Yet another Cosmere novel from Sanderson. As expected, the writing here is fantastic. This story is a lot more fast-paced than his other works, but that doesn’t mean the characterization takes a back seat. I felt the franticness of the story, but not just because of the pacing. The main character’s motivation to keep moving influenced the story as well as how I read it. I didn’t want to put it down. Let me tell you why.

The story revolves around Nomad, a planet-hopper on the run from a group called the Night Brigade. He ends up on this planet and has to adapt quickly to survive. The sun for this planet liquifies the ground and burns everything else to ash. The people here live in floating cities, constantly running for their lives (much like Nomad). But not only is the sun trying to kill them, there’s a tyrant ruler (the Cinder King) who kidnaps people and turns them into mindless soldiers called “Charred.” Nomad ends up with a group that’s about at the end of their rope. They’re tired of running but don’t have any options left. As he gets to know them, he decides they can help each other because he needs to absorb more power to leave the planet and keep running. He agrees to help them find a secret underground shelter because he knows the power he requires is hidden there. Along the way, he and the Beaconites (that’s their floating city’s name) have to fight the planet as well as the Cinder King’s forces to survive. It’s a wild ride that’s accented by deep character moments, mostly for Nomad, because of everything they’ve gone through.

Nomad is the star of this book but I felt just as connected to the people of Beacon by the end. The things he learns about them, and eventually their absolute faith in him, made the town as a whole very endearing. Though some of the named characters fall by the wayside, I felt attached to the community overall. Rebeke, Zeal and The Greater Good were the main Beaconites that the story focused on. Rebeke lost so much just before we met her and it’s felt in how she’s written. She’s still processing the loss of her brother and her sister’s change has impacted her further. Rebeke goes through all the stages of grief without them seeming forced or like they’re a big deal. Sometimes grief is internalized or suppressed until it comes to a boiling point. She’s an empathetic character and does some truly awesome stuff, but I ultimately was sorry for her. The subtleness with how she’s handled makes her a deep character that I truly loved. Zeal isn’t elaborated on as much, but his level-headedness and willingness to do what is needed are great traits. He cares for his people deeply and I respect him wholeheartedly. The Greater Good on the other hand, are essentially Beacon’s governing force. These three ladies make the decisions and are mostly interchangeable. They are the heart and soul of Beacon, and though they aren’t delved into much, their presence stabilizes the decision-making process by providing great points to debate. The people held them with reverence, and so did I. Now Nomad is a character from another Cosmere novel, which isn’t revealed until pretty close to the end. There are a lot of hints at it, and if you’re a regular Sanderson reader, you can probably figure it out sooner. Even without that context, this story provides enough backstory to his life that lets you understand his motivations. He lives with the voice of a friend he hurt’s voice in his head, which keeps him grounded. Nomad is a man who doubts himself constantly, but still moves forward because what else can you do? You can’t stop and give up. This mentality serves him well, but there’s got to be more to life than this. Spending time with the people of Beacon opens him up to feelings he hasn’t had in a long time. It seems like his soul is healing just by being there. I loved seeing him open up and make realizations that helped him move forward mentally instead of just physically. He makes an investment in the people of Beacon and they, in turn, invest in him their faith and hope. (This makes more sense in the context of the narrative I swear.) It’s a wonderful cast of characters that help each other grow and develop into better versions of themselves, which I think are the best kinds of relationships to have.

The Sunlit Man is a story that adds more layers to an established character in the Cosmere and is ultimately a story of hope and fear, coupled with the fight against one’s natural instincts and desire for freedom. It asks a lot of deep questions; is there a way to atone for the worst thing we’ve ever done or are we doomed to have that decision looming over us for our entire lives? Is hope better than giving up even if the odds are astronomically against us? Should we keep moving anyways? These subjects are exemplified in the phenomenal storytelling and complex characters throughout the entire narrative. It’s a fast-paced story with a lot to say that I think most people can enjoy. The Sunlit Man is a great story full of heart, so invest your time and you’ll feel your heart fill in turn.