Series: Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson ("Way of Kings")

[Gabi]

Xavaqenia wrote: "Apparently the quality matched the price though! Don’t know how that’s possible, but it’s what I heard."

I'm pretty sure it is. Sanderson doesn't strike my as the type who wants to steal his fans blind.

[Eric]

A collectors set would be nice, but upon my leaving this world my kids would just toss it as they will with my other books. I have been able to send a bunch of "sets" to my oldest son. He is a couple of years away from fifty and is starting to appreciate things. He just retired from the US Navy after 24 years. A Navy pilot.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

:) Nice to see a proud pop! Getting a Dalinar and Adolin vibe here, how appropriate!

[Eric]

Ha, ha, that might be a stretch between an old submarine sailor and a Navy pilot, but thanks! :))

[Xavaqenia]

Allison wrote: "If you think of it in terms of art, it's like $2 per inch right? So, even if it's just 2 covers on a 6x9 book, that's a steal. And then all the interior art?

Dammit, I think I just talked myself o..."
Yeah, the content is pretty insane! I have just a crappy MMP Way of Kings so I might indulge but it’s more likely I just get hardcover editions to enjoy.

[Lowell]

I think i'm going to try and get the WoK hardcover leatherbound set too, despite having made fun of my friends who bought it in the kickstarter.

Though I do have all 4 of the main books in Hardcover now... so it really would be just a vanity expense....

[Travis]

Gabi wrote: "Rhythm of War, prologue: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Totally agree. Did we know before that Elhokar was such an ass? Navani's perspective on his character seems something very different from what the other POVs have revealed. (hide spoiler)]

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Dawnshard spoiler(view spoiler)[ Do we think this is another perpendicularity? There were 3 right? One that allows movement from Shadesmar to the physical realm, one that connects the three briefly and then whatever Akinah's does maybe? What do you think the Dawnshard is? I think it's got some sort of tie-in to breath? (hide spoiler)]

RoW Prologue (view spoiler)[ I too love that this day seems to be cemented in the minds of so many people. It seems to ground the story and serves as a perfect moment on the cusp between the people they were and the people they are now. Super excited to see how much effort Sanderson put into thinking through the demands on a queen with a man of Gavilar's focus as king, and that we're seeing a much more flawed man. I think most interestingly about his legacy is that it seems earned, as even at his worst, he is central to the beliefs and thoughts of the people who surrounded him. Also, did she say "Nale" was there? Do we think that's NALE Nale? Nin? So who was the other herald with him? I don't remember Gavilar talking to heralds being mentioned. (hide spoiler)]

[Eva]

How everyone is feeling about RoW being out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvkLZ...
(So funny!)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Well, now that's the song I assume Lopen has in his head constantly haha

[Gabi]

Allison wrote: "Dawnshard spoiler[spoilers removed]"

Since I have a hard time (view spoiler)[ not thinking of the story in terms of Science Fiction I had the feeling that the Dawnshard is the cosmere equivalent of some kind of mastercode for a cosmere equivalent of machine that holds these worlds together. ^^' ... Sanderson really is messing with my mind (hide spoiler)]

RoW prologue (view spoiler)[ @Travis: For me it was the first time that Gavilar came across as such a sh***head. In Jasnah's POV I had more the feeling that she was admiring him. But then again his insistence that she should marry Sadeas must have been quite burdensome for her. It is so interesting which characteristics different characters remember and which they (unconsciously?) leave out.

@Allison: Nale was mentioned in Jasnah's POV of the same day as well. Not in name but with the characteristic mark on his face, so that I remembered it (on the third re-read... *whistle* ...). It looks like Gavilar was the only person who knew more about the true fabric of their world. And it sounds like he was onto some mechanism that would have allowed the heralds to leave the world - or so did I understand it.

It started as 'only' a king slayer and slowly this day turns out into so much more, probably world-shattering. I'm so in awe. (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

Eva wrote: "How everyone is feeling about RoW being out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvkLZ...
(So funny!)"

LOL! Perfect!

[Gabi]

Oh ... and without any spoilers ... but I'm getting uncomfortably anxious for both Shallan and Kaladin ... ^^'

[Travis]

Allison wrote: "Dawnshard spoiler[spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[I guess I thought of it more theologically almost, like something akin to the word of God in Genesis. I took the notion of it being a command literally, as in the Dawnshard is that which can command worlds into being and not being.

But that was really a stab in the dark, because I totally don't know! (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

Gabi wrote: "Oh ... and without any spoilers ... but I'm getting uncomfortably anxious for both Shallan and Kaladin ... ^^'"

I'm just into chapter 2, and the tension has already risen so very quickly.

