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Dragonsteel Nexus (DSNX), an annual convention based on the works of Brandon Sanderson, was held December 5–7 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Previously known as Dragonsteel (the name of Sanderson’s rapidly expanding business), the newly rebranded DSNX24 was the fourth annual convention marking a Sanderson book release. This year’s book: Wind and Truth, the much-anticipated fifth and final book in Part I of Stormlight Archive. The first three conventions celebrated Cytonic (2021), The Lost Metal (2022), and Defiant (2023). In a strange twist of fate for a convention usually held in late November, DSNX24 occurred on the same weekend as Brazil’s CCXP24 and the coinciding release of the Wheel of Time season 3 trailer. So you can imagine how Wheel of Time fans at DSNX24 might have felt trying to absorb two very big sources of excitement. (Tired. The answer is very tired). I didn’t really know what to expect going into DSNX24. I’d only ever been to Wheel of Time conventions, which are quite humble in comparison to DSNX when it comes to numbers. I kept wondering what 7,000 attendees would actually look like and if I would be able to, as a more casual cosmere reader, understand the language being spoken around me. When I finally stepped foot into the Salt Palace, I felt silly for not making the connection before: it’s basically like attending a big sporting event or concert. You can’t actually see the thousands of people until you’re in your seats, so most of the time you only pay attention to the hundred or so that surround you at any given time. But you can feel the buzzing energy of the masses. And while there were no “nosebleed seats” in the main convention hall (dubbed “Roshar,” after the planet setting of The Stormlight Archive), it had the look, sound, and feel of a professional concert venue. The lights, the sound, the music playing between panels, the giant projector screens—all of it created an ambiance of excitement, anticipation, and “yeah, we’re definitely not in Kansas anymore.” A lot of the credit for creating this atmosphere should go to the behind-the-scenes work of the DSNX staff aka “squires,” in particular the A/V team and crowd control, who kept things running smoothly all weekend. Entering and exiting Roshar after a big event or trying to navigate the Exhibitor’s Hall during peak times had the same packed, cattle-herded feel as everyone leaving a concert venue at the same time. But there is one very important difference: I don’t really like any of the people pushing and shoving me and spilling drinks on me at a concert. At DSNX, I kind of wanted to be best friends with them all. Far from stressful, it felt almost warm and fuzzy to be in a huge crowd of fellow nerds, many of them in costume, who are just super happy to be there and in no rush to go anywhere (unless it’s a book signing or limited seating event). Even among the long line of people camped outside in the cold for numbered copies of Wind and Truth, the vibe was friendly and joyful. The most entertaining part of walking past lines and weaving through crowds was catching snippets of people deep into cosmere analysis. Soundbites like “...Soulcasting…” and “Who is Jaddeth?” and “Hoid wouldn’t…” It was like an inside joke that everyone was in on. And even though, as I had feared, I did not understand the language they were speaking, I recognized the characters they were cosplaying and the enthusiasm they were radiating. If you’re not a hardcore cosmere nerd, DSNX still offers a lot to aspiring writers and fans of speculative fiction in general: panels run by industry professionals, crafts, tabletop games, photo ops, sword/spear workshops, and a HUGE Exhibitor’s Hall holding almost 150 fantasy-based businesses, authors, artists, vendors, sponsors, and content creators. If you’re a fantasy fan and you still don’t like any of those things, you could just spend the whole weekend sampling all the food and drinks from about ten different on-site vendors. My favorite snack was churros from the Mexican place. You might be able to try all the food, but it would’ve been impossible to attend every event, meet-up, panel, and book-signing offered at DSNX24 over the course of its three-day schedule. So here are some highlights (in no particular order): Wind and Truth Release Party With Roshar packed full of thousands of DSNX attendees and members of the public, Brandon Sanderson and his wife Emily took the stage to celebrate the release of the fifth book of the Stormlight Archive and acknowledge all the people who contributed to its publication. They also shared what Sanderson had teased earlier that day as “just about the coolest thing you could imagine, short of a movie or TV series”: Dragonsteel will be publishing the Wheel of Time series in leatherbound editions, one per year, starting with The Eye of the World in winter 2025. Sanderson then slipped into professor-mode to give a charming and heartfelt talk, urging the audience against gatekeeping fans within the fantasy community the same way other genres of literature have done