Includes MAJOR SPOILERS for The Stormlight Archive through Wind and Truth!
Brandon Sanderson set up theStormlight Archive’snext great hero in these phenomenal two pages ofWind and Truth. The first leg of Sanderson’s epic on Roshar might be over afterWind and Truth’sending, butthe massive volume also does an excellent job of setting up the contents for the series' future. There are still fiveStormlight Archivebooks to go, and though there might be a long break while waiting for the sixth, there’s plenty of time to analyze what we have already.
The Stormlight Archivevolume 6 is one of the most anticipated titles amongBrandon Sanderson’s upcoming books, though it isn’t intended to hit shelves until 2031. That said, otherCosmere bookscould provide some details about the events transpiring on Roshar, with the possibility of characters appearing inMistbornEra 3. Plus,Sanderson has already revealed some information aboutThe Stormlight Archive’snext five books, including some of the main characters.
Wind And Truth Chapter 84 Saw Talenel Valiantly Defend Azimir
Talenel Died In Battle Fighting Without A Weapon
After arriving in Kholinar at the end ofThe Way of Kings, Talenel has spent most ofThe Stormlight Archive’sfirst five volumes bedridden, recovering from his time on Braize. His only cogent scene in the series prior was inOathbringer, which happened in reaction to Dalinar swearing his Third Ideal. InWind and Truth,Talenel steals the show at the Battle of Azimir, rising up to protect the medical ward in Chapter 84, forcing the powerful Abidi the Monarch to flee in fear and killing several Fused with his bare hands.
It Will Be Another 20 Years Before The Stormlight Archive Is Finished & That’s More Than Enough Time To Get 1 Thing Right
The Stormlight Archive book series won’t be done for at least twenty more years, but that leaves time for one major thing to be improved.
Brandon Sanderson is a master at crafting moments where the reader gets to jump out of their seat and celebrate due to excitement. Kaladin and Dalinar have both had them throughout the series, but Talenel’s was possibly even more powerful due to how unexpected it was. The book could have very easily lacked this moment and been about the same, butthese two pages offered such an exhilarating surprise that years of predictions couldn’t have anticipated. Now, I desperately want more.
Talenel Could Be The Stormlight Archive Arc 2’s Most Exciting Hero
Talenel Will Be The POV Flashback Character For Book 9
Brandon Sanderson has already revealed the five flashback POV characters for Arc 2 ofThe Stormlight Archive, and Talenel is intended to be one of them. Talenel will be the central focus of the penultimate novel of the series, and Sanderson has also mentioned that Arc 2 will be more focused onthe Heralds. We got a glimpse of their history inWind and Truththrough the scenes in the Spiritual Realm, but there’s so much more to uncover in the back half of the series.
1.The Way of Kings
2.Words of Radiance
4.Rhythm of War
5.Wind and Truth
10.Unknown
Jasnah
InWind and Truth, Brandon Sanderson offered a few interesting details about Talenel, specifically his origin as a Herald. Now that Kaladin has replaced Jezrien as the King of the Heralds, their narrative might only happen in the Interludes of books 6 & 7, with them more likely to fully return to Roshar in book 8, when Shalash is the POV flashback character. It seems likeWind and Truthoffered a small taste of a tremendously exciting character, with way more to come in the following five books.
Talenel’s Story Is Even More Complex Than What We’ve Seen So Far
Wind And Truth Hinted At Talenel Having A Dark Past
One of the prerequisites for Talenel becoming a Herald thousands of years earlier onThe Stormlight Archive’stimelinewas that he had interacted with a god before. This means that he had a notable moment with one of the Shards, and the book reveals it to be Cultivation, another extraordinarily mysterious character.Wind and Truthquickly mentions that Talenel tried to kill Cultivation, something we didn’t know about before, and doesn’t ever return to this detail.
Talenel could be the most compelling figure whom we still know so little about
The Talenel flashbacks in book 9 ofThe Stormlight Archivewill surely offer some explanation for what happened here, and thiscould also shine some much-needed light on Cultivation, whose motives are still questionable after she fled Roshar at the end of book 5.The Stormlight Archivestill has plenty of outstanding characters left on the table for Arc 2, but Talenel could be the most compelling figure whom we still know so little about.
