| Oathbringer | |
| Author: | Brandon Sanderson |
| Language: | English |
| Country: | United States |
| Genre: | Epic fantasy |
| Publisher: | Tor Books |
| Isbn: | 978-0-7653-2637-9 |
| Illustrator: | Dan dos Santos Isaac Stewart Howard Lyon |
| Cover Artist: | Michael Whelan |
| Series: | The Stormlight Archive |
| Pub Date: | November 14, 2017[1] |
| Media Type: | Print (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book |
| Pages: | 1248 |
| Preceded By: | Words of Radiance |
| Followed By: | Rhythm of War |
Oathbringer is an epic fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson and the third book in The Stormlight Archive series.[1] It was published by Tor Books on November 14, 2017.[1] [2] Oathbringer consists of one prologue, 122 chapters, 14 interludes and an epilogue.[3] It is preceded by Words of Radiance and followed by Rhythm of War.
As with its Stormlight Archive predecessors, the unabridged audiobook is read by narrator team Michael Kramer and Kate Reading.[4]
The third book was initially titled Stones Unhallowed with Szeth-son-son-Vallano as its focus, then Skybreaker,[5] and eventually Oathbringer with the focus on Dalinar Kholin.[6] [7]
Prior to the release of Oathbringer, several chapters and interludes had been posted in blog posts, read in conventions and published in an anthology. Sanderson provided numerous updates on Reddit about his progress on the book.[8] On December 9, 2016, three weeks after his fifth update, Tor announced that Sanderson had completed his first draft, coming in at 461,223 words.[1] On March 15, 2017, Sanderson completed the third of five planned drafts, which totaled 514,000 words.[9] On June 15, 2017, Sanderson completed the fifth and final draft and managed to cut it down to 450,000 words.[3] On June 27, 2017, Tor posted a blog post detailing the process of beta reading for Oathbringer in which beta readers give their immediate reactions to any given point in the story and look for continuity.[10] Due to the length of the book, Tor had to use a different press and bindery from the one that printed Words of Radiance.[11]
After realizing the book took more time to work on than originally planned, Sanderson wrote a novella titled Edgedancer, following Lift; first published in ,[12] an anthology of Cosmere short fiction, on November 22, 2016.[13]
On March 16, 2017, Tor Books revealed the cover art for Oathbringer, painted by Michael Whelan.[14] It shows Jasnah Kholin defending a city against an invasion. She reaches for a Shardblade while simultaneously soulcasting a large hole in the city wall made by a thunderclast.[2] Three days later, Tor posted a blog post that discussed details of the cover and how it may relate to the book's plot.[15] On July 14, 2017, Sanderson revealed the UK cover of Oathbringer on Twitter.[16]
The hardcover version of the novel was published with endpapers which depict 4 of the ten heralds, two created by each artist Howard Lyon and Dan dos Santos.[17] Reviewer Frannie Jackson described the art as "gorgeous."
On August 2, 2017, Tor Books revealed the dates and locations for the Oathbringer book tour.[18] Tor.com released the prologue on August 22; and the first 32 chapters, three weekly, from August 29 to November 7.[19] [20]
Six years ago, Eshonai and the Listeners visited Kholinar for the celebration of the peace treaty. She wanders alone in the palace and visits King Gavilar Kholin. Gavilar invited Eshonai for a private conversation and uncovered a Fabrial device that can trap a Spren in the Gemhearts. Much to Eshonai's horror, Gavilar reveals his plan to revive the Gods who deserted her people many years ago and gave her the dark Gemheart as a gift while instructing her to send a message to the council. Eshonai informs the five Listeners about the King's plans and decides to send an assassin to prevent Gavilar's actions. In the evening, Eshonai continues to perform her drum before fleeing the scene in tears.
