Stormlight ARchive TWoK First Readthrough [Part 2][Spoilers!]

We are back! It's been 28 days since my last post, but I have been reading, I promise. These chapters are just so Stormin' long that it took me a whole Rosharian season to read and write it up. I feel aged. Even going back and rereading my impressions from Chapter 15 seems so long ago. Maybe I'll take less notes next time? If it's too long, let me know and I'll shorten it up.

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Chapter 15:

• Holy Knight’s of Lionus! That's what the these Knight's in Shardplate remind me of. Sadeas is Dreyfus.
• Wait… excised from his memory? How does that work? And if someone mentions his wife's name then he forgets it again? A) that's really shitty. B) I get forgetting once, but to continue to forget is something else entirely. That means whatever made him forget in the first place is ongoing. Very curious.
• Mystery spren that spring up on a dead chasmfiend… hmmmm.
• “They’d taken credit for his murder, but had offered no explanation.” why though? Could it be that the Parshendi are just pawns, and do not know the true meaning themselves? Or perhaps, the entire war is a distraction and to reveal the real reason for the assassination would give away the game?
• “Unite them” Dalinar is haunted by this phrase. He seems to believe it means to unite the Alethi. But what if that is not the case? The book jumps around to a multitude of characters, what if it means to unite them? Maybe they are some sort of reincarnation of those 10 warriors that people talk about. Also, how many shardblade bearers are there? Are there only 10?
• Shardplate can repair itself even after being shattered? Thats so cool!!

Chapter 16

• Laral, hahahaha. “Kal! You have to go to war and win a shardblade so you'll be a lighteyes and we can get MMMMAAAAARRRRRRIIIIEEEED!”
• The rock Tien gave Kal made Kal feel happier. If my previous thoughts were right, it could be that the rock has some trace Stormlight in it. And Tien would know this because he is obviously the HoA.
• Some new highstorm info: Crem. Is it simply sediment picked up by a storm? Perhaps it is from where the storms originate. Assuming they originate someplace and do not just keep going forever or form like regular storms.
• I wasn't giving a lot of weight to there being monsters in the high storms, but a giant chunk of rock dislodged gives me pause. A lot of the skaa folk tales ended up being based in truth.
• Hahaha, apparently they originate at the Origin of Storms.

Chapter 17

• BUY THE LOVE POTION FOR GAZ
• Oh come on already! He used up the Stormlight of his spheres when he was running around with the wood plank. Stop teasing. I want to see him use some really power! He'll probably end up with his hand on a gemheart or something on the next bridge run.
• “all spren are, in a sense, virtually the same individual.” This is probably gonna be important.
• No gemheart, but it looks like he did win the heart of his bridge crew.
• The dude that died from his bridge crew that babbled. Couple things: seems very random like the others. Very prophetic tone. Also, it very much sounds like he's talking about the Shattered plains. So I again am left wondering, is this future talk or past talk?
• Idle musing: Talks again about soulcasting and making stone buildings from air. I'm curious if this true or an oversimplification. Is soulcasting alchemy and they are turning one element into another? Seems plausible based on Jasnah turning the rock into soot. But I wonder if there is more...

Chapter 18

• The strap: Is it cut? Is it not cut? Is it cut? Is it not cut?
• Hahaha, “Promenade, sir.” “Isn't that a drink?” “Er… no, sir.” This might be my favorite joke I've read from Sanderson. I can't think of any from Mistborn. (Put them in the comments if you can think of any.)
• Oh man, there is so much lore in these Dalinar & Sons chapters. I don't even know what is important to pay attention to. It's like drinking from a fire hose.
• The Heiracracy is a cool story. Reminds me of what Catholicism was doing back when the clergy were the only ones that could read.
• Dalinar with the Alethi is starting to feel like Ned Stark in Kingslanding. He's disturbing the water a bit too much and might end up dead.
• Ooo, Highstorm vision! Lord Ruler, Dalinar is a badass. Taking on two beasties with a fire poker and a table leg…
• “Stormwinds, Heb, what has gotten into you?” Dalinar. Dalinar has gotten into him.
• Wow. A heck of a lot to unpack there.
• Theory: Pretty obvious now that Dalinar's visions are not preminecions. That probably means the other preminecions from the chapter headings are not either, but accounts from the Desolations of old. It would make sense, especially with when he went back right before a Desolation. It could be that next Desolation that had shattered the earth into the Shattered Plains. All those others dying could have been experiencing similar visions as Dalinar.

Chapter 21

• Kaladin really likes his board.
• Syl is getting pretty witty. I like her.
• Rock! I like Rock too. I like how Rocks language patterns make him sound dumb or primitive but he is definitely not.
  • Kal: “Oh, I haven't died on 50 bridge runs cause I'm lucky”
  • Rock: “Here's all the casualty numbers from the last bridge run. You're an idiot if you think it's luck.”
  • Kal: “Yeah it's probably just luck.”
  • *Ron Howard voice* “Rock, was right.”
• DO IT, GAZ! STRING HIM UP BY HIS HEELS IN A HIGH STORM!! Storm you, Gaz, I'm done fooling around. I want to see Kal infused with an incredible amount of stormlight.
• Kal is pretty good at organizing a little crew. He's lucky no one thought to cut his tongue out for starting his first rebelion.
• I tried to pronounce Rocks name for two minutes.

