Wind and Truth: What Happens in Stormlight Archive Book 5

Wind and Truth arrived in November 2024 and closed the first arc of the Stormlight Archive. Here is everything worth knowing going in, and what the ending means for the series.

What Is Wind and Truth?

Wind and Truth is the fifth and final book in the first arc of the Stormlight Archive. It was published November 6, 2024. It resolves the Contest of Champions between Dalinar and Odium, concludes the siege of Urithiru, and sets the stage for the second five-book arc planned for the series.

The Setup Going In

At the end of Rhythm of War, Odium had been renegotiated into a new contract by Taravangian, who had secretly replaced the original Odium after Rayse was killed. The new Odium is Taravangian himself, carrying the Shard of Passion but with the cunning of a man who spent decades manipulating everyone around him. Dalinar agreed to a Contest of Champions: a duel that would determine whether Odium could leave the Rosharan system and spread to the wider Cosmere.

The Central Conflict

The contest forces Dalinar into an impossible position. The champion he chooses, the terms of the contest, and whether he can trust anyone around him all become layered questions throughout the book. Szeth plays a central role. His arc, including his relationship with Nightblood and the justice he seeks in Shinovar, runs parallel to Dalinar journey.

Kaladin in Wind and Truth

Kaladin’s arc in book five is largely internal. His battle with depression and his attempt to build a system of mental health support among soldiers reflects themes Sanderson has discussed openly as drawn from his own research into these topics. His Ideals are not the focus; his humanity is.

What Changes After Wind and Truth

The first arc ends with significant changes to the state of Roshar, the Fused, and the relationship between spren and humans. The second arc, set years later, will follow some of the same characters but will introduce new protagonists. Sanderson has described it as a sequel series within the same world rather than a direct continuation.

When Is Book 6?

As of 2025, Sanderson has not given a firm publication date for Stormlight book 6, the first book of the second arc. His current projects include completing the Mistborn era 3 trilogy and other Cosmere works. A 2027-2028 window is the realistic estimate based on his historical publication pace.

FAQ

Is Wind and Truth the last Stormlight Archive book?

Wind and Truth is the last book in the first five-book arc of the Stormlight Archive. Brandon Sanderson has planned ten books total. The first arc, ending with Wind and Truth, tells a complete story. The second arc of five books will follow after a time skip. Sanderson has described the series as two separate five-book series set in the same world with overlapping characters rather than one continuous ten-book sequence.

Do I need to read all of Cosmere before Wind and Truth?

No. Wind and Truth is written for Stormlight readers first. There are Cosmere references and crossover elements that will mean more to readers who have finished Mistborn and other works, but none of them are required to understand the main story. If you have read books one through four of Stormlight you have everything you need to follow Wind and Truth completely.

What happened to Odium in Rhythm of War that matters for Wind and Truth?

At the end of Rhythm of War, Szeth killed Rayse, the original holder of the Shard Odium, on Dalinar orders. But Taravangian, who had been secretly positioned for this, picked up the Shard before it could be claimed by anyone else. The Odium in Wind and Truth is Taravangian, a human who spent decades cultivating political manipulation, now carrying the power of a Shard of Adonalsium. This makes him a fundamentally different and more dangerous antagonist than Rayse.

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