2020 Cosmere BR (Currently reading: Edgedancer)

[Beena]

@Anni (view spoiler)[ I think it's also interesting that the Parshendi have a shardplate. How did they get it? And where are they from anyway?

That's a good point! Yeah, I wonder that too.. they don't seem to have originated on Roshar... (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Chapter 12(view spoiler)[amaram. Great. Now kaladin wont really trust dalinar if he is friends with amaram. (hide spoiler)]

Interludes
I1(view spoiler)[So much information. I liked the chapter. So the parshendi are the voidbringers whom mankind enslaved, forming their human form I guess, and then they freed themselves. They forgot the way to change forms and have power. And now they want to have power, meaning becoming the voidbringers again. They are trying to get sprens from their realm. They know much more than the humans. I hope they ally and share their information in the fight against odium. Interesting the bit about gavilar. He wanted to bring the gods? The heralds? Or odium?

I like eshonai. She is like dalinar, she is a soldier that just wants peace. (hide spoiler)]

I2(view spoiler)[What a strange religion. I did not expect him to be killed. And who is that killer that has a shardblade? (hide spoiler)]

I3(view spoiler)[I like Rysn, how we can view the world through her. The aimian is the same one from WoK? (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Beena
(view spoiler)[I thought they didn't do it. That someone framed them or sonething. But they really did it.

Your theory of the parshendi could be right. They don't seem the real threat. I thought she referred the heralds too. But I thought there were very few left... And yes their culture is fascinating. (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Anni
(view spoiler)[weren't the voidbringers(parshendi) came from the heavens or whatever? Or its just a myth?(probably that). Regarding the sharplate...interesting , I didn't thought of that. Apparently they had more than one because eshonai is the last one. Could they have plunder the ruins of the city(urithuri I guess) searching for things useful? (hide spoiler)]

[Anni]

Paula wrote: (view spoiler)["I thought they didn't do it. That someone framed them or sonething. But they really did it." (hide spoiler)]

Yeah! (view spoiler)[ I really thought they weren't responsible and that someone blamed them. I was pretty shocked as I found out they actually were... (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

And regarding the Voidbringers, I'm also not sure what's myth and what isn't... But as Jasnah said somewhere (I can't remember her exact words), every myth or children story has it's true parts/origin. (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Anni(view spoiler)[true. Well, we will just have to wait to discern the truth. Maybe dalinars visions can shed some light. Or the information from urithuri that jasnah hoped (hide spoiler)]

[Beena]

I agree with you both Paula and Anni, I was surprised (view spoiler)[ that the Parshendi actually did kill Gavilar too, I thought they were framed as well.. (hide spoiler)]

@Paula (view spoiler)[ Yeah, I thought that interesting that the Parshendi know much more about spren and bonding with them too. I think they might ally with the humans if Eshonai can get through to Dalinar..

Also, I don't think that Aimian was the same one, no. (hide spoiler)]

[Beena]

I am getting well into this..

Part 2

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ Really enjoyed that whole confrontation between Kaladin and Adolin! Ha, even that swordmaster thinks they're both so similar! Kaladin lost his Stormlight because he wasn't protecting isn't it- he was thinking of vengence. Man, those two really rub each other up the wrong way. I reckon they might grudgingly gain respect for one another in a dire situation/ some sort of fight where they have to work with each other. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[ God, Shallan's father sounds like a real piece of work! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ Shallan has the ability to persuade others to do what she wants with her words/ the perception she creates for them.. she imagines herself as a strong, powerful lady and the bandits as real, heroic soldiers and the stormlight makes them perceive it... interesting. It will be really interesting when she gets to the Shattered Plains and will at some point run into Kaladin; I wonder if they'll figure each other out.. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21(view spoiler)[ The Parshendi poem intro, there's something important in that...

When used by the gods it became instead form of lies and desolation.

That's why they don't want their gods to return? They manipulated them into wreaking devastation whilst they were in a certain form? If so, then the Heralds can't be their gods, but they idolised them because they fought against their gods and the destruction they bought? Ahh, I need to know Sanderson! Stop dangling little bits in front of me lol.

