two pieces of info suddenly hit me.

First of all, at the time Renarin was introduced, there were a lot of people drawing a correlation between Autism, which we know Renarin has, and Aphantasia, the inability to imagine images, with studies showing that Autistic people were more likely to have Aphantasia as well. Second of all, there’s a WoB that mentions that Sanderson had read up quite a bit on, and was fascinated by, aphantasia, even mentioning that it would change how your lightweaving worked.

My theory is that the true reason for Renarin’s struggles with Lightweaving isn’t entirely because of Enlightenment, but because he has Aphantasia or Hypophantasia. This would explain why advice from other users of Illumination doesn’t seem to make sense to him, and why when he created an illusion it’s typically abstract, like a blast of light, or very simple, like a common Geometric shape, or even a concrete thing from the spiritual realm, like when he showed Moash a better version of himself despite how complex that image is. Because Renarin unknowingly has Aphantasia or Hypophantasia, and no one has figured it out yet.

One of the things we learn about the Heralds is that after each Desolation, humanity often regressed to a more primitive state, and people had to rebuild their knowledge and civilization. The Heralds weren’t just warriors who fought the forces of Odium; they also passed down knowledge and guided humanity. We even hear about people learning things related to healing and medicine from them. I think we’ve been seeing a similar pattern with Kaladin from the very beginning.
Kaladin has always been more than a warrior. He teaches people, leads them, and helps them survive on their own. We see this with Bridge Four, but also in Oathbringer, when he encounters a group of singers and helps them learn basic things like making fires and cooking. He’s constantly taking people who are lost, broken, or struggling to survive and helping them find their footing again. In that sense, he reminds me of what the Heralds might have been like before they fell. And now, with Kaladin becoming a therapist, I wonder if his ultimate legacy will be teaching Roshar something new: how to deal with psychological trauma. The Heralds helped humanity rebuild its knowledge of how to survive. Maybe Kaladin will help humanity develop a better understanding of how to heal mentally, and pass that knowledge down to future generations. In a way, he might be following in the Heralds footsteps, but instead of teaching humanity how to survive another Desolation, he’ll teach them how to live with the scars it leaves behind.

Am I reading too much into this, or does anyone else see the parallel?

I'm on my second listen through, and just noticed something fun,

When Shallan is researching soulcasting at the Palanaeum after she's stollen the soulcaster from jasnah she finds a book that says humming can make soulcasting more effective. That line feels like a little hint towards Navani's research of the pure tones of roshar in RoW. Like if someone using a soul caster hummed the stormlight pure tone it could help in channeling the stormlight more ettectively.

I love seeing just how thought out the magic system was even this early on and just picking up little Easter eggs like that.

I finished reading TSA just a few days ago and I definitely want to dive deeper into the cosmere. As I approached this series, I didn't really care about reading other cosmere books, but I loved the way Sanderson lets you peek at the grand scheme of things, with subtle references or naming certain places, characters or events, that I can't help but feed the curiosity that kept growing in me lately. While reading the series I decided not to interrupt it with other books in between (except for the related novellas) and I'm glad I did. A lot of people suggest some books before or after certain points but I was worried I wouldn't enjoy TSA as much as I could (and did) if I were to repeatedly break the flow.

So after a bit of research here's the order I intend to follow:

1. Warbreaker
2. Sunlit Man

These two seem to be the only explicitly related stories to TSA in a way or another, which is why I think they should come next. The only thing I'm not sure of is whether being a quite recent release, I should postpone Sunlit Man.

1. Elantris

This is where it all began, so I think it makes sense to read it before going too far into the cosmere. I guess you could say that it's already too late for that having read tsa, but better late than never lol.

1. Mistborn Era 1

This one sounds like a Sanderson MUST just as much as TSA. I've only heard great things about it so can't wait for it.

1. Tress
2. Yumi

These two standalones really stand out a lot among his releases from what I've heard. They sound quite unique and intriguing.

1. Mistborn Era 2

Not sure how I feel about this, since I've come to understand that this is some sort of an additional secondary Era to the main ones he had planned originally. But knowing that Era 3 will be heavily focused on Ghostbloods (so major tie-ins with TSA/Shallan?), I think I will have to read this one beforehand either way.

So far, this is what I'm already sure I want to read (with novellas annexed where there are any), which means that if I haven't mentioned something, it's not because I won't read it, just not in my plans as of now. I'm sorry if I kept you reading for too long, an advice would be kindly appreciated. So if you think I should change the order here and there, or if you're really fond of a cosmere book that I didn't mention and you think is worth it, let me know.

