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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)

    93. Strong Enough

    by Sanderson, Brandon

    The chap­ter opens with Form­less, a com­pos­ite per­sona of Shal­lan, Veil, and Radi­ant, prepar­ing for Adolin’s tri­al day. As she dress­es in Veil’s cloth­ing, Adolin notices her unusu­al demeanor and requests Shallan’s pres­ence, prais­ing her hid­den strength. Form­less dis­miss­es Shal­lan as weak, but Adolin coun­ters with metaphors about strength, argu­ing that over­com­ing adversity—like a one-armed swords­man or a leg­less man—demonstrates true resilience. His words hint at a deep­er mes­sage: Shallan’s strug­gles don’t define her weak­ness but her capac­i­ty to endure.

    Form­less remains dis­mis­sive, focused on her mis­sion to secure Adolin’s vic­to­ry in the tri­al. She ignores Veil’s inter­nal protests, believ­ing she has locked away both Veil and Radi­ant. How­ev­er, Veil’s per­sis­tent voice chal­lenges her, accus­ing Form­less of self-decep­tion. As Form­less sketch­es the judge’s home lay­out, Veil’s insights unset­tle her, sug­gest­ing that Form­less isn’t a new iden­ti­ty but a frac­tured ver­sion of Shal­lan. The ten­sion between her per­sonas esca­lates, rais­ing ques­tions about her true desires and loy­al­ties.

    Adolin’s ear­li­er words about strength linger as Form­less grap­ples with her actions. She steels her­self, sup­press­ing doubts, and uses Light­weav­ing to dis­guise her­self as Lus­in­tia, an hon­or­spren. Pat­tern voic­es con­cern, but Form­less rebukes him, ref­er­enc­ing his past betray­als. The chap­ter high­lights her inter­nal con­flict: Veil’s truth-telling clash­es with Formless’s deter­mi­na­tion to sev­er ties with her past selves. The Lightweaving’s suc­cess momen­tar­i­ly con­vinces her of her supe­ri­or­i­ty, but Veil’s final whisper—*“Lies, Shallan”*—undermines her resolve.

    The chap­ter clos­es with Form­less poised to exe­cute her plan, yet the unre­solved ten­sion between her per­sonas fore­shad­ows a reck­on­ing. Adolin’s wis­dom about strength con­trasts with Formless’s denial, empha­siz­ing the theme that true pow­er lies in embrac­ing one’s frac­tured self. The mir­ror reflec­tion of her flaw­less dis­guise sym­bol­izes her exter­nal con­trol, but Veil’s per­sis­tence sug­gests an inevitable col­lapse of her façade. The stage is set for a piv­otal con­fronta­tion, both exter­nal­ly in the tri­al and inter­nal­ly with­in Shallan’s frac­tured psy­che.

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    FAQs

    • 1. Comprehension Question

      What evidence suggests that Formless is not a completely new persona, but rather a composite of Veil, Shallan, and Radiant?
      Answer:
      The chapter provides several clues that Formless is a composite rather than a wholly new identity. First, Veil’s persistent internal dialogue (“Don’t you use my name… Don’t you dare lie to him like that”) demonstrates she hasn’t been fully suppressed. Second, Formless exhibits abilities from all three personas: Shallan’s drawing skills (“with her talent for spatial awareness”), Radiant’s determination (“ability to get things done”), and Veil’s truth perception. Most tellingly, Veil directly challenges Formless’s self-conception: “You aren’t a new persona… You can lie to yourself, but not me.” The Lightweaving success—combining Shallan’s artistic ability with magical skill—further confirms this synthesis of identities.

      2. Analytical Question

      How does Adolin’s analogy about the one-armed swordsman and the drowning sailor relate to Shallan’s situation?
      Answer:
      Adolin’s analogies serve as a profound commentary on strength through adversity. The one-armed swordsman (Dorolin) developed exceptional arm strength precisely because of his disability, just as the drowning sailor shows greater swimming strength than someone who’s never faced challenge. This directly parallels Shallan’s psychological struggles—her “traitorous mind” and emotional pain have forced her to develop resilience that a “normal” mind wouldn’t require. Adolin suggests that Shallan’s perceived weaknesses (her fractured psyche and daily suffering) are actually sources of hidden strength. His point is subtly revolutionary in this context: mental health struggles don’t indicate weakness, but rather demonstrate the strength required to endure them.