with speculative fiction. He proposed welcoming all new fantasy fans, such as those who are finding fantasy through the sub-genre of “romantasy,” into a community brought together by stories—even if they don’t agree on what makes a “good” one. The release party concluded with a Q&A session, during which fans stepped up to the mic to ask Sanderson questions about anything from his favorite dinosaur (Stegosaurus) to the mechanics of magic systems in the cosmere, or whether a concept like calculus could manifest as a spren in the Cognitive Realm. (Yes, I needed a translator for that last part). Worldhopper Ball (contains spoilers for Wind & Truth) New to DSNX this year was the Worldhopper Ball, an evening event held exclusively for badgeholders who had previously purchased tickets—and who were willing to dress in extravagant formal attire and/or cosplay for the night. The theme of this “experiential novella” was the marriage of Shallan and Adolin from The Stormlight Archive, an event that had only occurred off-page until Wind and Truth revealed the details of the scene in a flashback. But to call it a “theme” is an understatement. The ballroom was transformed into Roshar, with exquisitely detailed scenery and fantastical lighting. Food and drinks were Stormlight themed, and actors in full costume played the main characters of the series, treating guests to scenes (both from the book and improvised) throughout the evening. The actors stayed in character for the entirety of the two-and-a-half hour event, interacting with the crowd and even taking turns at the DJ table. As with any first time event, there were a few kinks (long lines for drinks, technical difficulties), but most guests were content just to dress up and be transported into a fantastical world from the pages of a book. One Worldhopper Ball attendee was so impressed by the magical night he had, he said he would have attended DSNX only for the Ball. Author & Artist Spotlights In front of thousands of people in a giant concert hall doesn’t seem like the best place to have an intimate conversation, but somehow the Spotlight sessions made it feel that way. Just the guest and their host in two armchairs at center stage, under a row of colorful lights and Radiant Order banners. The vibe was more like a conversation than an interview. Spotlights of note: authors Fonda Lee (The Green Bone Saga) hosted by Dragonsteel VP of Narrative, Dan Wells; and Robin Hobb (Realm of the Elderlings) hosted by Brandon Sanderson himself. Exhibitor’s Hall When I wasn’t attending a panel, my favorite thing to do was roam the Exhibitor’s Hall. Walking up and down the narrow aisles between the vendors and creators in their black-curtained booths was so crowded, lively, and full of costumes, I felt like I was in a bustling village marketplace from a fantasy novel. And with the multitude of exhibitors, there was always something new to look at or something I missed on my first walk-through. Story Deck Among the many new things announced, teased, and launched at DSNX24, Dragonsteel’s Story Deck trading cards stood out because of the experiential way they were introduced. Armed with two starter packs and a “Worldhopper Passport” challenge to earn more, attendees found themselves interacting with people they would not otherwise have approached—which was, Sanderson revealed during the Story Deck panel, what the cards were intended to do. The cards feature snippets that form coherent stories only after obtaining a full set for each "lost tale." Gold-trimmed, limited edition cards have official Stormlight artwork of the Heralds. Story Deck trading was, by far, the most popular activity outside of the main events and panels. Look in any direction and you’d be guaranteed to see at least one group of people holding cards, spreading them out on a table, or waiting in line at the “Silverlight Mercantile” card trading hub. Cosplay Imagine turning a corner and running into Vin from Mistborn in her black ball gown, arm-in-arm with Elend in his brilliant white uniform. You turn another corner, and there’s another pair of them, plus someone in full Shardplate that glows and emits puffs of smoke. If nothing else, that was DSNX: seeing fantasy characters come to life all day, every day. The dedication and creativity of the cosmere fandom is out of this world (I’m thinking of the person dressed as Urithuru), and it is such a treat to be immersed in it all for three days. One of the ways the con supports and encourages cosplay—and socialization—is by scheduling meet-ups for certain categories of cosplay, like Bridge Four, Radiant/Spren, Side Characters, and even Brandon Sanderson. And if you’re lucky enough to catch them (I wasn’t), Roshar hosted two Cosplay showcases, during which cosplayers can walk the stagelit runway and show off all the incredible detail they put into their costumes. Wheel of Time Panel DSNX’s only Wheel of Time-themed panel was held on Friday evening in one of the smaller conference rooms. The panelists were Matt Hatch of Theoryland and The Dusty Wheel, Dragonmount founder and author Jason Denzel, Innkeeper Anas from The Dusty Wheel