Fantasy Book Club discussion

Who were your favorite characters, and why?

The white assassin Szeth.

Interesting choice, Jon! I'm really curious to know why!

Dalinar, although to say why would be a hugely unwelcome spoiler to anyone still reading. ;)

Jeanne wrote: "Interesting choice, Jon! I'm really curious to know why!"

Oddly, I thought he was the most ethical and least delusional of the characters.

I found Szeth to be the most fascinating and I agree with Jon's reasons. I am also partial to Rock. He seemed very straightforward with his opinions and reasons. I also loved how he cooked for everyone and even shaved them. He was very... genuine.

Can I say all of them?

Kaladin was awesome. I really liked Dalinar too. Szeth's interludes chapters were some of the most interesting and baffling chapters (I wanted to know his motivations and his master). His first scene in the prologue was some of the best fighting/assassins scenes I've read in a long time.

Wit was great, especially the scene where he meets with Kaladin and we find out who he is.

I just realized that listening to this book means I didn't know the correct spelling for most of the names til now! I have to say Wit and Szeth are my favorites, I am just now at the meeting of Wit and Kaladin. I don't want to finish!

Kaaren wrote: "I just realized that listening to this book means I didn't know the correct spelling for most of the names til now! ..."

And reading it, I don't know how to pronounce many of the names!

My favorite was Dalinar. I could emphasize with his struggles in going against the current, but in the right direction

I liked Shallan's story the most. I'm not sure if I'll end up liking her though. I guess I see that she is caught between a rock and a hard place and really doesn't have enough knowledge to make the "right" decisions. But her choices could lead her to a "good" and "bad" end. I'm also curious what Talenel's role will be in the future and how he reacts for what I see as being betrayed.

Kaladin and Dalinar.
Can't really articulate why at the moment

Kaaren wrote: "I just realized that listening to this book means I didn't know the correct spelling for most of the names til now! I have to say Wit and Szeth are my favorites, I am just now at the meeting of Wi..."

I have the same problem.

I really wish there had been more of Shallan's story line. That aspect of the story fascinated me the most.

By the end of the book, I was really curious about Wit. Who and what is he?

Jasnah, hands down. She's the most complicated of the characters and her motivations are not as in evidence as the others, which makes her interesting. Plus, any character convincingly pulling off a daily deception as complicated as hers has my vote for sheer chutzpah.

I also liked Wit. My review for more specifics (including some about why I didn't like Kaladin and Dalinar as much). Is this a spoiler-free thread or can we talk about Wit and who he is?

*Edit: just realized that I'm the first person to mention a non-viewpoint character. But seriously, to me she was more interesting than the others!

Call me crazy.. I like Sil (sp? I listened to this book...). She doesn't know much about herself but she has a good heart and knows right from wrong. She's supportive, loyal, and determined. Plus, she's intriguing to me... more to her than meets the eye.

I also like Wit. Nice sarcasm, and he see's things very clearly. Again, more (way more I think) than meets the eye.

Of course I enjoy both Dalinar and Kalidan too. =) Didn't really relate to the females too much yet.

Honestly,
Kalidan, I just like him.
I really like all the characters (especailly Wit, he rocks) ecxept for Shallan, she irritates me. We'll see if she grows on me in the next book. Brandon is just supurb in building his characters.

Kaladin, definitely. Even though his monologues tend to be repetitive, to me they're very realistic. He was always strugling himself which happens all the time with people in real life.

Or maybe I'm just a sucker for Mary Sues, hah. He's not one yet but it looks like he's heading that way.

I really liked Wit. I love characters that are SO much more than they seem...