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.
6. A Loose Thread
bySanderson, Brandon
The chapter opens with Radiant, hooded and disoriented, hearing Adolin’s voice as he attempts to rescue her. Despite considering immediate action, she hesitates, aligning with Veil and Shallan’s plan to confront Ialai Sadeas directly. The scene shifts as Radiant is forcibly led through a hidden tunnel, its smooth walls suggesting Shardblade craftsmanship. The tension escalates as the conspirators, including Ulina, guide her upward, their urgency hinting at their desperation to evade capture. Radiant’s internal monologue reveals her strategic patience, even as she remains alert for any opportunity to act.
The group emerges into what appears to be a cellar, likely part of the Sadeas warcamp’s hidden infrastructure. Radiant notes the conspirators’ disarray as they remove their disguises, their muttered plans reflecting their fraying coordination. The narrative underscores the warcamp’s history of political instability, with Ialai’s foresight in constructing escape routes highlighting her cunning. Radiant’s forced march through the streets, hood still intact, is punctuated by Shallan’s keen directional sense, mapping their winding path to a fortress-like building near the eastern edge of the camp.
Inside the sparse, utilitarian room, Veil takes over, removing the hood and assessing her surroundings. The setting—a bare stone chamber with minimal comforts—mirrors the Sadeas family’s pragmatic brutality. Veil reflects on Ialai’s rise to power, recalling how she eliminated rivals like Thanadal and Vamah, consolidating control over the warcamps. The conspirators’ frantic arguments in the adjacent room reveal their fear of failure, further emphasizing Ialai’s grip on the situation. Veil’s cautious entry into Ialai’s shadowed domain sets the stage for their confrontation.
The chapter culminates with Veil stepping into Ialai’s presence, the room’s oppressive atmosphere underscoring the gravity of the encounter. Ialai, shrouded in darkness, embodies the remnants of Alethkar’s fractious past. Veil’s internal deliberation—weighing Radiant’s discipline against Shallan’s instincts—hints at the psychological complexity driving her actions. The hutch nearby adds an air of mystery, suggesting hidden tools or secrets. The chapter leaves the reader anticipating the clash between Veil’s resolve and Ialai’s calculated dominance.
FAQs
1. What strategic considerations does Radiant/Veil weigh when deciding whether to reveal herself and fight the conspirators immediately?
Answer:
Radiant considers the immediate tactical advantage of removing her hood, summoning her Shardblade, and forcing the conspirators to surrender. However, she ultimately decides against this approach because Veil and Shallan’s broader objective is to confront Ialai Sadeas directly. This decision reflects a strategic prioritization of long-term goals over short-term gains. By allowing herself to be captured and led to Ialai, Radiant/Veil gains critical intelligence about the conspirators’ operations, including their hidden tunnel system and base of operations. The chapter highlights her calculated patience, a key trait of her character, as she balances immediate danger with the need to uncover deeper plots.2. How does the chapter illustrate the political maneuvering and historical context of Ialai Sadeas’s power in the warcamps?
Answer:
The chapter provides insight into Ialai’s cunning and the volatile political landscape of the warcamps. Through Veil’s reflections, we learn that Ialai has consolidated power by eliminating rivals like Highprince Thanadal (who died under suspicious circumstances) and driving out others, such as Vamah, by spreading disinformation about Dalinar. Ialai’s control is further reinforced by her alliance with the Sons of Honor and her imposition of tariffs on trade caravans. The description of her fortress-like stronghold and the secret escape tunnel—crafted during earlier tensions between princedoms—underscores her preparedness and manipulative nature. This context paints her as a lingering threat, embodying the old Alethi culture of intrigue and betrayal.3. Analyze the significance of the tunnel system in this chapter, both practically and symbolically.
Answer:
Practically, the tunnel serves as a covert route for the conspirators to move between the chasms and Ialai’s stronghold, evading detection. Its construction—likely with a Shardblade—reflects the resourcefulness and foresight of Sadeas’s faction during the warcamps’ early, unstable years. Symbolically, the tunnel represents the hidden machinations of Ialai’s faction: just as the physical path is concealed, her political schemes operate in the shadows. Radiant’s discovery of the tunnel parallels her uncovering of broader conspiracies, reinforcing the theme of hidden truths in the narrative. The tunnel also ties into the broader worldbuilding, illustrating how the Alethi elite prepare for both military and political conflicts.4. How does Radiant/Veil’s use of sensory details and memory enhance her situational awareness during captivity?
Answer:
Despite being hooded, Radiant/Veil relies heavily on auditory and tactile cues to navigate her environment and gather information. She notes the sound of grinding stone (indicating a hidden mechanism), the texture of smooth, Shardblade-cut rock in the tunnel, and the warmth of sunlight when brought outside. Her ability to map their route mentally—leveraging Shallan’s supernatural directional sense—demonstrates her adaptability. Additionally, she sifts through Shallan’s memories to reassess Sadeas’s cunning and Ialai’s dangerous reputation. This acute sensory and cognitive processing underscores her training and the fused capabilities of her personas, turning passive captivity into an active intelligence-gathering opportunity.5. Evaluate the conspirators’ psychological state and its implications for their plot, based on their actions and dialogue.
Answer:
The conspirators exhibit signs of panic and disarray, particularly after losing members during the skirmish. Their frantic arguments (“all falling apart”) and poorly planned movements (e.g., leading Radiant in conspicuous loops) suggest desperation and diminished operational discipline. This instability is critical: it hints at the vulnerability of Ialai’s faction and raises questions about their long-term viability. Radiant/Veil’s observation of their distress also serves as a tactical advantage, as fractured groups are more prone to mistakes. The chapter subtly foreshadows potential unraveling of their plans due to this lack of cohesion, contrasting with Radiant’s composed strategizing.
Quotes
1. “With a captured spren, you may begin designing a proper fabrial. It is a closely guarded secret of artifabrians that spren, when trapped, respond to different types of metals in different ways. A wire housing for the fabrial, called a ‘cage,’ is essential to controlling the device.”
This epigraph from Navani Kholin introduces a key magical mechanic in the world—fabrial technology—and hints at the scientific approach to magic that characterizes her character. It sets up thematic elements of artifice and control that resonate throughout the chapter.
2. “She sifted through Shallan’s memories, and what Veil saw in the man was pure craftiness.”
This line reveals the complexity of Shallan’s multi-faceted personality as she accesses different aspects of herself (Veil and Shallan) to analyze Sadeas. It highlights the psychological depth of the protagonist and the cunning nature of their adversary.
3. “This woman remained a thorn, a reminder of the old Alethkar full of squabbling lighteyes always eyeing one another’s lands.”
This powerful description of Ialai Sadeas encapsulates the political tensions in the story, portraying her as both a personal antagonist and a symbol of the old, divisive ways that the protagonists are trying to move beyond.
4. “At last, the door swung open and three people stormed out. Veil recognized Ulina, the woman she’d suspected earlier from her voice. They were followed by a lighteyed soldier in Sadeas colors.”
This moment marks a key turning point in the chapter as Veil finally comes face-to-face with the conspirators and prepares to confront Ialai Sadeas. The tension builds as the power dynamics become clear.