Sanderson's Secret Projects [#1: Jan - Mar 2023]

[Nirkatze]

EchoBaz(Unofficial World's Fastest Reader) wrote: "Still hoping that someone that's at least halfway through the book can answer me:

I'm curious how newcomer friendly this book is.

I'm not too worried about spoilers as much as I am concerned abou..."

Just finished part 1, and I'd say it's very newcomer friendly.

That said, I am not a newcomer. There are a few little drops for Cosmere afficionados, but this is a new world, new characters, new everything--it seems like there are breadcrumbs for those in-the-know to enjoy, but they are not at all necessary. Like, there's one bit, in Chapter 4, where the storyteller names himself, and while I don't think you would be confused at it, you don't get the joke if you haven't read other Cosmere books. But it seems like it is mostly little things like this. Nothing central.

To explain that chapter 4 naming joke--(though I think someone explained it above already?)--for non Cosmere folks: (view spoiler)[Hoid is a character who has appeared in some form in (almost?) all the Cosmere books--often he is identified by name, and is a coachman, a beggar, a random passerby at a random--or sometimes crucial--moment. He is also known for telling stories, and his tone and style of storytelling is fairly recognizable--the irreverent humor and asides--so even if Sanderson hadn't stated previously that Hoid was narrating several of the Secret Project stories (he wanted to play with Hoid's voice before writing his backstory book, Dragonsteel)--a Cosmere fan would probably recognize it and be able to guess. So the line in Chapter 4 It was delivered by Hoid the cabin boy. (Yes, that’s me. What tipped you off? Was it perhaps the name?) is on one hand, a confirmation for folks that Hoid is narrating the book--those who know who Hoid is, anyway, and also a wink at people finding him in all the previous Cosmere books by his very unique name.

Hoid is a very central character to the Cosmere, one of the oldest characters introduced so far. We get to see a bit more of him in the Stormlight books. (hide spoiler)]

Other Cosmere fans please feel free to correct/add/comment on my judgments here.

[Nirkatze]

Chapter 6-10. Yup. Still loving everything. (view spoiler)[I love that Tress talks to her parents before heading out.

I love that she takes her time and plans meticulously.

And I spent a full 2 minutes laughing at this line: Well, parents have to say things like that. They’re required to see the best in their children, otherwise living with the little sociopaths would drive a person mad.

I love that chapter 8 has the line: She’d escaped without a hitch. She wondered if maybe her other tasks would be accomplished with similar ease. She could wonder this because—lacking formal training in the arts—Tress had no concept of dramatic irony. and then in chapter 9 we meet that dramatic irony.

I love that the rat tells Tress “Hon, no man is worth getting killed over.”

It's like Sanderson--or maybe his wife Emily, since he wrote this for her--was like--ok, what is everything that heroes don't usually do in the stories, but they really should do, or would do if this was real life? And then went to make it as cute and funny as possible. (hide spoiler)]

Aether, Cosmere questions--(view spoiler)[oooh! the spores are Aether? That's... not a shard of Adonalism, right? Aether are separate, aren't they? But still multi-planetary. Very differen from the crystalline Aether we meet in Mistborn. But does that also mean the spores are potentially sentient? (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Chapter 13. Still loving it. I love the random big words dropped in all over the place. None more than once (like maladroitly from Mistborn books was)--but a nice big fun word every chapter or so is quite fun. Fav so far is scatalogical. ^_^ That's my kind of toilet humor.

Chapter 14 Dougs--(view spoiler)[I now feel bad for every person named Doug who reads this book... but who knows, maybe they'll like the analysis of their name... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15 Cosmere--(view spoiler)[nice of Hoid to give that background, because of course as soon as Fort said "a wizard from beyond the stars" traded the communicator board to him, my brain started sorting through the different realms and wondering which. Nalthis is the Warbreaker world, but I don't remember anything like this kind of tech at that time--I wonder if that puts Tress here a long while in the future, comparatively. Also wonder what Command was used to Awaken the board. Translate? Communicate? Will they still need commands when they hit higher tech levels? V. curious to see other worlds (besides Mistborn) advance into higher tech levels!