Six days after arriving at Urithiru, Dalinar Kholin, with his Bondsmith ability, revisits the vision he experienced earlier with Stormfather's aid. He discovered that the Almighty, whom Odium killed, was named Honor who had warned him about the upcoming Everstorm that would decimate Roshar. As Dalinar explores the ruins of Kholinar and experiences the Everstorm, he catches a glimpse of Odium summoning his nine corrupted shadowed Sprens known as the Unmade. Now awakened from his vision, Dalinar plans to continue his move on reuniting Roshar against Odium's actions. Having expressed his feelings over the loss of his first wife and his memory, Dalinar proposes a marriage with Navani where Stormfather declares his consent to them.
After departing the Shattered Plains, Kaladin visits his hometown, Hearthstone. Upon his arrival of reconciliation, Kaladin reunites with his parent who introduces his youngest brother before revealing himself as a Radiant. Upon investigating the devastating effects of the Everstorm, Kaladin decides to venture out to several Alethi towns in ruins to learn more about the Parshendi. Kaladin tracks the escaped Parshmen and turns himself in to avoid conflict. Kaladin learned from Syl that the Everstorm had altered the Parshmans' physiques and intelligence allowing them to rebound with the Voidsprens. The Voidsprens are guiding the enslaved Parshmen to Kholinar to declare war and reclaim Alethkar. Upon arriving at Revolver, Kaladin exposes his Surgebinding to the Parshmen and flees upon learning about the Highstorm. As the Highstorm approaches, Kaladin helps the citizens to shelter from the Highstorm, and the two empowered Parshmen known as the Fused attack him. Kaladin quickly escapes and flies back to Urithiru following Syl's direction.
Shallan, having recovered her childhood memory, visits the Kholin family to discuss further uniting Roshar. As Dalinar attempts to lose hope, Shallan unknowingly summons the illusion of Roshar as she touches the map with her Lightweaving combined with Dalinar's Bondsmith, thus revealing the location of Ten Oathgates. Intrigued, Dalinar decided to focus on Jed Keved, Thaylenah, and Azir to form a political alliance. Tension begins to run high following Torol Sadeas' murder, and his followers from Sadeas' war camp grow distrustful towards the Kholin family, by which Sadeas' wife Ialai promotes Amaram as the new Highprince. In response, Shallan began investigating several repetitive incidents with Adolin, to whom Dalinar entrusted. Despite this, Shallan felt traumatized by wielding a Shardblade for training with Adolin and decided to take an altered persona as Brightness Radiant to help accomplish her task. Upon meeting Sadeas' wife Ialai, Shallan confronts Mraize, who offers her information about her brother after she succeeds in her mission. Mraize reveals to Shallan that the dark force threatens society in Urithiru and encourages her to investigate. As she explored the city, Shallan spotted the shadowed Spren and lost track of it. Shallan devised her plan of tracking a Spren and followed it right toward an unexplored area. Joining up with Adolin, Renarin, and Bridge Four members, the group discovered an abandoned library in ruins where it was settled by an Unmade named Re-Shephir, also known as the Midnight Mother. The group began fighting against the Unmade's influence. Upon discovering its vulnerability to Lightweaving, Shallan repels Re-Shephir causing it to retreat. Following the incident, Shallan met an unexpected reunion of Jasnah Kholin.
As Dalinar begins his negotiation, he questions the Knight Radiants' betrayal through the Stormfather's refusal. Despite the emperor of Azir's and Queen Fen Rnamndi's refusal of Alethi's aid, Dalinar and his followers manage to gain contact with Taravangian who agree on Dalinar's plan. King Elhokar, having recovered from an assassination attempt, grew despondent of his kingship and planned to abdicate the throne to Dalinar. Instead, they agree to let Dalinar be the king of Urithiru and the Shattered Plains, forfeiting his Alethkar lands to his heir. Upon learning about the riot in Khonlinar, Dalinar advises his nephew to send scouts to investigate the riot and Elhokar's wife's behavior while sending Kaladin there to activate the Oathgate, encouraging Elhokar to restore the city. Dalinar learned from Stormfather that the only chance to stop Odium is to accept a challenge that Odium himself cannot deny. As Dalinar attends his meeting with the Irali queen, he challenges the ardent Kadesh to a duel while arguing about their religious faith in the Almighty. Dalinar ends the duel revealing himself as the Knights Radiant and Navani reports that the queen demands Adolin's armoured Shardplate due to her begrudging towards the Kholin family since arranged marriage. At this moment, Dalinar's memories of his former wife Evi are restored. Due to his promise to Stormfather to be a Bondsmith, Dalinar managed to recover Oathbringer and return it to Ialai Sadeas, despite her disapproval. Taravangian arrived at Urithiru for a visit and introduced Dalinar to a Dustbringer named Malata, the new member of Knights Radiant. During that time, Taravangian observed Dalinar's approach and questioned his moral views from The Way of Kings. As Dalinar and Stormfather discuss their situation, Stormfather reveals that he can send visions to anyone he chooses, which gives Dalinar a persuasive idea.
