Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive

In Well of Ascension.

Szeth is on the other side of the continent with Nale. Their exact plans are unclear, but last we checked they were heading to Shinovar to punish the people who named Szeth Truthless.

I really hope that Adolin confesses to the murder of Sadeas at least to Dalinar or Renarin. As much as I like his character, I really don't think he is cunning and manipulative enough to keep all of this a secret for ever. He needs someone on his side.

I hope it doesn't become a forced parallel of Shallan's arc. I mean, having to get brken spiritually by having to hide his murder might open him up to becoming a Knight and all, but basically making him a male Shallan just so they can get together seems horrible.

I am now unable to look at this book, particularly the Adoin/Shallan portions, without violent flashbacks to Well Of Ascension, particularly the breaking Elend and Vin moments (ironically also having Wheel Of Time flashback, to the Poor Communications Kills parts that Brandon finally straightened out). Brandon's recycled themes before, but right now at the outset, it's a bit too blatant. Hopefully we'll see deviations next week.

edited 13th Sep '17 4:51:53 PM by SCMof2814

Ugh, I hate Poor Communication Kills as a plot device. Adolin has some of the most clever and powerful people on Roshar as allies, time to use them to get through this mess he put himself in.

I honestly hope Adolin doesn't become a Knight Radiant. I like him as the Badass Normal of the team.

He won't go to those clever people however because....

(puts on sunglasses)

...This is something a man has to do himself.

....

Huh, I wonder if they have sunglasses on Roshar? Given the rocky disposition of the plains and the possibility of high albedo, rock blindness (like snow blindness, but done by rocks) is a distinct possibility, and if they have the tech to use glass marbles as currently, not to mention spectacles and stained glass windows, sunglasses are the next step, right?

edited 13th Sep '17 5:41:18 PM by SCMof2814

If Adolin fesses up to straight-up committing murder, I would not count on all his allies remaining allies. This could end with Dalinar having to prove that his family is not above the law.

He didn't murder him, he just decided to make a tactical retreat during a situation that could leave Sadeas messily killed. Totally different thing.

Granted, the retreat was to Murderland, but it was totes legit!

edited 13th Sep '17 5:46:02 PM by SCMof2814

I wouldn't mind Andolin not becoming a Radiant as long as there was something he could contribute without being a Radiant that he couldn't if he was a Radiant. Otherwise it just sort of feels like he gets shafted. I certainly think he's dedicated and sincere enough to say the Words (as long as finds the right Words to say), and other than that, his most notable traits are all geared toward fighting (he's an excellent duelist, a good soldier, a competent officer, etc) with the exception of his interest in fashion. Fashion isn't going to help humanity survive a Desolation, and becoming a Radiant would only improve his fighting. Perhaps more to the point, no matter how skilled he is, a Radiant is going to be able to beat him. So basically, unless he becomes a Radiant, he's sort of inevitably going to pushed aside — and he's way too interesting a character for that.

I like the idea that's been brought up where he might somehow revive the shardblade he already owns, rather than binding to a spren newly arrived from the Cognitive realm. I'm not sure how that'd work, exactly, or what the consequences of it would be — but it seems like an interesting turn of events that would have lasting consequences. Would definitely make for some interesting times.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.

I point out that not EVERYTHING you can contribute has to do with combat. He could shave his head and become an Ardent. He could become a consulting detective. He could run off become a Thaylen merchant. He could become Lift's official pancakemaker. He could open a haberdashery and become a spy. Stop obsessing only on his combat ability! He also knows how to repel women, gets people to like him by acting like a bro, and is very good at choosing wines.

He could do any number of things, sure, but none of those have any relation whatsoever to his established characterization. Andolin is a gifted duelist, a dutiful son and heir, a competent soldier and office, and a successful socialite (except when it comes to courting). Those are about the limits of his skills as we've seen them, and out of those, the combat-oriented ones are the ones that are going to help during the Desolation.

He'll probably develop new skills as the series goes on, of course, but what and how would be entirely speculation at this point.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.

I mean, the dude has been established as the best duelist in Alethkar, and has thoroughly outclassed everyone not hopped up on Stormlight. Keeping him un-Radiant only to make him get outstripped by the people with superpowers would be a bit of a waste.

And as much as it would tear Dalinar apart, I do believe he would try Adolin for murder with all the might of the law if he knew. How Renarin would react if he knew, assuming he doesn't already, is another question. I mean, the guy can see the future.

Dopants: He meant what he said and he said what he meant, a Ninety is faithful 100%.

Hell, Dalinar might get his next Oath sending Adolin to trial. His flashback book would be a good time for that sort of thing. Something about putting the good of the people above his desires sounds appropriate for the Bondsmiths.

Murderland is an enemy nation. If he's traveling to their lands in secret he must be put to death for treachery!

If he doesn't become a Radiant himself, he could still become a squire, right? Like, say... Shallan's?

Interesting idea.

Do the squires themselves have to embody some of the ideals of the order of their master Knight? I get the idea that since Kaladin protects Bridge 4 and they in turn protect eachother, that's what allows them to gain powers. Just a theory though.

If that's the case, Adolin going about lying and sneaking about is definetly in the Lightweaver ball-park, at the very least.

I'll point out again, they've still got an Honorblade sitting around that can turn whoever picks it up into a Surgebinder. Soon as they get some more stormlight, Adolin's the natural pick for it: skilled fighter, among Dalinar's most trusted, and not already a Surgebinder via other means.

"It takes an idiot to do cool things, that's why it's cool" - Haruhara Haruko

Mm. I'm not sure sneaking and lying are necessarily characteristic of Lightweavers, any more than burglary is characteristic of Edgedancers. This is still supposed to be capital-H Honor magic, after all. Their shtick in legend is all about being inspiring and artis...tic...

I swear, if Adolin being a fashionista turns out to help give him superpowers I'm gonna lose it.

Hey, it works for white unicorns.

Oh, heavens, that would be fantastic.

What I'm hearing is that we're paving the way for Magical Girl Adolin.

Dopants: He meant what he said and he said what he meant, a Ninety is faithful 100%.

Reasonably certain that the squires still have to embody the Ideals, and eventually they'll become full Surgebinders themselves. That's what Dalinar seems to be assuming, at least; he took them off low-level guard duty because he didn't think it was appropriate for burgeoning Radiants.

Stealth and deception fits so well with the Lightweaver powerset, Ideals, and spren that I would be shocked if spying wasn't a normal part of their role. Yes, according to the in-universe Words of Radiance book they were The Heart of the Orders, but that doesn't necessarily preclude them from also being spies.

Yesss.

edited 14th Sep '17 8:13:42 AM by Discar

Maybe Lightweavers being The Heart is what they wanted people to think. The best liars don't go around telling the world that they're liars.

"It takes an idiot to do cool things, that's why it's cool" - Haruhara Haruko

I think a squire doesn´t necesarily have to embody the ideals of his/her order, but he/she must be incredibly devoted to his/her radiant. But since when you´re devoted to someone you often start imitating their behaviour most squires probably follow their orders ideals, so the result is more or less the same.

New sample chapters.

I find it intriguing that Syl, an honorspren, has no qualms about encouraging Kaladin to seduce another man's fiancee.

Also the fact that Taravangian's about to get involved in the main action is both very exciting and very frightening.

"It takes an idiot to do cool things, that's why it's cool" - Haruhara Haruko

Shallan and Adolin haven't exchanged any oaths yet. They're not even actually engaged, they're still just in a causal. Combine with Syl's difficulty in understanding human relationships, and you can see how she wouldn't see anything wrong with Kaladin putting himself in the running.