The Stormlight Archive: Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson Spoiler Talk

Mike gives some spoiler thoughts about the third book in Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive, Oathbringer.
You can purchase The Way of Kings here: amzn.to/2QOIJL5 (physical) amzn.to/3hTOvqx (digital) amzn.to/32UUNA7 (audio)
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#MikesBookReviews #StormlightArchive #BrandonSanderson

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hey bookworms! Just a warning that I do have a Lift rant that might upset some folks. As always, this is my opinion and I encourage you to share yours. I’ll always be honest and hope you feel good doing the same. Enjoy the weekend!

[@Alpharius]

Just wanna say that I completely agree on Lift. She doesn't, in my opinion, fit the rest of the world around her and comes off as very YA like you said. Whenever I see her I just groan. Though her powers are cool!

[@odiums_taint]

I Am Alpharius agreed. made me think she was a crossover character, which made me like her again a little

[@nathancutler232]

I cannot stand Lift. She is such an annoyingly grating character. I support you in your opinions. However, I also feel similarly to Wayne...but you liked him. I respect that opinion too.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ah, I liked him in book 1. Not the rest.

[@evelynbasham1673]

Rant about Lift all you want. I can agree to disagree.

[@tristanb7183]

I love how Elhokar wasn’t crazy at all in the first book. He was literally seeing figures just like Shallan all along and just when he was about to become a radiant and finally take a step forward he dies. Totally heartbreaking scene.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, it was crushing

[@mikesbookreviews]

I ran out of time at the end and didn’t get to talk about the Dawnchant reveal. That’s my only real regret. That moment was 🤯

[@mrknowie]

Kaladin's fourth ideal is obvious: I protecc, I attacc, But mostly... I want my Tien bacc

[@AleksandarIvanov69]

I know u meant it to be cute and funny, but it still very very sad.

[@stevencase796]

On the Warbreaker crossing... There’s really no way to emphasize enough how giddy you feel knowing exactly what’s happening when Szeth picks up the sword at the end of Words of Radiance and hears “You wouldn’t happen to know of any evil we could destroy, do you?”

[@mikesbookreviews]

I wish I could have experienced it that way. So I always encourage folks to read WB after WoK now.

[@jesna4768]

I never thought I'd feel so bad about Elhokar until he started saying the words. Also a few books ago you greeted with "Hello BookWorms and Void Bringers" and I felt attacked. :D Didn't want to mention it before cause spoilers, but that was great.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha ha I like to do those reviews as if it’s the first I’ve read them as to not ruin anything down the line. I know a lot of folks say they watch my vids right after they finish reading.

[@Matthew_Leek]

Currently watching the video after finishing oathrbringer😅

[@nahumrojas1642]

I like Moash. He's like a dark Kaladin. Their journeys are symmetrical.

[@kristen7623]

Me too!!

[@LuzzyStef]

Dude kaladin Is a dark kaladin

[@GhostKingDeAngelo]

@@LuzzyStef hard to get much darker

[@invaderzod8092]

Fun fact: the guy in the lighthouse is the “oh so beautiful” hoed Elantrian that they put in the Shardpool back in Elantris.

[@Jon_Browne]

Shooketh

[@stefn7084]

Lol for real? Hmm i mean that is quite cool, but stuff like this is why i really heavily dislike the Cosmere-connections, i figured he would perhaps have a cool backstory with Roshar or come into play again, stuff like this makes me think of the character as an Easter egg more than anything else tbh

[@invaderzod8092]

@@stefn7084 that’s literally the point. Brandon doesn’t want anyone to feel like they need to read another series in order to understand what they’re reading now. The connections will become more important later on.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Someone pointed that out when I reviewed Elantris. Very cool.

[@potionseller2083]

Wait....how. pls explain. Didnt he dissolve? Does the pool bring you to Shadesmar?

[@brady6951]

I think [SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER] that Dalinar being aggressively bloodthirsty makes more sense with the context of him being influenced by the Thrill that whole time. Odium had been grooming him from a very young age.

[@seas1392]

Agree 100% think he overlooked that big time

[@charlesaddison7478]

Yep

[@soab24]

I think that was one of the worst parts of the book. It's just such a terrible trope in general to explain away the dark sides of your character by "he was under the influence of an evil force!"

[@archivesoffantasy5560]

@@soab24But the Thrill being an existing entity doesn’t mean Dalinar is free of all accountability for his decisions made under that influence.

[@danielvanrooyen9602]

Warbreaker feels like a prologue for Stormlight at this moment.

[@SirCharles12357]

On the character Lift: I can see your points on Lift being a YA Jar Jar, but I'm fascinated by her powers or more importantly the source of her powers. They derive from the elements of the Shard, Cultivation. She refuels by eating food, whereas all the other radiants need stormlight. I'm really curious about the role of Cultivation and I think he/she will have a big role later in the books.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I feel like she'd be an interesting character in another series. It's more of a fit thing. I don't feel like she fits in this story he's trying to tell. But, it seems that I'm in the unpopular opinion on her.

