#for all your bondsmith aesthetic needs

[talns-scar]

I will unite instead of divide. I will bring men together.

[mistralrunner]

Running Reads Oathbringer: Part III.II

So many awesome things going on as well as terribly concerning things I love this book so much.

Spoilers for pages 606-685 below.

Aaaaa there's a map!

A map

Sure The Stormlight Archive has had plenty of excellent maps but I think this is the first time they've had a detailed city map like this?

I'm so excited

I’m just going to stare at this map with joy for a while don’t mind me

Hmm what was Szeth's route through the palace during the prologue now that we have an actual map

Ooh they have a theater square

I feel like I should remember who Lanacin is given there's a monument

I'm intrigued by the Impossible Falls. Do they fall upward?

Well someone's being snarky about the gem time capsule

Huh the burdening the city with refugees strategy helps with sneaking in at least

Ah Unmade is a pretty good explanation for the wrongness

Wonder which one we'll get this time

Shallan's drawings are an Unmade detector?

So Shallan made Elhokar look somewhat reminiscent to his sister

Have we ever seen Jasnah and Elhokar interact cause they are siblings

How much do they interact?

Again Tarah is mentioned, when will we get this backstory

Well I suspected they'd spend time gathering intelligence. Can't waste that beautiful city map

Yes let Adolin and Kaladin be friends

Ah of course it would have been too easy to walk into the city

Yeah, there really isn’t a command structure it's this weird awkward place between a strike team and a DnD party

Heh Kaladin empathizing with the guard dealing with Elhokar

Ah Voidbringers of course we need yet another complication in getting through the door or rather a way to get in

Aaaa the conflict between staying incognito and wanting to protect

Battlefield tactics versus war tactics and Kaladin's knowledge vs Adolin's is kind of nice

This city is unsettling to say the least

Eerie spren parade and the spren are wrong

Pfft the person Adolin trusts with his life or more is his tailor that is perfect

Also is this why Sanderson said Adolin is going to wear something other than his uniform this book

Why did the Radiants abandon Urithiru? Was this before or part of the Recreance?

Shallan are you okay there. I mean I know you're not in general but punching oneself in the face doesn't feel like a healthy reaction

Oh she's trying to experiment with attracting spren

Elhokar I'm pretty sure it didn't take a dark spren for Aesudan to execute an ardent who insulted her

Shallan no not the scissors self harm isn't good even for scholarship

I wonder where the other Unmade were deposited

I'm guessing Purelake which has a plague, Horneater Peaks cause Song mentioned there was something wrong there, and maybe Shinovar just cause that'd be interesting. And maybe one’s chilling on Aimia.

Yeah I'd say something's wrong if you don't notice your own city is rioting

Oh Elhokar you sweet summer child your wife is a horrible person

Shallan don't you dare do something embarrassing to your party members.

The palace is going to be fun with all these people not returning classic

Like I'm amused at Shallan's dedication to science but also really concerned for her

The Cult of Moments? Oh lovely we have cultists too

Well that alarm spren explains the lack of communication and is more interesting than just Voidbringers magically block the signal.

Yikes though fabrials in general not working anymore

I'm really scared about anyone going into the palace

Pattern I agree Shallan telling her group about Veil is progress and frankly saves a lot of trouble since the illusions already would have hinted at it

I'm glad these records are candid. Also Aimia has hidden undersea caverns too I want to know more of that place as

What is it that makes fabrials different enough that they both have side effects in the case of soulcasters and attract these yellow spren. For the latter is it because of the spren captive since it seems the city's spren are wrong

Shallan's demonstrating increasing Identity concerns as her disguise is wearing a disguise 

I feel mildly offended at Shallan taking Lyn's appearance

Oh lovely the cult is guarding the palace of course they are

Oh no a love triangle complicated by multiple personalities whyyy

Hey that is a bad line of thinking too Adolin isn't bland and it isn't right to tease Kaladin like she does

Well two pairs of eyes who pay attention to different things is useful

Those soldiers also creepy

Yeah you definitely needed to set a plot arc like this after the world had been firmly introduced so this unusualness would be jarring and disturbing

Shallan you and Veil are the same person

So much for Kaladin joining you

...That escalated quickly

Taking a leaf from Jasnah's book I see

Oh lovely eerie mirror with shadow that probably is now aware of Shallan's presence

