Rate: 4.5/5
Medium: Audiobook
Overview (No Spoilers):
When the Year of Sanderson (YoS) was announced I could hardly contain my excitement! Four extra books by Sanderson that we hadn’t anticipated and all within the span of a year. Having thoroughly enjoyed the first three books of the YoS, I was looking forward to the last installment. My anticipation only heightened upon learning that The Sunlit Man is the only story of the year directly linked to The Stormlight Archive. That said, I want to start this review with some initial, noncontent thoughts. Having read the majority of my Sanderson novels via audiobook, Kate Reading and Michael Kramer have come to be irrevocably linked to his characters. The Sunlit Man deviates with William DeMeritt narrating and the shift is jarring to say the least. Eventually you grow used to Demeritt’s voice, who really does a fine job, but it takes time to acclimate and a feeling of being off throughout much of the read, especially when familiar characters such as Hoid pop up. My other overwhelming thought after finishing The Sunlit Man is that I desperately need to do a reread of The Stormlight Archive, and perhaps the Cosmere as a whole. Sanderson has created material that is so delightfully dense and elaborately detailed that I’m left feeling as though I’m repeatedly missing Easter eggs and nuanced connections. I’m sure you can imagine how much this gap nags at the analytical chemist in me. That said, I enjoyed The Sunlit Man, though it is likely, and surprisingly my least favorite of the YoS.
The Sunlit Man opens up with Nomad having just skipped to a new planet and finding himself in a deadly situation mere minutes after waking up. The main character, Nomad is rather dislikable and cynical, with his story of desperation being not that fun to read. Additionally, the side characters are rather undeveloped, or at least one dimensional for Sanderson’s typically high standards. For most of this novel, we do not know who the Nomad is, though he is linked to Bridge Four, Kaladan, and Hoid. I am chagrined to admit that once this character’s identity is revealed I had to go look up his backstory. Once reminded, I should have figured it out sooner, but this experience highlights how a reread of this fantastic series is needed before the next book comes out.
The worldbuilding throughout The Sunlit Man is fascinating and adds an immediate element of looming doom. Imagine living in a world where the sun will incinerate you instantly. In fact, the sun is so intense that rock is melted and reformed daily, changing landmarks with each sunset. The people of this world can only survive by being in constant motion, frantically trying to outrun the dawn, while somehow harvesting crops along the way. If there are mechanical issues, the clock will unforgivably tick ever closer to annihilation at sunrise if the equipment doesn’t start back up.
The Nomad’s dead, bound spirit, Aux is my favorite character of The Sunlit Man. Most of his personality had already been burned away during a past frantic moment when Nomad siphoned off his energy to survive. As a result, Aux can only speak in monotones, so the spirit qualifies each statement with the inflection intended, e.g. sarcasm, astonishment, concern, adding unexpected levity.
Overall, The Sunlit Man is a welcome and unexpected return to the Stormlight Archives, that leaves me with a burning (see what I did there) desire to reread this much loved series.
Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):
- How didn’t I know who Sigzel was?I really need a reread.
- I cried when the last of Aux was burned away. Could he ever be brought back?
- Will the Night Brigade ever stop hunting Sigzel? Can he somehow break the link as he started to?
- Sigzel is broken and jaded throughout much of this read. With being renamed Zellion it seemed to heal him. Will he continue healing?
- The scientists not helping to advance the civilization while still meddling in other ways hurt my scientific heart.
- How will Rebeke handle the other Charred in the future? Will her people continue their enlightened ways?
- What will happen to the Spirits who fabricate parts? Will the deadly Spirits ever escape?
- The mountain scene was so well crafted. Talk about anxiety when the sun crested the ridge and Nomad was exposed to the sun.
The Critiquing Chemist 