So Semirhage could stand being humiliated naked, upside down, endure psychological torture for days, and the second Cadsuane spanks her, she breaks down? Are you kidding me?

Her psyche was built up as impenetrable. I was under the impression that this woman could outdo Cadsuane. The comparison was made very obvious by BS, and Cadsuane kept thinking that the solution to cracking Semirhage's would be similar to her own breaking her own mind. So, in this scene, Cadsuane basically admitted that all it takes to reduce her to a pathetic sobbing baby who eats beans off the floor is a simple spanking in front of an audience.

I'm not finished the book yet. I appreciate BS's work, but he's just so obvious that the metaphors and psychological dots that are connected just seem childish at times. RJ was a master at hinting at what was important, and realistically and subtly explaining what was going on without actually spelling it out. Sanderson lacks this finesse, and I think it's the greatest detriment to the novel.