and The Light's Work, YouTube content creator and author Daniel Greene, BookTuber Jacky Ragnarova of Me, My Skirt and I, and Krishna Patel, a passionate Wheel of Time fan for the past decade. The panel had a cozy, intimate feel as panelists shared candidly about their personal experiences reading Wheel of Time and what they believe to be Robert Jordan’s legacy. Naturally, the conversation led to a discussion of the community that has been built around the series, from its early days—when fans, according to Denzel, could only share information from Jordan’s Q&A’s either in person or by mail correspondence—to the community’s current form as a worldwide phenomenon, connected at all times via social media and content creation. Even the panel’s newest Wheel of Time fan, Krishna Patel, gets what Wheel of Time fandom is all about, concluding her thoughts by telling other new fans, “This community is waiting for you with open arms.” Another highlight of the panel: someone cosplaying as Rand running through the room, waving the Dragon banner, and bantering in-character with the panelists. Mistborn Santa One of the benefits of waiting until after Thanksgiving to hold DSNX24 is that the holiday spirit was in full swing. Not only could attendees shop for gifts among the vendors in the Exhibitor’s Hall, they also had the opportunity to have their photo taken with “Mistborn Santa.” I wasn’t really sure who or what Mistborn Santa was, but I became obsessed with finding out. When I did, it somehow made perfect sense: Santa in a festive, red velvet mistcloak, holding a giant Christmas-tree Shardblade. He even had his very own Honorguard who allowed me to snap this photo in the Exhibitor’s Hall. Now that the real Santa has come and gone, I can look back and say for sure that DSNX24 was the highlight of my holiday season. I had a fantastic time, and I wish I could have spent a few more days basking in the glow of the exceptional community there. For anyone who considers themself a fan of speculative fiction, I strongly recommend adding a future DSNX to your bucket list of conventions. Grace is a licensed mental health counselor who believes in the healing power of found family in fantasy novels and IRL. Also known as Bain & Chiad, Grace has been reading The Wheel of Time since 1998, when she and her high school sweetheart dressed up as Elayne and Rand for Halloween. She fell in love with present-day WoT fandom and was inducted into Far Dareis Mai in 2019. She is the writer of Maidens’ List and a cohost of The Light’s Work. Special thanks to April Pixie and Innkeeper Anas for Worldhopper Ball Coverage.
Rajiv Moté is Dragonmount’s book blogger with a lens on the craft of fiction writing. When he’s not directing software engineers, he writes fiction of his own, which can be found cataloged at his website. “A thing is a thing, not what is said of that thing.” This mysterious quotation from the movie Birdman claims that there is a reality that exists apart from the narratives we weave around reality. On its face, that’s obvious. But in an age when narrative shapes perception, and perception manifests reality, it’s a radical rebuttal to what some call a post-truth era, in which those who control the narrative control reality. We need narratives. Stories are how we make sense of the world. But the more emotionally compelling the story, the less it needs to conform to the nuts-and-bolts of reality. Our beliefs are a filter that shapes our truths. There is both power and danger in that. We must remind ourselves that all stories have a teller. How far we trust a given storyteller is up to us. Stories are a kind of magic—we must be mindful of who's casting the spell. The Doors of Midnight, just released in August 2024, is the second volume of R.R. Virdi's Tales of the Tremaine, a Silk Road epic fantasy that is all about stories and how they shape and are shaped by reality. The books follow Ari, a traveling storyteller and student of magic, across two timelines in a story-within-the-story (with many more nested stories). In the present, adult Ari is not only a storyteller, but The Storyteller, whose carefully cultivated reputation precedes him and grants him access to the wealthy and powerful. This is useful, because he’s hunting demons masquerading as the wealthy and powerful. His path keeps crossing with a mysterious beauty called Eloine who wants nothing more in life than to listen to Ari tell her his life's story and unburden himself of his troubles. And he does! With enthusiasm! This is the inner story of Ari's adventurous youth as a student of magic, a collector of folklore, a pursuer of the demons who killed his adoptive family, a prince of thieves, a cloaked vigilante, a spy for a desert warlord, an apprentice to a mystic, an apprentice to a demigoddess—and more. Ari had a busy youth, but he keeps himself no less busy as an adult, playing politics, investigating nobles, searching for obscure texts, getting involved with assassination plots, and always—always—telling people his story. Ari absolutely loves telling his own story, spreading rumors about himself, and knowing that people are