Summary

• Wind and Truth, the next book in The Stormlight Archive, set for late 2024, will see the clash between Dalinar and Odium.
• Kaladin and Shallan began to confront their traumas in Rhythm of War, setting up their storylines for Wind and Truth.
• Wind and Truth marks the end of the first half of The Stormlight Archive series, with ten total planned books and a gap between eras.

fictional universe, the Cosmere. The four volumes already out are The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Oathbringer, and Rhythm of War, with the novellas Edgedancer and Dawnshard providing supplementary material between books.

If you're just now catching up on the Cosmere, Brandon Sanderson recommends starting with Mistborn or Tress of the Emerald Sea

The Stormlight Archive is a sprawling fantasy epic primarily focused on the POV characters Dalinar Kholin, Kaladin Stormblessed, and Shallan Davar as they navigate Roshar's harsh climate and political disputes. Like the other stories set in the Cosmere, The Stormlight Archive sees its human characters rise to a conflict of epic proportions as the malicious god Odium seeks to become the most powerful entity in the universe. Old magics awaken, and new heroes are born in the four enormous novels, building toward the climactic events of 2024's Wind and Truth.

The Stormlight Archive Book 5 Has A Late 2024 Release Date & Title (But No Cover)

Stormlight 5 Is Titled Wind And Truth

The current title for The Stormlight Archive 5 is Wind and Truth, with a release date planned for December 6th, 2024. The book's release should coincide with 2024's Dragonsteel convention, which is the fan event held by Sanderson's own publishing company. Sanderson finished the rough draft for the novel in late 2023 and has been hard at work with revisions, prepping the book for its final release. As of May 2024, Wind and Truth is at 55% completion of its fourth round of revisions, as per Sanderson's website.

A late 2024 release means Wind and Truth will arrive just over four years after Rhythm of War, making it the longest wait for a Stormlight Archive book since the series began in 2010. Sanderson is known for his punctuality when writing novels and for his engagement with fans on the internet, remaining transparent about each book. He provides a weekly update on YouTube, discussing his progress on various projects. The years since Rhythm of War have seen his focus shift to The Lost Metal and his Secret Project books, which were self-published by his crowdfunding campaign.

Wind And Truth's Story: What Rhythm Of War Sets Up

Wind And Truth Will See The Contest Of Champions Between Dalinar And Odium

The Rhythm of War established several narratives for the next volume, including the broad conflict as well as personal narratives for many of the main characters. The most drastic event at the end of Rhythm of War was that Taravangian became the new vessel for Odium, preparing the series' villain to take a new, threatening form for Wind and Truth. Prior to this occurring, Dalinar challenged Odium to the contest of champions that had been foreshadowed since the start of Oathbringer. Both sides now have ten days to prepare for the event, which could have enormous consequences on the Cosmere.

Kaladin spent much of Rhythm of War examining his future as a soldier while suffering from PTSD. The final act sees him undergo serious growth as he defends Urithiru, reaching one of his darkest moments after Teft's death but rising to the occasion and accepting his Fourth Ideal: "I accept that there will be those I cannot protect." Kaladin's overwhelming guilt for those who've ed away on his watch has been a heavy burden since The Way of Kings, so Wind and Truth will hopefully see him continuing to progress in his mental health, becoming the hero Roshar deserves.

Shallan also made a serious breakthrough in her personal growth in book four after finally facing her trauma. Her plot has been tied to the Ghostbloods, and Rhythm of War saw her learn the truth of the broader Cosmere, revealing that one of the most powerful Mistborn characters has been meddling with events on Roshar. While she'll undoubtedly have a role to play in Roshar's conflict, Shallan's narrative in book five could have significant implications for Brandon Sanderson's book universe.

Is Wind And Truth The Last Stormlight Archive Book? How Many Books Are Planned

Wind And Truth Completes The First Arc Of The Stormlight Archive... But There Will Be More

Wind and Truth will be the final installment of the first half of The Stormlight Archive series, which Sanderson has mapped out to be ten books in total. However, as for the narrative and characters readers have followed for fourteen years, this will be the last volume. Similar to Mistborn's Era 2 series, which is set hundreds of years after the initial trilogy, there's meant to be a ten-year jump between The Stormlight Archive eras. This isn't as substantial as Mistborn's, and some characters will overlap, but Wind and Truth should still provide some closure to certain storylines.

The next Brandon Sanderson books following Wind and Truth include Skyward Legacy, a continuation of his sci-fi YA series that has no connection to the Cosmere. His fifth Secret Project book, currently titled Isles of the Emberdark, is set to be released sometime in 2025. After that, Mistborn Era 3 and sequels to Sanderson's first book, Elantris, will be released in the late 2020s. It's all speculation as of now, but there will likely be at least four more years before The Stormlight Archive book 6. The table below shows info regarding The Stormlight Archive arc 2 (via Arcanum).

Everything Brandon Sanderson Has Revealed About Stormlight Archive Book 5

Brandon Sanderson Has Revealed Plot Details, Such As Szeth Being The Flashback Character

Brandon Sanderson is fairly transparent about his material and has provided some hints and glimpses at the contents of Wind and Truth. As for plot details, he's mentioned that Dalinar will play a more significant role after being sidelined primarily in Rhythm of War and confirmed that Szeth will be the main flashback character. In 2022, he did readings of early drafts of some early chapters of the book, revealing the prologue chapter, some of Szeth's first flashbacks, and early chapters for Kaladin and Jasnah.

As for Wind and Truth's ending, Sanderson revealed that the details have been stirring in his brain since 1999. He explains: "Book five's ending has had literally 20 years to brew in my head, and I've been pushing toward it from book one. When you read it, I think it will recontextualize a ton of important other moments in the series." Wind and Truth should be a thrilling climax for the Mistborn author's beloved Stormlight Archive series, at least for now.

Sources: Arcanum