Why 'Wind and Truth'? The Stormlight Archive Titles Explained

Philosophy, magic, swords and in-world books

Life Before Death, Strength before Weakness, Journey Before Destination

These 'Immortal Words' comprise the first oath of all Knights Radiant and are perhaps the philosophical backbone of Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive. Among many things they argue for mindfulness and focusing on the present; persevering though the future looks bleak. Things always seem to change if you just take another few steps.

So while today I'll discuss the titles of these novels, the extent of their meaning aren't entirely set in stone. I'm currently about 2/3 through the newly released Wind and Truth – very minor, thematic spoilers for that book today – and already four of the five titular in-world texts have been detailed a little bit more.

I've written on Stormlight before if you're interested: about transhumanism in the Cosmere, Dalinar's revelation at the end of Oathbringer and more recently about the Wind and Truth sample chapters.

The Way of Kings

The first Stormlight Archive novel's title reflects the deeply important theme of leadership and self-conduct in the novel. Dalinar and Kaladin must both confront their insecurities and grow to lead and protect the people who are counting on them; meanwhile Kings Elhokar and Taravangian and lesser nobility like Amaram and Roshone demonstrate how morally flawed authority figures can be.

Cover art for The Way of Kings, by Michael Whelan

This applies to a lot of minor characters as well, to varying extents. Shallan, Renarin and many among Kaladin's bridge crew begin their journeys toward overcoming deep-seated insecurities and harmful beliefs; we also see Szeth struggling with his actions, despite rejecting his own autonomy.

The title also refers to an in-world book, The Way of Kings, by the legendary King Nohadon, detailing his philosophies on leadership. The book is a significant part of Dalinar's journey, both in providing him a baseline from which to work and inspiring him to learn to read (normally only done by women and scholars), which in turn helps him to nurture a more curious, questioning mind.

Words of Radiance

The second novel's title is arguably the most cohesive in its meaning, centered on the gradual return of the Knights Radiant and the words they must speak to advance in their Oaths. This book solidifies the series' and magic system's focus on oaths-as-power through Kaladin, Shallan and ultimately Dalinar as they take their first steps on the path to re-founding their Orders.

Cover art for Words of Radiance, by Michael Whelan

The title also refers to another ancient text, Words of Radiance, which attempted to document everything known about the Orders two hundred years after their disappearance – but still roughly 2,000 years before the series' current narrative. This is useful in re-establishing baseline knowledge of the Radiants, but also leaves the precise nature of each Order's Oaths a mystery to characters and readers alike; the ancient Radiants likely knew the general intent necessary for every Oath, where as of Wind and Truth only 4-5 characters are known to have found and spoken the Fourth Ideal of five.

Oathbringer

The third novel's title is perhaps the most misleading, especially to someone looking ahead from The Way of Kings: despite the fairly important role Dalinar's shardblade Oathbringer plays in the first novel, it is hardly mentioned thereafter. Certainly that sword isn't the one Jasnah holds on the cover, despite how fitting that might appear.

Cover art for Oathbringer, by Michael Whelan

Instead the title refers to the 'main character' of this book, Dalinar, in his role as leader of the Radiants and Bondsmith – unique among the Knights Radiant for having a maximum of three members and closest to the power of Oaths and Honor. Dalinar also goes a little further than expected with his abilities, possibly infringing on his (dead?) God's authority, so the title also subtly reflects that blurring between him and Honor.

Dalinar is also the author of this book's in-world text, Oathbringer, in which he details his horrifying past and philosophical, personal journey to his present position. The full influence of this text has yet to be seen, though it has already widened the rift between Dalinar and his son Adolin, who only found out about Dalinar's involvement in his mother's death from people discussing the book – yikes, Dalinar.

Rhythm of War

While I'd argue The Way of Kings and Wind and Truth have the most nebulous titles, I could easily see Rhythm of War being up there as well with its fourfold meaning. The first is the simplest – there's a war happening! – though it's funny to look back on how I imagined that war (still on the Shattered Plains) while I was still reading the first book compared to the continent-spanning, magic-fueled conflict we actually see.