talking about him. Ari, past and present, is an incredible narcissist. It's a trait that is integral to the theme: Ari is preoccupied with (re-)inventing himself through stories, but in doing so, may be locking away truths about himself that he must someday face. That day of reckoning never happened in the chunky previous book, The First Binding, nor did it happen in the likewise hefty The Doors of Midnight. For me, it became tiresome. This could be a coming-of-age story, but Ari never really matures out of his self-absorption. This could be a self-discovery story, but the lessons of Ari's myriad adventures seem short-lived. This could be a quest for vengeance, but Ari never seems to get any closer. Not yet, anyway. Maybe in the next volume. So what kind of story is it? The Doors of Midnight, like its predecessor, ends up being a collection of adventure tales, loosely strung together. This, too, is no accident. R.R. Virdi is a scholar of folk tales and how they morph and merge as they travel. Characters and events conflate, fragment, or get repurposed. They become canon here, apocrypha there. Ari, The Storyteller, is crafting a legend about himself. Tales of the Tremaine is a quilt of episodic patches with an organizing theme and a potential reckoning on the distant horizon. Unfortunately, the question also arises: how much longer will we care? The story references Scheherazade and her narrative tease of stretching out her story for a thousand-and-one nights, but The Doors of Midnight is unfortunately less capable of keeping us breathless for what happens next. Though there are some scenes of beauty and wit, for me, it was often a slog to get through the weighty tomes of this saga. Part of my problem is that, despite having the lofty title of The Storyteller, Ari isn't a storyteller that trusts his audience to get the point. He will present a lovely image, heavy with implication, and then spend the next paragraph or more explicating it. Ari can't leave anything unspoken. He needs to narrate, pontificate, repeat himself, expound on meaning, and offer his wise insights—but they aren't all that deep. The adult Ari, who is ultimately the narrator of both past and present timelines, still reads like a young person sounding out his own thoughts and treating them with a self-important gravitas that an older reader might find unwarranted and tedious. It is, unfortunately, the prevailing style of the narration. By contrast, the best parts of the book are when Ari learns that other characters (usually women) have internal lives, his assumptions about them have missed the mark, and their stories are perhaps more interesting than his own. These breaks from narcissism into humility make Ari sympathetic and human—for as long as they last. Ari learning to listen is actually a plot point, though it's unevenly applied. Sadly, these lessons occur in the narrated past, and Ari-the-narrator shows no signs of having grown from them. The magic in this saga is compelling and gets right to the heart of the thematic intersection of reality and stories. Imagine a multiverse where anything is possible within the logic of a story. Practitioners of the magic in this world envision their version of the story and bind it to reality. They impose their narrative on the world. It's an amazing metaphor, which hasn't yet been used to its full effect, but there are hints that this is coming. Stories can be used not only to create a reality, but to hide one, and this story drops hints that the key to Ari defeating his demonic enemies (and discovering his own birthright power) is in discovering the truth hidden behind the stories—or perhaps discovering the true story beyond what others have imposed onto reality. Fans of metafiction like me are champing at the bit to see the promise of this idea realized. This book tells us R.R. Virdi is still making the promise, but we don't see it fulfilled just yet. There are enough similarities between Virdi's Tales of the Tremaine and Patrick Rothfuss’s The Kingkiller Chronicles that one could wonder if Virdi's saga is a viable replacement for the Rothfuss story that may never be completed. Beside the myriad details that map directly to one another, both are ultimately tales that the narrator is telling about himself that call for a healthy dose of skepticism by the reader. Alas, while the elements of the two series have a lot of overlap, Virdi's approach to storytelling doesn’t scratch the same itch. With Rothfuss, there is enough of a difference between youthful and adult Kvothe that it sparks a mystery around the unreliable narration and the character’s Mary Sue-ness. With Virdi, I feel like I’m granting Ari the benefit of the doubt, and hoping for a payoff. The difference is the strength of the through-line, which in Rothfuss seems to build, but in Virdi, feels deliberately diffuse, like a collection of folk tales. I admire the cultural anthropology of Virdi’s approach, but I’m more drawn into the narrative momentum of Rothfuss’s story. I’d have enjoyed The Doors of Midnight more if only Ari’s storytelling lived up to his self-appointed title as The Storyteller.
