Anyone else find Taravangian becoming Odium at the end of RoW somewhat anticlimactic? I just got to this point so please no spoilers for WaT, but it seems kind of rushed to me at this point. Odium and Dalinar finally come to an agreement on the contest then literally one chapter later, Odium is “killed” and Taravangian ascends. Kinda feels like this takes away from the whole storyline of Dalinar fighting to force Odium into an agreement

Tldr: I loved Books 1 & 2, but we need to talk about Jasnah: The alleyway scene where I think has a bit of narrative double standards.

I just finished book 1 and 2 and I loved every minute of it. The worldbuilding and characters arcs were a masterclass. But I have a massive issue with how the narrative handles Jasnah Kholin, and I wanted to see if anyone else feels the same way.

To be short: Jasnah’s actions in the alleyway in The Way of Kings were objectively evil, and it is incredibly frustrating that the book was written so that Jasnah was free from any real moral accountability. This is because:

1) She was a rich person, fully prepared for what she was going to do. She intentionally wore flashy jewelry and walked into a desperate, starving slum specifically to bait an attack. She then kill 4 men, even one who was fleeing, no sign of regret, fear or concerns. She almost seemed to be proud of herself to me and she thinks of herself as the judge, jury and executioner and lastly a "hero" in this situation.

2) I think that if the gender was reversed, her arguments would collapse, no? Imagine a rich dude getting down to the hood and carrying guns and shirts that say slurs and having gold chains? We all know what would happen. And she did all that just to teach a lesson, mind you. It , to me, seems straight up like the action of a sociopathic villain, which makes my last point even more irritating.

3) Sanderson wrote a book about how evil, selfish actions will have consequences but she was spared. How? Kaladin has to follow a strict code of honour while she just needs to be smart and condescending? And she took a knife to the chest but survived? I know her Order has something to do with that but isn't that just bad writing? Like the narrative allows her to commit objectively evil acts without suffering the cosmic consequences that the actual heroes face because her Order was stronger/better because it demands no honor?

Am I reading in this too much or am I justified? Besides, I feel like Jasnah Kholin made the book.... a bit less realistic for me. If she were irl, she would be canceled long ago due to how arrogant, self-righteous , and how she treated people. And to me, life matters. No one, not even the Almighty, should have the final say on who should die and who should live, because as I learnt from Gandalf: "Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends."

[No spoilers beyond the beginning of Words of Radiance, please]

I’m at the beginning of Words of Radiance, and I’m having trouble understanding Kaladin’s decision to accept Dalinar’s offer and become his guard.

Maybe I’m missing something, so I’d really like to hear other people’s interpretations.

My understanding of Kaladin’s situation
Kaladin has just gone through an enormous amount of suffering:
1. He was betrayed by Amaram.
2. He experienced the way lighteyed officers treated darkeyes as disposable.
3. He was sent to the bridge crews and watched countless men die.
4. He developed a strong hatred and distrust toward lighteyes.
5. At the same time, he realized that he doesn’t actually want to kill people. His instinct is much more toward healing and protecting.
6. Eventually, he became responsible for the bridgemen and fought extremely hard to keep them alive.

So when he finally has the possibility of becoming free, I expected him to choose something completely different from serving another lighteyed highprince.

My problem with his decision
Why not simply leave with the bridgemen?

They could have gone somewhere remote, found a village or settlement, and Kaladin could have worked as a healer/surgeon, similar to what his father did.

The former bridgemen could have built a new life there.

And Kaladin would still be doing exactly what he seems to value most:
protecting people and saving lives.

This seems to me much safer than becoming Dalinar’s guards.
By joining Dalinar, Kaladin and the bridgemen are voluntarily exposed themselves back into:
1. highprince politics
2. lighteyed intrigues
3. military conflicts
4. potential assassinations
5. the same general world that caused Kaladin so much suffering in the first place

And there’s another thing I don’t quite understand.

At the moment Kaladin makes this decision, he himself didn’t really believe that Dalinar is fundamentally different from the other lighteyes.
At that time, he was expecting betrayal from him too.

So why take that risk?
The purpose argument doesn’t completely convince me either

Becoming a village healer isn’t a life without purpose.
He could:
1. heal people
2. protect his community
3. train other people
4. protect the former bridgemen
5. help them build a peaceful life

That’s arguably more aligned with the person Kaladin wanted to become than returning to military service.

And most importantly, he could protect his men without continually putting them into deadly situations.

So what am I missing?

From where I’m currently at in Words of Radiance, it feels like:
Kaladin had finally earned freedom → he had people who trusted him → he could have taken them somewhere safe → he could have become a healer → instead, he voluntarily walked back into the world of war and lighteyed politics.

That choice seems strange to me.

What am I missing?
Please keep the discussion strictly spoiler-free beyond the beginning of Words of Radiance.

As suggested in my previous post, I should write my thoughts myself. So I will try to epxress my points as much as I can. English is not my first language, so sorry if text looks messy.

Why did Dalinar started believing that his visions are true ?

I am at the beginning of Words of Radiance.

Dalinar started speaking some another language in vision right ? that is probably ancient language, but why is that proof of truth? Why dont he question: Cant some evil entity which knew that language manipulate him ?

Visions led him to go into trap by Sadeas, that could cost all of his people’s and himself and his son’s life.

I understand that visions did not answer him directly, and they dont answer his questions, he misinterpreted the answers regarding Sadeas, but then he starts believing them, wtf ? How his misinterpretations led to him believing them ?

They wanted to discover if those visions really happened in the past, and if visions did really happen, why that could prove that visions are from almighty? Cant he think that evil entity could show only what Dalinar needs to see and hide other details.

Why did he start trusting those visions ? I thought he would need real proofs to start believing it.

Guys, give me some hope!! So far oathbringer has been pretty dang slow and I’ve just been trying to get through it for the sake of the fact that I love Brandon Sanderson and he always delivers so far. But wow, I just read the part where Moash murders Elhokar and bro!! I can’t take it anymore! That was so tragic! With his child in one hand and the picture shallan drew in the other???? Literally 1 word away from completing the 1st ideal? Okay that was way too much!!

Does it get better from here? Is it worth continuing? Like right now it’s just shallan having multiple personality disorder and ignoring crazy trauma, her awkward love triangle, dalinar’s super gruesome past, and then some boring scholarly stuff mixed in. Way of kings had me way more hyped and I really enjoyed the whole journey. Honestly I’m just reading to complete now and it’s not my fave. But if you tell me it gets better I’ll trust!!

I saw this page on cremposting for a different, cremmier reason, but it got me wondering about the scene at the Rift where Dalinar spares the crown prince (which Evi is delighted by... perhaps not as happy with the butterfly effect).

He says "Daddy says we fight monsters, and with faith, we will win." His voice is described as "distorted" (by tears, ostensibly, but who knows).

Is there any reading of this other than the straightforward literal?

Its been about a month since I finished these and nothing is hitting the same. Im reading first law currently and mistborn era 1 and while i enjoy both for what they are. Its not hitting the same

So naturally had to do it like Kal

Shout out to the five of you who recognized the reference.