[Gabi]

Travis wrote: "Gabi wrote: "Oh ... and without any spoilers ... but I'm getting uncomfortably anxious for both Shallan and Kaladin ... ^^'"

I'm just into chapter 2, and the tension has already risen so very quic..."

I just hope that none of Sanderson's role models is GRRM. ^^'

[Travis]

Allison and Gabi, re. the Prologue:

(view spoiler)[Now I'm so curious what he's doing there. Did we get any hint of Nale's presence on That Day from Eshonai's POV?

Makes me want to go back and reread Edgedancer, lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

Travis wrote: "Allison and Gabi, re. the Prologue: ..."

Not that I recall ... but I think I will re-read (view spoiler)[all the prologues back to back without the rest of the books to have a direct comparison. (hide spoiler)]

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Gabi, that would be a great project. And then we can get out the cork board and string and start listing theories haha

[Travis]

Just a small and non-spoilery thing about Ch. 1 (but hidden any way just in case)...

(view spoiler)[I loved having a section from Lirin's POV and hope we get more. (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

Allison wrote: "Gabi, that would be a great project. And then we can get out the cork board and string and start listing theories haha"

I feel so much like this. I guess it would have been a bright idea to start with this with the very first chapter of the first book. I feel so lost in names and places and events sometimes (plus I realised that I had some names wrong because I only listened to it and therefor mixed up characters that sounded similar (but written they are of course quite different).

[Gabi]

Travis wrote: "Just a small and non-spoilery thing about Ch. 1 (but hidden any way just in case)...

[spoilers removed]"

Yes, that was great (once I registered WHO that was ... LOL!)

[Nicol]

I had to do a refresher too. I’ll want to re read them all in the future but I’m not there yet so I went to tor and Wikipedia and tried to do a “previously on stormlight archives” then realized I’ve always done the audiobooks and many of the places and names I had no idea of the spelling lol. Ended up doing a video recap that had artwork and funny memes and that brought the world right back.

[Eva]

Allison wrote: "Well, now that's the song I assume Lopen has in his head constantly haha"

So accurate, this must be his theme song! :-D

Halfway through Dawnshard and so far, it's fantastic and surprisingly creepy with (view spoiler)[the new bodiless (alien?) race who can shape cremlings into fake humans - I love that unique idea (hide spoiler)]!

[Travis]

End of ch. 8 RoW

(view spoiler)[That confrontation between Kaladin and Moash . . . not sure I took a breath while reading those pages. Any ideas about just what happens just before Renarin enters? (hide spoiler)]

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

not a spoiler, and to add to that I won't say where I am but ye gads! how does he think of all these complications and changing viewpoints and extra works?? I'm getting mental whiplash!

[Gabi]

Travis wrote: "End of ch. 8 RoW

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Moash with the blue uniform? I was pondering on that one. It happened when Renarin came in, who supposedly is connected with the 'bad' side. But his light brought out the good in Moash, the person Moash could be if he let himself be it. So it looks like Renarin's connection with the Unmade (it was this connection, wasn't it ... hell, I'm really stumbling to still keep the overview here ...) could in fact be a very positive thing and perhaps a foreshadow of how he could be able to save Kaladin from himself. And perhaps Moash still has a chance to become the person he could be, and perhaps he has the soul of someone much more powerful than he currently remembers ...

well ... to cut a long story short: I have no idea ^^', but it is exciting like hell! (hide spoiler)]

@Allison: I am totally fascinated how he still keeps the overview over all those tangles. I certainly lost mine (well ... never had it tbh) some time ago. :D I'm finding myself rewinding parts to make sure I had listened to every word that was said, because it certainly will be of utter importance some time later and I try to remember it ...

[Eric]

It is not unusual for me to re-read book chapters before proceeding to the next. Sanderson is no exception. Actually fun, as I find I may have missed some subtleties.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Ch 8 of RoW

(view spoiler)[ OMG suuuuch an intense, dark scene! To hear that from the person you think knows you best? And who has a direct line past your armor because of the guilt they hold over you?? Wow. So well done. Also, ouch.

Total shot in the dark here, but I think Renarin's power is going to be set up to be sort of the foil for Venli's. Their spren are gonna bridge something, and if they work together they can change fate or something? I think Kaladin saw something beyond just a spren...maybe a new sort of perpendicularity? And We know Renarin's ability is to see the future but the future isn't always right. So maybe it was a path to redemption? (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

Allison wrote: "Ch 8 of RoW."

