Words of Radiance (3 of 5) [Dramatized Adaptation]

The Stormlight Archive [Dramatized Adaptation] #2, Part 3 of 5

by Brandon Sanderson, Dylan Lynch (Narrator), Casie Platt (Narrator)

Six years ago, the Assassin in White, a hireling of the inscrutable Parshendi, assassinated the Alethi king on the very night a treaty between men and Parshendi was being celebrated. So began the Vengeance Pact among the highprinces of Alethkar and the War of Reckoning against the Parshendi.

Now the Assassin is active again, murdering rulers all over the world of Roshar, using his baffling powers to thwart every bodyguard and elude all pursuers. Among his prime targets is Highprince Dalinar, widely considered the power behind the Alethi throne. His leading role in the war would seem reason enough, but the Assassin's master has much deeper motives.

Expected by his enemies to die the miserable death of a military slave, Kaladin survived to be given command of the royal bodyguards, a controversial first for a low-status "darkeyes." Now he must protect the king and Dalinar from every common peril as well as the distinctly uncommon threat of the Assassin, all while secretly struggling to master remarkable new powers that are somehow linked to his honorspren, Syl.

Brilliant but troubled Shallan strives along a parallel path. Despite being broken in ways she refuses to acknowledge, she bears a terrible burden: to somehow prevent the return of the legendary Voidbringers and the civilization-ending Desolation that will follow. The secrets she needs can be found at the Shattered Plains, but just arriving there proves more difficult than she could have imagined.

Meanwhile, at the heart of the Shattered Plains, the Parshendi are making an epochal decision. Hard pressed by years of Alethi attacks, their numbers ever shrinking, they are convinced by their war leader, Eshonai, to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled. The possible consequences for Parshendi and humans alike, indeed, for Roshar itself, are as dangerous as they are incalculable.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction

Audiobook

First published March 4, 2014

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we go again. I'm so ready!



I don't want to stop. This has been so great. We are finally up to one of my favorite parts ever in this series. The epic duel that will go down in history

“What has happened to us?” Dalinar asked. “Where is our honor?”
“Honor is dead,” a voice whispered from beside him. Dalinar turned and looked at Captain Kaladin. He hadn’t noticed the bridgeman walking down the steps behind him. Kaladin took a deep breath, then looked at Dalinar. “But I’ll see what I can do...."

This fight was all the more fantastic because of the graphic audio. *Chills*

[TS Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic Audio is having a 30% discount for the entire Stormlight set download until 22 Oct. GET IT NOW!!!

Even though I'm beginning to sound like a broken record - this was incredible!!

Part 3 of 5 ended in a semi-cliffhanger style, midway through the epic chapter, To Kill The Wind.

Yes, it's THAT arena scene!

"Honor is dead. But I'll see what I can do."

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ends with Adolin’s duel. You know, THE dual. Goosebumps. All the feels. I’m not crying.

[whatashisreading | missing the wing leader · Rating 5 out of 5]

NAH YALL GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!?!!??!! HOW DARE YALL END IT RIGHT THERE! Thank god I have the series set for this book bc no fucking way. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING, MAGNIFICENT, MARVELOUS. Just… 💳💥💳💥💳 take all my money graphic audio TAKE IT ALL.

Songs:
Hands of love- Miley Cyrus

[Paras2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really had to end at a cliffhanger, didn't it?

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! If you have the time to listen to audio books, you should listen to these!

[Milan Žila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The action sequences are where Graphic Audio really shines. The fights are always exciting and there is always a possibility of something going unexpectedly wrong. Unfortunately, there is equal possibility of something wrong going almost magically right at the last second, especially at the last second.

[Liutauras · Rating 5 out of 5]

As this was third reread was very good to have this version alongside - incredible book just sounds better in such talented adaptation.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing on with the great Cosmere Re-read via Graphic Audio. Onwards to part 4 of 5 of this fantastic book! At one time (still?) the highest rated book on all of Goodreads!

[Tohfaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐♾️