: The book's flashback character. She secretly bonds a Radiant spren, Timbre, and seeks a "third path" for the singers that avoids both human subjugation and Odium's service.
: The central plot revolves around a daring invasion of the ancient tower city, Urithiru, by the Fused scholar Raboniel . Most Radiants are rendered unconscious by a suppression field, leaving Kaladin Stormblessed and Navani Kholin as the primary resistance within the occupied tower. Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
The story begins after a one-year time jump following the events of Oathbringer . The coalition of human resistance, led by , has been locked in a brutal war against the enemy Fused and the singer armies. : The book's flashback character
: Shallan Davar and Adolin Kholin travel to the honorspren capital, Lasting Integrity, in the Cognitive Realm (Shadesmar) to convince the spren to bond with humans again. This culminates in a historic trial where the deadeye spren Maya provides shocking testimony about the Recreance. Key Characters & Arcs Most Radiants are rendered unconscious by a suppression
: After betraying the coalition, he seizes a unique opportunity to use the sword Nightblood to kill the vessel of Odium (Rayse) and ascend to take up the Shard's power himself.
: Often considered the primary protagonist of this volume. She bonds the Sibling , the tower spren, to become a Bondsmith and save Urithiru.