Also... it is totally an iPad. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16--I like this quote: (view spoiler)[Physical labor is great for the mind, as it leaves all kinds of time to consider the world. Other work, like accounting or scribing, demands little of the body—but siphons energy from the mind.--makes me think both of how Sanderson has talked of his early years working menial jobs that left the mind free, and also how exhausted I am after a day of mental work... (hide spoiler)]

The growing chapter titles are starting to freak me out.... as beautiful as they are...

[Nirkatze]

Chapter 18 Ulaam, Cosmere--(view spoiler)[grey skin, red eyes, dead bodies. Kandra? with red eyes suggests NOT Harmony Kandra, maybe Trell Kandra, or free Kandra. Though I guess eyes can be any color, so this is not necessarily indicative? It was more... a flash in the eyes, right?

Reminds me of the dude in Mistborn 2 whose name I can't remember, with Breeze's hands, who was always asking for body parts after death.

But Kandras eat, don't they?

Hah! And I love that Ulaam was teasing Hoid by writing accounts of his loss of good senses and sending them off to people they knew. Like Harmony? (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "Through Ch 16 I learned something new - fluidization! Or I probably relearend something I forgot from science class lol So neat...."

So glad I found your comments Narilka!! I'm feeling the same on all levels. I loved the little fluidization mini-lesson and the fun upper level vocab randomly tossed in all over the place... (view spoiler)[Hoid sightings! Aether explanations! The story does mention Aether--even roseite--but I don't remember where/when exactly. A quick ebook search hits 40+ aether mentions and 20+ roseite mentions. I'd totally forgotten that TwoSoul used water to grow the crystals--I was actually wondering about that, so thank you! I'd even forgotten TwoSoul's name...

Totally agree--everyone needs a talking rat friend... I like that he's so down to earth and practical too. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Oh thank god you started Nirkatze. Now I have someone to speculate with :D

Through Ch 28 (view spoiler)[A minor link to Mistborn! Very cool how the metals push/pulled the rosiette to grow in different directions. Also a lot of confirmation about how the magic works in the Cosmere with Investiture that builds on info from the Lost Metal. That captain is quite scary. Is that what TwoSoul had only for a different spore type? He too was going through water like crazy. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 18 Ulaam, Cosmere--"

Oooo (view spoiler)[That's an interesting guess. Yes kandra eat and later he goes into wanting (view spoiler)[dead bodies (hide spoiler)] and leaves the purpose inferred. (hide spoiler)] Sorry for the nested spoiler. I don't remember which chapter that tid bit was in. Somewhere before Ch 28.

Ulaam from Ch 28 specifically (view spoiler)[When he's briefly explaining Investiture to Tress he mentions Awakening. That was from Warbreaker's planet right? If so, he's well traveled. I need to do a reread of Warbreaker. I don't remember it as well as the other books other than the mood-ring hair and using breath to awaken objects.

He had to cut off the ear from his leg. Wouldn't a kandra just have manipulated their muscles so it popped off? Is Sanderson toying with us to keep us guessing? :) (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

@EchoBaz - I have not read Stormlight Archive or White Sands. I have read the rest of the Cosmere aside from a couple short stories. According to my Kindle, I'm 42% in. There are minor links to other worlds so far. As someone who has read those books I'm delighted to notice them and mention them in my spoilers. I think for someone who hasn't read the books, you'll be fine to this point. Enough information is given within the story to explain what is relevant. Tress is learning a lot as she goes ;)

Our commentary may be more spoilery/meta than the book.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Just read all of your posts! I'm spoiler tagging as i am not sure what's a Cosmere spoiler or not but these aren't really spoiler ish.

(view spoiler)[Yes awakening is from Warbreaker.