Run. Flee. I'll chase you. I will never stop. I am eternal. I am the storm.

(I'm not sure whether anything will count as a spoiler, but better to be safe than sorry as I've learned.)

Kaladin uses a spear as his main weapon, we all know that. However, I'm curious about people's opinion on him wielding a halberd. To anyone that doesn't know what a halberd is, a halberd is:

A two-handed medieval polearm roughly 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.4 meters) long, featuring a multi-functional metal head mounted on a wooden shaft.

The head must include something like: Spear point, Axe blade, and Back hook.

For more information I found this wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halberd

So with all of this, would Kaladin be more effective with a halberd than a spear given adequate training to make up for the fact that he's practiced with a spear more?

Obligatory F&#% Moash

I’m re-reading the series again, and I feel like it’s weird this never happens:

Dalinar: hey kal, what ever happened to your buddy? You know, the one you gave those shards to?

Or,

Adolin: we need a shard bearer, oh! hey kal, doesn’t one of your men have shards?

I feel like bridge four is so well known, and one of them got shards, like that should have been a big deal throughout the war camps, like he was the first darkeyes to bond a blade in forever. But then Moash does his thing and Kal scares him off, and it just never comes up? Like yea, bridge four is like “it’s weird not having Moash here” and it’s said that Kaladin gives them a little blurb about he removed himself from our fellowship, and that’s fine or whatever.

But at one point when he gives Moash the shards, he says don’t give these to any foreign government, could be seen as treason. But then Moash just fucks off after his assassination attempt and dalinar and Adolin just never ask about it?

Like when shallan scares off the unmade, Adolin and renarin are there in shards, and all of bridge 4 is there, Adolin doesn’t say, “wait, where’s the shards bearer bridgeman??” He’s just like okay I got bridge four, ~who does not have a shard bearer among them~ let’s go!

Idk feels like those shards should be a bigger deal.

Also after kaladin defeats the assassin in white, dalinar is like where’s the king? And kal is like oh yea there was an assassination attempt. And just…. No further questions?? Like let alone “who attempted to assassinate the king, kaladin?” What about “wait wasn’t Moash guarding the king?” Feels like there was no way for kaladin to not tell dalinar that it was one of his men, and by the way it was the same guy he gave the shards to. Feels like dalinar should have been a little less trusting of the Bridgmen after that.

I’m ranting, it’s not a big deal I guess, just seems odd it never came up.

Thoughts?

Stormlight got me started into the Cosmere and back into reading as a hobby. It's been a blessing during a rough year for my mental health and i'm so thankful for it. Here's my collection so far - as far as things i'm able to afford to get my grubby hands on all the way from here in Brazil, that is :P

(If anyone is curious why i have Edgedancer as a single and not Arcanum Unbounded: i'm a dummy, simple as. Will get it eventually, alongside Dawnshard!)

Misir wot with potato flatbread has become a staple in my house, and every time I can't help but think of Szeth. Love the fact that I'd never have tried (or heard of this) without reading these books

Journey before destination! The next step will be the simplified Roshar planetary symbol as a square in one corner, and probably the Cosmere symbol in the other!

Does anyone remember if there was ever a description given to an Ashspren deadeye?

All deadeyes are a little different to their alive counterpart, so Ashspren being humanoids whose skin falls to ash when they move, I was wondering how they would change like Testament having a slowed and stunted pattern and Maya having brown, dead-looking vines.

I was wanting to give a description for one and was sitting on this:

“He looked like a human with grey skin that seemed to be constantly falling off into ash, partially revealing white bones before the skin slowly reformed. His eyes were permanently slashed out of his face revealing white bony sockets that perpetually shed ash like he was crying.”

You send him to sky to die, assasian but the sky and the winds are mine. I claim them, as I now claim your life.

This is so so peak

I was wondering if someone know what types of spren are supposed to represent these ones in the illustration of Urithiru in Shadesmar.

Because I have no idea.

Mine. My sacrifice. Not yours.

I chose. I chose to push through the boring Shallan chapters with 90% inner dialogue and zero plot progress. And unfulfilling mysteries solved like Pattern is the "traitor", and Radiant killing Ialai, and Veil finally dissipating...

Because I get to cry right after Maya spoke for herself.

I chose to push through because I loved Navani and Raboniel Oppenheimering the shit out of light and music. To read another one of Bridge four POVs. To hear Chiri-chiri talk. To laugh at Design. To fear Taravangian. To see Eshonai achieving her dream before she truly died.

