The Sunlit Man Review: Shining a Light on Sanderson’s Last Secret Projects Novel
I just finished The Sunlit Man (so I’m now 100% caught up on the cosmere, woo-hoo!) and I’m excited to get my thoughts out. In short, The Sunlit Man review is a wild ride of twists and cosmere easter eggs that left me happy.
I’ll admit I had some doubts going in. I’d heard mixed things about this book compared to Yumi and Tress. And although I agree that both of those books are better, that didn’t make this book bad. The characters, the plot, the magic system – everything came together in a way that had me reading late into the night.
Of course, it’s not perfect, so here is my detailed The Sunlit Man review that captures all my thoughts on it.
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Themes and Motifs
I found The Sunlit Man to be full of great themes and motifs. Personal growth was a big one. The main character, Nomad, faces his past and inner demons in an intriguing but heartbreaking way. His choices were often driven by formative events and unresolved conflicts from earlier in his (long) life.
Hope is another main theme and I loved seeing characters hold onto optimism in the face of impossible situations. This was inspiring stuff!
Survival was a big theme, with characters facing off against harsh environments and deadly enemies. The high stakes had me on the edge of my seat!
Redemption arcs were cool, as flawed characters tried to make up for past mistakes. These personal transformation journeys were fun to follow.
Easter eggs and mysteries were scattered throughout the text, and I loved piecing together the clues and connections to the broader Cosmere. (The cosmere connects were arguably my favorite thing about this story.)
World-Building
I enjoyed reading about the world of Canticle in The Sunlit Man. People fleeing deadly sunlight is a very cool concept. Classic Sanderson – magic systems that shape entire societies.
The magic of the “sunhearts” on Canticle was new and interesting to me. I loved seeing it in action with the characters, and how the magic system ties into the larger cosmere.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t a book for people who are new to Brandon Sanderson. Even though you could technically read it as a newbie, you’d be missing out on a lot of background story and information that might leave you feeling confused. At the very least, the emotional impact would not be there if you hadn’t read most of Sanderson’s other books first.
So I’ll say it again, if you’re new to Sanderson, don’t start with this. (Be sure to check out my comprehensive guide to the cosmere for the best order.) At least read The Stormlight Archive, which will help with the worldbuilding and backstory in The Sunlit Man.
Plot
I was sucked into the world of Nomad, a Cosmere traveler on the run. The story starts on Canticle, a planet where sunlight is deadly – like light your hair on fire and burn you to dust in an instant deadly.
Nomad’s search for a way off this deadly world had me on the edge of my seat. He teams up with locals from a small city and I loved how this worked out. I loved learning about the planet’s mysteries alongside Nomad.
It’s fast-paced with lots of action scenes one after another. It’s different from Sanderson’s usual dense, meandering style but I liked it. It was a bit reminiscent of the Wax & Wayne series in terms of pacing.
However, I’ll admit I was left wanting more on some of the backstory. There were hints about a specific event in Nomad’s past that didn’t happen in any of the other books, but weren’t explored fully in this one either. I was hoping there would be some flashback chapters to show us what happened, but there wasn’t. Maybe we’ll see more in future books?
Characters
Nomad, the main character is this mysterious guy with a troubled past always on the move. I loved how the author slowly revealed bits of his backstory and kept me hooked.
Aux, Nomad’s spren companion, was also interesting. Their companionship unfolded in unexpected ways as the story went on.
The supporting cast had some great characters too. Elegy and Rebeke were important but could have used a little more character development.
That said, as far as the main character goes, I was impressed by how much character growth the author packed into an action-heavy book. Nomad’s journey of self-discovery felt real and I was invested.
The Cinder King was a pretty one-dimensions foe, but for the kind of book it is, that can be forgiven. He served his purpose, which was creating conflict and raising the stakes for our heroes.
Writing Style
The Sunlit Man is Sanderson’s latest book (at the time of this writing) and it shows. The character development and storytelling are tighter and more polished than his earlier books like Elantris.
It’s shorter than his usual epics but The Sunlit Man punches hard. Sanderson’s ability to tell a compelling story in a smaller package is impressive. I’m always amazed by how he balances world-building, character growth, and plot progression.
The pacing in this book is great. It’s lean and keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The Sanderlanche is present and as awesome as ever.
I liked how Sanderson mixed fantasy and science fiction in The Sunlit Man. The futuristic tech blends with the fantastical elements seamlessly.
The Sunlit Man shows his growth as a writer and he’s a master of his craft. His writing style is inspiring and one I try to learn from as a writer myself.
Final Thoughts and Rating
I’m giving The Sunlit Man 4 stars. It wasn’t as good as Yumi & The Nightmare Painter or Tress of the Emerald Sea, but it was still a fun story with lots of those tasty cosmere connections.
Sanderson’s world building is as good as ever and the characters are well developed with real motivations.
The plot is full of twists and turns and I was turning pages fast. There were moments of real tension and excitement that left me gasping.
I liked the deeper themes woven throughout the story. I had lots to think about after I finished reading.
Not my favorite of Sanderson’s but The Sunlit Man is a good addition to his catalog. A great way to pass the time until the next big book!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
FAQs
What is The Sunlit Man about?
The Sunlit Man follows Nomad, a traveller who winds up on the planet of Canticle, where the sunlight is deadly. He soon finds himself amongst a small community of Beacon who are running from the tyrant Cinder King. Nomad’s number one priority is finding the resources he needs to get off the planet, and he agrees to help the people of Beacon as a means to an end… Meanwhile, they m just stay in constant motion to outrun the sun’s deadly rays!
When should I read The Sunlit Man?
Read The Sunlit Man last, after you’ve read all the other Cosmere books. You’ll get the most out of it if you’re familiar with those books first.
Is The Sunlite Man about Hoid?
Hoid is in The Sunlit Man briefly, but he’s not the main character. The story is about Nomad, whose true identity I won’t share here to prevent spoilers!
What’s the age rating for The Sunlit Man?
The Sunlit Man is a good read for both teens and adults. It has some violence and intense moments but nothing too graphic. There’s no sex or strong language. The themes and complexity are more geared towards older readers.
Is there a narrator character for The Sunlit Man like Hoid?
The Sunlit Man isn’t narrated by Hoid like the other two secret project books that take place in the cosmere. It’s told in close third person like Mistborn and Stormlight Archive.