The Stormlight Archive’s Main Characters, Ranked By Their Arcs Through Wind And Truth

With Wind and Truth now released, the first sequence of The Stormlight Archive and its character arcs are concluded. Brandon Sanderson’s latest fantasy novel offers readers the culmination of several narratives established in 2010’s The Way of Kings while also establishing the foundation for another five Stormlight Archive books. While it may not be the final ending, it is an ending for now, and with years to come before The Stormlight Archive book 6 hits shelves, there’s plenty of time to analyze the already existing characters and what their journeys really meant.

The Stormlight Archive features a massive ensemble of characters, so this will primarily focus on the main flashback POV characters from each book as well as the other Kholin family members who are featured prominently in the story. All of these characters are exceptionally written and will be relatable to different readers in different ways, so the attempt is to discern which arcs were the most effective with all five novels considered, building toward Wind and Truth’s climactic ending.

9

Navani

Navani Is Well-Crafted & Nuanced But Doesn’t Have Enough Time To Shine

Navani Kholin is a spectacular supporting character, and while her arc isn’t flawed in any particular way, she’s rarely provided the opportunities to take center stage as many of the others do. Rhythm of War is the novel that spends the most time examining her, and she’s easily one of the best parts of the book, proving that she’s capable of heroism, just like Kaladin or Adolin. The novel also explores more of her relationship with the late King Gavilar, demonstrating the emotional abuse he subjected her to in his journey for power.

Throughout all five books, Navani is a strong-willed mother and wife, with Brandon Sanderson importantly demonstrating how powerful a married couple can be when they communicate and listen to one another. It’s not hard to imagine why she’s the queen, as she’s a person one could easily be inspired by and look up to. And yet, Sanderson cleverly crafts her POV chapters to show the insecurities she feels about her relationships and her profession, demonstrating the nuance of even the strongest people. If she’d had more to do in Wind and Truth’s climax, she might hold a higher spot.

8

Renarin

Renarin’s Best Moments Are Still To Come

Renarin is another character who simply hasn’t had enough attention placed on him despite being Dalinar’s son. There are long stretches of the Stormlight Archive books where Renarin is absent and his fascinating powers have barely been explored. This is mostly because Renarin is set to be the main flashback character of The Stormlight Archive book 7, so Sanderson is likely saving his most compelling material related to the character for later on. With that being said, he still has some narrative aspects worth praising in the first five volumes.

Renarin’s duality with Adolin, particularly how it’s explored in the Oathbringer flashbacks, is a fascinating one, though it’s primarily used to demonstrate Dalinar’s arc. Wind and Truth only just began to show how being the Blackthorn’s son has affected Renarin in the long run. Joining Bridge Four and finding acceptance there is a beautiful idea, and it’s fantastic that it’s led to a romantic partnership with Rlain. Again, that narrative is one that will be exciting to see developed in the future, especially given what their union means for the broader world of humans and singers on Roshar.

7

Jasnah

Jasnah Has Highs & Lows Throughout Books 1-5

Jasnah Kholin is a terrific character and one that will be exciting throughout the remainder of The Stormlight Archive, and Wind and Truth has only just begun setting up the seeds of her long-term narrative. Starting with her story in book 5, Jasnah’s confrontation with Odium over Thaylenah forces her to reckon with her own ideologies, and her failure there will likely kick off a redemption arc that ends in book 10 when she’s the primary POV flashback character.

Jasnah is at her best in The Way of Kings and Rhythm of War. Her dynamic with Shallan is one of the best in the series, and it’s unfortunate that they barely have any scenes together after Jasnah fakes her death at the start of Words of Radiance. In Rhythm of War, the decision to pair her with Wit is a fascinating choice that speaks to her potential, and the trial by combat with Ruthar is one of the best sequences in the book. Overall, Jasnah suffers from prolonged absences and other characters taking priority.

6

Szeth

Szeth’s Final Journey Weakens Him Slightly

“Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king.” Those are words etched into the minds of Stormlight Archive fans that have remained some of Brandon Sanderson’s best work for over a decade. The opening line of The Way of Kings instantly makes Szeth a compelling character, with enough of a hook to invite the reader into a behemoth of a novel already wanting to know more. Szeth maintains this allure throughout the first four books while he’s largely a supporting character.

Wind and Truth features Szeth far more prominently, and in some ways, it’s effective, while in others, it demystifies what made him so fascinating. The idea of his story ending with him burying Kaladin, meeting a woman he goes on to marry, and then living out his days recovering is touching. However, it feels like expediting Szeth’s recovery for a narrative that only lasts ten days is somewhat contrived. Making Szeth, a character who once seemed to be larger-than-life, into a sympathetic figure is a great idea, but the growth feels like it happens too quickly.