Meanwhile, in the Shattered Plains, Venli and her followers, with their new forms, were sent to recover Eshonai's Shardplate under the command of Odium's Voidspren, Ulim. While departing Eshonai's body, a grieving Venli encountered a Spren and ignored it.
After persuading Fen about the Voidbringer's threat via Stormfather, Dalinar invites Jasnah and Navani to enter the vision where Aharietiam, The Last Desolation, takes place. As they explore the battle, Dalinar and Navani arrive at the site where nine Honorblades had settled. Stormfather reveals the shocking truth about the Heralds' departure by which Odium granted the former Voidbringers power to resurrect themselves as Parshmen and transform them into a Fused. Succumbed from their mental state following Honor's death, the nine Heralds abandoned their Oathpact out of despair; one Herald Talenal continued the fight while suffering through torture for over four thousand years. Dalinar realizes that the comatose madman he encounters is Talenal, and his blade is a regular Shardblade. Dalinar arrived at the war camp and discovered that Talenal was missing.
Despite their reunion, Shallan grew more discomfort with Jasnah's criticism. Still, as Veil, she managed to hire recruits Gaz and Red for basic training on infiltration and a new assistant named Ishnah to help infiltrate the Ghostbloods. Shallan receives a letter from Mraize about her brother during her break time. Mraize revealed that Heleran was recruited as a Skybreaker acolyte led by the former Herald of Justice, Nale. Nale sends Heleran to kill Amaram as a test for loyalty, resulting in his death by Kaladin. To maintain her frustration from Jashnah's teaching, Shallan plans to travel with Kaladin to Thalayena's capital, Thaylen City, to open the Oathgate and persuade King Elhokar for her volunteer permission to retake Kholinar. Upon her research, Jashnah began pondering knowledge on Urithiru while growing suspicious of Shallan's previous absences and Renarin's behavior of his Truthwatcher abilities. After she feuds with Amaram about her uncle, Renarin surprises everyone with his abilities upon discovering hidden contents within the library.
Throughout Bridge Four perspectives, Kaladin began training his friends to help achieve their Windrunnering ability before traveling to Kholinar for the upcoming battle. Each of Bridge Four began experiencing their lives before reaching their role of maintaining their status. Meanwhile, in the Frostlands, Moash, having fled from the Shattered Plains, was later ambushed by the Fused after he killed one of them and carried to Revolver for enslavement. Despite his captivity, Moash grew more attached to Parshmen and supported them in their upcoming battle with Kholinar. Having grown frustrated with Parshmen's plight and the Fused's cruelty toward lesser Parshmen, Moash demanded to consult with the leader and encounter the Fused named Leshwi, whom Moash killed during his capture. Leshwi explained that he spared him due to his passion for fighting and supporting them. Moash admitted that he had given up his faith in humanity and sought vengeance instead. Impressed, Leshwi informs him about the fused as he begins training the Parshendi to fight spears.
