What’s Next for The Stormlight Archive? Book Six and the Second Arc

Before we dip into the second arc and discuss how long the delay may be before we see Stormlight Archive Book Six—due to the Mistborn Third Era books and the latest Apple TV adaptation news—let’s get a quick recap of the first arc.

The burgeoning first arc of The Stormlight Archive has ground to a halt with the fifth book of the series, Wind and Truth. We all have our opinions about this first arc and are left with questions. Did the story need to unfold in this manner? Was the payoff structurally and emotionally earned? And how does this arc compare with the tighter, almost clockwork precision of the Mistborn Era One trilogy?

Before you proceed, be warned: there are spoilers below. If you have not yet finished the last book, let me quote the words of Radiance—Journey Before Destination.

At 491,000 words, Wind and Truth stands as the largest volume in the series and arguably the most ambitious. The climax does not resolve along traditional epic fantasy lines. There is no clean triumph of virtue over malice, no restoration of a fallen order. The clash of Adonalsium’s Shards in the climax does not bring the standard trope of the “good guys” winning. Dalinar pulls off a pyrrhic victory by forcing Odium to become something greater—and thus become a target for other Shards of Adonalsium.

The largest book in the series explores its major characters more fully. Kaladin Stormblessed, always at the center of events as the emotional and moral fulcrum of the narrative, takes an unexpected turn. The do-gooder archetype—burdened by survivor’s guilt and ever willing to sacrifice himself—steps away from the role of singular savior for the first time. Even as Odium’s shadow thickens over Roshar, Kaladin relinquishes the self-imposed obligation to carry the world’s weight.

Kaladin, the man who would sacrifice himself to protect his people, takes a backseat and relinquishes excessive responsibility—even as the fate of the world tilts toward Odium. Taravangian, the mortal king who ascended to the mantle of Odium, becomes increasingly influenced by the Shard itself—a ravenous divine force. Dalinar gives up his life fighting an unwinnable battle, but in doing so forces Odium-Taravangian to absorb the powers of Honor, becoming something new: Retribution.

Taravangian, by contrast, undergoes a transformation that is both logical and horrifying. The mortal king who once relied on fluctuating intelligence and ruthless pragmatism usurps from Rayse the Shard of Odium—a force defined by divine hatred. Yet Odium is not a passive power to be wielded; it exerts influence in return. The personality of the Vessel is shaped and pressured by the Intent of the Shard.

The battles, tribulations, and even victories of the human and singer factions are revealed to be secondary to the maneuverings of godlike entities. Mortals are not irrelevant, but they are undeniably pawns within a larger cosmological strategy. The war is lopsided from its inception in favor of Odium. Since the death of Honor, Odium has operated without a direct counterbalance. In that sense, Wind and Truth is an epic about an unwinnable conflict.

This reality, however, is not always presented with clarity, despite Wind and Truth being the largest book in the series so far. Sanderson’s latest installment has drawn criticism regarding how the story’s scope and structure were handled. Readers, in particular, disliked the turn in Kaladin’s arc. He was arguably the most burdened character, with even Dalinar depending on him. So when he hung up his leadership boots and turned away from combat, many felt the shift was too ham-handed.

Another criticism is the ever-expanding scope of the Cosmere and the dominance of the Shards of Adonalsium in the narrative, which some argue has led to comparatively stunted character arcs—particularly for fan favorites Kaladin and Shallan.

If the ultimate battle had been portrayed as more explicitly unwinnable, we may have sympathized more readily with Kaladin’s choices. By comparison, the battle of Mistborn Era One feels more balanced. In that trilogy, the climactic struggle between Preservation and Ruin unfolds with methodical clarity. The opposition is cosmically immense, yet the mechanics of resistance—Allomancy, Feruchemy, and the Terris legacy—are integrated into an understandable system. Even when Vin and Elend die, Sazed’s ascension leads to a hard-earned victory.

But The Stormlight Archive is not the Mistborn series. Ultimately, it is Sanderson’s story, and he need not shepherd it in any direction other than his own.

The Stormlight Archive Second Arc Release

The next arc of The Stormlight Archive will be released after Sanderson completes the Mistborn Era Three books and/or the two Elantris sequels. Chronologically, Book Six of The Stormlight Archive will skip ahead a decade after the events of Wind and Truth. By the time the next arc arrives, the first arc will undoubtedly be treated more kindly, as it represents a unique and ambitious addition to the Cosmere.

The crossover characters from Sanderson’s other books have also proven heartening—especially those from Warbreaker, who have been shown using their Chromatic Breath. A long-suspected theory has also been confirmed: the black sword wielded by Szeth-son-son-Vallano is an Awakened artifact, similar to those featured in Warbreaker.

Book Six of The Stormlight Archive is slotted for release after Sanderson completes the Ghostbloods (Mistborn Era Three). However, writing on the Ghostbloods will have been delayed, as Sanderson is focusing on the adaptation of Mistborn, which was picked up by Apple TV in January 2026. This is as per Sanderson's updates on his blog, where he mentioned that the writing of Ghostbloods may get delayed if the adaptation was going to get picked up.