CORRECTIONS MADE TO THE BELOW ARTICLE, PER CORRECTED UPDATE FROM AMAZON LUKE FETHERSTON IS GAWYN CALLUM KERR IS GALAD Just last week, we were treated on WoT Wednesday with a casting announcement from Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time which revealed that Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo will join Season 3 as Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan, Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah. This was met with great excitement from Shohreh and fans alike on social media, with Shohreh poking fun at this being a poorly kept secret at best. The excitement continues this WoT Wednesday, as the Royal Court of Andor is finally revealed: Award Winning Actress Olivia Williams is Morgase Trakand, Queen of Andor Luke Fetherston is ‘Lord Gawyn’*, First Prince of House Trakand Callum Kerr is ‘Lord Galad’*, of House Trakand Nuno Lopes is ‘Lord Gaebril’, consort and advisor to Queen Morgase Olivia Williams Olivia Williams has an impressive resume across film, television, and theatre, well known for roles such as ‘Anna Crowe’ in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense and as ‘Rosemary Cross’ in Wes Anderson’s Rushmore. Her wealth of experience should be a major boon in portraying Morgase Trakand, a queen who did not inherit her throne, but instead won it through a brutal succession war against a half-dozen noble rivals. She leads the nation of Andor benevolently, hoping her daughter-heir Elayne (Ceara Coveney) can one day inherit her throne peacefully. Callum Kerr Callum Kerr first debuted as a regular on Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, filming 70 episodes during his time there. After moving to the US in 2021, he had roles in Hulu/Fox’s Monarch, and Lifetime’s Flowers in the Attic. Kerr will also soon appear in the second season of One Piece and season six of Virgin River, both on Netflix. It was widely theorized amongst fans that Kerr would actually be cast as Galad, so news that he will actually be portraying Gawyn Trakand may come as a surprise to many! And it may even be regarded as a welcome surprise, to be sure! We look forward to your Gawyn! Update: We learned that the speculation was in fact correct, and that Kerr will indeed be playing Galad. Another surprise to be sure, time will see if it is a welcome one. Luke Fetherston Luke Fetherston has found success on stage and screen, and expects to have an exciting 2025 with Season 3 premiering March 13, 2025, as well as starring opposite Simone Ashley and Hero Fiennes-Tiffin in the forthcoming Prime Video romantic comedy Picture This. And, yes, it is he who will portray Galad, the quite skilled swordsman who also happens to look like a male model. While Gawyn and Galad are so often compared, they share a mind on one thing: protect Elayne Trakand at all costs. It should be exciting to see how these two fare on the warder training grounds. Update: As stated above, Luke will instead be portraying Gawyn. Nuno Lopes Nuno Lopes was found success and renown for his chameleon-like ability to change across a wide range of characters, his initial breakthrough coming from his role in the film Alice, and his other award-winning performances including Blood of My Blood, and Lines of Wellington. A skillset that Lopes can hopefully use to bring Lord Gaebril to life on screen. Any lover and advisor to a queen as savvy as Morgase is going to need to strike a fine balance of being politically capable in his own right, without forgetting that Andor will only ever have a Queen, never a King. The Wheel of Time Season 3 premieres March 13th 2025, on Prime Video.
Dragonmount, near Tar Valon—Good things come (with the dawn!) to those who wait, and this week we have been treated to some long-awaited information about the upcoming third season of the Wheel of Time on Prime Video. First, like a banner rising above the fog of war, we got a season three poster. Fans, like those of us here at Dragonmount, immediately jumped on the image of Rand (Josha Stradowski) carrying a battered Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) through a barren and spear-studded landscape—are those dragons coiling around Rand’s forearms? Are his footsteps keeping pace with the sunrise, AKA the DAWN? And, as the image strongly implies a visit to Rhuidean in the Three-fold Land, what aspects of The Shadow Rising will we get to experience in the third season? Most importantly, WHEN are we going to see season three on our screens? We did not have long to wait for the answer to the most important of these questions. Saturday, at CCXP in São Paulo, Brazil, showrunner Rafe Judkins, along with Stradowski and Madeleine Madden (Egwene), participated in a panel discussion where they revealed that season 3 of the Wheel of Time will premiere on March 13, 2025. That is fewer than 100 days from now! Set your countdowns! Tell your friends! Even more exciting, although it doesn’t answer questions so much as pose a thousand new ones, the CCXP panel included the unveiling of our first teaser trailer for season three. The teaser reveals a world of heightened stakes: Moiraine confronts the incredible challenges of her mission to guide and protect the Dragon Reborn; Ishamael may be defeated, but the remaining Forsaken plot and scheme; the Black Ajah are ascendent; and the dark taint on Rand’s corrupted power continues to grow. Failure is not an option, for any of our heroes. To throw a spanner into the works of would-be detectives, we have good reason to believe that at least part of what we see in the teaser represents visions that Moiraine, and possibly others, experience. Most likely, these are related to their visits to Rhuidean, but they could also reflect journeys by portal stone or the test to become Accepted of the White Tower. This means that just because we saw something happen, doesn’t mean that it actually has happened in this turning of the Wheel… The Wheel of Time stars Rosamund Pike (Saltburn, Gone Girl) as Moiraine Damodred, Daniel Henney (Criminal Minds) as al’Lan Mandragoran, Josha Stradowski (Gran Turismo) as Rand al’Thor, Zoë Robins (Power Rangers Ninja Steel) as Nynaeve al'Meara, Madeleine Madden (Dora and the Lost City of Gold) as Egwene al'Vere, Marcus Rutherford (Obey) as Perrin Aybara, Dónal Finn (Rogue Heroes) as Mat Cauthon, Ceara Coveney (Young Wallander) as Elayne Trakand, Kate Fleetwood (Harlots) as Leandrin Guirale, Natasha O’Keeffe (Peaky Blinders) as Lanfear, Ayoola Smart (Killing Eve) as Aviendha, and Kae Alexander (Game of Thrones) as Min Farshaw. The Wheel of Time was adapted for television by executive producer and showrunner Rafe Judkins (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hemlock Grove). Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon of iwot productions (Winter Dragon), Ted Field of Radar Pictures (Jumanji: The Next Level, Winter Dragon), Mike Weber (Jumanji: The Next Level, Beirut), Marigo Kehoe (Outlander, The Crown), Ciaran Donnelly (Kin), Justine Juel Gillmer (The Survivor, Halo), Dave Hill (Game of Thrones) and Rosamund Pike (Saltburn, Gone Girl) also serve as executive producers. The Wheel of Time is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios. All episodes of the first two seasons of The Wheel of Time are now available on Prime Video.
