Rhythm of War by
Brandon Sanderson
My rating:
3 of 5 stars
I do wish that instead of ONE EXTREMELY LARGE BOOK HE WOULD SELL 4 SMALLER BOOKS, and is the reason for the 3 stars.
Part One
Kaladin rescues his family and the other villagers of Heartstone, but continues to have problems with Moash's betrayal. Kaladin allows Moash to escape justice once again. Kaladin was also confronted with a fabrial that stole his powers. He also believes the Heavenly Ones have a sense of honor when Leshwi is about to kill Sigzil Kaladin ask for mercy and she grants it, apparently because Kaladin had spared a Heavenly One in an earlier battle. Dalinar relives Kaladin of command and ask him to find another way to be of service. Teft chooses to go with Kaladin and Rock returns to his homeland to face punishment for using a weapon.
Shallan continues to have problems with her "personas" . On a mission to arrest Ialai Sadeas, Ialai is killed after Shallan takes her prisoner. Shallan is determined to find out who in their group betrayed them. I actually think it was Shallan herself under the control of a persona she doesn't know about yet. Mraize (the leader of the Ghostbloods) instructs Shallan to make contact with Restares who has taken refuge in the city of Lasting Integrity in Shadesmar. He tells her she will know what to do once she finds him.
Navani creates a platform that is instrumental in moving Kaladin's family and the villagers to safety in Urithiru.
Venli - continues to keep the fact she is a Knight Radiant a secret from The Fused she serves.
Lirin is overjoyed to be with his son again and persuades Kaladin to pick up his medical studies.
(Interludes) Sylphrena worries about Kaladin and tries to explain to the humans how betrayed the Honorspren felt by them and that they are responsible for the deaths of a large majority of her people. Sja-anat sends one of her "children" to Mraize she is sacrificing some to save others. Taravangian plots to help "the enemy" in order to save Kharbranth fully expecting to be executed as a traitor
Part Two:
Shallan Adolin Kaladin Navani Venli
Shallan and Adolin are in Shadesmar on a diplomatic mission to hopefully gain the help of the Honorspren. Shallan is plagued by her lost memories, and withdraws further and further into herself. Veil is taking charge more and more. Shallan start to believe that Pattern may be the spy in their group and finds it very hard to deal with the thought that her "friend" may have betrayed her. When Notum is attacked by a group of humans Adolin rescues him pretty much single handed with the help of Maya and Gallant (Dalinar's horse). Because Notum is badly wounded Adolin insist on taking him to Lasting Integrity with them even though Notum was exiled for helping them before and it will hurt their case. When the Honorspren insist they leave, Adolin who was wounded himself, insist that they give him a trial. Adolin insist that his actions do not warrant the way he is being treated by the Honorspren.
Kaladin finds satisfaction in working with men who are suffering depression (PTSD) and similar symptoms to what he suffers. He feels he can really make a difference as he knows first hand what they are going through. Unfortunately everything changes for him again when the Voidbringers attack. The first he knows of the attack is when Teft looses consciousness while drinking with Kaladin and Rlain, they soon discover that all the Radiants except for Kaladin have lost consciousness and that Kaladin has lost some of his powers. Seeking help for Teft from his Father Kaladin encourages Rlain to hide, eventually Rlain makes the painful decision to try to rejoin his people and act as a spy for Kaladin. Lirin convinces Kaladin not to fight but to stay in the surgery helping him. but when the tower falls and they come to take Teft Kaladin fights to protect his friend. Lirin is upset by Kaladin's actions and tells him to leave and that his family will not go into hiding with him.
Navani is contacted by the Sibling (the soul of the tower) he tells her that the Lady of Pains (Raboniel) is trying to corrupt him and how she can prevent it. Navani makes a desperate attempt to infuse the Sibling with Stormlight before her men fall.Once Teofil and his men are defeated Navani destroys the fabrial in an attempt to protect the Sibling, then surrenders the tower (Urithiru). To Navani's dismay Raboniel offers her a job working for her doing research.
