Rereads and Rewatches Brandon Sanderson

Elantris Reread: “The Hope of Elantris” and Closing Thoughts

Lyndsey and Paige discuss the short story “The Hope of Elantris” and wrap up the reread.

By Lyndsey Luther, Paige Vest

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Published on March 7, 2024

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If you have no idea what we’re talking about when we say “The Hope of Elantris,” you can read the entire short story for free on Brandon’s website here. In the annotations, he mentions that he wrote this story as a gift/thank you for a young fan who did an amazing book report on Elantris. It fills in one of the “loose threads” of the novel—specifically, the question of how the children of Elantris survive. Once we’re done chatting about the short story, Paige and I will share our closing thoughts on the book and the reread as a whole.

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Raoden, Matisse.

Discussion

P: Ah, a bit of time has passed since the nuptials we witnessed last week. And baby makes three! Or, umm, five, if we’re counting Seons, too.

L: Exciting! I always like seeing “the next generation” show up in fantasy novels. For whatever reason, it just makes things feel more…real, for some reason.

P: Story time! And it’s not that long… We’ll cover it as succinctly as possible. ::ahem::

L: Ah, so we’re about to go back in time, as it were. And it’s quite a nice way of doing so, if I might say so myself. Rather than just throw us into the thick of things, Brandon’s set us up a handy framing device.

P: I love this. Raoden gave everyone “jobs” to keep their minds off the pain and the hunger.

L: Ah yes. It’s been awhile since we were at that stage of the book, so it’s nice to have a little reminder of that.

P: It’s sweet that this girl, and she is but a slip of a girl, takes such pride in having a job to do in New Elantris.

L: It is really sweet.

P: This, of course, is how the newly shiny Elantrians were able to access the power to fight the monks after they all transported to Teod. Galladon held an impromptu lesson.

L: That clears up that little hanging thread from the book. I was wondering how they had all managed all that, when we hadn’t been told that they’d all been practicing all this time!

P: What a lot for children to deal with: suddenly changed and exiled from their families—in the case of those who had families, which, of course, Matisse didn’t have—and the world they had known. They’ve only just found a comfortable home in New Elantris, found places for themselves in this new society, and suddenly there’s foreboding and fear because all of the storming adults are acting strangely.

L: Even for the adults it was a lot to handle. I wonder if, in a way, the kids might not have had an easier time of it. The adults had set routines, whole lives that were uprooted. Children, often, are a little more flexible to major life changes. (Does this mean that they weren’t traumatized? Obviously not. But they might, all things considered, have handled things a bit better than the adults.)

P: Of course, she’s an unfinished Elantrian and doesn’t heal. This cut will come into play later.

L: I really wish it wouldn’t.

P: This is heartbreakingly sweet. Matisse had been an orphan begging in the streets before the Shaod had taken her. And in exile, in this filthy city, she’s found a father. ::feels::

L: ::lower lip tremble:: Even in the darkest of times, there is light to be found, and humanity lives on.

P: Like how it feels to become Hoed? Heh… I jest. Though being Hoed was quite important to the plot, as we learn that the pool only takes those who want to be taken. Raoden changed his mind at the last and he didn’t dissolve.

L: True. I also appreciate that Matisse is the more mature of the two in this instance, making reasoned arguments while her father is making more emotional ones.

P: If you recall, Aon Daa was what the finished Elantrians used to great effect in Teod, while fighting the monks. They basically just drew this Aon over and over.

L: Nothing wrong with throwing dynamite sticks! Why bother getting fancy and adding in other things when dynamite does the job just fine?

P: Of course, no scholars missed a line, there was just an earthquake that created a big enough chasm that the Dor needed a line to represent said chasm added to the Aons in order to make them work again. And right about now, Raoden is going to fix all the things with a line!

L: Atta boy, Raoden!

P: And finally Ashe shows up. Not sure how he knew all that had transpired before he arrived…though I suppose he could have learned it all later, once things had died down.

P: Remember that Raoden and the others had told precious few people about the existence of the library. So Matisse had never heard of it before this moment.

L: Probably for the best. Imagine a whole hoard of kids sneaking in there, disorganizing all the books, carrying them off… Would have put a damper on Raoden’s studies to go hunting them all down.

P: These are the weapons Sarene sent to Elantris in case the city was attacked by regular soldiers. Nobody was expecting Fjordell soldiers to show up!

L: Nobody expects the Fjordell Inquisition!

P: I believe we need an Aon alert!

L: Oh, it’s pretty! It looks kind of like a plant, like a leaf or a tree…

P: Galladon had, of course, gone into Kae to look for Raoden, and found him a Hoed, run through with a sword and repeating, “Failed… failed my love…” Ugh, I’m over here getting choked up at something we already covered. Moving on, this is the perfect time for the screaming to begin. Things are weird, what with the adults drawing Aons late into the night, but it’s at least peaceful. Until it’s not.

L: I guess, if there’s ever a “perfect time” for screaming to begin outside of a horror movie or a haunted attraction…

P: How timely was Sarene’s shipment of weapons, huh?

L: One might almost say… convenient.

P: Kiddos need to beat feet and get outta Dodge! Erm, outta New Elantris!

L: This is a huge relief, honestly, knowing what’s coming. Those stacks of bodies the Dakhor monks make… ready to be made into pyres…

P: ::shudders::

P: ::urgency intensifies:: Fly, you fools!

L: If I may insert a reference from a wildly different genre…

P: This child’s sense of duty is simply moving. What a lovely little character Brandon has created for this short story.

L: He’s always been good at writing children. Not as good as, say, Stephen King, but in my opinion King is the master at writing kids, so that’s an awfully high bar to reach.

P: Which is how Dashe finds her in the nick of time. Oh, wait, we’re not there yet. Carry on.

L: Oi. Spoilers, Paige.

P: This cracked me up. She’s only an older child but she’s not above acting like an adult to the younger children.

L: You see this with kids all the time, though. Give them an ounce of responsibility and suddenly they’re acting like the President of the US.

P: But how feasible is running when you have a bunch of young children who have just been dragged from their beds? Sure, maybe they were scared awake, but it’s no small feat to move fifty children anywhere quickly.

L: Herding cats, for sure. Especially when a bunch of them are probably suffering from un-healed injuries and aren’t going to be moving terribly quickly.

P: As the soldiers advance, Matisse realized that yes, they will definitely kill Elantrian children. Just a bunch of monsters, really.

L: Makes me so indignant. What terrible monsters these men are.

P: Dashe came to distract the soldiers so the children could get away, but what does Matisse do? She watches. Of course.

L: Frozen in horror, like watching a car accident or a train wreck. Sadly, it’s human nature.

P: How agonizing for young Matisse to see this happen to her adopted father. She screams here, as Dashe becomes Hoed. ::sad face::

L: If characters we love could stop turning Hoed, that would be great. (I know it all turns out okay in the end, but still.)

P: At least, Matisse thinks they’re there. They are currently taking Raoden to the blue pool.

L: Still, good thinking on her part to bring the kids there. If it was hidden enough that she didn’t know where it was, chances are good that the soldiers won’t be able to find it either.

P: Her Aon worked! How exciting that must have been for her. Or would have been had she not been terrified, I suppose.

L: I can only imagine. It must be something like suddenly getting the powers of a superhero; like Superman. In their society, the Elantrians were looked up to in a similar way. So for her to be able to use those powers suddenly…boy, what a rush that must have been.

P: Ugh, the poor Hoed make me so sad every time I hear one of their mantras.

L: They’re heartbreaking. I’ve been rewatching the 2009 Doctor Who series from the start with my son lately, and it reminds me a lot of the “Silence in the Library” episode, with the Vashta Nerada. The last echoes of the soul, echoing as they cycle down…only in this case, those echoes would be eternal, which makes it so, so much worse.

P: This just gives me goosebumps! To see how she felt when her transformation was finally completed!

L: I can only imagine it looked something like this.

P: Of course, this soldier had seen the cut on her cheek, the one mentioned up above when Matisse is ruminating on being an Elantrian. Only now she’s really an Elantrian and all of her hurts are healed!

L: I’m surprised that he noticed something so subtle, to be honest. These guys didn’t seem like the brightest Seons in the Cosmere.

P: How very odd it would be to not have a heartbeat for however long this child had been an Elantrian, and then suddenly you have a heartbeat again. I love her reactions to becoming a full Elantrian!

L: That must have been incredibly surreal.

P: I don’t listen to the Graphic Audio versions of the books, the music and the different voices actually distract me. But I imagine a swell of awesome music playing during this scene.

L: Yesssssss! This is so so cool!

P: And so ends Ashe’s story. And what a lovely little story it was.

L: This really is beautiful. I love it, and I’m so glad Brandon gave it to us.

P: Very fitting for that child and the bravery she displayed that night. I have many feels.

Final Thoughts

P: This book had a profound impact on me. As a reader and a fan of the fantasy genre. I first picked it up after it was announced that Brandon would finish The Wheel of Time, and it was like no fantasy I’d ever read. I loved Sarene, who was strong and snarky, just the kind of person I wanted so badly to emulate. She spoke to me. And not only her… As a sufferer of bipolar disorder, the Hoed spoke to me, too. Over the many years since I first read Elantris, I’ve picked it up again numerous times. Many details fade in between rereads, but one thing that has never faded is how the Hoed become weighed down by their pain; the way the hurts pile up and pile up until they just can’t bear it anymore. I wrote an article with a friend a few years ago called “The Pain of Elantris” about how I relate so strongly to these Hoed. If you haven’t seen it and you’ve come this far in our reread, maybe give it a look-see.

L: I have a similar story as to how I found the book, though I believe I read The Way of Kings first (clearly, I dove in at the deep end). I want to say it was around 2010 or so that I read Elantris, and at the time, I really related a lot to Sarene and her trials with love. At the time, like her, I never thought I’d ever find anyone, and Raoden was like a dream come true. (To this day I still adore him, and think he’s a great romantic lead. Not quite as good as Jamie Fraser, but that’s an incredibly high bar.)

Interestingly, I didn’t relate as strongly to the Hoed on my first read-through as Paige did, because at the time I hadn’t experienced any chronic pain or mental health issues. After the birth of my son, however, I began to suffer from a plethora of issues (the details of which I won’t bore you with here) and I’ve found that this book resonates with me a lot more strongly now on that count.

P: We hope to be back with you soon before Wind and Truth is released, and as always, watch this space for upcoming Sanderson discussion. Thanks for joining us on this latest reread! [end-mark]

The post <i>Elantris</i> Reread: “The Hope of Elantris” and Closing Thoughts appeared first on Reactor.

Book Recommendations Brandon Sanderson

What The Sunlit Man and Other Secret Projects Have Revealed About Sanderson’s Cosmere

The Secret Project books are filled with hints and lore, raising new questions—let’s discuss!

By Lyndsey Luther

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Published on March 5, 2024

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Ahhh, can you smell that, fantasy fans? It’s a new Sanderson Secret Project hitting the shelves. Smells like worldbuilding, tight plots, and witty banter. (And what do those things actually smell like, you may be thinking to yourself? I’d like to think… a mix of sea-foam, leather book-bindings, and coffee. Why? It’s best we don’t ask these questions. Just keep on reading—and let’s dive right into the story in question!)

Imagine, if you will, a setting similar to Mad Max: Fury Road. Now take the titular character, Max, make him a visitor from another planet who doesn’t speak the language, give him an actual personality, make him likable from the get-go, and we’ve got Nomad, the protagonist of The Sunlit Man. Start him off in a gladiator-like arena, but up the stakes by making the sun-side of the planet uninhabitable, so the denizens of the planet need to be constantly on the move in order to avoid it. Oh, and did I mention that Nomad’s being hunted by a group of alien worldhoppers called the Night Brigade?

Now, if you’re not already familiar with Brandon Sanderson’s work and you’re reading this premise, thinking to yourself, “This sounds pretty neat…” Well, you may want to pump the brakes (at least for now).

You see, Sanderson’s universe, the Cosmere, is a little like the Marvel Extended Universe. The worlds (and hence the books) are all connected to some extent, some more than others. And this one is very Cosmere-heavy. Think of it this way. Can you watch Avengers: Endgame without having seen a single other Marvel film or TV show and enjoy it? Sure. It’s a fun movie. But you’re going to be a little lost on some of the plot points and characters; similarly, when you pick up The Sunlit Man, you’re not going to find all the answers to the mysteries laid out in these pages. Nomad matter-of-factly talks about Dawnshards and spren and worldhoppers without explaining those terms. For some of these concepts, you can glean the meanings from context. Others, not so much. Will this detract from your enjoyment of the plot as a whole? That depends on the type of reader you are. If you like to have every question answered, every loose end tied up, every character nuance explained… this will not be the book for you. If you’re okay with just going along for the ride and don’t think too much about the little details, you’ll have a much better time, but you’d likely have an even better time if you’ve read some of the other books in Sanderson’s “extended universe” before jumping in here.

This said, if you’re already a Sanderson fan and the passing mention of the word “Dawnshard” made you perk up or start breathing heavily (calm down there, Chickens), then this book is definitely for you. A delightful mix of tension, intrigue, and Cosmere lore, The Sunlit Man is sure to enthrall all you die-hard Sanderson enthusiasts. Free up your copperminds and prepare to salivate over hundreds of hints, titillating and tantalizing revelations, and all new mysteries that will have you throwing back your head and cackling “Oh Brandon, you tease!” all bundled into one of Sanderson’s signature fantastic plots. The main character, Nomad, will seem familiar in all the right ways and you’ll be intrigued throughout by the hints of things you know and the things you don’t. (Yet.) It’s just enough to whet your appetite and keep you looking forward to the next book (Stormlight 5, is that you?) while sating your appetite for answers for the time being.

Buy the Book

The Sunlit Man

Bandon Sanderson

A Cosmere Novel

Buy Book

The Sunlit Man

Bandon Sanderson

A Cosmere Novel

A Cosmere Novel

Buy this book from:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• IndieBound
• Target

Speaking of which: the three Cosmere-related Secret Projects (Tress of the Emerald Sea, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and now The Sunlit Man) have all dropped a ton of hints and lore. With Wind and Truth looming on the horizon, we thought now might be the perfect time for a brief recap of everything we’ve learned so far…

WARNING! Beyond this point there be spoilers! Consider yerselves warned, Cosmere Chickens! If ye haven’t read ALL of the three Secret Projects listed above and don’t want to be spoiled, DO NOT PROCEED FURTHER!

Arrrrrr. Ye’ve been warned.

* * *

* * *

* * *

Still here? All right. Here we go.

Let’s begin with Hoid. He features prominently in both Tress and Yumi, serving as the narrator of both pieces, and shows up briefly in Sunlit Man as well.

In Tress, Hoid’s lost a wager with Riina, an Elantrian, who was disguised as “the Sorceress of the Midnight Sea.” (For more on Riina and the Ire, see: Mistborn: Secret History.) He had bet her that if he could break her curse, she would grant him access to Elantris and the power of AonDor (for more on that, see Elantris). The curse placed on him stripped him of his sense of humor, sense of style, sense of decorum, sense of purpose, intelligence, and sense of self. In order to break the curse, he would need to return to the central room of the Sorceress’ ship on her island, and was forbidden from telling anyone about it. His kandra friend Ulaam was aboard the ship as well (for more about the kandra, see the Mistborn series). At the conclusion of the book, Hoid is granted the powers of AonDor, which I’m sure will be significant later on.

It’s also worth pointing out here that the dragon Xisisrefliel makes an appearance beneath the sea at one point as well (dragons show up so rarely in Sanderson’s books that it’s always worthwhile to point them out).

In Yumi, Hoid’s been trapped as a statue in the noodle shop and is being used as a coat rack for most of the book. This was due to the protection measures that he instituted to prevent other entities from interfering with his Investiture after recovering from Odium’s destruction of his Breaths (for more on Odium, see the Stormlight Archive. For more on Breaths, see Warbreaker). These measures were activated when, immediately upon his arrival, the father machine attempted to absorb his Investiture to power itself. After the father machine was destroyed by Yumi, and the attempts to absorb his Investiture thus halted, Hoid was freed from his stasis. He planned with Design (for more on Design, see the Stormlight Archive) to disguise themselves as astronauts and steal a ship, allowing them to travel to the nearby Iron Seven Waystation (this will likely be coming up again in the Mistborn series when Sanderson eventually gets that civilization to space travel, as planned).

When Hoid’s apprentice Sigzil arrived on Canticle in The Sunlit Man, Sigzil’s spren Auxiliary used some Investiture they had acquired to temporarily reinforce Sigzil’s Connection to Hoid, allowing Hoid to appear before Sigzil as an illusion (for more on Sigzil, see the Stormlight Archive). Sigzil remained angry with Hoid for over past betrayals, feeling as if he had been tricked and used by Wit when he was asked to take up the Dawnshard, and forced into his life of fleeing the Night Brigade. (As of now, we have no idea what most of this is in regards to. It may come up in a future Stormlight novel, or even in another novel in which Sigzil has traveled to another world. We just don’t know.)

Much about Sigzil remains a puzzle: What’s he doing here? How did he get the Dawnshard? Why? What happened to his original spren? Why does he have another one? There are a lot of questions here, and who knows when we’ll get the answers? (Hopefully in December when Wind and Truth is released, but there’s no way to know for certain.) Does Kaladin know he’s here? What about the rest of Bridge Four? The Night Brigade that’s chasing him is from Threnody, of which we know very little…

Phew. Let’s shift gears a little and move over to discussing some of the interesting powers and investitures displayed in the Secret Projects.

I hesitate to call Tress of the Emerald Sea’s twelve varieties of spores, or aethers, a magic system. They’re not really Investiture? Or are they? While each has a very different effect when exposed to different stimuli, I would hesitate to call it Investiture per se—it’s not energy in the same way that most of the other planets manifest it. A note here: spore eaters seem to be at least tangentially related to the aetherbound we’ve seen show up in Mistborn: The Lost Metal (his name was Prasanva).

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter has a pretty fascinating magic system. In the beginning of the story, when the machine is still functioning, we’ve got the hion lines and the yoki-hijo creating a nice dichotomy between technology and tradition. After the machine is destroyed, the hijo will continue to supply the hion lines with power so the surface of the planet won’t get so hot as it used to. It appears that Investiture here won’t be used the same way that it is on most planets in the Cosmere, in which a person harnesses it and unleashes it. (In a way, that’s sort of how it was being used, if we consider the hijo to be Investiture before the yoki-hijo drew them with their stone stacking and then “unleashed” them to be used in specific uses. The hion energy was harnessed and used in a more general sense, in the same way electricity is in the real world.) It is worth noting that the Shard in this system of the Cosmere is Virtuosity, whose primary Intent is artistic talent. Fitting, isn’t it?

Lastly, getting back to The Sunlit Man: The sun that Canticle revolves around emits vast quantities of Investiture, which is wild. It supercharges the growth of plants, but the extreme temperatures also incinerate anything unfortunate enough to be caught out in it. Aside from the sun, Investiture on the planet manifests through simmering stones which Nomad nicknames embers. Such embers are used as power sources and can be injected into people, replacing the heart. People implanted with embers are granted enhanced reflexes and strength. (There are some parallels with heat transfer and transferring breaths if you’re familiar with Warbreaker, too…)

Honestly, this is only a tiny little taste of the wealth of lore that’s to be found in these pages, so let’s discuss: What hints were you most excited about? What mysteries are you most intrigued by? What did you think of The Sunlit Man, and what’s your favorite out of all the Secret Project books?

Sound off in the comments, Chickens, and let us know![end-mark]

The post What <i>The Sunlit Man</i> and Other Secret Projects Have Revealed About Sanderson’s Cosmere appeared first on Reactor.

Rereads and Rewatches Brandon Sanderson

Elantris Reread: Chapter Sixty-Three and Epilogue

Wedding bells are ringing in Elantris…

By Lyndsey Luther, Paige Vest

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Published on February 29, 2024

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Lyn: Here we are, Cosmere Chickens. The penultimate installment of the Elantris reread! It’s been a wild ride, hasn’t it?

Paige: I know I’ve enjoyed it!

L: It’s the penultimate one because there’s a SECRET short story that Brandon released in the Arcanum Unbounded short story collection, which takes place at the end of the novel! Bonus! So it makes a lot of sense for us to add that onto the end of the reread and cover it here. (If you don’t have a copy of Arcanum Unbounded, GoodGuy!Brandon also put it up for free on his website here, which means you can read it there before we cover it next week, if you haven’t already!)

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Last time on Elantris: The Climax…

Man, it was a lot. Hrathen died! Then he came back and then he died again! Raoden teleported half a world away to save Sarene only to… not be able to save her, but it was really heroic! A whole bunch of Elantrians followed him and joined in battle with the Dakhor monks! And Dilaf finally met his end! About time, right?

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Sarene, Raoden

Discussion

Chapter 63

L: I’m so happy that she’s finally getting married. FINALLY!

P: Poor thing’s been through it with weddings in this book. I’m so glad she got her happy ending!

L: Brandon…

P: At least she’s done and wed, right? Plus, we needed an info dump.

L: BOY THIS IS YOUR BLOODY WEDDING YOU BETTER PAY ATTENTION BEFORE I JUMP INTO THIS BOOK AND SMACK YOU

P: He had to think about what we’d missed so we could know what happened, right?

Right?!

L: Oh really, now?

P: This isn’t at all concerning!

Hmm…

L: Okay, that is a really good hook for a sequel, I’ve got to admit it!

P: Which I can’t wait to read!

L: Raoden may not know, but we do, thanks to answers that Brandon’s given at signings. Seons are splinters of the Shard of Devotion, after Odium destroyed Aona, its Vessel.

L: If only Raoden knew! (Looking at you, The Emperor’s Soul.)

P: Now I need to reread that book!

L: GET IT, girl!

P: Consummating the marriage is always fun!

Epilogue

L: Oh, interesting. So the magic here seems to function like it does on Roshar. If he sees himself as bald, it doesn’t “need” to be healed. It’s all about Intent.

P: I had the exact same thought about Intent.

L: Aww. Well, good on them. I always hate it when a character redeems themselves and we don’t get recognition of that fact, so I’m happy to see this.

P: It’s rare to see, and it’s nice that Brandon gave Hrathen this monument.

With this, Sarene gets the final word, bringing the novel to a close…

L: A fine cheese (like a fine wine or Scotch whisky) grows better with age, and I feel this cheese is very fine indeed. Is it cliché? Sure. But it’s also very fitting and very in-character for Sarene.

P: There’s a time and place for cheese, and this ending was both.

L: Now, he said this back in 2006, BUT in his State of the Sanderson in 2023, he said:

L: So, if you enjoyed this world and its fascinating magic system and characters, you’re in luck. Not only are there sequels on the way, you can also dig into The Emperor’s Soul, and next week Paige and I will be finishing up this reread series with “The Hope of Elantris,” the short story we referenced in the intro. Thanks for sticking with us, and we hope to see you there for the finale!

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with “The Hope of Elantris” from Arcanum Unbounded. [end-mark]

Buy the Book

Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection

Brandon Sanderson

Buy Book

Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection

Brandon Sanderson

Buy this book from:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• iBooks
• IndieBound
• Target

The post <em>Elantris</em> Reread: Chapter Sixty-Three and Epilogue appeared first on Reactor.

News The Most Boring Book Ever

Brandon Sanderson Will Soon Add “Picture Book Author” to His Resume

The Most Boring Book Ever is coming in September.

By Molly Templeton

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Published on February 23, 2024

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It is very well known that Brandon Sanderson is a prolific writer—and one who’s written for a huge audience, from middle grade readers to adults. But now he’s facing a new audience: children.

Publishers Weekly just announced that Sanderson has a picture book coming out from Roaring Brook Press. Titled The Most Boring Book Ever, the story has art by Kazu Kibuishi, the illustrator of the beloved and bestselling Amulet graphic novel series.

Here’s the brief description:

This is just one of several Sanderson books coming out this year. In early March, the Tor Books edition of Cosmere novel The Sunlit Man (the last of his Kickstarted volumes) arrives on shelves. And Wind and Truth, book five of the Stormlight Archive, is due to publish in December. As for Kibuishi, he’s currently on tour for the just-released Amulet 9: Waverider.

The Most Boring Book Ever will be published on September 24th.

The post Brandon Sanderson Will Soon Add “Picture Book Author” to His Resume appeared first on Reactor.

Rereads and Rewatches Brandon Sanderson

Elantris Reread: Chapter Sixty-Two

Teleportation, epic showdowns, unrequited love (and also requited love), and math!

By Paige Vest, Lyndsey Luther

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Published on February 22, 2024

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Happy Thursday, Cosmere Chickens! And welcome back to the Elantris reread! The Sanderlanche is fully sanderlanching along and we finally, FINALLY get to see Raoden use Aons with the full power of the Dor! He heals, he travels across the ocean in seconds, and he does a big bada-boom! Won’t you come check it out with us?

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Trigger warnings: Murder, war, injuries to various body parts (hands, sides, necks)

Last time on Elantris: Powers Returned…

Hrathen finally decides to be a Good Guy and saves Sarene, leading her away from Dilaf and giving her father a warning that saves his life.

Raoden, who had been pushed into the Pool, does not dissolve and instead emerges with the secret to Dor. He rushes down to the city and draws the line that completes the symbol, thereby releasing its power and completing the transformation of the Elantrians. All of those thrown onto the pyre emerge, essentially immortal; it’s too late to save Karata, however, who was beheaded before the transformation was completed. Choosing to show mercy, Raoden lets the Dakhor monks go.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Raoden, Sarene, Hrathen

Discussion

L: Because that’s not a terrifying thought or anything.

P: Terrifying, yes. But she’d do it to save her father, if only temporarily.

L: Ah, and there we have it. The problem isn’t with the doctrine itself, but with the clergy.

P: That’s often where the problem lies, with the clergy. But that’s a conversation for another day.

L: I find this kind of endearing, really. Hrathen’s finally following his own moral compass instead of one dictated to him by his religion.

P: As it should be! Individuals might believe in a higher deity, it’s possible to be a good person without adhering to the demands of said deity.

P: Men are so stubborn.

L: Speaking of which…

Back to Past!Brandon:

Thus, Fjon returns:

L: In the section after Sarene’s, we learn more about what Fjon’s been up to since Hrathen sent him away…

P: And what Wyrn’s been up to.

L: Ah, doomed love. And in this moment when he’s fully executed his face turn… he dies. Or… does he?

P: And unrequited doomed love, at that.

L: It’s a shame that Hrathen dies here, because I think he could have been such a cool character if he’d continued to atone for his past sins.

P: Yeah, it was a shame for him to die. But killing Dilaf helps with that atonement a smidge.

Here’s a relevant note from Past!Brandon:

L: I’ve always felt that one of Brandon’s greatest strengths is his comic relief characters. It’s a hard skill to get right. Too much can seem clownish and unrealistic; too little can seem dour and unfunny. But somehow, he always manages to hit that sweet spot.

P: I also find his comic relief characters to be just right. I know he catches a lot of hell from some fans for not writing them well, but in my opinion, they’re fantastic.

L: Good old Ashe, coming through in the clutch!

P: I want a seon so bad!

L: Oh how quickly they’re forgetting how they looked down on the Elantrians and locked them in their city, treating them like lepers… And now they just expect everything to go back to normal?

P: I like to think there’s a healthy amount of fear there, knowing how poorly they’ve treated the Elantrians for the past ten years. Would all of the people they left to rot inside of a dead Elantris want revenge now that they were returned to power?

P: Here’s Raoden trying to transport himself to Teod to save Sarene, with no knowledge about how far he has to tell the Aon to take him. And then someone tells him. ::squee::

Back to Adien’s big moment:

L: If he does wind up being the protagonist of book 2, I’ll be very interested to see how that turns out…

P: It will be so fun!

Another note to consider from Past!Brandon:

L: I’m not sure that I really buy this one, but I think Brandon’s grown and matured beyond this mind-set (he wrote these annotations a long time ago) so I’ll give him a pass on it.

L: Definitely bringing me shades of Star Wars: A New Hope. “Some rescue this is turning out to be!” “Perhaps you’d prefer to be back in your cell, Your Highness?” (Now, if Sarene picked up a blaste—I mean, drew an Aon, and started dispatching Dakhor monks left and right, maybe I wouldn’t still have reservations about her being a damsel in distress!)

P: Too bad the Shaod was just her being poisoned and not actually real.

And then we get this moment:

L: Yeah… This is pretty badass, not going to lie.

P: COMPLETELY badass! And impressive that half of them actually managed to complete the Aon! Galladon must have given a quick lesson before they left Elantris.

Returning to the battle:

L: How convenient. I’d also like to point out that this “it took fifty deaths to imbue this ability to them” thing sounds an awful lot like hemalurgy.

P: Right? Such a waste of life.

L: Oh, interesting. Very different Investiture from the Returned in Warbreaker, then.

P: Very different, indeed. It’s scary how reduced their power is when not in/near Elantris, too.

P: Ooh… skaze??

But leave it to Sarene to interrupt a premature gloating session:

L: Now see that’s what I’m talking about! Atta girl, Sarene! GET HIM!

P: She gives it the old stubborn Teo princess try!

L: Aww. Well, that’s okay, Sarene. You tried. That’s what’s important.

P: Our princess would die before not trying.

All seems lost—when suddenly, a shadowy form emerges from an alleyway:

P: Hrathen to the unexpected rescue!

Huh. Okay!

L: As part of his training as a Dakhor monk, Hrathen would have at least started to undergo the creepy conditioning that would have given him twisted, inhumanly strong bones. And so, he uses their own training against them.

P: I thought we had just seen him bare from the waist up, but maybe I was mistaken.

L: What a great ending for such a despicable villain!

P: It was quite riveting, wasn’t it?

L: …wow. I’m glad that Moshe had you change it, Past!Brandon.

P: Yeah, that would have been a head scratching moment for me.

L: Let this be a lesson to all you aspiring writers out there… listen to your editors!

P: They definitely know what they’re talking about!

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapter 63.[end-mark]

The post <em>Elantris</em> Reread: Chapter Sixty-Two appeared first on Reactor.

Book Recommendations Avatar: The Last Airbender

Avatar-Inspired Reading Recommendations: Books for (Nearly) Every Bending Style

Ever wonder which fantasy novels pair best with earthbending? We’ve got you covered…

By Cole Rush

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Published on February 21, 2024

Credit: Netflix

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Credit: Netflix

Let me tell you, Reactor readers… when I first pitched this article, I did not think it would be this hard to find books that felt at home within Avatar: The Last Airbender’s magic system. Yet, here I am, wracking my brain (and my home library) for picks…

I’ve settled on a handful of books that I think Avatar fans will enjoy for their connection to the show’s ethos and its magic, even if the parallels might not be immediately obvious—I had to stretch the scope a bit, pairing some books with certain bending abilities based on general vibes, while others slot very neatly into the categories of ATLA’s magic systems. Read on for book recommendations suited to each ATLA bending style, and let me know if you come up with your own suggestions along the way!

Earthbending: The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy was the series that sparked this idea in the first place. In it, Orogenes can sense and control the earth using their strong sessapinae—specialized organs set near the brain and spine. The series doesn’t actually involve anyone hurling rocks through the air as Toph Beifong might. Instead, orogeny is a more scaled-up magic, allowing users to negate small earthquakes or make more considerable shifts in the earth’s geology, depending on their strength.

Broken Earth also carves out its own space by telling a story of ostracism and prejudice. Orogenes are cast out and deemed not human, despite the vital and necessary duties they perform for the “stills”—people who cannot control the Earth. Throughout the series, Jemisin walks us through a world that desperately needs Orogenes and simultaneously despises them. It’s a stark, sad, twisted reality that’s somewhat reminiscent of the situation Aang encounters in Ba Sing Se, where the powerful try to ignore or forcibly suppress anything that scares them (namely, a Hundred Year War raging just beyond the city’s walls).

Metalbending: The Mistborn Saga by Brandon Sanderson

This one is easy! In Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series, Allomancers swallow and “burn” metals within their bodies to fuel magic abilities. Different metals can grant distinct powers to magically gifted individuals, depending on which abilities they are born with—for example, Soothers, who burn brass, are able to guide and influence other peoples’ emotions. The metallic art of feruchemy is perhaps an even better fit: Feruchemists can embed traits and attributes (like strength, speed, or memory) into metal objects that can be tapped for later use.

Waterbending: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

Here’s where we firmly enter “vibe” territory: From here on out, my recommendations and pairings are based on general feel rather than strict alignment between magic systems.

You might have already noted, “Oh, this book has the word ‘water’ in its title!” and of course that’s absolutely right—but while it’s a convenient little bonus, it’s not the only reason I decided to pair the novel up with waterbending. Simon Jimenez’s novel is downright fabulous, and while I was noodling over this article, it kept springing up in my memory as a book waterbenders would likely enjoy. It has an archaic feel to it, as a tale about an ancient empire and mystical practices. It’s also a story about exploring our relationship to nature, and figuring out how to traverse a world that may not be particularly kind. The two main characters remind me of Sokka and Katara in that sense, leaving their homes and setting forth on a journey to accomplish a task much bigger than themselves.

I promise there’s lots of water in it, too, if that’s what you’re looking for!

Bloodbending: Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

The darker variant of waterbending deserves a nod here, and I’m going with The Founders trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett. To tell you why would be a spoiler for the latter books in the series, so I’ll leave it at that, and hope anyone who’s intrigued will pick the series up and find out for yourself!