That is a very, very persuasive shot in the dark! This book, more than the previous ones, has me wanting to dip into the world of Cosmere podcasts and speculation. So many different pieces coming together. I saw one thread speculating on the relevance of Mistborn allomancy, and my head was like, poof.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Re the allomancy (I'm in Ch 11 of RoW, but I don't think this is a spoiler past maybe Ch 6)

(view spoiler)[ The way Navani is explaining the fabrials has me thinking...oh shit. What if that's allomantic, and the allomancers actually have spren but can't see them? (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

Allison wrote: "Re the allomancy (I'm in Ch 11 of RoW, but I don't think this is a spoiler past maybe Ch 6)

[spoilers removed]"

Yes!

And re. spren... ch. 7, which is where I'm at...

(view spoiler)[I feel like all along Sanderson has been inviting us to think about the ethics of fabrials' reliance on capturing and imprisoning spren, but it was still an incredible moment when it came into the open and to hear Navani's attempted (but also pretty thin) attempt at justification. (hide spoiler)]

[Xavaqenia]

I don’t like reading audiobooks longer than about 6 hours, so I am waiting for my hardback to arrive until I begin! The anticipation...

[Xavaqenia]

And I just got my physical copy in the mail! The anticipation is over.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

WOOT! Join us!!!

[Xavaqenia]

I will! I’m actually reading a bunch of other books right now, but I’ll do my best to get through a few hundred pages next week, when I have no school!

In case you’re interested, I’m currently reading The Bear by Andrew Krivak, which is so far absolutely magnificent. I would recommend this book as a full-on group read in the future; I think it would be immensely appreciated by many people here. (And the audiobook is great)

I have just downloaded Priest of Bones, which I am starting a buddy read for (check the buddy reading thread if you’re interested) and I intend to read that, and The Builders by Daniel Polanski. I liked his novella The Seventh Perfection, so I wanted to see what his other novella was like. Apparently it includes amoral talking animals.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Fun! You should bring that to the What Else thread if you want to see if anyone else has thoughts ^^

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Through Chapter 17

(view spoiler)[ I gotta say, I think there's a lot more exposition here, and I'm not sure it's doing many favors to me at the moment. For example Mraize said that traveling through worlds is really hard if you're highly Invested and carrying the source of your power. But Vasher/Zahel is here, as is Hoid? I don't think the two other worlds mentioned were their homeworlds, but I could be mistaken.

We're also explained how Damnation/Braize words like 3 times and all of them are different which could be meant to show incomplete knowledge but felt more like a retcon to me. Ditto the "Heavenly Ones fight 1-on-1" thing. There were others but these are the two biggest examples I feel. (hide spoiler)]

[Eric]

Chapter 10 completed

(view spoiler)[I think it is way too early to count Kaladin out. (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

Eric wrote: "Chapter 10 completed

[spoilers removed]"

But (view spoiler)[ it still was a blow, wasn't it? I felt terrible (hide spoiler)]

[Eric]

@Gabi: (view spoiler)[Definitely unexpected, but Sanderson does that well. He just loves to toss wrenches into the gears. (hide spoiler)]

BTW, how does one remove spoilers from a reply? I couldn't figure that out on one reply (never saw the spoiler tags), so had to delete the entire post.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

You can just delete the parts between the spoiler tags. Or, if you close the tags again, it will not show what's in the brackets...usually

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Also, re ch 10

(view spoiler)[ OMG Kaladin's PTSD and depression are so fucking relatable and hard to watch. I just want to get him a therapist and a hug and, like if he wanted a massage or something too I could probably find time... (hide spoiler)]

[Eric]

Allison wrote: "You can just delete the parts between the spoiler tags. Or, if you close the tags again, it will not show what's in the brackets...usually"

Thanks!

[Nicol]

Allison wrote: "Also, re ch 10

[spoilers removed]"

yes, totally agree, and it broke my heart listening to this chapter

[Travis]

Allison wrote: "Also, re ch 10

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Kaladin's PTSD and Shallan's dissociation. I think other writers might feel pressured to give these characters' mental illness a quicker recovery and respect so much how Sanderson refuses any quick fix. But at the same time, there's stuff here that I'm finding so hard to read. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicol]

Travis wrote: "Allison wrote: "Also, re ch 10

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Exactly, and that is what makes them feel so real, and relatable

[Travis]

Nicol wrote: "Travis wrote: "Allison wrote: "Also, re ch 10

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Exactly, and that is what makes them feel so real, and relatable"

Totally agree.

[Eric]

Introduction by Sanderson:

(view spoiler)[Sanderson spent a fair amount of time on mental illness in his introduction and acknowledged the help he received from experts. Mental illness may be an underlying theme for this entire book. (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

Travis wrote: "Allison wrote: "Also, re ch 10

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Absolutely! I think, this aspect of (view spoiler)[treating mental illness (and physical disability as well, as seen in Dawnshard) so realistically is what raises this series for me so high above everything else I've read in the epic Fantasy sector (hide spoiler)]