Ah Pattern I love you getting excited over discoveries of human nature at a time like this

Yeah that was rather traumatizing

Oh god the puns

Shallan your denial isn't great long term

Not surprised the Windrunners and Skybreakers were in opposition

Binder of Gods though that is a concerning title

Which Herald is Kelek again and why would he be associated with the storms sometimes

Ishar founded the orders? And is the Herald of luck and mysteries and priests and possibly more mad than the rest I am concerned

So Dalinar has a permanent mental compass because of his Stormfather/Origin sense? That’s cool.

"Stormfather!" Yes? "Oh. Uh, that was a curse." Ah, the downsides of being bonded to the Stormfather

Heh I suspected that god priest of Tukar a moment before Dalinar mentioned him

Oh Ishar is the Bondsmith Herald that's concerning.

That's why Taln called Shallan one of Ishar's Knights cause it didn’t feel like he was the Lightweaver Herald

And he founded the Oathpact

Oh dear Connection is powerful and dangerous although at least there's the tradeoff of little battle application

Binder of Gods is just such a concerning name

I wonder if we'll get the other two Bondsmiths

Three-one for each Shard? Or other powerful Honor spren?

Aaaa answers about Stormlight?

Power piercing united across all three Realms spiritual energy got it

"The Stormfather hated to be misquoted" and will correct Dalinar's recollection of explanations that's great

I mean training with an Honorblade is a way to practice skills but I'm concerned cause there might be other risks attached cause we might not know all that they do

So if you held different Honorblades would your eyes bleed different colors

The clock fabrial dings now that's great

Ooh Azir we might finally see Lift in person

Everyone wants to drink the Stormlight XP

But yeah mentality is key not staring at Stormlight and wanting to chug it

Oh hey conflict looks like Bondsmith time

Heh Adhesion-induced time out

Yay Jasnah I missed you

"Odd how natural it looked to see Jasnah with a sword"

Yes Lift and Jasnah two of my favorite ladies unlocking an Oathgate

Wow a lot of people got sick of Urithiru. What were the rules?

Heh I forgot the Azish Oathgate was in a shopping district

Incovenient Oathgate locations are fun

The Blackthorn enters your city with some magical pens and a bagged lunch

Ooh Spiritual Adhesion and languages

What did Lift do with the street urchin dialect then is it an Edgedancer or a being partially in the Cognitive Realm thing

Are there Physical Cognitive and Spiritual levels of all the Surges

Magical diplomacy powers activate

I feel like Dalinar’s thought processes feel different with Connection activated

I love the Azish where an essay is the weapon of choice

And a backup essay with valuable schematics

Applause to Navani and Fen

I swear if there's a third essay by Jasnah

YES THERE IS

I love them nerding out over Jasnah's writing it's delightful

and also just the fact that Jasnah is using her awesome scholarly prowess

Oh right the fact that there are things on the platforms makes movement tricky

Well Dalinar the Alethi do have slaves and deny some darkeyes the right of travel and treat darkeyes in general like garbage so this logic protest is pretty sweet

Ah yes the economic disaster

That’s cool that the Azish Parshmen immediately started acting super logical and petitioning. Shame they got dragged into the Voidbringer army cause successful negotiations and redress would have been cool

Where are the Worldsingers for understanding

I hope Lift shows up

The pen is mightier than the sword Dalinar

I do feel like this is yet another downside of Alethi not allowing half the population to read or engage in arts that would help with diplomacy. Of course war is going to seem more appealing.

Yes Lift stole Dalinar's lunch excellent

"And your order?"

"More food."

Did I mention how much I love Lift

Hey they’re Nightwatcher buddies

Although She leaves a trace that can be sensed? Or sensed by Lift at least

I'm proud of both Jasnah and Navani for their essays

It's happening we're going to have a council yessss

Oooh big tragic flashback time

Shame that it ruined the moment of telling Navani her essay saved the day

Aww little Adolin

It's nice to see the character growth with Dalinar, still bloodthirsty, but planning, strategizing, thinking, explaining

But where is Renarin

It is lame that giving one’s parent a hug in public isn’t Alethi

Dalinar why must you neglect Renarin cause he's "unfit for battle"

Evi. Deserves. Better.