Firebending: Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman

Finding a literary parallel for firebending proved the most challenging, out of all four styles of bending, which surprised me. I eventually turned to the idea of the Fire Nation, a country so indoctrinated by propaganda and lies that most of its citizens believe the war waged by their leaders is simply their way of sharing their culture with the world. I then thought of Zuko and his series-long arc of self-discovery. My mind drifted to Rachel Hartman’s beautiful Tess of the Road.

Tess, our protagonist, becomes jaded by the crushing pressures of social convention and the weight of conforming to expectations placed upon her by her family. Following events and a change in circumstance (which were very much not her fault), she is effectively ostracized and forced into a role she doesn’t want. She runs away to carve her own path and find her destiny much like Prince Zuko does.

Again, the specific connections to firebending here are a bit tenuous—although Tess’ traveling companion, Pathka, can breathe fire, using it to melt and shape metal and glass, which is pretty cool—but there’s enough thematic connective tissue to make me think Tess of the Road might be a nice pick for firebending fans—it’s a book that I think Zuko would appreciate, for sure.

Airbending: The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

And now for a fantasy series with a magic system that fits perfectly with its corresponding bending style! In Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive, there are various types and categories of magic. Here, I’m focusing on the orders of the Windrunners and the Skybreakers. Using lashings, which alter the way gravity acts on a person or object, they can essentially fly through the air and control the gravitational forces around them. It’s a great analog for airbending.

Further, the ten orders of the Knights Radiant (which include both Windrunners and Skybreakers) must swear Oaths to “unlock” their powers. In other words, magic users in The Stormlight Archive must commit to living out their ideals in order to effectively use their power. While Avatar Aang isn’t literally bound by such oaths, he lives by his creed as he strives to bring balance to the world.

Now over to you! Let me know if you have any bookbending recommendations in the comments, either because you’ve noticed parallels in the magic systems or characters’ abilities, or because there’s a certain book or series that feels like it would fit perfectly into the world of the Avatar and his crew…[end-mark]

The post <i>Avatar</i>-Inspired Reading Recommendations: Books for (Nearly) Every Bending Style appeared first on Reactor.

Rereads and Rewatches Brandon Sanderson

Elantris Reread: Chapter 61

Still Sanderlanchin’…

By Paige Vest, Lyndsey Luther

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Published on February 15, 2024

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Greetings, Cosmere Chickens, and welcome back to the climax of Elantris! In this week’s reread we finally reach the point where everything comes to a head, and it’s a glorious moment, to be sure. If you’ve been waiting on the edge of your seat for Raoden to find the answers he’s been seeking for the entirety of the book—well, this is the chapter for you. We’ll also be delving into the annotations to learn about some of the stuff that Brandon ultimately cut from the book… Won’t you join us?

Spoiler warning: This week’s article contains major spoilers from Mistborn: Eras 1 and 2. The spoilers are clearly marked, but proceed with caution if you haven’t read the books yet!

Last time on Elantris: STILL SANDERLANCHIN’…

We’ve reached the point of peak dramatic tension: Raoden has succumbed to his injuries and Galladon and Karata have carried him to the Pool. They are about to toss him in when he realizes what they need to do to save the Dor—but his startled shout surprises Galladon, who drops Raoden into the Pool. Meanwhile, Dilaf teleports Hrathen and Sarene to Teod, where he’s prepared to assassinate Eventeo and take the country by force. The prisoners back in Arendel and Elantris are about to be put to the sword or the torch. Things look very, very grim…

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Everyone!

Discussion

L: FACE TURN! FACE TURN! FACE TURN!

P: Woo-hoo! I loved this moment so much!

Back to Hrathen’s finest hour:

L: Gotta respect Hrathen for not only saving Sarene, who he’s got the hots for, but also the people of Teod.

P: Yes. Saving Sarene was one thing, he didn’t have to tell Eventeo what was happening. He truly does want to preserve life.

L: About time.

L: On the one hand, it’s awesome that Hrathen’s finally turned face and saved her at the eleventh hour. On the other, I so wish that Sarene could have saved herself and didn’t need to be turned into a damsel in distress.

P: True. But really, she had no chance against those monks. They’re beyond brutal. And really, she’s been saved like a damsel in distress a couple of times in this book so far.

L: Brandon does get better with his heroines as his writing career progresses (looking at you, Vin, Shallan, Jasnah) so we can look at this at the beginning of his “character” arc. All of us have to learn and grow as writers.

L: Oh, well that’s certainly interesting! Glowing, you say?

P: Oh, I like hints!

Back to Raoden, who has just burst out of the Pool, to everyone’s surprise:

P:I find this very interesting. Like the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter taking your wishes into account.

L: And this becomes a theme in Brandon’s work in general—one need only look at Dalinar and Kaladin to see that.

L: Looking back on this now, we have to laugh, because this is a Perpendicularity. Brandon may not have realized what he was doing at the time, but he linked it into the Cosmere eventually!

P: I really love this so much. “I’m going to put this random thing in my book to advance my plot but I have no idea how important it will become in my overarching universe.” Just perfect.

P: I knew this would happen! Good on Sarene and her lessons!

L: I love this so much. It’s bringing these women full circle, and fulfilling a promise made to the reader. Their sword lessons were Chekhov’s gun placed on the mantle for us—why show us learning to fight, if we weren’t ever going to see them use those skills?

P:  Exactly! This is truly so satisfying to see. Their hard work during Sarene’s lessons is paying off!

Back to Sarene and Hrathen, who is discarding his heavy armor:

L: I do love a good antihero face-turn, and this one absolutely qualifies.

P: Or maybe it’s a calling that he no longer quite fits into. He’s grown past it.

L: And we see this exemplified a little later, in his conversation with Sarene:

P: Some of this religion’s ideas are funky but that’s a good baseline to have.

L: Hrathen doing his best romance-novel-cover impression here—maybe a last-ditch effort to try to seduce Sarene? All he needs is the long hair blowing in the wind. And maybe a kilt.

P: Oh my, Lyndsey… you made me snort-laugh.

L: I’ll be here all week. Tip your servers!

Past!Brandon has some thoughts about this:

L: A stick? But you could be a plot device…

P: Stop! You’re killing me!

L: Never.

P: Oh, nooo… I so liked her!

L: I guess we’ll forgive you this time, Past!Brandon. I’d say “don’t make a habit of it,” but, well. We all know how that holds up. (Mistborn spoiler:) Kelsier, Wayne… (End of spoiler)

P: Yes, and more beloved than Karata.

L: Finally!

P: Payoff, baby! It’s been such a long, painful wait since Raoden first started practicing the Dor!

L: So the shape of the city itself is the spell that makes the Dor work. Sort of like how the shape of the Shattered Plains in Words of Radiance has significance… Brandon seems like imbuing the topography or structure of his cities with magical importance.

P: I loved so much that the actual city was an Aon. It was just ::chef’s kiss::.

Raoden steps out of the light, and…

He lets them go?!

L: ::puts on Ninth Doctor hat::Just this once, Rose, everybody lives!

P: I really need to watch Doctor Who, don’t I?

L: I wasn’t aware that you hadn’t, so yes. Emphatically yes.

P: Ahh! I love this! Nobody is lost (except Karata, sad face)!

L: I’m with Past!Brandon on this one. That’s an awesome mental image.

P: Right? Glowing bodies emerging from the pyre. Very cool!

L: You know, Brandon may claim to not be gritty and dark, but then he comes out with this:

L: Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much. That’s pretty dark. (Not that I’m complaining! That monk had it coming!)

P: Oh, did he ever. They all did, really, for massacring the people of Kae. I’d have been like, “No mercy!”

L: Aon alert!

L: I do love that he gets to have a badass speech to go along with his “get off my lawn” proclamation.

P: “Get off my lawn…” OMG, you’re on it today! ::laughing some more::

L: Thank you, thank you.

L: Oh, this ought to be good. We’ve got to include this.

L: I’m going to be honest here… I could see this working well, if not maybe at this place in the novel. The whole “he betrayed his own people” twist could be really cool. But at this point there would have just been too much going on. It would have been overwhelming.

P: I agree with you. There’s a lot happening in this Sanderlanche and this would have been just too much for us to swallow.

L: Yeah, there’s that, I guess… but his own people in the present are dicks, so…

P: Indeed, they are. Wyrn is just evil incarnate.

L: A very fair point there. But I still think that it could have worked.

P: ::takes notes:: Any advice Brandon has to offer is good advice, in my opinion.

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapter 62.

The post <em>Elantris</em> Reread: Chapter 61 appeared first on Reactor.

Rereads and Rewatches Brandon Sanderson

Elantris Reread: Chapter Sixty

The Sanderlanche continues…

By Paige Vest, Lyndsey Luther

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Published on February 8, 2024

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Well, Cosmere Chickens, we’re coming down to the end now. Only three more chapters left after this one, and then one final installment of the reread in which we’ll be discussing Hope of Elantris and our closing thoughts on the book as a whole. The Sanderlanche is in full effect, so we won’t hold you up here with these opening thoughts, except to remind you that we’ll be quoting Past!Brandon periodically throughout the article, pulling in relevant segments from his annotations on the novel. Please note that these quotes are unedited and were written back in 2006, and are being presented here in order to help give a broader understanding of Brandon’s state of mind while writing the book at the time, not his thoughts on it now. That said… read on and enjoy, chickens!

Spoiler warning: This week’s article contains spoilers from the Stormlight Archive and one clearly marked spoiler (in white text that you will need to highlight in order to view[1] ) from an unpublished work. Proceed with caution!

Trigger warnings: Chronic pain, genocide

Last time on Elantris: SANDERLANCHE!

Dilaf finally reveals his terrible secret to Hrathen—he’s actually the leader of the monastery of Dakhor, and he’s led his creepy monks here to begin the invasion of Arelon far earlier than Hrathen had been told.

Meanwhile, poor Raoden is taken captive. When Dilaf offers to parlay with Sarene, he instead sends his monks up onto the wall to capture her, too. Then he stabs Raoden and leaves him to his unending agony as he calls up Sarene’s father and forces him to re-swear fealty before sending his men in to destroy the poor Elantrians.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Galladon, Lukel, Raoden, Hrathen

Discussion

L: When Brandon goes dark, he really goes dark…

P: Indeed, he does. And he’s GOOD at it.

L: But, what’s this? A POV from… GALLADON? Not Sarene, Raoden, or Hrathen?

P: Frankly, this is really handy. Since Sarene has been whisked away to Teod and Raoden is incapacitated, it’s good to have another POV so we can see what’s happening.

L: Loyal to the end.

P: ::sniffle:: Galladon is so damn underrated. He’s truly a great character. He reminds me of Teft, in a way. Loyal, yes. But also a bit grizzled and reluctantly hopeful.

L: If Raoden is the proto-Kaladin, then Galladon is definitely the proto-Teft.

L: Kiin is just amazing. I’d honestly read a whole book about this pirate-turned-chef.

P: Sign me up! Maybe we’ll get some information in the next Elantris book!

L: There are a couple of things that I’d like to discuss about Adien. First of all, a reminder that he’s been taken by the Shaod and his family’s been hiding that fact, disguising him with makeup in order to keep him from getting thrown into Elantris. Second, he’s quite clearly on the autism spectrum, and as such, I think he’s the first of Brandon’s neurodivergent characters in a published work. This is something that he’s really embraced over the years, with characters such as Renarin, Kaladin, and Steris Harms (to name a few). Brandon’s dedication to representing all kinds of experience and identities, in terms of race, gender, sexuality (or the lack thereof), and neurodiversity is part of what makes his fanbase so broad and devoted. So it’s really cool to see the beginnings of this here, in his very first published book.

P: Oh, absolutely. I think this is one of the things about Elantris that sold me on Brandon from the get-go, since this was the first of his books that I read: A strong female lead character; a magic system like nothing I’d ever seen; a neurodivergent character; and on top of all that, that bit of darkness that spoke to my soul…

Let’s hear from Past!Brandon on this…

P: There’s some more of that beloved darkness.

L: Whoa. Teleportation powers?! Well that’s handy!

P: What a complete trip. No Elantrian powers, so whatever the Dakhor do is unique to them.

L: Interesting. This works very differently from the way the transportation surge on Roshar does. There, the user is transported into the cognitive realm. It’s more similar to the way the Oathgates work, so I wonder if there’s some Cosmere commonality there… Also interesting to note that the physical matter of the monk was used as energy to facilitate the teleportation. The Oathgates use Stormlight… I wonder, if these monks had access to pure Investiture, could they use that instead?

L: I have to admit, I never expected that we’d actually wind up seeing Teod. It’s always seemed so distant, I expected all the action of the book to remain in Kae and Elantris!

P: I vaguely recall them going to Teod, but not a full fifty Dakhor monks. Scary!

L: Well, this is unfortunate.

P: Maybe not. It gives Raoden some much needed time.

L: I can absolutely see how he’d feel that way.

P: I understand, as well. Though deep down, Galladon truly knows how Raoden feels about Sarene.

L: And yet…

Past!Brandon has this to say:

L: HE’D BETTER.

P: Please, oh please! I remember lots of running!

L: Poor, poor Raoden. He’s been through so much.

P: Sufferedso many wounds, so many hits to his pride and integrity.

L: Not to mention physical wounds.

L: Hrathen has a much more charitable view on Dilaf’s state of mind than I do.

P: Yeah, dude’s already nutters.

L: Hooboy. That’s a lot to unpack.

P: Truth. But in retrospect, there had to be some reason he hated the Elantrians so fiercely.

L: Let’s turn to Past!Brandon to tell us a little about what he was thinking…

L: As far as the magic system goes, I’m curious as to what exactly happened here. “The magic went wrong” is awfully vague.

P: Raoden had talked of Aons being drawn incorrectly, so perhaps it was something along those lines?

L: Right, but a simple case of user error then being blown up on this huge of a scale to everyone else? Seems, as the kids say, sus.

L: And there we have the textual revelation of that twist!

P: Poor, poor Aiden. An incomplete Elantrian and not even aware of the fact.

L: Now, Brandon goes on to elaborate on this a bit:

L: MAJOR spoiler here for unpublished works, so if you’d rather go into future Cosmere works blind, I recommend that you not highlight this block of text:

BEGIN SPOILER (highlight to read):

END SPOILER.

Now back to the text:

L: We can hardly blame Hrathen for not remembering. Trauma can do a number on memory.

P: It certainly can. And Hrathen most definitely experienced trauma at Dakhor Monastery.

L: Ugh. What a waste of life. (And by that I mean Dilaf, not the unfortunate monk.)

P: Okay, you made me snort-laugh.

L: I’d say it was a success.

P: It definitely was. Though they’ve been years apart, I’ve done multiple rereads and I forget this fact every time.

L: Something gives me the feeling that a certain princess is going to have something to say about that.

L:  Aon alert!

L: Oh ho! It does look strikingly similar, doesn’t it?

P: ::trumpets sounding:: Here it is, people! Finally!!

L: Major props to him for coming out to meet this lunatic with just a small honor guard, though.

P: You succeeded, Brandon. We have zero sympathy for Dilaf.

L: What a great moment!

P: And he’s unable to speak!! ::screams::

Back to the action:

L: And of course that’s where we’re left until next week. What a cliffhanger!

P: Although we know he’s not gonna dissolve, I’m still thinking in my mind: “Please don’t dissolve, please don’t dissolve!”

L: Brandon…

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with Chapter 61.

The post <i>Elantris</i> Reread: Chapter Sixty appeared first on Reactor.

Rereads and Rewatches Brandon Sanderson

Elantris Reread: Chapters Fifty-Seven to Fifty-Nine

Paige and Lyndsey cover the Sanderlanche…

By Lyndsey Luther, Paige Vest

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Published on February 1, 2024

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This is quite the week, Cosmere Chickens. The Sanderlanche is in full effect: Betrayals! Revelations! Secrets and war and death, oh my! All of this and more awaits you in this week’s installment of the Elantris Reread. Once again, my faithful cohort Paige and I are joined—sort of –by Past!Brandon, speaking to us from the annals of history. (That’s a fancy-pants way of saying that we’re using some quotes from his 2006 annotations of Elantris in order to broaden the depth of our reread and to shed some additional light on aspects of the book you might not even be aware of, like deleted scenes, character backstories, and story-crafting stuff.)

There’s a lot to delve into this week, and I do mean a lot, so pull up a chair and join us, and try not to let the dark events get you down. Remember…things are always darkest before the dawn.

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Trigger warnings: War, body modification, genocide.

Last time on Elantris: Romance and Revelations…

Now that Sarene (and everyone else) finally know that Raoden’s NOT dead, we get some lovey-dovey time between the two of them before they realize that Telrii’s been killed. There’s a power vacuum…and only one man can fill it! However, Dilaf’s not about to let Raoden seize the throne quite that easily. He (somehow) dispels the illusion that Raoden has been using to mask his appearance, revealing Raoden’s Elantrian nature to the entire throne room. Sarene saves the day, however, with a smooth speech that wins the people over to his side regardless of how he looks.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Sarene, Raoden, Hrathen

Discussion

Chapter 57

L: Look at that green-eyed monster coming out! Watch out, Hrathen. Your jealous side is showing…

P: You almost feel sorry for him. Outmaneuvered—not once but twice!—and, apparently a bit heartsick.

Back to the text:

L: Oh dear. Love is rarely level-headed, nor logical, when it chooses to pounce on us. I almost—almost—feel bad for him.

P: Great minds think alike, Lyndsey! That was exactly my thought above! And you’re spot on about love being neither level-headed nor logical. It’s often cruel and unforgiving.

L: Challenging in a lot of ways. I wonder what the women of Fjorden are like…? We never get any hints or clues as to what women’s place in their society is, so we don’t know just how different Sarene is from the women that Hrathen’s used to encountering. But I’m willing to bet that she’s far more bullheaded and competent than any woman Hrathen’s ever met.

P: And he seems to like it.

L: Gods forbid the people should judge someone based on their worth rather than what they are.

P: It was surprising to me how they accepted him, too, but not as surprising as it was for Hrathen, knowing how much the people loved Raoden before he disappeared.

L: Well, he’s right there. Building trust and loyalty within a community, whether it be religious or any other type, takes time.

P: Three months is absolutely not enough time, especially when it comes to people’s lifelong religious beliefs.

L: Oop. Remember all those merchants who were mysteriously sticking around? Well… guess now we know why:

P: Ugh, this must feel like a massive betrayal to Hrathen. He spends months trying to convert people to his religion only to find that an invasion was already planned.

L: Very clever trick, Past!Brandon. Build up the reader’s expectations and tension towards a specific deadline, then break that self-imposed deadline and make it happen earlier in order to surprise them.

P: Starting this Sanderlanche off with a bang!

L: That’s certainly a grotesque mental image. The Dakhor monks, known as the Order of Bone, aren’t playing around. As a reminder, Hrathen was trained at a different monastery—Ghajan, specifically—as a simple soldier. And we’ve seen how terrifyingly effective he is. So for him to be frightened of these monks…they must be as diabolical as they appear.

P: A grotesque and horrifying mental image. The thought of those creatures slaughtering innocent and defenseless townspeople is just awful.

L: Brandon’s got a cool thing he does with the structure of the story here that I’d like to talk about briefly.

L: I really love it when he does things like this. He did something similar in A Memory of Light, where the chapter (singular) about the last battle is all one single huge chapter. It was a deliberate choice, meant to make the reader feel as if they had no logical stopping point—just as the characters couldn’t stop in the middle of the battle—and hence feel just as exhausted when they reached the end as the characters themselves. This meta approach and subtlety of structure is one of the things I love best about Brandon’s works. He’s manipulating you without you even realizing it’s happening, much like filmmakers use lighting techniques to achieve similar effects (which I believe we’ve talked about in this reread before).

P: He knows his craft very well and gut-punches us as often as possible in these Sanderlanches.

Chapter 58

Here’s Brandon’s note:

L: Nice thematic book-ending. Poor Raoden, though. He’s finally found peace, or so he thought. About to marry his princess love…crowned king…finding some answers about the Dor at last… and now THIS:

L: My actual expression reading that last line.

P: I’m laughing at your GIF but I totally feel you. But he’s right. We wouldn’t be as horrified by them if they were wearing cloaks or tunics.

L: ::GASP!:: Well! THAT explains a thing or two! (And yes, I’d completely forgotten this. Go me.)

P: Don’t feel bad, I’d forgotten, too! Though how I could, I don’t know… I just read this three or four years ago.

L: Pretty sure the last time I read this was when we did the gamma read for the tenth anniversary edition in 2015…

L: HOID ALERT! Interesting to note that this is his very first appearance. Little did we know, when this book was released, just how important a character this lonely hooded beggar would become.

P: And what was his purpose in Kae, I wonder, other than to deliver these weapons for Sarene?

L: He was probably researching the fall of Elantris, knowing him. I bet the Shaod would be irresistible to him, from a researcher’s standpoint.

P: That’s likely. Hoid is a curious one.

P: Very dark and violent, but it kind of has to be, I think. It gives the payoff more meaning, makes it more impactful.

Things are looking dire for Sarene, but then…

L: Aw yeah! PIRATE KING KIIN TO THE RESCUE! Honestly I’d love to read a spin-off book about this guy and his earlier adventures.

P: I love this scene! But it’s disheartening to see the effort it takes to kill one of the creatures.

L: Clever! Leave it to a pirate to always ensure that they’ve got a getaway plan.

P: But Raoden!!

L: Wow, that’s certainly a complicated one.

P: Imagine drawing that in the air with your finger and having to keep it perfect.

L: Talk about a surprise! Poor Sarene never saw that one coming!

P: Nope. And suddenly Eventeo is tainted.

L: If you’d like to read more about Kiin’s backstory, I recommend clicking the annotation link right there and reading up on it, because it’s pretty cool.

L: Gotta give the man this… he knows how to make an entrance. Took that one straight out of the Grade A Villain playbook.

P: I keep expecting him to say “Mua-ha-ha!”

L: Well, that explains why Dilaf was always so annoyed by Hrathen’s orders. He outranked him this whole time and was having to pretend to be his subordinate.

P: Yeah, that would chafe a bit. Also, I think he’s utterly bonkers.

L: Not only was Hrathen an subordinate, he hadn’t been able to cut it in Dilaf’s own monastery. Oooh, it must have rankled Dilaf to take orders from someone who flunked out of Pain University!

P: As previously stated… bonkers. Gotta be, to willingly endure pain like that.

L: What a twist.

P: Poor Hrathen, bested again.

L: Yikes on bikes. Using genocide to instill loyalty in the people you’ve conquered? Remember that Grade A guidebook on Villainy? This is the master class.

P: Outright slaughter like this is just abominable. And they won’t stop with the people of Kae, they’ll take Elantris next.

L: Oh god I’m sorry I have to.

P: I don’t know whether to laugh or scold!

L: I hate to give Hrathen even a morsel of empathy, but he’s right.

P: Which is why we weren’t made to hate Hrathen. He often showed some good.

L: Looking back on what you’ve read, did you notice, Cosmere Chickens? Or did Brandon manage to slip it by you as intended?

P: He definitely makes me read faster and faster as the book progresses. Not sure I’ve noticed, though!

Chapter 59

L: The POV-switching speeds up even further as we continue on into the Sanderlanche, and with good reason.

L: But what about the triad structure, Past!Brandon?

P: He likes to keep us guessing.

P: There you go!

L: Oof. That’s a horrifying thought. It sounds like he’s had a concussion… and to have the symptoms of one of those in perpetuity? No thanks.

P: Poor Raoden, enduring so much, though it takes place in short order.

L: She had the best of intentions, but sadly Dilaf outsmarted her.

P: The slime ball appears to be good at doing that.

L: He really is a terrifyingly effective villain.

P: I know he’s been incredibly dislikable through the whole book, but I feel that we have too little time to actively hate him.

L: I agree with you. We don’t fully realize the extent of his evil until the very end.

L: Has anyone told Dilaf that he doesn’t have to be 300% evil? 100% is enough, my dude.

P: I feel that 300% is a conservative assessment.

L: At least Hrathen recognizes that he’s a monster. That’s… a slight relief.

P: It’s absolutely a relief! To know that he’s not going along with it and is actively defying Dilaf is good to see.

L: … There… there are no words.

P: Another very apt gif! There really aren’t, though. It’s no wonder Raoden immediately turned into a Hoed.

And Dilaf’s smirk! I have rage!!

L: You’ll forgive us if we don’t trust you after what you just said, Past!Brandon…

P: Seriously. I’m waiting until next week to read on. I’m exhausted.

L: SEE? See? This is why we have trust issues!

P: Poor, poor Elantrians.

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapter sixty.

The post <em>Elantris</em> Reread: Chapters Fifty-Seven to Fifty-Nine appeared first on Reactor.

That’s right, my fledgling falcons, we’ve come down to the final part of the book! Feathers will fly! Fanfare will sound! And Elantris will… rise? Or fall? Only one way to find out (though “fall” would fit my alliterative scheme better)—let’s read on and find out, shall we?

L: I decided to play around a little bit with the reread today, and “respond” to some of Brandon’s annotated comments as if he were here in the reread with us. (We authors are already used to talking to imaginary people in our heads, so responding to things that people wrote years ago as if they were in the room with us right now really isn’t all that different, right? … Right?) So let’s all welcome Annotation!Brandon to the reread, shall we? If it’s fun and we have time to continue doing it, we’ll keep doing it for the rest of Part Three. If you guys don’t care for it, sound off in the comments and we’ll only sulk a little about it behind the scenes.

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Last time on Elantris: FINALLY!

During a planning meeting of the resistance, it is agreed that the best course of action will be to assassinate Telrii. Sarene picks up on the fact that Kaloo is actually Spirit, but when they come back from their little confrontation, Ahan is gone… because he’s gone to alert Telrii of the treason happening. Telrii shows up with a bunch of guards and they proceed to stab poor old Roial in the tum-tum, at which point Raoden finally FINALLY reveals who he really is, much to everyone’s shock.

The only person who isn’t terribly happy to hear the news that Kae’s beloved prince has returned from the dead is, of course…Hrathen. He stands by, helpless, as Eondel’s troops arrive and behead the hapless Telrii, watching his plans for a “bloodless” takeover of power go up in (literal) flames.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Raoden, Sarene

Discussion

L: This week we’re starting off with Part Three, “The Spirit of Elantris.”

L: ::dryly:: Thanks, Brandon. Look, we didn’t bring you in here from the past to steal our bit from the intro, okay?

(PAIGE, FEEL FREE TO CALL ME OUT ON STEALING FROM THE PAST HERE)

P: I’m slightly disappointed that he didn’t say RAFO.

Chapter 55

L: Man, it’s ABOUT BLOODY TIME. It feels like we’ve been waiting FOREVER for these two to hit it off! After all those little internal speeches of hers about never feeling wanted, and never feeling like she was going to find love… This is so, so lovely to see.

P: Wuv… twu wuv. I’m just glad she wasn’t livid with him for not revealing his identity to her right off the bat. Or any time since.

L: ::narrows eyes:: Now you HAVE told her that you’re still an Elantrian, right, Raoden? Right? RIGHT?

P: Pssh… he’s got to be still wearing an illusion at this point.

L: Thank goodness. Good boy. Now keep up that level of honesty for a change, would ya?

P: Honesty is VERY IMPORTANT, RAODEN!

L: Suspicious.

P: Or maybe they were just overly hopeful that things would stabilize under Telrii.

Raoden had stayed up late memorizing modifiers. AonDor healing was a complex, difficult art, but he was determined to make certain no one else died because of his inability. It would take months of memorizing, but he would learn the modifier for every organ, muscle, and bone.

P: It is upsetting that he wasn’t able to save Roial. But he shouldn’t beat himself up for that; he’s only been studying Aons for a short time.

L: Okay, 1: That’s really cool, but 2: That’s got to be the WEIRDEST feeling.

P: I felt the same thing about how it would be such a weird feeling. Also made me think of Siri from Warbreaker.

L: Well, not quite all. As we’re about to discover…

P: At least all is right with her hair?

L: Awwww, how romantic! He loved her for her… and not only when her rank and title were gone. Her hair was chopped off and her skin damaged, so theoretically, her beauty was marred as well. With all of those trappings stripped away, he fell in love with nothing more (or less) than the person beneath. And that’s real love, right there.

P: Exactly. He didn’t love her for what she was but who she was. If only more people were like this.

L: Well… honeymoon’s over, Sarene. Sorry.

P: Poor Eondel. ::sad face::

Chapter 56

L: I hate to say it, but Raoden’s right. Telrii was an idiot, but killing him accomplished little, save for also killing Eondel. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, and all that.

P: And now they’re missing two key allies, as well as Eondel’s meager troops.

L: As he should.

This highlights a difference between the two of them that I have pointed out earlier. Sarene was not raised to rule–Raoden was. That lifetime of preparation has changed the way Raoden sees things; it has made him look at everything in the light of how it effects his people. Actually, there is no ‘Raoden the man’ separate from ‘Raoden the ruler.’ They’re tightly integrated.

L: Kiin’s a pirate, through and through, all right.

L: Well, when you’re used to sailing on the high seas, raiding and plundering, I guess you don’t have much use for authority other than your own. You get used to relying on your own ship and crew and not much else.

P: And when you operate outside the law like that, you don’t have much regard for the creator of the law.

L: That’s actually pretty interesting. We haven’t talked at all about the Mad Prince version of the book, but in an earlier revision, Raoden’s brother Eton is one of the main antagonists. You can learn more about him on the Coppermind entry here, or by reading the deleted scene on Brandon’s website here.

P: And here, I didn’t know anything about this!

L: The fact that Raoden actually goes up to them marks him as a much more trusting person than I would have been in such a situation. But then…he can’t die, so…

P: But he can experience pain. But yes, it was certainly brave of him.

L: They’re poking a very large, very war-hungry bear, here.

P: Basically thumbing their noses at Hrathen.

L: In story-structure terms, we call this the “false victory.” The hero thinks that they’ve achieved their goal. The villain is conquered, and everything is finally going to be okay. Which makes said villain’s reappearance all the more disastrous, of course.

P: And the villain’s not even who we would expect it to be.

L: And there it is. In our moment of triumph…

P: This is a scary thought. How could a non-Elantrian manipulate the Dor?

L: Dilaf’s here, in the crowd. And what is this that he’s done?

P: And how??

L: The question remains… how? How has Dilaf done this?

L: Oh, well… okay, then. Thanks, Past!Brandon.

P: :: goes to read the next chapter::

L: Sarene here to save the day! She doesn’t let the unexpected twist throw her for a loop, she just smoothly shifts gears and retains control of the situation.

P: Bless our princess! Soon to be queen!

L: And she does so with aplomb. Look at that! Smooth as silk. Almost as if it were planned.

P: It’s somehow fitting for her to crown him. I like it!

L: What a nice change for them. Of course, it’s a fleeting change…

P: Yes, we do all have most of Part Three to go.

L: Boy, can she ever…

P: They’re so damn cute!

L: The mystery deepens. Until the next chapter, anyway.

P: I couldn’t wait to solve the mystery!

L: Much like his wife, Raoden’s preparing for the worst-case scenario. However, I don’t think any of them could be prepared for what’s coming…

P: Definitely not. It’s so… well, you’ll just have to wait and see what it is!

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 57-59.

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Fifty-Five and Fifty-Six appeared first on Reactor.

Paige: Beyond ready!

Lyn: Let’s not belabor the point and dive right in then, shall we?

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Trigger warnings: War, revolution, beheading

Last time on Elantris: Conspiracy Theories…

Hrathen runs into Dilaf, who hints that maybe not everything is going according to Hrathen’s plans… meanwhile, Raoden and Galladon are still playing dress-up, but at least their charade has gained them more than a sword-cut on the cheek—Raoden talks Roial into inviting him along to their next Secret Meeting.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Sarene, Raoden, Hrathen

Discussion

Chapter 53

L: From the Annotations:

I hereby dub this chapter the official start of the Brandon Avalanche! Let the rejoicing begin.

L: Hooboy. Here we go.

P: I’ve been waiting so long for this!

“Has Roial gone mad?” Sarene asked. “What if that cursed Dula is a spy?”

“A spy for whom?” Kaloo asked.

L: Okay, I have to say, I really love Raoden-Kaloo. He’s cracking me up.

P: He really seems to be enjoying this particular charade.

Despite her insistences that he not prepare dinner, Kiin had obviously been unable to let this many people congregate without giving them something to eat.

L: Brandon really has quite a lot of lovable characters in this book. Not that he doesn’t always, of course, it’s just nice to see in a debut novel like this.

P: I’ve seen people say how contrived this group is compared to, say, Kelsier’s crew. But I adore Raoden’s friends!

“The resistance only survives because the Fjordells are too lazy to chase it out of the swamps.”

Shuden frowned. “I thought they were hiding in the caves of the Duladen Steppes.”

“There are several pockets of them,” Kaloo said smoothly, though Sarene detected a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.

L: Gee, Raoden, if only you’d come clean about your identity you wouldn’t have to do all this lying and risk getting caught!

P: Nobody seems to notice but our dear, mistrustful princess.

Sarene shook her head. “If we give Shu-Dereth that kind of foothold in Arelon, we’ll never be free of it.”

