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    Rhythm of War (9781429952040)

    by Sanderson, Brandon
    “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.
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    Rhythm of War (9781429952040)

    78. The High Judge

    by Sanderson, Brandon

    Shal­lan returns to her room after a trou­bling encounter with Six­teen, deter­mined to avoid dwelling on a cryp­tic dead­eye spren. She plans to con­tact Mraize secret­ly while Adolin is occu­pied, reveal­ing her ongo­ing inter­nal strug­gle to main­tain con­trol over her personas—Shallan, Veil, and Radi­ant. Pat­tern, her spren com­pan­ion, express­es con­cern about her errat­ic behav­ior and admits to betray­ing her trust by using a com­mu­ni­ca­tion cube to seek Wit’s advice. This rev­e­la­tion com­pli­cates Shallan’s already frag­ile men­tal state, as she grap­ples with whether to believe Pat­tern or sus­pect deep­er decep­tion.

    Pat­tern con­fess­es that his con­ver­sa­tions with Wit were over­heard by a Ghost­blood spy, explain­ing how Mraize obtained sen­si­tive infor­ma­tion. This absolves Shallan’s oth­er allies of treach­ery but leaves her ques­tion­ing her own per­cep­tion of truth. As she wres­tles with self-doubt, her dark­er per­sona, Form­less, warns her that trust is dan­ger­ous. Over­whelmed, Shal­lan retreats men­tal­ly, allow­ing Veil to take con­trol. Veil reas­sures Pat­tern while acknowl­edg­ing the com­plex­i­ty of the sit­u­a­tion, though she remains wary of her own frac­tured psy­che.

    Veil con­tacts Mraize to report her fail­ure to locate Restares in Last­ing Integri­ty, sug­gest­ing he may have dis­guised him­self or nev­er been there. Mraize remains com­posed, admit­ting the pos­si­bil­i­ty of faulty intel­li­gence but press­ing Veil to con­sid­er alter­na­tive expla­na­tions. Their con­ver­sa­tion reveals ten­sions over with­held infor­ma­tion, par­tic­u­lar­ly regard­ing Hon­or­blades and Light­weav­ing capa­bil­i­ties beyond Roshar. Mraize warns Veil to pre­pare for dan­ger, hint­ing at Restares’ lethal poten­tial if cor­nered.

    The chap­ter under­scores Shallan’s psy­cho­log­i­cal tur­moil as she nav­i­gates trust, decep­tion, and iden­ti­ty frag­men­ta­tion. Pattern’s hon­esty offers a rare moment of clar­i­ty, yet the over­ar­ch­ing mys­tery of Ialai’s mur­der and Restares’ where­abouts looms. Veil’s prag­mat­ic approach con­trasts with Shallan’s insta­bil­i­ty, but nei­ther per­sona can ful­ly escape the shad­ows of doubt and betray­al. The unre­solved threads leave the read­er antic­i­pat­ing fur­ther rev­e­la­tions about the Ghost­bloods, Wit’s role, and Shallan’s pre­car­i­ous men­tal bal­ance.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What is the significance of Pattern’s confession about the cube and Wit, and how does this revelation impact Shallan’s understanding of the situation?

      Answer:
      Pattern’s confession reveals that he took Shallan’s communication cube to speak with Wit (Hoid) out of concern for her mental state. This explains how Mraize obtained sensitive information—through a spy who overheard Pattern’s conversations with Wit. This revelation is pivotal because it absolves Shallan’s other allies of suspicion, confirming there was no direct betrayal among them. However, it also deepens Shallan’s internal conflict about trust, as she grapples with whether Pattern’s actions were justified or another layer of deception. The chapter highlights her struggle to reconcile truth and lies, as she questions her own perception of reality (e.g., “Was this another lie?”).

      2. Analyze the dynamic between Shallan’s personas (Shallan, Veil, Radiant, and Formless) in this chapter. How do they interact, and what does this reveal about her mental state?

      Answer:
      The chapter showcases Shallan’s fractured psyche through her shifting personas. Shallan initially tries to suppress Radiant and avoid confronting painful truths, while Veil takes control later to handle practical matters like contacting Mraize. Formless, described as the “dark part” of her, represents her self-destructive tendencies and fear that trust leads to harm. The interplay reveals her instability: she oscillates between avoidance (Shallan), pragmatism (Veil), and paranoia (Formless). The personas’ disjointed communication (e.g., Shallan whispering internally to Veil about Ialai’s murder) underscores her fragmented identity and the unresolved trauma driving her actions.

