After the fifth ending did a fantastic job at not only concluding its own arcs but also laying the foundation for the next five volumes. In those next five Stormlight books, there are some pivotal, exciting moments that I’m thrilled to experience, like Kaladin’s return as a Herald and Shallan and Adolin’s reunion.

That said, the ones I truly can’t wait for are the petty moments, where a character I despise finally gets what’s coming to them. That includes obvious choices like Moash and Taravangian, as well as the recent addition of Queen Fen. Brandon Sanderson’s books include several releases that I’m looking forward to, but none more than the remainder of The Stormlight Archive.

The Cosmere universe is fascinating as a grander piece, and I’ll be thrilled to read new Mistborn and Elantris books, but the characters on Roshar are the ones I resonate with most deeply, and the novels have the tone most consistent with my style. That’s why, like many others, I was devastated to find out it will be an almost seven-year wait for the next volume. I’ll be itching for any Roshar updates I can get in other Cosmere books for the time being.

I Can't Wait To See Queen Fen Regret Her Decision In The Stormlight Archive

Queen Fen's Betrayal Stung Worse Than I Thought

Queen Fen didn’t stand out to me too much in Oathbringer and Rhythm of War despite being an occasional source of frustration for Dalinar’s coalition. To condemn her too much for that seemed unfair to me, though. I know Dalinar far better than she would from reading his POV chapters, and I understand that he has her best interests in mind, but given the context of how she’d view the Alethi and the Blackthorn specifically, I can see where she was coming from.

Her last-minute decision to flip sides and with Odium, however, is much harder to justify. Aside from the egregious betrayal, her reasoning barely made sense and will likely lead to her own doom. Now, this is an ittedly spiteful event to be this excited about, but I can’t wait for Jasnah’s defeat at Thaylenah to be vindicated and for Fen to regret her decision. After all that’s happened, especially with Jasnah being a hero at the Battle of Thaylen City, to betray the Coalition in such a manner was shocking.

Siding with Odium, a godly embodiment of hatred, is never going to pay off, and I’ll be thrilled to see that moment of regret.

Not to mention, the excess troops sent to Thaylenah in Wind and Truth prevented the Coalition from defending the Shattered Plains, and Fen didn’t allow them to leave once they realized a battle wasn’t going to occur there. Siding with Odium, a godly embodiment of hatred, is never going to pay off, and I’ll be thrilled to see that moment of regret.

What Will Happen To Thaylenah After Wind And Truth?

Thaylenah Is Plunged In Literal And Metaphorical Darkness

Now that the Night of Sorrows has fallen upon Roshar, Thaylenah is included in the list of nations that are going to spend the next several years blanketed in rain and darkness. Odium made promises to Fen, but now he’s off the planet and hiding while Roshar exists in the absence of Stormlight. The next decade is going to be harsh on her and her people, and Fen even itted that ing Odium’s side would mean the absence of freedoms she would have had in the Coalition. Her people will now suffer because of her decision.

The only tangible reason to justify her choice was that Odium was right about Thaylenah being cut off from trade routes due to the lack of ports in the Coalition. It’s unclear how much this will actually matter, but Thaylen City will probably benefit in some part due to trade routes with Tukar and Emul (Kharbranth would have been included, too, if not for the city’s gracious king). I could see Sanderson having them last in relative peace for a while before matters get significantly worse in arc 2.

Fen's Betrayal Is Crucial To My Favorite Character's Arc

Jasnah Kholin Will Grow From The Experience

Jasnah Kholin has become my favorite character in The Stormlight Archive, even though I don’t think her arc in Wind and Truth was handled all that well. I’m all for her being accused of being hypocritical and violent because she is. However, I don’t think her intelligence was represented well in her debate with Odium after having an outstanding moment in Rhythm of War when facing off with Ruthar.

I’m holding out hope for arc 2, especially since she’s set to be the primary POV character of the final Stormlight Archive book. Beyond me just being petty, Queen Fen’s regret is also going to be monumental for Jasnah’s arc. Jasnah is devastated by what happened in Wind and Truth, not simply because she lost but because of the nature of how it transpired.

Jasnah won’t forget being outsmarted any time soon, and it will likely remain in her mind, prompting her to improve herself until she’s redeemed by some act in arc 2. If she’s meant to be one of The Stormlight Archive’s main heroes, she’ll have to overcome this failure. To have Fen regret the choice vindicates Jasnah’s shortcomings and would be a major step in her path.