Words of Radiance

How it opens

Shallan sails with Jasnah Kholin through Longbrow's Straits and finds a strange pattern rising on her sketch of Shadesmar. Jasnah teaches her about spren and Shadesmar and begins arranging her betrothal to Adolin Kholin, as an alliance for Shallan's indebted house. On the Shattered Plains, Kaladin steps out a free man and takes charge of nearly a thousand former bridgemen, with Bridge Four set to guard Dalinar Kholin. When he sits for a tattoo to cover his slave brands, the ink will not stay on his skin.

Who you meet early

• Shallan DavarShallan is at sea as the ward of Jasnah Kholin, only a few days after her betrayal of Jasnah. She had stolen Jasnah's Soulcaster, which turned out to be a fake. Her house at home is deep in debt.
• Jasnah KholinJasnah Kholin, a scholar and the sister of a king, is sailing with her ward Shallan. She means to turn their attention to the Shattered Plains and the relics of Urithiru.
• TozbekCaptain Tozbek commands the ship carrying Jasnah and Shallan through Longbrow's Straits. His wife, Ashlv, sails with him.
• YalbYalb is a young sailor in Captain Tozbek's crew, which has carried Shallan before.
• KaladinKaladin is a free man and a captain in Dalinar Kholin's service, in command of a new battalion of former bridgemen. He means to keep Dalinar alive.
• TeftTeft, the oldest of the bridgemen, is named a lieutenant of Bridge Four and put in charge of training the former bridge crews.
• MoashMoash, a Bridge Four man with no slave brand, is named a lieutenant and set to guard Dalinar Kholin with Kaladin and Skar.
• SkarSkar, a short, wiry bridgeman with a wounded foot, is named a lieutenant and set to guard Dalinar Kholin with Kaladin and Moash.