2095 Results in the "Fiction" category


    • All the Light We Cannot See Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin All the Light We Can­not See is a beau­ti­ful­ly writ­ten his­tor­i­cal nov­el that tells the par­al­lel sto­ries of Marie-Lau­re, a blind French girl, and Wern­er, a Ger­man orphan and gift­ed radio tech­ni­cian, whose paths con­verge dur­ing World War II in the occu­pied French town of Saint-Malo. Marie-Lau­re flees Paris with her father as the Nazis invade, car­ry­ing a mys­te­ri­ous and poten­tial­ly cursed dia­mond from…
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      Sea of Flames

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Sea of Flames" from *All the Light We Cannot See* traces the ancient origins of a remarkable diamond, formed deep within the earth's mantle over unimaginable spans of time. The crystal, composed of perfectly arranged carbon atoms, emerges from a seam of kimberlite after enduring millennia of geological upheaval. Through volcanic activity, erosion, and climatic shifts, the stone gradually surfaces, surviving ice ages and the rise and fall of prehistoric ecosystems. Its journey culminates when a…
    • Part Thirteen: 2014 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Marie-Laure, now an elderly woman, being escorted by her grandson Michel through the Jardin des Plantes on a frosty March morning. Despite her blindness, she navigates the garden with her cane, pausing to examine skim ice on puddles as if it were a lens. Michel patiently guides her, and they ascend to a secluded gazebo at the top of a hedge maze, where they sit undisturbed. The serene atmosphere is punctuated by the quiet sounds of wind and the distant hum of Paris, creating a moment…
    • The Well of Ascension Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin “The Well of Ascen­sion” picks up after the fall of the Lord Ruler, as Vin and Elend Ven­ture strug­gle to bring sta­bil­i­ty to Luthadel, the cap­i­tal city of the for­mer Final Empire. But the vac­u­um of pow­er left behind invites chaos, rival armies, and polit­i­cal fac­tions who all want con­trol of the city—and the pow­er it holds. As polit­i­cal intrigue grows, Vin must come…
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      1

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      by testsuphomeAdmin King Elend Venture stands atop the blackened walls of Luthadel, observing the ominous approach of a fifty-thousand-strong army led by his father, Straff Venture. The ashen landscape, stained by relentless ashfalls from active Ashmounts, mirrors the bleakness of his situation. With only twenty thousand poorly trained peasants at his command and the city's economy teetering on collapse, Elend faces an existential threat to his rule. The absence of the Lord Ruler's fabled atium hoard further weakens his…
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      3

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Elend, the king of a fledgling kingdom, grapples with the frustrations of governing through a parliamentary council. Despite his extensive knowledge of political theory and economics, he finds it challenging to achieve consensus among the Assembly's twenty-four members. As he drafts a proposal to delay any rash decisions regarding his father's approaching army, he reflects on the divergent factions within the Assembly—some advocating surrender, others peace or attack. The weight of leadership and the…
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      19

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Sazed, a scholar and keeper of metalminds, exhausts his final steelmind—a bracelet that stored speed—after using it to cover six weeks' worth of travel in just six days. He discards the now-useless bracelet, reflecting on the trade-off between haste and conservation. His journey brings him near Luthadel, where the landscape shifts to the familiar white aspens of the Central Dominance. Though lighter from shedding less valuable metalminds, he remains burdened by the weight of his remaining reserves and…
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      4

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Sazed, a Terrisman scholar, investigates the mysterious death of a villager named Jed in the Eastern Dominance. The corpse shows no visible wounds but is twisted in agonized positions, suggesting a sudden, violent demise. The villagers, fearful and superstitious, refuse to touch the body. Sazed consults his medical coppermind—a stored repository of knowledge—but finds no clear explanation for the death. The unsettling circumstances, including reports of daytime mist, hint at something unnatural,…
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      5

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Vin observing the palpable anxiety in Luthadel as the city braces for an impending threat. Workers and markets buzz with nervous energy, reflecting a trapped populace unsure of how to respond. Despite many nobles and merchants fleeing, the city has paradoxically grown due to an influx of skaa drawn by Elend’s promises of freedom. The skaa, though accustomed to hardship, cling to a fragile hope, continuing their lives amid whispers of the city’s inevitable fall. Vin notes the…
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      6

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Elend observes Vin and Ham sparring in the palace courtyard, feeling conflicted about his own lack of combat training. He acknowledges that no amount of practice would make him a match for an Allomantic assassin, yet he finds himself drawn to the scene. The physical contrast between the muscular Ham and the petite Vin is striking, especially as she wields a staff taller than herself. Their training session is restricted to pewter-enhanced strength, as Ham believes mastering basic skills is essential even…
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