Shardcast: The Brandon Sanderson Podcast

"I’m pretty salty about that. However, I’ll try to keep most of my salt contained to like, that one event, and not let it completely overtake this episode. Like, I don’t want this to be a salt-fest." The end is upon us! Unfortunately, as I said last episode, this is not my original reaction file, because for reasons unknown, that recording up and disappeared on me. It has fled. So instead, you get backup Current!Feather’s reactions, but hey, we’re gonna have fun with it anyway. We hit the climax of Hero of Ages, see some old and new faces, and Kelsier continues his deity punching spree. Bless him. Except then unbless him because he immediately turns to Hemalurgy right after the main events are over. Kell, how could you? I’m so disappointed. Little bit of a wrap up for this book on the end of this one, but if you guys would like me to record a full, three-book reaction of SoS, BoM, and MSH thoughts, please let me know and I’ll do that! If you have questions for me about my reactions or anything that’s happened over these last few months, write it below and I’ll see if I can’t do a little Q&A!

"Mistborn: Secret History. Also known as, ‘Kelsier Punches Literally All of the Deities.’" Our trip through the Cognitive Realm leads us to some unexpected new acquaintances as we start to leave Scadrial behind… Kelsier makes friends and cons them, because that’s what he does. I go back and forth on how to pronounce the word “Ire” before finally actually figuring it out and we finally figure out what gave Vin the heebie-jeebies before she met with Hoid in Hero of Ages! Unfortunately, I do have a bit of a confession to make. Despite the fact that the recording says that there is an episode after this… that data has unfortunately been lost. I don’t totally know what happened to the recording, but it’s no longer in my files. I am really upset to have lost it, but after thinking it over, I’m not going to leave you guys hanging right here at the end. Tune back next week for a wrap up and to hear my thoughts on the end! And I promise I will make 100% sure my good microphone is actually connected this time. Editing the quality on these past few episodes has been terrible, because it just came from my terrible laptop mic. Horrendous. I’ll do much better.

“He’d saved the boy’s life once, so that would make them even”? Kell, that’s not how saving someone’s life works. You don’t just get like a free pass to murder them whenever you want later! Mistborn: Secret History continues, as we travel through Realms previously unseen. We meet some interesting characters, have a chat with a few old villainous friends, and watch as our intrepid hero makes a very long journey. Meanwhile, I’m having far too much fun soaking in all this new cosmere-y knowledge and trying to figure out what exactly is going on. (For instance, the symbol from Part 2 is in fact the symbol for Kredik Shaw. How did I not recognize that one?) Have fun listening!

"This is the greatest thing that has ever been written. This is the greatest thing that has ever been written." In which there is flailing. So much flailing. You might assume, if you have seen my salt about Secret History around, that I do not enjoy the novella. You would be incorrect, as I actually pretty much adore it. Despite the fact that I might have an issue with a thing at the end, I am 100% on board with reading this wonderful romp through the cosmere afterlife. Utterly delighted. This episode comes with warnings for A) Me getting incredibly committed to theories which apparently aren’t actually real (Seriously, how is it not Marsh???) B) My cat being absurdly naughty and loud in the background and C) some issues in microphone quality, oops. My apologies for all three. It’s a wild ride, enjoy!

"I need this. I need this, okay. Alright. Okay. I haven’t even started reading it yet, I just saw that Wax is… I’m pumped. I’m pumped!" The grand finale of Bands of Mourning, everyone! It’s a race to the end as we jump off of the last cliffhanger and tumble all the way through our final installment for this book. Ships, both literal and relational, are sailing and flying and there’s Allomancy and theories and reveals. It’s wild. And then there’s that ending. I’ll refrain from Secret History spoilers here, but I will say I feel a bit vindicated by the vehemence of my reactions to that last line here. The Salt Brigade (http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/52725-theres-not-nearly-enough-salt-about-secret-history-spoilers/) starts early with this one. No Secret History needed. Whether or not my predictions were correct for this ending (and whether or not certain tables will be flipped and set ablaze) remains to be seen. (Warning that there are Secret History spoilers behind that Salt Brigade link! If you’re listening along as you read BoM, be careful!) We’ll start up fresh with Mistborn: Secret History next week, everyone! As that novella is a much shorter work, there will be three episodes of that! As always, comments and reactions are exceptionally appreciated and warm the depths of my cold dark heart.

