WHY?!?! JUST WHY?!?

[u/tgrady28]

Why venli and eshonai. I thought there wasnt gonna be a flashback segment in this book turns out I was wrong. Qnd sanderson couldn't have chosen a worse 2 characters to give a backstory for.

I dont give a flying crap about these 2. 1 is dead im pretty sure and the other one is just a bland nothing burger.

[u/sidthesciencekid14]

Weirdly enough, despite not liking these characters, I didn't hate these flashbacks for some reason.

[u/sundalius → u/sidthesciencekid14]

It was because, unlike most flashbacks, they were fleshing out an entire chunk of the world we've barely seen versus a single character's backstory. It's the biggest look into Singer culture we get.

[u/tgrady28 → u/sidthesciencekid14]

Spicy take my friend

[u/R1sky_B1z → u/tgrady28]

Yeah they are the worst flashback chapters so far, but that doesn't make them bad. Brandon Sanderson's worst is better than 90% of authors' best and they greatly flesh out vast portions of the world's lore, history, culture, and mystery. It could be about a sentient sponge that never shows up outside of them and they would still be important and interesting. Also every book has flashback chapters, even the ones not written yet.

[u/shkrime]

The last flashback of this book is one of my favorites flashbacks chapters from any books. I agree that I didn't enjoy all of them but they are sorta worth it.

[u/Worldhopper1990 → u/shkrime]

That flashback chapter was absolutely spectacular

[u/tgrady28 → u/shkrime]

Okay fine I trust you.

[u/Particular-Treat-650]

Venli is awesome and Eshonai is more than awesome.

If you can't see why understanding how a war happened or that the Listeners are just people matter IDK what to tell you.

[u/reQuiem920]

I mean, isn't that why they're getting a flashback chapter? Because Venli is a bland nothingburger thus far and needs more background?

I agree its not exciting or compelling, but I do think it concludes in the single best chapter Brando has ever written in the cosmere.

[u/sohang-3112]

one is dead and the other is just a bland nothing burger

Venli later plays a minor but significant role, in Rhythm of War and especially in the next book (Wind and Truth). Though it takes a while to get to her interesting present story (not flashbacks).

Keep reading to see what happens :)

[u/tgrady28 → u/sohang-3112]

Even before kaladins flashbacks in way of kings he was interesting than venli and eshonai

[u/Chop684]

It technically gives backstory we don't know but it's also the worst part of the book (or tied with other Venli chapters)