[Abyss]

....and thus the latest STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE book, bk 5 WIND AND TRUTH, landed at around midnight PST.

This is my reading/listening thread.

It is not your reading/listening thread.

SPOILERS are open for all prior Cosmere books and
wherever i'm at in WaT.

Me.

My read.

If you want farther-on spoilers, start your own damn thread or wait.




....and we're off (in a day or so when i finish my current book....)

[JPK]

So I stopped reading these after book 3 because I wanted to wait for a couple more books to drop to see if a lot of the pacing issues I've had with the series clears up or continues. As such, I'll be ignoring this thread moving forward. That said, I tend to trust your taste. Would you be willing to drop a go/no-go in reading at the moment when you finish this?

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 JPK, on 06 December 2024 - 06:03 PM, said:

So I stopped reading these after book 3 because I wanted to wait for a couple more books to drop to see if a lot of the pacing issues I've had with the series clears up or continues. As such, I'll be ignoring this thread moving forward. That said, I tend to trust your taste. Would you be willing to drop a go/no-go in reading at the moment when you finish this?

Happy to. It's rumoured this book 5 is the 'end point'; for phase one of the 10-book SLA series, so it will be interesting to see how much of an 'end' it is.

[Tiste Simeon]

"I farted! It was me!"

~Wind and Truth probably

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 06 December 2024 - 10:48 PM, said:

"I farted! It was me!"

~Wind and Truth probably

"Oh shut up Kaladin"
~Most of the cast probably

[QuickTidal]

Tiste Simeon, on 06 December 2024 - 10:48 PM, said:

"I farted! It was me!"

~Wind and Truth probably

There's a conversation (admittedly from Oroden, Kal's little brother) about Poop. But it's pretty close to this.


LOL

[QuickTidal]

Crossposted from Reading:


I am getting a physical copy for xmas most likely, but audible has me on a $0.99 for three months thing where I get a credit a month, so I nabbed it as audiobook to start listening early.


I dunno, it's fine so far.

The Prologue:

Me: There's probably nothing that Sando can show of Gavilars death in the prologues 5 books in that will surprise me:

Spoiler

HOLY FUCKING SHIT....Kelsier?! In his muthafuzuckin' Mistcoat? Not only that, but godlike Kelsier sassing Gavilar and threatening him if he doesn't deliver Restares/Kalak?

HOLY FUCKING SHIT...Gavilar was talking with The Stormfather? Holy shit The stormfather's reluctance to bond Dalinar all this time was because Gavilar betrayed him? Gavilar was trying to force himself into being a herald? Gavilar is a galaxy class moron.

And HOLY FUCKING SHIT Kelsier kills a herald OFFSCREEN?! And we know know about it because there stormfather feels his absence in the force? In know people seem inclined to think that it was Szeth who killed someone who was also a herald at the feast, but we just saw Kelsier exhibit power, mention having "moved beyond" the heralds, being called something ";like a Radiant" but not the same... and threaten Gav to get at Kayak, a herald. Also...has anyone established if in the cosmere if you can use your powers on other planets? Like can Kelsier burn metals and have mist born powers while on Roshar, or no?

What the fucking Sketchpad is going on with the Stormfather?....starting to think he's not exactly who he says he is.

Chapter 1-3 of Day One.

Spoiler

I mean, Sando really isn't going to do Kaladin Syl romance is he? I know it's leaned that way...but um...

Also me: Fuck me, he is isn't he? Brandon you dirtbag you.

Also who do we think is writing the Wind & Truth chapter entries? My guess is Sigzil. He makes the most sense considering what we know from THE SUNLIT MAN...I know people souls want to lean Kaladin or Szeth...but that feels too easy.

And the "wind" that Kal keeps hearing....Cultivation?

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 09 December 2024 - 02:19 PM

[Abyss]

Prologue - I kind of liked how he managed to tie SO MANY plotlines back to this one Gavilar sequence. Ghostbloods, Sons of Honor, worldwalkers, Singers, Dalinar, Stormfather, prophecy, radiants, Heralds, Sadeus, Szeth.... it was pretty wild.

It also triggered me buying the ebook and bookmarking Coppermind in the pre-Wind n Truth time machine mode, because dear gods i had forgotten SO SO MUCH, tho for the most part quick reads/reminders are all i needed. I'm good w earbooks for most things but here there's so much background i need to remember/look up and that doesn't work when i'm driving

Chapters 1-7 (til Dalinar and Kal chat on the mountain)

Kaladin just hovering at the edge of irritating me. I like his new optimistic self but the 'oh wait i'm actually deeply depressed oh wait no i'm not' moments are a little more frequent than i need. Syl (now in colour!) is the saving grace here, she delightfully chews scenery in a way any Kal segment desperately needs.