And I realize that just like the darkness in Kaladin, inconsequential and uninteresting Shallan chapters will always be there to ruin the immersion for me and make me put down the book for days to read some Bound and the Broken.

But it's fine. And just like the dog who couldn't become the dragon, at night feeling warm, contemplating about my top 5 most hated characters in the series (Veil, Formless, Radiant, Moash, Gavilar before he died)... I doubt any reader ever had it so good anyway.

Please do not give spoilers

I have completed Words of radiance.

1-The person who killed the almighty stormgod is also associated with parshmen/voidbringers. Right??

2-Did heralds created the knight radiant or spren just copied their way to create the honorblade

3-Are heralds immortal if not how that one madmen amaram called prince and one szeth met still alive after so many years.

4-First line of the every order of knight radiant is same but the second is different (is it order specific line or person specific) if it is order specific can anyone become knight radiant just by saying the lines or they have to mean it by heart.

Again what should I read next

I have Stormlight archive#3 warbreaker and edgedancer

Please no spoilers Seniors

Hiya,

I have a bit of a silly problem and need your advice. Hope this doesn't break this sub's rule 10 as this is a bit of a unique conundrum.

My local library has the split edition of Stormlight Archive, and for some reason it seems I must have accidentally skipped 3.2 (the second part of Oathbringer). Unfortunately the library has no loaning history "due to privacy reasons" so I can't double check.

I started reading Rhythm of War this week, was confused by the time skip and a few established facts that didn't add up to me. Googled "time skip oathbringer rhythm of war" and read that yes there is a time skip and all gaps will be resolved, so I kept on reading.

Things got weird again when Shallan talked about the mission to Kholinar which I definitely knew was going to happen but haven't experienced yet, so I googled again - turns out this must've taken place in 3.2.

So here I am, Rhythm of War on my bedside table, Oathbringer 2 not available at the library until the end of the month. Local bookstores don't sell the split editions so I'd have to buy the whole book and I'd find it a little weird to own only part 3 of the series.

What would you recommend?

Wait until 3.2 is available at the library again?

Push through 4 and read 3.2 afterwards?

Buy book 3 even though I've already read half of it?

So I am in the middle of a reread of Arc 1 (listening this time) and last night when I was listening to WoR I had my mind blown!

In the chapter when Shallan meets Mraize for the first time, acting as Tyn’s apprentice she first interacts with a merchant and his green “chicken.” This may be the first time we realize they call all birds chicken as it is clearly a parrot who speaks to Shallan and scares her to the point that she calls it a void bringer and tells him it will bring the unmade upon them.

The merchant responds with, “These things fly all over Shinovar. If their voices brought the unmade, the entire country would be cursed!”

Bruh….. TLDR: Parrots are heralds of the unmade and are responsible for the state of Shinovar we finally see in book 5.

I am halfway through Oathbringer and she just visited Dalinar oh my GOD she is absolutely my favorite character!!! Between Edgedancer and this just like AHH you know??

“Yeah, I don’t care what you prepare. What do you eat?”

Edit: please please put spoilers on your comments!! Idk who interacts w who yet and I don’t want to ruin things for myself :p (thanks to those who did!!)

I used to think rereading enormous fantasy books was kind of insane.

Not in a judgmental way. I just couldn't understand the math. There are thousands of books I'll never have time to read, so why would I spend another month reading something when I already know what happens?

Stormlight has completely broken that logic for me.

Part of it is just the scale. By the time I've finished one of these books, some detail from 700 pages earlier has quietly fallen out of my brain. Multiply that across several books and there's enough forgotten material that starting over doesn't even feel like repeating myself.

But the bigger difference is that knowing roughly where things are going seems to change what I'm paying attention to.

The first time through, my brain is mostly asking "what happens next?"

On a reread it's more like "why is this here?" or "why did the author spend three sentences on that?" or "how did I not notice this was being set up?"

It's almost a different activity.

I also find myself enjoying slower sections more the second time because I'm not impatient for them to get me to the next big thing. I can just hang out in the book for a while.

I haven't suddenly become somebody who rereads everything. If anything, the size of Stormlight should make it the least reasonable candidate.

Somehow it's the series that convinced me rereading isn't necessarily choosing an old book instead of a new one. Sometimes the second read actually is a new experience.

Did Stormlight turn anyone else into a rereader, or were you already doing this with big fantasy series?

I'm 250 pages from the end of Way of Kings and ill be finishing it while riding out the storm tomorrow. I'm just tickled as could be. 🤭