Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
“Rhythm of War” is the fourth installment in Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive. Set on the planet Roshar, the novel continues the conflict between Dalinar Kholin’s coalition of Knights Radiant and the forces of Odium, a malevolent god seeking dominion. The story delves deeper into the psychological and emotional struggles of key characters, including Kaladin, Shallan, and Navani, as they grapple with war, trauma, and the mysteries of ancient magics. Themes of resilience, identity, and the cost of power are explored amidst intricate world-building and high-stakes battles. The book expands the Cosmere universe, revealing new layers of lore and setting the stage for future confrontations.
10. A Single Casualty
bySanderson, Brandon
Kaladin, feeling rejuvenated after hours of flying, leads his Windrunners across the Shattered Plains. His spren companion, Syl, informs him that Yunfah, an honorspren who lost his previous Radiant, wishes to speak with him. Kaladin, confident in his role, signals for Yunfah to approach. The spren arrives, appearing as an elderly figure on a cloud, and Kaladin observes his unique resilience in coping with loss compared to other spren. The chapter highlights Kaladin’s authority and the complex dynamics between Radiants and their spren.
Kaladin presses Yunfah to bond with Rlain, a capable but unconventional candidate, despite the spren’s initial reluctance. Syl acts as an intermediary, conveying Yunfah’s anger at the suggestion. Kaladin, leveraging his position as highmarshal, issues a direct order: Yunfah must either bond with Rlain or risk fading away. The tension between Kaladin’s command and Yunfah’s independence underscores the chapter’s exploration of leadership and loyalty. Yunfah eventually agrees to consider Rlain, though grudgingly, revealing his attachment to the physical realm.
The narrative shifts to Kaladin’s arrival at Narak, a fortified outpost on the Shattered Plains. Navani’s engineers have transformed the ruins into a strategic stronghold, complete with storm-resistant walls and lightning rods. Kaladin reflects on how such fortifications could have altered past conflicts with the Parshendi. His musings blend admiration for modern engineering with a hint of irony, as Syl reminds him of their earlier, less strategic victories. The scene emphasizes the evolving tactics and resilience of Kaladin’s forces.
As the chapter concludes, Kaladin and his Windrunners land at Narak, delivering Dalinar and other key figures. The description of Navani’s experimental flying vehicle, with its fin adjustments, adds a touch of technological curiosity. Kaladin’s satisfaction with the progress at Narak contrasts with the ongoing challenges of leadership and spren bonds. The chapter balances action, introspection, and world-building, setting the stage for future developments in the conflict and Kaladin’s personal journey.
FAQs
1. How does Kaladin’s mood and perspective shift from the beginning to the end of the chapter, and what factors contribute to this change?
Answer:
At the start of the chapter, Kaladin is emotionally drained after his confrontation with Moash in the burning building, but his mood improves significantly during the flight to the Shattered Plains. The open sky, sunlight, and act of flying rejuvenate him, making his earlier distress feel distant. This shift highlights how Kaladin’s connection to nature and his Windrunner abilities serve as therapeutic outlets. By the chapter’s end, his successful negotiation with Yunfah about bonding Rlain leaves him feeling uplifted and purposeful, demonstrating how leadership and problem-solving also contribute to his emotional resilience.2. What does the interaction between Kaladin and Yunfah reveal about honorspren psychology and their relationship with Radiants?
Answer:
The exchange shows that honorspren, while grieving their lost Radiants, often seek new bonds to cope with the pain—unlike Syl, who fell comatose for centuries after her first bond broke. Yunfah treats his Radiant’s death as a battlefield loss rather than a personal fracture, indicating adaptability. However, his hesitation to bond Rlain (a Parshendi) reveals lingering prejudices. Kaladin’s authoritative approach—leveraging his rank as highmarshal—demonstrates how honorspren respect hierarchy and may comply with direct orders, even when reluctant. This dynamic underscores the complex interplay of duty, tradition, and personal bias in spren culture.3. Analyze the strategic significance of Navani’s fortifications at Narak. How do they reflect broader themes of innovation and adaptation in the conflict?