Yes all of the people on Roshar, except the Parshendi, are not native. I was thinking that Tress looks like an Iriali meant that they came from Roshar, not the other way around. Duh. That's a great thought that this planet is where the Iriali first came from! (hide spoiler)]

I love the idea that the tablet is an iPad lol

So i know Sanderson loves his comedy, but he's not great at it lol. This book is very comedy heavy. He wrote it trying to make a Princess Bride type book for what if Buttercup went looking for Wesley instead of doing nothing (his wife had made the comment after they did a family watch of Princess Bride). Anyway, Princess Bride was comedy heavy and therefore so is this one. But his comedy is often more dad jokes like than actually funny lol. I mean i love the book so far (I'm about 30% in) and i love Sanderson (understatement) but sometimes I have to groan at his jokes lol

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "Oh thank god you started Nirkatze. Now I have someone to speculate with :D

Through Ch 28 [spoilers removed]"

OMG I stopped reading this morning specifically to hop over to FBR and write up just the same thing. XD.

Oh, and for the record, I've read all the Cosmere books except for White Sand #3--I have it but I'm bad with Graphic Novels--but I forget things a lot. I also don't read forums really, unlike Iain.

All the Cosmere discussion: (view spoiler)[I'm finding it really interesting how it feels like several different forms of Investure are meshing here--there's he Aether, which we got a really nice description of here in Ch. 28, the use of metals in ways that are similar to Scadrial, the use of silver which is more like Threnody--honestly, can anyone tell me what silver does in allomancy? I feel like folks think it's useless currently...---mentions of Awakening from Warbreaker (albeit imported tech)--and he Midnight Essence also shows up on Roshar--with I think the same effects--children of the Midnight Mother.

So even though this book is really newbie friendly, it's (I think) the most pan-Cosmere connected book so far...

And I think you're right on track about Captain Crow being like TwoSoul, but with a different Aether--except for what Ulaam said about the Aether in this world being animalistic--it's like what TwoSoul would have been like if he was only OneSoul--it seems the Aether here is NOT sentient.

Pretty much betting that Captain Crow is looking for a way to heal herself, maybe with help from the Sorceress.

Also wondering if the Sorceress might be the Midnight Mother from Roshar. That would be interesting. And curious. Also want to know how spren and aether are connected now... especially since aether is not investure from the shards, right? Or did I remember that totally wrong from Lost Metal?

Oh! Furthermore--I've been wondering if Tress' hair is going to be important somehow--it's liveliness almost sounds like Royal Locks, doesn't it? Minus the color. Ditto on wanting to reread Warbreaker... (hide spoiler)]

Darn now I want to reread Warbreaker. I'd ask if anyone else wants to BR but dang there are so many scheduled for the next few months...

re: Ulaam--Cosmere--(view spoiler)[I am now 99% sure Ulaam is a Kandra--for one, I was just realizing, Ulaam is a very Kandra name! Look at MeLaan. TenSoon. The double vowels! And maybe he's not as practiced with body manipulation, or just didn't need the mass? Kandra can cut parts off without pain too...

I almost wonder if Ulaam might be in Ghostbloods, specifically keeping an eye on Hoid (Like wasn't Moonlight supposedly doing that on Scadrial?) and also Ghostbloods are searching for ways to carry investment across worlds, right? Ulaam's description of how spores pull investment explosively from the spirit realm seems like something Ghostbloods would want to investigate. Kandra don't really need tattoos though. :) (hide spoiler)]

@Diana--thank you for the Roshar folk confirmation, and the book background! I'm really curious now (view spoiler)[about where all the disparate folk from Roshar came from... the Iriali are one, and then Szeth's folk were the originals who then broke their oath and spread out into the world, probably becoming Alethi and others... but which of the races evolved from Szeth's folk, and which came from other worlds separately? Herdazian, Horneater, eyebrow-folk, colony-folk (whose names I am all forgetting) Amiain? Lots of thoughts... (hide spoiler)]

I'm finding the comedy pretty satisfying so far--but it definitely does have lots of groanworthy moments... I wonder if the dad joke thing is a Hoid thing specifically?