With his Bondsmith, Dalinar contacts Prime Aquasix Yanagawn (formally named Gawx) and informs him about the Voidbringers' threat but Gawx grows skeptical toward him. Despite his efforts, Lift, having contacted the Nightwatcher, manages to enter his vision and carries Gawx away, much to Stormfather's surprise. Upon arriving at the Recreace vision with Jasnah and Navani, Yanagawn visited Dalinar and discussed it privately. Yanagawn revealed the truth to Dalinar about the Azish viziers' paranoia of the Assassin In White and Lift's distrust towards Dalinar for his self-righteousness. As Dalinar explains more details, the vision is suddenly interrupted by a man covered in white and gold who reveals himself as Odium and approaches Dalinar by surprise. Upon divulging his motivation and passion to kill another Shard named Cultivation, Odium remains shackled and persuades Dalinar to release him by Intent, which the latter refuses. As Odium departs, Dalinar challenges Odium on his bravery upon experiencing Odium's influence of emotion. Having eavesdropped on Dalinar and Odium, Lift decides to convince Yanagawn to visit Urithiru before the visions fade.
Upon reviewing his Diagram, Taravangian devised his scheme to exploit Dalinar's weakness and sought to negotiate with Odium. Meanwhile, Venli and her eight followers volunteered and embraced their transformation from the Everstorm. However, the storm subsides her into Nimbleform and transforms others, including her mate Demid, into the Fused under the possession of former Voidbringers. The Fused named Hariel took possession of Demid and informed a pleading Venli that the transformation was undone, not even Odium could undo it. Before departing to Alethkar, Venli spotted the Spren and hid it from suspicion.
After Shallan accessed the Oathgate to Thaylen City, Dalinar and Navani, along with Taravagian, visited Queen Fen Rnamdi upon witnessing the casualties caused by the Everstorm and Thaylen's distrust. Suddenly, Dalinar senses the voice pleading for help and invertedly uses his Bondsmith to his advantage as he successfully repairs the broken statue. With Fen finally accepting Dalinar's approval, Dalinar decided to use his radiant ability to good use and discuss forming a coalition. Dalinar then moved to Azir using the Oathgate and encountered the Azish scholars while sending Navani's essays and Fen's permit. Upon meeting up with Lift, the Azish scholars accept their accords. When Dalinar returns to Urithiru, he suddenly collapses upon learning of the tragic death of his wife, Evi. The flashback of Dalinar's past was revealed at the battle of Rathalas, also known as the Rift, where the resident rebelled against the Alethi kingdom when Dalinar reclaimed Oathbringer from his struggle with its former owner Brightlord Tanalan. Years later, Tanalan's son declares war for revenge and Evi opposes Dalinar's declaration. After being humiliated by betrayal, Dalinar decimated Rathalas unaware that Evi was held captive, and died in the flame trying to persuade the residents to surrender, which left Dalinar devastated by his actions.
Meanwhile, Elhokar's group arrives at Alethkar's capital Kholinar to help reclaim it and open the Oathgate. As they enter the city using Shallan's illusion for disguise, the group deduces that the Unmade began manifesting its influence over the city's livelihood corrupting both people and Sprens. In contrast, the Voidbringer continues raiding the town, and the Highprinces who resided mysteriously disappear leaving the residents starved. Elhokar devised a plan for the group to split up and gather information before retaking the place by force: Shallan's group will infiltrate the Cult of Moments to gain access to the Oathgate Platform and Kaladin alone will investigate the mysterious high marshal of the wall guard named Azure.
Kaladin visits and befriends the wall guards who recruited him as their ally and he is surprised to see Azure in person. Kaladin learns from Azure that she has sent out Wall guards to prevent the Voidbringers' attack fearing that the army is planning to storm the city. Without hesitation, Kaladin managed to kill the Voidbringer and revealed himself to Azure as Elhokar's bodyguard. During their conversation, Azure revealed that she is helping the city's food supplies for the refugees using Soulcasters to provide storage and prevent Voidbringers from contacting them which explains why Spanreeds are cut off from the rest of the world. Able to trust Azure's determination, Kaladin reveals Elhokar's plan to attack the palace and reclaim the city.
