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.
14. Voice
bySanderson, Brandon
The chapter opens with Venli observing the transformed palace at Kholinar, a striking blend of organic and architectural design. The once-boxy human fortress has been reshaped into a grand, conical structure with sweeping arcs and ridges, resembling a plant or crown. Venli reflects on the history and artistry of her people, imagining cities filled with such designs. The palace, rebuilt by the Fused known as the Altered Ones, stands as a testament to the cultural achievements of the singers.
Venli’s recent days have been chaotic, accompanying Leshwi to investigate the awakening of new Fused spirits. Leshwi’s unease suggests something ominous about this group. Amidst the turmoil, Venli is summoned to a conclave of singers at the palace, where she is expected as the Voice. As she walks, she grapples with mixed emotions—admiration for the Fused’s immortality and wisdom, but also a growing awareness of their flaws and her own past mistakes.
Inside the palace, Venli encounters the eerie presence of the Fused, some of whom are lost to the endless cycle of rebirth. She ascends to the pinnacle room, where the Nine—leaders of the Fused—are entombed in stone pillars. The chamber fills with Voices, each attending to their masters. Venli takes her place beside Leshwi, who hovers among the Heavenly Ones, signaling her readiness for the conclave.
The chapter delves into Venli’s internal conflict: her longing for the honors she once believed she deserved, contrasted with her realization of the destruction she helped unleash. Timbre, her spren, warns her against these cravings, reminding her of Odium’s deception. Venli resolves to find a balance between her heritage and her desire to escape the Fused’s rule, even as she marvels at the remnants of her people’s lost culture.
FAQs
1. Comprehension: How has the palace at Kholinar been transformed, and what significance does this hold for Venli?
Answer:
The palace has been dramatically rebuilt from a traditional human fortress into an organic, arc-based structure resembling a plant with sweeping ridges and a crown-like peak. The new design incorporates shalebark-covered walls and curved conical shapes that reflect traditional singer architecture. For Venli, this transformation symbolizes her people’s lost history and culture, evoking both Awe and Craving as she imagines ancient singer cities filled with such art. The palace stands as a physical manifestation of singer identity that predates human influence, making her reflect on what her people once were and could be again.2. Analytical: What internal conflict does Venli experience regarding the Fused, and how does Timbre influence her?
Answer:
Venli wrestles with both admiration and disillusionment toward the Fused. She envies their immortality, skills, and wisdom—particularly the fannahn-im architects who rebuilt the palace—but also recognizes their tragic decay (e.g., the vacant-eyed Fused attuned to the Rhythm of the Lost). Timbre, her spren, acts as her moral compass: it pulses warnings when Venli indulges in selfish ambitions (like her past desire for power as “Bringer of the Everstorm”) and comforts her when she acknowledges Odium’s deception. This dynamic highlights Venli’s struggle to reconcile her cultural pride with her rejection of the Fused’s tyranny.3. Critical Thinking: The chapter describes the Nine entombed in stone pillars. What might this symbolize about their leadership and the singer-Fused dynamic?
Answer:
The Nine’s permanent melding into Soulcast pillars reflects both their authority and their stagnation. Physically immobilized, they embody rigid control—unable to adapt or engage directly, yet central to the Fused hierarchy. The organic design of the chamber contrasts with their fossilized state, suggesting a disconnect between the Fused’s idealized past and their current decay. For the singers, this may symbolize how the Fused’s rule is both venerated and oppressive: their “eternal” leadership is literally set in stone, leaving little room for growth or change among their people.4. Application: If you were a singer like Venli, how might you balance pride in your heritage with resistance to the Fused’s rule?
Answer:
Venli’s approach offers a blueprint: she embraces singer art (e.g., the palace’s architecture) and history while rejecting the Fused’s corruption. One could similarly honor cultural traditions—like rhythms, shalebark aesthetics, or communal practices—without endorsing Odium’s influence. Key steps would include: (1) studying pre-Fused singer achievements (as Venli does), (2) fostering identity beyond war (e.g., through art or science), and (3) aligning with ethical spren like Timbre to resist toxic power structures. This balance requires acknowledging past mistakes (e.g., the Everstorm’s devastation) while reclaiming positive cultural roots.
Quotes
1. “All gemstones leak Stormlight at a slow rate—but so long as the crystal structure remains mostly intact, the spren cannot escape. Managing this leakage is important, as many fabrials also lose Stormlight through operation.”
This epigraph from Navani Kholin introduces a key magical mechanic in the world, establishing the relationship between gemstones, Stormlight, and spren—a foundational concept for fabrial technology and the chapter’s exploration of singer/Fused culture.
2. “The result was a curved conical shape, the peak resembling a crown. The architecture had a distinctly organic feel, enhanced by walls grown over with shalebark to give a rough, uneven texture.”
This description of the transformed Kholinar palace showcases the singers’ architectural aesthetic, representing their cultural revival and contrasting with human designs—a visual metaphor for the chapter’s themes of heritage and identity.
3. “Were new Fused being made? Could someone like her aspire to this immortality?”
Venli’s internal conflict crystallizes here, capturing her simultaneous awe of the Fused’s power and her dangerous ambition—a pivotal moment that reveals her character’s tension between admiration and rebellion.
4. “She was determined to escape the rule of the Fused, but that did not mean she wanted to abandon singer culture.”
This quote encapsulates Venli’s evolving worldview—her rejection of Odium’s forces while still valuing her heritage, representing the chapter’s central conflict about cultural preservation versus liberation.
5. “Perhaps there was a reason not to envy their immortality.”
After observing the vacant-eyed Fused, this realization marks a turning point in Venli’s perspective, subtly challenging the supposed glory of the Fused’s eternal cycle—a quiet but profound insight into the costs of immortality.