Chapter 22

• Ooo, a fancy party. Haven't seen a party this fancy since book one of Mistborn. (Ones in Fadrex were not that fancy. Don't @ me.)
• I like Wit. I'm changing my vote to Wit for the HoA.
• Ooo, now I see why people were confused when I referred to Syl as Navi. Hi Jasnah's mom!
• Dalinar ordered the chicken. I want chicken real bad now. Wait. Have we even seen a bird in the book? Only thing I can think that flies is the sky eel. I bet their chicken has a shell or tentacles.
• Hell yeah, like daughter like mother. Navani reminds me of Lady Tyrell from GoT. Cunning, politically savvy, and blunt.
• Looks like Elhokar got himself a new Pinkerton. This is really gonna tests Dalinar's faith in the vision.
• Musing: I'm still not sure the “Unite them” is referring to the Alethi. It could be. It could be unite all men. But maybe it's more of a Captain Planet, get all the ring bearers together.

Chapter 23

• Do they have dirt or is everything rock? What about the crem? I know that they use it to make pottery so assume that it leaves behind some clay like soil.
• “‘I,” she declared, raising a finger, “like him very much.’” - Syl about Rock.
  • Me too Syl, me too.
• Wait… wait… wait. Kaladin. He's part healer, part warrior… like a paladin… Kaladin the Paladin.
• I really enjoy watching Syl become herself. Does she not know why she is attracted to Kal? Probably some instinct she is not aware of.
• Teft and Rock are my favorite comedy duo since Abbott and Costello.
• It feels very weird to revisit the spot where Kaladin almost killed himself.
• “If I fail to save the bridgemen, that wretch will take control again. This time he’ll get his way. … That gave Kaladin a shiver.”
  • My face made that horrified emoji face. 😱
• Oh good, Rock story time. I want to know more about the horneaters.
• I love when Rock starts spitting numbers. “Um, actually, Kaladin, that's wrong.”
• More echoes of Kel with all the “X type of rich people are all evil.” from Kal. Me foresees a story arc with Kaladin and house Khodin.
• I want to believe that the horneaters eat the shells of the stuff they catch, but I think Rock is messing with them.
• What the hell??? He made Sadeas eat dung and they didn't kill him for it? This is definitely not the Final Empire.
• Hmm… Kaladin’s story. He must have killed someone in battle or assassinated someone for his brightlord. But what of the gift? What exactly was the scenario?

Chapter 24

• None of these princes are going to go for this idea. Dalinar really is starting to lose his grip.
• Ugh. I feel so conflicted reading this. I believe Dalinar is on to something and not just losing his mind. But also, Adolin is totally correct. Dalinar isn't playing the political game. And if you don't play, you lose

Chapter 25

• Crem hardens to stone? So it's not like clay, it's like wet concrete. So their world really is rock. Will have to sit and contemplate more on this.
• Hahaha Kaladin's mom: “Tien is your friend.” That's like mom level 9000.
• Hmm… more talk of the spheres that the dad uses for light. I wont be surprised when they become a crucial plot device. (Kaladin absorbs their Stormlight, people come to rob them, the new dude wants them back.)
• I enjoy how casually Kaladin’s mom was like, “Yeah we’ve been plotting your whole life to marry you off to a lighteyes.”
• Hrm… Kal’s dad is right the new guy will be a crapshoot indeed. Either way, the new brightlord is trouble.

Chapter 26

• Dalinar thinks that having the book read to him might cause his visions. Correlation is not causation. It's more likely that whatever affected his brother, moved on to Dalinar. And whatever that is, drove him to the book.
• Idle musing: the other princes continue to reject his offer to go on raids together. But what if he ends up with Sadeas saying yes and he crosses paths with Kal?
• A wild Chasmfiend appears! Please do it, Dalinar. You need this.
• Yes! Go kill that fucking crab.
• It's the little details that I appreciate so much. Like putting the shardplate on from the feet up cause otherwise they would fall over.
• The Thrill is rising. Is that just adrenaline?
• Well… looks like I'll get to see Sadeas and Dalinar on another run together, just not how I wanted.
• “A man’s emotions are what define him, and control is the hallmark of true strength. To lack feeling is to be dead, but to act on every feeling is to be a child.” - Dalinar to Sadeas when discussing the Thrill.
  • Reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt's “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” This resonates with me and something that I think has been a struggle for ages in our real world. I was made fun of a lot growing up. Boys acting out to emasculate one another in an attempt to prove their own masculinity. It was tough for a couple of years, until I realized how emotionally stunted they all were. Acting out to prove your masculinity doesn't make you strong it makes you weak. I think this is what people would refer to as Toxic Masculinity. Anyway, a good quote.
• Lots of conflicting information on the Radiants. I like that; means I get to do my theory crafting along with the people in the book.
• Sadeas continues to taunt and provoke Dalinar. I wonder how similar Dalinar used to be to Sadeas. He claims they were friends once. Where they friends because they were brothers in arms? Or because they were alike? If they were alike, does that mean that Sadeas can change too? Or is really just an asshole?
• Finally, the battle begins.
• Holy shit. A thought just occurred to me. Time for a wild theory: I remember back when someone said the Shardplate looked alien. And reading this battle scene, I just remembered how in Dalinar's flashback, the Radiants fell from the sky. We’re they actually aliens? It wasn't their first appearance. They said they lived all over Alethkar. But if they lived all over, how could they assemble so quickly? Are they being beamed around by a ship in the sky or something? Might be a little too sci-fi to have a ship, but I know that there is the whole Cosmere, so idk.
• Why do the Parshendi care if a body is moved? I have found that there are rarely any cultural norms in Sanderson’s books that aren’t tied directly to some concrete reasoning. Most of those reasoning based in some tangible magic.
• Uh oh. Getting all moral about the Thrill in the middle of a battle while Sadeas is watching can’t be good.
• Ooo a mysterious Parshendi in Shardplate…