Also Renarin.

Helplessss

Obligatory Hamilton reference there

Yeah the whole contest mentality of the Alethi is messed up

Evi you don't need the Old Magic you're a wonderful person

You go Evi

Even if she's not a game of wits person she thinks and is right

Wonder if Toh is still in Herdaz

Sunken forests? Those sound cool

Seriously Dalinar remember you have a second son

Thank you Evi for defending Renarin

Evi deserves better

Evi. Deserves. Better.

Okay that Fused does have an aesthetic with the absurdly sized tassels and polearm

Mishim I know that name ugh why am I forgetting

"I believe that Honor himself is changing" I am concerned

Elhokar can draw. Further evidence that the shadows once lurking around him were Cryptics

Wait Elhokar makes the awesome city map?

Aww Elhokar making a decent plan and getting praise and glory spren just for that small thing

Thank you Adolin for addressing the elephant in the room of the ardent’s Theses

Shallan's infiltrating yet another sketchy group great

Ugh they're not letting the poor and children get grain and it's just going to lighteyes

I don't know how to feel about Shallan/Veil going "Storming lighteyes" she is one of them and hasn't done any self reflection so it just feels like putting on a mask than anything actually genuine

Odium trying to replace all spren with his own?

WIT

But the chapter header doesn’t include that jester guy. Will I ever understand the pattern.

He's wearing Sadeas colors really

Ha it's the story Sigzil tried to tell

Storytime with Wit!

Two storytelling scenes in a book I feel blessed

Huh smoke storytelling somewhat like what he did in Warbreaker?

Always interesting when Wit noticeably starts. He did that once before because of Shallan. What is it about her.

Heh well at least one person can see through Lightweaving. Of course it's Wit.

Oh is Tsa using Mishim's tactic against her

Oh Tsa was the trickster all along nice

Wonder how much is true and what is also a metaphor

Seriously Kaladin why did you lose the flute

Ohhh he can sandbend. Sand master. Whatever. Cause that's Taldain sand

Ah now we have the proper Wit header

Full Wit on the header

Hey Shallan and Wit are finally getting a talk this could be good for Shallan

Wait Hoid's lingering for a chapter rather than just jumping in for a story or cryptic lines what

"The Sibling has withdrawn from men"?

Chouta is everywhere

It's okay Shallan don't feel embarrassed at getting pickpocketed by an ancient trickster

Of course Wit would give tips on disguises

Oh

Looking back at the chapter the Veil persona did flee although it was the moment she heard Wit's voice

Good job Wit

Dalinar: Are you a Radiant?

Wit: Nope

Shallan: Are you a Herald?

Wit: Nope

"I'm not stupid enough to get mixed up in religion again. The last seven times I tried it were all disasters. I believe there's at least one god still worshipping me by accident."

Do tell

...

That's the most we've ever gotten of Wit

I'm reeling

Just even that thin sliver

I mean it makes sense, he’s more engaged in this world and thus showing he is more than he seems and thus author has to make clear that he’s not a Radiant or Herald but still

Heh me too re: applauding Sadeas being offed. I just fear the consequences for people I care about

“Aim for the sun” is a fun variant on shoot for the moon

Are we getting a Wit character moment he's actually be disparaging about himself

So many good lines in this chapter

"Be wary of anyone who claims to be able to see the future, Shallan."

*looks to Renarin with concern*

Ooh what group does the cult remind Wit of

The Heart of the Revel. Quite a name

I like that take on hedonism not being actual enjoyment

Yay Wit is going to get Shallan in

Why is Wit here then cause pep talking Shallan seems rather important

Pattern: He feels like...mmm...one of us

hmmmmm

[mistralrunner]

Running Reads Oathbringer: Interludes and Part III.I

Time to jump back into liveblogging!

Spoilers for pages 555-605 below!

You know as nervous as I've been not knowing what Taravangian is up to, I really don't feel like going back to his twisted pov right now

At least with Venli there's hope of possiblyspren!Eshonai

Also where are Szeth and Nightblood?

It's nearly halfway through the book why can't they get pov

Kaza gets visions? I am concerned

What are they storming doing. No pun intended

Twisted face? Soulcaster?

