Oathbringer Characters: Full List & Analysis

Who drives the story

Main characters

Dalinar Kholin

Dalinar Kholin, the Blackthorn turned Bondsmith, races to unite Roshar's fractious nations against Odium before the Everstorm's armies swallow them. His memories of burning a city and killing his own wife return at the worst moment, nearly breaking him.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm That Wakes the Dead; Part 2: The Mother Below and the God in White and Gold; Part 3: The City That Burned, the King Who Died; Part 4: The Next Step
Themes:: Memory as punishment and mercy; Unity against division; The next step, not the first

Kaladin Stormblessed

Kaladin Stormblessed, a Windrunner who defends a doomed city and loses King Elhokar at the Oathgate.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm That Wakes the Dead; Part 2: The Mother Below and the God in White and Gold; Part 3: The City That Burned, the King Who Died
Themes:: Enemies who were people first

Shallan Davar

Shallan Davar, a Lightweaver splintering into personas—Veil, Radiant—to survive her own memories. She drives out the Midnight Mother, infiltrates a cult, and fights to stay one person.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm That Wakes the Dead; Part 2: The Mother Below and the God in White and Gold; Part 3: The City That Burned, the King Who Died
Themes:: Personas and the cost of survival

Odium

Odium, the god of hatred and passion, appearing as a man in white and gold. He asks Dalinar to release him from his bonds by Intent, but Dalinar refuses and challenges him to a contest of champions, which Odium declines.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Storm That Wakes the Dead; Part 2: The Mother Below and the God in White and Gold; Part 4: The Next Step

Evi Kholin

Evi Kholin, Dalinar's first wife, killed in the burning of Rathalas while trying to negotiate surrender. Her name returns to him for the first time in years.

Appears in:: Part 2: The Mother Below and the God in White and Gold; Part 3: The City That Burned, the King Who Died
Themes:: Memory as punishment and mercy

Also in the story

Supporting characters

Taravangian

Taravangian, the scheming King of Kharbranth. In the end he offers his service and his Diagram to Odium and becomes his highpriest.

Appears in:: Part 4: The Next Step

Szeth-son-son-Vallano

Szeth-son-son-Vallano, the Assassin in White, once declared Truthless. He swears his Third Ideal to Dalinar Kholin, becoming his Truthless blade: 'I will protect even those I hate, so long as it is right.'

Appears in:: Part 4: The Next Step

How they are connected

Key relationships

Dalinar Kholin Odium
Dalinar Kholin, the Blackthorn turned Bondsmith, races to unite Roshar's fractious nations against Odium before the Everstorm's armies swallow them.
Taravangian Odium
In the end he offers his service and his Diagram to Odium and becomes his highpriest.
Szeth-son-son-Vallano Dalinar Kholin
He swears his Third Ideal to Dalinar Kholin, becoming his Truthless blade: 'I will protect even those I hate, so long as it is right.
Evi Kholin Dalinar Kholin
Evi Kholin, Dalinar's first wife, killed in the burning of Rathalas while trying to negotiate surrender.

Go deeper

Oathbringer themes & symbols

Memory as punishment and mercy · Unity against division · The next step, not the first · Personas and the cost of survival

Themes explained

Read the full Oathbringer summary

The full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.

Open the summary