5

Venli

Venli’s Redemption Arc Is Exceptional

Venli is a character who tends to be hit or miss depending on the reader, and that’s generally because she’s not particularly likable. The fact that she’s working against the heroes for a significant portion of the narrative makes her harder to follow, but her story arc in Rhythm of War and, subsequently, Wind and Truth, is still one of the most beautiful that Brandon Sanderson has written. Venli parallels Dalinar in some crucial ways, though the reader meets her while she’s in the process of committing her terrible action rather than after she’s already become a better person.With that in mind, it could be argued that the reader beginning to understand Venli more and more throughout the final two volumes is almost an equally compelling redemption arc. The dynamic between her and Eshonai becomes more clear over time, and Venli becomes easier to sympathize with. This makes her reunion with her mother all the more special. Venli’s arc is one of the most tangible in the series, growing from an immature young adult to a future hero of Roshar.

4

Adolin

Adolin Subverts Early Expectations & Becomes A Loveable Hero

When Adolin is first introduced as an over-confident playboy and the son of a Highprince, it’s easy to imagine where his story might be headed. Luckily, Brandon Sanderson avoids practically every cliché with Adolin’s arc, transforming him into one of the kindest and easiest-to-love characters in the story. Adolin grows significantly in his relationship with Shallan, proving to be not only an outstanding romantic partner but also an outstanding human being.

Adolin’s arcs in Rhythm of War and Wind and Truth are some of the best, perfectly concluding his story in the first sequence. Refusing to become a Radiant for so long makes Adolin, a once prominent Shardbearer, practically outclassed in the True Desolation. Yet, he finds a way to carve his own place in the world through compassion and friendship, eventually becoming the first Oathless. Adolin’s new powers and companions will be exciting to see develop in future books.

3

Shallan

Shallan’s Arc Suffers At Times But Is Still One Of The Best

Shallan is perhaps the protagonist with the most fluctuation in terms of how her arc pans out. She receives some flack for the often redundant nature of her arc, particularly in Oathbringer. With that being said, Rhythm of War’s ending proves how much of a hero she is, and Wind and Truth continues to expand on the idea with her finally overcoming the Ghostbloods on Roshar. Placing her in Shadesmar suggests she might even become a character throughout the Cosmere universe, meaning more stories to come.

Shallan is one of the best characters in The Way of Kings and is arguably the best overall character in Words of Radiance when she’s allowed to truly shine with her flashback development and newly established chemistry with Adolin and Kaladin. If not for Oathbringer, she might even claim a higher position, but there are some valid critiques of how she’s handled in that novel that damage her overall arc.

2

Kaladin

Kaladin Is A Worthy Fan-Favorite

Kaladin is a fan-favorite in Brandon Sanderson’s books, and there’s no question why. His arc in The Way of Kings is arguably the best single book arc Sanderson has written, making Kaladin one of the most beloved and easy-to-root-for characters from the get-go. He’s also phenomenal in Words of Radiance, where he has some of the most epic moments in the entire series. Kaladin might claim the top spot, though his arc experiences a lull in Oathbringer before picking back up again.

As for his role in Wind and Truth, having Kaladin’s Stormlight Archive arc with him becoming not just one of, but the king of the Heralds of the Almighty, is perfect. It’s hard to imagine a more epic conclusion for a character like him, and it’s even more exciting to imagine how jaw-dropping it will be to see his return in future books. Kaladin taking the steps to recover from his mental health struggles is beautiful and inspiring, and he only falls short of one other character.

1

Dalinar

Dalinar Is Brandon Sanderson’s Best Character

Dalinar Kholin is Brandon Sanderson’s magnum opus, and given his role in Wind and Truth, he’s a clear-cut favorite for the time being. Dalinar has the advantage of dying in the fifth volume, meaning his entire arc is already concluded and can be assessed more properly than other characters, but that shouldn’t take value away from the profound journey readers witness from Oathbringer’s flashbacks to the contest of champions with Odium.

Dalinar is emblematic of everything The Stormlight Archive is about. He was a man who committed terrible atrocities in his early years, then became a broken shell of his former self until his brother’s death ignited something in him. His journey from reading the in-world text of The Way of Kings to connecting with the Stormfather to uniting the coalition and the newly formed orders of the Knights Radiant is the best The Stormlight Archive has to offer. At least so far.