“It’s only a religion, Sarene,” Ahan said. “I think we should focus on real problems.”

L: “Only” a religion, indeed. How many wars have been fought over religions in the real world, again? Oh, right…

P: Seriously, Ahan is daft.

L: Well, considering what he pulls later in the chapter, maybe this is calculated daftness. Maybe.

“Besides,” Kaloo noted, “I don’t think you want to throw this country into war. I’ve seen what a bloody revolution can do to a nation—it breaks the people’s spirit to fight one another. The men in the Elantris City Guard might be fools, but they are still your countrymen. Their blood would be on your hands.”

L: Okay, 1: Good point, but 2: Careful there, Raoden. You’re falling out of character…

P: He is, isn’t he? Starting to sound like Spirit a bit there, Raoden.

“Assassinating Telrii would solve a lot of problems.”

The room fell quiet. Sarene felt a bitter taste in her mouth as she studied the men. They knew what she knew. She had determined long before the meeting began that this was the only way.

“Ah, one man’s death to save a nation,” Kaloo whispered.

L: A hard choice, indeed. We all know what a certain old man on Roshar would say about this…

P: The good of the many, and such.

Sarene’s brow furrowed; she almost had it. There was something familiar about his words…

L: Raoden’s let his guard down and Sarene’s about to pounce!

P: Eeeee! I love this part!

He looked into her shocked, wide eyes, and knew that she knew. Somehow, despite their short time together, she had recognized him when his best friends could not.

Uh-oh, he thought to himself.

L: ::snicker::

P: Uh-oh, indeed. He all but proclaimed himself to be Raoden.

“Why did you lie to me?”

Spirit smiled. “Oh, and you’re going to try and tell me it wasn’t more fun this way?”

L: If I were Sarene, I’d have punched him again for that one, lack of healing or no.

P: He did have quite a good time with it.

I had no idea you were that good an actor. I hated you!”

“It’s nice to feel appreciated,” Spirit said, letting his arms wrap around her.

L: ::wistful sigh:: FINALLY.

P: ::swoon::

Why risk coming out into Kae?”

“To find you,” he said.

She smiled. That was the right answer.

L: He’s such a charmer.

P: Indeed, he is. And he’s quite taken with his bride.

L: And who can blame him? They’re perfect for one another. Except for all of his deception, of course.

“I assumed that these men would stop meeting after I left.”

Sarene shook herself from the trance of being lost in those eyes. “What was that you just said? After you left…?”

L: YES YES YES FOR THE LOVE OF GOD FINALLY.

P: And was that a slip or did he intend to say it?

L: A slip, I think. My theory is that being around his old friends again was just too much for him. When you’re in such a familiar and comfortable environment, with people you trust, keeping up an act like Raoden has been doing is much more difficult than it would have been if he were surrounded by strangers. The natural inclination would be to fall back into old speech patterns and routines.

“We need to go back in. But … let’s just say I have something else I need to tell you, once the meeting is through and we can speak more privately.”

L: Ugh. No! This is almost as bad as “we’ll talk when all this is over” in a horror movie.

P: And Ned Stark telling Jon he’d tell him about Jon’s mother when Ned saw him again. Oops.

L: I’m STILL not over that.

P: Me neither. ::sigh::

It was not Ahan she found standing in the doorway. Instead she was confronted by a group of armed soldiers with a well-dressed man at their front. King Telrii.

L: Of course. Someone had to betray them, and Ahan was the most likely culprit.

P: Snake.

Telrii snapped his fingers, and a soldier stepped forward and rammed his sword directly into Duke Roial’s belly. Roial gasped, then crumpled with a moan.

L: Noooooooooo not the likable older mentor figure!

P: I have such a soft spot for Roial!!

L: (warning: dark joke incoming) Roial had quite a soft spot, too. And Telrii’s soldiers found it.

“Interesting you should mention usurpers, Duke Telrii,” a voice said from across the table. “I was under the impression that the throne belonged to Iadon’s family.”

L: Ooooooooooooooooooooooh here we go!

P: In this corner we have Raoden! The rightful King of Arelon!

Raoden. Sarene felt numb. She stared at the man Spirit, wondering who he was, and if she had ever really known him.

L: About time!

P: Yeeessss!

“Do not cry, my boy,” Roial said. “Your return is blessed. You cannot save this tired old body, but you can save the kingdom. I will die in peace, knowing you are here to protect it.”

L: Awww. It’s a shame, Roial really is a sweet old man and a great character. Poor Raoden, unable to save him. (And here’s Brandon with his penchant for protagonists who just can’t save the lives of the people they love. Not that this is unique in the genre or even in fiction in general, of course, as it’s a good way for the hero to lose things and to up the stakes without actually killing the hero themselves… but still, those Kaladin similarities are striking, aren’t they?)

P: Truly striking. And heartbreaking. Killing Roial hurts.

Chapter 54

The rumors said that Prince Raoden had returned from the grave.

Hrathen sat, dumbfounded, behind his desk.

L: Didn’t plan for that eventuality, didja, Hrathen?

P: Who would have? Of course, he doesn’t believe it, thinking that Sarene must have found a look-alike to impersonate Raoden.

Perhaps it wasn’t too late to convince Telrii to at least draft a warrant of execution. It would ease the aristocratic minds if they were able to read such a document.

…

Telrii refused to see him.

L: I love how he still thinks that he’s got any sway here at all. He keeps trying to stick his nose into Telrii’s business, and Telrii just keeps slamming the door shut on him.

P: Hrathen has a hard time understanding why anyone wouldn’t just give into him because he’s such a big shot.

The tapestries were in flames, and men struggled desperately in the close confines. Several guards lay dead at the far doorway. Some wore the brown and yellow of the Elantris City Guard. The others were in silver and blue—the colors of Count Eondel’s legion.

L: Here comes the cavalry!

P: Get them, Eondel!

Telrii’s headless corpse fell at Count Eondel’s feet. The count regarded it with grim eyes, then collapsed himself, holding a wound in his side.

L: Well. That escalated quickly. (Here’s how I imagine Hrathen for this scene.)

P: That is absolutely the correct gif.

So much for avoiding a bloody change in power.

L: And the bloodshed’s only just beginning, because Fjorden’s on the way…

P: Ohhh nooo…

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with Part Three.

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Fifty-Three and Fifty-Four appeared first on Reactor.

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Trigger warnings: Medical procedures without anesthesia (specifically stitches)

Last time on Elantris: Detonations and Dandy Deceptions…

While moping in the library, Raoden finally connects the dots and draws the line that corresponds to the new chasm formed during the earthquake, thereby releasing the Dor. He sets off a huge explosion when all that pent-up energy is released, but can’t get any further Aons to work as powerfully as they’re supposed to.

However, he can get them to work well enough to craft an illusion to disguise himself and Galladon and sneak out of Elantris for the very important, super-secret, vital task of…

Pretending to be a dandy and flirting with Sarene.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Hrathen, Raoden (aka Kaloo)

Discussion

Chapter 51

L: I wanted to begin talking about this chapter by bringing up a point Brandon makes in his annotations. (One note on our quotes of the annotations; there are quite a few spelling errors in them, we are including these as-is and not fixing them for this article.)

You may have noticed a slight tone shift in this chapter–I made it a little darker, filling it with death imagery. (Incense, ash, darkness, Svrakiss.) I wanted to subtly get across that things are growing more dim for Hrathen and Arelon.

I really love what he’s doing here. You see this a lot in films and other visual media (using elements of the setting to highlight themes within the scene), but not as often in literature, where so much of the heavy lifting of the visualization is on the shoulders of the readers’ imaginations. A good director will utilize shadow on half of a character’s face to subtly indicate that they’re being two-faced or manipulative, or that they have a dark side. It’s much easier to do this on film, where “a picture is worth a thousand words,” than in a book. And yet… here we see Brandon doing just this.

Wyrn had indicated that he had little patience for fools, and he would never name a foreigner to the title of gyorn.

L: Well, there goes Telrii’s dream of power.

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P: It was a ridiculous request anyway, and someone of his station should have realized that. While Wyrn doesn’t seem to mind throwing money at Telrii, he’s not going to grant him that kind of power.

The empty market was a manifestation of the Arelene nobility’s confused state. Suddenly they weren’t certain if it was better to be a Derethi sympathizer or not—so they simply hid. Balls and parties slowed, and men hesitated to visit the markets, instead waiting to see what their monarch would do.

L: In a way, you can’t really blame the nobles. They can’t tell which way the wind is blowing, and when that wind is carrying poisonous fumes, it’s better to just bunker down and hide.

P: And Telrii probably loves the confusion that’s clouding the minds of his “subjects.” He is very caught up in himself, that one.

“The ashes are like the wreckage of your power, are they not, Hrathen?” a voice asked.

L: Hoo boy. Here we go. Return of D***head Dilaf.

P: And he doesn’t seem too afraid or intimidated to speak his mind. Guess he’s over the shock of Hrathen’s miraculous cure.

L: Yeah… I think he’s too self-important and full of zealous fervor to feel afraid of anything. I doubt that Hrathen’s return scared him so much as just surprised him briefly.

Dilaf didn’t move. “You were close, I admit, but your foolishness cost you the victory.”

“Bah!” Hrathen said, brushing past the small man in the darkness, walking toward the exit. “My battle is far from over—I still have time left.”

L: As much as I dislike Hrathen, he’s really letting his ego blind him to the real and present danger that Dilaf presents.

P: Even when he was aware earlier of what a danger Dilaf was, I don’t think he fully respected just how dangerous the wily little sucker can be.

L: Clearly no, otherwise he would have disposed of Dliaf in a more permanent manner.

P: He went with the miraculous recovery plan instead. Tsk.

“It has all slipped away, hasn’t it, Hrathen? My victory is so sweet in the face of your failure.”

“Victory? What victory have you achieved? What…?”

L: What victory, indeed? And what a cliffhanger to leave us on.

P: It’s unsettling to see Hrathen thrown for a loop. It seems that he’s just finally realizing that Dilaf knows entirely too much about what he’s doing, how he’s doing it, and why he’s doing it. And I hate this cliffhanger!

L: Brandon explains a bit of his reasoning for this stylistic choice in the chapter annotations here:

This scene ends with a question. Hopefully, the reader is reminded that we haven’t really seen anything from Dilaf in the last few triads. Hrathen has been in control ever since he left Elantris, and what we’ve seen of Dilaf has been cursory and ignorable, for the most part.

Now, however, he’s back. His low profile in the last chapters was intentional. My hope is that the reader will hit the last few lines of this chapter and think “Oh, wait. I’ve been ignoring Dilaf lately. That’s not a good thing…”

Chapter 52

“Ow!” Raoden complained as Galladon stuck the needle into his cheek. “Stop whining,” the Dula ordered, pulling the thread tight.

P: Sarene sliced poor Raoden in the face during their little duel! That had to be agonizing. And the additional wounds from the stitches. Yikes.

L: Raoden seems to be dealing with the pain pretty well though. Presumably because he’s got something more pressing to take his mind off it, just like all those tasks he gave to the other Elantrians.

“Well, you fight better than I expected.”

“I had Eondel teach me,” Raoden said. “Back when I was trying to find ways to prove that my father’s laws were foolish. Eondel chose fencing because he thought it would be most useful to me, as a politician. I never figured I’d end up using it to keep my wife from slicing me to pieces.”

P: Well, gee… if you would just tell them who you are, maybe you wouldn’t have gotten your face sliced open!

L: If only.

The illusions were attached to their underclothes, allowing them to change outfits each day without needing to redraw the Aon.

L: Okay, I’ll be the one to say it. RAODEN YOU CHANGE YOUR UNDERWEAR, YOUNG MAN!

“And the magnificent Kaloo returns.”

“Please, sule, not in private. I come close enough to strangling you in public.”

L: I do love me a good Sanderson bromance, and these two fit the bill to a T. Stoic straight man? Check. Amusing and kind charmer? Check. Galladon and Raoden are basically the proto-Kal and Adolin.

P: I feel that they’re pretty well-written, myself. Definitely enjoyable to read. And the fact that Sanderson can make Raoden so charismatic, despite all of his pains, is moving.

L: Side note. Every time I see the name Kaloo, I think of either a kazoo or Baloo the bear.

“Tell me this. Why is it that every time I meet her, Sarene is determined to hate me?”

L: Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you keep lying to her about who you really are, you absolute DUNCE.

P: This! Tell the woman the truth! She’ll bonk her forehead with her palm and say, “Well, that makes sense!”

L: Maybe after she gives him a well-deserved bonk or two.

The true test was going to be getting himself into Roial and Sarene’s secret meetings. If he was ever going to do any good for Arelon, he needed to be admitted into that special group. They were the ones who were working to determine the fate of the country.

P: ::arches eyebrow:: Telling them who you are would do it.

L: Seriously, this is just infuriating. Brandon didn’t include anything in his annotations about why Raoden doesn’t come clean to Roial, so we’re left to conclude that it just… didn’t serve the plot.

“Citizen, I hope I do not injure you when I point out that the others see you as rather frivolous.”

Raoden laughed. “I hope they see me that way, my lord. I should hate to think I’ve been playing the fool for nothing.”

L: Nicely played.

P: He does have to show a streak of seriousness so that Roial will invite him into the inner circle.

“You have already been through what we might have to suffer, and that makes your advice valuable—no matter what the others may think.”

“There is a way to escape Duladel’s fate, my lord,” Raoden said cautiously. “Though it could be dangerous. It would involve a … change in leadership.”

P: And of course, Raoden knows just what to say to get Roial to extend a little trust to “Kaloo.”

L: Brandon’s got a bit to say about this in the annotations too…

It may seem odd that Roial invites Kaloo to the meetings after just a short time. Remember several things, however. First, Sarene wasn’t in the town for very long before she herself got into the meetings. Second, they’re desperate for help and new perspectives. Third, Kaloo has been living with Roial, and Roial knew Raoden quite well. I’m not saying that Roial saw through the persona, but he undoubtedly sensed some of the same things in Kaloo that he liked in Raoden.

Now back to the text:

“You know the house of the merchant Kiin?”

“Yes.”

“Meet me there tonight at sunset.” Raoden nodded, and the duke excused himself. As the door shut, Raoden winked at Galladon. “And you thought I couldn’t do it.”

P: And he’s in. Can’t wait to discuss the next chapter!!

L: Fingers crossed that someone finally realizes who Raoden really is and gives him a good bonking.

L: The coolest tidbit I found in the annotations of this chapter is this little bit here. Now… I find it fascinating as a writer, since this is giving a little glimpse into the craft. Maybe it will appeal to you, too, writer or no:

I often develop characters in my mind based solely on their dialect—and everyone has a dialect, despite what you may think. Galladon’s might be the most obvious, but—in my mind, at least—everyone in the book speaks a little differently. Roial is dignifiedly mischievous, Ahan favors flamboyant words, Kaloo favors frivolous words, and Ashe likes words that make him sound solemn. Karata is curt, Lukel likes to quip, and Raoden firm.

L: Using dialect, or accent, as a basis for characterization is a really clever shortcut.

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 53 and 54.

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut. She’s a professional actress and makes magic wands for a living. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Fifty-One and Fifty-Two appeared first on Reactor.

You may remember that we left off on a bit of a sad place in our reread two weeks ago. Prince Raoden’s still “dead” and stuck in Elantris, and the Aons are still stubbornly refusing to work for him. Princess Sarene’s been “cured” of her Shaod, but that means that she’s been separated from “Spirit” ::pout:: and thrust back into the politically fraught turmoil of Kaye, where Telrii has taken over the throne but refused to convert to Shu-Dereth (as he promised Hrathen he would). Things aren’t quite at a boil, but they’re getting close. So won’t you join us as we light a candle and make our way down the streets of Elantris, on our way to meet Raoden in a certain dimly lit, dusty library…

Spoiler warning: This week’s article briefly mentions The Emperor’s Soul and The Lost Metal but contains spoilers from neither. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

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Last time on Elantris: Treason and Trickery…

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen you, dearest chickens! In our last chapter, Sarene is released back into Kaye, where she immediately begins trying to gather her friends for an all-out armed insurrection against (now King) Telrii. Meanwhile, Hrathen learns that Telrii is even slimier than he’d anticipated. Not only is he demanding more out of Hrathen in order to turn the country over to Shu-Dereth and thereby Wyrn… he’s demanding to be granted a position equal to Hrathen, and Telrii has dared to demand it of Wyrn himself! That letter’s not going to go over well, and Hrathen knows it. He’s bracing for war as Wyrn inevitably launches a strike force against Kaye…

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Raoden, Sarene

Discussion

Chapter 49

At first, Raoden stayed away from the library because it reminded him of her. Then he found himself drawn back to it—because it reminded him of her.

P: Aww, this is simply adorable. And people say that Sanderson can’t write romance.

Aon Eno, the character for water, included a wiggling line that matched the meanderings of the Aredel River. The character for wood—Aon Dii—included several circles that represented the southern forests.

L: For your visualization pleasure:

Why did Aon Mea, the character for thoughtfulness, have an X that crossed somewhere in the middle of Eon Plantation?

L: Years of self-taught photoshop prowess have led me to this, chickens.

Why was Aon Rii specked with two dozen seemingly random dots?

L: Also, why does this one not have the dot for the lake, and have a diagonal line through there instead? And why does it have FOUR quadrants? This one’s REAL weird.

After all, the Elantrians had used AonDor to carve permanent symbols into rock and stone—and had even constructed them from wire, pieces of wood, and a host of other materials. Apparently it was difficult to create AonDor characters from physical materials, but the Aons still had their same effect, regardless of whether they were drawn in the air or smelted from steel.

L: I love the idea of sculpted Aons. They’re so beautiful to begin with!

“Stop moping, sule,” Galladon said with a grunt. “It doesn’t suit you—it takes a fine sense of pessimism to brood with any sort of respectability.”

L: Yeah! Like Kaladin’s!

P: Your comment made me snort laugh. But yes, Raoden is not the moping type.

Except … When the Reod occurred, the land cracked. 

“The Chasm!” Raoden exclaimed.

“The Chasm?” Galladon said skeptically. “That was caused by the Reod, sule, not the other way around.”

“But what if it wasn’t?” Raoden said, excited.

L: What indeed?!

P: Finally he gets there.

He stabbed the Aon and slashed his finger through the air. And a small line streaked across the Aon behind it.

Then it struck him. The Dor attacked with a roaring surge of power, and this time it hit no wall. It exploded through Raoden like a river. He gasped, basking in its power for just a moment. It burst free like a beast that had been kept trapped in a small space for far too long. It almost seemed … joyful.

Then it was gone, and he stumbled, dropping to his knees.

L: EUREKA! We have a breakthrough! One thing I’d like to note from Brandon’s annotations on his website is this:

If you were wondering, most of the explanations we get in this chapter are true. The reason that Raoden was subject to the Dor attacks was because he spent so much time practicing with the Aons. He began to make a bridge between this world and the Dor, and because of that, he gave the Dor a slight opening into his soul. I imagine that he isn’t the first one to suffer something like this during the ten years that Elantris has been fallen. Other Elantrians probably practiced with the Aons, and the Dor eventually destroyed them. When it was done, they simply became Hoed.

Now back to Raoden:

A thin prick of red light appeared in the disk’s center, then expanded, the burning sounds rising to a clamor. The Aon became a twisting vortex of fire; Raoden could feel the heat as he stumbled back.

It burst, spitting out a horizontal column of flame that passed just above Galladon’s head. The column crashed into a bookshelf, immolating the structure in a massive explosion. Books and flaming pages were tossed into the air, slamming into walls and other bookcases.

L: Raoden’s a regular Oppenheimer here. Does this make Sarene our Barbie…?

P: Definitely!

“It’s not as bright as it should be,” he said.

L:  Well, drat. I suppose it was too much to hope that this one thing would fix all their problems… after all, we’ve still got a ways to go until the end of the book!

P: Yes, it can’t be easy for them, can it?

Any Aon, for instance, that targeted either of them flashed away ineffectually. Their clothing was a valid target, but their flesh was not; Raoden broke off the tip of his thumbnail and tried to make that float, and was completely unsuccessful. The only theory Raoden could offer was the one he had expressed earlier.

“Our bodies are frozen in the middle of being changed, Galladon,” he explained…

L: Makes sense. So figure out how to finish that change, already!

P: I think that knowing it will eventually work makes getting through this bit excruciating.

L: Another note from the annotations:

By the way, there is a little foreshadowing in this chapter. Raoden’s ability to draw with a stick or a quill to do his Aons is very important, obviously. Some people still have trouble [with] what is going on at the climax of the book, and so I found constant need to incorporate explanations and hints where I could to foreshadow events.

As a fellow writer, I always find it fascinating how often I needed to drop hints like this in order for my advance readers to get stuff. Some people would be incredibly on the ball and would catch a single mention of something fifteen chapters ago, but they were in the distinct minority. So seeing that Brandon also experiences this didn’t surprise me in the slightest.

P: Kind of like beating us over the head with it. ::chuckle::

Chapter 50

“His Majesty is quite busy lounging in his palace while half of Arelon’s nobility waits outside,” the seon said with a disapproving tone.

L: Ugh. Telrii might be a step up from the old king, but let’s face it. It was a low bar.

P: It was a very low bar. And I’m not so sure he is a step up from Iadon. Telrii is vile.

“I believe his largest current complaint is that there aren’t enough young women left on the palace staff.”

L: Double ugh. Well, at least he’s just leering at them (hopefully) and not killing them.

P: I can definitely see him leering. I wouldn’t think he’d resort to killing so soon into his reign.

“We’ve exchanged one idiot for another.” Sarene shook her head.

L: You tell ‘em, Sarene.

P: She’s definitely not wrong.

The entire civilized world would belong to Wyrn, a final fulfillment of the Old Empire’s dream.

L: I do find this a tiny bit amusing considering the fact that we know that there are other very civilized societies on this planet (see: The Emperor’s Soul and The Lost Metal).

Elantris was the one place where she could remember feeling unconditional acceptance. She had not been a princess, she had been something far better—a member of a community where every individual was vital.

L: Awww. She got a little taste of being a commoner… and she liked it.

P: After feeling so unaccepted by people her whole life, I’m not surprised that she liked it!

Kaloo was too stereotypical. He represented everything a Duladen aristocrat was said to be—foolishly haughty, overdressed and overmannered, and completely indifferent when it came to just about everything. This Kaloo was like a cliché that shouldn’t exist, a living representation of the idealized Duladen noble.

L: Naturally this is Raoden, and I just love the fact that he’s here making Sarene blush and being all suave and handsome and… ::sigh:: Brandon’s got some words to say about this scene in the annotations…

I’d been wanting to show a real Dula ever since I started writing the book. Galladon is such a ‘bad’ Dula that I was very pleased when I found an opportunity to work Kaloo into the plot. You’ve been hearing, through various asides, about Dulas for most of the book. Now you actually get to meet one. Or, at least, someone pretending to be one.

P: And I love how suspicious she is of him. This whole scene is just so amusing. I think he would have done much better had they used the safer blades. He didn’t want to hurt his princess.

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 51 and 52.

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut. She’s a professional actress and makes magic wands for a living. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Forty-Nine and Fifty appeared first on Reactor.

Today, Tor Books announced that Stormlight Archive’s fifth book, Wind and Truth, will be available on December 6, 2024. That’s a little less than a year away, but you can pre-order it now.

Here’s the synopsis of Wind and Truth that came along with the announcement:

Dalinar Kholin has challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions, and the Knights Radiant and the nations of Roshar have a mere 10 days to prepare for the worst. The fate of the entire world—and the Cosmere at large—hangs in the balance.

We don’t know much more about the fifth installment, including what the cover will look like. Rest assured, however, that you can now schedule your re-read of the series to time with the release of book number five, which will be the climax of the first arc of Sanderson’s planned ten-book series.

Pre-order Wind and Truth or order the first four books at the retailer of your choice at the link here.

The post Brandon Sanderson’s Fifth Stormlight Archive Book Gets Publishing Date appeared first on Reactor.

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Last time on Elantris: Revelations & Reckonings…

Serene continues her aerial bombing of poor Raoden’s psyche, telling him all about Iadon sacrificing his maids and cooks to a creepy cult, the entire plutocracy having been converted to a hereditary monarchy, and the people slowly being converted to Shu-Dereth. She reveals that she’s got a seon, lies about the fact that she was TOTALLY into Raoden before he “died,” and then Ashe returns with the unpleasant but expected news that Telrii has been crowned king.

Hrathen gets a message from Eventeo, promising to convert to Shu-Dereth if Hrathen heals his daughter.

Back in Elantris again, Serene finally gives Raoden the hint he needed to begin putting the mystery of the Aons together (the link between the physical geography and the Aons themselves) and in turn, Raoden realizes the truth about her shaod. As her “illness” fades, he insists that she leave Elantris in order to save not only herself, but the Elantrians she’s leaving behind.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Serene, Hrathen

Discussion

Chapter 47

Five days before, she had thought her life ruined. She had wished, prayed, and begged for Domi to heal her. Now she found herself craving to return to her damnation, as long as Spirit was there.

L: ::wistful sigh:: How romantic… Now if only she knew who he really was!

P: I know! If he hadn’t lied about how long he’d been in Elantris, she’d have surely figured it out.

“I will die first!”

“You already have,” the gyorn pointed out. “And I brought you back.”

L: Sick burn, Hrathen.

P: Ugh, he makes me sick. So cocky when he freaking poisoned her.

He took another step forward, and Sarene shied away, pulling her hands up against her chest.

Steel whipped in the sunlight, and suddenly the point of Eondel’s sword was at Hrathen’s neck.

L: Love this. Her friends and family are protective of her, and rightfully so!

P: I love that they’re so loyal to her after such a short time. It speaks to their honor, I think.

L: Not to mention her leadership abilities.

Then, moving more quickly than Sarene’s eyes could track, the gyorn bent backward and pulled his head out of the sword’s range. He kicked at the same time, smashing his foot into Eondel’s hand and knocking the weapon free.

Hrathen pivoted, crimson cape billowing, bloodred hand plucking the sword from the air. Steel reflected sunlight as Hrathen twirled the weapon. He snapped its tip against the paving stones, holding it as a king would his scepter.

L: Damn. Hrathen once again providing a clear example of his martial prowess. If Sarene and her allies didn’t already know to be wary of him… now they do. He’s showing a strong front on all sides; he’s won politically, religiously, and physically.

P: Yeah, he learned a thing or two in that monastery.

She had been told that if one starved oneself long enough, the stomach would shrink, thereby reducing the amount of food one could eat. The man who had invented that theory would have thrown up his hands in despair if he could have seen Sarene feasting.

L: To be fair, she was only gone for five days.

P: She was a hungry girl.

“She’s a big girl,” Lukel said. “It takes a lot of fuel to keep that body going.”

Sarene shot him a look between bites.

L: I absolutely adore the family dynamics here. It’s just so refreshing to have a hero/ine with a healthy family dynamic in a fantasy novel!

P: Truly. The same old trope about losing all of one’s family gets old.

“But they don’t need to,” Kiin said, “so they can afford to stockpile.”

Sarene kept eating, not looking up at her uncle and cousin. Her mind, however, wondered. How did they know so much about Elantrians?

L: Glad to see Sarene picking up on this! They know because one of their sons underwent the Shaod, and they’ve kept this fact a secret, managing to avoid getting him thrown into Elantris.

P: With everything else weighing so heavy on her mind, it’s good to see she’s paying attention to the here and now!

We opposed Iadon, but we did not plan to remove him. If we take direct action against Telrii, then we will be traitors to the Crown.”

“Traitors to the Crown, but not the people,” Sarene said.

L: I really respect her. She’s got so much strength of character!

P: This is why I adored her the first time I read this book, ages ago. She’s the kind of heroine I always wanted to look up to, like Princess Leia when I was a kid.

Eventeo was an honest man. He had sworn to Hrathen that if Sarene returned safely, he would convert. It didn’t matter that the gyorn’s trickery was behind both her curse and restoration; the king would honor his promise.

L: Gotta respect the man’s moral code, but… hooboy. To be beholden to an oath made to a liar who deceived you… That’s gotta hurt.

P: I wouldn’t be as moral. I’d totally claim take-backsies.

Of course he claimed that he also knew it was best for the country. No matter how good Teod’s navy was, sheer numbers ensured that a determined Fjordell campaign would eventually punch through the armada. Eventeo claimed he would not fight a hopeless war.

Yet this was the same man who had instructed Sarene that principle was always worth fighting to protect. Eventeo had sworn that truth was immutable, and that no battle—even a hopeless one—was in vain when defending what was right. But apparently his love was stronger than truth. She was flattered, but the emotion made her sick. Teod would fall because of her, becoming just another Fjordell state, its king little more than Wyrn’s servant.

L: Some interesting points to be made here. If Fjordell rules everything, then… theoretically, there’d be no more war, right? Do we have any evidence of them using inhumane methods of governance like slavery, ethnic cleansing, etc.? The fact that they’re forcefully invading other countries and subsuming their religious/cultural autonomy is problematic, for sure, but… from their perspective, I bet they think they’re uniting everyone in peace.

P: They think they are, but really, forcing people to forsake their religions to convert to a totally controlling and harsh religion that subjugates its members isn’t exactly peaceful, IMO.

Chapter 48

Hrathen, however, was backed by the power of Wyrn’s kingdom and Jaddeth’s empire—the very power that had given Telrii the wealth he needed to claim the throne.

And yet Hrathen was forced to wait.

L: ::snicker:: Called it…

P: As much as I don’t care for Telrii, I like that he’s tweaking Hrathen’s nose a bit. ::chuckling::

The palace sitting room was so draped with cloth plushness that Hrathen had been forced to shove a mountain of pillows out of the way before finding a stone ledge upon which to seat himself.

P: Who’da thunk that Telrii was so boujee. I guess he needs something to spend all that money on. Still, the opulence annoys me.

L: It doesn’t surprise me. Those who lust after power and wealth often also display the need to show it off.

The room had once been Iadon’s study, and at that time it had been marked by a businessman’s efficiency. Everything had been well placed and orderly; the furniture had been comfortable without being lavish.

Telrii had changed that. Attendants stood at the sides of the room, and beside them sat carts heaped with exotic foods… Telrii reclined in a massive pile of cushions and silks, a pleasant smile on his purple-birthmarked face.

The men I am forced to work with … Hrathen thought with an inward grimace. Iadon had at least been businesslike.

P: And the opulence continues into Telrii’s “study.” Expensive foods and tapestries on the walls. He’s such a diva. And it really surprises me that Hrathen thinks something positive about Iadon.

L: In comparison to a worm, I guess even a snake seems to have positive attributes.

“Promises, Hrathen?” Telrii asked idly. “I made no promises.”

And so the game began. “You are to join the Derethi religion,” Hrathen said. “That was the deal.”

“I made no such deal, Hrathen,” Telrii said. “You offered me funds; I accepted them. You have my gratitude for the support, as I said that you would.”

L: Yuuuuuuuuuup. A liar and cheat through and through. I’m honestly shocked that Hrathen is at all surprised by this.

P: And he’s just expecting Telrii to ask for more money. Oh, my sweet summer child…

“You think me a fool, ignorant of the ways of the East? Kings bow to gyorns. What power will I hold if I let you make me into nothing more than a Derethi slave? No, that will not do for me. I don’t plan to bow anytime one of your priests comes to visit. I will convert to your religion, but I will do so only with the promise of an ecclesiastic rank to match my civil one. Not just King Telrii, but Gyorn Telrii.”

L: This reminds me of Jafar in Disney’s Aladdin, when he keeps wishing himself into higher levels of power. Not just a Sultan… the most powerful sorcerer in the world! No… even better, an all-powerful GENIE!

P: OMG, this is exactly what he reminds me of now that you’ve said it. ::chuckling::

Hrathen stood, stunned. The man had sent a letter to Wyrn himself … Telrii had made demands of the Regent of All Creation? “You are a foolish, foolish man,” Hrathen whispered, finally realizing the severity of his problems. When Wyrn received that message …

“Go!” Telrii repeated, pointing toward the door.

Dazed, Hrathen did as commanded.

L: And now Hrathen reaps what he’s sown in trusting the word of someone who would betray his own people. Power and riches are more important than anything else to a man like that, and in so doing, he’s brought destruction down on everything he holds dear (namely, himself).

P: I love how horrified Hrathen is at the thought of Telrii sending a messenger directly to Wyrn. He’s probably a bit worried about his own situation!

L: Understandably so. Telrii’s gone over his head, and that’s a dangerous thing to do when you’re dealing with a tyrannical despot like Wyrn.

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! We’ll be taking a couple of weeks off to celebrate the holiday season with our families, but we’ll see you again on January 4th with chapters 49 and 50. Until then, happy holidays to you and yours, and merry cluckings to all and to all a good night!

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut. She makes magic wands for a living and will be helping out Santa Claus this season in Essex, CT. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Forty-Seven and Forty-Eight  appeared first on Reactor.

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Trigger warnings: Loss of a parent

Last time on Elantris: False Victories and Burgeoning Romances…

Hrathen is overjoyed by the fact that all his devious plots have come to fruition, and he’s managed to overthrow the government of Kae (and thereby converted the people) with no bloodshed.

Meanwhile, Raoden and Sarene have been so busy making doe-eyes at one another in Elantris that Raoden’s been loath to ask her about what happened on the outside. When he finally does, Sarene drops the mother of all bombshells on his head, revealing that that the king, his father, is dead. (That’ll sure ruin the mood, huh?)