[@TheBralessDiaries]

I think Kaladin’s 4th ideal will be about accepting help and protection and the point of all his deep depression scenes is building up to that. Most Radiants historically don’t even make it to level 4, so it makes sense that this is something that really breaks the person, more so than the trauma they experienced to be a radiant in the first place. *side note- While writing this I realized how similar “breaking” a person for allomancy is to the “broken” state a person has to be in to become a radiant.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It’s crazy to think Kal, who is already a bit too OP, could level up again in RoW.

[@delphy2478]

i think that there is a standard windrunner 4th ideal, and it probably involves accepting that you cannot protect everyone, and i think that kaladin will be unable to swear it, and will even be surpassed by other members of bridge 4 swearing it, and will eventually find a new 4th ideal, because we've already seen that the higher level ideals are somewhat mutable in their specifics. i think that kaladins will be some affirmation that while he cannot succeed in protecting everyone (especially when he wants to protect both sides) that he'll do his best anyways and essentially constantly strive to break through his limitations

[@abdqs853]

About that broken thing there's actually a reason behind it. In the Cosmere peoples souls are made up of these "spirit webs" when a person breaks it opens their soul to a point that investiture(the pure form of magical energy in the Cosmere) is able to enter the soul and the person is able to use magic.

[@fathomai829]

Lmao! Your ghost blood” I don’t caaaaaarre” was so spot on man let’s get on with it already this book was a marathon

[@joronah8650]

Szeth's skybreaker trials were probably one of my favorite story arcs in the book. And as for Lift, the best thing about her is Wyndle.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Agree.

[@harrisonh9965]

Lift is amazing

[@chokog2446]

Dude, I really appreciate your points of view! And I am so grateful that you talked about the father stuff - it is so real! ❤️

[@brady6951]

Good stuff man, great discussion about a great book. We appreciate you being open and vulnerable about how you relate to certain things in the story, I imagine we all find a bit of that on Roshar!

[@mikesbookreviews]

That’s what makes this series special. Sanderson knows how to reach our souls somehow.

[@Haxerous]

I think quite a few of the flashback chapters were there to give character development for Evi for the big reveal of what happened at the Rift.

[@casey-gray]

I literally said the same thing out loud about Moash after he gave that Bridge Four salute. Like holy crap HOW DARE YOU SIR!

[@mikesbookreviews]

He’s the worst.

[@Wexos]

I was literally looking for a spoiler talk about this and I’m right on time 😎

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hope you enjoy.

[@CrapSandviche]

Yes, finally a new video from Mike..... just got the Stormlight

[@AnnamariaSedai]

Oh my god.... “Journey before pancakes”!!!!!!!! I cannot stop laughing, help! 😂😂😂

[@mikesbookreviews]

Lift pancakes? Meh. The Lopen pancakes? Oh yeah.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

“That kind of thing might change a guy.” Yep! I also enjoy the Dalinar/Navani relationship. The way you relate to the family dynamics on a personal level is powerful and beautiful. Interesting prediction regarding Kaladin, and I have a feeling you’re right about his probable demise. I’m still holding out on those Rhythm of War preview chapters, but it’s getting harder. Thanks for the fun video!

[@mikesbookreviews]

That’s why this series is so special to me. Sanderson seems to have a peephole into all of our souls and personal lives.

[@christopherwalls2763]

Great video Mike!!

[@Malcontentus]

As for Mistborn crossovers: Pay attention to who is taking Dalinar to see the Nightwatcher. Its not a major character, but they use the same name.

[@morganlandt8469]

Yeah, Felt is the man, he's a little more foreign lol. Fun fact, he was also the scout who told Shallan that her pattern was off for her map of Storm Seat where the Oathgate was located in WoR.

[@hippy8011]

There was a character from Mistborn in Roshar. Demoux was one of the guys who showed up in the Purelake interlude.

[@tristanb7183]

Also Felt

[@mikesbookreviews]

I’ve pretty much figured they all interlude characters, not from the main story, are worldhoppers. Even if I don’t know from where.

[@jaredpoulter6762]

Isn't Galadon from Elantris in the Purelake interlude?

[@tristanb7183]

Jared Poulter Yup

[@morganlandt8469]

And Beon from White Sand. Not all interlude characters are worldhoppers though.

[@megansreadingrevelations]

I plan on reading this in October, but I can’t wait to watch this vid once I’m done! ❤️

[@mikesbookreviews]

Enjoy!

[@sandstorm_lp]

Man, I just finished the book yesterday so it is pretty fresh for me. A really nice review you made there. Keep up the good work. Also, you really made me want to read Warbreaker now. I haven't read any of the standalone books yet but I will now.. When I heard about Azure and Zahel, and also the sword.. Damn.. I wish I was familiar with them beforehand..