Answer:
Navani’s engineers transform Narak into a modern fortress with thick walls, lightning rods, and collapsible bridges, making it nearly impregnable to ground assaults. Kaladin’s remark about the Parshendi lacking such techniques underscores a key theme: technological and tactical innovation as decisive advantages in war. The fortifications also symbolize the coalition’s adaptability—repurposing ancient ruins into functional strongholds while preserving historical knowledge. This mirrors the chapter’s focus on adaptation, as seen in Yunfah’s willingness to reconsider bonding Rlain despite initial resistance. Both the spren and the physical defenses highlight progress through pragmatism.4. How does Syl’s role in this chapter exemplify her unique relationship with Kaladin and her function within the narrative?
Answer:
Syl acts as Kaladin’s confidante, translator (bridging communication with Yunfah), and moral compass. Her playful banter about the Parshendi trap lightens the tone, but her insight into spren psychology—such as noting Yunfah’s respect for hierarchy—proves crucial to resolving the conflict. Her ability to read emotions (e.g., detecting Yunfah’s anger before he speaks) and her unwavering support for Kaladin’s decisions (like pushing Rlain’s case) reinforce her role as both partner and guide. This dynamic humanizes Kaladin’s struggles while advancing the plot through her supernatural capabilities and emotional intelligence.5. Evaluate Kaladin’s leadership approach with Yunfah. Was his ultimatum justified, and what might it imply about his growth as a commander?
Answer:
Kaladin’s ultimatum—demanding Yunfah trial-bond Rlain or risk fading—shows a pragmatic blend of authority and compassion. While forceful, it addresses Yunfah’s indecision and the urgent need for Radiant-spren bonds. This reflects Kaladin’s growth: earlier, he might have agonized over the spren’s feelings, but now he prioritizes results without sacrificing empathy (e.g., offering a 10-day trial). His confidence in wielding rank suggests he’s embracing his role as highmarshal, balancing idealism with the realities of war. However, it also raises questions about whether such pressure could strain future spren alliances, hinting at ongoing tensions between efficiency and consent.
Quotes
1. “A tin cage will cause the fabrial to diminish nearby attributes. A painrial, for example, can numb pain. Note that advanced designs of cages can use both steel and iron as well, changing the fabrial’s polarity depending on which metals are pushed to touch the gemstone.”
This epigraph introduces a key technological concept in the chapter—fabrial mechanics—and foreshadows the importance of engineering and innovation in the story’s world. It sets the stage for Navani’s later contributions to the fortification efforts.
2. “Others, however, handled it differently. The majority, though grieved, seemed to want another bond soon—as it helped them move past the pain of loss. Kaladin didn’t pretend to understand spren psychology, but Yunfah had seemed to deal with the death of his Radiant well.”
This passage reveals a crucial insight into the relationship between spren and their Radiants, showing how different spren cope with loss. It highlights the complex emotional dynamics in this fantasy world while advancing the subplot about Yunfah’s potential new bond.
3. “As your highmarshal and superior officer, I forbid you to bond anyone else unless you try to work with Rlain first.”
This forceful declaration marks a turning point in Kaladin’s leadership approach, showing him taking decisive command over the spren. It demonstrates his growing authority and his commitment to integrating former enemies (like Rlain) into their ranks.
4. “Imagine if the Parshendi had known modern fortification techniques. A few strategic forts set up like this across the Plains, and we’d never have broken them out.”
Kaladin’s observation underscores the technological disparity between the factions and the strategic importance of Navani’s engineering work. It reflects on how knowledge and innovation can shift power dynamics in warfare.
5. “As I recall, we didn’t so much break them out as purposely fall into their trap and hope it wouldn’t hurt too much.”
Syl’s witty retort provides both comic relief and a moment of reflection on past battles. It serves as a reminder of the characters’ shared history while subtly commenting on their current strategic situation.