I like this in-charge Shallan! Actually impressive the way she used her intelligence and reasoning to get herself out of a situation. At least she's starting to grow. You can actually see an inkling of the woman she could become. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[ Kaladin telling Dalinar about Amaram, I wonder what Dalinar makes of it all... I'm glad Dalinar listened to him though.

Lopen and his cousins though, haha. I bet we'll see plenty more.

And oohhh, Shen talked! Now he's made Kaladin feel guilty, I bet Kaladin's going to try giving him more freedom and making him a more solid part of Bridge 4.. Shen might be the key between the humans and Parshendi working together... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 23 (view spoiler)[ I wonder who's trying to kill Elhokar, this is the second time now...

Also; It felt liberating to be up so high. Just you and the air itself.

Oohhhh, precursor for Kaladin flying?!! I really hope so :D (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Part 2
Chapter 16(view spoiler)[I read warbreaker before this because I heard some characters appear and I think I caught one. I'm still not sure but I from the description I think it is. I wonder how he got there if he is from another planet.

I love the drawing of pattern.Now I can visualize him easier (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17(view spoiler)[so shallan said the oath life before death. That's when the cryptics took notice of her? I mean, kaladin didn't say it until he was bonded with syl. I guess we will find out in her flashbacks maybe. I agree with pattern: she behaves more and more like jasnah. (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Beena
(view spoiler)[oh, I'm disappointed, I liked that aimian and was hoping he was this one too. I hope we get to see more of him in future interludes, like with rysn. (hide spoiler)]

[Lucija]

and then you read a book by Robin Hobb and your heart gets trampled a thousand times 😅

Oh my god so true!

@Lucija, about characters dying; I do feel it really strongly if they're characters I love, if I don't, I don't really care lol. I know I wasn't that keen on Jasnah, but I must've liked her more than I thought, I think because she's really strong and intelligent.

Haha there you have it.
It's something I don't want myself to do, it would be so much more immersive, but I just can't help it. It's a curse haha

[Lucija]

Interludes
Eshonai (view spoiler)[It was so cool to see her perspective. I agree Pauka, I like her. Listeners don't want their Gods to return... Could they be thinking of the Heralds?
They experience spren so differently then humans. It's interesting how they bond with them intentionally. Could stormform be connected to surgebinding? Also, how did the spren betray them? Ahh so much info! (hide spoiler)]

Ym (view spoiler)[Aww I liked him, such a shame. (hide spoiler)]

Rysn (view spoiler)[Why do I feel the Reshi were mentioned before. I just can't quite place it. (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Lucija
Eshonai(view spoiler)[I also think it's the heralds. Even though they know so little, their knowledge is way more useful than the humans with all those myths. As to how the spren betrayed them...maybe because of the fact that they started bonding with humans (hide spoiler)]

Rysn(view spoiler)[I know the feeling. Maybe some other character mentioned was reshi? Or maybe one of the way of kings interludes? (hide spoiler)]

[Anni]

Paula wrote: "Beena
[spoilers removed]"

The Amian (view spoiler)[I think it was him :) He had the same kind of humor and it seems fitting that he had done something to offend the people and ended up hanging upside down from a tree. But maybe that's just wishful thinking because I also liked him. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Sir Anni wrote: "Paula wrote: "Beena
[spoilers removed]"

The Amian [spoilers removed]"

No, it was him... he also had the tattoos/writings on his body... I think there's only been 2 Aimians in the series so far, outside of parables/stories... there's Axios the Collector, and the one from the Edgedancer novella...

I'll catch up on spoilers, deep dives, and comments later today or tomorrow :)

I've read thru to the end of Part 2, chapter 58... my favorite chapters followed by some of my least favorite... but I'm trying to stick to commenting on you guys' comments here, to avoid spoiling things from later on, in my enthusiasm...

