Okay, this is the final week and chapters for Words of Radiance.  I confess that I feel sad that it’s all over and even more sad when I think of the insufferable wait we now all have before we find out what’s going on!  As in previous weeks, feel free to jump in with any comments if you’ve already read this and, of course, if you haven’t then beware of spoilers below – dishonourable spren are lurking with malicious intent.  This week, Sue, over at Coffee Cookies and Chilli Peppers is our lovely host so stop on by and check out the other comments and links.

1. Phew! Kal proves to be the honorable hero that we wanted him to be and decides to save Elhokar. Did you agree with his reasoning? Do you think the king can actually improve, or will Lopen’s mother need to beat him with a spoon?  I think there could be potential spoon beatings, however, I think Kaladin did the right thing – you can’t assassinate someone for being useless after all!  I think Elhokar needs to grow up a little is all.  He clearly wasn’t ready to be king and didn’t want to take over what he thought of as his father’s role.

 2. Dalinar has bonded with a very grumpy Stormfather: I have to admit that I did NOT see that coming! Were you more surprised to find that the Stormfather is a spren or that he would agree to bond with Dalinar?  That was the biggest surprise for me.  I truly didn’t see that coming at all .  I suppose now, with the beauty of reflection, there were hints, not least of all in the name.  Still, I just didn’t see it.  Is Adolin going to be the odd one out then??  I think he could start to feel resentment which would be a shame because I like him and hope he doesn’t turn a bit more evil.

3. Shallan is now a fully recognized Radiant and has saved pretty much everyone we care about. Then we discover that she killed her mother, but that her father took the blame. Were you surprised by this revelation? Does it make you more sympathetic to her father or not? I actually toyed with thoughts that Shallan had killed her mother.  Something didn’t sit right about the way she would stand up for him when her older brother was becoming more aggressive towards him.  I can’t say it makes me have any sympathy for her father to be frank.  I’m sure he had ulterior motives for taking the blame.  He probably wanted to ensure that Shallan would have a good marriage that would assist the family.

4. Eshonai has fallen into a chasm and the Parshendi seem to have been defeated on the Shattered Plains. What do you think of their chances for the future? Will the Parshmen rise as an army of Voidbringers because of the Everstorm? It seems so – I suppose there has to still be some threat as the storms are still raging and it appears that the storm transforms the Parshmen?

5. There were plenty of revelations about plots and plans. Do you have a clearer picture of how it all fits together and who is doing what? Do you think that Moash will survive far into the series?  I think Moash still has a part to play somehow.  I must confess I was disappointed with him!  I need a little bit more time to think about all the plots and plans.  Not quite got my head around the ending yet but it will be interesting to read everyone’s thoughts.  Perhaps it will help me untwist a few things.  Need to go and analyse in a bit more depth.

6. Yay! Syl has returned, and now Kal is a full Radiant. Please discuss the epicness of his transformation and subsequent fight with Szeth.  That was the other big surprise.  I didn’t realise that the sprite became the blade.  It was awesome.  The whole scene.  I mean, we knew, didn’t we?  that Kal would come good and that Syl would not be gone for good but even so, there was air punching!  The fight scene with Szeth was Sanderson’s usual unbelievable style and quality and just brilliant to read.  All that fighting in the clouds and darting here and there!

7. The strange man in black is revealed to be the Herald of Justice. Any comments upon him, his nasty talking sword and his decision to resurrect Szeth?  I’m just going to say – I got a bad feeling about this!  Don’t know why.  Can’t justify myself and he’s called the Herald of Justice so I’m hoping he’s going to be a force of good.  We’ll see.

8. Argh! Jasnah is back from the dead! Discuss, with many exclamation marks!!!!  Yep, I danced a jig!  Did you read my predictions last week!  I knew that she wasn’t out of the story.  I was trying to justify in my head why I thought so but all I could come up with was that the scene where she died was too quick – almost brushed over. The other thing I did wonder is if she maybe has talents similar to Shallan – in other words she was able to replicate herself somehow so it wasn’t her body that we saw being murdered?  She would still have had to survive the shipwreck, etc, but it could be a possibility?  So happy though.

9. Finally, this book ended with lots of questions. Will killing Sadeas alter Adolin? Why is he called THE Lopen? Why are the other Oathgates locked? So many questions that I now seem to have – more than answers for sure!  I just don’t know how we’re going to stand the wait!!!  And Adolin.  I’m gobsmacked.  No.  Really.  I am.   Did you see that coming?  I don’t like Sadeas but I’m not sure of what to make of that scene.  Something felt almost a little bit off about Adolin.  I hope he’s not going to become all resentful of the others abilties or jealouse – or worse!

And so, the end!  It’s been an amazing readalong – I’m so happy to have read this in company because I think I would have missed so many details reading it alone.  It’s a mega epic book and it deserves good company and plenty of debate.  It’s been brilliant.  😀