It isn’t hard to see the similarities between Brandon Sanderson’s cosmere and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sanderson himself has expressed his intention to create a world as expansive and influential as Stan Lee did with Marvel. And by all measures, including the explosive growth of his business, he is on his way to succeeding. Both IPs have drawn in millions of fans from all corners of the globe. Both feature increasingly intertwined worldbuilding across multiple settings, planets, and timelines. Both release content at an insane rate, with Sanderson “accidentally” writing 4 books during COVID and Marvel releasing so much content in 2025 they need a trailer for it. Readers echo this comparison as they talk about their hopes for an “Avengers: Endgame level” conclusion in Wind and Truth, the much anticipated fifth and final book in Part I of Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive. But Sanderson has been clear that it isn’t Endgame and warned fans to check their expectations, because they will be left with “big questions” and unfinished storylines. Perhaps MCU fans can consider Wind and Truth something more along the lines of Infinity War than Endgame. Wheel of Time fans might say it isn’t the ending, but an ending. Worried cosmere fans can be reassured: Sanderson sticks the landing. Wind and Truth provides the perfect blend of explosive action and closure, while setting up the second half of the series. The story picks up right where the previous book, Rhythm of War, left off—with the people of Roshar preparing themselves for a contest of champions between Odium and Dalinar Kholin to determine the future of the planet. Wind and Truth covers the 10 days prior to the contest, one day at a time, from morning to night—a unique narrative choice that will keep readers in suspense and flying through the book's 1,344 pages. The “Sanderlanche”—a cascading series of action scenes, big reveals, character growth, and catharsis—comes later than expected (about halfway through Day 10), but in a way, the entire book is the Sanderlanche of the series. Readers are treated to flashbacks that provide insight into the past and fill in the blanks of lore that has been referenced since The Way of Kings. Characters level up and use their powers in new and creative ways. Fight scenes are riveting, dynamic, and surprising throughout. There’s also some great throwbacks to oft-quoted, fan-favorite moments from the previous four books. Plotlines divide the main characters into five groups, all trying to save the planet in their own way: Dalinar and Navani searching for answers on how to win against Odium; Venli and the singers finding their place on the Shattered Plains; Adolin leading troops into battle; Szeth and Kaladin chasing a Herald in Shinovar; and Shallan, Rlain, and Renarin going after the Ghostbloods. All five storylines are riveting, but Adolin’s was the surprise standout that will have him becoming many readers’ favorite character (if he wasn’t already). And you can take Brandon’s word for it, too—during the Wind and Truth Release Party at DSNX, he was asked to share his favorite scene or chapter to write. His answer: a sequence involving “a certain Kholin son who knows his way around a sword.” Wind and Truth also shines in its themes—the virtues of hope and trust, promises and oaths, and the strength one can wield only after being broken. And, powerfully presented by the requisite flashback scenes (Szeth’s, in this case) and woven effortlessly throughout: the illusion of a fixed right and wrong and the importance of trusting one’s own judgment. But that trust doesn't come easily, as characters grapple with betrayal by their own minds; so readers can expect Wind and Truth to continue and build upon its depiction of mental health challenges within the main characters. By the end of Book 4, most of the characters have overcome some of their darkest moments. Wind and Truth sees them using what they’ve learned to either fight the demons that remain or help others fight theirs. The series finale does have a sprinkling of weaknesses that only stand out because the rest of the story is so strong. For example, the mental health themes sometimes come across as heavy-handed or out of place, like when characters stop abruptly in the middle of a fight scene and try to use therapy to win over their opponent. The other problems won’t surprise most Sanderson fans who are familiar with his quirks—dorky