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Sarene, Hrathen, Raoden

Discussion

Chapter 44

“Iadon is dead?” Spirit asked in a quiet voice.

L: Oof. Poor Raoden. He didn’t much like the guy, but Iadon was still his father, and to hear the news this way must have been so jarring.

P: He may have known, as an adult, how ignorant Iadon had been, but your father is still your father.

Spirit’s brow furrowed. “Being a Derethi sympathizer makes one popular? I’ve missed a lot, haven’t I?”

“How long have you been in here?”

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L: Careful there, Raoden. You might give yourself away. (Inwardly I’m screaming “JUST FIGURE IT OUT ALREADY AND START KISSING WHY DON’T YOU?!”)

P: I hate the lie! I feel that the more he lies to her, the more she’ll hold against him when she learns who he is!

That said, I have no memory of this place.

He had seized control of the rival gangs in recent weeks, but that wasn’t the sort of thing a person accomplished without a great deal of planning and work.

L: Looks like everyone underestimating him has worked out in Raoden’s favor.

P: Seriously. He’s quite competent!

Sarene didn’t need to describe their personalities and temperaments; Spirit already knew them. In fact, he seemed to understand them better than Sarene herself. When she questioned him on the matter, he simply explained that in Arelon it was vital to know of each noble with a rank of baron or higher.

L: Damn it, Raoden! Slip up already!

P: Damn it, Sarene! Be suspicious of his extensive knowledge!

“But your wedding contract said you could never marry again.”

“How did you know that?” Sarene asked, her eyes narrowing.

“You explained it just a few minutes ago.”

“I did not.”

L: Yes, yesssssssss. Put the pieces together, Sarene!

P: Lol! That’s what I’m waiting for!

“Anyway,” Spirit said…

L: ARGH.

P: She really should have pursued that after denying that she mentioned it. Had he been in Elantris a year, he’d have no knowledge of any of it.

“So you only agreed to marry the prince for politics.” His tone sounded hurt for some reason, as if her relationship with the crown prince of Arelon reflected directly on its aristocracy.

“Of course,” Sarene said. “I am a political creature, Spirit. I did what was best for Teod—and for the same reason I was going to marry Roial.”

L: Now, granted, she doesn’t really know “Spirit” well enough to be spilling her deepest secrets to him and telling him all about how she thought she had been falling for Raoden, but still, this is just INFURIATING. They were so close! And poor Raoden, after just learning all this devastating news about his family and his country, is getting yet another gut punch.

P: I know, that was tough to read, too. Like, here they are, getting so close, and he learns that she didn’t really WANT to marry him, that she was just doing it for politics. Frustrating.

“It is done, my lady,” Ashe informed them. “Telrii is king.”

L: Time to see if he upholds his end of the bargain and starts helping Hrathen to convert the populace… or if a double-cross is in order. (I’d bet on the double-cross for two reasons. One, if a man’s willing to sell out his country for power, he’s probably not going to want to lose that power now that he’s got it. And two, things have been going too well for Hrathen and the Rules of Storytelling say that when things are going well for a character, it’s all about to get f***ed up.)

P: If he keeps getting money from Fjorden, he’ll pretend to convert, I bet. But I’m not sure Hrathen is going to continue to accommodate Telrii so generously. We’ll see how that happens.

And can I just take a moment to want to smack Raoden (though I wouldn’t because it would hurt him too much, poor boy!) for not questioning how Sarene was communicating with a seon? I mean, that’s kind of a big deal!

Chapter 45

Besides, he didn’t want to bother the people with worries about Elantris; he wanted them to remain focused on their new king, and the allegiances he would soon declare.

L: Getting a little complacent there, Hrathen. Watch out. Those storytelling rules are about to bite you in the ass.

P: I’m ready to see him get bitten in the ass!

The former duke, now king, was an easy man to understand, and men who could be understood could be manipulated.

L: Oh yeah. WAY too complacent. Honestly I thought Hrathen was better than this! (And by “better,” I mean better at manipulation and plotting, not a moral and ethical man. Just in case that wasn’t clear…)

P: I figured that’s what you meant, but it never hurts to clarify.

Telrii would undoubtedly demand more money from Hrathen before he joined Shu-Dereth. Telrii would think himself clever, and would assume that the crown gave him even greater leverage with Fjorden. Hrathen would feign indignation at the cash demands, all the while understanding what Telrii never could.

L: Yeeaaaah I doubt it’s gonna be that easy.

P: It’s never that easy, even for the “bad” guy.

Power was not in wealth, but in control—money was worthless before a man who refused to be bought.

L: You’d think that he’d realize that Telrii won’t want to cede that control now that he’s got it…

P: Perhaps if Hrathen tells Telrii that he’ll get invaded if he doesn’t convert, then it will sink in.

Telrii might not believe, but his children—raised Derethi—would. One man’s meaningless conversion would provide for the salvation of a kingdom.

L: Ugh. I wish this didn’t ring so true for so many actual historical cultures. So many incredible religions and traditions, wiped out because a colonizing force decided it was their way or the highway, forcing them to assimilate and brainwashing their children until little to no trace of the original culture remains…

P: Brainwashing. That’s exactly what it is.

Sarene had been a wonderful opponent, and he knew how dangerous Elantris could be. […] He needed her to live for more reason than one.

L: Getting a little crush are we, Hrathen?

P: Ha! I hadn’t considered this. I rather thought it was to trade her for Eventeo’s conversion.

“I come on behalf of my master, King Eventeo of Teod,” the seon said in a melodious voice. “He wishes to speak with you.”

L: Oh boy. This ought to be good.

P: And here it is.

“…what would it take for your Jaddeth to heal my daughter?”

“The Lord might be persuaded if you gave Him some form of encouragement,” Hrathen said. “The faithless receive no miracles, Your Majesty.”

L: UGH YOU SNAKE!

P: Yup. He really is a snake. I knew he was going to use this against Eventeo.

Hrathen smiled, the final piece of his plan falling into place.

L: Come on, storytelling rules! You can kick in anytime now…

P: ::waiting::

Chapter 46

Arelon would be better off without King Iadon.

Yet when news of his father’s demise actually came, Raoden found his emotions traitorously melancholy. His heart wanted to forget the Iadon of the last five years, instead remembering the Iadon of Raoden’s childhood. His father had been the most successful merchant in all of Arelon—respected by his countrymen and loved by his son. He had seemed a man of honor and of strength. Part of Raoden would always be that child who saw his father as the greatest of heroes.

L: This hits so hard. Anyone who has an estranged parent could relate to this, I think. That bittersweet mix of memories, the difference between the idealized parent you remember vs. the real-life person with all their faults and foibles that you see with your adult eyes.

P: Yeah, as someone who argued as much with my mother as not, I feel this feel. We didn’t see eye to eye but losing her four years ago punched me in the gut, and continues to do so.

The Elantrians figured they were so obviously superior to anything else that they didn’t need to worry about other religions. Most of them didn’t even care if they were worshipped or not.”

L: On the one hand, I get it—when you’re practically omnipotent, why waste time worrying about the little ants scurrying around outside your borders? But on the other hand, it seems incredibly arrogant, not to mention self-centered. The Elantrians could have been using their powers to help all the people in the world, not just those within their borders. They seem almost myopic in retrospect.

“I understand most of the theory now, but I still don’t seem any closer to discovering what has blocked the Dor. I feel that the Aons have changed, that the old patterns are slightly wrong, but I can’t even begin to guess why that would be.”

“Maybe something’s wrong with the land,” Sarene said offhandedly, leaning back in her chair so the front two legs rose off the ground.

L: ::gasp::

P: Yes!! A clue!

“To begin every Aon, you draw a picture of Arelon. I learned that as a little girl.”

Raoden froze, his hand pausing in midline. “Say that again.”

L: Leave it to a school-yard lesson to provide the key to understanding!

P: Come on, Raoden! Put two and two together!!

Galladon held up the map and Sarene moved to stand at the Dula’s side. They looked through the thin paper at the glowing Aon.

“Doloken!” Galladon swore. “Sule, the proportions are exactly the same. They even slant the same way.”

L: To get an idea of what they’re seeing…

He turned, intending to praise Sarene for the clue. However, his words choked in his mouth. Something was wrong. The dark splotches on the princess’s skin were the wrong color: they were a mixture of blues and purples, like bruises. They seemed to fade before his eyes.

L: Argh no, not now! They were so close!

P: Just a few more moments and he might have had it! Curses! ::shakes fist at Brandon::

Then he made the connection. Sarene had never been able to draw Aons. She had complained of being cold, and she still insisted that her wounds didn’t hurt. Raoden reached out and felt Sarene’s face. Her flesh was warm—too warm, even for a new Elantrian whose body hadn’t completely cooled yet. He pushed the scarf off her head with trembling fingers, and felt the nearly invisible blonde stubble on her scalp. “Idos Domi,” he whispered.

L: It’s a good thing Raoden’s too smart to be fooled into thinking that Hrathen cured her.

P: Too smart for that but not so smart (yet!) to figure out why the aons aren’t working!

Raoden fell still. He wanted her to stay—he longed for her to stay. But he would do whatever it took to get her out of Elantris. The city was death.

L: ::wistful sigh:: He’s so romantic.

P: I know, isn’t it sweet! Hush all of you, let us swoon…

“You think we can afford to feed you, Princess?” Raoden said, forcing harshness into his voice. “You assume we will waste food on a woman who is not one of us?”

“That won’t work, Spirit,” Sarene shot back. “I can see the truth in your eyes.”

L: Well, thank goodness for that, at least. The whole “I have to hurt her to drive her away for her own safety” trope being recognized and subverted is a nice touch.

P: I’m so glad she didn’t fall for that little trick. She’s too smart for that nonsense.

Raoden was left lying on his back, feeling the slime squish beneath him, looking up at a man in bloodred armor. The gyorn stood quietly for a moment, then turned and followed Sarene out of the city. The gates slammed shut behind him.

L: Hoo boy. What an image to leave us on!

P: Can’t wait for next week!

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 47 and 48.

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut. She makes magic wands for a living and will be helping out Santa Claus this season in Essex, CT. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Forty-Four to Forty-Six  appeared first on Reactor.

Did I just say that? Really?

L: You sure did. I suppose even a broken clock like Hrathen is right twice a day…

P: I suppose it is! So, Chickens, join us for the wuv… twu wuv… and see how loopy our prince is, as well as how arrogant and self-important Hrathen is feeling now that he’s leveled up to HEALED BY JADDETH! ::beckons:: Right this way, you little cluckers. Join us!

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Trigger warnings: (I think we’re safe for this week.)

Last time on Elantris: Connections and Conundrums…

Sarene is tossed into Elantris, and meets Raoden for the first time as an equal. Raoden lies to her about who he really is, but guides her into New Elantris and sets her up with an outfit. That night, Ashe—who has “mysteriously” not gone mad—finds Sarene, and she uses Ashe to contact her father. She refuses to leave Arelon, insisting that these are now her people and she must help them, even from within the walls of Elantris.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Hrathen, Raoden

Discussion

Chapter 42

Hrathen was back in control. Like a hero from the old Svordish epics, he had descended to the underworld—physically, mentally, and spiritually—and returned a stronger man.

Hrathen was back in control. Like a hero from the old Svordish epics, he had descended to the underworld—physically, mentally, and spiritually—and returned a stronger man. 

P: Oh, he’s so very full of himself after faking the Shaod and pretending to be an Elantrian. Merciful Domi, if he doesn’t get me all agitated with his self-righteous ::ahem:: … nonsense.

L: I have to say, I also really appreciate the little call-out to the Hero’s Journey here. 

On the off-chance that you’re unfamiliar with Joseph Campbell’s theory of the Hero’s Journey/the monomyth, it’s the idea that all mythological narratives are essentially the same once you boil them down to their primary plot points. This structure can also be applied to most fictional narratives. The monomyth goes like this: The hero, secure in their home, is given a call to adventure, which they initially refuse. Once they accept the call (usually with the aid of a mentor figure), they embark on a journey, part of which usually involves delving into an underworld of some sort. While there, they learn something which helps them to overcome the climactic/main confrontation, and then return victorious to their home. This is, of course, a drastic simplification, but you can see the parallel here between our real-world monomyth and the one that Hrathen is referencing. I love the idea that the monomyth is universal, even within the text. How meta!

He would be the savior of this people.

P: And then he shows us that he’s not completely horrible as he really has tried to “conquer” Arelon without a bloody revolution.

L: I meeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaan I’d argue that that in particular makes him a good person. Sure, he’s trying to conquer another country, but at least he’s trying to do it peacefully. He didn’t even kill Sarene, though he could have sent a real assassin just as easily. Hrathen’s really, really trying to do this without bloodshed and save the people from that specific horror, which is—in its own way—noble. The ethical question of whether or not his country should be attempting to subjugate others is a whole other seon of wax.

P: That caveat notwithstanding, I don’t hate him as much as I should because Brandon has made him so complex!

Dilaf backed down unhappily. The arteth grudgingly promised to hold no meetings or sermons without Hrathen’s overt permission. And in exchange for being officially named head arteth of the chapel, Dilaf also consented to relieve his numerous odivs from their vows…

P: Dilaf was brought low by Hrathen’s miraculous recovery from the Shaod. He’s all but groveling. Which is really no better a look on him than gloating.

L: So true. I wonder what his followers think about being demoted like that, though. Can’t be a good feeling.

Dilaf would not, however, relent in his pursuit of Elantris’s destruction.

…

“Why do you forbid me to preach against them, my lord?” Dilaf’s voice was bitter—now that Hrathen forbade him to speak about Elantris, the arteth’s speeches seemed almost emasculated.

“Preaching against Elantris no longer has a point,” Hrathen said, matching Dilaf’s anger with logic. “Do not forget that our hate had a purpose. Now that I have proven Jaddeth’s supreme power over Elantris, we have effectively shown that our God is true, while Domi is false.

P: Of course, he won’t relent. There are other kinds of hatred that are as potent as religious hatred, but religious hatred is pretty high up the ladder. 

L: Personally speaking, I’m of the opinion that hate should never “have a purpose,” as Hrathen is saying here. Understanding and compassion are far better motivators, ethically and logically speaking. Hate is by its very nature a quick way to inspire people to action; but it’s also self-feeding and, like a fire, can quickly grow out of control. Empathy, kindness, understanding, compassion… this is a slower, but much more efficient method of enacting change.

Now… one could argue that Hrathen didn’t have time to use such methods due to his deadline, but I’m not sure if such things would even cross his mind as possibilities. He’s far too calculating and cruel to be truly empathic.

P: Very true, and as much as he might agree with Dilaf about Elantrians, has his eye firmly on the ball now. (The ball being the conquest of Arelon, but you knew that.) He won’t let Dilaf upset the boat now that they’re sailing along so smoothly.

It’s over, he realized. I actually did it—I converted the people without a bloody revolution. He wasn’t finished yet, however. Arelon was his, but one nation still remained.

Hrathen had plans for Teod.

P: Without a bloody revolution so far… 

And I can’t help but think that the sneaky gyorn’s poisoning of the princess has something to do with his plans for Teod. “Look what Jaddeth did for her when I appealed to him, he saved her, too!” Note, that I don’t recall if that’s what his plan is, but we’re soon to find out!

L: I wouldn’t put it past him.

L: I have to say, I also really appreciate the little call-out to the Hero’s Journey here.

On the off-chance you’re unfamiliar with the concept of story structure and Joseph Campbell’s theory of the HJ/the monomyth in particular, it’s that all mythological narratives are essentially the same once you boil them down to their primary plot points. This structure can also be applied to most fictional narratives. The monomyth goes like this: The hero, secure in their home, is given a call to adventure, which they initially refuse. Once they accept the call (usually with the aid of a mentor figure), they embark on a journey, part of which is usually delving into an underworld of some sort. While there, they learn something which helps them to overcome the climax/main confrontation, and then return victorious to their home. This is, of course, a drastic simplification, but you can see the parallel here between our real-world monomyth and the one that Hrathen is referencing. I love the idea that the monomyth is universal, even within the text. How meta!

He would be the savior of this people.

P: And then he shows us that he’s not completely horrible as he really has tried to “conquer” Arelon without a bloody revolution.

L: I meeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaan I’d argue that that in particular makes him a good person. Sure, he’s trying to conquer another country, but at least he’s trying to do it peacefully. He didn’t even kill Sarene, though he could have sent a real assassin just as easily. He’s really, really trying to do this without bloodshed and save the people from that specific horror, which is—in its own way—noble. The ethical question of whether or not his country should be attempting to subjugate others is a whole other seon of wax.

P: That caveat notwithstanding, I don’t hate him as much as I should because Brandon made him so complex!

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Dilaf backed down unhappily. The arteth grudgingly promised to hold no meetings or sermons without Hrathen’s overt permission. And in exchange for being officially named head arteth of the chapel, Dilaf also consented to relieve his numerous odivs from their vows…

P: Dilaf was brought low by Hrathen’s miraculous recovery from the Shaod. He’s all but groveling. Which is really no better a look on him than gloating.

L: So true. I wonder what his followers think about being demoted like that, though. Can’t be a good feeling.

Dilaf would not, however, relent in his pursuit of Elantris’s destruction.

…

“Why do you forbid me to preach against them, my lord?” Dilaf’s voice was bitter—now that Hrathen forbade him to speak about Elantris, the arteth’s speeches seemed almost emasculated.

“Preaching against Elantris no longer has a point,” Hrathen said, matching Dilaf’s anger with logic. “Do not forget that our hate had a purpose. Now that I have proven Jaddeth’s supreme power over Elantris, we have effectively shown that our God is true, while Domi is false.

P: Of course, he won’t relent. There is other hatred as potent as religious hatred, but religious hatred is pretty high up the ladder.

L: Personally speaking, I’m of the opinion that hate should never “have a purpose,” as Hrathen is saying here. Understanding and compassion are far better motivators, ethically and logically speaking. Hate is by its very nature a quick way to inspire people to action; but it’s also self-feeding and, like a fire, can quickly grow out of control. Empathy, kindness, understanding, compassion… this is a slower, but much more efficient method of enacting change.

Now… one could argue that Hrathen didn’t have time to use such methods due to his deadline, but I’m not sure if such things would even cross his mind as possibilities. He’s far too calculating and cruel to be truly empathic.

P: Very true, and as much as he might agree with Dilaf about Elantrians, has his eye firmly on the ball now. (The ball being the conquest of Arelon, but you knew that.) He won’t let Dilaf upset the boat now that they’re sailing along so smoothly.

It’s over, he realized. I actually did it—I converted the people without a bloody revolution. He wasn’t finished yet, however. Arelon was his, but one nation still remained.

Hrathen had plans for Teod.

P: Without a bloody revolution so far.

And I can’t help but think that the sneaksy gyorn’s poisoning of the princess has something to do with his plans for Teod. “Look what Jaddeth did for her when I appealed to him, he saved her, too!” Note, that I don’t recall if that’s what his plan is, but we’re soon to find out!

L: I wouldn’t put it past him.

Chapter 43

 A dark stairwell lay hidden within, ten years of dust coating its steps. A single set of footprints marked the powder—footprints that could have been made only by feet as large as Galladon’s.

“And it goes all the way to the top?” Raoden asked, stepping over the sodden wreck of a door.

“Kolo,” Galladon said. “And it’s encased in stone the entire way, with only an occasional slit for light. One wrong step will send you tumbling down a series of stone stairs as long—and as painful—as one of my hama’s stories.”

P: And so Raoden and Galladon get back to the whole “let’s climb to the top of the wall” plan to see if they can guess what happened to the Elantris City Guard. Sounds like a harrowing climb when a slip will turn you into a Hoed. 

Oh, and is anyone else wondering why this stairwell INSIDE the wall is covered with dust instead of slime? Hmmm??

L: When reading this, all I could see in my head was the staircase inside the National Wallace Monument in Stirling, Scotland (246 steps, if you’re wondering, and yes I’ve climbed it. Twice). Granted it’s not quite the same, as the Elantrian version clearly has a big empty space in the middle, but…

Raoden had been atop the walls of Elantris dozens of times, but never had the sight of Kae looked so sweet. The city was quiet; it appeared as if his fears of invasion had been premature.

P: Fear of the type of invasion Raoden has imagined may be premature, but as our fallen prince will find out next week, there are other types of invasion.

L: A peaceful coup d’état is still a coup d’état.

“We did it,” Raoden said, resting against the parapet.

“Took us long enough,” Galladon noted, stepping up beside him.

“Only a few hours,” Raoden said lightly, the agony of the work forgotten in the bliss of victory.

“I didn’t mean cutting through the door. This is the third day I’ve tried to get you to come up here.”

“I’ve been busy.”

P: Our Lord Spirit has been stuck to Sarene like glue, it would seem. Raoden is all starry-eyed, I bet! All twitterpated! 

L: The only appropriate gif for a time such as this…

“Sule, the only time in the last three days I’ve seen you two apart is when one of you had to go to the privy. She’d be here now if I hadn’t snatched you when no one was looking.”

“Well,” Raoden said defensively, “she is my wife.”

“And do you ever intend to inform her of that fact?”

“Maybe,” Raoden said lightly. “I wouldn’t want her to feel any obligation.”

“No, of course not.”

P: Yup, stuck like glue. And, of course he wouldn’t want her to feel any obligation but I’m betting she would say the exact same storming thing. When they would both want SO MUCH to go through with their obligation!

L: Given that he’s someone who was brought up in a position of power and wealth, I don’t really blame Raoden for wanting his wife to get to know the real him without all the trappings and expectations of his title. Even if that title’s gone now, he’s still a prince, and I bet the opportunity to get someone to fall for you based solely on your personality and nothing else is a nice change for him. Now…deliberately withholding things from your intended so they can’t really get to know you (seeing as how your background and title are huge parts of who you are) is also a consideration here, but we know that Raoden’s gonna tell her eventually. I suppose we can’t blame him for going a little “Princess Jasmine” on Sarene, for a while at least.

Raoden nodded, remembering back to their short conversation two days ago. Has it really been that long? he wondered. He’d barely noticed. Perhaps he had been spending a little too much time with Sarene. However, he didn’t feel a bit guilty.

P: And why should he? The man got the rawest deal around and now he’s finally got access to his wife when he never thought he’d ever even see her.

L: After losing the life you thought you’d had, your riches, your family, your friends, your health… hell, practically everything, it must be real nice to get a win for once. We can hardly blame him for indulging in this one bit of joy that’s been thrown his way.

“There,” Galladon said, squinting and pointing at the city.

“What?” Raoden said, following the Dula’s gesture.

“I see a flag,” Galladon said. “Our missing guards.”

…

Raoden squinted, recognizing the building over which the banner flew. “That’s Duke Telrii’s mansion. What could the Elantris City Guard possibly have to do with him?”

“Perhaps he’s under arrest,” Galladon said.

“No,” Raoden said. “The Guard isn’t a policing force.”

“Why would they leave the walls, then?” Galladon asked.

Raoden shook his head. “I’m not sure. Something, however, is very wrong.”

P: Why would they leave the walls, indeed? Because their captain is corrupt and taking money from Hrathen, who is pulling all the strings, maybe? Ugh. The whole Telrii storyline is tiresome.

L: You’d think that Raoden would be more suspicious of Telrii, having grown up around the snake, but maybe the arrival of Hrathen and everything else that’s happened is just so far outside his consideration that he can’t imagine it. You know what they say…  truth is often stranger than fiction. Sometimes things happen that we’d never expect.

There was one way to find out what was going on with the Guard. Sarene was the only Elantrian to be thrown into the city since the disappearance of the Guard. Only she could explain the current political climate of the city.

P: Lucy! You got some ‘splaining to do!

L: Poor thing. At least we know that Raoden’s going to be asking the questions, and will do so with care and compassion.

The truth was, he really did enjoy his time with Sarene. Her wry wit made him smile, her intelligence intrigued him, and her personality encouraged him. After ten years of dealing with women whose only apparent thought was how good they looked in their dress—a state of forced obtuseness led by his own weak-willed stepmother—Raoden was ready for a woman who wouldn’t cower at the first sign of conflict.

P: Brandon, stahp. We all know how perfect they each thought the other was prior to Sarene taking sail toward their wedding. And now Raoden can see the reasons why, up close and personal-like. And it’s so wonderfully romantic and nauseating. ::giggle:: I don’t really think it’s nauseating… I’m over here sighing into my tea. 

L: Same, except coffee. I do love me a good romance, and while I’m not a fan of the “she’s not like the other girls!” trope being used here, I’m willing to give Brandon a pass for it because he was so young when he wrote this book. He’s come a long, long way in his portrayal of strong female characters.

However, that same unyielding personality was the very thing that had kept him from learning about the outside. No amount of subtle persuasion—or even direct manipulation—could pry a single unwilling fact out of Sarene’s mouth. He couldn’t afford to be delicate any longer, however. The Guard’s strange actions were troubling—any shift in power could be extremely dangerous to Elantris.

P: Indeed, it could. Don’t worry, my prince, your little songbird will sing. You just may not like the song.

L: But as Raoden says, it’s so very important to hear it. They’re in less danger than they were before Sarene was thrown in here now that Hrathen’s plans have come to fruition (or so he thinks), but it’s only a matter of time before things even out and he and Dilaf turn their attention back to the “unholy” denizens of Elantris.

The current Wyrn would have to be a fool not to strike soon. All he needed was an opening.

Internal strife would provide that opening. If the Guard had decided to betray the king, civil conflict would throw Arelon into chaos once again, and the Fjordells were infamous for capitalizing on such events. Raoden had to find out what was happening beyond those walls.

P: Oh, my sweet summer Elantrian child… your world is going to get so rocked. I feel so bad for next week’s Raoden! 

L: Yeah. But, knowing our Raoden, he’s going to pivot swiftly from shock to problem-solving mode. And now that he’s got his witty, beautiful genius of a wife by his side…

P: ::titters::

Raoden wasn’t able to keep himself from remarking again at her beauty. The dark-splotched skin of an Elantrian was prosaic to him now; he didn’t really notice it anymore. 

P: You’ll just have to allow us the sheer glee at all of Raoden’s heart-eyes in this chapter. We’ve been waiting a long time!

L: Finally.

Sarene’s body seemed to be adapting remarkably well to the Shaod. Further signs of degeneration were usually visible after just a few days—wrinkles and creases appearing in the skin, the body’s remaining flesh color dulling to a pallid white. Sarene showed none of this—her skin was as smooth and vibrant as the day she had entered Elantris.

She claimed that her injuries didn’t continue hurting the way they should—though Raoden was certain that that was just because she hadn’t had to live outside of New Elantris.

P: ::ahem:: Take two. Then take another two (such as the fact that she can’t draw aons), then put them together and you’ll get four. Wake up to what this means, Raoden!

L: Give the poor love-stricken boy a break. He’ll wake up to the signs eventually. Remember… Raoden’s really not that old. Late teens, early twenties at the most.

P: I would have thought him older than her and doesn’t she say she’s twenty-seven at one point? Do you remember, Chickens?

Their supplies wouldn’t last more than a month, but there was no reason to stockpile. Starvation was not deadly to Elantrians, just uncomfortable.

L: I guess it’s a good thing that we know that Sarene’s poison is going to wear off soon, because if she were stuck in here when the food ran out, she’d be in trouble with a capital T.

P: She would be. I wonder if they have water for her because, if I recall correctly, they don’t need it.

Most beautiful were her eyes—the way she studied everything with keen interest. Sarene didn’t just look, she examined. When she spoke, there was thought behind her words. That intelligence was what Raoden found most attractive about his Teo princess.

P: “You see, I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue.” Pardon my Elton John lyrics, you’re just lucky I don’t lyric you to death every week! I love that he thinks of her as “his” princess. Ahh, l’amour… 

L: I also love the fact that, unlike most romances, when he speaks of how beautiful her eyes are, he’s now talking about their physical beauty. He’s referring to how her intelligence shines through them. How refreshing!

Sarene held up the book, showing him the spine, which read Seor’s Encyclopedia of Political Myths.

…

“… it’s amazing. I have never read anything that so soundly debunks Fjorden’s rhetoric and manipulation.”

…

“Now that Fjorden is religious, they can’t have it sounding like their greatest historical king was a pagan, so the priests went through and rewrote all of the poems. I don’t know where this man Seor laid hands on an original version of Wyrn, but if it got out, it would provide a major source of embarrassment to Fjorden.” Her eyes sparkled mischievously.

P: I don’t believe this went anywhere… just an opportunity, I think, for Sarene to fear she was boring Spirit with her studies.

L: I love seeing how the religion has evolved over the years and been changed by its followers. Such good worldbuilding on Brandon’s part.

“You may have read a version of Wyrn the King,” Sarene said, shaking her head. “But not this one. Modern versions of the poem make references to Jaddeth in an almost Derethi way. The version in this book shows that the priests rewrote the literature from the original to make it sound as if Wyrn were Derethi—even though he lived long before Shu-Dereth was founded.”

L: Hmmmm. I wonder if there’s any connection here between this religion and Adonalsium? Like, did they originally worship Adonalsium under a different name? There’s no textual proof of this, just an interesting little Cosmere-rabbit hole my brain decided to wander into.

“Galladon and I just climbed to the top of the city wall.”

Her face grew perplexed. “And?”

“We found the Elantris City Guard surrounding Duke Telrii’s mansion,” Raoden said. “We were kind of hoping you could tell us why. I know you’re reluctant to talk about the outside, but I’m worried. I need to know what is happening.”

…

”I guess the important part began when I dethroned King Iadon—which, of course, is why he hanged himself.”

Raoden sat down with a thump, his eyes wide.

P: I think she’d have stunned him less had she whacked him in the forehead with Seor’s Encyclopedia of Political Myths. Poor, poor Raoden. Sarene wasn’t trying to be callous, of course, but what a way to learn your father is dead… Even if the jerk did exile you to Elantris.

L: Yeah, I do really feel bad for Raoden in this moment.

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 44 and 45.

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut. She makes magic wands for a living and will be helping out Santa Claus this season in Essex, CT. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Forty-Two and Forty-Three appeared first on Reactor.

These five stories celebrate found families and the wonderful, unconventional love they share.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Let’s start with the most heartwarming story on the list (possibly of all time?). The House In The Cerulean Sea follows Linus Baker, a caseworker for the Department In Charge Of Magical Youth. He’s sent on a unique assignment to a mysterious house where a group of charming magical young ones are being raised by the enigmatic Arthur Parnassus.

As Linus learns more about the children—the Antichrist, a blob, a were-pomeranian, and a gnome, to name a few—he discovers the family he never had.

Cerulean Sea packages hundreds of lessons and wise quips into its pages; my personal favorite is the way the story teaches how to understand and appreciate the impact others can have on you. In this case, Arthur Parnassus plays a big role, but the kids are the stars. They introduce Linus to new ways of thinking, and they teach him that the ignorant bliss of childhood can give way to a personal epiphany. Linus, stuck in a corporate job he’s convinced himself is the life he wanted, blossoms into a loving person willing to embrace others for all their glorious differences.

During the holidays, that’s an important lesson. Surround yourself with people who ignite positive change within you, and who can lift you up even when you think there’s nowhere left to grow.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Warning: this found family comes with loads more swearing and vulgarity than the crew from The House in the Cerulean Sea. And I love it for that.

The Lies of Locke Lamora takes an orphan boy and deposits him into a cutthroat underground thieving network. Locke quickly misbehaves himself into being evicted from that dubious crew, and the Thiefmaster pawns him off to Father Chains. Father Chains, under the guise of a blind priest, weaves complex schemes far beyond the simple pickpocketing of Locke’s former world.

Our story introduces Locke to a father figure and a found family comprising two sneaky twins, a rookie thief, and a sharp-minded bruiser. The latter, Jean, becomes Locke’s best friend, and the two grow as close as brothers.

Scott Lynch’s first Gentleman Bastards novel brings the found family motif to life by creating hope where there once was none. Cast out from their lives through no fault of their own, Locke and the crew find love and comfort in the camaraderie and relative safety that Father Chains provides. Oh, and they love robbing the rich, which is just a bonus.

Locke and company form a tight-knit squad of proficient-if-inexperienced thieves, and watching them grow together is a real treat. Locke Lamora doesn’t over-idealize the lives of this found family, either. For every gut-busting string of vulgar insults, thrilling theft, or heartfelt memory, Lynch doles out profound sadness and heartache in equal measure.

(Also, for those who’ve been missing travel this year, Locke Lamora is set in a fantasy world reminiscent of Venice, Italy. Come for the found family, stay for the Venice vacation vibes!)

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Looking for a classic pew-pew, world-ending-weapons-filled science fiction tale? Look elsewhere. Becky Chambers opts for a heartfelt exploration of friendship and connection in The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet, the first of the Wayfarers series.

Rosemary Harper’s father is a galactic pariah, and she seeks refuge from the baggage of her family name aboard the Wayfarer. Captain Ashby leads a small crew of spacefaring folks, punching through spacetime to create interstellar superhighways. It’s honest work, but it’s risky. And it requires trust.

The Wayfarer’s crew includes Rosemary and Ashby alongside Kizzy and Jenks, the engineers; Sissix, the pilot; Dr Chef, the otter-like doctor and cook; Artis, the biologist; Ohan, a Sianat pair and the ship’s navigator; and Lovey, the AI that runs the ship.

