Rhythm of War picks up one year after the events of Oathbringer. The Knights Radiant are engaged in a protracted and brutal war against Odium’s Fused and Singer armies, with neither side gaining a significant advantage. The story introduces new technological discoveries, deepens character development, and explores themes of mental health, trauma, and social issues. The book features multiple plot arcs, intense action sequences, and emotional character moments, setting the stage for the next installment in the series[1][3][4].
The Way of Kings is an epic fantasy novel that introduces the world of Roshar, where powerful magical forces known as Surgebinding and Shardwielding shape the destiny of its inhabitants. The story primarily follows three characters: Kaladin, a former surgeon turned soldier who is now a slave; Shallan, a young woman seeking to apprentice under the scholar Jasnah Kholin; and Dalinar Kholin, a highprince troubled by visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant. The novel explores themes of honor, loyalty, and the struggle for power in a world torn apart by war and the looming threat of the Desolation and the Voidbringers. The book is known for its detailed worldbuilding, complex characters, and the slow but intense build-up to a dramatic climax[3][4][5].
Oathbringer, the third volume of The Stormlight Archive, explores humanity’s new Desolation. The novel focuses on Dalinar Kholin’s struggles to unite the nations of Roshar against the Voidbringers, Kaladin Stormblessed’s internal conflict amidst the awakening of the parshmen, and Shallan Davar’s investigation into the dark secrets of the ancient stronghold of Urithiru. The story delves into themes of unity, character transformation, and the rich lore and complex politics of the world of Roshar[1][4][5].
In Edgedancer, Lift, a barely teenage nascent Knight Radiant, discovers that time stands still for no one despite her wish to stop aging. Given safe haven by the young Azish emperor, Lift finds court life suffocating and is drawn to Yeddaw where she must confront the relentless Darkness hunting people with budding powers. The novella fills in gaps of the main Stormlight Archive series and explores Lift's character and her determination to protect the downtrodden.
Words of Radiance is the second novel in The Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson. Published on March 4, 2014, it continues the story of Roshar, focusing on characters such as Dalinar Kholin, Shallan Davar, and Kaladin Stormblessed. The novel explores the return of the spren and the resurgence of the Knights Radiant, an ancient order of Stormlight wielders. It delves into the political and magical struggles of the world, introducing key characters like Eshonai, a Parshendi Shardbearer, and expanding on the lore of the Voidbringers and the Cosmere universe.
Dawnshard is a novella by Brandon Sanderson, part of the Stormlight Archive series. It takes place between the events of Oathbringer and Rhythm of War. The story revolves around the discovery of a ghost ship and the subsequent expedition led by Navani Kholin to ensure the island of Akinah has not fallen into enemy hands. The expedition is complicated by the fact that Knights Radiant lose their Stormlight when flying near the island, necessitating a sea voyage. The narrative follows characters like Rysn Ftori and Lopen as they navigate the perilous journey to Akinah, which holds crucial secrets for the fate of Roshar and the entire Cosmere.
We're onto Dawnshard! We're talking about reactions and characters, and we will talk about lore next week!
This episode we have Mi'ch, (firstRainbowRose), Ian (Weiry), David (Windrunner), Joshua (Jofwu).
We're doing a series of Stormlight recap articles on our site, updated through Rhythm of War: https://www.17thshard.com/news/features/stormlight-archive-recap-world-and-history-r1056/
For a deep refresher of the book, check out the Coppermind's summary of Oathbringer: https://coppermind.net/wiki/Summary:Dawnshard
Thumbnail is the US cover by Ben McSweeney and Isaac Stewart: https://coppermind.net/wiki/File:Dawnshard_cover.jpg
New SpanReads episodes every Thursday all the way until December's release of Wind and Truth! Our release schedule is:
October 31st - November 7th: Dawnshard
November 14th - December 5th: Rhythm of War
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Want to learn more about the cosmere and more? The Coppermind Wiki is where it's at: https://coppermind.net
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Shardcast: The Brandon Sanderson Podcast 