puns, cheesy humor (there’s a poop talk within the first 35 pages), and characters using modern slang that risks pulling readers out of the story. But the quirks are minor, and Sanderson’s more subtle humor always lands (all birds on Roshar being called “chicken” will never not be funny). Sanderson does cute pretty well, too—some familiar spren make charming appearances, and there’s a new character that is destined to inspire the newest cosmere plushie. So what if you’re not a plushie-buying, leatherbound-collecting, Investiture-studying, Easter-egg-hunting, hardcore cosmere fan? Do you need to become one to enjoy Wind and Truth? Yes and no. Wind and Truth forges connections within the universe more comprehensively than any other cosmere book has thus far—full of familiar names, missing pieces of lore, and crossover characters and magic systems from other worlds. The result is deeply satisfying and just pure fun for readers who can draw those connections. Being a more hardcore fan provides the opportunity to experience all the squeals of joy and Leonardo-Dicaprio-pointing-gif moments while witnessing a massive integration of multiple cosmere books—in particular, Mistborn Era 1 and 2 (including Secret History), Warbreaker, Elantris, Arcanum Unbound, and Sanderson’s 2023 Secret Projects. It isn’t that prior knowledge of these books is necessary to understand what’s happening; it’s more like a missed opportunity for maximum impact. Like not getting the fireworks when you beat a Super Mario Brothers level, or not collecting all the armor upgrades in the Legend of Zelda before beating Ganon. You still win, and winning is awesome—you just don’t get all the bells and whistles. Less hardcore fans, or those who have only read The Stormlight Archive, will still love Wind and Truth. It's full of surprises, exciting new uses of the magic system, and BIG moments for the main characters. It is exactly as a series finale should be—tying together loose ends, rounding out character arcs, delivering on the promises of foreshadowing, and bringing the first act of The Stormlight Archive to what Aristotle would approve of as the quintessential “unexpected but inevitable” conclusion. Buy Wind and Truth direct from the Dragonmount ebook store here! Accolades (soft spoilers) Overall MVP: Adolin Coolest use of Stormlight: Shallan Best fight scene: Szeth Most tearjerking moment(s): Kaladin Most changed since Book 1: Renarin Needed more screen time: Lift, Jasnah Best side character arc: Yawnagawn The POV upgrade you didn't know you needed: Sigzil Best Worldhopper cameo: Thaidakar (wink-wink) Best villain (ever?): Taravangian Grace is a licensed mental health counselor who believes in the healing power of found family in fantasy novels and IRL. Also known as Bain & Chiad, Grace has been reading The Wheel of Time since 1998, when she and her high school sweetheart dressed up as Elayne and Rand for Halloween. She fell in love with present-day WoT fandom and was inducted into Far Dareis Mai in 2019. She is the writer of Maidens’ List and a cohost of The Light’s Work.
I liked the first novella in this series, The Fireborne Blade, and hoped to see more adventures with our two heroines. I did not suspect I would get my wish quite so soon! Saralene is now the High Mage, but the former holder of the title (recently deceased) has other plans for her. With her trusted companion, the brave knight Sir Maddileh, she must travel to the domain of the eponymous princes and find some way to prevent her imminent demise. Along the journey, the two will also face a perhaps greater challenge—their feelings for each other. Instead of the faux academic papers about dragons we had last time, this book breaks up the narrative with some short folk tales from the perspectives of both the humans and the dragons. The same events are seen quite differently, and the fun juxtaposition of the two feeds neatly into the story. Despite the high stakes, this book feels slightly lighter in tone to the first one, particularly with the running commentary of their new feline companion. Which is not a complaint by any means! If this is all we get with these characters, the book provides a satisfying conclusion to the tale, but I certainly wouldn’t complain if we got more of these bite-sized tales every now and again, much like a fantasy equivalent of the Murderbot novellas by Martha Wells. Recommended, alongside the first one. Thanks to Tor Publishing for the early review copy.