During her infiltration at the palace, Shallan diverted her role as Veil to raid food supplies from Alethi highlords to gain the Cult's trust. However, her personality changes mentally whenever she uses her illusion as Veil and other persona. Suddenly, she heard strange voices from the Unmade's persuasion causing her to break free. After learning from Wit about the cult and palace guards' behaviors, Shallan arrived at the Oathgate platform within the Palace monastery and discovered that two of the Unmades named Sja-anat (The Taker of Secrets) and Ashertmarn (Heart of the Revel) are responsible for manipulating the Alethi residents and corrupting the Sprens. Sja-anat, however, persuades Shallan that Ashertmarn set up a trap for anyone who tried to access the gate causing her to retreat and warn King Elhokar. Upon meeting up with a young urchin named Grund she fed earlier, Shallan felt ashamed of herself upon seeing his death at the hands of street thugs. Arriving at the scene, Wit comforts her and advises her of the reality of failure.
After hearing from Shallan's report and Kaladin's recruitment with Highmarshal Azure, King Elhokar began storming the castle to retake Kholinar. However, the Voidbringer army summons the giant stone monster known as the Thunderclast to weaken the wall guard's defense. Having wasted no time, Elhokar's army overpowered the queen's corrupted guards and entered the palace. Splitting up, Kaladin and Elhokar went to the throne room to confront Queen Aesudan while Adolin and Shallan went to the monastery to open the gate. As Shallan tries to repel Ashertmarn from the gate, the Unmade quickly flees and Sja-anat persuades Shallan to take the alternative route before accessing the gate to the exact location.
Meanwhile, Kaladin and Elhokar arrived at the throne and discovered Queen Aesudan corrupted by the Unmade Yelig-nar and Ashertmarn. Kaladin manages to recover Elhokar's son Gavinor from Unmade's influence and convinces Elhokar to retreat. As they retreat, the Parshendi army storms the palace and injures Elhokar in the conflict. Upon recognizing their familiar faces, Kaladin remains horrified upon seeing both sides slaughtering each other in conflict. Within the climax of the fight, Moash arrives at the scene and kills Elhokar who is about to finish his first ideal. Having failed to protect the King and Kholinar under Voidbringers' control, Adolin retrieves a distraught Kaladin and Azure from the siege and retreats to the Oathgate just as Shallan summons her blade to open the gate sending them to Shadesmar.
After departing from the Fused, Venli follows Odium's instructions teaching her people and addresses their tribal names as Listeners. Upon arriving at Kholinar, she felt shunned by Odium's negligence with Timbre, the Spren she bounded, comforting her.
Somewhere at the Pure Lake, Szeth-son-Neturo continues training as a Skybreaker upon receiving Nightblood. Preparing to confront his people from Shinovar, Szeth masters his surge binding through improvement having used the blade for execution while struggling to control its power and bloodlust. As he prepares to speak his fourth ideal, Nale approaches Szeth and escorts him to a ruined courthouse of Marat. Nale reveals to Szeth that he was warned by Ishar to prevent another desolation by eliminating the surge-binder but failed because of the Everstorm. He forms his own Radiant based on the fifth ideal he swears an oath while reclaiming his Honorblade and informs Szeth about his event during Aharietiam.
After escaping from Kholinar, Kaladin, Adolin, Azure, and Shallan along with their Sprens find themselves stranded within Shadesmar. The group discovers that the Unmade have corrupted the Oathgate Sprens and sabotaged their escape attempt which Sja-anat warned them about the Fused pursuit. On their journey to Horneaters Peak to seek the perpendicularity, the group travels south and stumbles upon a mysterious lighthouse where Kaladin encounters a lighthouse keeper named Riino, observing ship transportation. When he notices a gemstone, Kaladin sees a vision of Thaylen City overrun by Voidbringers and Dalinar surrounded by the Unmade. Shocked by what he saw, Kaladin suggest the group travel south to Thaylen City with Shallan, who can access the Oathgate and teleport them to the physical realm to rescue Dalinar. Upon arriving at the Spren's market city Celebrant, they notice the Fused detecting their presence at the cargo. Upon revealing herself as the fugitive from Shadesmar, Syl manages to gain Honorsprens' attention allowing the group to climb aboard the Honorspren ship called Honor's Path and escape the Fused's wraith. With Syl now captive, Kaladin tries to persuade the captain to release her as he inadvertently summons the Windsprens and surprises entire Sprens onboard. At the same time, Shallan practices her fabrial ability by testing the beads she experiences from Kharbranth. Along the journey, Adolin confesses to Shallan that he killed Sadeas out of spite and betrayal. Upon reaching Thaylenah, the Fused pursues the Honor's Path quickly. After freeing Syl's captivity, Kaladin, Shallan, and Adolin, along with their Sprens, continue their journey to Thaylen City leaving Azure behind to rescue her men stranded in Kholinar. After a few weeks of hiking across a crystallized jungle, they arrived at the Oategate heavily guarded by Voidsprens.
