Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive, #3)

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Part One:
I still think Rock may be Shallan's brother Helaran. It occurs to me that he may share Shallan's ability to disguise his appearance and she shies away from remembering what her brother looks like. In fact Shallan's memory seems to be a quagmire of uncertainty, leaving readers with the same tortured questions of what actually took place in Shallan's past.

This book seems to be dwelling a lot on the past, Dalinar spends a lot of time thinking of the past. We catch glimpses of a Dalinar who is very different than the man we have come to know. This Dalinar lives to kill and is consumed by something he refers to as "The Thrill". And yet he is coming into his own. Against the wishes of the ardents he marries Navani. He also begins to recall his first wife Evi. Elhokar swears fealty to Dalinar, making Dalinar a sort of high King of Roshar.

Kaladin returns home to warn his parents and the villagers of the coming storms. He gets there too late but finds his parents still alive, as well as many of the villagers. The parshmen didn't attack but ran away. Curious about where they are going he tracks them, and when he is discovered allows them to take him prisoner. When he realizes they have children with them he starts helping them and a sort of friendship begins to form between Kaladin and many of the group. They reach a town where the parshmen from all over are gathering and Kaladin realizes it is time to leave his new "friends" but when an unexpected storm arrives Kaladin goes back to make sure the human prisoners are safe before leaving even though it means he has to deal with the red eyed parshmen, referred to as The Fused.

Adolin is put in charge of finding out who is killing people when a second body is found murdered the same way as Sadeas, of course Adolin knows that the second murder was done by a copycat as he is the one who killed Sadeas. The investigation eventually leads them to Re-Shephir (the Midnight Mother, Mother of Lies) who is terrified that Shallan will have the ability to imprison her and eventually flees leaving Adolin in possession of numerous gemstones. Sadeas' wife makes Amaram high Prince of her family to Adolin's dismay. Adolin also begins to teach Shallan to use her sword and the two grow closer.

Jasnah Kholin (who is very much alive) arrives in Urithiru.

Part Two:
Just when I was ready to say I was totally wrong about Rock being Helaran something happens to make me think "well maybe". Rock's family has arrived (wife and kids) and we learn more about his past but one of the interesting things we learn is that Rock's children are allowed to worship any God they wish and his son worships the Vorin God.

Rlain (the Bridge Four Parshmen) feels alone and attempts to explain that "his people" are all gone or changed.

Moash was captured by The Fused and enslaved, he is working with the Parshmen Kaladin befriended and is teaching them how to fight.

Teft is battling his addiction.

Dalinar meets Odium in one of his visions and Odium attempts to explain to Dalinar why he should free him.

Jasnah has to adjust to the changes in Shallan. Shallan learns "why" Helaran attacked Amaram. Amaram was working with King Gavilar (Dalinar's elder brother) to bring back the Voidbringers in a misguided attempt to strengthen their religion. Sadeas was probably in on the plot too. Sadeas and Gavilar often left Dalinar out of their plans and treated him like a barbarian who was good for slaughtering their enemies but incapable of understanding the "bigger picture" so it seems plausible that Dalinar who would have objected to their "plan" would be left out and explains the rift between Sadeas and Dalinar.

Part Three: (and rats I have to return the library book so it will be awhile before I get to read Part 4) Dalinar is using diplomacy not the sword to bring everyone on Roshar together to the surprise of many. But just as he wins the Azish over his memories of what happened to Evi 12 years ago return. Rathalas rebelled and Dalinar was sent to quash the rebellion, Evi pleaded with him not to kill anyone so he attempted to parlay with King Tanalan whose life Dalinar had spared when he was a baby. Tanalan pretended to accept Dalinar's offer of Peace and told him that Sadeas was betraying Gavilar and secretly helping him, and where he could find the traitors.Dalinar and some of his men set off to capture the traitors, but it was an ambush and Dalinar was severely injured and his men were killed. Everyone assumed Dalinar was killed and were shocked when a badly injured Dalinar walked into camp, Sadeas reinforcements had arrived so when Dalinar decides to burn Rathalas to the ground in retaliation, Sadeas eggs him on and Dalinar finds it easy to ignore Evi's pleas for peace. Unbeknownst to Dalinar Evi snuck out of the war camp and went to the city to warn them, when she was taken prisoner. Dalinar had the emissaries King Tanalan sent out slaughtered before they could tell him they were holding Evi hostage and she along with many other women and children died when Dalinar burned the city to the ground. Dalinar finds it almost impossible to deal with what he has done, even though the Stormfather considers what he did "Justice", although since the Stormfather has bonded with Dalinar he is beginning to understand human morality.