Chapter 27

• LOL, the swindler apothecary. Though, this is another telling thing for Syl. She knew he was lying, and she’s known before. How/why is she so good at reading people? Will she continue to get better at it?
• Another Tien reference. I am dreading reading about his demise.
• Chasm duty? CHASM duty?? CHASM DUTY??? IS THIS IT? WILL KALADIN MEET A CRAB DOWN THERE, KILL IT, AND TAKE ITS GEMHEART???
• “Maybe I’ll get lucky and a chasmfiend will eat the lot of you.” - Gaz to Kal
  • Gaz has the best ideas! Remember when he wanted to string Kal up out in the High Storm??? He just wants Kal to Snap. He’s helping!
• OK, so he’s going down into the chasms to find armor and equipment. Perfect tools for fighting a chasmfiend.
• I want a duel a Horneater. I don’t know what mudbeer, but I’ve I’m 100% sure I’ve drank stuff that sounded and probably WAS worse.
• “Numuhukumakiaki’aialunamor,” Putting this up here so you can all try it with me. Maybe I’ll make video post of me just trying to say it.
• “Syl floated down and landed on his shoulder, making disgusted noises. As usual, she offered no explanation for her absence.” - This is exactly the sort of Sanderson sleight of hand, that ends up foreshadowing some sort of mystery down the road. Where did she go? What was she doing? Was she called back to Kaladin?
• He’s awakening doing the kata. Perfect time for a chasmfiend to show up.
• Mysterious spren? Battlespren? Gloryspren? Maybe they were creativespren, because the kata is like a performance art?
• What’s this? The Parshendi grow their armor? Is it a magic? Is it their biology? I’ve got questions now.
• OK, so now he has a spear and baggy full of gemstones that were left out in a high storm. This is like coming home to find Barry White playing and flower petals leading to the bedroom… where a chasmfiend is waiting for you.
• They’re back at the rope ladder to return home and only a few people can go up at a time, forcing others to wait at the bottom. Like that goat in Jurassic Park. Perfect bait! There has to be a chasmfiend coming.
• WOW. There was no chasmfiend coming. Storm it all. Well at least he got most of Bridge Four to warm up to him. But you know what else would have gotten people to like him? Saving them from a chasmfiend. Stupid stew.

Chapter 28

• Yikes. Dalinar does seemed to have aged markedly since his last chapter. I guess the mental break he had during the Thrill really did a number on him.
• Oh dang. Abdication? That’s kind big Stormin’ deal. But I think it’d be better for Dalinar to go off on a spiritual journey, rather than be leading the army.
• Well, there goes Thanadal, the last prince Dalinar was courting. Another nail in the coffin.
• Dalinar gets out his warhammer to… dig a crapshoot. This is just like what Kal’s mom was saying. Working to clear the mind.
• What’s this? A some sort of telegram from Jasnah?
• Spanreeds are cool. Like a fax machine.
• These Parshendi were only found 7 years ago? In newly discovered forest? How old is the planet that they haven’t explored all of the land? It’s not like they had to develop advanced sailing methods, they just needed to walk more. Either way this is odd. If Dalinar's vision where true and the Shattered Plains were once Alethi land, that means they would have already known the land (though records could have been lost). And these Parshendi found (new?) shardblades and plate? And they learned to to speak the Alethi language over the course of a few days?
• Theory: If these Parshendi are truly new, as I am suspecting, then where did they come from? And why do they seem so advanced? Advanced isn’t really the right word. Adaptable? They see shardblades, then they have shardblades. They hear a new language, they speak a new language. We already know they grow their own armor as well. My guess is that they are a new wave of Parshendi. They either magically sprouted up from crabs or maybe they are also aliens like my shardbearer theory.

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If you made it this far, may the Lord Ruler and the Almight bless you.

Submitted April 17, 2019 at 08:44AM by rstrojan http://bit.ly/2XkO79N