They don’t all get along, but they share common goals and the need for emotional connection—Chambers offers this to readers in spades, and the found family of the Wayfarer grows closer as the challenges of space-time tunneling put increasing pressure on them. Angry Planet also features a diverse interspecies cast that allows the reader to appreciate the advantages and variety of experience and perspective that difference can bring.

The book has a lot to say, but one point sticks out: You can forge connections with anyone if you open your heart, listen to others, and find common ground. This tale of love and acceptance (and cool sci-fi concepts) has a full roster of relatable and lovable characters ready-made for holiday readers eager for the warm embrace of found family.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson has a knack for writing characters who feel very real and relatable. Their struggles, though coated in a layer of fantasy frosting, feel true to our world. Mistborn is a prime example.

Forgotten by the world and abandoned by her brother, Vin gets by on scraps and good luck (which may be more magical in nature than she believes). When she encounters the fearless Kelsier, he ropes her into a scheme that could topple the ruling empire that’s lasted for 1,000 years. The fantasy heist is all fine and dandy, but Vin first has to get on board with both the plan and the people executing it.

Her journey is marvelous. Kelsier’s ragtag crew doesn’t put on a show for Vin. They are firmly themselves, playfully prodding her with jibes or quick comments. Practically overnight, Vin must learn to trust those around her as they learn to do the same.

I think there’s a bit of Vin’s found family arc in all of us. As we learn who we are, we’re also forced to negotiate the mystery of others, sussing out who we can trust and who will love us for who we are. Personal growth can come from within, but it’s also catalyzed by the people surrounding us. Vin’s experiences with Kelsier, Ham, Breeze, Spook, Sazed, and the crew show us how a found family can contribute to our discovery and acceptance of self.

And if you enjoy Vin’s found family in Mistborn, you’re in luck! The remainder of the trilogy expands on her tale and carries the found family theme forward.

The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá

Maybe “found family” isn’t the right phrase here. “Forced family” might be more fitting. After all, Reginald Hargreeves paid the mothers of seven superpowered children to let him raise them.

But that’s exactly why Umbrella Academy deserves a spot on this list. The father figure of the crew represents the dark side of this family situation. But the children and the ultra-intelligent chimpanzee butler learn to navigate shared familial trauma together, for better or worse. Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá do an exquisite job of bringing this to life in the graphic novel series, though it’s done to glorious effect in the Netflix adaptation, too.

Faced with the end of the world, how can a group of superpowered pseudo-siblings grapple with their shared experience and recover? Umbrella Academy takes the worst-case scenario and finds glimmers of hope with it, from Klaus and Ben’s torrid communications across planes of existence to Vanya’s discovery of her latent abilities. The Hargreeves children seek answers, and only when they trust one another do they ever find them.

Apocalyptic and violent, Umbrella Academy isn’t for everyone, but there are nuggets of found-family goodness that are hard to pass up, here.

***

Originally published November 2021

Cole Rush writes words. A lot of them. For the most part, you can find those words at The Quill To Live or on Twitter @ColeRush1. He voraciously reads epic fantasy and science-fiction, seeking out stories of gargantuan proportions and devouring them with a bookwormish fervor. His favorite books are: The Divine Cities Series by Robert Jackson Bennett, The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, and The House In The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.

The post 5 Stories About Embracing Found Family appeared first on Reactor.

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Trigger warnings: Chronic pain.

Last time on Elantris: Patriarchs and Plots…

When the patriarch arrives on the shores of Kaye, he brings with him an unexpected bit of news; before Iadon’s death, the king had left instructions that upon his death, all standings of nobility are to be frozen in place and all titles be hereditary moving forward. Roial and Sarene are pleased by this, as it means that their planned marriage later that day will ensure their placement as king and queen. However, when Sarene removes her bridal veil, the depths of Hrathen’s cruel plans are revealed. He’s poisoned her with the fake-Shaod poison that he himself had taken; now she’s to be thrown into Elantris, and Telrii will take the throne.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Raoden, Sarene

Discussion

Chapter 40

“A newcomer has been thrown into the city, my lord.”

L: Finally!

P: I’m so excited about this!

“Hello, there,” he said affably. “I’m willing to guess you’ve had an awful day.”

L: Why is Raoden just the absolute best?

P: He really is quite perfect.

“I don’t trust you anymore, Spirit.”

“Did you ever?”

Sarene paused, then shook her head. “I wanted to, but I knew that I shouldn’t.”

“Then you never really gave me a chance, did you?” He stretched his hand out a little closer. “Come.”

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L: I’m so very excited for this.

P: Jinx!

L: For a die-hard romantic like myself, this is the moment I’ve been yearning for. Well… almost the moment I’ve been yearning for. The real one will be when Sarene realizes who Raoden is. But this is trending in the right direction at least!

P: Waiting a bit longer is okay. I want her to appreciate Spirit before she realizes he’s Raoden.

Eventually she reached out her fine, thin-fingered hand and placed it in his own for the first time, allowing him to pull her to her feet.

L: The only appropriate reaction.

P: I rather like this one. And even though a picture, or a GIF, is worth a 1000 words, I have to say that I am also extremely jazzed that he’s gonna get to show Sarene who he really is… I mean, who “Spirit” really is.

Chapter 41

None wore the rags she had assumed were the only available clothing in Elantris; their outfits were simple skirts or trousers and a shirt. The cloth was strikingly colorful. Amazed, Sarene realized that these were the colors she had chosen. What she had seen as offensive, however, the people wore with joy—the bright yellows, greens, and reds highlighting their cheerfulness.

“But where—” Sarene stopped. She knew exactly where they had gotten sheets of steel that thin. Sarene herself had sent them, again thinking to get the better of Spirit, who had demanded several sheets of metal as part of his bribe.

L: And so Sarene finally sees all the ingenuity that Raoden and his people are capable of, in using her “gifts.”

P: Yeah, I admit that I looked down on her a bit for that. But Raoden never seemed very fazed by it.

The woman held up a long scarflike piece of orange cloth. “For your head,” Maare said, pointing at the similar cloth wrapped around her own head. “It helps us forget about the hair.”

L: Much like those undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

P: Or those with conditions like alopecia.

Unbidden, she found herself judging his height. He’s tall enough for me, she thought almost offhandedly, if only barely. Then, realizing what she was doing, she rolled her eyes. The entire world was toppling around her, and all she could do was size up the man walking next to her.

L: Yessss, Sarene. Check him out. Mmmhmm.

P: I mean, the poor thing has had two ruined weddings. It’s not surprising she’d check him out, blotchy skin and all. That said…

“You are not a tyrant. This community proves that—the people love you, and there cannot be tyranny where there is love.”

L: Not quite sure I believe that. Many people arguably loved Hitler as he was rising to power, after all. Tyranny is rarely viewed as such by those whom the regime claims to be helping—especially if said regime isn’t being wholly honest with those people.

P: She sure changed her tune quickly!

Sarene felt a sudden stab of grief. Ashe must be like that now, she thought, remembering the mad seons she had occasionally seen floating around Elantris.

L: Ohhhh, but he’s not, is he? Since she wasn’t really taken by the Shaod!

P: Nope, he’s not. But will they figure it out?

“It seems like you got the better of me more times than not,” Sarene said, remembering with shame the time she had spent gloating over her sly interpretations of the demands. It appeared that no matter how twisted her attempt, the New Elantrians had found uses for all of her useless gifts.

L: She reminds me of a D&D Dungeon Master, excitedly figuring out alternate wordings/phrases for her players’ wishes. Only in this case, her mischievous acts might have caused people real harm.

P: And could have deprived them of things they sorely needed.

“Don’t even try and convince me you didn’t go,” Sarene said, turning back to the carvings. “You’re obviously a nobleman. You would have gone to church to keep up appearances, even if you weren’t devout.”

L: I love that she’s clever enough to realize that he was a nobleman. She’s so tantalizingly close to the truth…

P: She’s nothing if not clever, our little Sarene. And maybe a bit spiteful. But she needs to put two and two together!

“How long—” she began, turning away from the wall. Then she froze, her breath catching in her throat.

Spirit was glowing.

L: Uh oh.

P: Oh, no bueno. Poor Raoden, going through so much pain so often.

A spectral light grew from somewhere within; she could see the lines of his bones silhouetted before some awesome power that burned inside his chest. His mouth opened in a voiceless scream; then he collapsed, quivering as the light flared. … Something large, something impossibly immense, pressed against her. The air itself seemed to warp away from Spirit’s body. She could no longer see his bones; there was too much light. It was as if he were dissolving into pure whiteness; she would have thought him gone if she hadn’t felt his weight in her arms.

L: Well… that’s new. And unsettling to the extreme.

P: Absolutely unsettling. It’s like the Dor is beginning to be more insistent.

“AonDor? That’s a heathen legend.” There wasn’t much conviction to her words—not after what she had just seen.

L: Seems weird for her to say this, when the wonders of Elantris are still within living memory… Now granted, their secrets weren’t common knowledge, but even so…

P: Point. Ten years isn’t that long. She’d have been a teen.

Korathi teaching of the last ten years had done its best to downplay Elantris’s magic, despite the seons. Seons were familiar, almost like benevolent spirits sent by Domi for protection and comfort. Sarene had been taught, and had believed, that Elantris’s magics had mostly been a sham.

L: Ahhh, that explains that then.

P: I suppose it makes sense that people turned to that when they were unable to explain the fall of Elantris.

Spirit claimed that their bodies were in a kind of stasis, that they had stopped working as they waited for the Dor to finish transforming them.

L: How very unfortunate.

P: And the Dor is trying really hard to transform him. And I wonder why just him? Is it because of the injury he had as a child that was healed by an Elantrian?

Coupled with it was the knowledge of her failure. Spirit had asked her for news from the outside, but the topic had proven too painful for her. She knew that Telrii was probably already king, and that meant Hrathen would easily convert the rest of Arelon.

L: I don’t know about “easily,” but it’s certainly likely…

P: And just think… If she had spilled the beans, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hide who he was because of his reactions.

“My lady?” whispered a deep, hesitant voice. “Is that you?”

Shocked, she looked up through her tears. Was she hearing things? She had to be. She couldn’t have heard …

“Lady Sarene?”

It was Ashe’s voice.

L: I’m so glad that she’s got at least this one thing to console her. Now, let’s see if she figures out the implications…

P: As clever as she is…I think it will take more than this.

“Ashe, you’re talking! You shouldn’t be able to speak, you should be…”

“Mad,” Ashe said. “Yes, my lady, I know. Yet I feel no different from before.”

“A miracle,” Sarene said.

L: ::sigh:: Well, maybe it will be awhile before she figures it out.

P: I don’t remember if she tells “Spirit” about Ashe. Because he might figure it out even if she can’t.

“After the wedding dismissed, I spent an hour demanding that the patriarch set you free. I don’t think he was disappointed by your fall.”

L: My dislike for this man grows more and more.

P: Yeah, he’s not one of the good ones, like Omin.

“We must be fair, Father,” Sarene said. “If a peasant’s daughter can be cast into Elantris, then a king’s daughter shouldn’t be exempt.”

L: I do love that she’s so fair.

P: And I’d have still been screaming at the gates.

“Father,” she said, letting love and respect sound in her voice, “you taught me to be bold. You made me into something stronger than the ordinary. At times I cursed you, but mostly I blessed your encouragement. You gave me the liberty to become myself. Would you deny that now by taking away my right to choose?”

L: Well that’s an incredibly compelling argument. It’s nice that she knows her father well enough to know exactly which cards to play.

P: And she really does love and respect him. It’s good to see a healthy familial relationship like this.

“They have become my people, Father.”

“It has been less than two months.”

“Love is independent of time, Father.”

L: Well that’s beautiful.

P: And what choice does she have, really? They’re not going to let her out, even once she “heals.” at least, I doubt that they would. She hasn’t been lining the pockets of the Captain of the City Guard. Guess we’ll see what happens to our dear princess!

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! We’re off next week due to the holiday—happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates!—and we’ll be back on November 30th with chapters 42 and 43.

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut. She makes magic wands for a living and will be helping out Santa Claus this season in Essex, CT. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Forty and Forty-One appeared first on Reactor.

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Trigger warnings: Brief mention of child brides in text of chapter, not in this article.

Last time on Elantris: Miracles and Maladies Manifest…

The effects of Hrathen’s poison finally wear off, leaving him “miraculously healed” in Elantris. When he gets himself released (thanks to the men on the guard who he’s paid off), Dilaf is shocked and confused by this new development. Thankfully Dilaf never managed to access Hrathen’s seon while he was “otherwise engaged,” and Hrathen’s got big plans for that last vial of poison…

Meanwhile, back in Elantris, Raoden lets on to his friends that his pain manifests differently from their own. His comes in waves of excruciating agony, impossible to ignore.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Sarene, Hrathen

Discussion

Chapter 38

Hrathen no longer gave his sermons at the Derethi chapel; there were too many people. Instead he organized meetings on the edge of the city, where he could stand on Kae’s five-foot border wall, his followers sitting at his feet to listen. The gyorn preached with more vibrancy and enthusiasm than he had before—for now, he was a saint.

L: Greeeaaaaaat. /sarcasm

P: Lovely, right? But yeah, I would see the people elevating him personally if it weren’t for his vehement worship of Jaddeth.

“It must have been some kind of trick,” she noted.

“Of course it was, Cousin,” Lukel said, standing beside her. “If we thought otherwise, we might as well join Shu-Dereth.”

P: Leave it to Sarene to be mistrustful of the supposed miracle of Hrathen’s healing.

“Why wouldn’t God bless one of his devout? Religious exclusivism is a Korathi and Derethi addition to Shu-Keseg.”

L: It’s a fair point for Shuden to make. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck… it just might be a miracle.

P: Just might be. If it weren’t for Sarene’s doubts, I wouldn’t put it past any of them to think this a miracle.

The ship’s mast bore the royal crest of Teod—a gold Aon Teo on a blue background.

L: Aon alert! Wow. This one’s really complicated. Impressive that it’s being woven or embroidered onto things!

His face bore the benevolently tolerant smile of one who wanted you to know he was patient with your inferiority.

L: Ugh. How lovely. I despise this guy already.

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P: Their patriarch isn’t particularly likable.

“Pagan murderer or not, Iadon was once my friend,” the duke had said. “He brought stability to this country in a time of need. For that much, he at least deserves a decent burial.”

Omin had requested that they not use the Korathi chapel for the services, so Roial decided to use the king’s throne room instead. The choice made Sarene a little uncomfortable—the throne room was the same place they would hold the wedding.

P: So they’re going to have Iadon’s funeral, see him to the cemetery, and then return to the throne room and marry Sarene to Roial, at which time he’ll claim the throne. Snip-snap, and done. Too bad it won’t happen.

L: This one’s too cute not to use.

“Ten years ago, just after his ascension, King Iadon came to me and made this statement,” … He ordered that I present this to Arelon at his funeral, or fifteen years from the date of its creation, whichever arrived first.”

L: The man’s causing issues even after his death.

P: He was the sort of man to cause issues. On top of being, as Roial put it, a “pagan murderer.”

“‘I order that all titles of noble rank are to be frozen as they stand, to be handed down from generation to generation, father to son, as is commonly done in other nations. Let wealth no longer be the measure of a man’s nobility—those who have held to their rank this long have proven themselves worthy.

L: And there go Sarene and Roial’s plans, gone in a puff of smoke.

“It strengthens our claim—my union with Iadon’s house will be even more creditable.”

L: Or… not. Interesting. I had assumed that Roial’s standing would be frozen, but if he’s right…

P: Exactly, he’s marrying a remaining member of the royal family, who is still a princess. Everything should go off without a hitch. Well… should have…

Please, she added as a close to her simple prayer, just let us be happy.

L: Not that I don’t like Roial, I do, I’m just so frustrated because Raoden is RIGHT THERE! She LITERALLY SPOKE TO HIM! Argh.

P: All she could see was the stain of the Shaod and an Elantrian warlord. She wouldn’t see more than that.

L: Normally I would say that judging a book by its cover is never a good idea, but in this case Raoden was deceiving her, so… I’ll give Sarene a pass just this once.

Seinalan stood beside him, petulant that Sarene hadn’t asked him to officiate. She didn’t really care. Living in Teod, she had always assumed that the patriarch would wed her. Now that she had an opportunity to use a priest she actually liked, she wasn’t going to give in.

L: Amazing. Leave it to Sarene to choose a simple priest over the equivalent of the POPE to officiate her wedding!

P: Heh, I like that the patriarch is petulant. He’s much too young for such a job.

It was odd, Sarene thought, that Hrathen’s face appeared so calm.

L: And in a flash, I remember what happens next. Hrathen, you snake.

P: Yup. Poor Sarene.

After all the waiting, after two near misses, she was truly going to get married. At that thought, both terrifying and vindicating, she raised her veil.

The screaming started immediately.

L: ::sigh:: Oh, poor, poor Sarene. Poor thing just keeps having her dreams dashed. I feel so bad for her… though at least now she’s going to get thrown back in Elantris.

P: And what a simply awful thing for Hrathen to do. I just don’t get it, though. He knows it will wear off in five days. Is he expecting to throne Telrii and convert all of Arelon in five days? Or is converting the king enough to call off Wyrn?

L: I think as long as he gets the king in place, that will be enough. Once the king’s established, he can swear allegiance on behalf of the country to Wyrn and thereby avert the impending invasion. Then they have all the time in the world to slowly convert the masses… or force them to convert under rule of law.

Inexplicable and mysterious, the Shaod had come upon her.

L: ::bounces up and down:: Yes yes yes now GO AND FALL IN LOVE WITH RAODEN ALREADY!

P: Heh… she’ll have to get past her hang-ups with him first.

Chapter 39

Hrathen watched several Korathi priests lead the stunned princess from the quiet room. “Such are the judgments of Holy Jaddeth,” he announced.

P: Ooh, he makes me so mad. What a backhanded way to convince people to follow your god.

L: I mean… on the one hand, I have to applaud a masterful stroke of genius in how to utterly defeat your enemy. If Hrathen were the protagonist of this story, this would have been a stand-up-and-cheer moment. But since we know Sarene as well as we do, it feels all the more bitter and cruel.

Duke Roial sat on the edge of the throne dais, head held between his hands. The young JinDo baron looked as if he wanted to follow the priests and demand Sarene’s release, and the martial Count Eondel was weeping openly. Hrathen was surprised to realize that he took no joy from their sorrow. Princess Sarene’s fall was necessary, but her friends were of no concern…

P: Poor Roial, and Shuden, and Eondel. This is all so ridiculous though, because she’ll be “healed” in less than a week’s time.

L: …and by then everything they’ll have worked for will be lost. Sure, she’ll be back and her miraculous recovery might disrupt things for a few days or even a few months, but once the Wyrn’s faction have got their own king on the throne, their victory is pretty much sealed.

Come to think of it… once they’ve got Telrii on the throne, who’s to say that they won’t just finish what Iadon was about to begin and sweep into Elantris and exterminate all the Elantrians, Sarene included? I wouldn’t put it past Hrathen, especially if he thought that it would ensure his victory.

Why was he bothered that no one had shed tears at his own fall to the Shaod?

L: If only he’d actually take this to heart and realize that having no friends might just mean you’re not a good person…

P: So much this. Hrathen wouldn’t take friends if they threw themselves at him, though, I don’t think.

Roial wouldn’t crown himself now. Not only did he lack the legal right, but his fortune was still less than that of Telrii. Hrathen had checked the wedding contract—this time a death was not the same as a marriage.

L: Not that they could have possibly suspected this, but it still seems like quite an oversight for Roial and company to not include that.

P: Whodathunk that the Shaod would take her. In the middle of the day. Doesn’t it usually happen overnight? You’d think someone would have noticed that.

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 40 and 41.

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut. She makes magic wands for a living and will be helping out Santa Claus this season in Essex, CT. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Thirty-Eight and Thirty-Nine appeared first on Reactor.

Paige: I got my nails done and did homework. I am nothing if not a party animal!

Lyn: ::laughs:: Exciting! My son wanted to be an Ender Dragon (I’m so proud of him for wanting to be a dragon, blocky or otherwise) and we took him out trick-or-treating. There’s nothing like the joy of a six-year-old child trick-or-treating on a crisp New England Halloween night, lemme tell ya!

But, unfortunately for our friends in Elantris, the horrors are real. Hrathen’s up to no good now that he’s been “healed,” and poor Raoden’s dealing with some awful waves of pain. Let’s dive in, shall we?

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Trigger warnings: Chronic pain, COVID-19.

Last time on Elantris: Unexpected Goings On…

Shaor’s death has brought a new influx of residents to New Elantris. Raoden and Galadon determine what’s been causing the slime all over the city—there used to be a glowing fungi, which lived off the light, covering everything. They’re pretty excited about this discovery (well, Raoden is) until their fun is ruined by the news that Hrathen has somehow “miraculously” been healed…

Meanwhile, Sarene and Roial come up with a brilliant plan to get married and thereby combine their fortunes to take control of the city, now that Iadon is dead. However, Hrathen’s recovery is about to throw a wrench into their plans, too…

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Hrathen, Raoden

Discussion

Chapter 36

When dawn signaled the fifth day of Hrathen’s exile, he knew that he had made a mistake. He would die in Elantris.

P: The poison is lasting longer than the three days Hrathen thought it would last, and now he’s facing his own mortality. You’d think it would teach him some humility. We’ll soon see that it does not.

L: The worst part is that he thinks he’s humble.

Five days was too long to go without drink, and he knew there was no water to be had in the city of the damned.

L: He’s not wrong, here. The rule of thumb is: Three minutes without air, three days without water, and three weeks without food are fatal. The more you know!

P: Yeah, I thought he was only in there for three days. Wrong, wrong!

He didn’t regret his actions—he had behaved in the most logical way.

P: Logical. Take a poison that makes your hair fall out and puts black splotches all over your body in order to dupe an entire city into believing that your god healed you… if the effects of the poison fade, of course. How long was that supposed to take? Three days?

L: I meeeaaaaan he does have a point, though. There wasn’t another way that he could see to counteract Dilaf’s chokehold on the congregation/faithful.

He grew increasingly delirious as the fifth day passed. …  The delusions soon changed, however. He no longer saw faces, no longer felt humiliated and scorned. In their place, he was confronted with something much more horrid.

Memories of Dakhor.

P: Dakhor, one of the Fjordell monasteries. Interested to know what happened there, for it to be more horrid than scorn and humiliation.

L: You know what they say… be careful what you wish for.

 The boy Hrathen knelt obediently, waiting, crouched in a cell no larger than a closet, sweat streaming past terrified eyes, knowing that eventually they would come for him.

Rathbore Monastery trained assassins, Fjeldor Monastery trained spies. Dakhor … Dakhor Monastery trained demons.

P: Demons? Oooh, tell us more, Brandon! No please… tell us more!

L: We’ll get there, I’m sure. I’ve always been a fan of the “broken anti-hero” trope, personally, so I find it fascinating how divided I am on Hrathen. Maybe it’s the lack of angst that fuels my inherent dislike.

His skin, though covered in dirt, was as fresh and unblemished as it had been five days before.

Forton’s potion had finally worn off.

He had begun to think that it never would, that Forton had forgotten to make the effects temporary.

P: Just when he was about to kick it from dehydration, the poison that made him look as if the Shaod had taken him wears off. There’s no accounting for some people’s luck.

L: Maybe luck… maybe he really does have some sort of higher power looking out for him. Who knows, in a fantasy book!

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It was amazing enough that the Hroven man could create a potion that made one’s body mimic the afflictions of an Elantrian. But Hrathen had misjudged the apothecary: he had done as asked, even if the effects had lasted a bit longer than expected.

L: If the potion was originally intended for Dilaf, what would be the purpose of it only lasting three days, I wonder… Like, what was Hrathen’s original plan? If it was to get Dilaf out of the way permanently, shouldn’t the effects have been permanent? Why have them wear off?

P: Yeah, I wondered about that, too. Maybe he didn’t think they’d let him out of Elantris?

 “Behold!” he screamed toward the guardhouse above. “Witness the power and glory of Lord Jaddeth! I have been healed!”

P: And so the charade continues, in which Hrathen posits that Jaddeth healed him from the scourge of Elantris. Gag me with a spoon.

L: At least this will result in him supplanting Dilaf, who is undoubtedly the worst of the two.

The gate suddenly cracked open. Another hallucination? But then a head poked through the gap—the avaricious captain that Hrathen had been nurturing.

“My lord…?” the guard asked hesitantly. Then, looking Hrathen up and down with wide eyes, he inhaled sharply. “Gracious Domi! It’s true—you’ve been healed!”

P: Well look who it is… none other than the captain of the Elantris City Guard that Hrathen has been bribing… erm, nurturing. If only nobody had heard him calling out. Shucks.

L: I don’t hate him quite as much as you do, so I’m not entirely upset by this turn of events. Not pleased either, really, but… man. I just don’t know. I’m so divided on this guy. Kudos to Brandon for creating a character so richly woven that I can’t decide if I’m reluctantly rooting for him or hate his guts. Creating a character you love to hate is one thing… I’d argue that this is much, much harder.

P: He is definitely a multifaceted character. And I don’t hate him so much as disdain him, I guess. Well, mostly.

 A few huddled shapes watched him from the top of a building.

“Enjoy your damnation, my friends,” Hrathen whispered, then motioned for the guards to shut the gate.

P: What a terrible person, to impersonate being taken by the Shaod when all of those poor souls in Elantris are living in a slimy hell. Well, except for Raoden’s flock, to be fair, who seem to be pretty damn happy, all things considered.

L: For me, the terrible part of this isn’t him impersonating them, but his reaction right here. “Enjoy your damnation” is just so cold and cruel, especially for someone who has (albeit temporarily and not completely) lived as they do. He’s experienced a small part of their horror, and to leave them there to it now, knowing that… How awful.

 “Where are the rest of your men, Captain?”

“Protecting the new king,” the captain said proudly.

“New king?” Hrathen asked.

“You’ve missed a lot, my lord. Lord Telrii rules in Arelon now—or at least he will as soon as Iadon’s funeral is over.”

Weakened as he was, Hrathen could only stand in shock. Iadon dead? Telrii seizing control? How could five days bring about such drastic events?

“Come,” Hrathen said firmly. “You can explain it to me on the way to the chapel.”

P:  Yeah, you’ve missed quite a lot, Hrathen! Go, have some water, change your clothes, catch up on the gossip. ::disgusted::

L: While he was away, the pieces he placed on the board moved on their own, just as he would have wished. Plans he set up proceeded better than he could ever have hoped. Joy.

The trip was crowded, but uneventful—except for one moment when he looked down a side street and recognized the Teo princess’s head poking out of a carriage window. In that instant, Hrathen felt a sense of fulfillment that rivaled the day he had been consecrated a gyorn.

P: Bleh… I know we’ve talked about how he’s not totally hateable, but right now, I hate him.

L: I do get it, though. They’re playing 3D chess and he’s managed to outmaneuver her.

“People of Arelon!” he yelled. “Know ye this day who is Master! Let your hearts and souls be guided by the religion which can offer evidence of divine support. Lord Jaddeth is the only God in Sycla.”

P: And so it begins, the mass conversion that Hrathen has been hoping for. They will come to Jaddeth willingly, thinking that he can save them from the curse of Elantris, were it to befall them.

L: And who can blame them, really? I almost hate to bring it up but… we’ve all lived through a global pandemic fairly recently. (How wild is it that we can say that, right?) If the vaccine hadn’t become available, and someone showed definitive proof of divine protection from the disease, I don’t doubt that there would have been mass conversions.

It didn’t bother him that the miracle was an effect of Forton’s potion—Hrathen had found that most supposed miracles were either natural or the result of human intervention. Jaddeth was behind them, as He was behind all things, using natural phenomena to increase the faith of man.

L: We often see this mindset in religion here in the real world, too.

P: Oh, definitely.

Hrathen lifted praises to God for giving him the capacity to think of the plan, the means to execute it, and the climate to make it succeed.

P: Of course, he doesn’t need to thank Jaddeth for saving him from the Shaod because that was never real. Though he does seem to have some faith restored to him just from the fact that he made it out of Elantris alive.

L: It is awfully convenient that the captain should have heard him and rescued him right in the nick of time, I give him that.

Drained, Hrathen finished his prayer and lurched to his feet. As he did so, he heard a chapel door open behind him. When he turned, Dilaf stood in the doorway.

…

“I doubted you, my hroden,” Dilaf confessed. “I thought Lord Jaddeth had cursed you for incompetence. Now I see that your faith is much stronger than I realized. I know why you were chosen to hold the position of gyorn.”

P: Hmmm… How sincere is Dilaf here, really? Is he still faking or does he really feel remorse for doubting Hrathen? It’s hard to tell with this one, he’s a sneaky bugger.

L: I don’t trust him as far as I could throw him… but I think he’s sincere here, for a little while at least. He may be conniving, but he’s also deeply pious, and it would be hard to view this “healing” as anything other than a miracle.

Dilaf moved to leave. As the man rose, Hrathen studied his eyes. There was respect there, but not as much penitence as the arteth was trying to show. He looked more confused than anything; he was amazed and unsettled…

P: Yeah, Dilaf isn’t all taken in. Confused, yes, but still Dilaf. Still sneaky and mistrusting. And untrustworthy.

 The seon floated inside, unperturbed. The three remaining vials of potion lay next to it; two had cracked, leaking their contents into the bottom of the box.

“Did anyone open this box since I last spoke through you?” Hrathen asked.

“No, my lord,” the seon replied in her melancholy voice.

P: So Dilaf tried to break into the box where Hrathen imprisoned his seon, but was unable to do so. That’s some kind of strong box the gyorn has.

L: And a good thing too, for Hrathen’s sake. Dilaf undoubtedly would have viewed owning a seon as blasphemy, and probably wouldn’t have been as forgiving when faced with a miracle, had he known.

“Yes, my lord?” Dothgen asked.

“You were trained in Rathbore Monastery, were you not, Arteth?” Hrathen asked.

“I was, my lord,” the man responded in a deep voice.

“Good,” Hrathen said, holding up the last vial of potion. “I have need of your special skills.”

P: And what does Hrathen need an assassin for, pray tell?

“Who is it for, my lord?” the priest asked. Like every graduate of Rathbore, Dothgen was a trained assassin. He had received far more specialized training than Hrathen had at Ghajan Monastery, the place Hrathen had gone after Dakhor proved too much for him.

P: Hrathen gives the arteth a vial of poison… Is it the same poison he’d consumed, or is it deadly, like what we thought he had planned for Dilaf? We must know!!

L: If I remember correctly, it’s the same as the one he took, and he’s intending for it to go to Sarene. Which I’m not entirely displeased by, to be honest. I’m still frothing at the bit for Sarene to realize who Raoden is and for them to fall head over heels in love.

P: Same thing with giving it to Dilaf. If she’s healed in 3-5 days, won’t that swing the crowds back to Shu-Korath?

L: Unless there are several different types of potion, I suppose.

Chapter 37

It struck while Raoden was studying. He didn’t hear himself gasp in agonized shock, nor did he feel himself tumble from his seat in a spastic seizure. All he felt was the pain—a sharp torment that dropped upon him suddenly and vengefully.

P: Raoden’s increasing pains are worsening. Now he feels attacked by the pain, as if it’s another entity that’s out to get him, or something.

L: Sounds like my migraines. (No joke; I get them so bad I literally can’t move and wind up curled up on the ground, sobbing. It’s soooo much fun.) So I can, unfortunately, relate to Raoden in this scene.

I hope not many of you, dear chickens, can as well.

P: ::hugs::

Then he felt it. It stood like an enormous slick surface, without crack or cavity, at the back of his mind. It pressed demandingly, pounding the pain into every nerve in his body, like a workman driving a spike into the ground. It was vast. It made men, mountains, and worlds seem paltry. It was not evil, or even sentient. It didn’t rage or churn. It was immobile, frozen by its own intense pressure. It wanted to move—to go anywhere, to find any release from the strain. But there was no outlet.

P: Okay, maybe it’s not out to get him, but it’s out to get OUT of him, it seems. Interesting.

L: I’m not sure if this is just a stylized description of the pain, or an actual supernatural thing. Either way, what a great descriptive passage.

“I’m all right,” Raoden croaked, shamed. They would realize how weak he was, that he couldn’t stand the pain of even a monthlong stay in Elantris.

…

“Sule, what happened?” Galladon asked, retreating to his own chair.

“It was the pain,” Raoden said, holding his head in his hands and resting his elbows on the table. “It was too much for me for a moment. I’m all right now; it retreated.”

P: And so we get to the mystery of why Raoden feels the pain so much more than he should. At least we’re almost there!

L: ANSWERS, Brandon! Give us answers!

“Sule, the pain doesn’t come in waves,” Galladon said. “It just remains the same.”

“It comes in waves for me,” Raoden said tiredly.

…

“It comes all of a sudden, as if trying to destroy me, then moves away. Maybe I’m just worse at dealing with it than everyone else.”

P: Of course, Raoden sees himself as inferior somehow. Kaladin Stormblessed, anyone?

L: The similarities continue.

“My prince,” Karata said hesitantly, “you were glowing.”

Shocked, Raoden looked up at her. “What?”