"I called it! I never call stuff like that. But I totally called it and I never call stuff like that! That’s kind of why it’s fun to record these, because the few times that I do get it right I’m like: “It’s on recording! I got proof! I’ve got an ‘I told you so!’”" First of all, I want to apologize for the brief hiatus we’ve had on Splintercast. It’s been a really hectic few weeks for me and I appreciate your patience. Free time has been in short supply for this Feather, especially the long swaths of time it takes to sit down and edit the audio for a whole episode. But we’re back now and we’re nearing the end. This time, a lot happens! Allegiances are revealed! Wax takes a tumble! Steris hardly gets any page-time but I talk about her anyway. And a cliffhanger of truly Branderson proportions rears its head at the end of 27. Past!Feather is wary, however. She expects shenanigans. I also mention a currently held theory of mine, that of Roshar’s Afterlife, so I’ll drop the link to that here. This reminds me that I ought to go update that with BoM and Secret History knowledge at some point. Hmm. A project for another day, however. Theory: http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/8855-theory-roshars-afterlife-and-the-tranquiline-halls/

"Cosmere is still number one in my heart, okay? I’ll never leave the cosmere behind. I been in this for six years. We ain’t leavin’ the trenches now!" Finally, things start to come together for me theory-wise. I talk myself back into my theory of Telsin’s alignment, which is probably a good thing. However, I also start to “figure out” my theory about who the Sovereign is, and I’m still mad that that theory was wrong because it made so much sense, listen. I will say, for everyone who does know who the Sovereign is, (including me, the present Feather, who is writing this) going back and listening to me trying to figure it out is pretty amusing. In a way that makes me want to punch the real Sovereign in the face because, Harmony’s Forearms, I want to punch him so much. There’s also a ridiculous amount of Dragon Age talk, but hey, that’s all I was doing all day before I started reading, gimme a break. I’d say that I was due for a Dragon Age/Cosmere crossover, but actually… I already wrote one. Ha. Enjoy!

"I don’t think it was him. I don’t think it was. I’m pretty sure he was dead. But... maybe... Augh! I don’t know! I’m doubting everything!" I would like to issue a formal apology to my new son, Allik, whom I assume to be a Hemalurgic experiment in this chapter. Listen. We all make mistakes. Allik, I didn’t mean it. Please forgive me. Like also that mistake of me talking myself out of a theory I’ve held since the beginning. Oops. Also, burning questions such as: was Preservation the ultimate prescriptivist? (Probably, that dirty language-keeping Shard.) Thankfully my rabid linguist senses get distracted by making some new Connections later on. Sign me up for duralumin ferring, guys. I also talk about The 100 which... was a great show and then started making some stupid writing decisions in the time between when I recorded this and when it got released. Dangit, The 100. And get sad about Cullen. My Dragon Age husband. Listen. And rap a bit of Hamilton. It’s a multifandom mess up in here. (Slight spoiler warning: I did end up asking Brandon if Iyatil was a Southern Scadrian, only to find out that the answer is “not really.”)

"Don’t lose your guns, Wax. I feel like I’m babysitting him. Like every time he loses his guns, I’m like ‘Go get those back. Pick them up. What’re you doing?’" In which a whole heck of a lot happens. The end of Lady Kelesina’s party and we flee into the countryside with our heroes to try to see what exactly the Set is up to. There’s an absolutely beautiful Waxteris moment (which, yes, is the ship name that I belatedly decided on.) Expect much squeeing. I also set sail on the S.S. WaynLaan as well, because huh, those two certainly have a remarkable amount of similarity. And my pet theory about Telsin Ladrian gets mentioned again, but we have yet to see if such a theory will be proven true or not. Also EEEEE SOUTHERN SCADRIAL STUFF. YEAH. So cool. So so cool.

"God bless. Harmony bless. Maker bless. Every... every deity just bless Steris Harms. Let’s just be real right here. Honor? Uh, Endowment? Like, all the Shards just need to like, group together, call a truce real quick, and bless Steris Harms. Kay? There we go. So it is decreed." This episode of Splintercast, Feather discusses RP and how she really ought to get around to joining Mistborn: The Inquisition. Listen, guys. I love RP so much, but I like chat RP. It’s gotta be fast. Instant responses. Wait, you’re here to hear about Bands of Mourning? Oh, okay I guess we can do that too. Cliffhangers continue to be my nemesis, but hey at least we got some fancy party infiltrations and a firefight in a graveyard. Steris is, of course, perfect, like usual. Dalish is cute and then naughty and must be exiled. And I’m upset that we haven’t talked about MeLaan recently. Also a bizarre conversation about my past and future selves, which drifts frighteningly close to Homestuck. Which is ending... today. 4/13. Happy Homestuck Day, everybody. It’s the last true one. Regardless of whether or not you’re Homestuck trash, if you liked this episode, feel free to drop a comment down below! See you next week!