[Narilka]

Silver in Allomancy (view spoiler)[My copy of the Lost Metal is still by my desk lol Silver is not listed in the Ars Arcanum. So either it has no use or an undiscovered use. If silver negates Aether and it's not encountered much on Scadrial... don't know! (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

I'd be up to reread Warbreaker maybe this summer lol The audio book is very long and that's the copy I have currently.

[Narilka]

Ch 31 (view spoiler)["Tress, of course, underestimated the human mind's ability to believe whatever the hell it wants."

So, so true. I think her new knowledge is only going to make them believe she's a king's spy more /facepalm

Very very interesting stuff those midnight spores. (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Just finished chapter 31

(view spoiler)[
I'm not sure if Ulaam is a kandra, though you are right that his name is very Kandra like. But his skin is grey and he eats organs and muscle, not bones. I was thinking he could be like those bugs that combine into a person from Stormlight maybe?

I like that, I can't remember if it were Tress or Ulaam who said it but something about who is more responsible for the crime, the criminal or the society that made the criminal. Marasi said something similar in Alloy of Law.

The dragon in the crimson sea, do we think that's the same dragon Hoid was writing letters to in Stomlight chapter beginnings (I can't remember what those are called) (hide spoiler)]

I'm really enjoying this book so far. Very light and easy to read.

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "I'd be up to reread Warbreaker maybe this summer lol The audio book is very long and that's the copy I have currently."

Summer is a possibility. :) I'll put it in my calendar to check in. I've been enjoying using audio to do rereads lately, so I might join you in the same medium.

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "Ch 31 ..."

Oh that is so true! It was ringing memory bells of (view spoiler)[other secret special agent assumption examples (hide spoiler)], but I couldn't think of anything in particular... that was a great scene.

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Just finished chapter 31 ..."

re: Ulaam (view spoiler)[I was wondering about that too--but his attitude is very similar to VenDell (I think that was his name?) in Mistborn Era 2--and MeLaan has said that most Kandra aren't as skilled at forming bodies... and maybe some like VenDell collect hands etc, and others collect organs? I can see it being something that a Kandra might be interested in doing like a hobby--trying out different body parts... I think the grey skin and red eyes could be an affectation--maybe he is imitating a specific race? Didn't the people Trell would have brought through to Scadrial have red eyes? Gold skin though...

I was also considering the cremling guy--but he couldn't look passably human enough--like, you could see the seams and he kept covered up all the time--or the...I think Aimian? The scholar who would write things on his body and end up chopped up but be ok. His skin was kind of greyish blue--but I don't think he had the same body control or interest in dead bodies at all...

Could also be something completely new too! I'm just putting my money on Kandra.

I was also wondering the same thing about Xisis! I really hope we get to see Hoid & Xisis meet... even if he's not the correspondent, I wonder if they know each other...

And I also really liked that little conversation between Ulaam & Tress--I bet she'd get along famously with Marasi... I would've loved to see Marasi become a worldhopper. (hide spoiler)]

Before chapter 35 but I don't remember exactly were--Ulaam & Tess have a chat (view spoiler)[and Hoid comes in and talks about using socks to strain pasta, and Ulaam takes out a little notebook and writes it down, saying he's looking forward to holding those over Hoid in decades to come--that made me laugh. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Re Ulaam (view spoiler)[I was thinking the skin/eye combo as an affectation too. They can basically look however they want right? (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch 44 (view spoiler)[Hoid confirmed the Kandra theory. I highlighted the quote lol "The Stupid shapeshifter was enjoying this. I swear, they've all been getting weirder ever since Sazed released them." So it seems we'll see more kandra throughout the Cosmere.

The give and take between Tress thinking she has the upper hand and then realizing she was had is pretty realistic. I am very interested to see where her tinkering with explosives goes. And she discovered that other forms of aether, not just the midnight blob, can form a bond and be less harmful. I'm confident this is going to be very important.

I love how the chapter headers have changed now that we're on a new sea. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Nirkatze wrote: "Narilka wrote: "I'd be up to reread Warbreaker maybe this summer lol The audio book is very long and that's the copy I have currently."

