“and as the long long nights begin
i think of all that might have been
waiting here for evermore.”

words of radiance

I finished re-reading words of radiance weeks ago. I don’t remember liking it more than the first book, and even after re-reading both, I still found myself liking TWoK better, though ratings seem to indicate otherwise.

Maybe because the main focus was Shallan and despite her seeming to be really interesting, I just can’t quite relate to her - I often found myself wanting to fast-forward through her chapters. 

And there’s that hint of a love triangle, which I really am not a fan of. One thing I like about Shallan though is that she genuinely seems to like Adolin, and even sort-of defended him to Kaladin one time.

More and more, I am loving Adolin.

There are not a lot of quotable quotes in this book...not as much as the first. But here are some snippets....

“I’m serious, Kaladin! I don’t know. I don’t remember.” She[Syl] grabbed her hair, one clump of white translucence in each hand, and pulled sideways.

He frowned, then pointed. “That . . .”

“I saw a woman do it in the market,” Syl said, yanking her hair to the sides again. “It means I’m frustrated. I think it’s supposed to hurt. So . . . ow? Anyway, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you what I know. I do! I just . . . I don’t know what I know.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Well, imagine how frustrating it feels!”

Sometimes, I wish Syl was a real person so I can root for a Kaladin and Syl pairing. They just have the most hilarious interactions sometimes.

“Expectation wasn’t just about what people expected of you. It was about what you expected of yourself.”

-Shallan

“It shouldn’t matter.”

“Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does. You want to change that? Well, you’re not going to do it by screaming like a lunatic and challenging men like Amaram to duels. You’ll do it by distinguishing yourself in the position I gave you. Be the kind of man that others admire, whether they be lighteyed or dark.”

-Kaladin and Dalinar

One of those times when Kaladin was extra brooding and Dalinar was, as always, brilliant. 

“I say that there is no role for women—there is, instead, a role for each woman, and she must make it for herself. For some, it will be the role of scholar; for others, it will be the role of wife. For others, it will be both. For yet others, it will be neither.”

-Jasnah

Kaladin frowned. “Wait. Are you wearing cologne? In prison?”

“Well, there was no need to be barbaric, just because I was incarcerated.”

“Storms, you’re spoiled,” Kaladin said, smiling.

“I’m refined, you insolent farmer,” Adolin said. Then he grinned. “Besides, I’ll have you know that I had to use cold water for my baths while here.”

“Poor boy.”

“I know.” Adolin hesitated, then held out a hand.

This may be my favorite scene in the whole book. I so wanted Adolin and Kaladin to get along, and finally this. I think this is the first light(ish) conversation they have ever had. And while, they may not be BFFs, they have genuine respect for each other.

“I will protect even those I hate,” Kaladin whispered through bloody lips. “So long as it is right.”

-Kaladin speaking the third Ideal of the Windrunners

The Knights Radiant,” Kaladin said softly, “have returned.”

Boom. *mic drop*

“When you take the princedom, son,” Dalinar said, “don’t let them corrupt you. Don’t play their games. Lead. Don’t follow.”

“Father!” Adolin said, his eyes focusing.

Dalinar stood up. Adolin lurched over onto all fours and tried to get to his feet, but the assassin had broken one of Adolin’s greaves, which made it almost impossible to rise. The boy slipped back into the pooling water.

“You’ve been taught well, Adolin,” Dalinar said, eyes on that assassin. “You’re a better man than I am. I was always a tyrant who had to learn to be something else. But you, you’ve been a good man from the start. Lead them, Adolin. Unite them.”

I have always thought (or at least hoped) that Adolin was more than the playboy prince that most people think he was.

This was when Dalinar thought he was saying goodbye, and he had enough faith in Adolin to confidently think he was ready to lead in his place.

“I will unite instead of divide. I will bring men together.”

-Dalinar speaking the second Ideal of the Bondsmiths

***

I have been reading the weekly 3-chapter of the next book, Oathbringer, which is coming out next month. And now I am amending my previous statement:

I dream of a world where Dalinar is our leader, Kadalin, our protector, and Adolin, our prince and my husband. 😍😜

November 14th can’t come fast nor soon enough.