      3. What strategic implications arise from Veil’s report to Mraize about Restares, and how does this advance the broader plot?

      Answer:
      Veil’s report confirms that Restares—a key target of the Ghostbloods—is likely not in Lasting Integrity, forcing a reassessment of their mission. Her findings suggest either faulty intelligence or Restares’ potential use of advanced disguises (e.g., Lightweaving or an Honorblade). Mraize’s calm response and vague hints about Honorblades (mentioning they’re no longer all in Shinovar) imply larger cosmere-wide developments. This advances the plot by: (1) escalating tension around Restares’ whereabouts, (2) hinting at broader conflicts involving Shinovar and Hoid, and (3) setting up future confrontations, as Mraize warns Veil to prepare for danger if Restares is aware of her presence.

      4. How does the chapter explore the theme of trust through Shallan’s relationships with Pattern and Mraize?

      Answer:
      Trust is central to Shallan’s conflicts. Pattern’s admission that he acted out of concern but inadvertently caused harm forces Shallan to weigh his intentions against the consequences (e.g., “I wanted so badly to trust again”). His apology (“I am very foolish”) contrasts with Mraize’s manipulative demeanor, as he withholds critical information (e.g., about Honorblades) to maintain control. The chapter juxtaposes Pattern’s flawed but genuine care with Mraize’s transactional loyalty, highlighting Shallan’s struggle to discern whom to rely on. Her internal monologue (“Your trust kills”) reflects her trauma, illustrating how past betrayals complicate her ability to form secure bonds.

      5. Evaluate the significance of the unresolved question about Ialai’s murder. How does this mystery connect to the chapter’s themes?

      Answer:
      The unresolved mystery of Ialai’s murder ties into the chapter’s themes of deception and hidden truths. Shallan’s internal speculation (“Perhaps Pattern was the one who moved the cube”) shows her tendency to distrust even her closest allies, while Veil’s decision to “put all of that aside” reflects avoidance. The question lingers as a symbol of Shallan’s fractured psyche—each persona might interpret the crime differently, mirroring her disjointed grasp on reality. It also serves as a plot device to deepen intrigue, suggesting that Ghostblood operations or other factions (e.g., Restares) could be involved, with implications for future revelations.

    Quotes

    • 1. “So, words. Why words, now? Why do I write?”

      This introspective opening line sets the tone for Shallan’s internal struggle with identity and truth, framing the chapter’s exploration of her fractured psyche and the power of language in shaping reality.

      2. “Your trust kills, Shallan… The part she named Formless. Except it wasn’t formless. She knew exactly what it was.”

      A pivotal moment where Shallan confronts her self-destructive tendencies and the named darkness within her (“Formless”), revealing her growing awareness of her own psychological fragmentation.

      3. “None of your friends are traitors… Except me! Only a little though! I am sorry.”

      Pattern’s confession highlights the theme of betrayal and misplaced trust, while his humorous self-incrimination underscores the complex bond between Shallan and her spren amidst deception.

      4. “He is not the type to fight unless cornered, but once pushed, there are few beings as dangerous on this planet.”

      Mraize’s warning about Restares escalates the stakes of Shallan’s mission, emphasizing the lurking threat and the Ghostbloods’ ruthless pragmatism.

      5. “Who killed Ialai?… Perhaps Pattern was the one who moved the cube… But someone killed Ialai. Who was it?”

      Shallan’s unresolved suspicion—voiced through her alter ego Veil—ties together the chapter’s threads of mystery, guilt, and the unreliable nature of truth.

    Quotes

    1. “So, words. Why words, now? Why do I write?”

    This introspective opening line sets the tone for Shallan’s internal struggle with identity and truth, framing the chapter’s exploration of her fractured psyche and the power of language in shaping reality.

    2. “Your trust kills, Shallan… The part she named Formless. Except it wasn’t formless. She knew exactly what it was.”

    A pivotal moment where Shallan confronts her self-destructive tendencies and the named darkness within her (“Formless”), revealing her growing awareness of her own psychological fragmentation.

    3. “None of your friends are traitors… Except me! Only a little though! I am sorry.”

