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The Stormlight Archive [Dramatized Adaptation] #3.5

Dawnshard [Dramatized Adaptation]: The Stormlight Archive

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From Brandon Sanderson—author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive and its fourth massive installment, Rhythm of War—comes a new hefty novella, Dawnshard. Taking place between Oathbringer and Rhythm of War, this tale (like Edgedancer before it) gives often-overshadowed characters their own chance to shine.

When a ghost ship is discovered, its crew presumed dead after trying to reach the storm-shrouded island Akina, Navani Kholin must send an expedition to make sure the island hasn't fallen into enemy hands. Knights Radiant who fly too near find their Stormlight suddenly drained, so the voyage must be by sea.

Shipowner Rysn Ftori lost the use of her legs but gained the companionship of Chiri-Chiri, a Stormlight-ingesting winged larkin, a species once thought extinct. Now Rysn's pet is ill, and any hope for Chiri-Chiri’s recovery can be found only at the ancestral home of the larkin: Akinah. With the help of Lopen, the formerly one-armed Windrunner, Rysn must accept Navani's quest and sail into the perilous storm from which no one has returned alive. If the crew cannot uncover the secrets of the hidden island city before the wrath of its ancient guardians falls upon them, the fate of Roshar and the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance.

Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!

1 pages, Audio CD

Published November 26, 2024

5 people are currently reading
18 people want to read

About the author

Brandon Sanderson

473 books280k followers
I’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.

The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.

During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.

Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.

November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.

Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.

I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.

Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!

Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.

I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.

Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for liv ❁.
456 reviews1,033 followers
December 12, 2024
I think this is my favorite cosmere novella. It has very intriguing lore while also featuring some of my absolute favorite minor characters. Rysn, Huio, Lopen, and Cord are some of the most intriguing and wonderful characters both in backstory and personality and their interactions on this expedition made me smile and makes me hope to see more of them soon. Truly the perfect crew to watch on the Wandersail.

I loved the graphic audio but would only recommend it for a reread as it isn’t verbatim.
Profile Image for Chase Buchanan.
239 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2025
Nearly flawless as an audio adaptation. The new narrator is great, but pronounces Jah Keved and Urithuru differently than the rest of the cast in like 200 hours of previous productions.

Lopen and Huio are great. These Stormlight novellas really give the extended cast a chance to shine.
Profile Image for Tohfaaa.
574 reviews9 followers
May 26, 2025
Audiobook was parfact but storyline was not as fun as egdhdancer.
12 reviews
July 18, 2025
Accidentally purchased the dramatized version but was pleasantly surprised. Loved this novella and thought it stood well on its own. Fun adventure plot.
Profile Image for Veronica.
25 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2025
3.75*
I really enjoyed this journey. And seeing Lopen’s growth in this novella was a lot of fun. It left many questions (wouldn’t be a Brando book otherwise I think) but also answered a lot. I read and listened to the Graphic Audio version of this. Production was top notch and I felt like I was in the book next to them! It was also nice to see a little…progress for the coalition. And of course enjoy experiencing a very interesting side character’s story expanding.
Profile Image for Reenie's Reads.
421 reviews12 followers
January 2, 2025
Okay, I’m officially OBSESSED.
Three Stormlight Archive books in, and I thought I was living my best life.... then BAM! My first Stormlight audiobook, and it’s a graphic audio?! Mind = blown. Hearing these characters come to life was like adding hot sauce to an already fire meal. Rysn and Chiri Chiri? Icons. Legends. (Chiri Chiri especially, absolute fave, no notes). And Lopen’s voice? DEAD ON. This whole experience was like the cherry on top of my Roshar sundae, and now I’m giddy with excitement to start Rhythm of War and see how this novella weaves into the main story.
Someone hold me, I’m not ready!
Profile Image for Kat Stine.
165 reviews22 followers
April 5, 2025
(4.75⭐️) Really fun side quest story! Loved the graphic audiobook, especially the voice for Lopin, that was perfect!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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