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.
70. Well
bySanderson, Brandon
The chapter opens with Kaladin trapped in a harrowing nightmare, assaulted by shadowy figures that torment him with laughter and phantom pain. He awakens to find Syl, his spren companion, watching over him as he struggles to shake off the lingering terror. Disoriented and sweating, Kaladin realizes his spear and Navani’s fabrial are missing, prompting panic. Syl reveals that the Sibling—a sentient spren—has alerted them to an urgent threat: the enemy has located another node inside the market well, demanding immediate action.
Kaladin rushes to confront Dabbid, a bridgeman who had taken his spear and fabrial, intending to face the Fused alone. Touched by Dabbid’s rare spoken words—“Life before death”—Kaladin reaffirms their bond before sprinting toward the well. He resolves to destroy the node to buy Navani time, opting for a risky descent through the atrium. Meanwhile, the nightmare’s echoes haunt him, but he pushes forward, determined to fulfill his duty despite his inner turmoil.
Parallel to Kaladin’s urgency, Navani attempts to distract the Fused by claiming a groundbreaking discovery for the Lady of Wishes. However, the guards and a Deepest One seem prepared for her ploy, deliberately slowing her efforts. The Fused’s amused tone suggests they anticipated Navani’s ruse, turning her distraction into a reversed trap. Navani’s frustration grows as she realizes her plan has been compromised, leaving her with limited options to aid Kaladin’s mission.
The chapter highlights the escalating tension as both Kaladin and Navani race against time, each facing psychological and tactical obstacles. Kaladin’s nightmare reflects his deepening trauma, while Navani’s failed diversion underscores the enemy’s cunning. Their intertwined struggles emphasize the high stakes of their rebellion, with the Sibling’s fear and the node’s corruption looming as dire threats. The narrative builds toward a climactic confrontation, leaving readers eager for the next chapter’s resolution.
FAQs
1. What psychological struggle does Kaladin experience upon waking, and how does it manifest physically and emotionally?
Answer:
Kaladin awakens from a severe nightmare where he is attacked by dark shadows that laugh, torment, and physically constrict him. The experience leaves him emotionally shaken—he finds himself huddled against a wall like a frightened child, sweating profusely, and struggling to regain his composure. The nightmare is so vivid that he initially mistakes his waking reality for part of the dream, seeing phantom shadows and hearing Moash’s voice. This episode highlights Kaladin’s ongoing psychological trauma and the immense pressure he feels as a leader, as evidenced by his embarrassment at showing vulnerability (“He couldn’t afford to be a child. Too much depended on him”).2. How does Dabbid’s character development manifest in this chapter, and why is it significant?
Answer:
Dabbid shows remarkable growth by attempting to take action when Kaladin is incapacitated—gathering the spear and fabrial to confront the Fused himself despite his limited combat skills. Most significantly, he speaks his first words to Kaladin: “Life. Before. Death,” the Immortal Words of the Knights Radiant. This moment is profound because Dabbid has been largely silent due to trauma, and his utterance demonstrates his courage, loyalty to Bridge Four, and internalization of Radiant ideals. Kaladin’s shocked reaction (“Those were the first words Kaladin had ever heard from the man”) underscores the emotional weight of this breakthrough.3. Analyze the dual layers of deception in Navani’s interaction with the Fused. What does this reveal about both characters?
Answer:
Navani attempts to create a distraction by claiming an urgent discovery to draw Raboniel away from the well node, but the Fused anticipate this move—they’ve prepared a slow response protocol with a spanreed cabinet. This reveals Navani’s quick thinking under pressure and her willingness to take risks, while simultaneously demonstrating the Fused’s strategic foresight. The Deepest One’s amused tone (“But of course you can’t share it with anyone but Raboniel herself”) shows they’ve psychologically profiled Navani, creating a reverse-psychology trap. This exchange highlights the escalating intellectual warfare between them, where each anticipates the other’s moves.4. What symbolic meaning might be derived from the chapter’s opening epigraph about “opposites of sounds,” and how does it connect to the chapter’s events?
Answer:
The epigraph’s meditation on sound having no true opposite—only overlapping vibrations—parallels the chapter’s themes of perception versus reality. Kaladin’s nightmare blurs the boundaries between sound/silence (Moash’s whispers vs. rushing blood), just as the “voices of gods” reference foreshadows the Sibling’s desperate communication. The concept of overlapping vibrations mirrors how Kaladin’s trauma overlaps with his waking life, and how Navani’s attempted deception overlaps with the Fused’s counter-strategy. The philosophical question about whether sound has meaning reflects Kaladin’s struggle to find meaning in his suffering versus his duty.5. How does the chapter use physical objects (the spear, fabrial, and well) to advance both plot and character development?
Answer:
The missing spear creates immediate tension, forcing Kaladin to confront his vulnerability after the nightmare while showcasing Dabbid’s initiative. The fabrial represents Navani’s technological contributions and becomes a literal tool for Kaladin’s survival (he only has four days of practice). The well node serves as both a strategic battleground and a symbolic “well” of Kaladin’s inner darkness that he must face. These objects create parallel stakes—Kaladin physically racing to protect the node mirrors his psychological race against his demons, while Navani’s fabrial work represents her intellectual battle against the Fused. The objects physically manifest the characters’ conflicts.
Quotes
1. “Kaladin awoke to something dark attacking him. He screamed, struggling against the clinging shadows. They’d been assaulting him for an eternity, wrapping around him, constricting him. Voices that never relented, fingers of shadow that drilled into his brain.”
This vivid description captures Kaladin’s psychological torment and PTSD, illustrating the recurring nightmares that plague him. It sets the tone for his fragile mental state while foreshadowing the chapter’s themes of resilience and duty amid personal struggle.
2. “Dabbid didn’t respond, of course. He helped Kaladin strap the fabrial on, then held out the spear… ‘Life. Before. Death.’”
A pivotal moment where the normally silent Dabbid speaks the first words Kaladin has ever heard from him, invoking the Immortal Words. This underscores the theme of unexpected strength in allies and the power of shared oaths to inspire courage.
3. “Storms. They were expecting an attempted distraction from Navani… It was a reverse distraction. They’d known Navani would attempt something like this.”
This reveals the strategic cat-and-mouse game between Navani and the Fused, showcasing her cleverness being countered by their anticipation. The passage highlights the escalating tension in their intellectual duel over Urithiru’s secrets.
4. “Opposites. Opposites of sounds. Sound has no opposite. It’s merely overlapped vibration, the same sound, but sound has meaning. This sound does, at least. These sounds. The voices of gods.”
The epigraph’s philosophical meditation on sound and meaning mirrors the chapter’s exploration of perception versus reality (Kaladin’s nightmares vs. waking world) and foreshadows the metaphysical stakes of the Sibling’s crisis.