Rhythm of War:  Gemheart Theories (+1)
Channel: Ellen Smyth
Date: 2020-10-10

Brandon Sanderson is epically brilliant at building his stories with layers of tiny clues and hints as to what will come later.  I had enjoyed Sanderson's books reasonably well until I did my first reread of the two Stormlight novels.  I was floored!  Everything we'd learned by the end of the 2nd book was right there, plain as day, in the 1st book.  Well, not plain as day, obviously, but the hindsight clues were amazing.  That's when I fell completely and madly in love with the series!

I love to theorize!  And having an author that gives clues as logically and brilliantly as Sanderson is the best gift you could give this girl.  And so I apologize if I wax and wane too long on my favorite theories on my favorite topic, which are my favorite books.

Almost all of my theories after re-reading the first two novels and the first reading of Oathbringer revolved around gemhearts and their functions in Roshar.  I've spent a ton of time thinking about all of the little clues that we have on this subject.  

At the end, I present a final favorite theory that isn't related to gemstones and that will likely not play out in the next book because it involves how Aharietiam will end and who will be the real Voidbringers.  I believe there is a good chance Aharietiam will happen in Book V, but there is also a good chance Aharietiam will happen in Books IX or X.  But I wanted to throw this theory in, regardless, as something to consider.

There are spoilers through Rhythm of War Chapter 14.  If you've not yet read that far, please check out those chapters here:  https://www.tor.com/series/rhythm-of-war-brandon-sanderson/

Intro (0:00)
The Parshendi-Parshmen Gemheart Theory (0:45)
Spren-Soul Connection (7:05)
The Fused Gemheart Theory (10:18)
The Thunderclasts Gemheart Theory (16:09)
The Navani's Sibling Gemheart Theory (21:07)
The God-Trapping Gemheart Theory (31:23)
The Aharietiam-Voidbringer Theory (45:23)