    Pattern’s confession highlights the theme of betrayal and misplaced trust, while his humorous self-incrimination underscores the complex bond between Shallan and her spren amidst deception.

    4. “He is not the type to fight unless cornered, but once pushed, there are few beings as dangerous on this planet.”

    Mraize’s warning about Restares escalates the stakes of Shallan’s mission, emphasizing the lurking threat and the Ghostbloods’ ruthless pragmatism.

    5. “Who killed Ialai?… Perhaps Pattern was the one who moved the cube… But someone killed Ialai. Who was it?”

    Shallan’s unresolved suspicion—voiced through her alter ego Veil—ties together the chapter’s threads of mystery, guilt, and the unreliable nature of truth.

    FAQs

    1. What is the significance of Pattern’s confession about the cube and Wit, and how does this revelation impact Shallan’s understanding of the situation?

    Answer:
    Pattern’s confession reveals that he took Shallan’s communication cube to speak with Wit (Hoid) out of concern for her mental state. This explains how Mraize obtained sensitive information—through a spy who overheard Pattern’s conversations with Wit. This revelation is pivotal because it absolves Shallan’s other allies of suspicion, confirming there was no direct betrayal among them. However, it also deepens Shallan’s internal conflict about trust, as she grapples with whether Pattern’s actions were justified or another layer of deception. The chapter highlights her struggle to reconcile truth and lies, as she questions her own perception of reality (e.g., “Was this another lie?”).

    2. Analyze the dynamic between Shallan’s personas (Shallan, Veil, Radiant, and Formless) in this chapter. How do they interact, and what does this reveal about her mental state?

    Answer:
    The chapter showcases Shallan’s fractured psyche through her shifting personas. Shallan initially tries to suppress Radiant and avoid confronting painful truths, while Veil takes control later to handle practical matters like contacting Mraize. Formless, described as the “dark part” of her, represents her self-destructive tendencies and fear that trust leads to harm. The interplay reveals her instability: she oscillates between avoidance (Shallan), pragmatism (Veil), and paranoia (Formless). The personas’ disjointed communication (e.g., Shallan whispering internally to Veil about Ialai’s murder) underscores her fragmented identity and the unresolved trauma driving her actions.

    3. What strategic implications arise from Veil’s report to Mraize about Restares, and how does this advance the broader plot?

    Answer:
    Veil’s report confirms that Restares—a key target of the Ghostbloods—is likely not in Lasting Integrity, forcing a reassessment of their mission. Her findings suggest either faulty intelligence or Restares’ potential use of advanced disguises (e.g., Lightweaving or an Honorblade). Mraize’s calm response and vague hints about Honorblades (mentioning they’re no longer all in Shinovar) imply larger cosmere-wide developments. This advances the plot by: (1) escalating tension around Restares’ whereabouts, (2) hinting at broader conflicts involving Shinovar and Hoid, and (3) setting up future confrontations, as Mraize warns Veil to prepare for danger if Restares is aware of her presence.

    4. How does the chapter explore the theme of trust through Shallan’s relationships with Pattern and Mraize?

    Answer:
    Trust is central to Shallan’s conflicts. Pattern’s admission that he acted out of concern but inadvertently caused harm forces Shallan to weigh his intentions against the consequences (e.g., “I wanted so badly to trust again”). His apology (“I am very foolish”) contrasts with Mraize’s manipulative demeanor, as he withholds critical information (e.g., about Honorblades) to maintain control. The chapter juxtaposes Pattern’s flawed but genuine care with Mraize’s transactional loyalty, highlighting Shallan’s struggle to discern whom to rely on. Her internal monologue (“Your trust kills”) reflects her trauma, illustrating how past betrayals complicate her ability to form secure bonds.

    5. Evaluate the significance of the unresolved question about Ialai’s murder. How does this mystery connect to the chapter’s themes?

    Answer:
    The unresolved mystery of Ialai’s murder ties into the chapter’s themes of deception and hidden truths. Shallan’s internal speculation (“Perhaps Pattern was the one who moved the cube”) shows her tendency to distrust even her closest allies, while Veil’s decision to “put all of that aside” reflects avoidance. The question lingers as a symbol of Shallan’s fractured psyche—each persona might interpret the crime differently, mirroring her disjointed grasp on reality. It also serves as a plot device to deepen intrigue, suggesting that Ghostblood operations or other factions (e.g., Restares) could be involved, with implications for future revelations.

    Note