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.
55. Kinship With the Open Sky
bySanderson, Brandon
In this chapter, Kaladin tends to an unconscious Teft in a hidden shelter, using Stormlight to improve their conditions. He carefully administers water to Teft with a makeshift syringe, hoping for his recovery, while Syl watches solemnly. Their conversation shifts to mortality as Syl expresses her fear of losing Kaladin, contrasting her immortal nature as a spren with human fragility. Kaladin deflects her concerns with distractions, but Syl’s unease lingers, revealing unresolved grief over her former knight’s death. The exchange highlights their bond and the emotional burdens they share despite their differing existences.
Syl’s introspection deepens as she questions whether her human-like emotions make her “broken.” Kaladin reassures her, framing her grief as a sign of life and personhood rather than a flaw. He suggests that their capacity to care defines them more than their origins, whether as humans or spren. Syl finds comfort in this idea, embracing her identity as a “person” rather than a being bound by predetermined purpose. Their dialogue explores themes of self-determination and the universality of loss, bridging the gap between mortal and immortal experiences.
The chapter also touches on Syl’s evolving abilities, as she experiments with changing her form and colors, reflecting her growing connection to the physical world. Kaladin observes her progress, suggesting practical applications like transforming into tools, which Syl considers possible through their shared belief. This interplay between imagination and manifestation underscores the symbiotic relationship between spren and humans, hinting at deeper metaphysical truths within their world.
Ultimately, the chapter balances intimate character moments with philosophical musings. Kaladin’s pragmatic care for Teft contrasts with his vulnerable conversation with Syl, revealing his own struggles with grief. Syl’s emotional growth and acceptance of her personhood mark a significant development, while their mutual support reinforces the chapter’s themes of resilience and choice. The interplay of action, dialogue, and introspection creates a poignant exploration of kinship—both with each other and with the broader mysteries of their existence.
FAQs
1. How does Kaladin care for Teft in their hideout, and what does this reveal about their relationship?
Answer:
Kaladin meticulously tends to Teft by washing him, dressing him in a loose robe, creating a makeshift pillow from clothing sacks, and administering water via a metal syringe. He also ensures Teft has a bedpan and plans to find blankets for additional comfort. This care demonstrates Kaladin’s deep loyalty and compassion for his friend, treating him with dignity despite their dire circumstances. Their bond is further highlighted by Kaladin’s internal monologue, where he imagines Teft waking and demanding his uniform—a familiar dynamic that shows their shared history and mutual respect as fellow soldiers.2. What existential concerns does Syl express, and how does Kaladin help her process these feelings?
Answer:
Syl voices fears about Teft’s potential death, her own immortality, and the pain of eventually watching Kaladin die. She also recalls the trauma of her previous knight’s death, which caused her centuries-long sleep. Kaladin validates her emotions by comparing them to his grief over his brother Tien, explaining that such feelings are normal and healthy. He advises that while distractions can help, confronting these emotions is necessary. Their conversation evolves into a philosophical discussion about personhood, with Kaladin reassuring Syl that her capacity for grief doesn’t make her broken—it makes her alive and capable of growth beyond her origins as a spren.3. How does the chapter explore the theme of coping with loss through both Kaladin and Syl’s perspectives?
Answer:
The chapter contrasts two approaches to loss: Kaladin’s initial avoidance (“don’t think about it”) and Syl’s active questioning. Kaladin recognizes his own unhealthy coping mechanisms when he admits distraction alone isn’t enough, while Syl’s anthropomorphic grief (e.g., comparing it to an empty gift) mirrors human experiences. Their dialogue reveals loss as a universal challenge, whether mortal or immortal. The narrative underscores that processing grief requires acknowledging pain (as Syl does) while finding balance between remembrance and engagement with life’s wonders—a lesson Kaladin is still learning himself.4. What symbolic significance does Syl’s changing dress colors hold in this chapter?
Answer:
Syl’s dress shifting from light blue to vibrant hues symbolizes her deepening connection to the physical world and emotional growth. The color transformations reflect her evolving self-perception—from a rigidly defined honorspren to an individual embracing personhood. Kaladin’s observation that her colors grow “more vibrant” parallels their conversation about choice and identity, suggesting that as Syl accepts her complex emotions (like grief), she gains richer existence. The imagery culminates when her dress mimics “real cloth,” representing her tangible integration of human experiences into her immortal nature.5. How does the chapter challenge traditional notions of destiny and purpose through Kaladin and Syl’s dialogue?
Answer:
The chapter subverts deterministic views when Syl rejects honorspren dogma about their “made” purpose, just as Kaladin emphasizes personal choice over predestination. Their exchange (“we get to choose. That’s what makes us people”) positions identity as fluid rather than fixed by origins—whether for spren shaped by human beliefs or humans shaped by biology. This theme resonates with the epigraph’s warning against rigid expectations, reframing existence as an ongoing act of self-creation. The syringe’s Soulcast fingerprints (artifacts of its transformation) become a metaphor for this idea: beings bear marks of their making but aren’t confined by them.
Quotes
1. “We must not let our desires for a specific result cloud our perceptions.”
This epigraph sets the philosophical tone for the chapter, emphasizing the importance of clear judgment—a theme that resonates through Kaladin and Syl’s conversation about confronting difficult emotions rather than avoiding them.
2. “Everyone dies eventually. […] I won’t. Spren are immortal, even if you kill them. Someday I’ll have to watch you die.”
This exchange between Kaladin and Syl highlights the central tension of their bond—mortality versus immortality—and foreshadows Syl’s emotional reckoning with loss and grief as she becomes more “human.”
3. “If there is a god, then I think we could find him in the way we care about one another.”
Kaladin’s reflection on divinity and connection underscores the chapter’s exploration of personhood, suggesting that relationships—not just origins or purpose—define existence for both humans and spren.
4. “Whatever’s happening in our heads, whatever it was that created us, we get to choose. That’s what makes us people, Syl.”
This pivotal statement crystallizes the chapter’s thesis: identity is shaped by active choice rather than predetermined roles, a realization that empowers both Kaladin (struggling with depression) and Syl (grappling with spren nature).