Meanwhile, with Kholinar fallen and his memories restored, Dalinar grows remorseful by Evi's death and continues to doubt himself for his purpose while struggling to maintain his past trauma and alcoholism. With Dalinar's absence, Navani was left in charge of handling political meetings with Azish scholars from Azir with an alliance (Emul, Tashikk, and Yezeir), Queen Fen of Thaylenah, and Taravagian of Jah Keved and Kharbranth with Bridgemen securing Jezrien's Honorblade. Having learned the truth about the Thrill at Jah Keved and fear of his past trauma, Dalinar quickly fled in terror before falling unconscious upon seeing the vision of Nohadan. During that time, he slowly learns his entire events after Gavilar's funeral. With Elkohar's declaration of war against the Parshendi, Dalinar struggles to contain his mental state and decides to travel to Natanatan upon learning the rumors of an Old Magic that can heal him. After recovering from his experience, Dalinar returned to the meeting and tried to rearrange his absence leaving Queen Fen disapproved. As the meeting prepared to defend Jah Keved from Parshmens' attack, Dalinar discovered that Parshmen planned to access the Oathgate by attacking Thaylen City. With the city now vulnerable to the Everstorm, Dalinar realized the Parshmen army was settling at Marat for a navy battle after they raided ships for their advantage. Using Navani's knowledge of the tower and Highstorm's arrival, Dalinar contacts Venli with Stormfather stalling Odium. Dalinar tries to form a peace treaty for Venli with the latter reluctant to accept by letting Parshmen take over Alethkar as their home. Odium manages to overpower Stormfather and interrupts their conversation causing Dalinar to be overwhelmed by his influence realizing the mistake he made. During that time, Venli invertedly bonded with Timbre after she struggled with Odium's influence. Upon realizing Dalinar's recovery, Taravangian devises a plan to leak the knowledge to Tashikk to discredit Dalinar. The coalition arrived at Thaylen City for the meeting with Dalinar and grew hopeful about uniting Roshar. However, Stormfather senses a bigger threat which the Spanreeds quickly spread information to everyone causing doubts and suspicions towards the Kholin. Dalinar, Jasnah, and Navani were shocked to learn about the Eila Stele, an ancient historical text revealing that humans were the Voidbringers, arriving in Roshar and conquering the Parshmen who were once settlers which led to the first desolation. With heated debates and arguments on their suspicions orchestrated by Taravagian, the coalition disbanded and went separate ways leaving Dalinar in total despair.
In Marat, Venli joins the Voidbringers' army to prepare for the attack with the Everstorm guiding them. Rysn who is now paraplegic after her journey from Reshi Islands volunteered to recover the King's Drop from the safeguarded vault. However, the Voidbringer thief attacks the guards to take the Gemstone, and Rysn kills him with the help of her Larkins, Chri-Chri. After leaving Thaylen City from the Oathgate, Bridge Four found three members injured from the attack and the Honorblade stolen with Bisig claiming that someone resembling Teft attacked them, causing Teft to flee in shock.