Shallan's "personalities/disguises" are becoming more distinct while Shallan is in love with Adolin Veil is attracted to Kaladin. Kaladin has picked up on the attraction and is somewhat confused by Shallan's behavior. Shallan, Kaladin, Adolin and King Elhokar go to Kholinar to rescue Queen Aesudan, their son, Prince Gavinor and reclaim the city. (I am really beginning to like Elhokar he is maturing nicely and would have been a wonderful King given time) When they get there they stay with Adolin's tailor while they try to find out what is going on. There are two Unmade in the city causing all sorts of problems, the Queen and her Guard that stayed loyal to her are holed up in the Palace and the Parshmen periodically attack The Walls. Shallan starts feeding a young beggar boy (Grund) in exchange for information. She also meets with Wit. Shallan is attempting to infiltrate the Cult that has taken over the platform the Oathgate is on and where the two Unmade are located in the control building. Her job is to open the Oathgate so that reinforcements from Urithiru can come to Kholinar's aid. In order to get the Cult's attention Shallan starts stealing food and distributing it to the people Grund told her needed it. Eventually she is invited to join the Cult but she is forced to flee when the Unmade start to get inside her head. She goes to see Grund and discovers him being attacked for the food she had been giving him. He tells her he hates her with his dying breath and Shallan starts to come undone. Wit eventually finds her and convinces her she is strong enough as Shallan to bear the memories from her past and to do what she has too.

Kaladin joins the Wall Guard and becomes friendly with the men in his unit. He meets the mysterious Highmarshal Azure (who turns out to be a woman) he tells her he is there with King Elhokar and she agrees to help with Elhokar's assault on The Palace. Highmarshal Azure, the troops from the Wall that can be spared, Elhokar and Kaladin go to the Palace while Adolin and Shallan go to the Oathgate. Queen Aesudan has joined the Parshmen (she actually seems to be one), but Elhokar and Kaladin are able to rescue Prince Gavinor and Kaladin sends Elhokar and the Prince away with a guard while he attempts to hold the Queens troops off. Unfortunately the Parshmen arrive before they can escape and when Kaladin recognizes the Parshmen he befriended amongst the attackers he freezes and is unable to bring himself to attack. He screams for everyone to stop killing each other and watches helplessly as Moash kills Elhokar who is holding his son in his arms and just beginning to say the words that would bond him to a spren. (I hope that he was actually able to bond and somehow managed to survive I am going to be very sad if he is really dead, Shallan has managed to survive being killed multiple times in this book so if he was actually able to use Stormlight it is a possibility.) The Queen's troops take Prince Gavinor and Adolin arrives and gets Kaladin and the survivors to the Oathgate platform. One of the Unmade (Ashertmarn) flees, but Shallan is talking with Sja-anat who warns Shallan not to use the Oathgate that she has been forced to touch the spren of the device so it wouldn't function as Shallan wanted by Ashertmarn. Shallan warns Adolin that the Oathgate is a trap, but he tells her they have no choice they must use the Oathgate or die. Sja-anat says she will try not to kill them. The book ends with Adolin, Shallan, Kaladin and Azure being transported to a strange place with a sea of beads everywhere but the platform they are standing on and strange creatures (enormous spren) inhabiting it. I have to say I agree with the creature that stated "Oh, this is bad, so very, very bad"

Part Four:
Adolin, Shallan, Kaladin and Azure with the help of their spren take passage on a ship Captained by Ico. When they get to they city they discover that Voidspren are in Shadesmar and have taken over. In order to escape them Syl (aka: Ancient Daughter) turns herself over to the Honorspren who are hunting her and they all get passage on the Honorspren ship. Adolin confesses to Shallan that he killed Torol Sadeas, and she praises him for it. But Adolin also sees how she looks at Kaladin and mistakenly thinks Shallan is in love with Kaladin. When the Voidspren follow them, the Captain of the Honorspren ship (Notum) decides that the honorable thing to do is to help them, so Notum puts Adolin, Shallan and Kaladin ashore near one of the Oathgates, so hopefully they can escape Shadesmar, but they discover the Oathgate is being guarded by the Voidspren. Azure chooses to stay with the Honorspren ship.

Szeth trains with the Skybreakers and Nin decides to tell him of the decision the Heralds made to sacrifice one of their own to end the cycle of pain and death, which became known as the Aharietiam.

Dalinar has trouble dealing with the fact he caused Evi's death and starts drinking again leaving Navani to keep the alliance together. He eventually stops drinking and starts working with the alliance to save Roshar when the alliance learns that; Elhokar swore fealty to Dalinar, Dalinar had visions he didn't tell them about, Dalinar had the Stormfather bring Venli into one of the visions so he could ask her if they could find a peaceful solution, and that the Dawnchant has been translated and it wasn't written by a human. The writer was a Dawnsinger (parshmen) and the otherworlders were the humans (Voidbringers). The humans had destroyed their own world with Surgebinding and invaded Roshar. When the Radiants discovered this they walked away rather than fight for something "wrong". The Stormfather has been trying to hide this "truth". The alliance falls apart.

