Rhythm of War

<Rhythm of War>
The Stormlight Archive Follows Oathbringer Precedes Stormlight Archive 5
Setting	Roshar, Cosmere
Released	November 17, 2020
Publisher	Tor Books, Gollancz

This page or section contains spoilers for [[Book shorthand incorrect|Book shorthand incorrect]]!

This information has the ability to potentially ruin elements of the plot for the reader. Proceed with caution if you have not read this book.

[[Category: Spoilers for Book shorthand incorrect]]

Rhythm of War is the fourth book in the The Stormlight Archive. It will be released on November 17, 2020.

Synopsis

After forming a coalition of human resistance against the enemy invasion, Dalinar Kholin and his Knights Radiant have spent a year fighting a protracted, brutal war. Neither side has gained an advantage.

Now, as new technological discoveries begin to change the face of the war, the enemy prepares a bold and dangerous operation. The arms race that follows will challenge the very core of the Radiant ideals, and potentially reveal the secrets of the ancient tower that was once the heart of their strength.

Development

Brandon began writing Stormlight Archive 4 in January 2019, with publication planned for 2020. The first working title was The Song of Changes, though this was eventually changed to The Rhythm of War, also a tentative title. Eventually, it was announced that the book would be released on November 17th, 2020, although the final title was still unknown at that time. Rhythm of War was eventually made the official title in February 2020.

Initially, the book was to feature Eshonai's flashbacks, with Venli taking center stage in the present-day timeline. Eventually, Brandon began to waver on the former, wondering if Venli's flashbacks wouldn't work better for expanding on greater cosmere mysteries. Ultimately, he appears to have decided on mixed flashbacks, with part set from Eshonai's perspective, while the other part set from Venli's.

The present-day story is set to take place approximately one year after the events of Oathbringer. While the title suggests greater focus on singer characters, the remaining protagonists, including Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, and Szeth, will also feature prominently. The prologue will be written from the perspective of Navani.

Brandon has mentioned that he is particularly looking forward to writing Wit's epilogue in Rhythm of War.

Readings

Brandon has shared several fragments of Rhythm of War over the course of writing it, though it must be remembered that those come from the first draft, and as such are subject to change.

• Two versions of a Lirin point-of-view section: the first, in which he's walking through town looking for the Herdazian general, and the second, in which he's examining refugees coming to Hearthstone from Herdaz, while keeping an eye out for the same man. The fragment turned out to be the opening of chapter one, the first draft of which was included in Brandon's November 2019 newsletter.
• A recorded reading of a Venli point-of-view section, which can be listened to here, as Venli is getting ready to receive lady Leshwi in the conquered Kholinar.
• A fragment of the Navani prologue, which can be found here, in which Navani tries to keep the party under control while searching for her suspiciously absent husband, and another version here, which continues for a little longer after the first reading ends and features a conversation between the two.
• A very early version of an Eshonai flashback scene, found here, in which she explores the area around the Shattered Plains and finds humans.

Trivia

• Rhythm of War will include pictures of all the True Spren who form Nahel Bonds save for the Bondsmith spren.
• As with Oathbringer, Rhythm of War will include four new illustrations of the Heralds, although which Heralds it will be is not yet set in stone.

Notes

This meta article is still missing information. Please help The Coppermind by expanding it.