Same for Shallan's multiple-not-identities issues. K, we get it, move on, please. The two spren revelation from last book has me very intrigued but risks spiralling into another kaladin-like whirlpool of guilty guiltness.

Otoh Adolin is so loveable even i'm starting to crush on him. The interactions with Maya are bang on, and HE BROUGHT HIS HORSE AND HAD THEM MAKE IT FLY. And his sword collection, natch.

Wit chatting w Kaladin was interesting. Definitely set the scene for going fwd.

I find it interesting how much time and plot is being focused around the former/living Heralds.

Dalinar's segments are good. Making Kaladin heir makes sense (and was a handy way to review the other candidates for the reader) and as setup goes 'if i die and Navani dies it's over to you Kal' is one hell of a subplot.

The Wind... Cultivation? that wish granting swamp goddess thing? Odium in a dress? ...tbd.

...so far, so good, it's great to be back in this world.

[QuickTidal]

 Abyss, on 10 December 2024 - 03:31 PM, said:

Kaladin just hovering at the edge of irritating me. I like his new optimistic self but the 'oh wait i'm actually deeply depressed oh wait no i'm not' moments are a little more frequent than i need.

Same for Shallan's multiple-not-identities issues. K, we get it, move on, please.

The HARDEST of agreement.

Like I know this series is Brandon waxing intellectual on mental health, but my gods, there's almost no progress and even when there IS progress he backtracks it becuase Kat and Shallan acting like they always have must feel familiar and easy and writing them with any growth out of their issues would be harder...like who is Kal when he's not broody McGrumperson? Who is Shallan when she's not jumping into identities to keep her mind from fracturing? Like Shallan especially bothers me...you've come to the realization about your mother now...the personalities can be done and dusted...they served their purpose, but keeping Veil and Radiant around means Shallan hasn't learned sweet FA on how to regulate herself and my gods it's annoying.

 Abyss, on 10 December 2024 - 03:31 PM, said:

Otoh Adolin is so loveable even i'm starting to crush on him. The interactions with Maya are bang on, and HE BROUGHT HIS HORSE AND HAD THEM MAKE IT FLY.

He really is one of my fave characters in all of Stormlight...

 Abyss, on 10 December 2024 - 03:31 PM, said:

I find it interesting how much time and plot is being focused around the former/living Heralds.

And that they seem to all serve the OPPOSITE of their old selves and intents. Like they've rotted from the inside out and become things they despised just by living so long.

 Abyss, on 10 December 2024 - 03:31 PM, said:

The Wind... Cultivation? that wish granting swamp goddess thing? Odium in a dress? ...tbd.

...so far, so good, it's great to be back in this world.

This is my first time on a SLA audiobook...the voices are throwing me a LITTLE? Restares/Kalak sounds like a weaselly little accountant...not a Herald. But maybe that's intentional?

[QuickTidal]

Two other things...Sazed getting a mention by Wit in Chapter 4 was a trip.


Also, I was NOT expecting the angry Wit Lecture...but seeing him come a bit unhinged after spending so much time as Mr. Calm Cool and Collected Cosmere Boy was kinda dope.

Oh, and I forgot that Kelsier can't leave Scadrial...so that was a projection and the reason for the blue glow when Gav saw him...but wait...that means my theory about him killing a Herald at the feast is way off base...IT ALSO JUST MADE ME REALIZE THAT HE WAS USING A SEON PROJECTION...MF'in (Elantis) Sel's version of Spren/cognitive being being used by a quasi god on Scadrial to project himself onto Roshar...holy shitballs.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 10 December 2024 - 06:37 PM

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 10 December 2024 - 04:46 PM, said:

...
This is my first time on a SLA audiobook...the voices are throwing me a LITTLE? Restares/Kalak sounds like a weaselly little accountant...not a Herald. But maybe that's intentional?

Maybeeee.... that WAS a flashback and i think he goes through some changes before we see him in the present story and without Nial babysitting, but i might be making that all up in my heads.

[Abyss]

Chapters 7 - 17

SYL HAS A CHUL HEAD FOR A HOO-HAH

NIGHTBLOOD LIKES PANCAKES

SHALLAN AND ADOLIN JUST BANGED IN THE SHOWER


....and some other stuff happened CHUL HEAD FOR A HOO-HAH!!!!!!!!!!!

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 12 December 2024 - 04:29 PM, said:

Chapters 7 - 17

SYL HAS A CHUL HEAD FOR A HOO-HAH

....and some other stuff happened CHUL HEAD FOR A HOO-HAH!!!!!!!!!!!

The fact that the thing this book is 100% going to be know for (going forward) is a description, as it were, of Syl's vagina.


Like if you didn't think that Brandon wants Syladin as endgame, you'd be disabused of that notion now.

