Brandon Sanderson’sWind and Truth, the fifth book inThe Stormlight Archiveseries, is out soon, and one 2023 novel is a must-read before it comes out. Sanderson has become one of the world’s most renowned fantasy authors for the vast world-building in hisCosmere universe, which includes series likeThe Stormlight Archive,Mistborn, and numerous standalone titles. Importantly, a reader can enjoy one series without knowing all the rest, but the Easter eggs, references, and story tidbits from enjoying the joint world make it worthwhile.
2023 was dubbed the “Year of Sanderson” as his record-breaking Kickstarter campaign allowed for the release of four new novels, three of which are set in the Cosmere. Though they were released early to backers, each of theseSecret Project novelsis now available to the public, and they’re worth checking out for Cosmere fans and new Sanderson readers alike. Each can be read without much prior knowledge of his universe, particularlyTress of the Emerald Sea, which the author has even suggested as an ideal starting point for his books.
The Sunlit Man Is Filled With References To The Stormlight Archive
The Sunlit Man Follows A Character From Roshar
Without spoiling the story, there arenumerous references toThe Stormlight Archiveand the Cosmere inThe Sunlit Manthat make it a terrific book for any fans of the main saga. After just the first handful of chapters, it’s pretty easy to tell that the protagonist is from Roshar, as they use terms like “storming” and “Almighty” and reference their soil-less home planet. There are also references toMistborn,Warbreaker, and other parts of the Cosmere, including the novellaShadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell.
An Early Stormlight Archive Twist Already Proves Its Adaptation Could Be The Next Game Of Thrones
The Stormlight Archive features a gut punch of a plot twist in just a few chapters, and it will give a TV show a strong likeness to Game of Thrones.
Out of Brandon Sanderson’s secret project books,The Sunlit Manrequires the most attention to detail in other facets of the Cosmere. In fact, it would be rather challenging to understandThe Sunlit Manto its full capacity without having at least readThe Way of KingsandWords of Radiance. As for whetherThe Sunlit Manis crucial to read beforeWind and Truth, it isn’t absolutely essential to understand the narrative, but it can provide some loose ideas on what happens to Roshar, as it’s set afterward in the Cosmere’s timeline.
When The Sunlit Man Happens On The Cosmere’s Timeline
The Sunlit Man Is In The Cosmere’s Future
Brandon Sanderson isn’t entirely clear on the chronology of the Cosmere, and, in many cases, it doesn’t really matter. However,The Sunlit Manis one of the examples where it does matter, as it’sset after the events of all ten books ofThe Stormlight Archive, during the space age of the Cosmere. This puts it even afterMistbornEra 3, which hasn’t come out yet but will be in an early computer age. The book offers a glimpse at what the Cosmere’s future will look like years later as it transitions from fantasy to science fiction.
The Stormlight Archive
The Stormlight Archive is an epic fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson, set on the storm-ravaged world of Roshar. The series follows multiple characters, each with their unique storylines, as they navigate political intrigue, ancient prophecies, and powerful magic. Central to the story are the Knights Radiant, legendary warriors with magical abilities who must return to save their world from impending destruction. The series explores themes of honor, leadership, and the burden of power.
