Includes minor SPOILERS for Wind and Truth

Cosmere fantasy universe since Elantris was published in 2005, including multiple ongoing series and standalone titles. Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive are the two primary sequences in the Cosmere, but the author has ensured that fans will also be returning to other long-standing worlds, including those of Elantris and Warbreaker.

Wind and Truth's story was packed with Cosmere cameos and references to other novels, affirming that it's more important than ever to be reading all the stories in Sanderson's connected universe. For those who are only interested in The Stormlight Archive or Mistborn, as examples, these character connections generally haven't been story-damaging to those who haven't caught up on other books, but they're becoming increasingly prevalent and can occasionally be a source of confusion.

The Stormlight Archive's Warbreaker References Explained

There Are Warbreaker Characters On Roshar

The Stormlight Archive has had multiple ties to Warbreaker dating back to Words of Radiance. There are three prominent characters on Roshar who come from the planet Nalthis. This includes Vasher (known as Zahel on Roshar), Vivenna (known as Azure on Roshar), and the sentient sword Nightblood, which accompanies Szeth on his quest in Wind and Truth. Zahel and Nightblood ed The Stormlight Archive in Words of Radiance, while Azure became prominent in Oathbringer during Kaladin, Adolin, and Shallan's mission to Kholinar, following Elhokar's death.

Wind and Truth saw Zahel kept in imprisonment in Urithiru, only to be rescued by Lift. He's the swordmaster who's trained Adolin and Kaladin, and he's agreed to make Lift his next apprentice, ensuring that she'll be a scary warrior by the time readers return to Roshar. Nightblood has accompanied Szeth for a few books now, and the Assassin in White wasn't the only character to experience growth during his pilgrimage. Nightblood also grew with the help of Kaladin's "therapy" and remained with Szeth after the ending.

Warbreaker 2 Has Been Titled "Nightblood"

Brandon Sanderson Has Revealed Some Story Details

Brandon Sanderson is regarded for being open with his readers about the status of his novels, and he's commonly shared his thoughts on the Warbreaker sequel. The working title for the novel is Nightblood, with the sequel intended to be centered around Vasher, Vivenna, and Nightblood, the three characters whose stories might also pick up in The Stormlight Archive's second sequence. This book wouldn't focus much on other notable characters like Siri and Susebron but would instead replace them with new characters from Nalthis.

Nightblood would examine how Vasher and Nightblood made it to Roshar, with the novel apparently happening just before The Way of Kings

Importantly, for those who are fans of the Cosmere, Nightblood would examine how Vasher and Nightblood made it to Roshar, with the novel apparently happening just before The Way of Kings. As of now, these are all just ideas and notes that Sanderson has graciously shared with fans on his podcast, book gs, and more, meaning they could be subject to changes if he begins writing the book. Given these characters' increasing role in The Stormlight Archive, it seems important to demonstrate how they got to Roshar.

Is Warbreaker 2 Going To Happen?

Warbreaker 2 Probably Won't Happen This Decade

Brandon Sanderson’s books include a wave of Cosmere titles to fill out the rest of the decade. Between 2028 and 2030, fans of his expansive universe will not only get three more Mistborn books but also two long-awaited Elantris sequels. With those Elantris sequels finally having expected release dates, however, it raises the question about a Warbreaker sequel, which is currently in Sanderson’s indefinite Cosmere backlog. Other projects like the White Sand novelization and the next Stormlight Archive novella are still waiting on updates as well, but Warbreaker 2 is still likely several years away.

In 2018, Brandon Sanderson described the Warbreaker sequel as the "most in jeopardy" of not being written among the many Cosmere books he has planned. The Stormlight Archive isn't meant to continue until 2031, and with the amount of novels he has to write before that, it's unlikely he'll be able to squeeze in Warbreaker. That's not to say it can't happen sometime in the 2030s, but it's almost certainly not going to happen until then. Sanderson is regarded for his writing speed, but he's already got seven Cosmere books to work on over the next six years.