[Lucija]

Ah, so cool, I had a feeling it was him

Iain can't wait for your insights :D

I read up until chapter 19 (19 not included)
(view spoiler)[Yes Beena! I like reading about Kaladin and Adolin. I'm so interested to see their relationship evolving. And Renarin seem so sweet.
Huh Paula, so cool you noticed. You think it's Zahiel (not sure I caught the name right)? I read Warbreaker about a year ago, but I'm terrible about remembering anything I read haha
And yes, I thougt you needed to be bonded with a spren too, before saying the oaths. Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but didn't Shallan mention she thought she saw Pattern before, when she was young.
And yes, so much easier to imagine Pattern now, before I imagined him totally different (hide spoiler)]

[Anni]

Paula wrote: "I read warbreaker before this because I heard some characters appear and I think I caught one. "

I have a confession to make, I still haven't read Warbreaker 🙈 I wanted to start it so many times, but haven't yet... I also included it in my big Cosmere plan for this year... But again, it didn't happen. But I really want to read it before starting Oathbringer this time, because I think that's when it became more important. Would anyone like to join me? Maybe around the 20th?
I will ask Siobhan and Zaara as well, if they are still interested :)

[Paula]

Anni, yeas that's what I thought. Maybe he is not, but I liked him and his race and want to know more

[Paula]

Iain. Great, he is axios. I liked him and want to know more of him.

[Paula]

Lucija
(view spoiler)[yes, I think he is mainly because of his disheveled beard and his clothes that have ropes. I wonder where his sword is, because it's not very trustworthy to be on its own.

Oh, yes, I forgot about that. I imagined pattern like a square form, like from the paper shallan draw him and with straight lines. Not a spiral with curved lines (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Anni,😱 I will stalk the thread and maybe comment here and there.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Paula wrote: "Part 2
Chapter 16:..."

You did... (view spoiler)[Zahel is the first big crossover character to catch, not counting the cameos and Hoid... he's on Roshar looking for Nightblood (the sword)... more characters will appear in Oathbringer like Anni said... (hide spoiler)]

Worldhopping: the vague answer is (view spoiler)[Shadesmar / the Cognitive Realm, is a shared realm that connects all worlds with Shards... the hard part is transitioning on & off, without abilities like Shallan & Jasnah's... (hide spoiler)]

The longer answer is (view spoiler)[Perpendicularities... those locations on Shard Worlds where excess power collects... the Well of Ascension, the Pits of Hathsinn, the hot springs on the Horneater Peaks... those are locations where the fabric of reality is weaker and it's easier to transition to Shadesmar...

Shadesmar is a very interesting place... there's a mini map of it in book 3, drawn by Nazh, which explains more about how Shademar is a kind of mirror world... landmasses on Roshar/etc are oceans in Shadesmar, and vice versa... water is land... makes travel hard... (hide spoiler)]

I was going to comment on worldhoppers later, when I do my big commenting spree... but like so many times before, you guys have enough hints to catch things first try :)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Paula wrote: "Lucija..."

Boy oh boy, do I have news for you... RAFO tho :D

I have a hard time visualizing Patter... there's a gif on the wiki:



Wyndle is a bit easier, as a growing vine spren (spoiler)

[Paula]

Thanks, Iain. And that gif is also really helpful

[Beena]

Haha there you have it.
It's something I don't want myself to do, it would be so much more immersive, but I just can't help it. It's a curse haha

Lol!


RE, The Aimian; ah my bad then. I completely forgot his name as well!

[Beena]

@Lucija, RE; Eshonai Interlude (view spoiler)[
Could stormform be connected to surgebinding?

I think it's a form that allows them to use stormlight in the same way that humans can, so not just for surgebinding, which is what Kaladin can do I think.

Also, how did the spren betray them?

I also thought the same as Paula, that they did so by bonding with humans. (hide spoiler)]

RE; up to Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[

Yes Beena! I like reading about Kaladin and Adolin. I'm so interested to see their relationship evolving. And Renarin seem so sweet.
Huh Paula, so cool you noticed. You think it's Zahiel (not sure I caught the name right)? I read Warbreaker about a year ago, but I'm terrible about remembering anything I read haha
And yes, I thougt you needed to be bonded with a spren too, before saying the oaths. Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but didn't Shallan mention she thought she saw Pattern before, when she was young.
And yes, so much easier to imagine Pattern now, before I imagined him totally different

Same, I thought Renarin was sweet too and that Kaladin was being a bit harsh, but tbf he was thinking like a soldier.

And Shallan did remember seeing pattern as a little girl. I've completely missed the whole thing about her having not said the oaths yet... (hide spoiler)]

[Beena]

I'm trying to stick to commenting on you guys' comments here, to avoid spoiling things from later on, in my enthusiasm..

Thanks Iain! Appreciate that.


