Read four of my Cosmere chronological extravanganza. 
 Special edition of Max-Has-Never-Read-This-Before 
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 NIGHTS AFIRE! I knew that Brandon Sanderson could write epic stories sweeping across distant lands focusing on a variety of different and complex viewpoints, but I never knew how in-depth and spiritual it could become. The Emperor's Soul is a perfect example of this and I freaking loved this book. The magic of Soul Forgery, rewriting the existence of an object and its past, is just so intriguing. Add to it some awesome Asian culture, great world-building, and little references to Elantris, which is also set in the planet of Sel, and you've got yourself a pretty damn good book if I do say so myself. 
 I have to get this out there or else I will explode: 
 Shai 
 is 
 amazing. 
 Her characterization and development over the course of the novel iS AMAZING AND I LOVE IT. Man oh man she's just so complex with so many different layers. The ending with how she (view spoiler)[adapted into the warrior plate and stamp, became someone powerful and yet so destructive, slaughtering those skeletals (hide spoiler)]... It was so good and I need more on her story, her background with training to become this person she's bred into. 
 I am very invested (aha, Cosmere references) into how this all fits into the Cosmere. I really want to see Soul Forgery take a part into the grand sequence of the big epic that's being foreshadowed. Hopefully some things from TES will come up in one of Brandon's future books...? I really hope so because Shai is currently one of my favourite characters. I'm hoping that we get a little peek into what the future will be for the Rose Empire. Even if it was slightly implied in the epilogue and the last chapter, I do want to see it on-screen. 
 The Hoid reference was so sneaky, I love it. His role as (view spoiler)[the Imperial Fool by betraying Shai (hide spoiler)] was something that really resonated with me in realising that he is not a wholly good character. I mean, yeah, I love him to bits but his character isn't good. He isn't morally good. He has many of his flaws, which show up more than his strengths, and I do love that about him. That he isn't OP and it shows in how he can't kill people (doesn't want to) and that he can be defeated--if not in power, but in the way people interact with him and figure out his social and personal disadvantages. 
 SO SO SOOOO I've been wanting to talk about the fact that Gaotona was also amazing. How he acted as a (view spoiler)[grandfather to Shai (hide spoiler)] in the end of the book was so great and I loved that aspect of his character. I love how it implies that he still doesn't completely believe (view spoiler)[Soul Forgery is right but he does see it, or at least Shai's interpretation of it once she brings Ashravan back, as a piece of art (hide spoiler)]. I don't know if anyone else visioned it this way, but that's just my general opinion of his development. I loved seeing him grow and rise and shine, but I also loved the dull and bleary moments of his role in the overall story Brandon was telling. 
 Now let's go to the one line that made me bawl like a baby because I was reminded of how blasting heart-wrenching Elantris was: 
 [Shai] almost bowled over a southern ambassador in red priest's armor. 
 (view spoiler)[A MENTION OF HRATHEN AND YET IT CAN'T BE BECAUSE HE'S DEAD. AND THE EVENTS OF THE EMPEROR'S SOUL ARE THAT OF AFTER ELANTRIS. SO WHY MUST YOU INCLUDE THIS, BRANDON?! 
 End my eternal suffering. (hide spoiler)] 
 Once I've finished crying, I'm going to start on the next in the timeline: Mistborn Era 1. Ah, nostalgia of times when Mistborns ruled over Mistings. 
 ...Just kidding, I wouldn't wanna OP in the mists.