Taravangian plots against Dalinar.

A parshman steals"the King's Drop" (huge gemstone that never loses it's Stormlight).

Another parshman attacks Rock, Bisig and Eth in order to get the Honorblade Eth was carrying. He got in wearing the coat Teft sold in order to buy drugs. Rock and Bisig survive the attack, but Eth is killed. Feeling guilty over selling his coat Teft leaves, only to stumble upon the Parshmen attacking Urithiru.

Part 5:
Teft's spren pesters him to say the words and become a Radiant.

Dalinar remembers everything about his visit to The Nightwatcher including the fact she intended for him to regain his memories. It's part of her plan to defeat Odium (the god the humans brought with them when they came to Roshar).

When the parshmen army leaves Shadesmar for Thaylen City Adolin and Kaladin attempt to distract the guards that are left behind while Shallan figures out how to work the Oathgate, but instead Shallan learns that Honor has forbidden the Gatekeepers (two enormous spren) from allowing passage. The army they saw was comprised of souls of the dead and did not need the portal. Adolin is seriously wounded and Kaladin can't find it in himself to speak the words needed to heal him.

Amaram and his army are taken over by Voidspren and join the attack on Thaylen City.

Prime Aqasix Yanagawn the First Emperor of all Makabak attempts to go back and help the Thaylen's but when his advisors learn that Amaram joined the Parshmen he is convinced it was an Alethi trick. Lift did get away from her guard and go back and Dalinar sends her to get "the King's Drop".

Szeth chooses not to stay with Nin and the other Skybreakers who will fight on the side of the Parshmen as they were the original inhabitants of Roshar, but instead swears himself to Dalinar Kholin. Dalinar goes to face Odium alone with nothing more than a book (The Way of Kings). Dalinar ask for a contest of champions and Odium agrees to it. Dalinar thinks that Odium will choose Amaram as his champion but to Dalinar's dismay he chooses Dalinar to be his champion. It turns out that "The Thrill" Dalinar experienced during battle was an unmade spren (it's the same thing that has taken over Amaram's troops) Odium tries to get Dalinar to place the blame for what happened to Evi on being under the influence of Odium and his spren. But Dalinar refuses to do so and takes full responsibility for the choices he made. This allows Dalinar to become Unity and unite the physical world, the world of minds and the spiritual realm, he pulls Adolin, Shallan and Kaladin out of Shadesmar and Renarin is able to heal Adolin.

Jasnah realizes Renarin isn't a Knight Radiant, but they are unsure what he is, but when Jasnah doesn't kill him they realize his visions don't necessarily come true.

Ash (Herald) finds Taln she expects him to hate her and the other Heralds for abandoning him, but he thinks it is a wonderful thing because it gave the humans time to recover.

Teft is able to defeat the Parshmen in Urithiru and bring aid to Thaylen City. Just when Amaram is about to kill Kaladin Rock uses a Shardbow to kill Amaram ( ? how did Rock know how to use it and have the strength to use it without Shardplate).

Another interesting thing is Adolin's Shardblade that is supposedly dead defended him in Shadesmar when he was wounded, and when they are fighting the thunderclast told him her name was Mayalaran and he starts calling her Maya.

Venli bonds with an honorspren but keeps it a secret from Odium and The Fused.

Szeth and Left are able to get "the King's Drop" to Dalinar and he is able to use it to trap "the Thrill". At which point Odium and his followers retreat.

Moash kills Jezerezeh'Elin, King of Heralds for The Fused. I really can't forgive him for killing Elhokar and Jezrien. And yes I now believe Elhokar is dead, really sad about this as he had so much potential. In return Moash is given The Blade of Jezerezeh.

Lopen becomes a Full Knight Radiant.

Dalinar ask Navani to teach him how to read. Jasnah is named Queen of Alethkar, after Adolin refuses the position of King.

Kaladin flies to a group of refugees after they contact him by spanreed and discovers that Skar and Drehy managed to save Elhokar's son. I think if Elhokar had managed to survive he would have been with them.

Taravangian's Diagram has been proven wrong (Renarin apparently has the ability to change it) and now Dalinar knows enough not to completely trust Taravangian. He doesn't know that Taravangian was the traitor that brought the singers "Parshmen" to Urithiru, but he does know that it was Taravangian that hired Szeth to kill him. He also doesn't know that Taravangian is working with Odium.

Shallan and Adolin marry, and her surviving brothers are at the ceremony.

Wit rescues a Pattern from the Kholinar Palace where Elhokar was killed. (Another reason I think Elhokar is dead I believe the Pattern was Elhokar's spren).

From what I have read it will be 2020 before the next book comes out. Really don't understand why he couldn't write 5 smaller books some of which would be published sooner. I really hate holding these LARGE books and I hate having to wait so long between books because you forget so much.



View all my reviews