I just finshed the second book and I have some thoughts. Firstly I loved the relationship between Shallan and Kaladin, they seem like a better match then her and Adolin. I also kind of ship Adolin and Kaladin but thats kind of a me problem. The whole part of then being lost in the chasm and verbally quipping with eachother just made me kick my feet in joy. Kaladin and Shallan seem like a true meeting of the minds and souls. He understands her quips and is as witty as her, if not wittier and can call her out on her bullshit. I really loved the whole world of it but the sword stuff and the powers aren't anything new, though I still love the stormlight power system.
I do find the interludes a bit annoying, in WoK there were a few interludes where I had no clue what the hell was going on. Also there was a chapter where someone found out the great king healer doctor was murdering the poor and noting down their last words, is that guy Taravangien, and who had found him. If someone could explain I would appreciate it.
One thing I found annoying why Syl didn't just tell Kaladin why he would kill her, and how to unkill her. She and pattern were both so vague in their decriptions, as well as storm father.
I really liked Shallan's whole arc this book. Now she has confronted the truth, she can finally be a knights radiant. Her relationship with the conwoman, and that revealation was also soooo good. Talking about revealations, the Renarin's revealation was a bit lack luster. IMO he should have gotten a cool moment when the gate to Urithru was being opened. I thought he was something, like he can see the future, but they didn't reveal it here in a useful way, he just says it.
I also didn't understand the structure of the gate. Like its a big thing with a sword hole, and lanterns u have to light, but u also have to twist, and the whole plateau gets transported, like do the animals also go? If someone can explain the gate mechanics it would be quite helpful.
In all a great experience, the ending was epic, Szeth vs Kal was great. Amoram's truth revealtion was goated. I didn't get the Moash plotline but okay. I also feel like wit is a demi god or something. Like why did he know where Jasnah was. I think I'm dumb and they explained it, but Wit is also such an epic dude, he gives lowkey Dr Paradox vibes from Ben 10.
Anyways, this was my rant :)
When I first began reading the books I also didn't care for the interludes. By OB I began enjoying them as they added more depth to characters and plot.
They just give me whiplash. Like Im so into the story of the main guys, and then whoop, go to this guy u know nothing about for like sooo long. The little surge binder's story I didn't focus on also. I do get their point and the Parshendi ones were good, and the trader story with the girl throwing herself in the cliff was also good.
They do definitely interrupt the main story and what you're trying to focus on with the characters you're familiar with. There's a lot going on in these books. If I didn't want to read one I would skip it and come back to it later.
End of the day it's your book and you can decide how you experience it!
It’s really exciting seeing people share their thoughts on their first reads! There is so much I want to say, but as in most cases, RAFO, The Stormlight Archive is an amazing journey.
I was also a bit frustrated with Syl and Pattern being so secretive on my first read. But seeing the whole arc unfold, I am glad that the reader isn’t told everything immediately. Getting a reveal, in my opinion, is less important than the build-up to that reveal — as the oath goes, «journey before destination».
To end, I will elaborate on the couple things I can without spoiling anything. Yes, Taravangian was collecting people’s dying words, as those words are precognitive events in the form of cryptic utterances. Essentially, giving him cryptic «hints» about the future. When you say you didn’t «get» the Moash storyline, do you mean that you need a recap or that you didn’t get the «point» of it?
Like I dont mind being kept in the dark, I just think logically, if someone were to kill me in a way they don't know how, I would want them to know as to not kill me. It made the story better by having Kal figure it out truly rather than doing it for the greed of the power I guess. The Moash storyline I didn't get in the way of he was quite suddenly just on board with the biggest treason. Like I get the bridge 4 were not keen on any authority but his selfish blindness to the reality kind of felt like just a moral dillema for Kaladin rather than a well developed plot for Moash itself. I am new to this series so I don't know if this plotline is considered good or not, just something I thought off.
Moash has always be very… rough towards authority and heigh ranking lighteyes. It’s more obvious in a reread but it isn’t out of nowhere.
I just wanna give two thoughts 1: I also thought Shallan and Kaladin made a better pair in this book but if you're anything like me your view on Shallan and Adolin will change drastically in OB and ROW 2: They did not explain how Wit knew where Jasnah would be hardly anything Wit ever does is explained
Ohh so it gets more interesting then. I can't imagine preferring that to Kaladin bcz Adolin doesn't seem that broken to understand Shallan in that way, but Im excited to find out.
So Wit is just a cool mysterious guy then
1st of all yes kaladin/adolin is a ship I can get behind
2nd, shallan's arc is my fave in this book! it gets better from here
3rd, the gates have spren that operate them/guard them? and utilise the powers of radiants to power them but idk if that's revealed to you in this book???
4th, syl/pattern being vague about the link between spren and radiants is revealed later, read and find out
5th, regarding wit, :) Read !!
the 3rd wasn't revealed in book lol. I really want to know moree ugghhhh. I'm trying so hard to not look at fanart or read fanfic and just finish the stuff thats out, but its hardddd.
And about Kal/Adolin, I was shipping them really hard at the start. The whole hate to love admiration and fighting bros thing was amazing. Kal jumping in the pit to help and then their true comraderie starting was also ship fodder, but after that the content died down. Shalla/Kal came to the forefront. As much as I hate to admit being a Fujoshi, the chemistry of Shallan/Kal make more sense. Im curious to see how this love triangle resolves. I feel like given the perspective of the book, that being quite positive, I think Adolin dies and Shallan and kal end up together. If this was like a game of thrones type dark fantasy, I think then Shallan married Adolin, but secretly was in love with Kal, but I don't think that will happen here.
I might be totally wrong tho
I've got one word for you: Shakaldolin.
The forbidden ship.
Yeah I saw some fanart of this. Quite intriguing to say the least
Now that I've read the rest of your post, I'll comment further lol.
So, Oathgates. Imagine the whole round plateau is the Oathgate, and the central dome they excavate is the control room. You have to power the control room or nothing is going anywhere. Radiant blades act like a key, and the mural Shallan remarks on is basically delineating all the places the ancient Oathgate could transfer between (the other Oathgate platforms located around the world where the ancient "Silver Kingdoms" used to thrive, most of them still exist in some form). When a "transfer" is initiated, it basically magically poofs everyone on the platform to whichever other platform was selected.
You'll learn more about them in the next couple of books, specifically their more in depth functions.
Ok thanks for the explaination, I think I understand it better
I just finished Words of Radiance, too. The Math Oathgate sounds a lot like the Stargate. Also, I wonder if Brandon Sanderson played Legacy of Kain as a kid (PS1 & PS2 game series). The shard blades remind me a lot of Raziel's wraith blade. If you've ever played the game, Raziel has to plunge his wraith blade unto special keyholes to open gates.
I've gone back and forth on Kal/Shallan but think they were feed off each other's worst tendencies and it would spiral out into bad stuff. I feel like Adolin is the perfect counter balance to her particular brand of crazy.
This book is solid! It has the real beginning of Kal and Adolin's friendship. When Szeth kicked their asses it bonded them in mutual humility and humiliation lol. That can jumpstart a great relationship!