Insanity.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 12 December 2024 - 04:43 PM, said:

Abyss, on 12 December 2024 - 04:29 PM, said:

Chapters 7 - 17

SYL HAS A CHUL HEAD FOR A HOO-HAH

....and some other stuff happened CHUL HEAD FOR A HOO-HAH!!!!!!!!!!!

The fact that the thing this book is 100% going to be know for (going forward) is a description, as it were, of Syl's vagina.


Like if you didn't think that Brandon wants Syladin as endgame, you'd be disabused of that notion now.

Insanity.

He's totally going there and it even makes sense as a way to reconcile humans and spren. I would have preferred he not but am not overly bothered by it.


...other than the visual CHUL HEAD HOO-HAH!!!!!

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 12 December 2024 - 06:15 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 12 December 2024 - 04:43 PM, said:

Abyss, on 12 December 2024 - 04:29 PM, said:

Chapters 7 - 17

SYL HAS A CHUL HEAD FOR A HOO-HAH

....and some other stuff happened CHUL HEAD FOR A HOO-HAH!!!!!!!!!!!

The fact that the thing this book is 100% going to be know for (going forward) is a description, as it were, of Syl's vagina.


Like if you didn't think that Brandon wants Syladin as endgame, you'd be disabused of that notion now.

Insanity.

He's totally going there and it even makes sense as a way to reconcile humans and spren. I would have preferred he not but am not overly bothered by it.

It's interesting as this puts similar cognitive realm creatures on other cosmere worlds into a different relief...as they are all technically spren by another name...

[Abyss]

It also opens a door to humans - who it turns out are not native to Roshar - moving into the cognitive realm and the other worlds. If for example Odium's champion wins, in theory they could evac the planet into the wider Cosmere. That's an extreme and unlikely example, but when i think about it, Roshar is a fairly hostile planet, and it being a waypoint rather than an endpoint for humanity (yes, journey before destination) would make sense.

[QuickTidal]

I'm interested why some Cosmere worlds are somewhat-to-majorly inhospitable to humans and they have just adapted....Roshar, Scadrial (pre-Harmony-moves-the-planet obvs), Threnody, Taldain, Canticle...most of those having to do with the position of the star near the planet, or the orbit around it....


Roshar's storms DO seem to indicate that it's special in that regard though...


While others Nalthis, Sel, BRaize, Ashar ect. all seem to be pretty normal planets with pretty normal climates and hospitable-ness....you know?


Like is that just for diversity of planets in the stories, or is there a reason....be it Shard-reason (Like Sel is absent its shards, so I feel like it's like a Dead Sea....hospitable, but empty), or perhaps something to do with Adolnasium in general...

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 12 December 2024 - 07:34 PM

[Abyss]

I wonder whether the shards actually mess the planets up pretty badly and Odium's 'no more gods' thing is more on point than anyone has realized.

[Abyss]

in non faerie vagina related notes re chapters 7-17, now 21... (Kal and Szeth arriving in Shinn and meeting stationary plants)

- at this point, after so many heartfelt deep emo goodbyes, i'm going to be devastatingly disappointed if Kal doesn't die a horrible glorious universe saving death;

- that said I admit that i kind of enjoyed the goodbyes - it was an effective review of the characters who were important to him. Sigzil in particular, having read THE SUNLIT MAN, but the others too. The Bridge 4 tatoo scene was an especially nice touch;

- Navani's explorations of the Tower and her relationship w the Sibling is interesting and i hope we get more of it;

- Yasna's relationship w Wit is less interesting but the insight into her character and the bits of history we're getting are more so. I love that she's taking command of one of the three fronts;

- three fronts - yep, they're fncked. That said i appreciate that Brandon didn't go for the obvious 'we'll have to sacrifice one of these cities to save the other two' plot. Dalinar's firm 'we are fighting everywhere our allies are' stance was good, and when the Mink pushed and Dal went for the fourth front, i liked;

- Dal and Adolin's relationship issues are painful. I mean, Dal DID kill his mother. Horribly. With fire;

- Shallan should not be allowed to have scenes without Adolin. They all run too long. I like her Secret Court, they're a great supporting cast, but a bit too interchangeable, and every conversation with some of them feels like it runs a page longer than it needs to. That said, i'm here for her spy war on the ghostbloods;

- Lift... does almost nothing, steals the scene;

- but this time, Nightblood gets all the bestest lines... "Will there be snacks?". I laughed. Michael Kramer is clearly having a blast doing the sword's voice.

[QuickTidal]

Sidebar: Nightbloods audiobook voice being a snooty aristocratic Prince Valiant voice threw me for a goddamn loop. I was hearing him in my head when I read the physical books as Stephen Merchant-like. Wry, a bit nerdy and overzealous...