The second is also fairly evident once you've spent some time in this world. The Singers express the emotion and intent behind their words and actions by the Rhythms they speak and hum to – in place of facial expressions – and they are now very much attuned to war under Odium. It is notable, though, that this is more thematic than literal: War isn't a known Singer Rhythm, even among those coming directly from their dark god.

Cover art for Rhythm of War, by Michael Whelan

Now, arguably the juiciest meaning so far: over the course of the novel, Navani and Raboniel conduct a number of experiments with the different magics of their world. Alongside their discovery of Anti-Light and its deadly implications, the pair manage to harmonize the pure tones of their gods. They dub Honor's and Odium's combined tone the Rhythm of War; reflecting the vast history of conflict between the two Shards but also the intimidating possibility that combining them would result in a Shard fully dedicated to War.

And of course, the fourth meaning of the title is Navani and Raboniel's in-world book, The Rhythm of War. Despite the inspiring fact of a human and Fused working side-by-side to create and discover facts about the world amidst a massive conflict between their peoples, the main consequence of the book has been the promulgated knowledge of Anti-Light and the threat of permanent death to formerly immortal beings such as Fused, spren and Heralds.

Wind and Truth

As I discussed in my post about the preview chapters, the Wind is a surprising newcomer to the large cast of this climactic novel. Her importance, both as a character and in her implications, remains to be seen; but it is by no means a coincidence that she shares her name with half the title of this novel.

Even beyond her, the wind has many important implications in this book. Kaladin and Szeth, on a quest to Shinovar, are both Radiants capable of flight and closely connected to the wind – as is Sigzil in his own storyline. There's also the tumultuous winds of the Highstorm and Everstorm, both incredibly thematic to the series. But there's also simply the winds of change: this book marks the end of the first Stormlight narrative arc, and author Brandon Sanderson has made it clear that there will be a massive upheaval of the status quo.

Cover art for Wind and Truth, by Michael Whelan

As for Truth? It actually feels a lot like The Way of Kings (more on symmetry in a moment) in that it applies to just about every character in their own way. Half the cast are trapped in realms beyond as they search for the truth behind thousands-of-years-old mysteries such as Honor's death, Aharietiam, the Recreance, the destruction of Ashyn and Ba-Ado-Mishram's imprisonment.

But it is most fundamental to Szeth – granted 'main character' status this book because it contains his flashback story – and his quest in Shinovar. Once cast out as 'Truthless' because he saw signs of apocalypse before anyone else but no one wanted to hear it, Szeth bears a lifetime of trauma from people – well-meaning and pure evil alike – telling him what to think and do. In a way his struggle for Truth in this book is a microcosm of all humanity's relationship with Honor – and it remains to be seen how either might begin to safely think for themselves.

The Ketek

Don't worry, there is an in-world book for Wind and Truth too; though so far it just seems to be a recounting of Szeth and Kaladin's journey to Shinovar by an as-yet-undisclosed author. But this time there is a slight break from tradition: the in-world book is called Knights of Wind and Truth.

Why? Brandon wanted the (acronym) titles of this Stormlight arc – and their in-world counterparts – to form a ‘ketek’; a kind of palindrome important to some societies in-world. He had: TWOK WOR O ROW [KOWT]

Knights of Wind and Truth is the closest anyone got, but that was too wordy a title for the actual Stormlight novel, so was shortened to Wind and Truth. Evidently the ‘and’ is not a deal-breaker as he has confirmed that, at least diegetically, the ketek is saved.

Happy Reading!

Wherever you might be on your Stormlight journey, I can't recommend the next book highly enough! These novels are full of heart and soul (in addition to a lot of great fantasy), with characters confronting their inner demons in as realistic a view of mental health as I've seen in fiction. Wind and Truth is no exception so far, with multiple moments that I've personally related to on a pretty visceral level. Until next time <3