      3. Application Question

      If you were Pattern observing this situation, what warning might you give Formless based on her current trajectory?
      Answer:
      As Pattern, I would warn Formless about three escalating dangers: First, her increasing ruthlessness (“Perhaps you aren’t the best judge of morality”) mirrors dangerous precedents in Radiant’s behavior. Second, her suppression of Veil and Radiant creates internal instability—the very fact that Veil can still communicate suggests the fragmentation isn’t sustainable. Third, her planned deception (impersonating Lusintia) risks catastrophic consequences, both politically and spiritually. Most crucially, I’d emphasize that true strength comes from integration rather than suppression—the same lesson Adolin was trying to convey. The chapter shows Pattern beginning this intervention (“This is not a good idea”), but being emotionally shut down, suggesting a need for more direct confrontation.

      4. Critical Thinking Question

      Why might the author have chosen to include the opening lines about Jezrien’s fate in this particular chapter?
      Answer:
      The Jezrien epigraph serves as a thematic mirror to Shallan/Formless’s situation. Jezrien’s “Splintered” state and the “severed” Oathpact parallel Shallan’s fragmented psyche. The line “He faded over the weeks, and is gone now” ominously foreshadows two possibilities: either Formless might completely erase Shallan’s identity, or conversely, that suppressed identities inevitably resurface (“Beyond your touch at long last”). The speaker’s fear (“I fear you”) also reflects Veil’s growing alarm at Formless’s actions. This creates dramatic irony—while Formless believes she’s achieving control, the epigraph suggests such forced unity may lead to permanent loss. The divine metaphor elevates Shallan’s personal struggle to a cosmic scale, emphasizing its significance.

      5. Analytical Question

      How does the physical acting out of Formless (dressing quickly, slamming the trunk, etc.) reflect her internal psychological state?
      Answer:
      Formless’s physical behaviors reveal her unstable psychological foundation. Her abrupt movements (“slipped from the bed,” “moved a little too quickly”) mirror her rushed, unstable mental transitions between personas. The trunk-slamming demonstrates suppressed rage and frustration—likely from both the internal conflict and Adolin’s probing questions. Her stealthy behavior (“hid by the side of the door”) shows paranoia and distrust, even toward Adolin. Most telling is the Stormlight use: where Shallan might have hesitated, Formless acts with clinical efficiency (“savoring the sensation… performed a Lightweaving”), showing how this composite identity enables dangerous capability without emotional checks. These physical manifestations create a visceral sense of someone both highly capable and psychologically precarious.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Weakness doesn’t make someone weak, you see. It’s the opposite.”

      Adolin challenges Formless’s perception of Shallan’s fragility, arguing that enduring hardship is itself a form of strength. This philosophical insight represents a key turning point in the chapter’s exploration of identity and resilience.

      2. “I don’t think Shallan is as weak as you say. […] It’s the opposite.”

      Adolin’s repeated insistence reframes the chapter’s central conflict about self-perception versus true capability. His metaphor-rich argument (swimmers, one-armed swordsmen) culminates in this direct contradiction of Formless’s dismissal of Shallan.

      3. “Formless was a composite of the three—a single person with Shallan’s drawing and Lightweaving abilities, Radiant’s determination […] and Veil’s ability to see the truth.”

      This self-description captures the chapter’s psychological complexity, revealing Formless as both a synthesis and a distortion of Shallan’s personas. The ironic claim to possess “truth-seeing” while in denial underscores the chapter’s theme of self-deception.

      4. “Lies, Shallan. Storms. I should have seen this. I should have known…”

      Veil’s internal realization—still using “Shallan” despite Formless’s denial—marks the chapter’s climactic moment of self-awareness breaking through. The truncated thought implies dawning recognition of a painful truth about their fractured identity.

    Quotes

    1. “Weakness doesn’t make someone weak, you see. It’s the opposite.”

    Adolin challenges Formless’s perception of Shallan’s fragility, arguing that enduring hardship is itself a form of strength. This philosophical insight represents a key turning point in the chapter’s exploration of identity and resilience.

    2. “I don’t think Shallan is as weak as you say. […] It’s the opposite.”

    Adolin’s repeated insistence reframes the chapter’s central conflict about self-perception versus true capability. His metaphor-rich argument (swimmers, one-armed swordsmen) culminates in this direct contradiction of Formless’s dismissal of Shallan.

    3. “Formless was a composite of the three—a single person with Shallan’s drawing and Lightweaving abilities, Radiant’s determination […] and Veil’s ability to see the truth.”

    This self-description captures the chapter’s psychological complexity, revealing Formless as both a synthesis and a distortion of Shallan’s personas. The ironic claim to possess “truth-seeing” while in denial underscores the chapter’s theme of self-deception.