Summer is a possibility. :) I'll put it in my calendar to ch..."

I was checking the Secret Projects FAQ. September is Warbreaker month if you did the monthly boxes. We could time it with that and enjoy the theme :)

[Diana Stormblessed]

Narilka wrote: "Re Ulaam [spoilers removed]

Through Ch 44 Hoid confirmed the Kandra theory. I highlighted the quote lol "The Stupid shapeshifter was enjoying this. I swear, they've all been getting weirder ever s..."

I'm not on 44 but i read your spoiler. The arguments for it you guys were making were really convincing and you had me buying it even without the confirmation in book lol

[Nirkatze]

Narilka wrote: "I was checking the Secret Projects FAQ. September is Warbreaker month if you did the monthly boxes. We could time it with that and enjoy the theme :) ..."

Ooooh, I like that idea!! I'll put a note in my tracker... Now I need to get up to Ch. 44!

[Tonari no Emily]

Do we know when hardcopies are being sent?

[Narilka]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Do we know when hardcopies are being sent?"

Not yet. Everyone is supposed to receive shipping tracking info once the books start going out. There was some supply chain issue at the end of last year that caused delays.

[Diana Stormblessed]

They posted pics of the "books" on instagram today and they weren't bound yet, so i'd say we prob have a bit longer to wait. I think they said end of Dec that with the midwestern storm and holidays they were pushing back their expectations and hoping to get them out mid month now.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Chapter 53ish (view spoiler)[ I love how she got out of being the dragon's servant. Brilliant lol (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Taking it back a chapter to the end of chapter 52(view spoiler)[It is the same dragon that Hoid wrote to in Stormlight cuz he called Hoid Cephandrius to Tess. I missed that part entirely but my husband is also reading it and I had told him i wonder if it's the same dragon as from Stormlight and he just told me he just got to that part and quoted it to me so i went back to look it up. "There is precisely one being I fear on this planet - and no, your friend Cephandrius doesn't count". (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Chapter 48--I loved the notes about heroism, and nods to first responders/military etc.

Hoid, connections to Rhythm of War climactic moment--(view spoiler)[OMG, the revelation of Hoid's fear: No, my greatest nightmare is the one where I learn I’ve been repeating myself for years, telling the same tired jokes, the same stories—energetically wearing a path through people’s patience and fondness until even the weeds upon it are dead. Makes that one chapter in Rhythm of War after the clash with Odium that much more horrible. And that chapter already sent shivers of horrible premonition up my spine... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 52--(view spoiler)[Cloth that gags Crow--Awakened?

Hah! Loved the deal. Saw that coming. But only two chapters ago. So enough to feel smart but really it was all Sanderson.

Cephandrius is another of Hoid's aliases, right? I mean, the comment pretty much says so... Doesn't the letters with the dragon also call him that in Stormlight? So maybe it's the Dragons' name for him--which would make it a pretty early name... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 53--Cosmere (view spoiler)[Death with nails in his eyes--interesting that this image of "Death" has spread through the Cosmere. I wonder if that would be the Ghostbloods' doing, considering their origins? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 53--awwww (view spoiler)[I just love that Tress chose boons on behalf of her crewmates... (hide spoiler)]

54 OK, I need to geek out for a minute. FONTS! (view spoiler)[More apparent in the PDF version than the epub, but IT IS JUST A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FONT for Fort's new iPad!!!! His old board used a font called Underground, a nice slightly rounded sans-serif, and new one uses one called Turnip, a slightly chunky serif font! I just love this attention to detail... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Taking it back a chapter to the end of chapter 52[spoilers removed]"

Ah, I wrote up similar guesses before looking at your spoilers. Nice to get that confirmation! (view spoiler)[I do wonder if Xisis is the same dragon, or just another one... I feel like I'd heard somewhere (maybe a Q&A?) that Hoid's correspondent doesn't worldhop and is one of the authors of the 17th Shard... and Xisis is a worldhopper, I think...

