New Brandon Sanderson book on the way: What to know about 'Wind and Truth' and 'Stormlight Archive'

Fantasy readers have waited for four years to see what Brandon Sanderson has in store for the climax to the first half of his wildly popular "Stormlight Archive" series.

The hype has been building for months, if not years, with Sanderson teasing his fans with progress reports, working titles and other updates on the highly-anticipated book – the latest in the series since 2020's "Rhythm of War." Lately, the fantasy author has taken to his TikTok account – where he boasts a following of more than 419,000 – to offer advanced reader copies to a lucky few.

Now, the long wait is almost over as "Wind and Truth," the fifth-installment in the dense, ambitious series, is about to hit bookshelves.

Longtime fans of the series likely already know all they need to know about the unforgiving world of Roshar and the expansive cast of kings, warriors, academics and assassins who make up the epic tale. But as Sanderson's renown continues to grow, more and more fantasy readers are finding their way to a series that first debuted 14 long years ago.

Whether you're already a fan in need of a refresher, or a newcomer in need of a primer altogether, here's a spoiler-free explanation of everything to know about the "Stormlight Archive."

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What is the 'Stormlight Archive'?

Set on the magical planet Roshar, "The Stormlight Archive" is a sweeping epic full of an expansive cast of characters, political intrigue and war – all underpinned with Sanderson's signature worldbuilding, intricate magic systems and lore.

Beginning with 2010's "The Way of Kings," the series explores a world seemingly abandoned centuries prior by a renowned order of protectors known as the Knights Radiant.

While told from multiple characters' viewpoints, "The Way of Kings" is largely focused on a young surgeon named Kaladin who becomes embroiled in a protracted war against a group of strange warriors believed to be behind an assassination of a king. As the plot develops, subsequent books in the "Stormlight Archive" explore the backstories of other prominent characters who inhabit the kingdoms of Roshar, a planet regularly under assault by violent storms.

Sanderson, who is planning 10 books in the series, refers to the "Stormlight Archive" on his website as his "big epic" and "most ambitious work."

"This is my best story," Sanderson says on his website, adding this caveat: "It takes a little longer to get going than the others. By design there’s a lot going on, so you might feel a little at sea. But I promise the journey is worthwhile."

What we know about 'Wind and Truth'

Due out Dec. 6, "Wind and Truth" serves as the climax to the first arc – or half – of the "Stormlight Archive."

Clocking in at 1,344 pages, the book is available for pre-order and is being published by Tor Books, an imprint of Macmillan. A synopsis is also available on Macmillan's website, which fans can read themselves if they're caught up in the series or unconcerned about spoilers.

The book's cover, which was unveiled Aug. 29, will be the last one from Michael Whelan, a well-known artist specializing in cover art for science fiction and fantasy books.

"I hope that it evokes what the book is trying to get across," Sanderson said of the cover in an interview with Dragonsteel, his publishing company. "I hope (fans) see it and realize where we're at in the story, and that they feel excited for where we're going."

What is the reading order of 'Stormlight Archive' books?

The "Stormlight Archive" contains four published books, each exceeding 1,000 pages, and two smaller novellas. If that doesn't seem like enough reading material on its own, the series is also set in the same overarching universe that many of Sanderson's books share, dubbed the Cosmere.

While many of Sanderson's characters inhabit the same universe despite being featured in different series – and even living on different planets – the author insists that readers don’t always need to be aware of that fact to enjoy a book. But Sanderson explains that reading all the books set in the Cosmere will help dedicated fans understand the larger mystery of how the fictional universe came to be.

Here's a look at the official reading order of the "Stormlight Archive" books:

• "The Way of Kings," book one;

• "Words of Radiance," book two;

• "Edgedancer," a "Stormlight Archive" novella;

• "Oathbringer," book three;

• "Dawnshard," a "Stormlight Archive" novella;

• "Rhythm of War," book four;

In a video earlier this year, Sanderson also mysteriously recommended that fans read his novel, "The Sunlit Man," before "Wind and Truth" releases. The standalone novel set in the Cosmere – about a man fleeing his pursuers who ends up on a fiery planet – is one of Sanderson's four secret books he crowdfunded through Kickstarter to publish in 2023 through Dragonsteel.

Is Brandon Sanderson writing more 'Stormlight Archive' books?

Sanderson has long said he envisions the "Stormlight Archive" as a series of 10 books split into two arcs, not unlike how his other popular Mistborn series has separate eras of its own.

"Wind and Truth" serves as the climax to the first arc. When Sanderson gets around to writing the second half, he said it will likely turn its focus to characters who readers may already recognize.

Sanderson has also hinted that the second arc will take readers to new places – both geographically and thematically.

"The world of Roshar is vast, and there are still many corners of it left to explore," according to Dragonsteel. "The second arc promises to dive deeper into the mysteries of the Cosmere, offering readers a fresh perspective on the saga."

Just don't expect another "Stormlight Archive" book anytime soon. As Sanderson has made clear, the series will be on hiatus as he turns his attention to other projects.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Wind and Truth' book: Release date, page count, what to know