Vi’s Comments (group member since Jun 04, 2011)

Vi’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

There is so much hints dropped but I really want to know NOW. There 7 more books to go with 2 now and 5 far in the future. Patience has never been my strong suit.

@Judy

Yeah, it was the first book - I didn't read it for the same reason. I would have rage thrown. There were other books that do it and it always always annoys the heck out of me. More so now after 2 kids than in my 20s. I read her second and the ending was so OTT and irritating that it completely spoiled the experience. I think that's one of her most rated book. Just concluded the author may not be for me.

I just completed it - took me longer than expected as I didn't drive as much this week.

I agree - this novel is better than Lift's. Rysn as a character is so much better to read about than Lift for me,

(view spoiler)[ The questions that Sanderson has raised in this series so far subtly and not so is something to appreciate. I liked how Rysn has grown as a character with enough self-understanding and empathy.

I don't think we've encountered Sleepless before. I could be wrong. Though I can't understand physically what's the difference between kremling and Sleepless are.

Lopen: He is a lot but I enjoyed him in the doses we are shown. (hide spoiler)]

End:
(view spoiler)[ I just wanted to say that the fact that Rysn's not being magically cured with functioning legs elevated this book for me. It's really a pet peeve - ex with Romance you see the character is magically cured of infertility with a child or three. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to read such an ending (hide spoiler)]

I'll be starting today - listening on the drive back.

OH! Hahaha!! That went over my head. LOL! SOO obvious now

Agree about Renarin and Taravangian.

Also about Adolin - haha of course Sanderson will never go there. I have read spoiler-free reddit posts where that fate doesn't happen to Adolin and Shallan.

Hmm.. then maybe about Venli and the other singers? She has sworn the first oath....

Jasnah was impressive in this book (view spoiler)[and especially in the battle (hide spoiler)] but I'd like to get more info about her. Maybe she would be the focal point next?

Shallan: (view spoiler)[I really like the end in the book where Shallan really grows and accepts the two personalities. And I really like Adolin and Shallan esp where Adolin accepts Veil and Radiant. Nicely done by Sanderson. Adolin is such a good guy (hide spoiler)]

Finished it! And it was amazing!!

(view spoiler)[Kaladin didn't swear the fourth ideal but man, this was Dalinar's book through and through. The scene where he ascends was done amazingly. (hide spoiler)]

Teravangian (view spoiler)[What's this guy's obsession with betrayal? Everyone seems to be aligning with Odium. How did he come up with the diagram? And the nightwatcher strikes again (hide spoiler)]

Moash (view spoiler)[I didn't expect... He is Moash no more... (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I love the twist - humans are the void bringers. Kaladin asks the right questions (hide spoiler)]

I'm just amazed at the creativity/imagination of the author. Generally, all authors have to be creative/imaginative to write series with overarching plots but the scale of this is astounding. Especially considering that some characters cross across the series and this whole world 'Cosmere'

I have Dawnshard downloaded and ready to go. I may start on 3rd though.

End of Part 4.. Getting ready for the pace pick-up. I'll likely finish reading instead of listening - hopefully today if I don't fall asleep before. Lots and lots of information...

End of Part 3.. and just processing as I just read through.

Shallan: (view spoiler)[Really, DID and she was losing herself. Like Karen said, Veil was taking over. Kaladin noticed now and then the looks Shallan was giving him which in reality was Veil... And Shallan overcompensating. Uggh. But the rate that she's growing is impressive.. but I think she also needs guidance. Wit in his way is providing that which is good. Hope he helps her further (hide spoiler)]

Dalinar: (view spoiler)[OMG. I never expected this. I expected it to be bad but certainly not this. The strength of Dalinar and the reason to get it removed. But also, the Thrill - could it be something of Odium - to encourage slaughter, the passion? Like Karen said, was this point where he starts to not heed the thrill? (hide spoiler)]

Kaladin: (view spoiler)[The freeze at the end when he saw Sa and the others. I pity Kaladin - it is a hellish position to be in. I mean, the Parshendi are not exactly wrong from an outsider point of view. But it's the addition of the Fused and the Everstorm... And Moash! Just when Elhokar was on the brink of being a Windrunner too! (hide spoiler)]

What an end to part 3!

@Taravangian (view spoiler)[ I don't think he has a beef with Dalinar. But I certainly want a backstory - how did he come up with the Diagram?