[@mikesbookreviews]

Warbreaker is wonderful.

[@RegisteredNerds]

I just finished up bring her last night and I cannot wait to wake up to listen to your book review. I want to go right to RoW but you really might have convinced me to start “Dune” because you said it was your favorite book more than “it”. So I am in a bit of a pickle right now of which book to go to next

[@smaug1234]

I loved the flashbacks, even the comic relief ones. Really liked the reveal of why he couldn't remember her name. Kal as always has moments of great action, but man i wish someone could give the guy some happy pills or something, I have had my own fight with depression, he may hit too close to home for me. Shallan continues to be a highlight for me, girl is so messed up emotionally, but lightweaving is just so interesting a ability, her way of dealing with her cough cough issues is prob more self destructive in the end. Her relationship with Adolin is great, nice to see a person in her state able to see some true love in his or her life. Renarin finally gets a chance to be a beast, about time for him. I love the shadesmar stuff, I like worldbuilding, we need more exploration of it. Seth has great action, i find it hard that he was just accepted at the end as one of them, there is no way they would not attack him. Lift as always is cute and funny, I cant help but like her. Jasnah is someone we need more screen time for. All the rest of the main cast is messed up mentally, we need to know what secrets she is hiding.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Szeth being admitted was really quick but it was welcome to me for the book not to be 300 pages longer.

[@smaug1234]

@@mikesbookreviews ha, yeah its a big enough book as is

[@toria.4613]

Oooh.. back to Shallan, her conversations with Wit were *incredible*.

[@safinan8008]

Thank u for this video!!

[@yakuzamoon7962]

Great review I agree with your points a lot, gonna watch your rhythm of war one next

[@Hadrian1616]

My wife once told me: "It's me or Brandon Sanderson." I do miss her sometimes.

[@mikesbookreviews]

😂

[@mustafamutmayeen237]

I think "sometimes" is a bit overkill. 🤐😬

[@AnnamariaSedai]

Fabulous review as usual, despite some of my disagreements :-) Your intro re: Moash made me laugh out loud! I am TOTALLY with you re: Renarin and Dalinar... my son was diagnosed at 1 yr old with developmental issues, and additional dxs piled on over the years. It nearly broke us. I tear up when I read some of the interactions with Renarin... and again when I hear you talk about them in your reviews. Hugs!!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thank you. Something I learned rather early was to be open about it. I’m definitely not one to try and bring others down, but I find it can help others with a similar problem to know that others out there are dealing with the same thing and keeping it to yourself isn’t healthy.

[@AnnamariaSedai]

Mike's Book Reviews I love that you talk about it! You’re not bringing anyone down, you’re lifting us up. So many of us are going thru the struggle of parenting special needs kiddos, and it’s always good to be reminded that we’re not alone 😊

[@mikesbookreviews]

@@AnnamariaSedai Thank you. That is definitely my goal.

[@adammalone2909]

Bro, he just released prologue through chapter 17 on KZbin for free till it officially releases. Also, not sure if you remember but I've been here since day 1. And I'm so thrilled to see you bloom. ARC from Abercrombie? HOW FUCKING COOL!!!!

[@Juanpa_SC]

I really need to re read this book. OMG, more than half of the things you spoke of were almost new to me lol

[@mikesbookreviews]

It was the one that stuck in my mind the least, so I’m glad I revisited parts before reviewing.

[@lucaswood8425]

“Ooo she likes to eat pancakes, big goddamn deal.” 😂😂😂 I’ve watched your videos for a while but this is my favorite. I agree with almost 100% of what you said in this video. Keep it up man!!!

[@mikesbookreviews]

People always respond with "but pancakes!" like that's a reason I should like her. I mean, what?

[@zapzya]

I found part 3 to be the best part of this book. I loved Kaladin fitting in with the wall guard, also Azure was very interesting (hadn't read WB at the point, but now Vivenna is also my favourite cosmere character by far). Shallan was kind of frustrating in how self righteous she was being without thinking, but the talk with Wit after it came back to bite her was very touching. The assault at the end of the chapter was so intense, the Moash betrayal was horrifying, and everything goes wrong when the Oathgate just won't work. Easily the most tense and engaging part for me. The battle of Thaylen Field was really cool too, but the set up wasn't as well executed as part 3 IMO. I liked Shadesmar a lot, but it did kind of drag at points as well. And after Szeth's chapters in this book, I cannot wait for his flashbacks in book 5.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Part 3 started slow but had a big enough climax to be the ending of a regular fantasy book.

[@henrywayne5724]

Part 3 was daggum slow, like really slow.

[@kinnykiran]

You won't like Lift unless you listen to the audiobook. I love love her because how Kate Reading narrated her.

[@thesmuli83]

Jippii Oathbringer Spoiler Talk. The weekend couldn't start better..Happy Friday night.

