Navani Kholin

Also known as Adolin’s aunt, your aunt Navani, Aunt Navani

Major
First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 16

Navani carries herself with the calm authority of a woman long accustomed to court, yet her gaze has the bright, searching quality of a mind that is always at work. Grey threads through her intricate black hair, while violet eyes and a touch of red lend her elegance a vivid edge.

Gender: female
First appears: Book 1 · Ch. 16
Books: 1

Gavilar’s widow and mother of Elhokar and Jasnah, Navani moves through court as a seasoned political presence, but her curiosity reaches beyond ceremony. She leads research into the development of grandbows, revealing an engineer’s delight in invention beneath her stately composure. Her ties to the Kholin family place her at the heart of its private and public life, while her own writings preserve a keenly observant voice.

Description

Navani is a stately woman with intricately woven black hair streaked with grey, often adorned with red gemstones. Her light violet eyes and red-painted lips give her face a striking, composed expressiveness. She wears elegant court gowns in shimmering red, or combinations of blue and soft red, with her safehand discreetly covered. Her bearing is poised and authoritative, though her attentive manner can brighten with unmistakable intellectual excitement.

Connections

Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals

Adolin Kholinaunt
Navani is Adolin's aunt. She calls him her nephew while discussing Dalinar's visions and demonstrates her pain-dampening fabrial on his injured hand.
Dalinar Kholinconflicting source relationships
Navani is Dalinar’s sister-in-law through her marriage to his deceased brother Gavilar. Their kinship is complicated by Dalinar’s lingering attraction to her and his determination to honor his late wife.
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Elhokarmother
Navani is Elhokar’s mother. She worries that his rule is weak and intends to protect him, even against his own poor decisions.
Gavilar Kholinconflicting source relationships
Navani was Gavilar's wife and remains his widow. She says she was fond of him and faithful during their marriage, while explaining that his death has left her socially isolated.
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Jasnah Kholinmother
Navani is Jasnah’s mother. She has been away from her daughter for months and wants to join Dalinar’s communication with her; Jasnah sends her respect but warns Dalinar that Navani bites.
RK
Renarin Kholinaunt
Navani is Renarin's aunt. They discuss the visions and the Old Magic together, and she responds to his questions about fabrials and historical lore.
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Shshshshfriend
Navani says she initially felt jealous of Shshshsh but ultimately liked her, describing her as kind and temperamentally well matched to Dalinar.