The Sunlit Man: Always Running

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate how insane the Secret Projects are? Brandon Sanderson, the mad lad, went and wrote four books for the fun of it. Then he went and put together the most successful Kickstarter ever, gathered a handful of incredible artists to add to his work, then released four of his best works ever!

And he saved the best for last!

Running away from a mysterious enemy, Nomad finds himself on a world of deadly peril. The sun brings death with every cycle, and the world’s people live in constant flight. Said people are dominated by the Cinder King, a mad tyrant out to unify the world under his banner. Now Nomad finds himself right in the center of the war with no way out. Will he find a way out before his pursuers catch up? More importantly: will he abandon the indigenous people to their fates?

This book is a rollercoaster! Everything happens a mile a minute! Desperate escapes, intense battles, it’s got it all! It’s all so quick and crazy that it feels like a monumental victory every time our heroes get a moment to rest and breath! A fitting pace for a planet where every sunrise means death!

Speaking of: this is one of Sanderson’s most intense settings to date. Man really took the concept of a planet where the sun kills you every morning and ran with it. People that live in flying detachable buildings, plants that grow as quickly as flies die, it’s truly jaw-dropping and interesting stuff! It leans far harder into the sci-fi aspects of the Cosmere than the fantasy, and it’s a refreshing change of pace!

Nomad makes for a fantastic protagonist. He’s cold, confident, and clever. Unable to fight due to a curse, he’s got to find more interesting and creative ways to escape conflict. His core moral struggle, that of an idealistic scholar trying to be a heartless survivor, makes for an amazing character arc!

Also, he’s a character from the Stormlight Archive. One we know very well. Which makes me even more terrified of Stormlight 5 than I already was.

It’s not just Roshar, either. Plenty of other Cosmere worlds get involved in this narrative. Particularly Scadriel, the setting of Mistborn. Diehard Sanderson fans are gonna find a ton of fun references and Easter eggs in this one.

Then there’s the art. God damn, the illustratsions by Ernanda Souza, Nabetse Zitro, and Kudriaken are awe-inspiring! If you’re listening via audio books, I’d highly suggest checking them out! Link here!

Just be sure to finish the book first. Because… you know, spoilers. Obviously.

The Sunlit Man is some of Sanderson’s best writing to date. It’s intense, it’s fast-paced and engaging, and it has some of the best character work yet. If you enjoyed his previous works – namely the Stormlight Archive or Mistborn – then you’re gonna love this one.

Thus the Secret Projects come to an end. What an incredible ride they were! Not only were they a refreshing change of pace, they were also brimming with passion on every single page! All four of them are monuments to the heart and soul of creativity. Hopefully the industry will see their success and learn from them going forward.

And now, I return to cryo-stasis to await Stormlight 5. See y’all when the next Highstorm hits!