[@rl8792]

Just read again. I loved all the flashbacks, sanderson going darker is great and I really enjoyed that you see how the other rulers view him (to start with) alongside discovering why they view him like that in the flashbacks. Agree about Shadesmar it is longgggggg. Never enjoyed the Dream world much in wheel of time and this is even more bizarre and long. Taravangian is my favourite character in the book alongside Dalinar easily.

[@mark-shieldanvilsstudy3006]

I agree 100% with you about Lift

[@mikesbookreviews]

👊

[@micah7492]

Hey man I also have a child with developmental issues, she has mild autism. It is tough, but your kids are lucky to have a great dad!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thank you for saying that. It means a lot.

[@curioussoundwave2275]

I finished my second reading of Oathbringer last night. Now I'm ready for Rhythm of War. I'm about to decide what to read until it arrives on November 17th.

[@Vaticider69]

First time I read a crossover, was when Fizban/Paladin from the Dragon Lance showed up in Death Gate Cycle...... (mind Blown)....Love when worlds collide... Cosmer will be huge..

[@bungo6364]

I’m book one I didn’t like Elohkar but I understood him and that’s what made him interesting to me. And in WoR he really grew on me and I started to feel for him and in Oathbringer I was really impressed by him so when he died it crushed my soul.

[@Stairdweller]

Also from Scadrial: Iyatil, Mraise's scary mask woman. (I mean, at least ethnically.)

[@carlsmith4568]

Man I'm sure you'll be a great father and have a great relationship with your son, regardless of any developmental issues

[@dastandesanta7565]

Dalinar eating after killing that assassin is soo cheesy..that I could practically taste it..

[@mikesbookreviews]

😂

[@DemonMage]

Favorite moment in SA so far... "Honor is dead, but I'll see what I can do." Best quote to date. Also, who want to know the ideals of the @$#@ing orders already. It's nice to know the first thru third for the windrunners, but what about the others? Also, when the heck is kelsier gonna show up, or did I completely miss him, I miss most of the cameos in my first read through since I had only read the Mistborn books before WoK.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I heard one theory that Thaidakar (leader of the Ghostbloods) is actually Kelsier...and I didn’t hate it.

[@odiums_taint]

WoK was my first Cosmere exposure... i missed all of the tie-ins... looking forward to the re-read. agreed on the ideals needing to be spouted

[@jimmyallen8210]

Agreed on the Ghostblood plan taking forever to unfold and Kaladin being just ok in this one. The entire sequence in Kholinar dragged on and on...I guess I need to read Warbreaker. I struggled with this book. I thought Dalinar would have choke slammed old man Taravingian after he pragmatically explains his assassination attempt. And Lift and her pancakes suck, but I would like to know how old she really is.

[@AhmadHassan-eb2pl]

it took me time to realise when odium said "we' instead of i which made me think that maybe just maayyybe autonomy sided with odium and thats a maybe or 1 of the unnamed six shards

[@mikesbookreviews]

🤔

[@delphy2478]

i'm 95% convinced that odium would only work with anyone on the basis of them being a chess piece and him being the player, he will accept no equals. i'm pretty sure that in on of hoids epigraphs he actually talks about the fact that odium wants to shatter the other shards and be the only 'god' of the cosmere

[@Hadrian1616]

This video is so nice I liked it thrice.

[@mikesbookreviews]

*Mike felt the Thrill*

[@Arezoo298195]

I'm going to make an attempt to at least help you tolerate Lift better next time you see her: She is someone who is afraid of change and so is trying to keep the mindset of a ten year old. This isn't good but it's not supposed to be. She is as broken as other radients are. She has been isolated from any group of children her own age since her mother died and without that group it is understandable that she would suffer developmentally. Peer groups are very important to child development and people always talk about peer pressure in negative ways but it has positive outcomes too. So for years she has had no one she would willingly listen to about her behavior and when some adults try to help her she initially (and probably still) sees them as attacking her individuality. In these regards her behavior is understandable. And think how much room she has to grow when we finally get to her. Also: ShardFork!!!:D

[@mikesbookreviews]

See, here’s the thing. I feel like folks are acting like I just don’t understand her. I got kids. I understand the breakdown in communication between kids and adults. I understand her story. I understand all of this. There’s no need for explanation. I just don’t think she fits in this story and reading her dialogue is some of the cringiest stuff I’ve read. It doesn’t ruin the series for me or anything. I just see her name come up and I roll my eyes. No idea why this upsets people so much. Especially the ones who spend most of the time complaining they don’t like Shallan.

[@Arezoo298195]

Mike's Book Reviews fair enough. I had to try.

