Development
The writing process for the book started in January 2022. [4] The book was previously known as 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, [5] which was later followed by the announcement of the publication date by his publisher Tor Books. [6]
The synopsis of Wind and Truth that came with the announcement was 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. [6]
On June 4, 2024, Sanderson announced on his Twitter account that he 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. [7]
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 arch is 2031. [8]
Plot
Prologue
Seven and a half years ago, King Gavilar revealed his true nature on seeking immortality as he secretly delved into Rosharan history after bonding with Stormfather. During his research, Gavilar started to distance himself from his royal family, consulted with the former Heralds Kalak and Nale, conversed with Amaram and Taravangian, and had his last encounter with Thaidakar, the leader of the Ghostbloods, who promised him to trade Kalak. Upon learning of his arrogant nature, the Stormfather severed his bond with Gavilar upon sensing another Herald's death, which led to Gavilar’s death.
Day One
Dalinar challenges Odium for the Contest of Champion, which could end the war, and they have only ten days to prepare for the final battle. After bidding farewell to his family and Bridge Four, Kaladin and his Honorspren Sylphrena depart Urithiru on his journey to Shinovar. Determined to return to his homeland and restore his people, Szeth joins Kaladin on their journey to find Ishar and restore the Oathpact. They arrived at Azir, the capital of Azimir, waiting for the Highstorm's arrival at night and taking a quick route.
After learning about the Contest of Champions, Shallan and Adolin plan to return to Urithiru. Shallan manages to bond with Deadeye Cryptic Testament after recovering her childhood memory. Upon questioning Kalak why the Ghostblood hunted him, she learned that the Unmade, Ba-Ado-Mishram, was imprisoned within the spiritual realm during the False Desolation, and the Ghostbloods are determined to seek power. Shallan decides to find the Unmade to thwart the Ghostbloods' plan. Shallan and Adolin discover that the army of Singers is planning to attack Azimir with Oathgate Sprens corrupted by Sja-anat allowing the army to enter the city. Upon arriving at the capital city of Azir, they meet up with Kaladin and bid their farewell before returning to Urithiru.
In the first interlude, Odium, with Taravangian as his vessel, arrives at Tu Bayla and becomes devastated upon witnessing the outcome of the battle by his predecessor and Cultivation's perceived lack of teaching in bearing his Shard.
Day Two
At midnight of the second day, Adolin and Shallan travel through a portal to the planet that is described in the Mistborn series but are kicked out by Harmony and decide to part ways: Shallan goes to Narak upon learning that the Ghostblood fled the tower after the siege. Adolin joins the meeting with his father to report the threat. Before attending his meeting with Fen, Sigzil (a newly elected Highmarshal), Mink, Yanagawn, Jasnah, and Navani to discuss his contact with Odium, Dalinar approached Cultivation, who reveals that Honor's power is hidden in the spiritual realm, with Stormfather withholding the truth behind the death of Honor's former vessel, Tanavast. Upon reviewing his memories, Wit was shocked to learn that someone had observed the contract and instigated multiple loopholes that allowed him to conquer nations, violating Rayse's promise to avoid conquering nations. Wit deduced that someone had killed Odium's former vessel and taken his place. Dalinar realizes that the only solution is to obtain Honor's power from the spiritual realm. Jasnah departs to Thaylenah to aid Fen, Sigzil leads Bridge Four at the Shattered Plains, and Adolin departs to Azir to hold off against Odium's forces.
Wit informs Dalinar about entering the spiritual realm via time travel to learn more about Tanavast's death. Using his bondsmith, Dalinar and Navani summon the perpendicularity to gain access to the spiritual realm and enter just as the perpendicularity shuts mysteriously.
Shallan, with her persona Radiant, arrives at Narak after locating the Ghostblood's hiding place. While infiltrating, Shallan is shocked to learn that one of her former allies, a member of the Ghostbloods, had already captured Kalak and revealed the information after she departed from Shadesmar. Shallan tries to thwart Mraize and Iyatil, but they escape via Shadesmar and Sja-anat's Spren using an Anti-Stormlight weapon to weaken her. Recovered from the injury, Shallan returns to Urithiru and seeks aid from Renarain and Rlain to stop the Ghostbloods. As Shallan's group reaches the spot where Dalinar and Navani open the perpendicularity, the Ghoostbloods arrive and retaliate. The group manages to overwhelm them until Mraize, in a last-ditch effort, tosses the anti-stormlight dagger onto the portal, causing the entire room to shatter.
Kaladin and Szeth arrive at Shinovar through the southern borders. Szeth reveals that the Unmade is responsible for corrupting his people, and the Honorblades are kept within the monasteries after the Heralds abandoned their Oathpact. As they camp for the night, Kaladin and Syl find Ishar, who gives him a task to help Szeth restore his homeland before he vanishes.
After El permanently destroys Jezrian's soul, Odium offers him to conquer the Shatter Plains and plans to unleash the hostile Unmade, Dai-Gonarthis the Black Fisher, to ravage Dalinar's troops. He then meets up with Cultivation and observes all the deities across Cosmere before parting ways.
Day Three
Kaladin and Szeth arrive at Taln's monastery and encounter a corrupted stone shaman, Rit-Daugther-Clutio, carrying Taln's Honorblade which was swapped years ago before Taln arrived at the Shattered Plains. Fulfilling his duty as a Skybreaker, 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 the first wave of Odium's force at the Oathgate and chooses not to engage in the battle as he observes the Azish army led by Commandant Zarb Kushkam successfully banish the first wave. Upon celebrating, Maya, who was slowly recovered from Deadeye state, decided to depart Adolin and persuade the Honorspren to join the fight.
After encountering El, Odium teleports to Kharbranth and persuades Dova, who was revealed as Battar the Heard of Honor, to make an offer to travel off-world as his stewardship.
Day Four
Kaladin and Szeth settle at the river bank near Koring after recovering Kalak's Honorblade from the deceased Stone Shaman. At night, while Kaladin performs Kata, Szeth is transported into Shadesmar and encounters his former master and wielder of Battar's Honorblade of Elsecaller, Pozen-Son-Nash, along with the Edgedancer assassin wielding Vedel's Honorblade. Unable to summon his Shardblade, Szeth quickly evades the attacks and outmaneuvers the assassin upon sensing the Nightblood calling him to recover. Szeth manages to recover Nightblood allowing him to kill the assassin which Pozen invertedly kills himself to trap 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 arrives on Roshar after leaving their devastation from their home planet, Ashyn. Dalinar and Navani encounter an ancient Spren known as the Wind, who serves as the guide to achieve their goal. With Stormfather refusal to aid, Navani manages to bond with Shalash's ribbon, which causes the visions to change. Shallan, Rlain, and Renarin enter the Spiritual Realm arriving at the same time as Dalinar and Navani but choose to remain hidden to thwart Mraize from finding the Unmade. Shallan realizes that her persona, Formless, appears when she tries to stop Mraize. Meanwhile, on Azir, Adolin struggles to fend off Odium's troops while befriending Yanagawn to help lecture him on battle tactics.
Odium approaches Moash, driven mad by guilt, emotions, and blindness, and gives him a crystalline spike on his eyes that allows him to see through Investitures. He then visits Kharbranth to sustain himself from logic, believing his only success in protecting his family is through war.