“It’s true, sule,” Galladon said. “After you collapsed you began glowing. Like an Aon. Almost as if…”

Raoden’s mouth fell open slightly. “… as if the Dor were trying to come through me.”

P: Just, whaaaat? He was glowing? Like, legit glowing, like an Elantrian of old? If the Dor was trying to come through him… am I correct in remembering that this has something to do with him being healed by an Elantrian as a child?

L: Heck if I know. My memory’s just as bad as yours!

The force had been searching for an opening, a way out. It had tried to use him like an Aon.

L: This is a really good theory, on Raoden’s part.

Raoden nodded slowly, almost forgetting about his agony. “During the Reod, they say the most powerful Elantrians were the first to fall. They didn’t fight when the mobs burned them.”

“As if they were overwhelmed by something. Kolo?” Galladon said.

P: Ermagherd, they’re so close!

 “The attacks are getting worse. If they continue, they will take me, eventually. If that happens…”

Galladon nodded solemnly. “You will join the Hoed.”

“The Dor will destroy me,” Raoden said, “ripping my soul apart in a futile attempt to break free. It isn’t alive—it’s just a force, and the fact that I am not a viable passage won’t stop it from trying. When it does take me, remember your vow.”

Galladon and Karata nodded.

P: Of course, the vow is to take Raoden to the pool, where he’ll disintegrate.

L: Mmhmm. I’m more interested in this whole concept of the Dor trying to break free out of him, though. Like a square trying to shove its way through a circular hole, and battering the surrounding wall to pieces as it does…

“That doesn’t have to happen though, sule,” Galladon said. “I mean, that gyorn was healed. Maybe something’s happening; maybe something has changed.”

P: Poor Galladon, having hope that all of the Elantrians might be healed. Damn Hrathen for this if for nothing else… for giving the Elantrians false hope.

L: Yeah. I can’t blame the Elantrians for clinging to it, but…

It was a hopeful sign, but somehow Raoden doubted it would mean much of a change for the Elantrians. They needed to work and improve their own lives, not wait for some external miracle.

He turned back to his studies.

P: He’s totally right, they need to work to improve their lives. How difficult would that be though? Knowing that the gyorn had been “healed” after praying to his god for five days. Our poor Elantrians just can’t catch a break!

L: I wonder if Hrathen considered the fact that several of the so-called “demons” locked in Elantris would likely switch to his religion in the vain hope of being healed? On the other hand, even if he did consider it, I doubt he’d care.

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 38 and 39.

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut. She makes magic wands for a living and will be helping out Santa Claus this season in Essex, CT. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Thirty-Six and Thirty-Seven  appeared first on Reactor.

Spoiler warning: This week’s article contains some very mild spoilers from The Stormlight Archive and Cosmere speculation. Proceed with caution!

Trigger warnings: Chronic pain, suicide.

Last time on Elantris: Mingling and Murders…

Roial accompanies Sarene to the ball that she convinced him to throw. Once she’s done moping, she trails King Iadon as he sneaks away from the party. She follows him into the sewers where she discovers him ritualistically murdering a woman as part of a creepy cult. Thankfully she’s saved from being his next victim by her friends, but unfortunately Dilaf came along as well, and made certain that the whole city found out. Sarene’s plans to keep Iadon in power (and Hrathen’s plans in check) were dashed.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Raoden, Sarene

Discussion

Chapter 34

But Shaor’s men had not come to fight. They had come to give him a gift: the head of their former god.

L: Yikes!

Or at least her hair.

L: Oh. Phew! Not that Shaor’s a good person or anything, but she’s still a little girl. One driven mad by the horrible circumstances she’s been thrust into. I find it hard to justify death for her.

Despite searching, his people never found Shaor’s body.

L: Well, this has been an emotional rollercoaster for me in two simple paragraphs.

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P: The fact that Shaor’s wig was stained with her blood was pretty gruesome in itself. Did they eat her? I can’t help thinking it, don’t ostracize me for it!

L: I’m a Stephen King fan too, Paige. No judgments here!

It disturbed him, using men like beasts. He made other efforts to restore their rational minds, but even after just two days he knew that it was a futile hope. These men had surrendered their intellect—and regardless of whether psychology or the Dor was to blame, it would never return.

L: This reminds me a bit of Stephen King’s Wolves of the Calla, in which the “roont” twins (physically powerful adults whose minds never progressed past about the age of 5 or 6) were put to work doing tasks that required strength and brute force. In that story, it gave the intellectually disabled people a purpose and a way to feel as if they were contributing. I hope that Raoden can come to a similar conclusion here, to assuage his guilt.

P: Oh, these men are nothing if not roont. They aren’t howling maniacs like they were when following Shaor, but it’s not unlikely that they would become that again with the right encouragement. Which, thankfully, Raoden does not give them. And will not give them. But might something else set them off? It’s like having a ticking time bomb as a pet.

They were remarkably well behaved—docile, even. The pain didn’t seem to affect them…

L: Now that’s an interesting little tidbit…

P: No room for pain in their state? Not for Raoden, though…

The pain had grown. Sometimes it struck with such ferocity that Raoden collapsed, struggling against the agony. It was still manageable, if only barely, but it was growing worse. It had been five weeks since he entered Elantris, and he doubted he would see another five weeks come and go.

L: It’s really hitting him harder than it does everyone else. Do we ever get a solid answer as to why? I forget…

P: It has something to do with the healing he received from an Elantrian when he was a child. I fail to recall exactly what happened there but we’ll get to it.

Galladon snorted. “You’re about as close to becoming a Hoed as I am to being a Fjordell.”

I hide it well.

L: Oof. That is, as the kids say, an entire mood.

P: I feel it. I feel that mood so hard, Raoden!

“I know why Elantris is covered in slime. […] You know that Elantrian skin was so silvery that some people claimed it glowed.”

“It did,” Galladon said. “Not brightly, but when my father walked into a dark room, you could see his outline.”

“Well, the Dor was behind it,” Raoden said. “Every Elantrian’s body is connected constantly to the Dor. The same link existed between Elantris itself and the Dor, though the scholars don’t know why. The Dor infused the entire city, making stone and wood shine as if some quiet flame were burning within.”

L: So does this mean the Elantrians would also be slimy? Like a frog? (Sorry, I had to.)

P: I think there’s enough slime in Elantris to go around. We don’t need Raoden and company to be covered in it, as well.

“There are fungi and molds that live on light, Galladon,” Raoden said. “The Dor’s illumination was different from ordinary light, however, and it attracted a different kind of fungus. Apparently a thin translucent film grew on most things. The Elantrians didn’t bother to clean it off—it was practically imperceptible, and it in fact enhanced the radiance. The mold was tough, and it didn’t make much mess. Until it died.”

L: Aw man. There goes my Elantrian-Frog theory! (Also my theory from previous chapters that it was the magic itself imbuing the stones that caused this. You know… one advantage to having a terrible memory is that when I reread a book that I haven’t read in a long time, in some ways it’s like reading it for the first time all over again!)

P: Right? I can’t believe how much of this book has gotten away from me, even as many times as I’ve read it. It’s mind-boggling that I don’t recall some of these events!

“Well, for one thing, I haven’t found a single book that mentions how to make seons.”

“None at all?” Karata asked with surprise.

Raoden shook his head. “I always assumed that seons were created by AonDor, but if so, the books don’t explain how.

L: This is one of those details that’s going to be a huge Cosmere thing down the line, I just know it.

P: No doubt, it will!

L: I just had a thought that’s not linked to any specific passage, so I’m putting it here. Why are some of the seons affected, and not all? According to Brandon, in answer to a question asked way back in 2005:

“I intentionally left seons—their origin, their connection to AonDor—a little vague in Elantris. The reason for this is that I intend the secrets of the Seons to be a major plot element in a sequel to the book.”

In 2011, he said:

“What happens to seons during the Reod is that the Reod messes with the seon’s spirit.”

Later, in 2013, he was a little more forthcoming:

“Q: Are the Aons at the heart of seons SPLINTERS of Aona?

A: Yes.”

L: That last one is particularly interesting. It’s worthwhile to note that anything said in an interview and not on paper still isn’t canon, so we have to take these comments with a grain of salt. And none of it is answering our initial question: Why are some affected, and some not? The answer may lie in this comment by Raoden:

“There’s… something about seons and their masters. They’re bonded, somehow. Seons go mad when their masters are taken by the Shaod, for instance. I think they were created to serve—it’s part of their magic.”

L: So, it’s not something in the magic, but in the bond between the master and servant that causes the madness. This seems awfully similar to spren on Roshar, doesn’t it?

P: Sooo similar! I can’t even think of anything to say, you’ve already echoed all of my thoughts.

Chapter 35

Eventeo sighed. “So Iadon is dead?” […] he only hanged himself last night.”

L: I wonder what they would have done to him if he hadn’t killed himself. Thrown him into Elantris, perhaps? Now wouldn’t that have been an interesting pickle for Raoden!

P: Yeah, they let the vile old murderer off easy, I think.

“You didn’t see it, Father. The king didn’t just murder that girl, he… enjoyed doing it.”

L: Yeah, I find it difficult to find any sympathy in my heart for this monster. Especially knowing that this girl wasn’t the first.

P: Exactly!

Eventeo sighed. “I know. Your mother has a new fascination—Hraggish weed soup.”

L: I’d just like to reiterate for the record how refreshing it is to have the main character in a fantasy novel have a stable relationship with a living parent.

P: And to have both parents alive! What is this magic??

“You know what the JinDo say, Father,” Sarene said. “If it burns, it isn’t healthy.”

L: … I mean… everything burns, when enough heat is applied? Except water, I suppose.

P: I think that pretty much everything burns, yes. But I won’t test that on tonight’s libations.

“As soon as we found out about Iadon’s suicide, Seinalan commandeered one of my fastest ships and set sail for Arelon. He should be arriving within a few days.”

“Seinalan?” Sarene asked, puzzled. “What part does the patriarch have in all this?”

L: First we’ve heard of this character!

P: Oooh, head of the Korathi church?

“Seinalan is a self-serving egotist with enough pride to make a Derethi gyorn look humble.”

“Princess!” Eondel said with indignation. “You’re talking about the father of our church!”

L: Ah hah! So, their Pope, basically. (In the “father of the church” respect, not the “self-serving egotist” respect.)

P: THIS will be interesting!

“I’m not going to reject Domi just because He put a fool in charge of His church; fools need to have a chance to serve too.”

L: I do love her spirit.

P: I mean, she’s not wrong. I suppose.

“The Elantris City Guard left their posts to set up camp outside Telrii’s mansion.”

Eondel snorted. “The Guard is hardly more than a club for second sons who want to pretend they’re important.”

“True,” Ahan said. “But there are over six hundred people in that club. At fifty-to-one odds, even I would fight against your legion.

L: Oof. Yeah. That’s a bit much.

P: That’s what happens when you line people’s palms with coin. Ugh, disgusting.

“Well, Sarene is still very wealthy,” Shuden said. “Raoden left her at least five hundred thousand deos.”

“We discussed this, Shuden,” Lukel said. “She has a lot of money, but still less than Roial.”

“True,” Shuden agreed. “But together they would have far more than Telrii.”

L: As always, Shuden’s very, very shrewd. However, it’s easy to say “oh yeah, just have an arranged marriage!” when you’re not the one who has to say the vows.

P: At least this is an option, though not the most favorable for Sarene.

Roial found her with eyes like those of a benevolent grandfather. “I must admit that young Shuden has a point. The marriage would be strictly political, Sarene.”

Sarene took a breath. Things happened so quickly. “I understand, my lord. We will do what must be done.”

L: Kudos to Sarene for agreeing so quickly, but I’m not in the least bit surprised.

P: Poor, poor Sarene. Willing to do what it takes, though she deserves so much more.

“I meant what I said, Sarene. This will be strictly a union of convenience—do not fear yourself obligated in any other way.”

Sarene rode quietly for a moment, listening to the horse’s hooves clop in front of them. “There will need to be heirs.”

Roial laughed quietly. “No, Sarene. Thank you, but no. Even if such were physically possible, I couldn’t go through with it. I am an old man, and can’t possibly survive more than a few years. This time, your wedding contract won’t forbid you from remarrying after I die. When I’m gone, you can finally choose a man of your own preference—by then we will have replaced Iadon’s silly system with something more stable, and your children with the third husband will inherit the throne.”

L: This is assuming that they manage to set up a system whereby she can rule in the interim, which seems… unlikely, given the political climate of this country.

P: There are always ways to produce heirs.

L: Oh yeah, no doubt, but I meant in the time between husbands two and three…

“…you assume that nobody wants you.” “

“They don’t,” Sarene said flatly. “Trust me.”

Roial shook his head. “You’re an excellent judge of character, Sarene—except your own.”

L: And Sanderson connects with a lot of us once again. I’d wager that few of us haven’t felt this way at least once in our lives. (And if you haven’t, I pray you never do.)

P: I don’t need to be an excellent judge of my own character, because I know what I am. I’m not hiding it. Lol!

“Our wedding will have to come soon if we are going to beat Telrii.”

“What do you suggest?”

“The day of Iadon’s funeral,”

L: Yikes. That seems a tad gauche, even considering how much of a d**k Iadon was.

P: Meh. The pig deserves as much, I say!

Sarene tensed, but the yells weren’t ones of anger or pain. They seemed joyful and excited. Confused, she looked out the carriage window and saw a crowd of people surging through a cross street.

“What in the name of Domi is that?” Roial asked.

L: The destruction of all of your carefully-laid plans, barely out of their infancy. I feel bad for them. They think they’ve got this in the bag… and then Hrathen comes in and sweeps their whole castle of cards right off the table with one carefully-planned move.

P: I forget who’s ahead of who in points at this juncture. But they were probably pretty even before this revelation!

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 36 and 37.

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut and is finally done with Renaissance Faires for the season… only to begin working for Santa on the North Pole Express. (It’s a heck of a commute.) If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Thirty-Four and Thirty-Five appeared first on Reactor.

That’s right, my friends. In this week’s edition of the Elantris Reread, we find out some terrible secrets about King Iadon and whether or not Hrathen starves to death while fasting in Elantris. Come on, what could be better than a jaunt through a sewer, a terrible bloody murder, and slime-covered dinner? We are coming up on Halloween, after all…

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Trigger warnings: Cults, serial murder.

Last time on Elantris: Misunderstandings and Murderous Monks…

On Sarene’s latest venture into Elantris, the wildmen finally break through to attack the supply carts, and Sarene completely misconstrues the situation, thinking Raoden a tyrant who is restricting access to food for starving Elantrians. Thankfully, Sarene stops Iadon before he implements his Final Elantrian Solution, deftly outmaneuvering him politically and threatening him in front of his own guards. Meanwhile, Hrathen’s poison has taken effect, seemingly turning him into an Elantrian. He’s thrown into the city, where he proceeds to begin praying. Loudly. When he’s attacked by a group of wildmen, he promptly dispatches them all. Having taken Saolin (now a Hoed following the attack) to dissolve in the pool, Raoden and Galladon witness Hrathen destroying his attackers and are horrified.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Sarene, Hrathen

Discussion

Chapter 32

Instead of growing angry as Kiin had predicted, Iadon simply avoided her. Whenever Sarene entered a room, heads turned away and eyes looked down. It was as if she were a monster—a vengeful Svrakiss sent to torment them.

L: Poor Sarene can’t catch a break socially.

P: She really can’t. She’s just a fish out of water wherever she goes.

Why, in the blessed name of Domi, she wondered, does everyone in this country feel so threatened by an assertive woman?

L: There are a myriad of answers I could make to this, but I think we can leave it at this: when a society is built upon the foundation of patriarchy, it is necessary to break down that foundation slowly, chip by chip.

P: As much as we wish we could just blow it all to hell, I guess chipping at it is the best way to go about it. But it’s not just people in Arelon who are threatened; people, especially men, in Teo were threatened by her, as well.

“When you accept authority, you must be willing to take responsibility for it at all times—even when you don’t particularly feel like it.”

L: Most certainly not what Sarene wants to hear right now, but probably exactly what she needs to hear.

P: Uncle Ben, is that you?

L: I feel like I need to turn in my Spider-fan card for not seeing that immediately.

“You crept into our hearts and did what no one else, even myself, could have done—you unified us.”

L: You know… Sarene spends a lot of time thinking about how she doesn’t have friends, and maybe she’s right, in a sense. She may not have peers of the same standing whom she’s close to, but she does forge strong relationships with those she inspires.

P: Indeed. I also hope that that the ladies of the court who have been attending her fencing lessons are leaning towards friendship, as well.

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“We’ll have to change our plans. We can’t deal with this one the same way we did Hrathen.”

L: And just like that, given a new challenge, Sarene rises out of her sulk and begins plotting.

P: Now she reminds me of Kaladin. She’s found a new purpose that gives her the strength to keep going.

Sarene found her eyes tracing the constellations of the major Aons. Rao shone directly overhead, a large square with four circles at its sides and a dot in the center. Her own Aon, Ene, crouched barely visible on the horizon.

L: Star-crossed lovers, eh?

“What did you find out?”

“The cook did indeed lose a serving woman this afternoon, my lady. They claim she ran off to be with her brother, who was recently moved to one of the king’s provincial mansions. The man, however swears he hasn’t seen anything of her.”

P: Sarene has had Ashe investigating the latest disappearance of a servant at the palace. Women keep going missing and it’s piqued her interest.

L: It’s another testament to her character that she even noticed. To the upper class, servants are often invisible, and female servants doubly so.

“You look as though your best friend just died,” Roial noted, returning to hand her a cup of blue Jaadorian wine.

“No, just my husband,” Sarene said, sighing.

P: Poor Sarene, destined to be alone forever and assaulted with first Shuden’s lovesick demeanor and then Lukel’s. She’s in a tough situation, for sure.

Sarene squinted, searching deep into the ball of light and trying to make out the glowing Aon. She thought it was Opa.

L: I wonder if there’s a limited number of Seons? Only one per primary aon…? Or can they maybe share “names,” with several “Ashes” in the same way we have various Johns?

Personally speaking, I think there’s only one for each aon. It just seems like something Sanderson would do. And that of course begs the question… can they be killed, or disincorporated like spren? If they can, can another seon be born/created/whatever to fill that gap? This is a lot of “ifs” but I find the whole prospect fascinating.

P: I think you’re right, I think there’s one for each aon. These are some great questions for the man himself!

“I could go get Lord Eondel or one of the others.”

“And leave me to get lost in the sewers on my own?”

“You would never do something that foolish, my lady,” Ashe declared. Then he paused, hovering uncertainly in the air, his Aon so dim it was translucent. “All right,” he finally admitted. “You are indeed that foolish.”

L: It’s a good thing they know one another so well, or this most certainly wouldn’t have worked out for Sarene.

P: Leave it to Sarene to ruin a gorgeous dress by traipsing about in the sewers in order to solve a mystery. Though she ends up finding much more than she was looking for!

“The king had to come to the party; his pride wouldn’t let him stay away. However, his weekly appointment must be important, for he risked leaving early to attend it.”

L: Very, very clever.

P: As she tells Ashe, it’s MaeDal, the same day of the week that Sarene has been hearing a scraping noise in the secret passage that runs by her room since her arrival in Kae. So she arranged to have Roial throw a party on MaeDal in hopes that the king would slip out so she could follow him. Even into the sewers.

Perhaps Prince Raoden lived. Maybe Iadon hadn’t confined him to the dungeons, but in the sewers. Sarene might not be a widow after all.

L: She’s so maddeningly close!

P: And she wants so badly for Raoden not to be dead. Her longing is just painful.

The creatures always knew where they were, and could point the exact direction to any place they had ever been.

L: Because of their inherent link to the magic of the Dor I would assume, and how it’s power is derived from the way the landscape is formed…?

“Merciful Domi,” Sarene whispered. The king stood facing her behind an altar, a red-streaked knife raised in his hand. He was completely naked except for the blood smearing his chest. The remains of an eviscerated young woman lay tied to the altar, her torso sliced open from neck to crotch.

L: Welp. Chalk that up as one I didn’t see coming. This guy definitely wasn’t likable, but he also didn’t strike me as a cultist murderer. But then… as a lover of true crime documentaries, I guess people rarely do.

P: HOW had I forgotten that this happened? Granted, it’s been some time since my last reread but seriously, how could I forget such a thing? Iadon, a supposed devout Korathi, practicing the Jeskeri Mysteries. Shame.

L: And, you know. Murdering innocent women in cold blood.

“Our Derethi friend claimed to have some knowledge on the subject,” Roial said. “He seemed to think the king was petitioning the Jesker spirits to destroy someone for him.”

“Me?” Sarene asked, growing cold despite her blanket.

Roial nodded. “Arteth Dilaf said the instructions were written on the altar in that woman’s blood.”

L: Yikes. I wonder if he’s been sacrificing people every one of the nights he snuck out, and what he was wishing for those other times…

P: The stability of his throne, perhaps? As for whether he’s sacrificed someone each week that Sarene’s been in the city, quite a lot of servants have gone missing.

L: Anyone want to take bets as to whether or not he wished for his son’s “disappearance” as well? Perhaps he did and the conveniently timed “success” was what drove him to start doing it more often.

P: Perhaps… but what I really want to know is what Dilaf was doing there. He knew what was up, he wasn’t there by chance.

“Telrii will almost certainly seize power now,” Ahan said, shaking his head.

L: Well, good job, Sarene. All your carefully laid plans are falling down around your ears.

P: And things were going so well. Stupid Iadon and his stupid human sacrifices.

Chapter 33

He fell into the stupor more and more often lately, his mind fuzzing as he knelt in the same penitent stance. Three days was a long time to spend in prayer.

P: Hrathen is feeling the lack of food and water after three days. You’d think he’d be cramping up something horrible, sitting in the same position with no water to drink. Methinks his time as an Elantrian is coming to an end, though.

L: It had better be, for his sake. The human body can only go three days without water!

There was something beautiful about the pale-faced goddess of the heavens, a mysticism to her eclipse.

…

Hrathen could almost feel her magic.

P: This seems almost a blasphemous line of thought, though he does go on to think that while he could see how a primitive culture could worship the moon, he could not do such a thing.

Was his own belief flawed because he did not regard Jaddeth with the same mixture of curious fear and wonder with which the people of Jesker had regarded the moon?

L: There are certainly different ways to worship, regardless of which god(s) you follow. But in a religion as strict as Hrathen’s… maybe he’s right.

P: I’ve been to conservative church services that were calm and quiet, and I’ve been to some crazy-town happenings. If I were still the kind of person that attended church, I would opt for the former.

He was not a zealot; he would never be a man of extreme passion. In the end, he followed Shu-Dereth because it made sense. That would have to be enough.

L: An interesting amalgamation of logic/science and religion, here. I like this dichotomy; you usually don’t see logic and religion being paired together like this.

P: Hrathen is something else. We can feel sorry for him, we can understand him. Sanderson did such a good job on this character!

L: Yeah, I can’t think of a single other fantasy novel that has a paladin (essentially what Hrathen is, though an argument could be made for monk if we’re going by D&D rules —and I DIGRESS, back to Hrathen!) who is essentially following his religion like Spock from Star Trek would. It’s a really cool shift from the cliché archetype.

He devoured it all—flaccid vegetables, moldy bread, meat, even some of the corn, the hard grains softened slightly by their extended bath in Elantris slime. At the end he downed the entire flask of wine in one prolonged gulp.

L: Okay, I have to wince at eating anything that’s been marinating in slime for days. I’m not sure I’ve ever been that hungry.

P: The Light send that I never am that hungry.

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 34 and 35.

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Read book 1 on her Patreon. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut and makes magic wands for a living, as well as working as the costumer for two of her local Renaissance Faires. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Thirty-Two and Thirty-Three appeared first on Reactor.

Spoiler warning: This week’s article contains some discussion of greater Cosmere theory which might be considered spoilers. Proceed with caution if you don’t want to know more about Odium and the Splintering!

Trigger warnings: Suicide (specifically discussion on whether or not people should have the choice to end their own lives), chronic illness/pain.

Last time on Elantris: Misunderstood…

Sarene learns from Ashe that Spirit seems to be a gang lord in Elantris, which causes Sarene to misunderstand him even more than before. Meanwhile, her aunt misunderstands Sarene’s melancholy and tells her that Lord Shuden is not for her but after a time, perhaps she can take a secret lover. (That was actually pretty funny.) And it turns out we misunderstood what Hrathen was up to when he drinks some of the poison that he’d ordered, which we thought was meant for Dilaf. Let’s clear up that last misunderstanding—and watch as Sarene’s misconceptions continue to grow…

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Sarene, Raoden, Hrathen.

Discussion

Chapter 28

The bookshelves extended out of sight, their information stretching as if to eternity. Raoden was certain that the clues he needed were contained somewhere within the vast sea of pages, but finding them seemed a daunting task indeed.

L: Sounds like heaven to me…

P: Truly. Raoden is quite taken with it, too, hoping it will contain the secret to why Aons are no longer working. He’s SO CLOSE.

A set of about thirty volumes squatted on the shelf, waiting in their dust. They dictated a cataloguing system, with numbers relating to the various columns and rows of the library.

L: ::wistful sigh:: Card catalogs. Part of me really misses them, although undoubtedly computer searches are faster and more thorough. (For those readers who don’t have any idea what I’m talking about…)

P: That’s right, Chickens… We had to look up books the hard way. And encyclopedias were our Google. Let’s hope that Raoden finds what he needs!

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L: Now excuse us while Paige and I go retrieve our walkers.

They kept the pool a secret as well, giving Mareshe and Saolin a simplified explanation. Raoden’s own longings warned him how dangerous the pool was. There was a part of him that wanted to seek out its deadly embrace, the refreshment of destruction. If the people knew that there was an easy, painless way to escape the suffering, many would take it without deliberation. The city would be depopulated in a matter of months.

L: Oof. Who could blame them, really? If your life is nothing but never-ending physical pain with no apparent reprieve, surely some people would feel there’s little reason not to end it.

P: It might not even take months. As soon as people realized there was a release, they might just take it as quickly as possible.

Letting them do so was an option, of course. What right had he to keep the others from their peace? Still, Raoden felt that it was too soon to give up on Elantris.

L: This bothers me, to be honest. What right does he have to make that choice for them, without giving them the option? Whether or not he’s right about being able to save Elantris isn’t the point (as of course he does eventually). This is an incredibly difficult moral quandary in our own society, regarding people who have terminal illnesses. What right have we to tell people that they can’t end their own suffering? Especially in cases where there’s no hope of recovery? This is another one of those sticky situations where I don’t really believe there’s a right answer. (And if you ever find yourself in this position, or are struggling with painful thoughts and feeling alone, I would like to encourage you to dial 988, the suicide hotline, where you can find help, support, or just someone to listen.)

P: This is an incredibly sensitive topic, I agree. In the event of mortal illness, it feels like the humane thing to do to allow someone to make that choice for themselves.

988 is a great resource. In the USA, you can also text that number or chat online at https://988lifeline.org/. If anyone reading this from other countries has a similar lifeline or website, feel free to add it in the comments.

The Dor was as Galladon had described it: a powerful reservoir just beyond the normal senses. Its only desire was to escape. The books explained that the Dor existed in a place that was full of pressure, and so the energy pushed its way through any viable exit, moving from an area of high concentration to one of low.

L: Let’s look at the Cosmere theory behind this. It sounds like they’re saying that the power is coming from the Spiritual or Cognitive realms. According to the Coppermind, it’s “a mass of plasma-like substance in the Cognitive Realm, a large amount of power left behind after Odium visited Sel. It is the remnant of the combined powers of Devotion and Dominion after the Shards were Splintered.”

I’m curious as to how this power got trapped on the Cognitive Realm… maybe that’s where the Shards were splintered?

Still, for all of his studies, he was disappointingly unable to find out what had made AonDor stop working. He could only guess that the Dor had changed somehow. Perhaps now, instead of a square, the Dor was a triangle—and no matter how many square-shaped Aons Raoden drew, the energy couldn’t get through. What could have led to the Dor’s sudden shift was beyond him.

L: So close, and yet so far! He’s got the right idea, he just needs to figure out which “shape” is the starter shape (this information will of course come to him eventually).

P: That’s one thing about rereads. You know what they need to know and what they need to do, but you have to wait for them to get there.

Ien did seem to like staying near Raoden.

L: This makes me so, so sad. It’s like a poor senile old blind dog staying near its master not because it recognizes him, but because somewhere deep down, his master makes it feel comforted.

P: It is so very sad. And it makes me wonder if Ien is really in there, cognizant but unable to communicate or function properly. Yeah, that thought is way worse.

L: Paige! You made it worse! WHY WOULD YOU MAKE IT WORSE?!

P: ::backs slowly into bushes::

The Dula shot one last, uncomfortable look at Ien before closing the door, locking the seon in darkness.

L: Poor, poor thing.

P: I was rather indignant that they just left him in the dark, all alone.

L: Seriously. If it were me, I’d just carry him around everywhere with me.

If Saolin lost, then the wildmen would break through. If Saolin won, it would mean the death or incapacitation of dozens of Elantrians—on both sides, people that Raoden should have been able to protect.

Either way, I’m a failure, Raoden thought.

L: Shades of Kaladin again here. There’s something to be said about the Chronic Hero Syndrome archetype—after all, tropes are tropes because something about them resonates within us—but Sanderson does seem to rely on it a lot, especially with Kal and Raoden.

P: It absolutely resonates with fans of all kinds of stories. It gives us someone to look up to while feeling bad for them at the same time.

L: It also gives them a believable, endearing flaw. A hero with no (or few) flaws like Superman can be compelling given the right writer, but it’s so much more fun to make them more realistic people with issues and flaws like we all have.

She couldn’t force herself to ask about the problem. She had gone too long feigning coldness, too long rebuffing his attempts at friendship. Just as in Teod, she had locked herself into a role. And just as before she cursed herself, not quite knowing how to escape her self-imposed indifference.

L: C’mon, Sarene. Just ask! Reach out! Bridge that gap and FALL IN LOVE ALREADY!

P: She’s quite the stubborn one, isn’t she? I rather know how she feels.

Fortunately, Spirit didn’t share her same inhibitions.

L: Or that. Atta boy, Raoden.

P: He couldn’t very well not tell her, knowing they might be ambushed by Shaor’s men at any moment. It’s the moment I’ve been waiting for since Sarene started taking food into Elantris.

One of the wildmen smashed a cudgel against Saolin’s legs, and the soldier fell.

L: Another wound that will never heal, and a massive one at that. Poor Saolin…

P: Alongside his other wounds taken in fights with Shaor’s men, this was enough to do Saolin in and turn him into a Hoed. So sad.

“You tyrant!” she hissed. “You heartless despot!”

Raoden turned to look at Shaor’s desperate men. In a way, she was right. “Yes. I am.”

L: I hate it when this happens in books (and TV shows, and movies). The misunderstanding that could have just been cleared up with a little direct communication, causing a rift between the romantic leads… It’s just so frustrating (and very, very effective from a story-telling viewpoint).

P: It is frustrating. He could have told her from the beginning. I don’t know if that would have been effective, or if she would have believed him, but it would have been worth the try.

Then he remembered Saolin. Raoden dashed across the courtyard to kneel beside his friend. The old soldier stared sightlessly into the sky, his head rocking back and forth as he mumbled, “Failed my lord. Failed my lord Spirit. Failed, failed, failed…”

Raoden moaned, bowing his head in despair. What have I done? he wondered, helplessly cradling the newly made Hoed.

L: This is heartbreaking.

P: As you said above, poor Saolin. All he wanted to do was serve Raoden, to protect him. He’s such a good person, and knowing him before he becomes Hoed just makes it feel all the more tragic.

Chapter 29

A double line of men in chain and leather marched past her carriage, their livery black and red. It was Iadon’s personal guard, and they were heading for Elantris.

L: When Sarene’s plans fall apart, they don’t just gently crumble into dust like an Avenger after Thanos’ snap. Oh no. These explode with the force of an atomic bomb.

P: As does she. As we see below.

“You will withdraw your soldiers from Elantris. You will leave those people alone. Otherwise, I will begin to tell people what I know about you.”

L: I appreciate her spirit and fire so, so much. No shrinking violet is Sarene.

P: Yeah, she really tears him a new one here. Threatening to tell everyone how he was almost broke and how she saved him with the contracts with Teod. She held nothing back.

L: ::sings:: He had it coming! He had it coming! He only had himself to blaaaaaaame!

They say that the Elantrians are dead. That they are the deceased whose minds refuse to rest. Her eyes open for the first time, Sarene realized how the Elantrians survived without food. They didn’t need to eat.

But why then did they?

P: She finally gets it as she stands at the top of the wall, looking down into Elantris after she saves them from annihilation by Iadon’s guards. She also sees Raoden as he sits forlornly with Saolin but feels little sympathy for him. She thinks that even tyrants must love the ones they rule.

L: Well… she sort of gets it. She still doesn’t grasp the enormity of what’s going on down there.

Adien’s haunted, slightly unfocused eyes found her face. “Two thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven steps from here to Elantris,” he whispered.

L: Jeez. This poor, poor kid… (Reminder, if you’ve forgotten—he’s been taken by the Shaod and his family is hiding that fact rather than send him to Elantris.)

P: It seems so unfair that the Shaod takes children, too.