While the first book by Rebecca Thorne shared a certain amount of DNA with Travis Baldree’s cozy fantasy Legends & Lattes, this one takes Reyna and Kianthe’s story deeper into uncharted waters. As we discovered last time, Reyna is a former guard to a murderous queen, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage around, but they have both made a quiet life together in the village of Tawney, running a tea shop. There is the small matter of some missing dragon eggs they need to locate before said dragons decide to turn the whole place to ash, plus the continuing threat of Queen Tilaine, but other than that life is good, if perhaps a little too quiet. A year on, and the search for the eggs has taken our couple far west to Shepara, the home of the Nacean river. They have come to see the lord of the area, Diarn Arlon, who says he will happily help them in their quest, with one small condition—first they have to deal with an annoying pirate problem for him. That problem mainly takes the form of Serina, a Robin Hood-esque pirate who is stealing grain from Diarn Arlon to feed the poor along the length of the river. She is being pursued by Bobbie, who (in a clear case of nominative determinism) is the constable charged with bringing her to justice. Did I mention the two of them used to be friends, and perhaps, something more? And who is the Dastardly Pirate Dreggs? The generally light-hearted tone of the first story continues here. Bobbie crochets small animals when stressed, and is clearly under a lot of pressure by the number of these that litter the place. Reyna is helping to raise a chaotic baby griffin, and Kianthe’s puns remain truly under-appreciated. All in all, it’s an enjoyable romp and I was glad to spend more time with the existing characters, and meet the new ones. I look forward to reading the next book soon. Also, a tip of the hat to any fantasy book that makes such a blatant Mass Effect reference that I laughed out loud. Both books are highly recommended, thanks to Tor for the review copy.
The City in Glass begins with three vengeful angels razing the city of Azril to the ground in fire and fury. Our protagonist—a demon named Vitrine who has spent generations of human lives creating the city by influencing and inspiring its people—dies along with the citizens of Azril. But demons are not welcome in the afterlife, and Vitrine returns to pick up the pieces of herself and her shattered city. This dreamlike book follows Vitrine as she starts over, rebuilding her Azril piece by piece and person by person. The narrative jumps back and forth between the original Azril and the new Azril, and we get to see Vitrine realize that, although she can use the infinite time afforded to an immortal to grow a city from the ruins of the old, it will never be the original city. Some things are lost forever. Grief and resilience are major themes in this book. Of course, the perspective of an immortal demon guiding a city into existence over a millennium may not be relatable to most of us. But the emotion of stark loss is, and Vo’s writing brings this mercilessly home. Vitrine, reeling, takes stock of her ruined works and wonders how the world can keep going on as if nothing has changed: "The sky is still blue," Vitrine thought, looking up. "I am not sure that the sky should still be allowed to be blue." The prose is stunning throughout this book: beautiful and raw and honest. Many of us have experienced grief in the form of the loss of a loved one, through death or separation. Although Vitrine’s loss is of a city and its history and people, it is also the loss of the time spent developing and cherishing that city. The realization that all she has left of it are memories, and that there is no future to dream of with those people, is the same crushing realization that brings the raw grief in all of us. Despite the impression that you may have at this point, this is not a book that will make you sad! I loved reading this book, and Vo’s biblical “and it was so” way of describing this fantasy world of demons and angels. As Vitrine sets about developing a new city, I was reminded of the mechanics of a civilization-building strategy game. She influences the course of history by encouraging this person to study astronomy, and that person to study commerce. She selects those people who show initiative and guides them into positions of power. She teaches her people to dance, and to read, and to have ambitions and goals. With a few exceptions though, Vitrine is not attached to the people. She is immortal and they are brief, and her project and passion is the city itself. I could not put this book down and I highly recommend it.
Raquel Petra has everything she could ever want - her wife Marlena, their daughter Atalanta, and a job working alongside Marlena as researchers for the Institute. Specifically, the Global Institute for the Scientific and Humanistic Study of Pocket Worlds, which investigates little bubbles of parallel reality, and the elusive points that connect them to our own. Then, with one tiny mistake, Raquel loses everything in an instant. Time runs fast in some of these worlds, slow in others. This leads to a wide variety of imaginative uses for time dilation, which is one of my favourite things in the story. Grow crops very quickly in a fast world, then store them in a slow world so they don’t go off. Calculating how old somebody is requires keeping track of all the worlds they’ve been in. Because the points where you enter a world can be attached to a movable physical object, which can itself be brought inside another world, you end up with worlds within worlds, and all the complexities that might imply. It’s a great science fiction concept to build the tale around, but all the other aspects here shine just as much. This is a story anchored in the Dominican Republic. Raquel works as an archeologist, exploring the pocket worlds for evidence of the indigenous Taíno people of the Caribbean, something that becomes more relevant as things progress. On a broader view, it is very much about colonialism, capitalism, environmental disaster, and war. But, primarily it’s about one person’s sadness, grief, and complete self-destructive refusal to let go of what she lost. Those are the parts that really stuck with me after I had finished reading. Ultimately, it’s also about hope, something I am personally very glad for, and you will be too. This story hurts in all the right ways. Highly recommended. Thanks to Tor for the early review copy.
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