Warbreaker - Tumblr Posts
If you read Warbreaker before Way of Kings there’s also the “Wow, Nightblood is really weird and dangerous” to “Oh, he’s like a shardblade” to “Wow, Nightblood is really weird and dangerous”
The Stormlight Archive experience of "wow there's something weird about Kaladin" to "oh nvm he's just a radiant" to "yeah no there's something weird about Kaladin"
One great mystery in the Cosmere still bugs me, and has seemingly no hope at a resolution is...
How is Lightsong so good at Tarachin??? (the returned's ball game) Despite not knowing the rules, picking spheres at random, and throwing them wherever he feels like, Lightsong wins every time. Not just occasionally, but every single time.
There is of course the theory that he suggests: that the game is stupid. But this doesn't hold much water. You can make a game where it feels like there's a lot of decisions, but it's mostly luck, that's certainly possible. But to be able to win every time? That seems to require a game where thinking actively harms you, and I can't see any way that makes sense, nor have I seen any example of such a game.
Perhaps he played it in his past life? It's certainly possible - he was an accountant, working for presumably wealthy clients, so maybe he played the game with them, as it's described as a game for the wealthy. Or maybe he played it as a hobby; he and Llarimar also had expensive hobbies like going on a boat for fun, so they could have played Tarachin. His abilities in mathematics could have also helped him be good at a game like this, where the scoring is incredibly complex.
Maybe it's his future-sight (Fortune) as a returned. He picks the ball that feels right, while the others use their minds, so maybe he's allowing himself to be influenced by it unlike the rest of them.
I've heard one theory that luck is his power as a returned. This theory points out that other returned have special abilities in things like wisdom or exceptional beauty. Maybe Lightsong gets luck? Maybe things work out well when he takes risks- he is the god of bravery after all.
Or maybe none of the above. Maybe a shard is just intervening.
Anyway, I hope we can get an answer from Brandon, or at the very least, have a Tarachin tournament at the next convention so we can verify for ourselves which one makes the most sense.
Josh why did you tell me to read warbreaker before words of radiance now I have to wait 573 more pages before I'm reunited with my silly rabbit (kaladin) I just think he's neat
Cosmere characters as dumb things I’ve said/heard
“Antidepressants? Pfft- Just get a worm on a string!” -Shallan
“This family is a nightmare! Who’s even related to who?!” -Dalinar AKA DADinar
“Where are they? Dead, probably. Unless the knife stab hasn't’ gotten to them yet. Then they’re just dying.” -Jasnah
“Any party size packet of Oreos is a personal one if you’re an introvert.” -Renarin
“I can walk faster than you can run! I’m gay!” -Drehy
“Gender? What’s that? I haven’t had one in years.” -Wit
“Chicken patties, chicken breasts, chicken wings- IS THERE ANY FOOD HERE OTHER THAN CHICKEN?!” -And worldhopper @ Roshar
“It tastes like depression. In a muffin. It’s a depression muffin!” -Kaladin
“Do you only exist when I’m looking at you, or do you actually disappear from existence the second I look away?” -The whole fandom @ Hoid
Aaaaaand while were on the subject, the greatest snarky worldhopper HOIDDD
Either one is a good start, Mistborn is nice and self contained (or at least each series started has been finished), then has novels already written set in the future of the world, another full series. Stormlight (way of kings) has larger books, a very in-depth world, whose last one comes out this year. Considering you enjoyed Tress, and I assume have read/are reading Warbreaker, you could do either one, and enjoy both.
Mistborn I would say is a better jumping off point, as the full series is about as long as maybe two stormlight books, and then you can go to its next series or to Stormlight.
Also don't forget about Yumi when you get the chance.
Good luck finding me!
Hey. I’m kinda late to the Cosmere Universe party? Anyway, I decided to start with the standalone novels (I read Tress of the Emerald Sea last year and really liked it). I’m so intimidated by the amount of books Brandon Sanderson has written (this is coming from a huge terry pratchett fan). Should I read Mistborn next or Way of Kings? I really have no idea where to start!