I really want to know what Xisis is researching... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Chapter 56--Cosmere (view spoiler)[Hoid says Oh yes. I’ve said those words. I said them with sixteen other people, in fact. The bit about not trusting them to make the right decisions... I bet this is a reference to the sixteen who shattered Adonalsium. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 60--with Cosmere thoughts... (view spoiler)[The way the tower is described, and the Sorceresses room--sounds like a spaceship... yeah, she calls it a bridge. It's a ship.

LAPTOP!! HAH!! Fort's thingy is an iPad!! LOL

I wonder if this is all tech from Sel--and if the Sorceress is actually an Elantran, or another person like Hoid who just goes around collecting different Investure... still, she seems mainly to be using AonDor--though I really want to know how the curses work too. And Seslo could be a Seon.

Gah! Rat is Charlie!! Oh I love that! I did not see that coming! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 61 Cosmere--(view spoiler)[Sorceress using Lightweaving--so does that mean she also has a bond with a spren, or is she causing the same effect with the AonDor? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 64 Cosmere--(view spoiler)[Riina sounds like an Elantran name... and Hoid's note about adoption... so I guess she is Elantran. And now Hoid has Elantran powers too.

Spaceship yay!!!! I really want to know which world is at that tech level. Is this from Nalthis too? (hide spoiler)]

So... which month is Elantris? I've been wanting to do a reread of that since Lost Metal...

Well, I really really loved this one! It's just so nice and feel good...

[Narilka]

Re: Hoid connection (view spoiler)[I thought that was an interesting fear. Since he's immortal though, there's a good chance to repeat yourself a lot heh Guess I'll learn more when we do that Stormlight read next year. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 53 I had wondered that too! (view spoiler)[Or did Marsh go wandering the Cosmere?? Any idea where in the Mistborn timeline we are at? The comment about letting the Kandra roam the 'mere seems maybe it's set after Lost Metal. Thoughts? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 54 fonts - I cannot wait to see that in the hardback :D Reading the epub I didn't notice at all.

[Narilka]

Elantris is June. Here's the full schedule for easy reference:


January – Secret Project #1
February – Hoid Themed Swag Box
March – Cytoverse Themed Swag Box
April – Secret Project #2
May – Mistborn Themed Swag Box
June – Elantris/Emperor’s Soul Themed Swag Box
July – Secret Project #3
August – Cosmere Themed Swag Box
September – Warbreaker Themed Swag Box
October – Secret Project #4
November – Stormlight Archive Themed Swag Box
December – Sanderson Fan Themed Swag Box


After looking at this... maybe we should start a BR for Stormlight in November and take a year to build up to book 5's release? we could include the novellas and maybe go every other month due to the size of these monsters. Thoughts?

[Narilka]

Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 56--Cosmere..."

I loved this mention. I've always hated that trope in books/movie/tv. You know (view spoiler)[how much easier everyone's lives would be if they'd just TALK to each other and tell each other things. It would also force the writers to be more creative in how they set up the conflict in their stories.

It's even worse in RL, especially at work when running a project and people decide not to tell you something important so you don't worry.... ok maybe it's just me ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

I would love to read them, but... Can't find them Secret Project books... Eh...

[Diana Stormblessed]

Monika wrote: "I would love to read them, but... Can't find them Secret Project books... Eh..."

They haven't been released to the public yet as Kickstarter backers get them first, but i think they will be later this month so you don't need to wait too long.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Audio releases for sale on the 10th I think

[Charlie]

I think I’m gonna wait a week or two before I start secret project 1 as I’ve got so many books on the go right now leftover from last year, very excited to get to it though!

I’ve only read Stormlight #1 so if there’s going to be a Stormlight BR this year I’d definitely be interested (though I’ll be very slow!)

[Siobhan]

I didn't do the kickstarter, decided to wait for them to be traditionally published. Pre-ordered Tress of the Emerald Sea (book 1) from Waterstones but it's not due out until April.