[@delphy2478]

a part of the problem with lift is that other damaged characters like dalinar, kaladin, and shallan, are actually improving and aware they are damaged and want to be better. lift not only doesn't accept that she is damaged, she actively resists trying to get better. it's also because her position is disproportionally powerful. the rest of the kingdoms on roshar will basically not give dalinar the time of day without azir first joining him, and azir won't join without lift continuing to support dalinar, and lift is extremely irrational and arbitrary, and it would be in character for her to decide that dalinar is eating the wrong food one day and decide that it's time for her to spend a few months away from urithuru and by not thinking through what she's doing, cause azir to pull out of their alliance and disrupt everything because she wants to try some shinovar fruits or something. basically, most characters are semi-predictable and the results of their actions are semi-predictable, but lift is deliberately irrational and random, and therefore she is able to be 'in character' while doing completely random things. it's great for the books to keep from being too predictable, it's terrible for anyone to actually like the character.

[@Arezoo298195]

John Kreinbring I’m not sure if that’s entirely accurate. She took responsibility for saving others from Darkness when she didn’t have to. She simply didn’t want to admit it. So much of her behaviour is either pretending or habit. I agree she did have a bit too much power but she didn’t actually realise it. She showed up at the end of OB when Azir didn’t. She is a kid trying to find her way while keeping her individuality. Her behaviour is not entirely irrational in my opinion, and can be predicted. Heck she could be easily controlled and corralled by food so not as much of an X factor as you would expect. And like the other radiants she will now have to do right by her oaths. Considering all that you could potentially predict her behaviour.

[@delphy2478]

@@Arezoo298195 she has redeeming qualities, but other characters like kaladin and dalinar had to actually go through personal trials and character growth before they were actually capable of swearing their third ideal, and she just feels like she gets hers so easily, without actually having to go through much character growth. she has done some improvement, but the improvement she has gone through is not yet enough to overcome the personality issues i have with her yet. if she continues to get better i think that i'll eventually come around to her, but at this point she has mostly come a long way back from 'despised' into being closed to 'apathy' but i'm nowhere close to actually liking her. one other thing: the other radients all seem to have the actions their order exemplifies as the central portions of their personality. kaladin wants to protect and everything he does stems from there, dalinar wants to unite people, and shallan basically wants to change herself for whatever situation she's in, and these are all related to their radients ideals. Lift is still primarily self centered and narcistic, her compassion for others, which is central to her ideals, is still a secondary, not a primary personality trait for her, but it's growing. i just feel like she's not really earned the vast amount of power that she has, when other characters have essentially paid so much more and gotten less than her

[@AleksandarIvanov69]

Moash is "the Kaladin that made all the wrong choices"

[@danielvanrooyen9602]

O man, the Dalinar/Renarin scene hit me hard as a new Dad.

[@abeabe88]

I thought what worked with the oafish Dalinar take was that over time even before you saw his morality change you saw his intelligence as a commander on the battlefield move from a force of nature to someone with intelligence and planning and leadership

[@AndrewsWizardlyReads]

I feel you on being shattered by dalinar being called out. I’m a new father and the fear and worry is crushing. I come from a family that had two broken marriages.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It’s tough stuff to grasp. And the cuts still being fresh to me when I read this the first time really hurt.

[@AndrewsWizardlyReads]

Mike's Book Reviews I think that’s part of what makes Sanderson the lord ruler though. He rights these epics and give characters real struggles that we can identify with. We can feel and relate what they go through because we the readers have gone through it. I think that’s what makes these books cut so deep but also makes them masterpieces.

[@angelamccollister]

Love that phrase, " evil Gandalf." 😆

[@mikesbookreviews]

“Youuu shall notttt Painnnnn”

[@angelamccollister]

@@mikesbookreviews lol

[@ando336699]

Lol loved your reaction bout Moash Haha my reaction was the same

[@adammalone2909]

Also, dont get me wrong - I love looking at the smoking hot book girls on youtube, but it's so refreshing having a dude to watch the views of. Thanks for giving me something to relate to as far as booktube goes

[@coreydinardo5525]

I fucking love Moash! Such a cool, interesting villain. Agree with you that this book could have benefitted from some editing/trimming. Also agree about Navani and Dalinar's relationship. So good! I love the relationship between Dalinar and his sons. Also from a broken, weird home and I've always struggled with behavioral issues (basically, I'm on the spectrum but who isn't). I feel like I never got a good feel of Odium's personality. I'd probably benefit from a re-read but I probably won't.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It’s a tough series to commit to a re-read just because of the length.

[@bomtradym4027]

I just get so sick of the evil guy trying to take over the world storyline in this series, the villain doesn’t make me root against him, he’s just apparently a big ball of evil who wants to destroy stuff. I can’t get behind a villain who’s only goal is destruction, it’s shallow and honestly doesn’t feel that real. It also bothered me that the unmade are never really explained and then just come in and have random powers that come out of nowhere with no background or build up to them

[@williamaddison-atkinson8244]

I was really disappointed with Edgedancer too. Also I really need to read Warbreaker! Can't wait for Rhythm of War

[@hunter_w]

I think that with Sadeas and Amaram gone Ialai could be a bigger villain in RoW. We saw in WoR that she's every bit as canniving as Sadeas, and she's still bitter over his death. It will be exciting to see what she does after she finds out who killed Sadeas.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Without a doubt she’s going to be a big player going forward.