Venli has been instructed to assist Raboniel during the attack.
Interludes: Vyre, Lift, Taravangian
Vyre is the name Moash is going by now. Odium has pretty much made him emotionless but he is still tied to his feelings of friendship to Kaladin. Odium instruct Moash to go to Urithiru, because Kaladin is causing trouble. Odium instructs Moash to break him.
Lift (Spren Wyndle) is another Radiant that didn't lose consciousness, although she too has lost some of her powers. She was in hiding but has been spotted by mysterious man in an Alethi uniform who is chasing her. He eventually takes her prisoner and hands her over to Raboniel.
Taravangian goes through with his plant to betray Dalinar and save Kharbranth, but when Odium summons him he realizes that their may be a way to defeat Odium and that it revolves around Renarin. Taravangian is now determined to fight Odium.
I have to return the library book so once I get it back I'll pick back up with Part 3 page 577
I didn't expect it to be 2 months before I got the book back UNFORTUNATELY NOT EVERYONE RETURNS BOOKS WHEN THEY ARE DUE.
Part 3: Kaladin, Navani, Dalinar, Venli, Eshonai, Jasnah, Renarin
The Sibling puts Kaladin and Navani in contact with one another unfortunately the Lady of Pains (Raboniel) is able to monitor their communication when part three comes to a close The Sibling has been greatly weakened by Raboniel corrupting him with Void Light and Kaladin was forced to destroy the 3rd Node. Kaladin was severely injured and forced to flee out into a Storm. The only good thing was that Dalinar had joined with the Stormfather and was able to speak with Kaladin and learn of the towers capture.
The Sibling also lead Dabbid to Kaladin and he has been helping care for Teft in the secret room The Sibling lead Kaladin to, and bringing them supplies. When The Sibling called for help Dabbid was going to try to defend him when they (Dabbid & Syl) were unable to wake Kaladin. Syl managed to wake Kaladin and he got to Dabbid in time, but Dabbid spoke to him for the first time "Life before Death". I think this important as I think The Sibling may choose to bond with Dabbid.
Dalinar is trying to learn more about his powers as a Bondsmith and with the knowledge of the Towers Capture his determination to learn faster grows. He is attempting to visit the last living Bondsmith, who is hopefully still sane.
Rlain was taken prisoner and was to be executed as a spy but Venli managed to have him freed and he is with Kaladin's family who is caring for the Radiants. Venli blames herself for her people's destruction and her and a small group of singers are trying to escape from the fused. As far as I know Eshonai is dead but flashbacks to the past showed how Eshonai was an explorer and was eager to meet with and interact with the humans. Eshonai was one of the first to take on War Form.
Jasnah is fighting in the battle and exploring her powers. Renarin was barely mentioned, so I am not sure why he was included in the list.
Interludes: Szeth, Chiri-Chiri, Taravangian
Taravangian asked for an oath stone in an attempt to get Szeth to visit him. The ploy worked but Szeth refused to help him. Renarin also visited him and said he saw a chance for Taravangian to redeem himself. Chiri-Chiri is a Cremling that Rysn keeps as a pet. To Rysn's surprise Chiri-Chiri can speak.
Part 4: Adolin, Shallan, Navani, Venli, Eshonai, Bridge 4
Adolin's trial is going badly and it starts going even worse when Shallan tries to kill the Judge (Kelek, an Herald) for the Ghost Bloods. In order to stop her Veil reveals the past to Shallan and how she killed her original Spren. Kelek and Shallan are interrupted by several honorspren lead by Sekeir, and imprisoned. Sekeir takes over as the judge and has Maya called as a witness. Sekeir intends to speak for her as Deadeyes can't communicate, against all odds Maya manages to communicate and reveals an unexpected Truth the Radiants and Spren decided together that the Radiants should break their oaths.
