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Alice Arneson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter One Hundred Two

Well, here we are, back with the Rhythm of War Reread, and it’s starting to get hot up in here. The Avalanche is rolling now, for better and worse. This week: Venli starts out going the wrong direction, but is involuntarily turned around to go where she needs to be. Navani starts out going nowhere in despair, but her prayers are answered and she’s given a hint of direction. Kaladin only has one direction, and it’s pretty much the same direction he’s always had: forward, to protect someone. But as Timbre says, it’s not the speed that matters; it’s the direction. All three are now in motion toward the battle for Urithiru.

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter One Hundred One

Oh, hi there! We’re back! Time for another reread installment, isn’t it? This week we’re in Laqqi again, with Jasnah and Dalinar arguing over coalition strategy now that the Emul campaign is over. Mostly, this one sets up Dalinar’s next moves—one of which he’s planning, and the other something he can only wish for right now. Also, Alice is annoyed with Jasnah’s illogical negativity in certain regards, or at least irritated about not knowing the rationale behind it. Fun times! Come on in and join the discussion, won’t you?

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter One Hundred

Welcome back to the Avalanche Rumblings of the Rhythm of War Reread! Things are starting to shake loose. Plans are explained, fears are acknowledged, and Bridge Four begins to swing into action. An exhausted Kaladin, a weakened Teft, and a very frightened but determined Dabbid are ready to roll. Come on in and join the discussion!

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter Ninety-Nine

Welcome back to the Rhythm of War Reread, where today we get a long-awaited Jasnah POV! Always a significant force, she’s not a “main character” in terms of focus; she’s intended to remain in the secondary-character position of having fewer POVs and less central story arcs until we get to at least Book 6. That doesn’t prevent her from being a fan favorite, obviously! This week, we’re inside her mind to see her amazing security protocols, get more hints on her relationship with Wit, and see their cooperative planning for Dalinar’s Contest of Champions against Odium. They have a contract that makes sure that Odium can’t win outright, and Dalinar can’t lose everything… but will they be able to get Odium to accept it? RAFO! Come on in and join the discussions!

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter Ninety-Eight

Welcome back to the Rhythm of War reread! Today we launch into Part Five, and after all the avalanche rumblings the last few weeks, it feels a bit like we’re holding our breath. It’s actually a very quiet chapter, with Dalinar consciously leaving the Blackthorn behind to move more firmly into his Bondsmith role. Come on in and join the discussion!

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Interlude Twelve, Taravangian

Welcome to the final Interlude of Rhythm of War! This week, Taravangian is having a stupid/sentimental day—as are most of his days by this point. He’s still trying to figure out how to run the world, though; he’s just going to do it more slowly. As one does. As you will see if you didn’t already know, neither of your rereaders are what you might call “big fans” of the king. It’s pretty bad when things get better for the presence of an Unmade! Come on in and join the discussion, won’t you?

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Interlude 11, Adin

It’s Thursday again! That means it’s Rhythm of War Reread Day again! Welcome back, as we take a look at a new Interlude—the next-to-last one of the book. In it, Sanderson returns to the kind of Interlude we haven’t seen for a while: a true outsider’s perspective. Every Interlude in this book so far has been from a character we either know well, or know about as an important player. This time, though, we’ve got Adin: a 13-year-old boy with ambitions to become a Windrunner. We’ve seen him precisely once before this, early in Part Two, when Kaladin treated him for an ankle injury sustained while taking the stairs too fast. At that time, he informed Kaladin that he’d consent to taking the stairs one at a time for now, until he gets his spren; then he’ll float, because that’s what the Lopen told him. For what it’s worth, there’s a good chance he didn’t know he was talking to Stormblessed at the time!

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Interlude 10, Hesina

Welcome to the Rhythm of War Reread, in which we reach what may be the most contentious chapter of the book. This is the one where Alice tries to balance “I sort of understand why so many readers hate Lirin” and “I totally get why Hesina loves and trusts him”—oh, and also “his attitude, while not likable, is very understandable as a human being.” Whee! Should be fun times, eh? Wherever you stand, come on in and join the discussion! Maybe someone will change their mind. You never know; it could happen.

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter Ninety-Seven

And so we come to the end of Rhythm of War, Part Four: A Knowledge. This chapter is the one that really triggers the Avalanche that is Part Five, as Navani makes a breakthrough discovery but is unable to hide it from Raboniel. The emotions run high, shall we say? Also, the maths and physics. Warning: If you find the science side dull, you might have a tough time with part of this week’s reread, because Alice always gets carried away with the sciencey stuff. Still, come on in and join the discussion!

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter Ninety-Six

Hey, it’s Thursday again, and time for another installment of the Rhythm of War Reread! Today we reach the penultimate chapter of Part Four. The Avalanche is not far off now, and the snow is hanging heavily over our heads—which is to say, the critical plot points are piling up and aligning, and ere long they will all come rushing together and falling on our heads. This is a relatively quiet chapter, for all that, giving a little information on the Kaladin-arc plans but mostly positioning Venli’s moves from here on out. There will still be surprises along the way, but most of it is set up here.

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter Ninety-Five

Well, howdy there, me peeps and chickies! Welcome back to the Rhythm of War Reread, as we go back in time to see the Battle of Narak from a very different perspective. Venli views the scene from a much-too-close-and-personal position, and in the process she increasingly is confronted by the truth of what she has—and hasn’t—done, and who she really is deep inside. The storms strip away all the pretense and disguise, leaving her face to face with herself. At least for a little while. Come on in and chat with us about it!

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter Ninety-Four

Welcome back to the Rhythm of War Reread, my friends, where we have reached one of the most brilliant, frustrating, shocking, exciting, and worrying chapters in the series so far. (At least in my opinion.) This is the week we finally get to talk about the third day of Adolin’s trial, with its many twists and turns, and they are convoluted indeed. Oh, Mayalaran… Come on in and join us!

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter Ninety-Two

Welcome back, my friends! This week we’re following Venli as she assists and then converses with Raboniel. There are a few surprising revelations, a lot of Spite, a reward, and a breathtaking gift. We do some guessing about the timing, as usual. We’re nearing the end of Part Four, so things are beginning to ramp up to the Avalanche. Come on in and join the fun!

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter Ninety-One

Hey, it’s reread day! A fan-fave chapter this week, as we return to the Bridge Four novella. Part Four has only one POV from Kaladin: the nightmare that Wit disrupted. The rest of his arc is told from the perspective of various members of Bridge Four. This week, it’s the newly-wakened Teft, reflecting on his progress and what it means to be Bridge Four. We also learn more about his traumatic past, as he sees it from a new angle, and watch as they work through various plans of action.

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War Reread: Chapter Ninety

Hey, y’all! Welcome back to the Rhythm of War Reread! Things are getting hot up in here, as Adolin goes into the second day of the trial, and it goes… hmmm… not well, exactly, but possibly not as badly as he thinks it did. He comes out of it feeling like he’s completely failed, though. Failed himself, failed his father, failed his people, failed the world… and that feeling of failure, combined with one of the chief causes of the perceived failure, leads Shallan to decide on a really bad idea as a solution. So bad, in fact, that she doesn’t even share it with Adolin. All in all, it’s a very up-and-down sort of chapter. Come on in and join the discussion, as we talk about the highs and lows.

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Series: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

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