With the Parshmen army approaching Thaylen City, Dalinar remembers his encounter with the Nightwatcher and its creator Cultivation. Upon arriving at the region of Greater Hexi five and a half years ago, Dalinar pleads to a reluctant Cultivation to heal his trauma. Instead, Cultivation decides to erase his memory of Evi and the massacre he committed allowing him to continue his task of protecting King Elhokar. With his memories restored, Dalinar carries the Way of Kings book for comfort and goes across the city streets to confront Odium alone. Upon arriving with the army at Thaylen City, Venli witnesses Odium's arrival and orders the Fused for a tactical approach. With the Thunderclasts awakened to destroy the city's defense, Odium summons the red mist-like Unmade Nergaoul, which revealed itself as the Thrill, as it controls most of Sadeas' army, including Amaram himself, under his command. Following Nale's instruction, Szeth arrives to aid Dalinar in succeeding in the battle against Odium and Lift chooses to stay and help. Dalinar instructs Lift to retrieve the King's Drop gemstone after the Voidbringer took it from Rysn's grasp. Despite her best efforts Lift failed to recover the gemstone due to the Thunderclast's rampage, and Szeth managed to kill the beast and overpower the Voidbringer with Nightblood at the cost of succumbing to its bloodlust as Lift tried to heal him. Dalinar meets Odium in person and challenges him to a duel. However, Odium chooses Dalinar as his champion and manipulates him to surrender Dalinar's agony of guilt, sorrow, and pain. Having to acknowledge the errors of his past, Dalinar overcomes Odium's influence and swears a Bondsmith Oath causing the Glorysprens to form a column of light allowing him to open Honor's perpendicularity of three realms which Odium fled in terror.
Jasnah arrives and confronts Renarin who foresaw a vision of his death with his Spren Glys which she suspects that Renarin is a voidbringer. As Jasnah attempts to make a kill, Renarin accepts his fate only for Jasnah to spare him, confirming that his visions are wrong. Having been informed by Mraize, Ash arrives to retrieve Talenal who slowly recovers from his comatose state. In Urithriu, the Parshmen began attacking the tower, forcing a reluctant Teft to regain his honor and fight against the intruders.
In Shadesmar, Kaladin distracts the Fused with his lashing ability while Adolin, Syl, and Pattern divert other's attention with illusions leaving to convince the Oathgate sprens to open the perpendicularity. The Oathgate Sprens refuse to gain access to the physical realm having sworn their Oaths to Honor resulting in Adolin being wounded from the struggle and Kholin losing his Stormlight. When all hope seems lost and Kaladin cannot speak the fourth ideal, the group notices Dalinar's opening the perpendicularity, allowing them to escape Shadesmar. With the Radiants reunited, they banded to stand against the Parshmen army. Dalinar confronts the Thrill, Kaladin engages in his final duel with Amaram who has become corrupted by Yelig-nar's influence, Shallan summons illusions to divert the army, Szeth and Lift continue their mission to recover the stolen gemstone, Jasnah and Adolin help the refugee while fending off against Sadeas' army and the Fused, and Renarin kills the last Thunderclast and accesses the Oathgate to summon Bridge Four to help fight off the Fused.
As the battle rages on, Kaladin successfully wounds Amaram with Rock delivering the final blow. After recovering the gemstone from Parshmen, Szeth allows Lift to venture into the mist and send the gemstone to Dalinar. With a heartfelt reconciliation, Dalinar uses the gemstone to contain the Thrill and turn Sadeas' army back to normal. With the Thrill gone and Odium mysteriously disappearing, the Parshmen army is forced to retreat and Thaylen City is saved. With the battle over, Shallan becomes distorted by her split personality of Radiant and Veil with Adolin comforting her. With his new oaths fulfilled and new Spren bonded, Szeth part ways with Nale after gaining access to the Surge of Division and chooses to work as Dalinar's bodyguard. Taravagian confesses his betrayal to Dalinar, causing the latter to distrust him. In Kholinar, Moash follows the Fused instructions and kills the drunken street urchin who is revealed to be Jezrien, The King of Herald. With Jezrien dead, Moash is granted Jezrien's Honorblade stolen from Bridge Four and goes by the new identity of Vyre, He Who Quiet. In Azir, Ash continues to escort Talenal to Ishar only to sense her father's death and fall unconscious for the first time in four thousand years. After arriving at Marat, Venli begins to ponder herself while learning about the Knights Radiant.