[@jamesbrownii9508]

Lol. Hate to say I told you so, but.... Actually, no, I told you so. Love seeing your excitement for this series.

[@delphy2478]

i just came up with a new theory. in slyphrena's interlude from Rhythm of War she wants to understand kaladin and the stormfather says he ahs the power but not the ability to do this. i wonder if syl will petition cultivation or the nightmother instead

[@delphy2478]

i have further developed this theory. i think that if syl was to ask cultivation (nightmother probably is not able to do this) she would either be made into a human(ish) being or more likely would start growing into it over time, and as her emotions developed, becoming more attuned and part of the physical realm and less and less of the cognitive realm, ultimately resulting in her becoming fully biological, but also no longer being able to sustain her nahel bond with kaladin, leaving him without his windrunner powers. i would imagine the final transformation and loss of her powers would essentially be a conscious decision, sort of like how dalinar more of less decided that he was ready for the memories of evie to come back. further, we know that a lot of kaladins ability to be so great at combat comes through his Conectin to syl, i would imagine that the results of her becoming human would be a new type of Connection, where now she shares kaladins surgeon skills and is able to help him devote the rest of his life to healing, which is basically how i see kaladin 'retiring'. this is basically the only way i see for kaladin to have a happy ending, any other ending he will fully embrace being a windrunner and either die in some epic sacrifice, or become a new herald/part of whatever the new solution to odium and the voidbringers ends up being i've also wondered who odiums champion would be, and i'm reminded that Taln was not supposed to be a herald, which means that whomever was supposed to be the 10th herald may have betrayed them and ay be odiums backup champion if he cannot corrupt one of the mainplayers during any particular desolation

[@mattbennett3589]

Moash doing the full send

[@DeadlyDeadlyBeees]

Funniest quote (besides one or two from Pattern): "Seven Radiants?", Jasnah said, skeptical. "Uncle, that seems a tall order. even if one of us is - apparently - the storming Assassin in White."

[@tyelerhiggins300]

I'm pretty sure Lift is the way she is for a reason. I don't like her that much, but I'm not as annoyed as some people. I also like Jar Jar, but I was 5 when phantom came out.

[@srspanksalot4501]

I LOVE that you don't care about the ghostbloods. Has that changed since you have learned more about them through stormlight and mistborn era 2?

[@shanebeacham3348]

I’m gonna be honest, I liked the first book despite it being slow in some places, and I really enjoyed the second book, but I was not a fan of Oathbringer. The Dalinar stuff was the best part, and I like a few other things, but almost everything that was set up either in other books or in the beginning of the book didn’t play out in a satisfying way. Either they ignored it completely, or they resolved it in such an underwhelming manner (especially with the Adolin and Sadeas subplot). I haven’t read RoW yet, and so I’m hoping it corrects the course, but I just felt like the ball was dropped here.

[@evelynbasham1673]

I love having someone to listen to who disagrees with me on so many things. It helps me see things in a different light. I get why you don't like Lift now. You prefer mature characters in Fantasy. That likely is also why you missed all the hints in past books that Dalinar was a bloody oaf in his youth. Sadeas, other characters, and even Dalinar himself suggested he was like that. The only one who seemed to have a completely reverent opinion of who Dalinar was in his youth was Adolin. I think you might have look at the man Dalinar was in books one and two and thought he would be the same in his flashbacks. I wasn't surprised by his flashbacks at all. However, we all approach stories with different lens. I look forward to seeing what you think of Rhythm of War when book 4 comes out. Love the channel.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I wouldn’t go as far as to say I misunderstood as much as in my own mind, since he’s my favorite character, I assumed he was as brilliant of a villain as he is a hero.

[@evelynbasham1673]

@@mikesbookreviewsthat's what I meant. He is your favorite and so you had blinders toward the hints of his oafish past. I understand why he is your favorite. Dalinar is awesome. However, he was kind of oafish in book one as a hero too. He was clumsy at politics and wanted to just push people to do things, but he was aware enough of his oafish nature to try and improve. Adolin even mentions that you can't disagree once Dalinar has decided something. And oaf expects things to happen if he hits something enough. He would not have been able to be the king/bondsmith he is now if he remained as he was in book one. Though it is all about perspective. I'm someone who likes Lift, so you can question my opinion from that truth alone. ;)

[@legionkahn]

Shallan chapters were the hardest to get through for me. The whole multiple identies, and her "I hate myself so I'll be someone else but whos the real me" thing just got on my nerves. The thing that saved her for me was her scenes with Adolin.

[@delphy2478]

i agree with this. there is redeeming qualities to shallan, but she is the most frustrating of the primary characters to me. it doesn't help, though, that i personally find spycraft stories annoying, mostly because it always feels like there is more 'deus ex machina' in how spycraft characters always succeed, always know where to find the information, always know how to sneak past bad how to impersonate someone perfectly every time, and it just bothers me

[@mikesbookreviews]

The Veil/Ghostbloods chapters annoyed me, but I do like how Sanderson writes her very clear mental illness.

