Includes MASSIVE SPOILERS for The Stormlight Archive through Wind and Truth and The Sunlit Man.Cosmere fantasy universe for decades, and though he claims the latest volume is not his Avengers: Endgame (via Esquire), it sure feels that way in of the scope a fantasy novel can offer. The story caps off character arcs established in 2010's The Way of Kings while also laying the foundation for so much more.
Wind and Truth's ending sees Dalinar and Odium face off in their long-awaited contest of champions atop Urithiru, resulting in the perfect one-on-one climax readers had hoped for. Before that, however, audiences are taken on a long journey through the Spiritual Realm, finally receiving insights into the doings of the gods on Roshar. Readers get to see what Tanavast, the vessel of Honor, was really like. Not to mention, more with various Heralds offers added context to past events.
9 Honor Betrayed Ba-Ado-Mishram At The Recreance
Tanavast's Divisive History Is Revealed
The first four Stormlight Archive books build up Honor to be a revered figure, making it all the more shocking when he causes the betrayal of Ba-Ado-Mishram at the Recreance. The Windrunner Garith and his singer mate work together to bring Ba-Ado-Mishram to discuss peace , as she's willing to take on Odium and has the chance to defeat him. However, Tanavast has other plans and convinces the Bondsmith Melishi to carry out the betrayal, trapping the unmade in the Spiritual Realm for the next 2,000 years.
Characters often aren't what they seem in Brandon Sanderson's books, but it was still shocking to see how big of a contrast there was between Honor and Tanavast. Finally getting to see what happened to cause the Recreance was fascinating, but getting to see it from Tanavast's perspective on Day 9 was one of the most exciting parts of the book. The idea of Shards having conflicting feelings as their vessels seems like an important aspect of the narrative throughout the Cosmere.
8 Shallan’s Mother Is The Herald Chanarach
Readers Had Long Suspected Chana Would Be Shallan's Mother
Wind and Truth's prologue all but reveals that Shallan's mother was Chanarach, as one of Gavilar's conversations is cut short as a Herald is killed. When this chapter was released to the public months ago, it didn't take long to connect the dots, as readers had suspected for a long time that Chana was Shallan's mother and had tried to kill her due to her revealed Surgebinding powers. It's also shown that this decision was Nale's request, as he believed killing Surgebinders would prevent the new Desolation.
8 Things I Most Need To See In A Stormlight Archive Movie Or TV Show
The Stormlight Archive is a sprawling epic fantasy series, and adapting it would be an enormous challenge. Here's what I'd like to see.
Shallan also has a tender scene with Chanarach, who has already returned and died again but can speak to her through the Spiritual Realm. Chana feels great remorse for what she did and, importantly, was able to attend Shallan's wedding with Adolin. Given that both characters are still alive, it's possible they could have more of a relationship in arc 2, assuming Shallan finds her way back to Roshar.
7 Nale Sent Helaran To Kill Amaram
Nale Was Trying To Eliminate Potential Surgebinders
Once again, The Stormlight Archive's story ties back to the fateful day when Kaladin killed Helaran, claiming the shard plate and blade that would lead to Amaram selling him into slavery. Words of Radiance revealed that the shardbearer was Shallan's brother, who had been training as a Skybreaker acolyte. His task on that day was to kill Amaram, and Wind and Truth reveals he was sent by Nale.
The idea that a Herald inadvertently kicked off the series' events is terrific, especially when Nale's goal was to eliminate surgebinders. Kaladin killing Helaran starts him on his journey, and Nale acknowledges that he should've gone on and personally seen to Kaladin's death on that day. Or, at least, he would have, had he known that Kaladin was a future Windrunner.
6 The Desolations Were Proxy Wars Between Honor & Odium
Honor & Odium Couldn't Face Eachother Directly Without Destroying Roshar
The Desolations are a source of mystery throughout The Stormlight Archive, and though the previous books had established their cyclical nature and the conflicts between the Heralds and the Voidbringers, it's not until Wind and Truth that their full scope is revealed. Conflict on Roshar is purely a proxy war between Honor and Odium, as the book explains that their direct combat would cause the planet's destruction.
Instead of fighting each other, Honor and Odium unleash aspects of their power on Roshar. Tanavast describes, "First his Fused, then my Heralds, then his Unmade, then my Radiants," in chapter 120, explaining the arms race that resulted from their mutual desire to rid the Rosharan system of the other god. The Cosmere has always been the platform for a conflict between gods, but reframing Roshar's history as being a direct battleground, almost like a chess board, is horrifying.
5 The Stormfather Is An Avatar Of Honor
The Stormfather Has Always Possessed Tanavast's Memories
The Stormfather has always been a unique curiosity in The Stormlight Archive, as his abilities extend beyond that of the other spren. In his dialogue with Dalinar, he's always seemed to know far more than what he's let on, and Wind and Truth finally explains why. The Stormfather isn't just a spren. As Wit describes, he's a "replica of Tanavast, maybe an avatar, that had taken on its own will."
The Stormfather's goal then became to find a worthy vessel for honor, seeking someone who wouldn't want the power, hence his turning on Gavilar.
