Skip to content

Dawnshard

Dawnshard

From the Stormlight Archive
NovellaEpic FantasyFantasy
Pages
227
Published
2020
Language
English

Synopsis

Set between Rhythm of War and Wind and Truth, Dawnshard follows Rysn Ftori — a Thaylen merchant apprentice who has used a wheelchair since a climbing accident — as she leads an expedition to the forbidden island of Akinah. The island holds secrets left behind by the ancient Sleepless, and what Rysn discovers there has implications that ripple through the final two Stormlight Archive books. Dawnshard was originally funded through a Kickstarter in 2020 as part of the Words of Radiance leatherbound campaign, with proceeds benefiting the charity Worldbuilders. It is notable for featuring one of Sanderson's most carefully rendered disabled protagonists.

Prose complexity
4/10

Vibe

AdventurousTenseAtmosphericThought-Provoking
QuestSacrificeSurvivalMystery BoxComing of Age

Genres

Epic Fantasy Fantasy High Fantasy

About the author

B
Brandon Sanderson

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1975, Brandon Sanderson spent his early twenties working graveyard shifts at a hotel — writing novels at the front desk between guest check-ins. By the time his debut, Elantris, was published by Tor Books in 2005, he had completed thirteen novels in the drawer. His subsequent Mistborn trilogy and the ongoing Stormlight Archive series established him as the primary architect of the Cosmere, an interconnected fictional universe in which most of his fantasy series share...

Characters

Rysn FtoriProtagonist

A Thaylen merchant apprentice who uses a wheelchair following a climbing accident, whose journey to Akinah gives her access to knowledge that changes her role in the Cosmere.

LopenSupporting

A one-armed Windrunner assigned as Rysn's protection, whose cheerful energy and one-handed competence make him one of the series' most distinctive side characters.

RushuSupporting

An ardent scholar assigned to accompany Rysn's expedition and investigate the secrets of Akinah.

HuioSupporting

A Windrunner assigned alongside Lopen to protect Rysn on her expedition to Akinah.

CordSupporting

A Horneater who serves as cook aboard Rysn's expedition ship.

All characters in Dawnshard

Frequently asked questions

  • Where does Dawnshard fit in the Stormlight reading order?

    Between Rhythm of War and Wind and Truth. It is recommended reading before Wind and Truth, as what Rysn discovers on Akinah plays a role in the final book.

  • How was Dawnshard originally published?

    It was funded through a 2020 Kickstarter as part of the Words of Radiance leatherbound campaign, with proceeds benefiting Brandon Sanderson's charity Worldbuilders. It was subsequently published digitally and in print.

  • What is Akinah and why is it forbidden?

    Akinah is an island in the Rosharan system that has been kept secret and inaccessible by the Sleepless — a species of intelligent hive-mind creatures made of cremlings — who guard what is stored there.

  • Is Rysn's disability handled thoughtfully?

    Dawnshard is widely praised for its portrayal of Rysn's wheelchair use and the practical realities of life with a disability in a fantasy setting. Sanderson consulted sensitivity readers for the novella.

Read all 10 reviews