@Anni, 20th of this month to read Warbreaker? Hmm, I might, I'll see if I'm in the mood, I'll wait to see if anyone else wants to join you...

[Beena]

@Paula, ha I imagined pattern almost the same, a lot more sharper and sort of rectangular, I agree the illustrations really helped. On the same note, I'm loving all the other illustrations I've come across so far too, so much talent in them.

[Beena]

Chapter 24 (view spoiler)[ Odium- who killed God? Is possibly a spren?? And hatredspren sound ominous.. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[ I'm finding all these different Parshendi forms really interesting..

Why does Adolin have to be such an ass around Kaladin, Kaladin's perspective makes him seem worse than he really is, he comes across as an arrogant, spoiled, entitled knob lol.

Kaladin hating those horses so much made me chuckle.

And Moash? Hmmm.... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[ Damn, Shallan really is messed up! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 28 (view spoiler)[ Lol, I wonder what Shallan's going to do when she realises Kaladin is really Dalinar's Captain of the guard. Probably die from embarrasment haha. I don't know why she went along with the charade in the first place... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 29 (view spoiler)[ Ominous- Sadeas is going to try goading Adolin into something brash and it might work :( (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 31 (view spoiler)[ Ironic that Shallan's learning off a woman that's teaching her to lie more efficiently which will actually help her in developing her other ability..

There's something off about Tyn though... (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Beena, yes, the illustrations are amazing. It makes you more immersed in the world, seeing the plants, animals, the warriors with the shardplates and shardblades...

[Beena]

Totally agree Paula, that's exactly what I thought whilst reading the first book, it really helps you to visualise the world and they're done in so much detail it's astounding. I wonder how that process works, like the artists come up with some perception according to a brief and then collaborate with Sanderson to get it just right or something..

[Lucija]

Sir Anni wrote: "Paula wrote: "I read warbreaker before this because I heard some characters appear and I think I caught one. "

I have a confession to make, I still haven't read Warbreaker 🙈 I wanted to start it s..."

I might, if I'm home by then. I'm still vacationing and I don't have the book with me.

[Lucija]

Agreed, illustrations add so much life to the story, I really like them.

[Lucija]

Beena wrote: "@Lucija, RE; Eshonai Interlude
Could stormform be connected to surgebinding?

I think it's a form that allows them to use stormlight in the same way that humans can, so not just for surgebinding, ..."

Ah, ok, I get it, thanks for the explanation

[Lucija]

Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[A Shardblade! There is still no solid proof that Shallan has one, though I'm finding myself thinking it's a sure thing haha and now I'm speculating that she somehow got it from her brother. And where did he get it. Could he be the one who got the family involved in the whole soulcaster and sect mess.
And Balat is being "unkind" to animals again. That man creeps me out. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20,21 (view spoiler)[Gaz is among the deserters, totally forgot about him. It was interesting to see Shallan's powers. I'm a bit sad about Bluth. He didn't do much, but I feel as though he had potential. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[When Kaladin was looking at the heating fabrial and the ruby that powered it, it made me think of spren that Parshendi trap in stones. Could this be something similar?
And Shen! I want more of him (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 23 RE @Beena (view spoiler)[My thoughts exactly about Kaladin flying. That would be so cool. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 24 (view spoiler)[Shallan is getting more out of her shell. And it's so weird to see Gaz like that. Him meeting captain Kaladin is going to be interesting (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[Kaladin is getting himself do so much work, he's going to get overwhelmed. And this whole horse chapter was so funny. It still remains to be seen who Moash wants dead and could it be connected with Elokhar. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Chapter 20/21: That's definitely a theme of Sanderson's work, I think, especially on Roshar... (view spoiler)[snuffed potential... the cobbler, Bluth, Tien... Tien would have been a Lightweaver, if he'd lived... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[trapping spren in stones is actually something the Parshendi learned from the Alethi... I think Eshonai commented on that... it's also a thing humans forgot, when they forgot the details about Radiants, since the spren trapped is linked to the powers of the Radiant Orders, which is linked to the abilities of fabrials, I think, which simulate Radiant abilities, like soulcasters... (hide spoiler)]

Adolin/Gaz/etc: Sanderson is good at displaying characters in different lights using different POVs and biases...