Dabbid goes to Kaladin's parents for help when he can't wake Kaladin up and he isn't healing. Lirin refuses the demand not to turn him over to the authorities even though he might be executed so Rlain and Dabbid refuse to reveal where Kaladin is. Venli offers a solution they can help Lift escape and she can heal Kaladin if her powers of healing are still working. Together Venli, Rlain and Dabbid break Lift out of jail and Dabbid and Rlain take her to Kaladin where she not only heals him but also Teft. She can wake the Radiants up but she has to keep healing them or they fall back in a coma, plans are made to wake the rest of the Radiants up.
Navani finds the anti-Voidlight and hopes it can be used to destroy Odium but Raboniel discovers her work and after killing her daughter (a Fused who has lost her mind) she takes Navani's work and plans to use it to create anti-Stormlight and kill the Radiants.
Venli tells Rlain that she is responsible for bringing the Fused back and killing their people but that their may still be a small group of their people left in the Mountains. It's also possible Eshonai is still alive. She plans to go to them and refuses Rlain's request to help free the Radiants.
Interludes: Hesina, Adin, Taravangian:
Hesina worries about her Father and ask Lirin to give their son a chance and to really listen to the people who are caring for the Radiants and wearing Kaladin's glyph.
Adin a young boy dreams of becoming a Radiant. While his Father appears to be a simple potter Alalan goes to the aid of the Radiants with Adin in tow when the Fuse come to get them for Raboniel's experiments.
Sja-anat (Unmade) promises to give Taravangian gemstones with two of her children trapped inside in order to draw Odium to him. It's Taravangian's hope that Szeth can kill him with his sword, if he can arrange for them both to be in the same place at the same time.
Part Five: The Knights Radiant, Navani, Bridge Four, Taravangian, Vyre, Lezian, Wit
Oh my this is bad, I think it may be very bad Wit has been outwitted. Wit (Cephandrius) has his memories stolen by Taravangian (the new Odium) and believes he is still dealing with Rayse. Taravangian is far smarter than Rayse was. Luckily it was Rayse that accepted Dalinar's terms for the dual. Wit does sense that something is wrong.
Taravangian's plot to kill Odium went horribly wrong. He did manage to get Odium and Szeth together at the same time, but Szeth killed Taravangian. Taravangian was able to use Szeth's sword to kill Rayse (the body Odium was housed in) but there wasn't enough light in the sword to finish Odium and Odium took Taravangian as a replacement.
Taft was killed during the attempted rescue of the Knights Radiant, but the humans protected the Radiants with the help of Venli and The Heavenly Ones that follow Leshwi, until Navani was able to bond with The Sibling.
The Pursuer (Lezian) was defeated by Kaladin. Although the Pursuer is still able to return Kaladin killed him twice, and his reputation has been unmade.
Navani's plans went astray when Rlain was unable to get to her and bond with The Sibling, as planned. Navani found the anti-Voidlight dagger Raboniel used to kill her daughter and uses it to attack Raboniel there isn't enough anti-Voidlight to kill Raboniel but she is fatally wounded. When Moash (Vyre) comes to kill Navani he severely wounds her but Raboniel uses her remaining strength to slow him down. It buys Navani the time she needs to rid The Sibling of Voidlight and bond with him. (This of course wakes the Radiants up). Raboniel ask Navani to finish killing her with anti-Voidlight, so that she will not return and will die sane.
Venli finds her people (who are protected by a chasm fiend) and her Mother is among them, bonding a spren does indeed heal her Mother.
Eshonai is dead but thanks to the Stormfather's mercy she died free and a Radiant.
Kaladin says the words to advance "I accept that there will be those I cannot protect" and is able to save himself and his Father.
Rlain becomes a Radiant.
Moash survived but is apparently permanently blind.
Dalinar ask Kaladin to try to heal Ishar so that Ishar can reset the Oathpact. Ishar has to be sane in order to do so. When Navani became a Bondsmith (by uniting with The Sibling) it gave Ishar a brief moment of sanity and he was able to tell Dalinar what must be done. The very insane Ishar has been experimenting with Spren's physical bodies. Which according to the Stormfather is suppose to be impossible.
Shallan finds her first spren Testament (Deadeye) and attempts to help her the way that Adolin helped Maya
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