This mechanic is important to recognize because it's the same thing as what's happened with Odium's dark Dalinar that he plucked out of the Spiritual Realm. The Stormfather retained all of Tanavast's memories from the point he splintered off, but he became his own being with his own desires. The Stormfather's goal then became to find a worthy vessel for honor, seeking someone who wouldn't want the power, hence his turning on Gavilar.
4 New Information On Cosmere Shards Has Been Revealed
The 16th Shard Has Been Revealed
Throughout the novels in Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere, audiences have met several gods from different planets, though some have remained hidden. The name of the final, sixteenth Shard, was revealed in Wind and Truth chapter 115. The power's name is Reason, and the vessel is named Euridius. The Shard Invention is revealed to be held by the vessel Chan Ko Sar, and the Shard Valor is revealed to be held by the dragon Medelantorus.
I'm Tired Of Fantasy Shows Copying Game Of Thrones, But It's Exactly What The Stormlight Archive's Adaptation Needs
Every modern fantasy show has copied Game of Thrones, and I'd like to see The Stormlight Archive be the first to take the right lessons from it.
Uncovering more about the broader Cosmere lore is important to predict where events are headed. Two of the four Dawnshards are named, meaning eight of the sixteen Shards can be grouped into their categories. With the knowledge of all sixteen Shard names, readers have already begun to predict what the other two Dawnshards might be called and what their abilities might be.
3 Gavinor Is Odium’s Champion
Odium Planned An Unwinnable Situation For Dalinar
Another popular theory surrounding Wind and Truth was that Gavinor Kholin would be Dalinar's opponent at the contest of champions. With the suckling child Death Rattle from The Way of Kings (read below) and Taravangian's ongoing debate about utilitarianism with Dalinar, it made a lot of sense that Sanderson would work Gavinor into the climax. However, the book frames this twist in a manner no one predicted.
"I hold the suckling child in my hands, a knife at his throat, and know that all who live wish me to let the blade slip. Spill its blood upon the ground, over my hands, and with it gain us further breath to draw"
From The Way of Kings chapter 57 epigraph.
Wind and Truth sees Gavinor thrust into the Spiritual Realm with Dalinar and Navani, and the small child begins hearing Elhokar's voice in his head. For anyone who knew about the Gavinor theory, it doesn't take long to suspect that the voice actually belongs to Odium, who tricks Gavinor into staying behind, where he spends years molding him into a warrior with nothing but hatred for Dalinar. This presents Dalinar with a lose-lose moral debate atop Urithiru.
2 Talenel Didn't Break
Talenel Died A Warrior's Death In The True Desolation
Talenel is a fan favorite among the Heralds of Roshar, as he was the one who was betrayed by his organization and left in Damnation to suffer torture. Upon his arrival at the end of The Way of Kings, Talenel has primarily been in a state of insanity due to the extent of his torture, though Oathbringer offered a glimpse at his real self, revealing just how fascinating a character he really is in his conversation with Shalash.
Every Radiant Order In The Stormlight Archive & What They Do, Explained
Brandon Sanderson has developed a complex magic system in The Stormlight Archive. Here's our breakdown of the Knights Radiant orders and their powers.
In Wind and Truth, Adolin finds Ash and Talenel in Azimir, back in his state of insanity. Brandon Sanderson gives the Herald a chance to steal the show, as when the fused invade the medical ward, he rises to defend who he can. He and Ash die warriors' deaths, with Talanel leaving a trail of fused that he battered to death with his bare hands. It doesn't get more epic than that, and the most important takeaway is that Talenel, who suffered 4,000 years in Damnation, didn't break.
1 Szeth's Spren Becomes Auxiliary
Auxiliary Is A Prominent Character In The Sunlit Man
The 2023 Cosmere book, The Sunlit Man, became a hit with Sanderson fans due to its significant connections to The Stormlight Archive. For those who haven't read it, Sigzil is the main protagonist in the novel set during the space-age future of the Cosmere. Wind and Truth shows how Sigzil is driven off of Roshar, fleeing with Hoid's Dawnshard. Importantly, the book also demonstrates how Sigzil's highspren, Auxiliary, came to be.
12124 is a code for "AUX," representing each letter's place in the alphabet (A-1, U-21, X-24).
There are clues throughout the book that Szeth's previously unnamed spren, now revealed to be assigned the number 12124, will eventually become Sigzil's spren. At one point, Nale criticizes the spren, saying, "You have let yourself become an attendant to your human, an auxiliary to his will." Then, one of Wind and Truth's final chapters sees Sigzil meeting 12124 in Shadesmar, confirming a long-standing theory.
The Stormlight Archive
- Created by
- Brandon Sanderson
- Character(s)
- Kaladin Stormblessed, Shallan Davar, Dalinar Kholin, Adolin Kholin, Jasnah Kholin, Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Navani Kholin
The Stormlight Archive is an epic fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson, set on the storm-ravaged world of Roshar. The series follows multiple characters, each with their unique storylines, as they navigate political intrigue, ancient prophecies, and powerful magic. Central to the story are the Knights Radiant, legendary warriors with magical abilities who must return to save their world from impending destruction. The series explores themes of honor, leadership, and the burden of power.