Re:Eshonai Interlude && Chapter 22 epigraph: (view spoiler)[ "Stormform is said to cause / A tempest of winds and showers, / Beware its powers, beware its powers. / Though its coming brings the gods their night, / It obliges a bloodred spren. / Beware its end, beware its end." -- Song of Winds, 4th stanza

Think more literal... (hide spoiler)]

[Lucija]

RE @Iain Chapter 20/21 - Aah, that's such a shame.

Chapter 22 - Oh, I must've missed that part. Cool, it's so interesting.

Yeah, I've noticed that. It brings so much more life to a character, seeing them from different perspectives.

[Lucija]

Chapter 28 (view spoiler)[Kaladin and Shallan meeting whoop.
For some reason I dislike Tyn. I can't quite place it, but something about her rubs me the wrong way. And, apart from that, it feels like Sallan started trusting her way to early. ok, maybe trusting is the wrong word... relying I guess. Feels like she is a replacement for Jasnah
And agreed Beena. The whole charade seems a bit silly, though she is learning exactly the thing she needs haha (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 29 (view spoiler)[Sadeas is experiencing a midlife crisis.
Ugh he killed surrendered Parshendi.
Reading about his plans is making me feel very anxious (hide spoiler)]

[Lucija]

End of part 2 (view spoiler)[Szeth has arrived, and that whole chapter was amazing. Kaladan had me worried there about his arm, so glad stormlight could heal it. Adolin seems like he could figure it out.
Szeth has no spren, I didn't even think about it before. And he knows about other surgebinders, what did they (whoever they are) tell him.

Oh man, I knew Tyn was suspicious.
A shardblade! There we have it, finally (hide spoiler)]

Interludes 2 (view spoiler)[Oh no (hide spoiler)]

[Anni]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[
Beena wrote: "Really enjoyed that whole confrontation between Kaladin and Adolin! Ha, even that swordmaster thinks they're both so similar!"
Yeah me too, I really enjoy their exchanges.
And Iain is right, Sanderson does that a lot, showing you characters from different POVs, which allways shows you a different facet if the person.

Lucija wrote: "And Renarin seem so sweet."
He does! And I really like him. I also love the relationship the brothers have! We saw a bit of it when Adolin was preparing himself for his first fight to earn a shardblade. There will be a few other scenes. I like how different they are, while they understand each other that well.

Timelord Iain wrote: "Paula wrote: " I wonder where his sword is, because it's not very trustworthy to be on its own."

Boy oh boy, do I have news for you... RAFO tho :D"

😂😂😂 Exactly!

Lucija wrote: "And where did he [Shallan's brother] get it [the shardblade]. Could he be the one who got the family involved in the whole soulcaster and sect mess."

I was wondering the same, especially because it seems be became influential really suddenly! On the other hand he doesn't seem to be on good terms with his father, so why should he give him a soulcaster?

(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[
Beena wrote: " God, Shallan's father sounds like a real piece of work!"
Haha true, isn't he such a ray of sunlight? :D (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[
Beena wrote: "Kaladin telling Dalinar about Amaram, I wonder what Dalinar makes of it all... I'm glad Dalinar listened to him though."
Yes, that's something I live about Dalinar. Even though he can't believe Kaladin yet, he still listened carefully. Also we only saw the conversation from Kaladin's POV. And as we know from the way the sees Adolin, his view of lighteyes is always slightly tainted, so maybe he only interpreted it that way... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[
Lucija wrote: "And this whole horse chapter was so funny. "
Really liked it as well! I like Kaladin best when he acts a little stupid :D
There was this scene in the last book when he tried to walk on the wall and fell down immediately. As Syl asked him what he was doing he said that was just him being stupid. Reminded me a bit of this scene. He just seems was more carefree and not weight down by his past and his responsibilities. Makes me wonder what he would be like if his life wasn't as dark as it was... But then he wouldn't have Syl I guess...

(hide spoiler)]

[Anni]

Paula wrote: "Anni,😱 I will stalk the thread and maybe comment here and there."

Beena wrote: "20th of this month to read Warbreaker? Hmm, I might, I'll see if I'm in the mood, I'll wait to see if anyone else wants to join you..."

Lucija wrote: "I might, if I'm home by then. I'm still vacationing and I don't have the book with me."

