Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

I finished!

The End

(view spoiler)[
Although I know there are still 5 books to go I have to say I expected more to be tied up by the end of this one. So much is still massively up in the air, and overall I have finished with a sense of sadness and exhaustion at the thought of what is ahead.

I really wanted Shallan and Adolin back together by the end of the book. And.. is Sanderson suggesting she is pregnant or am I reading too much into it?

Kalladin... I think this made me even sadder than Dalinar. Although I guess Kal will come back eventually

Wit and the Dawnshard and Sigzil... oh boy

I thought we would have more with Venli and the Singers coming together with the Humans. I guess we have to wait

and although Odium is not in the position he expected to be ; I had hoped for him to be more contained by the end of this book. And the sneaky little sod with Karabrath.....

That is all for now. I just feel really sad about this ending. (hide spoiler)]

I've finished!!!!! thoughts will be coming tomorrow...

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "I finished!

The End"

(view spoiler)[

Hmmmm I understand what you mean but I think I don't think I expected it to be more tied up. There still had to be so much up in the air for a second arc to be worth it, but the time dilation thing is really messing with me - that part bothers me the most I think!

Oh yeah Shallan is absolutely pregnant... I don't love that, to be honest! I'm not super surprised that she's been cast adrift and kind of lost, but I also would've preferred her reunited with Adolin. It feels a bit harsh to have all our MCs split apart now

Kaladin - I really didn't think he'd end up a Herald based on how his journey has been going but also I had no idea where his arc would lead us in this book so in that sense it makes sense... I would've more expected him to be one to leave this world and end up on a different planet in the Cosmere (which I guess he kind of did with this Asphodel Meadows version of Braize). I'm sad about him no longer being human because I think that was his defining characteristic, but maybe that's what makes him suited to being a Herald (kind of in a "the best leaders are those that don't really want the responsibility and power" type of way). however it also feels a little too.. "super special too good for this world and kind of overpowered MC becomes basically a God" I guess? but that's consistent with what Sanderson likes to do

Did I understand this right that Syl is now basically the head spren? The way she said "these words are accepted" the way the Stormfather used to... and I am glad that in the last scene it seemed like she went with Kaladin to Braize... and I think we were both right with our prediction that she'd become corporeal - the parts about her "real" tears and her holding Kaladin's had were pretty excplicit

Wit settling the Dawnshard on Sigzil without explanation... a very Wit thing to do. but I guess he has trained Sigzil in the past so he's probably in many ways the most suited person to this. also interesting planet Wit ends up on! I do also like that he realized that sacrificing Roshar was not something he'll be able to do... and that he actually loves Jasnah and is upset about all of that... I liked their relationship and I would've liked to see more about it actually developing (but I guess we now have a chance for that in books 5-10 🫠)

I agree that I thought we'd get more Venli+Singers+humans at the end but there was already so much going on that it makes sense that it was delayed..

and grrrr the Karbranth thing really ground my gears!

Dalinar's end was pretty much exactly what I expected - I assumed he would have to die to disperse honor. Very interesting that the idea of the Blackthorn has become a spren now though... and I don't think I like that, "evil twin" (or "evil part of the soul that has separated" in this case I guess) is a deeply annoying type of enemy and reading more about that (at some point, many, many years into the future) is something I don't care for

I loved Renarin's moment of power and authority over Aladar and Sebarial - both that he got to have it and that he was able to deal with the situation

fascinating that the last section, the epigraphs were written by Szeth's wife???? I don't know if I like that he's going to end up married and all. I guess it's supposed to show that he's healed from all his trauma and able to live a regular person life but it feels so normative

also thinking back to the Interlude before the day 10 - Dieno/the Mink and the Greatshell thing? I'm sure he'll come back into play eventually. (hide spoiler)]

Finished last night and still digesting.

In a lot of ways, some of it was expected - I mean, it's not very cliffhanger-y but there are a lot of balls up in the air.

(view spoiler)[Oh Shallan is definitely pregnant - not sure what to think about it. Or the fact that all of the MCs are split..

About Syl - if she is head spren, would her going with Kaladin (if she is) have an effect?

Weird thing - both Kaladin and Szeth attained the 5th ideal but we don't know what that means. I think Shalan did too - is Sanderson intentionally not explaining?

With the first arc, the character growth of Kaladin and Dalinar is finished, I guess.. Will there be new radiants in the second half?

One of the best part of this book was Adolin - I liked how we got to see his POV and his character arc growth. Kaladin was annoying in the beginning with the thera-speak but admittedly he got better.

Feels like Shallan played a very minor role in this book.

For one I'm glad to have a break but at the same time, I don't want Sanderson to delay the next 5 books too much.

There were other interludes from book 1 that are also left open. I wonder if Sanderson will link all of them. (hide spoiler)]