Eight days after the battle, Taravangian begins to lose his cognition test, fearing his intelligence slowly declining. Odium approaches him upon questioning his betrayal of Dalinar and becomes impressed with Taravagian's assumptions from the Diagram. Desperate for his illness and concerned for his grandchildren, Taravangian strikes a deal with Odium to spare Kharbranth in exchange for an alliance, to which Odium agrees. With Lopen promoted as second commander of Bridge Four and overhearing reports from the Spanreeds, Kaladin flies to Alethkar after taking a detour from Kharbranth and reunites with Drehy and Skar who escape Kholinar with Gavinor under a watchful eye.
After reviewing the map of Roshar with territories overtaken by Parshmen, Dalinar suggests making Adolin king to restore the monarchy. However, Adolin refuses while confessing his murder of Sadeas believing that he violated his moral code as a result. With Dalinar refusing to accept Alethi's kingship, they suggested that Jashnah take the lead as the newly crowned queen of Alethkar. While preparing for her marriage, Shallan reunites with her brothers to visit her wedding with Mraize sending the letter as promised and instructing her to find an Unmade who rebelled against Odium. With sudden relief from his experience, Dalinar began publishing his autobiographic memoir called Oathbringer, My Glory and My Shame with Navani's teaching on literacy.
A week after the Voidbringers conquer Kholinar, Wit plans to escape the city to avoid Odium's attention as he sneaks into the palace posing as a beggar and makes contact with a mysterious Cryptic promising to share the truth without any Fused noticing.
The primary chapters within the book are told from the viewpoint of several major characters, while the book's interludes are told from the viewpoint of other characters (not all of which repeat).
The audiobook version of the book was released on the same day as the hardcover version,[3] and is read by narrator team Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, who also read The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance, and several other books written by Sanderson.[4]
The fourth book in The Stormlight Archive series is titled Rhythm of War and its publication date was November 17, 2020.[21] It takes place a year after the events of Oathbringer.[22]
Reception of the series was mostly positive. The A.V. Club reviewer Samantha Nelson describes the novel as both weighed down by its ambition and less complex than its predecessors.[23] While reviews on Tor find the novel engaging, with Martin Cahill writing that "It is a triumph of a novel, and if you’ve enjoyed the first two, you’ll certainly enjoy Oathbringer."[24] Publishers Weekly also described the novel in light of its relationship to other books in the series, writing, "Sanderson successfully balances introducing new elements and satisfactorily resolving some threads, leaving fans to eagerly await the next in the series."[25] The review in Paste by Frannie Jackson compares the novel to the long-arc storytelling of Robert Jordan, describing the novel as "brimming with more than enough magic and mystery to tide readers over until the [fourth novel is published]."
Stormlight Three Update #8 ]
. Sanderson . Brandon . . June 15, 2017 . June 17, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802201110/https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/6hfek7/oathbringer_spoilers_stormlight_three_update_8/?st=j5vg5smi&sh=7e2c3271 . August 2, 2017 . live .Stormlight Three Update #2 ]
. Sanderson . Brandon . Reddit . January 19, 2016 . July 15, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802193741/https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/41r099/oathbringer_spoilers_stormlight_three_update_2/?st=j5vez9nx&sh=769da114 . August 2, 2017 . live .Stormlight Three Update #5 ]
. Sanderson . Brandon . Reddit . November 18, 2016 . March 21, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802195035/https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/5dpic4/oathbringer_spoilers_stormlight_three_update_5/?st=j5vffucn&sh=7f30916b . August 2, 2017 . live .Stormlight Three Update #7 ]
. Sanderson . Brandon . Reddit . March 15, 2017 . May 6, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802200648/https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/comments/5zidxz/oathbringer_spoilers_stormlight_three_update_7/?st=j5vfvnyi&sh=bd00fd23 . August 2, 2017 . live .