Uh, that would be great, guys!

We can decide spontaneously after finishing WoR, @Lucija do you know when you will be back home yet?

[Anni]

I finished Part 2 and the interludes now :)

(view spoiler)[
Really enjoyed the fight between Szeth and Dalinar, Kaladin and Adolin. I'm impressed again by Sanderson ability to write fighting scenes.

And ooooh, that's why his folk named Szeth a Truthless? Because he said something they consider untrue and that was that he saw the Knights Radiant returning (or something similar)! Actually I might know the answer, but I can't remember how he became Truthless. (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Chapter 19(view spoiler)[ so shallans brother has a shardblade and her father doesn't. Her father did have a shardblade so I guess we will find out how. He is very violent and I was right(supposedly) about her mother and her lover. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 20 and 21(view spoiler)[I'm really liking shallan . She started being powerless against tvlakav and now she has her own soldiers and servants. Quite the change. Her power is not as flashy as kaladins but very useful, though I'm still a little bit confused as to what she did. I guess she make them more susceptible to see what she said or something, persuasion indeed. I was a bit saddened to see buths death. I liked how he saw what he could have been and tried to be like that. (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Beena
Chapter 18

Chapter 20,21(view spoiler)[it would be interesting how the conversation would go and how their spren would interact. And themselves because they are quite different.

Impressive! I didn't thought of that, but could be. I read the line but I thought that the god themselves could change and that form made them evil or something

Yes! Shallan used her intelligence really well. I liked that of her. I'm really liking her into his book and I think the flashbacks will only increase that, I hope so at least (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Lucija
Chapter 19(view spoiler)[where shallan got a shardsword is a mystery. I think she somehow got it from her father when she killed him. But I'm still not sure how could he have got one. Unless the father killed her brother and shallan killed her father. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20,21(view spoiler)[I also forgot about gaz. And agreed about buth. I was a bit sad that he died when he started to see what he could become (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Sir Anni wrote: "I finished Part 2 and the interludes now :),..."

That about covers it... (view spoiler)[Being Truthless is what makes him a slave... of his own volition... that stone has no meaning beyond what Szeth gives it... if he isn't Truthless, he isn't a slave...

In that way, Szeth and Teft have similar backstories... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Paula wrote: "Beena
Chapter 18

Chapter 20,21..."

While I've clarified some things, I've made sure to avoid others that haven't been revealed, yet...

It's important to remember the importance of red to the Cosmere... red is the color of corruption... (view spoiler)[usually, that corruption is when a Shard from another world starts interfering on the current one...

Trell in Mistborn, the manipulations in the Emperor's Soul story, and these red spren here...

Odium is important... what can kill a god? (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Paula wrote: "Lucija
Chapter 19[spoilers removed]

Chapter 20,21[spoilers removed]"

Chapter 19: Note (view spoiler)[the differences between Shallan using a Shardblade and Kaladin... Radiants and spren don't seem to like Shardblades, like there's something wrong with them... (hide spoiler)]

[Anni]

Paula wrote: "Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[
Her power is not as flashy as kaladins but very useful, though I'm still a little bit confused as to what she did. I guess she make them more susceptible to see what she said or something, persuasion indeed."

As mentioned before Shallan is a Lightweaver, that name is actually not a bad description of what she can do besides soulcasting :) You remember what she did back on the ship? Making the deck appear green, because she was imagine the plants in the garden?
She wasn't really doing something to the men directly, but made them see something slightly different. Remember when the deserter's leader was surprised how young she looked after the attack, he said, he saw a different woman back then, a glowing princess :)

I think it wasn't only her power, but what she learned from Jasnah as well. That she had to act a certain way, when she wanted to be seen strong an din charge. She did this before as she demanded thatvthe ship should be stopped so she could see the sea creature (hide spoiler)]"

[Paula]

Iain
(view spoiler)[but when she was in her room at the ship and the robbers wanted to enter pattern said the sword. Like he wanted her to use it. I don't know if it was a moment of survival and he new using the blade was more important than dying or if the cryptics don't believe that the blades are that bad. As syl said, the blades aren't bad, it's the radiants that made them so or something along those lines. Maybe there is something wrong with them that the new radiants could right again (hide spoiler)]