We're finally going to learn more about Aimia yes!!!

There's yet another storm though beyond Everstorm and Highstorm?

"Closer and closer to oblivion" yeah friendly reminder that soulcaster fabrials are concerning and makes me wonder if Regrowth fabrials would also have dark side effects

Slowly becoming smoke? That's almost even more chilling than the stonelike thing mentioned before

You can soulcast pieces of an object when more proficient? Huh. Although casting air to anything is technically always a piece of an object so I guess those ones are automatically proficient?

Soulcasters start being able to see into Shadesmar?

So they see nothing beforehand?

Hmmm...being drawn into another world, another will reinforcing her own, something commanding and powerful attracted by her request for aid, so powerful spren are involved in soulcasters?

I wonder why there’s limited modes to a soulcaster, is it related to the spren involved?

Tricky to try to make generalizations from this cause it’s uncertain how ordinary Kaza is for a Soulcaster

Ooh soulcasters came from Akinah

Of course they did

Hey a shadow stretching in the wrong direction like Jasnah's from the WoR prologue!

The Shadesmar sun is where dying souls stretch toward maybe?

Well all the sailors not breathing is concerning

Is that odd cremling a larkin?

So the royal family keeps a soulcaster/tool weapon and she was forced to become slave to it and sacrifice her life in a way yikes

I did not see that coming with the cook well played ensuring everyone ate

Tattooed face I should have known like Axies

"There are those who could pull secrets from your soul, and the cost would be the end of worlds."

I am concerned

And disappointed we didn't really learn much about Aimia apart from Soulcaster connection

Oh no Taravangian's smart today I'm scared this is going to be disturbing

Nope Malata is Diagram I'm sad

I was rooting for you

Kind of praying for double agent but not counting on it

I want to like the Dustbringers just cause they're the maligned group but if they follow the Diagram and division alas

I forgot that there are no record/cd players so when Taravangian asks for music he actually gets a live children's choir singing outside his room while he plans atrocities

And here we go with the eugenics thinking preventing "stupid" people from reading although frankly that's foolish cause reading can improve one’s mind but I guess if your goal is a bunch of elites and a mindless serving class

Seriously the singing children is this eerie juxtaposition

Pfft the “Dalinar paradigm” is such an amusing name

What effect is Renarin having (although I'm proud he is a wild element the Diagram can't predict)

I'm concerned about the contingency plan

...

Wtf

Those poor children

"The monster you sometimes become"? Adrotagia he is generally already acting monstrous this is merely a step further

I guess it's comforting that at least the Diagram will resist him going too far for a certain definition of too far

Well the Listeners used the gemhearts to help grow food right? I think?

It is interesting that plants can photosynthesize stormlight, or something like it

Sad backstory still murder Taravangian

"Now he'd save the world. Well, the part of the world that mattered."

Yeah, not good

Hey Diagram do you think you should really be following the plans and agenda of a guy who is in favor of wantonly killing kids and eugenics? Like sure he predicted the future but if the big plan was by a guy even more morally terrifying than this one don't you think that might be a problem

Yeah I figured that was the plan, let Dalinar do the work of arranging the coalition then usurp him

Nooo why is the Dustbringer spren being sent for evil spying I want the Dustbringer to be a good guy

So the endgame is negotiate with Odium for a piece of the world at the cost of the rest I'm sure that's not going to backfire horribly

"Only one man would be strong enough to make that sacrifice"

Again with the "Some of you may die, but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make" mentality

So Voidbringers do have gemhearts?

Also Venli, I'm suspecting trap. Just saying. You were used. You have a horribly inflated sense of self importance.

Eshonai help us here

"You must embrace it...you have to want it." Nope definitely not a trap nope totally innocent

The Everstorm is just ash and thunder without rain?

Stormfather font?