[Narilka]

Yeah. I think the email said that ebook/audio would release mid-month after backers got their copies with physicals on a 3 month delay.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Narilka wrote: "Yeah. I think the email said that ebook/audio would release mid-month after backers got their copies with physicals on a 3 month delay."

Ohhh didn't realize that physical was going to be so delayed. I'm generally an audiobook "reader" so that's always what I focus on.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Started today, on the drive to work... took small notes on each small chapters, might expand a bit, while pasting now:

Chapter 1. (view spoiler)[ Reminded of the Children of Time spore world, the humans fled, because the fungal spores clogged technology… Iriali?… this world sounds like an amalgam... more thoughts on this at the end (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2. (view spoiler)[ Like characters, forgot blurb, prince going to be kidnapped?… Hoid storyteller?... narration definitely sounds like Kramer's Hoid voice... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3. (view spoiler)[ Duke’s evil smile :( (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4. (view spoiler)[ “I lied” lol… glove metaphor… so sweet… a year passed?… End: oh, no!!!… Hoid the cabin boy… narrator confirmed... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5. (view spoiler)[ New heir / nephew and bride… oh,no!!!… also kinda ridiculous sounding… and princess of dormancy?… almost sounds perfect for Boring Prince Charlie :D (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6. (view spoiler)[ Advanced Fathering XD (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7. (view spoiler)[ Loved this bar scene, and the currency of the island, and the advanced darts game :D (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8. (view spoiler)[ Escaping was clever… why poison her mead?... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9. (view spoiler)[ Smugglers... Talking rat... has me thinking of the cat in Agatha H and the Airship City... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10. (view spoiler)[ Spore vine description… *shudder* ... "you're welcome"… thanks alot, Hoid... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11. (view spoiler)[ More twisted than a librarian’s lovelife…



Tress is getting alot more adventure than she bargained for… at this point, I have no idea how she will succeed in her quest… (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12. (view spoiler)[ Conquering her spore fears, and coming up with great ideas like the spitvines, is one way… (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13. (view spoiler)[ New crew… better fate?… 3rd shift… she’s got her work cut out for her… Hoid again… cursed?… (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14. (view spoiler)[ Peak Doug… this whole segment was awesome... I love Hoid / Sanderson... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15. (view spoiler)[ Taste, Humor, Decorum, Sense of Self, Wit… Hoid the Cabin Boy… (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16. (view spoiler)[ Tress gets to work (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17. (view spoiler)[ The plot thickens… lots of foreshadowing… and her face explodes?!? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18. (view spoiler)[ If the Underworld had Legal Council, it would be this man… (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19. (view spoiler)[ Ulaam... Kandra?... most likely... only other thing I can think of is that weird race on Roshar, from one of the Stormlight Interludes... (hide spoiler)]

World / Story: (view spoiler)[I think one of the blurbs I read said "for fans of the Princess Bride"... I can kinda see that (altho, I'm not the most versed in the Princess Bride... I haven't read the book, and I've only seen the movie a few times...

I'm loving the story/chapter structure of this book, tho... and it has me wondering if this world is real, or one of Hoid's stories, built out of an amalgam of elements of real worlds... like Tress in the Emerald Sea is a book within the Cosmere, not a world / real story...

So far, there'e Iriali (Stormlight Archive / Roshar), a possible Kandra (Ulaam) (Mistborn / Scadriel)... mentions of Aether (roseite crystals) (unknown world / introduced in Lost Metal, first thought of in unpublished Aether of Night)... the Spore Ocean kinda reminds me of the ocean of rocks/beads in Shadesmar, that turn into real objects when thought hard enough, since the beads are the souls of objects in the real world... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Chapter 19: (view spoiler)[I think Huck the Rat has a bit of Hoid in him... or Wayne (Mistborn, Era 2)... doing re-enactments with voices... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Chapter 20-21: (view spoiler)[It was interesting watching Tress be canny with the captain, but I'm glad she decided to stay and help the crew get out from under the thumb of the captain...

Sounds like the captain has powers, tho... wonder which ones...

