Wind and Truth is an epic fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson and is the fifth book in The Stormlight Archive series. It was published on December 6, 2024, and is the ending to the first half of the series. Sanderson has said that the latter half of the series will be written after he finishes writing the upcoming Era Three Mistborn trilogy and the two Elantris sequels, and he projects a completion date near the end of 2031.
As with Kaladin in The Way of Kings, Shallan in Words of Radiance, Dalinar in Oathbringer and the characters Eshonai and Venli in Rhythm of War, Wind and Truth contains a sequence of flashback chapters, this time from the perspective of Szeth, the Assassin in White.
The unabridged audiobook is read by narration team Michael Kramer and Kate Reading.
Development The writing process for the book started in January 2022. The book was known under the working title Knights of Wind and Truth before Sanderson decided on Wind and Truth. In December 2023 Sanderson announced the completion of the first draft of the novel, which was later followed by the announcement of the publication date by his publisher Tor Books.
The synopsis of Wind and Truth that came with the announcement is as follows:
Dalinar Kholin has challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions, and the Knights Radiant and the nations of Roshar have a mere 10 days to prepare for the worst. The fate of the entire world - and the Cosmere at large - hangs in the balance.
Sanderson has stated that Dalinar Kholin would have a larger role in the book than he had in Rhythm of War. The planned ending of the novel is based upon the ending he planned out for an RPG in 1999, and has been in the outline of the series from the start. Sanderson hopes that it will land right with people and recontextualize many important moments in the story.
On June 4, 2024, Sanderson announced on his Twitter account that he had finished the last part of the novel, turning the book in at 491,000 words; this made Wind and Truth the longest book in the series.
Sanderson calls writing The Stormlight Archive novels "quite draining" and stated he would take a break from the project for a time while he works on sequels to Mistborn and Elantris. Sanderson's next projected release for part two of The Stormlight Archive story arc is 2031.
Plot
Prologue
Seven and a half years ago, King Gavilar sought immortality after bonding with the Stormfather. Upon learning of his arrogant nature, the Stormfather severed his bond with Gavilar, which led chronologically to Szeth's assassination.
Day One
Dalinar challenges Odium for the Contest of Champions, which may end the war. Kaladin and his Honorspren Sylphrena depart for Shinovar, seeking the Herald Ishar, who Dalinar hopes can aid him in restoring the Oathpact after Jezrien's death. Szeth joins Kaladin on his journey to Shinovar to fulfill his 4th ideal, which is the cleansing of Shinovar. They arrive at Azir and await the Highstorm. Shallan and Adolin plan to return to Urithiru. Shallan learns that Ba-Ado-Mishram had been imprisoned within the spiritual realm, and that the Ghostbloods are seeking power through Ba-Ado-Mishram. Shallan decides to thwart the Ghostbloods' plan. Shallan and Adolin discover an army of Singers preparing to attack Azimir. They meet up with Kaladin at Azir and return to Urithiru. Odium, with Taravangian as his vessel, arrives at Tu Bayla and witnesses the outcome of the battle.
Day Two
Adolin and Shallan return to Urithiru and part ways. Shallan goes to Narak, where the Ghostbloods have fled the tower. Adolin reports the threat at Azimir to his father. Cultivation reveals to Dalinar that Honor's power is hidden in the spiritual realm. Wit learns that loopholes had been inserted into the contract, allowing entire countries to be captured via their capitals, violating Rayse's promise not to exploit the wording of the contract. Jasnah departs to Thaylenah to aid Fen, Sigzil leads Bridge Four at the Shattered Plains, and Adolin departs to Azir to hold off Odium's forces. Dalinar and Navani open a portal that allows them access to the spiritual realm. Shallan arrives at Narak and learns that a former ally has captured Kalak. Mraize and Iyatil fled to Shadesmar and Sja-anat's spren using an Anti-Stormlight weapon. Shallan returns to Urithiru and seeks aid from Renarin and Rlain to stop the Ghostbloods. Shallan's group of Lightweavers and the Ghostbloods arrive at the spot where Dalinar and Navani open the perpendicularity. Mraize tosses the Anti-Stormlight dagger into the portal, breaking the perpendicularity, causing the portal to shut closed.
Kaladin and Szeth arrive at Shinovar. Szeth reveals that an Unmade, known as the Voice, has corrupted his people, and the Honorblades are kept within the monasteries after the Heralds abandoned their Oathpact. Ishar approaches Kaladin and Syl and tasks Kaladin with helping Szeth restore his homeland. El permanently destroys Jezrien's soul. Odium offers him to conquer the Shatter Plains and plans to unleash Dai-Gonarthis to ravage Dalinar's troops. He meets up with Cultivation and observes all the deities across the Cosmere before parting ways.
Day Three
Kaladin and Szeth arrive at Stoneward monastery and encounter a corrupted stone shaman, Rit-Daughter-Clutio, carrying Taln's Honorblade (which was swapped years ago before Taln arrived at the Shattered Plains). Szeth kills Rit and recovers Taln's blade, realizing Ishar's plan to lure him to Shinovar. After rescuing the civilians, they head to Kalak's monastery.
In Azimir, Adolin prepares for the first wave of Odium's forces at the Oathgate and chooses not to engage in the battle as he observes the Azish military, led by Commandant Zarb Kushkam, successfully banishing the first wave. Upon celebrating, Maya, who is slowly recovering from her Deadeye state, decides to travel to Shadesmar and persuades the Honorspren to join the fight, leaving Adolin to fend for himself without the Shardblade.
