Wind and Truth

Book Five of the Stormlight Archive

De: Brandon Sanderson

Narrado por: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

"The endearing husband-and-wife team of Kate Reading and Michael Kramer continue their stunning narration of the Stormlight Archive series...The narration coupled with the fascinating fantasy epic is a must-listen for series fans—and will keep newcomers intrigued by its deep world-building."—AudioFile

Long-listed, Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, Audible.com Best of the Year, 2024

The long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive—the iconic epic fantasy masterpiece that has sold more than 10 million copies, from acclaimed bestselling author Brandon Sanderson.

Dalinar Kholin challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare—and the sudden ascension of the crafty and ruthless Taravangian to take Odium’s place has thrown everything into disarray.

Desperate fighting continues simultaneously worldwide—Adolin in Azir, Sigzil and Venli at the Shattered Plains, and Jasnah in Thaylenah. The former assassin, Szeth, must cleanse his homeland of Shinovar from the dark influence of the Unmade. He is accompanied by Kaladin, who faces a new battle helping Szeth fight his own demons . . . and who must do the same for the insane Herald of the Almighty, Ishar.

At the same time, Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain work to unravel the mystery behind the Unmade Ba-Ado-Mishram and her involvement in the enslavement of the singer race and in the ancient Knights Radiant killing their spren. And Dalinar and Navani seek an edge against Odium’s champion that can be found only in the Spiritual Realm, where memory and possibility combine in chaos. The fate of the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Brandon Sanderson (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

An epic finale with a few preachy pit stops

So, let me start by saying: wow. The ending was satisfying—like watching the final piece of a puzzle click into place after hours of effort. Some of those setups were absolute chef's kiss moments, and seeing them pay off was like hearing a bard hit the perfect note on their lute. You know, the kind that makes you sit back and think, "Ah, that's why I put up with all those slow chapters."

But—yes, there's a but—there were parts where it felt like someone stopped the narrative carriage mid-ride to deliver a sermon I didn’t sign up for. And look, I’m all for characters having depth, opinions, and, dare I say it, a bit of moral spice. But when my favorite characters suddenly transform into megaphones for modern political views without any prior hint or buildup? Well, it’s like being handed a piece of stale bread when you were expecting a gourmet feast. Sure, I’ll chew it, but it leaves a weird taste in the mouth.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying stories can’t tackle big ideas—heck, that’s what makes fantasy great! But there’s a difference between weaving ideas into the story so they grow organically, like a tree sprouting from rich soil, and just chucking them in at the last minute like confetti at a surprise party. The latter doesn’t feel earned; it feels...preachy. And, dare I say, a little lazy. Especially when it’s coming from characters I’ve spent the whole book loving for their nuance and complexity, not their soapbox speeches.

Still, I won’t let a few clunky moments overshadow the brilliance of the overall tale. The author delivered on most of the promises made, and even though some of those detours felt like a hard sell at a marketplace, the destination was worth it. It’s just...maybe next time, let the characters breathe and speak for themselves, instead of suddenly turning into mouthpieces for something that feels out of sync with their arcs.

So, yes, a solid ending, but with a few moments that made me raise an eyebrow and mutter, “Really? Them? Saying that?” Like a misplayed note in an otherwise beautiful melody.

Amazing

I pre-ordered in January and woke up at 3am to listen to this as soon as humanly possible and it's absolutely worth it

Die hard and concerned fan here.

Overall story is phenomenal. Wish I didn’t have to say the following.
Too much story line hopping. Kate is terrible. Biggest issue is with woke stuff though. I think that’s a big mistake and has me at the point of being done… which is a big statement for me. Please continue to do what you do best Mr. Sanderson. I’ll give the next book a shot when it comes out but will absolutely quit if this keeps up as I believe much of your fan base will.

Did he really think going woke would be an improvement?

I love Sanderson’s work, but I am really disappointed that he decided to cave to cultural pressure and pander to the lgbt agenda in this book.

Incredible Story mixed with therapy and wokeness

I always enjoy a Brandon Sanderson book! The Sanderlanch always has twists and turns you can't see coming! I can't wait for the continuation of the Stormlight Archive.

Only complaints, that are unique to this book, are the in-your-face therapy and wokeness. In previous books, the characters working through their emotional damage felt very natural and meaningful. This book felt rushed and forced.
Then good gosh... They/thems, trangenders, identifying as whatever, human/singer gay couples! This book had it all and honestly felt like a checklist to get through an agenda.

Overall, great book. Sanderson's story and world building are what set him apart from other authors, not wokeness.

Left me unfulfilled and empty

It felt like very little happened over the 60 hours of listening, it’s supposed to be the end of an arc, maybe I’m just stupid, but I don’t like how this fifth book ended…

Didn’t feel like Sanderson’s usual 5+ Star work :(

What I DID like was the wrapping up of the first Stormlight Arc, and getting answers to so many mysteries and questions.

I did feel as though this book was laborious for him to write though. It didn’t feel effortless. It was preachy. It was full of LGBT themes, which some may like but it was definitely not my cup of tea. I felt as though the book lacked the sparkle that heretofore has always characterized Sanderson’s work.

Despite this, I am still a HUGE fan and am looking forward to more of his offerings in the future!

Worst Stormlight Archive book so far.

Pov shifts were terrible, could have shaved 15ish hours off this and been just fine if not better, didn't make me FEEL anything it just felt hollow to me.

Too many perspective shifts

This book switches between storylines too frequently, making it difficult to become invested in any of them. The number of cut-aways hurts the cohesion of the narrative. It is impossible for this many storylines to all be interesting all the time, the end effect is that more than half of the segments for each storyline are totally inconsequential, and frequently get in the way of one another. Don’t get me wrong, The Way of Kings is my favorite book ever, and I have listened to each of the previous 4 books dozens of times over the past few years. I don’t have any problem with the content of this book, but I am not a fan of how it is organized.

Worst Sanderson book

I have read or listened to every book regarding the Cosmere and I was so excited for the release if Wind and Truth. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment and my least favorite.