Will Tress & Charlie even still be compatible, when they reunite?... who knows what's going on with Charlie, but Tress is adapting so much, in a short amount of time... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 23: (view spoiler)[I should consider this more, and not jump to conclusions... LOL... (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Nirkatze wrote: "Chapter 60--with Cosmere thoughts... ..."

I had the same thoughts (view spoiler)[That the tower is a space ship and that the Sorceress is an Elantran. I mean she has aeon glyphs in the halls and stuff.

I'm not sure how I feel with mixing our version of technology in with these super fantasy worlds. Perhaps it will grow on me as Mistborn Era 3 is written and we can watch a world progress more organically.

I also thought her just handing Charlie over for a pair of cups was too easy and something was up. Good for Tress figuring it out! I did not expect it to be Huck lol (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Cosmere question (view spoiler)[Hoid frequently mentions he's immortal. Is this covered at all in Stormlight? or is that why fans are anxious for a Hoid novella? (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Ch 61 (view spoiler)[I expected the crew to follow somehow. That timing is perfect :D (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Narilka wrote: "Cosmere question [spoilers removed]"

All that's really known, is (view spoiler)[Hoid was there at the Shattering... when the 16 Original Shardbearers / Avatars banded together and killed Adonalsium, and embodied the 16 Shards that became known as Ruin, Preservation, Odium, Honor, Cultivation, Devotion, Dominion, Endowment, Autonomy, Ambition, Invention, Mercy, Valor, Whimsy, "Survival" (possibly Wisdom or Prudence) and the final Unknown Shard...

The Shattering happened about 11,000 to 12,000 years ago on the planet Yolen...

He started off human, but all Sanderson will say these days is "it's complicated"...

He's the 2nd oldest character we've met in the Cosmere (I think the oldest might be the dragon Hoid sends letters to in one of the Stormlight epigraphs... the dragon leads the 17th Shard, an organization opposed to interfering with events playing out in the Cosmere, so opposed to Hoid in general...)

Hoid has at least one branch of magic from most Cosmere/Shard worlds, at this point... altho events in Stormlight Archive are the only place we've seen him gain/lose magics...

His immortality probably comes from mixing magics across worlds to yield compounding effects...

It's largely assumed that he shows up at pivotal events in the Cosmere through manipulation of luck, thanks to Feruchemy (Mistborn magic system)... which is why he's regularly a beggar... he's storing luck for later use, so he's "down on his luck"... (hide spoiler)]

I think that hit's the high points of what's known and surmised... combination of what I already knew, and some confirmation using the Coppermind wiki (shard names list, etc)...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Chapter 28: Ulaam again: this book is just rife with Cosmere references... but I don't think not getting the larger context will hurt the enjoyment of the story any... just alot of food for thought for mega-fans...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Chapter 30: (view spoiler)[Tress, the diabolical mastermind... I'm loving this... LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Narilka wrote: "Silver in Allomancy [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Silver is allomantically inert... but it's said that there are uses for silver that are yet unknown on Scadriel...

Electrum alloy is 55% silver and 45% gold, and has allomantic use...

It seems like this inert state is common in alot of Cosmere magic systems tho... kinda reminds me of vampire/werewolf lore...

It repels Cognitive Shadows on Threnody... acts as an anchor in Threnodite Chains, due to a Cognitive anomaly in the Threnody orbital cycle, disables spore in this book, and it can potentially kill spren permanently on Roshar (Stormlight Archive)... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Narilka wrote: "Oh thank god you started Nirkatze. Now I have someone to speculate with :D

Through Ch 28 [spoilers removed]"

OMG I stopped reading this morning specifically to hop over to FBR and..."

You sound more fresh on Cosmere details than me... been awhile since I went down the re-read/wiki rabbithole... (view spoiler)[the Midnight Mother is one of Odium's Unmade... would be really worried if he was fiddling with this world...

The more we talk about Tress/hair, the more I wonder if there's going to be a Rapunzel element to the story... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Chapter 31: (view spoiler)[I knew all the thoughts of salt while using the Midnight Aether weren't good... (hide spoiler)]