L: It really does. I can’t even imagine how much harder it would be for a child without the capacity/maturity  to comprehend what’s happening.

“Beneath all the bluster he’s very insecure.”

“Most men are, dear,” Daora said.

L: Okay, this made me chuckle. (Although I’d argue that anyone who blusters a lot is probably secretly insecure, regardless of gender.)

P: You’re not wrong there.

Chapter 30

Hrathen didn’t try to hide his transformation.

L: ::facepalm:: RIGHT! Now I remember! That’s what the poison did!

P: Yup. It caused a condition that looked like the Shaod so he could get thrown into Elantris and be “saved” by Jaddeth.

L: Clever…

Dilaf was in the middle of morning services. It was worth the loss of hair and skin color to see the short Arelene priest stumble backward in horrified shock.

L: Ha! Didn’t see THAT coming, did you, you zealot?

P: At least he can now show his hatred for Hrathen.

“Oh, Jaddeth, Lord of all Creation,” he began, his voice loud and firm. “Hear now the petition of a servant in your empire. Lift this taint from my blood. Restore me to life. I implore you with all the power of my position as a holy gyorn.”

There was no response. So he repeated the prayer. Again, and again, and again…

L: Oooooooooh. He’s so, so clever. Dangerously so…

P: Chalk another one up for Hrathen.

Chapter 31

Saolin didn’t open his eyes as he sank into the pool, but he did stop mumbling. He bobbed for a moment, then took a sharp breath, reaching his hands toward the heavens. After that, he melted into the blue liquid.

L: As much as it hurts to say farewell to characters we’ve grown to love, at least he’s finally found peace and an end to his suffering.

P: And on to another adventure, maybe?

The numbers that came to him after Sarene were much greater than those that had followed him before. Raoden was forced to acknowledge that despite the temporary setbacks they caused, Sarene’s excursions into Elantris had ultimately been beneficial.

L: At least Saolin’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain… but at what other cost?

P: I don’t know about the benefits, but it did make people realize that the hunger would never really be sated and that there was more to life in Elantris that could ease their pangs.

Joy was more than just an absence of discomfort.

L: For such a short sentence, this is incredibly powerful and thought-provoking.

P: It really is. Whenever I read a sentence like this, I wish that I could write like that. That I could come up with something as profound and beautiful.

L: Don’t sell yourself short, Paige. I think anyone is capable of saying things that resound with people on a deep spiritual level.

Unfortunately, he and Raoden moved too slowly. They were too late … to save Shaor’s men.

L: I have to admit to a moment of schadenfreude here on Raoden’s behalf. (Is that the right usage/attribution for this? I think it is.) Shaor’s men have caused so much trouble that it’s nice to see them get some comeuppance.

P: I mean, we knew in theory that Hrathen was a badass, but to see him in action is pretty impressive.

The Fjordell leapt to his feet, spinning with near-inhuman speed and catching Shaor’s man by the head. There was a snap as the gyorn cracked his opponent’s neck, then threw him against the wooden gate. The other two attacked in unison. One met with a powerful spinning kick that tossed him across the courtyard like a pile of rags. The other received three successive punches to the face, then a kick to the midsection. The madman’s howl of rage cut off with a whine as the gyorn placed another kick at the side of the man’s head.

L: A lesson for those of you who play D&D… Never mess with a monk.

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 32 and 33.

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Read book 1 on her Patreon. Links to that and to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey has one final weekend of working for the local Renaissance Faire remaining before her season is (finally) over. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Twenty-Eight to Thirty-One appeared first on Reactor.

We’re also seeing the B story begin to really flower… that is, the long-awaited romance between Sarene and Raoden. (Finally!) But before that flower bears fruit, there’s Hrathen (and, worse, Dilaf) to deal with…

(Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly, chickens!

Last time on Elantris: Moving On…

Hrathen realizes that he’s made a horrible mistake in underestimating Dilaf, who has slowly been undermining his power in the local church. Even worse, Hrathen’s begun to question his own faith. Meanwhile, Raoden continues his practice in drawing Aons, despite the fact that it appears to be useless. He learns that Galladon’s father was Elantrian, and they bring one of the original Elantrians to a pool—a Perpendicularity—where his body is dissolved into nothingness. They realize that there is a way to escape the pain… but have no idea what happens to their souls afterwards.

Chapter Essentials

POV Character(s): Sarene, Hrathen

Discussion

Chapter 26

The gate slammed shut as Sarene’s cart rolled back into Kae. “You’re certain he’s the one in charge?” she asked.

P: And so Sarene learns that Spirit is the top dog in Elantris. And she feels some aversion to that. Though she also recognizes her growing sense that he really cares for the city.

Political necessity or not, she wanted Spirit to be honest with her. She was beginning to trust him, and that worried her.

L: Yessss. Feel the affection flow through you, young Sarene…

P: I almost snorted hard lemonade through my nose.

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The fact that she’s beginning to trust him is huge. Especially as she’s been so standoffish toward him up to this point. Who can resist the inevitable draw of the Lord Spirit? Not Sarene.

L: I’d argue that few of us could, were he real…

“Because Baron Edan’s lands border the Chasm down in southern Arelon, the recent rains caused some mudslides involving his fields.”

L: More subtle reminders from Sanderson about that strange chasm that conveniently appeared just as Elantris fell…

P: Hmm… such a coinkydink that those things occurred at the same time.

“I thought you women intended to prove your strength, to show that you were good for more than making the occasional embroidered pillowcase. However, so far only one of you has truly shown me that she wants to change things in Arelon. Torena, tell them what you did today.”

The thin girl yelped slightly as Sarene said her name, then looked sheepishly at her companions. “I went to Elantris with you?”

“Indeed,” Sarene said. “I have invited each woman in this room several times, but only Torena has had the courage to accompany me into Elantris.”

L: Sarene is done playing coy, it appears, and believes that a forceful shove out the door will be more effective.

P: I don’t think she’s wrong. She’s tried subtlety, which isn’t really her way. Time to bring out the big guns.

It was just like Teod. She could see respect in their eyes; even the queen herself looked to Sarene for advice now. However, respect her as they did, they would never accept her. When Sarene entered a room, it fell silent; when she left, conversations began again. It was as if they thought her above their simple discussions. By serving as a model for what they wanted to become, Sarene had alienated herself from them.

L: Oof. Not having any real friends is hard enough in normal times, but in a strange land, with no family, on the brink of war?

P: It’s got to wear on her. As we see here when she thinks that they’ll never accept her.

Well… I know of someone who will accept her!

She craved something—a sign that at least some of the men found her attractive, though she would never respond to any advances.

L: I think that the majority of people who are interested in romantic relationships can relate to this sentiment. It’s nice to believe that other people find you attractive, both physically and mentally.

P: Which begs the question. If she knew that Spirit was Raoden right this moment, would she be drawn to him at all? Or would she be revolted?

L: Now selling tickets to the Cosmere’s new hit dating show! Watch as Sarene asks questions to Raoden, Kaladin, and Kelsier on the other side of a curtain! Will the burgeoning love survive once the curtain is removed? Tune in and find out!

“Eondel and the rest are expected to bring forth exemplary crops.”

L: Wow! Amazing what NOT forcing people into slavery will do!

P: But will the ruling class understand why they’re getting exemplary crops? Or will they just count it as good fortune?

L: Sadly they’d probably just attribute it to the latter.

It was rare to find someone politically skilled enough to hold her attention, but in Arelon she had found two. In a way, Spirit was even more fascinating than the gyorn. While Hrathen and she were very frank about their enmity, Spirit somehow manipulated and foiled her while at the same time acting like an old friend.

L: What an odd love triangle. (I rather like that it’s not a typical or cliché one, in which the woman is attracted to both of the men and has to make a decision between the two.) The chemistry isn’t in place for a Sarene!Hrathen romance to be satisfying to the reader, but it absolutely makes sense that he’d have a one-sided attraction to her, as someone who keeps unexpectedly thwarting his plans.

P: Hrathen is definitely captivated by Sarene, though definitely not in a romantic way. More of a deep respect for a skilled opponent.

L: If I remember correctly there is a bit at the very end of the book that led me to believe that the interest was romantic… maybe my memory is faulty, though.

P: I guess we’ll see when we get there!

“Perhaps in a few years, after your place here in Arelon is more secure, you could allow yourself a relationship that is… covert.”

L: Ugh. I hate that they force widows to remain locked into a marriage even after their husbands have died.

P: Seems rather heartless, doesn’t it? Especially since Raoden “died” before she even arrived in Kae.

Chapter 27

Somehow, Iadon had recovered from his lost ships and cargo. Telrii would not be king.

L: ::snicker::

P: Point to Sarene. What’s the count now?

L: Ah Domi, was I supposed to be keeping track? Drat…

It was too much. Suddenly it seemed as if his room were falling in on him. The walls and ceiling shrunk closer and closer, as if to crush him beneath their weight.

L: As despicable as he is, I can’t help but pity him in this moment. I’ve felt this hopelessness before, when everything seems to be going wrong, everything you’ve worked for is falling apart around you, and hope seems utterly lost.

P:  I can’t say I’ve never felt precisely this way though I have felt the walls closing around me a time or two. Yay, anxiety! So I can definitely feel for Hrathen at this moment, and feel his confusion and desperation.

My Lord Hrathen, the note read. Here is the poison you requested. All of the effects are exactly as you specified. The liquid must be ingested, and the victim won’t display any symptoms until about eight hours afterward.

L: Yeah! Poison Dilaf’s scheming butt! Get him, Hra—

Wait. What am I doing? Am… am I actually rooting for this guy? Sanderson’s way too good at his job, guys.

P: You’re not alone. I’m rooting for Hrathen to poison that scheming little arteth, too!

Hrathen swished the poison around in its vial for a moment, then pulled off the stopper and drank it down in a single gulp.

L: I had absolutely no memory of this from my first read-through and it hit me like a wrecking ball. What? What in the HECK can Hrathen be planning here? And boy oh BOY, what a way to end part two! Love me a good cliffhanger.

P: Now, I’ve read this book multiple times and I don’t remember this! What are you doing Hrathen??

We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments, and hope to join you there! Next week, we’ll be back with chapters 28-31 (yes, that’s right… mostly because 30 and 31 are so short).

Paige resides in New Mexico, of course. Between work and school and the SA5 beta read, she’s trying to work on book 3 of a YA/Crossover trilogy with just a hint of the supernatural. Links to her other writing are available in her profile.

Lyndsey lives in Connecticut and makes magic wands for a living, as well as working as the costumer for two of her local Renaissance Faires. If you enjoy queer protagonists, snarky humor, and don’t mind some salty language, check out book 1 of her fantasy series. Follow her on Facebook or TikTok!

The post Elantris Reread: Chapters Twenty-Six and Twenty-Seven appeared first on Reactor.

If you’d like to read The Rhythm of War completely unspoiled, but watch the Q&A portion, you can skip ahead to the 15:34 mark. Having said that, be aware that Sanderson specifically requested “spoiler-filled” questions from Reddit for this Q&A, so spoilers for The Stormlight Archive as a whole will abound.

Selected highlights from the Q&A:

What kind of spren is Oathbringer, the Shardblade?

Oathbringer is not technically a spren. Why I call these things the Honorblades, and how the whole Sharblade concept fits in—these are literally pieces of Honor’s soul that he splintered off and formed weapons out of for the heralds. These didn’t actually have sentience in the way the spren forming most of the Shardblades, they’re literally, a piece of the god who ruled this world, turned into weapons. The spren who were also are also pieces of the same divinity saw what was happening and this became a model by which Shardblades came about. Oathbringer doesn’t have a spren—if you want to call it something, you can call it a sliver of Honor that has been manifest in physical form.

Shardblades cut organic and inorganic matter differently. How would they interact with an animated construct like an awakened straw man? What about a Lifeless?

Something that’s animated like an awakened straw man is likely going to block the Shardblade as a powerful investiture would. A Lifeless is probably just going to act like it was a living being.

How is Nale’s spren still with him? Is his spren as wacky as he is? Or is it dead, and he still carries it around?

Nale’s spren is alive, the high spren—I would say “wacky” is probably a decent term for them. I would blame some of how Nale is acting more on the high spren, obviously it’s partially being a Herald and all the things he’s gone through but they are all on board for this. So read that as you will—the ones that are making Radiants of the Order are on board for it. You’ll get to see Szeth interact with his a little bit—there’s not a ton of Szeth in this book, but you’ve got a few chapters…you’ll get a better picture of the high spren from that moment.

Did the Sunmaker see visions of the Stormfather too?

He did not! Sunmaker was basically my version of an Alexander the Great—or a better example would be Genghis Khan—one of the great warlords from the past. He did not see the visions of the Stormfather.

Shardblades burn out the eyes of their victims and Deadeyes have their eyes scratched out in Shadesmar. Is the connection here purely thematic?

I would lean more on this being a Roshar thing with the eye color, the eyes being scratched out, the Shardblades burning out the eyes—mostly it’s me trying to connect a theme in this magic system. As you might know, Shardblades originally did cut flesh, I wrote the entire prologue, and it’s Szeth and the others cutting flesh, and hoo boy was that bloody. These are books about war, but it was just so gory, that I was like, “let’s back off on this, and have it burn out the eyes instead” and I liked it way better that way.

If Vasher and Shashara had awakened a non-weapon in exactly the same way as Nightblood—say a shield—would the object exhibit the same properties as Nightblood?

If you said “Destroy evil!” to a shield, it wouldn’t be exactly the same, the command is the most important part, but the way the weapon perceives itself, and how you perceive it, is all going to play into this. They were playing with some real dangerous stuff when they made Nightblood, and it didn’t go as intended.

Did the Ones Above seek out First of the Sun specifically or did they stumble upon it by chance?

You can see in Shadesmar where planets with intelligent life on them are located. On one hand, you can stumble across them, but on the other, you’re going to know which systems have intelligent life. Specifically First of the Sun has this weird thing where it has kind of a Shardpull, but no Shard in attendance, getting there they knew it was there but couldn’t get through, so visited it in the physical realm intentionally—so it was originally “stumbled upon” in Shadesmar.

You’ve mentioned before that Odium is scared of Harmony. Is that only because of the raw power of the two Shards or is he scared of what Harmony represents—the possibility of merging two Shards? Was he aware that this was possible?

He, on one level, was aware, but it was more an awareness of “this is a possibility.” It actually happening is part of what has him scared. It’s the idea of two merging Shards both being more powerful, and finding Harmony, which Sazed is having way more trouble doing than Odium realizes. Those two things really have Odium scared. Partially this means he has to find a way to destroy or split Harmony, without taking up a second Shard himself—because Odium knows that if he takes up a second Shard terrible things will happen… the more he learns about Sazed’s actual state the less afraid he’ll probably be—but that’s the advantage Sazed has right now.

Brandon Sanderson’s The Rhythm of War will be out this November from Tor Books! 

The post Brandon Sanderson Reads from Rhythm of War, Answers “Spoiler-Filled” Questions at San Diego Comic-Con At Home! appeared first on Reactor.

We’ll be following the same general format as the reread posts that run frequently here on Tor.com, in which Alice and I lay out comments and thoughts on the chapters and you are invited to join the discussion in the comment section. We’ll be pointing out wider Cosmere connections, continuity/character/etc tidbits you may have missed, reminding you about plot points and things that you may have forgotten, and theorizing on things that may or may not happen later on in the series—so tie yourself to the roof and prepare yourself for the highstorm book we’ve been waiting for for so long!

If you haven’t already, go read the prologue and chapter one here!

Reminder: we’ll be discussing spoilers for the entirety of the series up until now—if you haven’t read ALL of the published entries of the Stormlight Archive (this includes the novella Edgedancer), wait to join us until you’re done.

[In this week’s discussion we also discuss some things from Warbreaker and Mistborn: Secret History in the Cosmere Connections section, so if you haven’t read those, best to give that section a pass.]

Before we get into the meat of the discussion, we’d like to introduce ourselves briefly, in case you’re not a regular reader of the Stormlight Rereads and have no idea who we are. If you know us already (or don’t care and just want to get to the good stuff), feel free to skip down to the “Chapter Recap” heading to start digging into Rhythm of War!

Alice: I’ve been active on Tor.com as a general participant since 2009, commenting along on The Wheel of Time, Kingkiller Chronicles, and The Way of Kings rereads. I first met Brandon Sanderson ten years ago this September, on his TWoK tour, and have only missed one of his Seattle signings since then (due to being in Montana for a funeral). I joined his beta/gamma team with Words of Radiance (Lyn & I started at the same time!) and started blogging for Tor.com shortly thereafter. My first article here was all about the experience of beta-reading Words of Radiance, followed by a few more I’m-so-excited-about-this-book posts. Then, to my surprise and delight, I was asked to help write the WoR reread, and the rest is history.

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If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed going into Rhythm of War, I’ve recently been co-writing a series on Explaining the Stormlight Archive, intended to serve as a refresher on various aspects of this ginormous series. By now, I’m also active in Facebook fandoms, and help administer two Sanderson fan groups. Outside fandom, I’m mostly busy as a mom, assistant caregiver, and general sounding board for my husband and a couple of teens, with occasional forays into volleyball line judging.

Lyn: I’ve been a Sanderson beta and gamma reader since Words of Radiance (seven years?! Wow!) and joined Alice on the reread for Edgedancer and Oathbringer, as well as having written some stand-alone articles here on Tor.com about Cosmere cosplay and fan-casting. It’s worth noting that I’m also a legitimate member of Bridge 4 through a tuckerization, so don’t be surprised if/when we mention this later on. In addition to my work with Team Dragonsteel, I am a fantasy author in my own right with my first novel being released on Amazon on August 1st. The Kickstarter for the audiobook edition is turning out to be very successful, and I’m super excited to see what the general reaction to the book is! My day job is as an actress at several Renaissance/Medieval Faires in the New England area (::sobs because they’ve all been cancelled::), and I also enjoy cosplay, fire dancing, and traveling to strange (and often haunted) locations.

One small note. While we are both beta readers and hence have read the entire book, we will be keeping all of our speculation and discussion confined to what has been released so far. As such, you may notice that we’re not engaging in quite as much speculation and theory-crafting as usual. We’ll be leaving that primarily to you guys in the comments. That said… I’m so excited to begin analyzing this book!

A: No kidding! This is an amazing entry in the series, and there’s so much to learn! I promise not to be intentionally mendacious in the small amounts of speculation I include, and base it only on what we knew before we read this.

L: I make no such promises about not lying about things to throw you off track. ::evil grin:: So much to learn, and analyze, and dissect…. I hope you’re all ready, because you’re in for one heck of a ride. At least 2020 is giving us this to look forward to!

Chapter Recap

Prologue: To Pretend / Chapter One: Calluses

WHO: Navani Kholin / Lirin
WHERE: Kholinar / Hearthstone
WHEN: Prologue Seven Years Ago (the night that Gavilar is assassinated) / 1175.2.8.1 (ETA: approximately one year after the Battle of Thaylen Field; the timeline has shifted slightly so we don’t know the exact date)

In the prologue, we get yet another view of the night of Gavilar’s assassination. From Navani’s point of view, we see how troubled her marriage is and get a glimpse of some of the secret dealings that Gavilar is having with the Heralds.

Chapter one brings us to Hearthstone, one year after the events of Oathbringer. Lirin, Kaladin’s father, is caring for Herdazian refugees and surreptitiously looking for the arrival of the leader of a rebellious military group. Lirin finds the man, whose nickname is The Mink, and begins leading him off to hide in the surgery tent until Kaladin arrives. But their departure is interrupted by the arrival of one of the Fused, who is here looking for Kaladin.

Overall Reactions

A: The prologue, from Navani’s perspective, obviously creates yet another angle on the eventful evening. I thought it was really well done that in this one, the assassination itself doesn’t come up until it’s long over.

L: Yeah, I love seeing the new angles on the assassination that we get with every prologue. As a reminder, in Book 1 we got Szeth’s perspective as he killed his way through the feast, eventually killing Gavliar. In Book 2, we see the same event again, but from Jasnah’s point of view. Book 3 gave us Eshonai’s take on it, and now… now we get Navani. It’s very similar to how Orson Scott Card set up the same thing (on a wider scale) with Ender’s Game and ender’s Shadow, providing the reader with new information that broadens their understanding of the story by telling it from a different perspective.

A: For me, given that we already know Gavilar dies and all that, this prologue is more fascinating for the insight into Navani’s life and personality. That line about “just a backwater country girl wearing someone else’s clothing” is so revealing.

L: For sure. Even Navani Kholin gets impostor syndrome, apparently.

A: Exactly. On the one hand, I appreciate her desire to oversee the aspects of ruling a nation that her husband so readily neglects, and I really appreciate her treating the various staff like actual human beings. On the other hand, isn’t it a bit ridiculous for the queen to be the one figuring out where to make extra space for the over-abundance of guests? Isn’t that the job of the steward? Certainly the issues of soothing a highprince who feels neglected, or reviewing trade situations, that sort of thing – those would be the purview of the king, and by extension the queen acting on his behalf. But household management? Nope. All of which is to say, poor Navani. She knows what her job is, in most cases, but she doesn’t quite know what it isn’t, even after all these years. The result is that she spends too much time doing things she shouldn’t need to do, unable to delegate them, and rarely has the time to do the things she wants to do.

I get distracted with Navani’s personal situation, but the other incredibly fascinating thing about this prologue is the multiple hints and revelations—mostly hints, of course—into the secret stuff Gavilar is doing. Oddly-glowing spheres, master artifabrians, “uncommon figures” and the list goes on. As per Sanderson’s habit, he showers us with a bunch of answers we didn’t really expect yet, and they all lead to more questions!

L: Storms, yes. The secret societies and machinations going on behind the scenes in Roshar are endlessly fascinating, and none more so than whatever the heck the Heralds were up to with Gavilar—because these shadowy figures are, indeed, Heralds.

A: “Uncommon figures.” Riiiiight.

L: I mean… they are uncommon!

A: Bahahahahaha! Well, okay, yes.

L: In Chapter One, we see our first Lirin POV section. This is pretty fascinating, because as of now we’ve only seen him from his son (Kaladin)’s eyes. Just as Kal knows and we’ve always seen, Lirin is very averse to war and fighting, regardless of cause. He views it as a terrible, needless waste of life, which runs directly contrary to Kaladin’s interpretation of his second Windrunner Ideal: “I will protect those who cannot protect themselves.” This makes him a wonderful foil for Kal.

A: In a way it’s contrary, and in a way it’s the same—they both do their very best to help and protect those who cannot protect themselves.

L: Yes, they just have very different ideas of the best way to achieve that end goal.

A: There you go with the understatement… LOL.

Humans

Laral wore a simple servant’s dress now, with a gloved hand instead of a sleeve, and she carried a water bucket to the waiting refugees.

L: Reminder: Laral is the girl from Hearthstone whom Kaladin had a crush on when he was a child. She wound up marrying Roshone, the citylord who sent Kaladin and his little brother Tien off to war.

A: It would be so easy to say, “How the mighty have fallen!”… but I actually love the way she matured. Horrible situation, home is under hostile rule—so she pulls on a glove and gets to work caring for her people. Oddly enough, her once-horrible husband does the same thing, at least to some extent; here we see him putting on a drunk act while doing the lowest job in the town, distracting the singer guards from Lirin smuggling the Mink right into town.

L: Yes, I found myself giving Roshone a smidgen of grudging respect for his actions in Chapter One.

Dieno enne Calah. Dieno “the Mink” in Old Herdazian. Hesina had explained that enne was an honorific that implied greatness.

A: In case anyone didn’t make the connection, the Mink is the Herdazian commander we saw in Oathbringer Interlude 10. He’s the general who makes a game of escaping manacles, and gave that rat Sheler the choice between being hacked to pieces by the women he’d abused, hanging out in a highstorm with broken arms & legs, or wrestling the hog.

Singers/Fused

She narrowed her eyes at Lirin, and when she next spoke there was a cadence to her words, as if she were speaking the words to a song. “Did you feel for me, the poor confused slave child whose mind had been stolen from her? Did you weep for us, surgeon, and the life we led?”

L: In Oathbringer, we saw a lot of this—questioning of the morals of the slavery of the parsh.

A: We’ve been following this path for a while, developing sympathy for the parsh slaves so that we do—and should—question both the process and the morals of their enslavement. Back in WoR, despite her conviction that they were Voidbringers, Shallan couldn’t help feeling a certain pity for Tvlakv’s parshmen, weaving hats continuously, without even names of their own—they were just “One” and “Two.” Our insights with the listeners, and getting to know Rlain, and learning that the ancient Bondsmith had done something to deprive them of their minds and forms, all set us up for Oathbringer. When Kaladin was with the recently-awakened and recently-escaped slaves, we saw them just barely beginning to reflect the Rhythms in their speech, and later in Venli’s POVs, we saw it developing further. It was all a strong reminder to the reader that these people had lost everything that made them … well, a people. They were still, in some measure, individuals—and yet, many people saw them as interchangeable parts; the only distinction worth noting was (sometimes) what tasks they had been trained to perform.

L: Their culture was erased and replaced with that of their captors, so this process of rediscovering their ancient societal norms is a really fascinating one. Some of the singers are resistant to it and cling to bits of the culture they grew up with, while others are eschewing the trends of their captors entirely.

A: Now the singers hold the upper hand—at least here in Hearthstone—and we’re seeing the struggle to sort out who they are and what culture they want for themselves. It’s really awful to think about what was done to them (even though we know they were allied with Odium’s forces), to put them in this situation where there is such conflict between the only culture they know, and the one the Fused tell them they should have.

Also, I don’t know about you, but I found it a bit of a shock to find a “parshwoman” singer who grew up right here in Hearthstone, now functioning as the new citylady. (Exactly the opposite of Laral, in fact, come to think of it.)

The Fused had explained that singers in the past eschewed bright colors, preferring to highlight their skin patterns instead.

L: Oh, this is a fun new note about singer culture that we didn’t know before!

A: Yep, that’s a good one! Part of me is fascinated with the things they learn about their ancestors, and part of me finds it frustrating to watch them try to figure out how to meld their experience with what their new overlords tell them they should be.

The dreadful creature had a beard and long hair the color of dried blood, and it seemed to meld with his simple wrap of clothing—as if he wore his hair itself for a covering. He had a pure black skin coloring, with lines of marbled red under his eyes.

Most importantly, he had a jagged carapace unlike any Lirin had seen, with a strange pair of carapace fins—or horns—rising above his ears.

L: I don’t think it’s any accident that this Fused looks how we stereotypically code demons or devils in our real-life culture.

A: No accident at all. I don’t believe we saw this kind in Oathbringer, or anyone that looked quite this… bizarre. This one triggers every reaction for the reader. (Or at least for this reader.)

Relationships & Romances

Navani & Gavilar

A: Oh. My. Stars. What a cruel jerk he is in this prologue! He belittles her. He doesn’t care for her interests. He doesn’t trust her. He accuses her of something he knows she didn’t do – but her innocence doesn’t matter, because people are saying things, and his reputation is more important than objective truth.

L: Well… he doesn’t know that Navani didn’t cheat on him, per se. He knows that she denies it. But he doesn’t know for sure. Not to say that this excuses his behavior even one iota, because you’re right—he’s a total and complete d-bag.

A: I can’t help wondering if he has some small inkling that he’s treated her poorly over the years, and in his arrogance, he wants to make it all her fault.

L: Well, that would track with abusive behavior. It’s never their fault.

“Gavilar had invited one of the world’s most prominent artifabrians to visit Kholinar, and he hadn’t bothered to tell Navani?”

L: He’s just so uncaring. He doesn’t care about her wants, her desires, her pain, anything at all. It’s all about him. We’ll dig deeper into this down in the Bruised and Broken section.

A: It reminds me of one of Dalinar’s flashbacks (Chapter 36), where he was so furious with Gavilar for completely ignoring Navani’s excitement about her research into spren. He certainly didn’t have the excuse of rumors about her back then; he just didn’t care what she was saying, if it didn’t visibly further his own goals.

Navani & Dalinar

“And . . . there was Dalinar. Standing tall. Somehow taller than any man in the room. He wasn’t drunk yet, and people orbited him like they might a fire on a cold night—needing to be close, but fearing the true heat of his presence. Those haunted eyes of his, simmering with passion.

Storms alight. She excused herself and made a brief exit up the steps to where she wouldn’t feel so warm.”

* * *

What good was a kingdom if Gavilar knew that his wife secretly loved his brother?

A: It appears that by this time, Navani has realized that she loves Dalinar more than Gavilar. Her own claim has always been that she loved them both, but chose Gavilar. Back in The Way of Kings, she said only that she chose the “safer” alternative because Dalinar was frightening. Here, she admits to herself that while it was true that she loved them both, and it was true that Dalinar’s intensity frightened her, there is also truth to the notion that she chose the one with the power and influence. Relationships are complicated.

L: Hooboy, ain’t they just? It must be incredibly difficult to be trapped in what has turned out to be a loveless, abusive marriage while the person you really love is constantly around you, reminding you of what you don’t have.

A: I can’t help wondering if Dalinar has enough perception during this time to realize how miserable Navani is, and how awful their marriage is.

L: I wouldn’t think so, with how deeply in the grip of his grief, self-loathing, and alcoholism he is.

Navani & Aesudan

“She tried not to take Aesudan’s general sourness toward her as a personal affront; it was the prerogative of every woman to feel threatened by her mother-in-law. Particularly when the girl was so obviously lacking in talents.”

L: Oof. Every so often, Navani comes out with something like this that makes me dislike her a bit. Most of the time, I really adore her as a character, but she does have a very cruel, judgmental streak. Something that Jasnah seems to have inherited.

A: Of course, she’s right about Aesudan’s character flaws, but like you, as much as I love Navani, I can’t help wondering if she could have handled her daughter-in-law differently. Could she have changed the course of events simply by being more of a mentor? She changed her attitude toward Evi, after all.

“Aesudan,” Navani said, her eyes still on the ardent, who was now slowly walking toward the monastery. “Could you help the kitchens with whatever they need? I’d like to . . .”

But Aesudan was already hurrying off toward another group in the gardens…

L: But then, there’s things like this, and I consider that maybe Navani’s got good reason to be judgmental. Like Gavilar, she seems to be incredibly self-centered and lacks empathy.

A: She does her best to be unlikable, doesn’t she? It’s worth remembering that on this same evening, Jasnah was making arrangements to have Aesudan watched by an assassin, just in case—and at that, the “watching” was a last-minute change to what was originally probably a straight-up assassination.

Jasnah & Amaram

“Speak to your daughter,” Gavilar said, turning toward the door. “I believe I have managed to soothe Amaram’s pride. He might take her back, and her time is running out. Few other suitors will consider her; I’ll likely need to pay half the kingdom to get rid of the girl if she denies Meridas again.”

L: Ugh. I’m so, so glad that this never worked out (and never will, now that Amaram’s bitten the bullet as of the end of Oathbringer). (Also… “YOUR” daughter? Not “our?” Gross.)

A: YES. Ugh.

Bruised & Broken

“Do you know,” he said softly, “how tired I grow of your constant questions, woman?”

“Perhaps try answering one or two, then. It’d be a novel experience, treating your wife like a human being—rather than like a machine built to count the days of the week for you.”

L: ALL PRAISE NAVANI KHOLIN, QUEEN OF THE CLAPBACKS.

A: Ouch. If this is the way he’s been treating her all along, it’s kind of a shock that she didn’t make those rumors truth. She once said (TWoK ch. 61) she’d never been unfaithful to Gavilar, though he’d given her ample reason—now we know some of what that reason was.

He had never used his strength against her, not in that way, but there had been words. Comments. Threats.

L: This made me flinch. Poor, poor Navani. Words can be just as harmful as physical violence. I’m so upset for what she had to suffer for so long. And you know what the worst part is? I’m not really convinced that things would have been much better with Dalinar, not as he was then. I’m not convinced that the Blackthorn was capable of truly loving anyone, not even his own sons. I’m glad that she and he didn’t wind up together until after he’d found himself.

A: True. It’s not like Dalinar treated Evi any better than Gavilar treated Navani. (I’ll bet their father treated their mother much the same, too.)

L: Honestly, Dalinar always just seemed very apathetic towards Evi. I don’t recall him ever being so directly hurtful towards her…

A: I remember a few times seeing her flinch back when he shouted at her, and he did tend to brush off or minimize some things that really mattered to her. But you’re right, he never deliberately said things for the sole purpose of hurting her, nor did he use her insecurities as a club the way Gavilar does to Navani. So… yeah, Evi didn’t have the best marriage, but when Dalinar wasn’t under the Thrill, he did try to give her a good life. The best Navani can hope for is to get a nice bracelet later.

Gavilar didn’t care if she’d been unfaithful to him—and she hadn’t. But the things she’d said had started rumors, difficult to smother.

L: Okay. Now I’m deathly curious as to what things she said that started rumors!

A: Right? It’s driving me nuts.

“You aren’t worthy, Navani. You claim to be a scholar, but where are your discoveries? You study light, but you are its opposite. A thing that destroys light. You spend your time wallowing in the muck of the kitchens and obsessing about whether or not some insignificant lighteyes recognizes the right lines on a map.

“These are not the actions of greatness. You are no scholar. You merely like being near them. You are no artifabrian. You are merely a woman who likes trinkets. You have no fame, accomplishment, or capacity of your own. Everything distinctive about you came from someone else. You have no power—you merely like to marry men who have it.” …

“You went where the money and power would be greatest,” Gavilar said. “Like any common whore.”