Slightly unrelated note - Amaram was part of Sons of Honor - which I guess Gavilar was also part of? But really, where do they get their ideas from? Lots of threads.. (hide spoiler)]

Honestly, with the books being this complex, we cannot get all the clues/nuances the first time. Unless maybe you are a truly regular epic/high fantasy reader. I am pretty sure with a re-read when you've read far ahead, you will be to notice other clues as you are not too keen on how/where it's progressing.

Nope, we don't know yet about the Parshmen. Obviously, it's a dreadful state of affairs but I'm interested how Sanderson will address this slavery of a whole race later in the series.

Re Kalidan: Wow, does he suffer from clinical Depression? I guess all the soldiers will be suffering from PTSD of some degree. I kinda like the mental health representation in the books..

Re: Lewshi:

(view spoiler)[If I understood correctly - the voidspren bonded with the parshendi singers to become the Fused. When the Fused are killed, the void sprens come back in another body. Thus truly cannot be killed. BUT, that also means they need Parshendi to become the 'vessel'.

I maybe remembering this incorrectly but maybe the Parshmen were parshendi who renounced their sprens? I also remember that some Parshendi (esp Eshonai) took dullform to spy on the alethi. During Everstorm, the parshmen turn into Parshendi with some form - I don't quite think it's voidbringers - but I think the form is not named yet? (hide spoiler)]

Upto Chapter 66. Part 3 sounds so exciting - Finally more info about that part of Dalinar's past and (view spoiler)[Kholinar (hide spoiler)]. I have to work unfortunately.

Upto half of Taravangian's interlude (high traffic days sucks but also got in a lot of listening time)

I agree about Shallan (view spoiler)[I am getting annoyed by her avoidance because I'm sure it's going to come back later. I liked her till book 2 but now esp with all her secretiveness not so much (hide spoiler)]

Re Amaram: (view spoiler)[What Amaram said was right but I get stuck at the point where he can't even remember the guy from whom he stole a shardblade. It has not been that long - only a year or so I think but is he that callous to forget the face of someone who saved his life? (hide spoiler)]

Interlude IV
Re Kaza (view spoiler)[ What an example of extreme soulcasting! But I am so so curious about this island (hide spoiler)]

Till Interlude:

@Karen re Eshonai (view spoiler)[The last we saw her, Adolin fought with her and manoeuvred so she fell into the chasm. And now she's dead. I'm sad about that. (hide spoiler)]

Till 43 (view spoiler)[ With what Stormfather said about Fused brings into light so many things. Esp what the spren with Venli said - she was defective - basically she Eshonai was still inside and would have fought

Moash! Teft! I didn't see that coming. (hide spoiler)]

Agree with you @karen. The Bridge 4 views are good.

We are about 33% in and it's moving along in a good pace. Can't wait for the last 20% when the pace really really picks up

Chapter 34

Till 32 (view spoiler)[Yeah, Shallan really is worrying. I read in reddit forums that the author brings in mental health into mainstream forms. That makes sense as Shallan seems to have DID - Dissociative Identity Disorder. That was shown when she pulls on Shallan over Veil and even her internal voice was saying it is you and not something she has to put on. Kalidan is probably suffering from Depression and PTSD or seasonal depression at the very least.

Also could explain why Shallan is avoiding thinking about Kaladin killing Helaran
(hide spoiler)]

Interludes (view spoiler)[ New characters and not sure why they are there but intrigued if the patron will play a role later (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 33 (view spoiler)[So underwhelmed by the reunion of Jasnah and Shallan (hide spoiler)]

At the end of Chapter 14 now.

Agree about Shallan - her growth is good to see
Adolin -(view spoiler)[ Curious who the copycat killer is and why? Also, is this plot there for Adolin to confess to Shallan and grow closer? (hide spoiler)]
At this point I'm very curious about the (view spoiler)[parshmen transformation aka non-void bringers? Is this the part where the synopsis portion - Kaladin to come to terms with their slavery comes in? Honestly what can the slavers say? Especially now when the power imbalance is being rectified or even swinging the other way. (hide spoiler)]

I need to wait till lunch/end of the day to resume. Dang it!

I started this finally. Started working too today and was looking forward to listening to this during the drive.

Please forgive any spelling mistakes as I'm listening to Audio

Prologue: (view spoiler)[For all the talk of Gavilar, isn't it just annoying that he decides on something that will affect one another country without even having a discussion with them! Wow (hide spoiler)]

Just finished Chapter 2 and it really is sad that Dalinar is the one who mourns Sadeas.

I will also start a little late.. maybe from Jan 6. It'll probably be mostly audio so I will likely be a lot slower.