    4. “Lies, Shallan. Storms. I should have seen this. I should have known…”

    Veil’s internal realization—still using “Shallan” despite Formless’s denial—marks the chapter’s climactic moment of self-awareness breaking through. The truncated thought implies dawning recognition of a painful truth about their fractured identity.

    FAQs

    1. Comprehension Question

    What evidence suggests that Formless is not a completely new persona, but rather a composite of Veil, Shallan, and Radiant?
    Answer:
    The chapter provides several clues that Formless is a composite rather than a wholly new identity. First, Veil’s persistent internal dialogue (“Don’t you use my name… Don’t you dare lie to him like that”) demonstrates she hasn’t been fully suppressed. Second, Formless exhibits abilities from all three personas: Shallan’s drawing skills (“with her talent for spatial awareness”), Radiant’s determination (“ability to get things done”), and Veil’s truth perception. Most tellingly, Veil directly challenges Formless’s self-conception: “You aren’t a new persona… You can lie to yourself, but not me.” The Lightweaving success—combining Shallan’s artistic ability with magical skill—further confirms this synthesis of identities.

    2. Analytical Question

    How does Adolin’s analogy about the one-armed swordsman and the drowning sailor relate to Shallan’s situation?
    Answer:
    Adolin’s analogies serve as a profound commentary on strength through adversity. The one-armed swordsman (Dorolin) developed exceptional arm strength precisely because of his disability, just as the drowning sailor shows greater swimming strength than someone who’s never faced challenge. This directly parallels Shallan’s psychological struggles—her “traitorous mind” and emotional pain have forced her to develop resilience that a “normal” mind wouldn’t require. Adolin suggests that Shallan’s perceived weaknesses (her fractured psyche and daily suffering) are actually sources of hidden strength. His point is subtly revolutionary in this context: mental health struggles don’t indicate weakness, but rather demonstrate the strength required to endure them.

    3. Application Question

    If you were Pattern observing this situation, what warning might you give Formless based on her current trajectory?
    Answer:
    As Pattern, I would warn Formless about three escalating dangers: First, her increasing ruthlessness (“Perhaps you aren’t the best judge of morality”) mirrors dangerous precedents in Radiant’s behavior. Second, her suppression of Veil and Radiant creates internal instability—the very fact that Veil can still communicate suggests the fragmentation isn’t sustainable. Third, her planned deception (impersonating Lusintia) risks catastrophic consequences, both politically and spiritually. Most crucially, I’d emphasize that true strength comes from integration rather than suppression—the same lesson Adolin was trying to convey. The chapter shows Pattern beginning this intervention (“This is not a good idea”), but being emotionally shut down, suggesting a need for more direct confrontation.

    4. Critical Thinking Question

    Why might the author have chosen to include the opening lines about Jezrien’s fate in this particular chapter?
    Answer:
    The Jezrien epigraph serves as a thematic mirror to Shallan/Formless’s situation. Jezrien’s “Splintered” state and the “severed” Oathpact parallel Shallan’s fragmented psyche. The line “He faded over the weeks, and is gone now” ominously foreshadows two possibilities: either Formless might completely erase Shallan’s identity, or conversely, that suppressed identities inevitably resurface (“Beyond your touch at long last”). The speaker’s fear (“I fear you”) also reflects Veil’s growing alarm at Formless’s actions. This creates dramatic irony—while Formless believes she’s achieving control, the epigraph suggests such forced unity may lead to permanent loss. The divine metaphor elevates Shallan’s personal struggle to a cosmic scale, emphasizing its significance.

    5. Analytical Question

    How does the physical acting out of Formless (dressing quickly, slamming the trunk, etc.) reflect her internal psychological state?
    Answer:
    Formless’s physical behaviors reveal her unstable psychological foundation. Her abrupt movements (“slipped from the bed,” “moved a little too quickly”) mirror her rushed, unstable mental transitions between personas. The trunk-slamming demonstrates suppressed rage and frustration—likely from both the internal conflict and Adolin’s probing questions. Her stealthy behavior (“hid by the side of the door”) shows paranoia and distrust, even toward Adolin. Most telling is the Stormlight use: where Shallan might have hesitated, Formless acts with clinical efficiency (“savoring the sensation… performed a Lightweaving”), showing how this composite identity enables dangerous capability without emotional checks. These physical manifestations create a visceral sense of someone both highly capable and psychologically precarious.

    Note