Words Of Radiance Part 1

[Kenneth]

This thread will be for discussion of Part 1 of the book as it is broken down within the book. So if you haven't read at least that far you should stop now because there will be Spoilers ahead...you've been warned.

[Kenneth]

So I know a lot has happened in this first chunk of the book but the question I can't seem to get out of my head is Jasnah really dead. I mean I know we saw her stabbed but she could have soulcast the blade as it entered. The main reason I question this is that her body was not there when Shallan went back to the cabin. I think she may live still but went fully into Shadesmar and may even end up popping up in another world like Hoid or even running into Hoid.

[Ben]

That's been the question on my mind too. I fear not spoilers (but I won't give any here, don't worry) and found people positing that her second surge is Transportation, based on something said in Way of Kings and that she might have used it to teleport herself. I can't remember the passage from the prior book (I think it said in Chapter 73), but that would be an interesting wrinkle.
I'm still holding out a hope that she'll pop up at some point in the second half of the book based on Sanderson saying that he'd be giving "important characters like Jasnah" more of a voice in this and future books. Would be sad if that was a fake out.

[Kenneth]

Well her other surge has to be Transportation, because she said she is different than Shallan and those are the only two that can soul cast

[Ben]

Was that mentioned somewhere else in the book I don't remember? Or you've been hitting up the coppermind?

[Alvaro]

I had the same question all through the book. To me it seems like a shame to kill her off so soon in the series. She is a really interesting character, and one of my favorites.

[Ben]

Ya, she is (I refuse to say 'was', Jasnah lives forever in my heart) one of my favorites as well. Nothing more badass than a lady who can turn dudes into pillars of fire or crystal, then a moment later blow your mind with forbidden knowledge earned through devoted scholarship.

[Khurram]

Ben, Chatper 3 is when Jasnah says they have different spren and she's suspected they are of different orders.

[Ben]

I know she has a different second surge than Shallan, but I didn't know it definitely was Transportation--I can't remember it being mentioned that only transportation or illusion/lightweaving could be paired with soulcasting. I do recall that "each order shares one surge from it's neighbors" or something along those lines, but not any mention of Transportation even BEING a surge D:

[Khurram]

Yeah, not sure if Transportation was mentioned as a surge in book 1. I think I saw a chart of the different surges showing transportation as one.

[Khurram]

Edit to remove. Just in case spoiler.