After his encounter with El, Odium teleports to Kharbranth and persuades Dova, who was revealed as Battar the Herald of Honor, to make an offer to travel off-world as his steward.
Day Four
Kaladin and Szeth settle at the riverbank near Koring after recovering Kalak's Honorblade from the deceased Stone Shaman, Sivi. At night, while Kaladin performs a Kata, Szeth is transported into Shadesmar and encounters his former master and wielder of Battar's Honorblade - the Elsecaller, Pozen-Son-Nash, along with the Edgedancer assassin wielding Vedel's Honorblade. Unable to summon his Shardblade, Szeth quickly outmaneuvers the assassin upon sensing Nightblood, his sword, calling to him. Szeth manages to recover Nightblood and kill the assassin, and Pozen kills himself, trapping Szeth in Shadesmar. However, Szeth uses the Honorblade and escapes, recovering two Honorblades.
While being stranded in the spiritual realm, Dalinar and Navani arrive at the time of ancient Shinovar when humanity first arrives on Roshar after leaving their devastated home planet, Ashyn. Dalinar and Navani encounter an ancient spren known as the Wind, who serves as the guide to achieve their goal. With the Stormfather refusing to aid, Navani manages to bond with the herald Shalash's ribbon, which causes the visions to alter. Shallan, Rlain, and Renarin enter the spiritual realm, arriving at the same time as Dalinar and Navani, but choose to remain hidden to stop Mraize and Iyatil from finding the Unmade. Shallan realizes that her persona, Formless, appears when she tries to thwart Mraize. Meanwhile, in Azir, Adolin struggles to fend off Odium's troops while befriending Yanagawn, the Azish emperor, and teaching him battle tactics.
Odium approaches a blind Moash and gives him crystalline spikes through his eyes that allow him to see Sprens and Investiture. Odium then visits Kharbranth, believing his only success in protecting his family is war.
Day Five
After bonding with illusionary Shalash's ribbon and Nale's promissory disk as anchors, Dalinar and Navani, along with Elokhar's son Gavinor, who entered the realm by accident, enter the vision between the First Desolation and the Heraldic epochs when the early Singers travel eastward, humanity declaring war against Odium that lasted forty-three years, and Honor supporting humanity over Singers. With Honor's aid, Jezerien establishes a group of ten people, consisting of five men and five women, who possess Vedel's abilities to grant immortality and Ishar's Bondsmithing surges, declaring themselves the protectors of humanity known as the Heralds. Dalinar, under the guise of Kalak, manages to bond Kalak's Honorblade to alter the vision.
Meanwhile, on the Shattered Plains, Sigzil forms his tactical approach of building four impenetrable fortresses on Narak to divert and stall Odium's forces. As the army approaches with the Everstorm, Sigzil leads the army to triumph as he kills a newly formed Fused and overpowers a Thunderclast, causing Odium's forces to retreat. Suspicious, Sigzil and a few scouts follow them only to learn that the army has created an Elsecaller portal for reinforcement, with the Unmade and Moash approaching. After her reconciliation with her tribe, Venli realizes that Leshwi and her followers have lost their powers after betraying Odium, and grows curious about Chasmfiends who have bonded with the Listeners. As the Highstorm arrives, the Chasmfiends form a murmuration, and Venli uses her Willshaper abilities to contact the Stone, revealing that Honor had turned against the Singers centuries ago, and the answers she seeks lie within her hometown of Narak.
Renarin and Rlain form an intimate relationship before witnessing the event of the Heralds' declaration, after which Renarin chooses to remain hidden from Dalinar and Navani under the guise of Vedel. He discovers Shallan is Ash in disguise, who tries to find Mraize, unaware that he, in turn, was posing as Honor. As Mraize makes an attack, Shallan overpowers him and realizes that Odium fears Ba Ado Mishram. Formless suddenly appears to taunt Shallan, allowing an injured Mraize to escape. In Azir, Adolin gains support from the newly arrived Honorspren Notum.
Kaladin and Szeth take a hike to the Elsecaller Monastery to investigate, only to find out that the town is deserted. Kaladin learns that this town was Szeth's childhood home. As they leave, the Herald Nale approaches them and decides to accompany them on Szeth's pilgrimage.
Feeling conflicted about his balance, Odium continues to follow Taravangian's view of conquest and accept his alignment, transforming into a new form that resembles his former predecessor, causing Cultivation to leave in disappointment.
Day Six
Kaladin, Szeth, and Nale travel to the Lightweaver monastery to retrieve Shalash's Honorblade. With Kaladin and Nale debating over moral circumstance on supporting Szeth, Szeth goes into the monastery alone to confront the Stone Shaman, Moss-son-Farrier. However, Moss creates thirty illusions of Shalash on hostages and gives Szeth an ultimatum to solve his puzzle. With Sylphrena's aid, Szeth manages to kill Moss and recover the Honorblade. After Kaladin kills the Truthwater Honorbearer while defending Szeth, which Nale sees as breaking Szeth's loyalty of pilgrimage, Nale informs them that Odium has corrupted Jezrien's Honorblade. The trio plans to visit the Truthwatcher monastery to investigate after recovering Pralla's Honorblade.
Jasnah settles into Thaylen city to observe the city's defenses for the upcoming battle and grows suspicious of the threat; she sends Windrunner scouts to investigate. Sigzil commands his armies to retreat to Narak Two after losing Narak One as Odium's forces and Unmade overwhelm them.