[@antongrigoryev6381]

Huh, after reading Warbreaker I seem to have more questions about crossover elements than I had before. I didn't miss the second book, right? It seems a long time has passed since the events of Warbreaker. Azure is very different than Vivenna as she was in that book, with much more combat and leadership experience, and overall more life-hardened. Kaladin does think she's about 30-35, so it's at least 10 years passed (but since Breath can stop the aging, it may be basically any period) . While I can totally see that she would get there, how exactly it happened is still a big question. Her sword is very interesting too. It seems to be a discount version of Nightblood, not as powerful, but also not nearly as dangerous to the user since she has no problems with using it and showing it to other people. However, it still drains color from it's victims and it also seems to have at least a semblance of intelligence. No such swords were mentioned in Warbreaker. Overall, I'm really curious to get the story here. Wonder if this all stuff is a slight spoiler to the Warbreaker sequel to warm up our interest?

[@legendsofabhaile]

I like the IDEA of lift but hate her character, she does feel completely out of place but there is interesting stuff about her. I can like that, and not her. But like the eating to gain stormlight, thats neat and could have a HUGE impact on how investiture works across the cosmere. Could she potentially use her surges anywhere that she can find food?

[@mikesbookreviews]

This is very fair. I really didn’t dislike the character in the way that people are taking, again she just feels like part of another YA Sanderson book that he decided to shove in here.

[@jkdbuck7670]

18:58 so you think Lift is the Jar Jar Binks of the Stormlight Archive?

[@rosewood1897]

11:42 those who are reading Rhythm Of War preview chapters will know what she's gonna do😂😂

[@mikesbookreviews]

I read through chapter 5 last night 👍👍👍👍👍

[@El-gk4nz]

I have a question and Mike seems to have built a lovely community; I bought The Final Empire (Mistborn - Book One) secondhand on a whim for 75p today, can I dive right in without having read any other Sanderson before?

[@mikesbookreviews]

I think Mistborn is the ideal place to start with Sanderson.

[@El-gk4nz]

@@mikesbookreviews Perfect! Thank you so much 😊

[@totesmagotes213]

Absolutely agree about Lift. She feels very out of place in this world and story. I struggled getting through Edgedancer and felt she was even more out of place in this book interacting with the more serious characters.

[@dpeady78]

Anytime Dalinar talked about his past and then had a drink was brilliantly written

[@mikesbookreviews]

Absolutely.

[@Ethan-42]

Isn’t it possible for Yelig-nar to bond with or inhabit another body?

[@codyjones746]

There are so many favorite parts for me. I separate them by the characters. Please after you read this I would like to hear your favorite character moments. My favorite moments are in the first book when Kaladin sees that all of bridge four is about to die on a bridge run then in order to avoid that he jumps off the cliff face to the other plateau to fight off the parshendi. I love when Shallan is broken without hope then Wit asks her to retell the story of the girl who asked why. It literally made me cry. I love when Szeth chooses his master but the pacing leaves you wondering if he is about to make a wrong decision. I love when Lift goes back for her friend who might be dead. I love when Sadeas dies. I love when Adolin forces himself to be in jail because Kaladin was thrown in there. I love when Syl is holding a sword fighting off the death spren (they seem really scary in shadesmar). I am sure there are more but I forgot them.

[@mikesbookreviews]

There's so much to talk about it almost needs to be an 8 hour live stream.

[@codyjones746]

@@mikesbookreviews I agree! Thank you for putting up these videos. They help me remember all of the parts I love.

[@dillonpatterson4310]

Odium and Marcone are similar characters so its not surprising youd like both of their mentalities. Also I agree shallan is one of the hardest characters for me to read. I've never really enjoyed any of her character or reveals.

[@mikesbookreviews]

A villian that is in control and doesn't yell or get overly physical is always a favorite of mine.

[@shehzadshaikh9670]

I just hope that Sanderson's didn't kill kaladin... and if he kills kaladin I hope it to be like Vin and Eland in mistborn...

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah it would be a blaze of glory much like Hero of Ages.

[@Vaticider69]

I don't mind Lift as much, shes a balance much as Wayne and The Lopen... I think there's more to her, we know her boon, but we don't know her curse.....

[@adeyemioyemade1631]

You didn’t mention my favorite reveals!! Heralds are broken assholes, drunk dude was king of herald, humans are the voidbringers and Odium is the human god!!! Ahhh!!!

