Jasnah Kholin

Also known as Brightness Jasnah, Brightness Kholin, Brightness Jasnah Kholin

Supporting
First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 1

Jasnah Kholin is the brilliant, coolly self-possessed princess of Alethkar in The Stormlight Archive (Book 1).

Gender: female
Age: young adult
First appears: Book 1 · Ch. 1
Books: 2

Jasnah Kholin begins the series as the brilliant, coolly self-possessed princess of Alethkar, a renowned scholar and avowed atheist whose jeweled Soulcaster and research in Kharbranth's Palanaeum draw both a scheming ward, Shallan Davar, and a would-be assassin. By Rhythm of War she has become Queen of Alethkar and a Knight Radiant bonded to the inkspren Ivory, balancing the throne with interviews of living Heralds that reshape her understanding of history. She is a key strategist in the coalition's war, helps draft the terms of Dalinar's contest with Odium, and begins a guarded romance with Hoid. Through it all she remains a thinker first, though the memory of her father Gavilar exposes a rare crack in her composure.

Description

Tall and slender, with a fuller chest, clear skin, a squarish face, narrow black eyebrows, and pale violet eyes. Her thick, deep onyx-black hair falls in tight curls to her shoulders when partly pinned up with a small scroll-shaped golden ornament and two long hairpins; unbound, it reaches past the middle of her back. She wears immaculate, high-collared silk dresses with long sleeves and loose skirts, commonly in blue and silver or violet and gold, with the left sleeve covering her safehand. A jeweled Soulcaster is worn on her freehand, often beneath a black fingerless glove. Jasnah is a young adult woman with an elegant, composed presence, her bearing unmistakably that of a scholar accustomed to command. Her features are described as those of a girl in a moment of grief, though the text provides no precise coloring, hairstyle, or eye color to fix her portrait. She has a safehand, which she holds in a fist near her mouth in a rare moment of visible distress. Her usual impression is controlled and unflappable, and her queenly attire should feel refined and authoritative without unnecessary display.

Connections

Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals

Adolin Kholincousin
Her cousin, who cites her letter during his trial and wishes for her advocacy.
Dalinar Kholinconflicting source relationships
Her protective uncle respects her honesty and urges her home; as queen she becomes his close, trusted adviser, debating hope, religion, and strategy, and he asks her to write a commentary for his book.
E
Elhokarsister
Her brother and Gavilar's heir; his throne eventually passes to Jasnah.
Gavilar Kholinfather
Her father, with whom she connected over the Parshendi but clashed over religion and his demand she marry Amaram; his loss remains a rare wound to her composure.
H
Hoidconflicting source relationships
Serving as her Queen's Wit and adviser, he becomes a wary romantic partner in a relationship built on intellectual fascination.
Navani Kholinmother
Initially distant, with Jasnah warning Dalinar against her mother; by Rhythm of War their awkward relationship deepens into openly expressed affection and a wish for more family time.
Shallan Davarconflicting source relationships
Jasnah takes Shallan as ward and student in Kharbranth, stern but fair even as Shallan secretly swaps her Soulcaster. Later Shallan remembers her as the formative mentor present when she first met Pattern, and their bond survives the Ghostblood attempt to sink their ship.
T
Taravangianconflicting source relationships
Her host in Kharbranth, whom she considered sincere and underestimated, though she guarded her secrets from him.
I
IvoryKnight Radiant
Her inkspren and Shardblade, who pushes her to rely on her Radiant powers in battle.
Y
Yanagawncoalition colleague
Fellow coalition ruler who challenges her pessimism and argues for hope.
Odiumstrategic opponent
She helps draft the contract for Dalinar's contest and fears Odium's foresight.
K
Kabsalconflicting source relationships
An ardent posing as a religious persuader who sought her Soulcaster and her life; she unmasked him as a poisoner.
R
Rutharpolitical adversary
A political adversary she nearly executes to assert royal authority.

Story so far

BOOK 1The Way of Kings
- Researches in the Palanaeum of Kharbranth under King Taravangian's hospitality while wielding a jeweled Soulcaster
- Accepts Shallan Davar as her ward and student, training her in independent scholarship
- Rebuffs the ardent Kabsal's attempts to sway her from atheism and warns Shallan of his motives
- Exposes Kabsal as the poisoner behind an attempt on her life
- Corresponds with Dalinar, who urges her to return, and warns him that Navani 'bites'
BOOK 4Rhythm of War
- Rules as Queen of Alethkar, nearly executing Ruthar as a calculated political act and employing Hoid as Queen's Wit
- Interviews the Heralds Shalash, Ash, and Taln to test her scholarship against firsthand testimony
- Debates coalition strategy with Dalinar and the Mink, and fights alongside Ivory against the enemy
- Helps formulate the contract governing Dalinar's contest of champions with Odium
- Begins an intellectual romance with Hoid and reconciles more deeply with her mother Navani