She's still bonded to a Voidspren unfortunately

Ah yes they've been possessed and a couple are the crazed ghosts lovely

"This corpse"? Oh ouch

So the Voidbringers essentially have an eternal ruling class minus some shifts due to rulers going insane

"See passion and forgive this child" well seems they've bought into the Odium relabeled as passion thing

You know I keep thinking about beauty products labeled passion and it's really amusing

Just imagine the Voidbringers spritzing gentle perfume into the air

"It's Passion...by Odium"

“A new fragrance suffused with the sweet Thrill of vengeance”

Ah Venli you finally realize your error

Too late

Ah confirmation the possession isn't reversible, stapling souls to new corpses yikes

The Cosmere has quite of bit of body horror and stapling investiture to corpses doesn't it

Oh dear what is Odium planning for Venli

Assuming it is Odium but given Odium seems to like using a warm, ancient, paternal voice

As romantic as the resurrected with a life partner for thousands of years in an endless battle you hope to win is, you’re doing so by destroying others including ironically another romantic couple

Ugh Venli that is not a good thought process

Okay Venli is protecting the hopefully Eshonai spren there's hope

but really Venli you are a horrible person

Part III!

What shall the epigraphs be this time

Hurrah we're back to Kaladin pov although I'll miss the Bridge Four povs

Part one feels like ages ago

Oh yay it's the musical gem library!

So Stonewards are self sacrificing?

Yeah the Stormfather whimpering is really disconcerting

Having the example of Ruin makes me wonder exactly how omniscient Odium is 

Ooo the potential for city hopping without going through Urithiru

Dalinar: Oh by the way Kaladin you're a landowner.

Deathbend river though doesn’t seem like the best labeled real estate

Kaladin's busy training the Windrunners he really doesn't need the responsibility of landlord as well

So Dalinar has a connection to each of the three Rosharan Shards. Odium from his dependence on the Thrill, Cultivation through his deal with the Nightwatcher, and Honor through bonding the Stormfather. Feel like that is going to be significant.

Yeah the downside of the Alethi being in the Shattered Plains or Urithiru-they were storming easy to conquer for a martial nation. Admittedly the Kholinar riots didn't help.

I love Thaylen city already this is my aesthetic...except it's horrifically in ruins

I'm sad about this city

Aww these gems are records of people's lives, records of people being people that's really heartwarming

Huh wonder why this chapter is called Bondsmith

I want to go on this tour

"It was a pity to see several statues with the faces broken off"

Will we ever solve the mystery of miss art defacer from that one interlude who’s probably Khriss

Heh Dalinar wants to go on the swords tour instead but I feel those would be well guarded from the Blackthorn especially

Huh uncertain Everstorm effects definitely would mess with planning and precautionary measures but I wonder if there's something more cunning going on with targeting

Also a storm of burning embers ouch

How is Shinovar doing I feel like the Everstorm really should be a problem for them

Ugh Taravangian is here too bleh

I love Queen Fen

Dalinar there are other options than punching people

Dalinar: I have a plan!

Navani: Does it involve punching people?

Dalinar: I have no plan.

Ironic that Taln's temple has the cave in

Or intentional huh

Dalinar I don't think this is how diplomacy works

Well that is extra

Especially the bit with shoving in the sword further

That was pretty cool but yeah making people fear you as some sort of quasi immortal being with eldritch magic not great

The spren of the temple is in pain?

Ohhhh

We're going to see full Bondsmith abilities

Radiance used for civilization and healing, not terror

Repairing buildings damaged by war and storm that is one useful skill I love this

Wonder if any other orders can do that cause that’s really helpful and Bondsmiths are so few

Yes thanks for remembering you have a magical healer

"My son does the more important work" yeah Renarin appreciation!

But the magically rebuilding a city including symbolic parts

Aaaaa

"Once the soul grows accustomed to the wound, it's much harder to fix" I kind of knew that but only thought of it in the extreme identity case, and didn’t consider recently dealt wounds might be easier to heal than several day old wounds cause you’d think the healing process would have started and it would take less energy to finish

Huh Dalinar almost got a communication Connection?

Yeah person talking into the recording gem I'm worried about Truthwatchers too

Who is on the infiltration team?

Ah Skar and Drehy for the Windrunners I'm so proud of Skar

I'm concerned that they can't wear Plate even if it wouldn't be great for subterfuge

Summonable Plate will be lovely when we get it

Who is the maidservant? Ishnah?

Kaladin, Shallan smiles because of unhealthy coping mechanisms

Syl stop it not a healthy match

You don't need romance to be happy Syl

I am really concerned about the wrongness in Kholinar

Of course it's right by the Oathgate