[@delphy2478]

i feel like brandon is building something interesting with kaladin in oathbringer. dalinar is clearly being built to eventually unite the 'human' nations against odium and essentially take the position of authority that tanavast/the heralds would have had in previous desolations, but kaladin is definitely going in a different direction. there isn't any reason for kaladin to be spending time with teh parshman and having trouble swearing the 4th ideal unless he was being built forsomething. if brandon sanderson was going to just defeat the voidbringers and make a new oathpact thing we wouldn't need aladins development. i think that kaladin is going to be critical and central to creating a new outcome to the desolation instead of repairing what was already there. on a further prediction with kaladin, ever since the 'sylphrena interlude' that brandon posted, (i hope you have read it) i have thought it was possible that sylphrena will spend the next 2 books becoming more human the honorspren usually are, and she might actually become kaladins romantic partner. it's reasonable that in shadesmar she and kaladin would be able to have the physical side of any relationship, and she spent so much of book 3 trying to understand romance and tried to use it as a way to make kaladin happy, that i feel lie this is plausible, although still fairly unlikely. i only give kaladin 50/50 odds of even surviving book 5, and only in the 50% survival chance is there any hope of any romance for kaladin i agree with your frustrations with lift. i think her character makes sense as a character, but her impact on the story is vastly disproportionate and very frustrating. my biggest problem with ehr is that she is as broken as shallan, kaladin, and dalinar, but she specifically avoids trying to heal and get better, to the point of running away from confrontation, while the rest actually try for self improvement.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'd be fine with Lift in a different story. I just don't think she's the type of character this series needs.

[@delphy2478]

@@mikesbookreviews it's enough to make me wonder fi she's going to keep being interlude only through book 5, and then a main protagonist in the back 5

[@heregellas]

Just finished the book. Really loved Elhokar in this one, and jesus this Part 5 was AWESOME. Also, fuck Moash.

[@jonskogen9477]

Could not agree more when it comes to Lift. Such a YA character. Take her off the page please!

[@joshuafowler883]

Odium (or Rayse) is a great bad guy because he isn't just the big bad on Roshar but the big bad in the Cosmere.

[@simonorourke4465]

I'm late to the party here, but given the revelation at the end of Rythem of war I think we can now say that Odium is now the big bad of the cosmere. Although I think that Kelsier could give him a run for his money in the cosomere villain stakes lol.

[@llywyllngryffyn8053]

I've only just started reading this one but I encountered what might be an issue that I wanted to ask others about. In Words of Radiance, it is stated by 'Ashonaai' (not sure about the spelling since I use the audiobook) that the Listeners Do NOT attract Spren with their emotions. That is a Human thing. However, in Oathbringer, while Kaladin is with the recently transformed Parshmen group, the child who picks the flowers 'Has Joy Spren over her head'. Now, is this a mistake on BS part, or is it indicative of the difference in the way these former parshmen think? Is it explained later on, perhaps? These Parshmen who only recently escaped slavery 'think' like humans and don't use the Rhythms yet so does that make the difference? Do the Listeners (Parshendi) not attract Spren because they don't 'Think' they should? It seemed like an error to me but I wanted to put it out there.

[@grandadmiralmanatee]

It is spelt Eshonai in the books. But a good point definitely

[@hippy8011]

Your intro had me rolling! So funny. Love this channel. #FuckMoash

[@mikesbookreviews]

He’s the worst.

[@EzekielPrellus]

This book ended most of my enthusiasm for Sanderson. It was emotionally flat; the magic system was dialed up way too high; I wasn't nearly as engaged with the characters as I was with Kaladin in the first two books. I thought Sanderson lost focus with Oathbringer.

[@mmccrownus2406]

I agree on the flashbacks. An oaf thug like that would have a real hard time becoming current Dalinar the Great.

[@MetalGildarts]

Wait, Azure is Vivenna? Vahel is Vasher??

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yep. My head 🤯 too

[@delphy2478]

and the worldhoppers chasing hoid in the purelake are characters from mistborn, elantris, and white sand

[@sjkrum320]

#Fmoash!!!! I thought his story was great! I was so pissed at him and felt Kal's betrayal 😢 such great writing. I love the cross over stuff from Warbreaker.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Really makes his universe feel more connected.

[@eroz84]

This book was like reading the slog and A Memory Of Light combined… mixed feelings

[@cathsaigh2197]

I don't hate Moash as much as you, but I do think he's being built to be the guy Odium falls back on to be his champion when none of the other options work out.

[@mikesbookreviews]

That’s the popular theory.

[@lucypauwels993]

Never liked Shallan, hated her more in this one. Definitely my least favorite (haven't read #4) but the ending was so good with Dalinar writing his memoir.

[@llywyllngryffyn8053]

My favorite part of this series 'had been' when Kaladin said the third ideal and saved the King and scared off Moash and Graves, then saved Dalinar and defeated Zzeth. ... Had Been... Now that his saving the King has become a wasted deed because in this book he lets Moash kill him because he's all locked up with conflicting feefees, I lost all respect for Kaladin and I don't really 'have' a favoirite moment. I have PTSD from having to listen to Eight Consecutive Hours of one battle scene....