Shallan once famously failed to convince the Stick to become fire. But how might other characters approach this stick-y problem?
Moash: There is nothing for you as a stick. Fade away. Become ash.
Hoid: Do you like stories, Stick? How about the one about Firestick, the Stick Who Became Fire…
Rlain: To understand fire, you must become fire. It’s about bridging minds.
Renarin: I see no future in which you become fire…But the future can be changed!
Steris: I have prepared 957 reasons why being fire would be advantageous for you. Reason 1, Part A…
Lopen: Women LOVE a stick who can become fire, gon!
Dalinar: You WILL become fire.
Dalinar: …Huh. That usually works.
Lift: You know what’s delicious? Toasted marshmallows!
Navani: (Gets out a big magnifying glass)
Jasnah: (Turns a rock into fire instead)
Jasnah: I like to challenge myself.
Mraize: You have to ask yourself, Little Stick: are you hunter, or are you the prey?
Kelsier: I like your style, Stick! You want to join my crew? Your job is being fire!
Odium: First, I must take away everyone this Stick loves!
Nale: I have convinced the ruler to draft a new law. You must become fire.
Sebarial: (Getting a massage) Eh. I hired someone else to do it.
Kaladin: No. This is…wrong.
Kaladin: This Stick wants to be a Stick. And I will protect it!
Kaladin: It will not cease to be a stick on my watch!
Stick: (immediately becomes fire)
Kaladin: NOOOOOOOOOO
Notes I’ve taken on arc four of Pale:
I think this was my favourite arc so far and that last chapter was my favourite chapter so far. Now that the characters and their relationships are all well established, I feel like, it can really focus on the emotions of the characters and play with their relationships. Which I absolutely love and which I think is the authors biggest strength.
So about the arc: It is cut into two pieces, with the first four chapters being set (mostly) in Kennet and focusing on the party. This part was absolutely great and I really like the dynamics the trio has with their classmates, Melissa and Jeremy in particular. (Same is also true about their new „classmates“ at the BHI.) The second half, set in the BHI, was really exciting in terms of worldbuilding and magic and almost tricked me into thinking school is useful or fun. What I liked most about this part was seeing the different attitudes of the Practitioners towards Others, others and morals in general.
I was about to say that Avery is my new favourite because of her character development with the forest ribbon trail, snowdrop and her relationship with her family, but the last chapter where the girls create echos of themselves really cemented Verona as the best. I really appreciate having a good person protagonist who has problems feeling emotions like other people.
Also I am not quite sure whether Verona wanting to become an Other is allegorical for dysphoria, suicidal thoughts or not an allegory at all. Either way she continues to be the most relatable character and I love her.
alec would be a huuuge soyjak poster. he would say soyjak meme things out loud all the time. sending them in the undersiders group chat. it would be awful. cherish would come to recruit him and he'd be like cringe slaughterhousecels seething over based undersiderchads and cherish would just leave right then and there. to the disappointment of the rest of the team who were all secretly wishing he'd join the nine so they could legally kill him
little pumpkin thief
this is so fucking funny to me. who wants to join the ancient athenian evil dining club with me
see when people try and nitpick me because i call my dog "my dog" when it's technically "the family dog".......well first of all i still call my brother "my brother" and not "the family boy". although maybe that should change. second of all sorry i'm still thinking about the family boy. btw i fell asleep while making this post last night and i think you can tell
despite it all worm is good and understands trauma like basically nothing else i've ever read