L: Wow. Talk about hitting where it hurts. He went in for the killing blow on this one.

A: You know what infuriates me about this? She could have done all that stuff, if she’d had time and the slightest bit of encouragement. He spent years simply ignoring her interests, and now he drops all the kingdom-running on her while he pursues secret projects he thinks will make him legendary. She could have been a scholar and artifabrian with great accomplishments—but not while soothing the kitchen staff, soothing the neglected lighteyes, covering for his rudeness.

L: You’re absolutely right. He’s attributing things to laziness or lack of worth that are actually his fault.

What was she doing? Praying for her husband’s death?

L: This has to have long-term effects on her. This sort of guilt doesn’t just get wiped away.

A: Indeed. Come to think of it, is this what the Stormfather meant back in the Dalinar/Navani wedding scene, where he accused Navani of having broken oaths before?

L: Ooooh, yeah, you might be right…

“Heroism is a myth you tell idealistic young people—specifically when you want them to go bleed for you. It got one of my sons killed and another taken from me. You can keep your heroism and return to me the lives of those wasted on foolish conflicts.”

L: I don’t agree with Lirin, but I can absolutely understand where he’s coming from on this. I can only imagine that after seeing Heralds-only-know-how-many soldiers dead or dying, that you’ll become jaded to the entire idea of war.

A: As with a few other characters, I can’t help wondering if there’s something else in Lirin’s backstory that created this kind of cynicism in him. It’s absolutely true that those with power will, all too often, play on the idealism of youth to carry out the most horrible agendas. That doesn’t mean there’s no true heroism, but I can totally see his viewpoint.

Weighty Words / The Knights Radiant

Gavilar suddenly stood up straight and glanced toward the doorway, though Navani hadn’t made any sound.

L: To me, this reads as a clue that he has a spren speaking to him already. But is it a Radiant spren, or a Void spren?

A: Gah. I don’t want Gavilar to have a Radiant spren! We know he was seeing the Stormfather visions and was on the Bondsmith path. This… really does come across as though there’s a spren involved, though, and not the Stormfather. Could it have been a Voidspren like Ulim?

L: That would make a lot of sense.

Cosmere Connections

“. . . Being able to bring them back and forth from Braize doesn’t mean anything,” one said. “It’s too close to be a relevant distance.”

“It was impossible only a few short years ago,” said a deep, powerful voice. Gavilar. “This is proof. The Connection is not severed, and the box allows for travel. Not yet as far as you’d like, but we must start the journey somewhere.”

L: Here we go. Let the Cosmere theories begin! Alice, you want to take lead on this one?

A: I’d love to, if I only knew where to start!! It would seem that they’ve figured out how to use something—Stormlight? Voidlight? Spren?—to send an object in a box from Roshar to Braize and back again. It looks to me like they’re experimenting with space travel of a sort—the kind that brought humans to Roshar in the first place, not just the kind most worldhoppers use by travelling through the Cognitive realm. Instantaneous space travel.

L: So, Star Trek transporters? Or, maybe more like lightspeed in Star Wars? Or or or maybe Stargates! (I’m having too much fun here.)

A: I’ll go with transporters, I think. That seems most similar. Alternatively, it could be that they know something about Investiture and its geocentric nature, and are experimenting to see how far a spren can be sent from its home planet before Connection is broken. The Heralds and the Fused seem to have at least some understanding of realmatics and the Cosmere, though the humans of the current era seem to have lost any of that knowledge. At this point I have no idea what kinds of esoteric things Gavilar may have learned, so we can only guess at how he’s trying to use it.

Given the players in this particular conversation, however… This is Gavilar talking with Nale and (by process of elimination) Kalak (see below), and Kalak is insisting that he wants “out.” Combined with Braize being “not as far as you’d like” to travel, it almost sounds like they’re looking for a way to take a Cognitive Shadow away from its home planet, and away from its home system altogether. Could they be on the edge of figuring out how to make a magic system work beyond its normal reach?

L: Interesting. I wasn’t aware that the magic systems had boundaries—we certainly see other Worldhoppers utilizing magic from different planets, like Hoid/Wit, Azure/Vivenna, and Zahel/Vasher. Though I guess two of them are from the same planet, Nalthis (from Warbreaker), and the magic system there is very inwardly-focused. We’ve seen Hoid use other forms of Investiture, haven’t we? We know from Secret History that he has Allomantic capabilities, but do we ever see him use those on Roshar?

A: Hmm. Now that you mention it, yes. Here on Roshar we see Hoid use Yolish Lightweaving; he comments on the benefits of holding Breath; he used Allomancy in Words of Radiance, and he was using white sand in Kholinar during Oathbringer.

L: He used Allomancy? When? I don’t remember that!

A: At Middlefest, Shallan saw him put some powder in his own drink, and then later he apparently used it to Soothe her.

L: See a “Word of Brandon” quote on the subject here.

A: But now I’ve disproven my own suggestion… so what were they doing?

L: Heck if I know. But I’m excited to see the speculation in the comments!

A: Indeed! I think I’m missing something obvious…

Secret Societies

““He was last seen with Brightlord Amaram and some of those . . . uncommon figures.”

That was the term the palace staff used for Gavilar’s new friends, the ones who seemed to arrive without warning or announcement, and who rarely gave their names.”

L: If you’re like me and get easily confused/forgetful about the different secret societies and what they’re up to… Gavilar is associated with the Sons of Honor.

The king was speaking with two men that Navani vaguely recognized. A tall Makabaki man with a birthmark on his cheek and a shorter Vorin man with a round face and a small nose. They’d been called ambassadors from the West, but no kingdom had been given for their home.

L: Reminder that the Makabaki man is Nale, aka one of the Heralds, and the other is almost certainly Kalak. But this is odd to me. What’s Gavilar doing talking to them directly, if the Sons of Honors’ goal is to bring back the Fused in order to usher in a return of the Heralds? They’re… right there. He’s talking to them. So… why? Are they hoping to forge a new Oathpact, maybe?

A: Or do the Sons of Honor only think Gavilar is part of their organization? Is he just using them and their resources to pursue his own goals? His later words to Navani about his legacy… I wonder.

Plus, you need to know that another of us is here tonight. I spotted her handiwork earlier.”

L: Presumably he’s talking about Shalash here, as in other POV sections we’re told that the statue of her has been destroyed, which is her MO. The palace was just filled with Heralds that night! (Jezrien was there, too.)

A: You know, I’d always assumed that she’d been there a long time ago and removed her statue, but now I realize that doesn’t make any sense. In the Kholinar palace, there’s no way they’d let a missing statue of a Herald just be missing for any length of time. Looking back, it now seems obvious from Szeth’s thoughts in the Prologue of TWoK that the missing statue would have to be very recently removed. So of course Shalash is here. That’s four Heralds. Are there others? (I half expect to find out eventually that all nine of them were there in some guise.)

L: I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised.

“I deal in secrets you could not handle, Navani. If you knew the scope of what I’ve begun . . .”

I have discovered the entrance to the realm of gods and legends, and once I join them, my kingdom will never end. I will never end.”

L: So… was he trying to become a Fused, then? Since their souls are reborn again and again into the physical realm…

A: Was he trying to become a new Herald, taking Kalak’s place? (Except maybe without the torture part?) I don’t know what he wanted. To become a new and greater Herald on Roshar, thinking he could actually destroy the Fused and be the legendary hero who freed them from the Voidbringers? To be a greater Fused? To Ascend and become Honor’s Vessel? To take both Honor and Odium, combining them into a new Shard? He certainly had ambition, whatever his goal was.

What We Missed (In the Timeskip)

It had been over a year since the coming of the Everstorm and the fall of Alethkar. A year during which the country of Herdaz—Alethkar’s smaller neighbor to the northwest—had somehow kept fighting. Two months ago, the enemy had finally decided to crush the kingdom for good.

L: Poor Herdazians. I hope that Lopen’s extended family are all okay!

A: Given that all Herdazians seem to see each other as “cousins,” it’s pretty much given that he’s lost some of them. Still, they seem to be a people who practice being cheerfully difficult. We’ve seen that in Lopen since the first book, and now it looks like he comes by it honestly!

In any case, it seems that all of Alethkar has indisputably come under the control of the Fused & the singers. Now Herdaz joins them, at least in terms of control of the land itself. The people, maybe not so much.

Fabrial Technology & Spheres

On the table between Gavilar and the men lay a group of spheres. Navani’s breath caught as she saw them. They were arrayed in a variety of colors and brightness, but several seemed strangely off. They glowed with an inverse of light, as if they were little pits of violet darkness, sucking in the color around them.

L: Oooh, interesting! Inverse of light? Voidlight, maybe?

A: Sure seems like a probability, given the descriptions we’ve seen of it so far!

The thing that’s going to really blow minds here, though, is the “group of spheres” on that table. There’s been raging debate in the fandom about whether Gavilar actually had two funky spheres. We’ve known for a long time that he gave one to Szeth, which the latter then hid somewhere in Jah Keved. We learned in Oathbringer that Gavilar also gave one to Eshonai, and so there was a question as to whether Eshonai’s was somehow returned to Gavilar, or if the one he gave Szeth was a second one.

Now we see that there were a whole group of them. Some of the ones Navani sees are probably just normal infused spheres, but there are also several—not just one, not just two, but several of the dark spheres lying on that table. When Navani checks after his death, though, the pouch is empty. What did he do with all of them??

L: I remember there being a lot of theorizing that some of the Unmade were trapped in these spheres, too…

A: Yes, there was a LOT of that. I’ve never believed it, though I certainly can’t disprove it. I think my biggest objection was that I just couldn’t see Gavilar handing Unmade-containing gemstones to Szeth and Eshonai so casually. The other objection, which I think is much stronger, is that these things on Gavilar’s desk are spheres – small gemstones encased in glass. The two cases we’ve seen of trapping an Unmade require “perfect gemstones”—not spheres—and the one of those we actually saw on the page was huge. The King’s Drop is described as the size of a child’s head. That’s most definitely not a sphere!

First, you must get a spren to approach.

The type of gemstone is relevant; some spren are naturally more intrigued by certain gemstones. In addition, it is essential to calm the spren with something it knows and loves. A good fire for a flamespren, for example, is a must.

L: It’s always cool to see more about fabrial tech! Though I have to admit that this act of trapping the spren has never sat right with me. They may not be sapient, but they are still living creatures, sort of. Trapping them this way just seems… cruel, to me.

A: Taravangian first told us about trapping spren with something they love, and Dalinar put that knowledge to good use when he trapped Nergaoul in the King’s Drop back on Thaylen Field. I’m still on the fence as to whether it’s cruel like trapping a wild animal, or generous like adopting a rescue puppy and guaranteeing it good food and cuddles for life. It’s trapped in the gemstone, true—but it’s also going to be given all the Stormlight it could want. In a sapient being (a human), I would question this: is it worth exchanging freedom for satiation? In a sentient being, the wild animal vs. rescue puppy is a more apt analogy, and has more to do with training than anything else. But are these spren even sentient, or are they more on the level of plants, flourishing when they have the right combination of water & light and dying when they don’t? Until we know more about the lower-level spren, we can’t really answer that.

L: Finally, this doesn’t have to do with fabrials or spheres, but I just have to point out how very…. timely this is:

“Disease isn’t caused by spren,” Lirin said. “It is spread by contaminated water, improper sanitation, or sometimes by the breath of those who bear it.”

L: (We hope you’re all doing okay out there, and remembering to wear your masks. Please be safe and take care of yourselves and those you love.)

A: Personally, I find it moderately hilarious that this was written well over a year ago, long before we ever heard of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19. Who knew Sanderson was a prophet?

We’ll be leaving the speculation to you in the comments, so have fun and remember to be respectful of the opinions of others! Also, remember to be careful about spoilers out there in the big wide world. A lot of people aren’t going to read the pre-release chapters (not wishing to torture themselves with one or two chapters a week); please respect that decision, and don’t damage their reading experience when it finally comes.

Alice is delighted to finally be able to start talking about Rhythm of War with the wider fan community. Don’t forget the spoiler tags!

Lyndsey is simultaneously thrilled and terrified about the release of her first full-length novel, which she has been working on for over five years. If you’d like a preview, check out the first three chapters on her website or go visit the Kickstarter page to listen to a sample of the eventual audiobook! And if you’re an aspiring author, a cosplayer, or just like geeky content, follow her work on Facebook or Instagram (though admittedly it’s been hard to come up with new cosplay content during a pandemic).

The post Rhythm of War Read-Along Discussion: Prologue and Chapter One appeared first on Reactor.

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Prologue: To Pretend

Seven Years Ago

Of course the Parshendi wanted to play their drums.

Of course Gavilar had told them they could.

And of course he hadn’t thought to warn Navani.

“Have you seen the size of those instruments?” Maratham said‚ running her hands through her black hair. “Where will we put them? And we’re already at capacity after your husband invited all the foreign dignitaries. We can’t—”

“We’ll set up a more exclusive feast in the upper ballroom,” Navani said, maintaining a calm demeanor, “and put the drums there, with the king’s table.”

Everyone else in the kitchens was close to panicking, assistant cooks running one direction or another, pots banging, anticipationspren shooting up from the ground like streamers. Gavilar had invited not only the highprinces, but their relatives. And every highlord in the city. And he wanted a double-sized Beggar’s Feast. And now… drums?

“We’ve already put everyone to work in the lower feast hall!” Maratham cried. “I don’t have the staff to set up—”

“There are twice as many soldiers as usual loitering around the palace tonight,” Navani said. “We’ll have them help you set up.” Posting extra guards, making a show of force? Gavilar could always be counted on to do that.

For everything else, he had Navani.

“Could work, yes,” Maratham said. “Good to put the louts to work rather than having them underfoot. We have two main feasts, then? All right. Deep breaths.” The short palace organizer scuttled away, narrowly avoiding an apprentice cook carrying a large bowl of steaming shellfish.

Navani stepped aside to let the cook pass. The man nodded in thanks; the staff had long since stopped being nervous when she entered the kitchens. She’d made it clear to them that doing their jobs efficiently was recognition enough.

Despite the underlying tension, they seemed to have things well in hand now—though there had been a scare earlier when they’d found worms in three barrels of grain. Thankfully, Brightlord Amaram had stores for his men, and Navani had been able to pry them out of his grip. For now, with the extra cooks they’d borrowed from the monastery, they might actually be able to feed all the people Gavilar had invited.

I’ll have to give instructions on who is to be seated in which feast room, she thought, slipping out of the kitchens and into the palace gardens. And leave some extra space in both. Who knows who else might show up with an invitation?

She hiked up through the gardens toward the side doors of the palace. She’d be less in the way—and wouldn’t have to dodge servants—if she took this path. As she walked, she scanned to make certain all the lanterns were in place. Though the sun hadn’t yet set, she wanted the Kholinar palace to shine brightly tonight.

Wait. Was that Aesudan—her daughter-in-law, Elhokar’s wife—standing near the fountains? She was supposed to be greeting guests inside. The slender woman wore her long hair in a bun lit by a gemstone of each shade. All those colors were gaudy together—Navani preferred a few simple stones themed to one color—but it did make Aesudan stand out as she chatted with two elderly ardents.

Storms bright and brash… that was Rushur Kris, the artist and master artifabrian. When had he arrived? Who had invited him? He was holding a small box with a flower painted on it. Could that be… one of his new fabrials?

Navani felt drawn toward the group, all other thoughts fleeing her mind. How had he made the heating fabrial, making the temperature vary? She’d seen drawings, but to talk to the master artist himself…

Aesudan saw Navani and smiled brightly. The joy seemed genuine, which was unusual—at least when directed at Navani. She tried not to take Aesudan’s general sourness toward her as a personal affront; it was the prerogative of every woman to feel threatened by her mother-inlaw. Particularly when the girl was so obviously lacking in talents.

Navani smiled at her in turn, trying to enter the conversation and get a better look at that box. Aesudan, however, took Navani by the arm. “Mother! I had completely forgotten about our appointment. I’m so fickle sometimes. Terribly sorry, Ardent Kris, but I must make a hasty exit.”

Aesudan tugged Navani—forcefully—back through the gardens toward the kitchens. “Thank Kelek you showed up, Mother. That man is the most dreadful bore.”

“Bore?” Navani said, twisting to gaze over her shoulder. “He was talking about…”

“Gemstones. And other gemstones. And spren and boxes of spren, and storms! You’d think he would understand. I have important people to meet. The wives of highprinces, the best generals in the land, all come to gawk at the wild parshmen. Then I get stuck in the gardens talking to ardents? Your son abandoned me there, I’ll have you know. When I find that man…”

Navani extricated herself from Aesudan’s grip. “Someone should entertain those ardents. Why are they here?”

“Don’t ask me,” Aesudan said. “Gavilar wanted them for something, but he made Elhokar entertain them. Poor manners, that is. Honestly!”

Gavilar had invited one of the world’s most prominent artifabrians to visit Kholinar, and he hadn’t bothered to tell Navani? Emotion stirred deep inside her, a fury she kept carefully penned and locked away. That man. That storming man. How… how could he…

Angerspren, like boiling blood, began to well up in a small pool at her feet. Calm, Navani, the rational side of her mind said. Maybe he intends to introduce the ardent to you as a gift. She banished the anger with effort.

“Brightness!” a voice called from the kitchens. “Brightness Navani! Oh, please! We have a problem.”

“Aesudan,” Navani said, her eyes still on the ardent, who was now slowly walking toward the monastery. “Could you help the kitchens with whatever they need? I’d like to…”

But Aesudan was already hurrying off toward another group in the gardens, one attended by several powerful highlord generals. Navani took a deep breath and shoved down another stab of frustration. Aesudan claimed to care about propriety and manners, but she’d insert herself into a conversation between men without bringing her husband along as an excuse.

“Brightness!” the cook called again, waving to her.

Navani took one last look at the ardent, then set her jaw and hurried to the kitchens, careful not to catch her skirt on the ornamental shalebark. “What now?”

“Wine,” the cook said. “We’re out of both the Clavendah and the Ruby Bench.”

“How?” she said. “We have reserves…” She shared a glance with the cook, and the answer was evident. Dalinar had found their wine store again. He’d grown quite ingenious at secretly draining the barrels for him and his friends. She wished he’d dedicate half as much attention to the kingdom’s needs.

“I have a private store,” Navani said, pulling her notebook from her pocket. She gripped it in her safehand through her sleeve as she scribbled a note. “I keep it in the monastery with Sister Talanah. Show her this and she’ll give you access.”

“Thank you, Brightness,” the cook said, taking the note. Before the man was out the door, Navani spotted the house steward—a white-bearded man with too many rings on his fingers—hovering in the stairwell to the palace proper. He was fidgeting with the rings on his left hand. Bother.

“What is it?” she asked, striding over.

“Highlord Rine Hatham has arrived, and is asking about his audience with the king. You remember, His Majesty promised to talk with Rine tonight about—”

“About the border dispute and the misdrawn maps, yes,” Navani said, sighing. “And where is my husband?”

“Unclear, Brightness,” the steward said. “He was last seen with Brightlord Amaram and some of those… uncommon figures.”

That was the term the palace staff used for Gavilar’s new friends, the ones who seemed to arrive without warning or announcement, and who rarely gave their names.

Navani ground her teeth, thinking through the places Gavilar might have gone. He would be angry if she interrupted him. Well, good. He should be seeing to his guests, rather than assuming she’d handle everything and everyone.

Unfortunately, at the moment she… well, she would have to handle everything and everyone.

She let the anxious steward lead her up to the grand entryway, where guests were being entertained with music, drink, and poetry while the feast was prepared. Others were escorted by master-servants to view the Parshendi, the night’s true novelty. It wasn’t every day the king of Alethkar signed a treaty with a group of mysterious parshmen who could talk.

She extended her apologies to Highlord Rine for Gavilar’s absence, offering to review the maps herself. After that, she was stopped by a line of impatient men and women brought to the palace by the promise of an audience with the king.

Navani assured the lighteyes their concerns were being heard. She promised to look into injustices. She soothed the crumpled feelings of those who thought a personal invitation from the king meant they’d actually get to see him—a rare privilege these days, unless you were one of the “uncommon figures.”

Guests were still showing up, of course. Ones who weren’t on the updated list an annoyed Gavilar had provided for her earlier that day.

Vev’s golden keys! Navani forcibly painted on an amicable face for the guests. She smiled, she laughed, she waved. Using the reminders and lists she kept in her notebook, she asked after families, new births, and favorite axehounds. She inquired about trade situations, took notes on which lighteyes seemed to be avoiding others. In short, she acted like a queen.

It was emotionally taxing work, but it was her duty. Perhaps someday she’d be able to spend her days tinkering with fabrials and pretending she was a scholar. Today, she’d do her job—though a part of her felt like an impostor. However prestigious her ancient lineage might be, her anxiety whispered that she was really just a backwater country girl wearing someone else’s clothing.

Those insecurities had grown stronger lately. Calm. Calm. There was no room for that sort of thinking. She rounded the room, pleased to note that Aesudan had found Elhokar and was chatting with him for once—rather than other men. Elhokar did look happy presiding over the pre-feast in his father’s absence. Adolin and Renarin were there in stiff uniforms—the former delighting a small group of young women, the latter appearing gangly and awkward as he stood by his brother.

And… there was Dalinar. Standing tall. Somehow taller than any man in the room. He wasn’t drunk yet, and people orbited him like they might a fire on a cold night—needing to be close, but fearing the true heat of his presence. Those haunted eyes of his, simmering with passion.

Storms alight. She excused herself and made a brief exit up the steps to where she wouldn’t feel so warm. It was a bad idea to leave; they were lacking a king, and questions were bound to arise if the queen vanished too. Yet surely everyone could get on without her for a short time. Besides, up here she could check one of Gavilar’s hiding places.

She wound her way through the dungeonlike hallways, passing Parshendi carrying drums nearby, speaking a language she did not understand. Why couldn’t this place have a little more natural light up here, a few more windows? She’d brought the matter up with Gavilar, but he liked it this way. It gave him more places to hide.

There, she thought, stopping at an intersection. Voices.

“…Being able to bring them back and forth from Braize doesn’t mean anything,” one said. “It’s too close to be a relevant distance.”

“It was impossible only a few short years ago,” said a deep, powerful voice. Gavilar. “This is proof. The Connection is not severed, and the box allows for travel. Not yet as far as you’d like, but we must start the journey somewhere.”

Navani peered around the corner. She could see a door at the end of the short hallway ahead, cracked open, letting the voices leak out. Yes, Gavilar was having a meeting right where she’d expected: in her study. It was a cozy little room with a nice window, tucked away in the corner of the second floor. A place she rarely had time to visit, but where people were unlikely to search for Gavilar.

She inched up to peek in through the cracked door. Gavilar Kholin had a presence big enough to fill a room all by himself. He wore a beard, but instead of being unfashionable on him, it was… classic. Like a painting come to life, a representation of old Alethkar. Some had thought he might start a trend, but few were able to pull off the look.

Beyond that, there was an air of… distortion around Gavilar. Nothing supernatural or nonsensical. It was just that… well, you accepted that Gavilar could do whatever he wanted, in defiance of any tradition or logic. For him, it would work out. It always did.

The king was speaking with two men that Navani vaguely recognized. A tall Makabaki man with a birthmark on his cheek and a shorter Vorin man with a round face and a small nose. They’d been called ambassadors from the West, but no kingdom had been given for their home.

The Makabaki one leaned against the bookcase, his arms folded, his face completely expressionless. The Vorin man wrung his hands, reminding Navani of the palace steward, though this man seemed much younger. Somewhere… in his twenties? Maybe his thirties? No, he could be older.

On the table between Gavilar and the men lay a group of spheres. Navani’s breath caught as she saw them. They were arrayed in a variety of colors and brightness, but several seemed strangely off. They glowed with an inverse of light, as if they were little pits of violet darkness, sucking in the color around them.

She’d never seen anything like them before, but gemstones with spren trapped inside could have all kinds of odd appearances and effects. Those spheres… they must be meant for fabrials. What was Gavilar doing with spheres, strange light, and distinguished artifabrians? And why wouldn’t he talk to her about—

Gavilar suddenly stood up straight and glanced toward the doorway, though Navani hadn’t made any sound. Their eyes met. So she pushed open the door as if she had been on her way in. She wasn’t spying; she was queen of this palace. She could go where she wished, particularly her own study.

“Husband,” she said. “There are guests missing you at the gathering. You seem to have lost track of time.”

“Gentlemen,” Gavilar said to the two ambassadors, “I will need to excuse myself.”

The nervous Vorin man ran his hand through his wispy hair. “I want to know more of the project, Gavilar. Plus, you need to know that another of us is here tonight. I spotted her handiwork earlier.”

“I have a meeting shortly with Meridas and the others,” Gavilar said. “They should have more information for me. We can speak again after that.”

“No,” the Makabaki man said, his voice sharp. “I doubt we shall.”

“There’s more here, Nale!” the Vorin man said, though he followed as his friend left. “This is important! I want out. This is the only way…”

“What was that about?” Navani asked as Gavilar closed the door. “Those are no ambassadors. Who are they really?”

Gavilar did not answer. With deliberate motions, he began plucking the spheres off the table and placing them into a pouch.

Navani darted forward and snatched one. “What are these? How did you get spheres that glow like this? Does this have to do with the artifabrians you’ve invited here?” She looked to him, waiting for some kind of answer, some explanation.

Instead, he held out his hand for her sphere. “This does not concern you, Navani. Return to the feast.”

She closed her hand around the sphere. “So I can continue to cover for you? Did you promise Highlord Rine you’d mediate his dispute tonight of all times? Do you know how many people are expecting you? And did you say you have another meeting to go to now, before the feast begins? Are you simply going to ignore our guests?”

“Do you know,” he said softly, “how tired I grow of your constant questions, woman?”

“Perhaps try answering one or two, then. It’d be a novel experience, treating your wife like a human being—rather than like a machine built to count the days of the week for you.”

He wagged his hand, demanding the sphere.

Instinctively she gripped it tighter. “Why? Why do you continue to shut me out? Please, just tell me.”

“I deal in secrets you could not handle, Navani. If you knew the scope of what I’ve begun…”

She frowned. The scope of what? He’d already conquered Alethkar. He’d united the highprinces. Was this about how he had turned his eyes toward the Unclaimed Hills? Surely settling a patch of wildlands—populated by nothing more than the odd tribe of parshmen—was nothing compared to what he’d already accomplished.

He took her hand, forced apart her fingers, and removed the sphere. She didn’t fight him; he would not react well. He had never used his strength against her, not in that way, but there had been words. Comments. Threats.

He took the strange transfixing sphere and stashed it in the pouch with the others. He pulled the pouch tight with a taut snap of finality, then tucked it into his pocket.

“You’re punishing me, aren’t you?” Navani demanded. “You know my love of fabrials. You taunt me specifically because you know it will hurt.”

“Perhaps,” Gavilar said, “you will learn to consider before you speak, Navani. Perhaps you will learn the dangerous price of rumors.”

This again? she thought. “Nothing happened, Gavilar.”

“Do you think I care?” Gavilar said. “Do you think the court cares? To them, lies are as good as facts.”

That was true, she realized. Gavilar didn’t care if she’d been unfaithful to him—and she hadn’t. But the things she’d said had started rumors, difficult to smother.

All Gavilar cared about was his legacy. He wanted to be known as a great king, a great leader. That drive had always pushed him, but it was growing into something else lately. He kept asking: Would he be remembered as Alethkar’s greatest king? Could he compete with his ancestors, men such as the Sunmaker?

If a king’s court thought he couldn’t control his own wife, wouldn’t that stain his legacy? What good was a kingdom if Gavilar knew that his wife secretly loved his brother? In this, Navani represented a chip in the marble of his all-important legacy.

“Speak to your daughter,” Gavilar said, turning toward the door. “I believe I have managed to soothe Amaram’s pride. He might take her back, and her time is running out. Few other suitors will consider her; I’ll likely need to pay half the kingdom to get rid of the girl if she denies Meridas again.”

Navani sniffed. “You speak to her. If what you want is so important, maybe you could do it yourself for once. Besides, I don’t care for Amaram. Jasnah can do better.”

He froze, then looked back and spoke in a low, quiet voice. “Jasnah will marry Amaram, as I have instructed her. She will put aside this fancy of becoming famous by denying the church. Her arrogance stains the reputation of the entire family.”

Navani stepped forward and let her voice grow as cold as his. “You realize that girl still loves you, Gavilar. They all do. Elhokar, Dalinar, the boys… they worship you. Are you sure you want to reveal to them what you truly are? They are your legacy. Treat them with care. They will define how you are remembered.”

“Greatness will define me, Navani. No mediocre effort by someone like Dalinar or my son could undermine that—and I personally doubt Elhokar could rise to even mediocre.”

“And what about me?” she said. “I could write your history. Your life. Whatever you think you’ve done, whatever you think you’ve accomplished… that’s ephemeral, Gavilar. Words on the page define men to future generations. You spurn me, but I have a grip on what you cherish most. Push me too far, and I will start squeezing.”

He didn’t respond with shouts or rage, but the cold void in his eyes could have consumed continents and left only blackness. He raised his hand to her chin and gently cupped it, a mockery of a once-passionate gesture.

It was more painful than a slap.

“You know why I don’t involve you, Navani?” he said softly. “Do you think you can take the truth?”

“Try for once. It would be refreshing.”

“You aren’t worthy, Navani. You claim to be a scholar, but where are your discoveries? You study light, but you are its opposite. A thing that destroys light. You spend your time wallowing in the muck of the kitchens and obsessing about whether or not some insignificant lighteyes recognizes the right lines on a map.

“These are not the actions of greatness. You are no scholar. You merely like being near them. You are no artifabrian. You are merely a woman who likes trinkets. You have no fame, accomplishment, or capacity of your own. Everything distinctive about you came from someone else. You have no power—you merely like to marry men who have it.”

“How dare you—”

“Deny it, Navani,” he snapped. “Deny that you loved one brother, but married the other. You pretended to adore a man you detested—all because you knew he would be king.”

She recoiled from him, pulling out of his grip and turning her head to the side. She closed her eyes and felt tears on her cheeks. It was more complicated than he implied, as she had loved both of them—and Dalinar’s intensity had frightened her, so Gavilar had seemed the safer choice.

But there was a truth to Gavilar’s accusation. She could lie to herself and say she’d seriously considered Dalinar, but they’d all known she’d eventually choose Gavilar. And she had. He was the more influential of the two.

“You went where the money and power would be greatest,” Gavilar said. “Like any common whore. Write whatever you want about me. Say it, shout it, proclaim it. I will outlive your accusations, and my legacy will persist. I have discovered the entrance to the realm of gods and legends, and once I join them, my kingdom will never end. I will never end.”

He left then, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. Even in an argument he controlled the situation.

Trembling, Navani fumbled her way to a seat by the desk, which boiled over with angerspren. And shamespren, which fluttered around her like white and red petals.

Fury made her shake. Fury at him. At herself for not fighting back. At the world, because she knew what he said was at least partially true.

No. Don’t let his lies become your truth. Fight it. Teeth gritted, she opened her eyes and began rummaging in her desk for some oil paint and paper.

She began painting, taking care with each calligraphic line. Pride—as if proof to him— compelled her to be meticulous and perfect. The act usually soothed her. The way that neat, orderly lines became words, the way that paint and paper transformed into meaning.

In the end, she had one of the finest glyphwards she’d ever created. It read, simply, Death. Gift. Death. She’d drawn each glyph in the shapes of Gavilar’s tower or sword heraldry.

The prayer burned eagerly in the lamp flame, flaring bright—and as it did, her catharsis turned to shame. What was she doing? Praying for her husband’s death? The shamespren returned in a burst.

How had it come to this? Their arguments grew worse and worse. She knew he was not this man, the one he showed her lately. He wasn’t like this when he spoke to Dalinar, or to Sadeas, or even—usually—to Jasnah.

Gavilar was better than this. She suspected he knew it too. Tomorrow she would receive flowers. No apology to accompany them, but a gift, usually a bracelet.

Yes, he knew he should be something more. But… somehow she brought out the monster in him. And he somehow brought out the weakness in her. She slammed her safehand palm against the table, rubbing her forehead with her other hand.

Storms. It seemed not so long ago that they’d sat conspiring together about the kingdom they would forge. Now they barely spoke without reaching for their sharpest knives—stabbing them right into the most painful spots with an accuracy gained only through longtime familiarity.

She composed herself with effort, redoing her makeup, touching up her hair. She might be the things he said, but he was no more than a backwater thug with too much luck and a knack for fooling good men into following him.

If a man like that could pretend to be a king, she could pretend to be a queen. At any rate, they had a kingdom.

At least one of them should try to run it.

***

Navani didn’t hear of the assassination until it had been accomplished.

At the feast, they’d been the model of perfect royalty, cordial to one another, leading their respective meals. Then Gavilar had left, fleeing as soon as he could find an excuse. At least he’d waited until the dining was finished.

Navani had gone down to bid farewell to the guests. She had implied that Gavilar wasn’t deliberately snubbing anyone. He was merely exhausted from his extensive touring. Yes, she was certain he’d be holding audience soon. They’d love to visit once the next storm passed…