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.
20. The Unseen Court
bySanderson, Brandon
The chapter opens with Radiant, one of Shallan’s personas, navigating the depths of Urithiru while grappling with the complexities of their mission. Shallan has agreed to visit the honorspren in Shadesmar, a task that aligns with Mraize’s demands from the Ghostbloods. Radiant distrusts Mraize but respects the agreement between Shallan’s personas—Veil’s enthusiasm for the Ghostbloods and Shallan’s desire to uncover their secrets. This internal harmony is crucial for their functionality, even as Radiant acknowledges the risks of their dual objectives.
Radiant’s internal conflict mirrors Shallan’s deeper fears. She reflects on Shallan’s terror that loved ones like Dalinar and Jasnah will reject her if they learn the full extent of her past crimes. Radiant views this as a necessary truth to confront, likening it to the pain required to break through a plateau in strength training. Meanwhile, Veil’s perspective emphasizes the need to uncover Mraize’s interest in Restares, a secret they believe could be leveraged. Radiant balances these priorities, focusing on preparing for the Shadesmar mission while ensuring the official diplomatic efforts remain intact.
The setting shifts to Radiant overseeing Lightweaver training in a secluded chamber beneath Urithiru. She wears traditional Veden warrior attire, a deliberate choice that challenges Alethi norms and asserts her identity. The rushing water in the reservoir symbolizes control and mastery, a theme paralleled in Radiant’s efforts to guide her trainees. She critiques Beryl and Darcira for over-relying on Lightweaving disguises during combat, urging them to prioritize swordplay and maintain focus. Their tendency to adopt aggressive personas when disguised highlights the Lightweavers’ struggle between performance and self-control.
Radiant’s leadership underscores the tension between deception and authenticity. While she acknowledges the Lightweavers’ role as spies, she insists on combat proficiency as a last resort for survival. The chapter closes with Radiant reinforcing the importance of discipline, a reflection of her own journey to harmonize Shallan’s fractured personas. The training session encapsulates the broader themes of identity, control, and the sacrifices required for growth, setting the stage for the impending mission into Shadesmar.
FAQs
1. How does Radiant’s choice of clothing reflect her identity and heritage?
Answer:
Radiant deliberately wears the traditional Veden warrior’s outfit called a vakama, which features vibrant blues, reds, and gold embroidery. This choice serves two purposes: it honors her Jah Keved heritage (distinct from Alethi culture) and asserts her identity as a warrior. The vakama—similar to but distinct from the Alethi takama—challenges gender norms since it’s traditionally male attire, causing Alethi observers to do “double takes.” Through her clothing, Radiant communicates both her cultural roots and her personal identity, refusing to conform to others’ expectations (Chapter 20, pg. 298).2. Analyze the dynamic between Radiant, Veil, and Shallan regarding the Ghostbloods. What conflicting priorities do they represent?
Answer:
The three personas embody different approaches to the Ghostbloods: Veil enthusiastically supports collaboration, Shallan wants to use them temporarily for information, and Radiant reluctantly honors their “compact” to maintain internal harmony. This reflects their broader roles—Veil as the risk-taking infiltrator, Shallan as the conflicted core identity, and Radiant as the disciplined executor. Their tension centers on trust; Radiant distrusts Mraize, while Veil sees opportunity. Shallan’s fear of exposing her crimes to Dalinar/Jasnah further complicates matters, illustrating how their priorities clash between security, ambition, and truth (Chapter 20, pp. 297–299).3. How does Radiant’s training approach with the Lightweavers address both practical and psychological challenges of their abilities?
Answer:
Radiant adapts training to the Lightweavers’ unique needs. Practically, she emphasizes sword skills as a “viable last resort” for failed disguises, urging focus on footwork over flashy transformations. Psychologically, she warns against letting adopted personas dictate behavior (e.g., Darcira’s aggressive stance when male). Her private training location acknowledges their discomfort in standard halls due to distracting powers. This balanced approach respects their artistic tendencies while instilling discipline, mirroring her own struggle to control personas without being controlled by them (Chapter 20, pp. 298–299).4. What metaphorical significance does the waterworks setting hold for Radiant’s character development?
Answer:
The contained waterworks symbolize Radiant’s ideals of mastery and control. She finds comfort in the “restrained” rushing water, seeing it as humanity’s dominion over nature—a parallel to her goal of mastering her fractured psyche. The contrast between the water’s natural force and its artificial channels mirrors her struggle to balance Shallan’s emotions with structured discipline. This environment reinforces her belief that self-control (like the engineered waterflow) enables functionality amid chaos (Chapter 20, pg. 298).5. Evaluate Beryl’s argument about Lightweavers not needing combat skills. How does Radiant’s response reflect her leadership philosophy?
Answer:
Beryl contends that combat undermines their role as spies, since “if we have to pick up our swords, we’ve already lost.” Radiant counters that swords serve both practical survival and deceptive purposes—they might need to impersonate soldiers. Her response shows pragmatic leadership: she validates their specialty while preparing for worst-case scenarios. This mirrors how she balances Veil’s daring with caution, emphasizing adaptability without compromising core competencies (Chapter 20, pg. 299).
Quotes
1. “Radiant did not like Mraize, and she certainly didn’t trust him. However, she would keep to the agreement: the will of two should be respected.”
This quote highlights the internal conflict and compromise within Shallan’s personas (Radiant, Veil, and Shallan herself). It represents the delicate balance they maintain to function as a unit, even when distrusting external forces like Mraize and the Ghostbloods.
2. “It seemed to represent humankind’s mastery over the elements. So we must master ourselves.”
Radiant’s observation about the controlled waterworks becomes a metaphor for self-mastery. This reflects the chapter’s theme of personal control and discipline, particularly in managing Shallan’s fractured psyche and the personas’ differing agendas.
3. “Shallan was terrified that the ones she loved would turn on her when they found out the extent of her crimes. But she needed to confront her truths.”
This pivotal quote reveals the core emotional conflict driving Shallan’s character development. It underscores the Lightweavers’ central struggle with truth and self-acceptance, while hinting at deeper, still-hidden traumas.
4. “You must control the face rather than let it control you.”
As Radiant instructs her Lightweavers, this advice about managing transformed identities carries double meaning. It applies both to practical Lightweaving techniques and the broader psychological theme of personas overwhelming one’s true self.
5. “I would have it be a viable last resort—if you need to break disguise and abandon your cover, I want you to survive and return to us.”
Radiant’s pragmatic approach to combat training reveals her strategic mindset and protective leadership style. This quote also subtly reflects her own role as Shallan’s “warrior” persona - a last resort protection mechanism.