Much to Eshonai's horror, Gavilar revealed his plan to revive the Gods who had deserted her people many years ago and gave her the dark Gemheart as a gift while instructing her to send a message to the council.

As Dalinar explores the ruins of Kholinar and experiences the Everstorm, he catches a glimpse of Odium summoning his nine corrupted shadowed Sprens known as the Unmade.

Shallan feels traumatized by having to wield a Shardblade during training with Adolin and decides to take an altered persona as Brightness Radiant to help accomplish her task.

Joined by Adolin, Renarin, and some Bridge Four members, the group discovers an abandoned library in ruins inhabited by an Unmade named Re-Shephir, the Midnight Mother.

Following the incident, Shallan faces the unexpected reunion of Jasnah Kholin who survived her assassination attempt aboard the Wind's Pleasure by escaping to Shadesmar.

While researching, Jasnah begins to ponder the knowledge unearthed on Urithiru while growing suspicious of Shallan's previous absences and Renarin's use of his Truthwatcher abilities.

Upon divulging his motivation and passion to kill another Shard named Cultivation, Odium remains shackled and persuades Dalinar to release him by Intent, which the latter refuses.

Over the years Evi had grown despondent with Dalinar's passion for violence, lack of attention to his sons and his constant war campaigns with Rathalas.

After being deceived and humiliated by Tanalan's son, Dalinar decimated Rathalas unaware that Evi was held captive in the city, and died in the flames trying to persuade the residents to surrender.

During their conversation, Azure reveals that she is helping with the city's food supplies for the refugees using metal plates to hide the Soulcasters from the Voidbringers which causes them to lose contact with Urithiru.

After hearing Shallan's report of the Unmade and Kaladin's recruitment of Highmarshal Azure and her guards, King Elhokar storms the castle to retake Kholinar.

Having failed to protect the King and Kholinar now under the Voidbringers' control, Adolin retrieves a distraught Kaladin and Azure from the siege and retreats to the Oathgate just as Shallan summons her blade to open the gate sending them to Shadesmar.

Shocked by what he saw, Kaladin suggests the group travel south to Thaylen City with Shallan, who can access the Oathgate and teleport them to the physical realm to rescue Dalinar.

After freeing Syl, Kaladin, Shallan, and Adolin, along with their Sprens, continue their journey to Thaylen City leaving Azure behind to rescue her men stranded in Kholinar.

Meanwhile, with Kholinar fallen and his memories restored, Dalinar is traumatized by his part in Evi's death and continues to doubt himself for his purpose while struggling to confront his past and his alcoholism.

With Dalinar's absence, Navani is left in charge of handling political meetings with Azish scholars from Azir with an alliance (Emul, Tashikk, and Yezeir), Queen Fen of Thaylenah, and Taravagian of Jah Keved and Kharbranth.

Having learned the truth about the Thrill at Jah Keved and fear of his past trauma, Dalinar quickly fled in terror before falling unconscious upon seeing the vision of Nohadan.

With Elkohar's declaration of war against the Parshendi, Dalinar struggled to contain his mental state and decided to travel to Natanatan upon learning the rumors of an Old Magic that could heal him.

Dalinar, Jasnah, and Navani are shocked to learn about the Eila Stele: an ancient historical text revealing that humans were the Voidbringers, having arrived in Roshar after the destruction of their own world and conquered the Parshmen leading to the first desolation.

By acknowledging the errors of his past, Dalinar overcomes Odium's influence and swears a Bondsmith Oath causing the Gloryspren to form a column of light.

In Shadesmar, Kaladin distracts the Fused with his lashing ability while Adolin, Syl, and Pattern divert the others' attention with illusions leaving Shallan to persuade the Oathgate sprens to open the perpendicularity.

Dalinar confronts the Thrill, Kaladin engages in his final duel with Amaram who has become corrupted by Yelig-nar's influence, Shallan summons illusions to divert the army, Szeth and Lift continue their mission to recover the stolen gemstone, Jasnah and Adolin help the refugee while fending off against Sadeas' army and the Fused, and Renarin kills the last Thunderclast and accesses the Oathgate to summon Bridge Four to help fight off the Fused.

With the Thrill gone and Odium mysteriously disappearing, the Parshmen army quickly retreats and the Knight radiants succeed in saving Thaylen City.

With his new oaths fulfilled and new Spren bonded, Szeth part ways with Nale after gaining access to the Surge of Division and chooses to work as Dalinar's bodyguard.

In Azir, Ash continues to escort Talenal to Ishar only to sense her father's death and fall unconscious for the first time in four thousand years.

With Lopen promoted as second commander of Bridge Four and overhearing reports from the Spanreeds, Kaladin flies to Alethkar after taking a detour from Kharbranth and reunites with Drehy and Skar who escaped Kholinar with Gavinor, Elhokar's heir.

While preparing for her marriage, Shallan reunites with her brothers to visit her wedding with Mraize sending the letter as promised and instructing her to find an Unmade who rebelled against Odium.

With sudden relief from his experience, Dalinar began publishing his autobiographical memoir called Oathbringer, My Glory and My Shame with Navani's teaching on literacy.

A week after the Voidbringers conquer Kholinar, Wit plans to escape the city to avoid Odium's attention as he sneaks into the palace posing as a beggar and makes contact with a mysterious Cryptic promising to share the truth without any Fused noticing.

"[25] The review in Paste by Frannie Jackson compares the novel to the long-arc storytelling of Robert Jordan, describing the novel as "brimming with more than enough magic and mystery to tide readers over until the [fourth novel is published].