The Stormlight Archive concluded its first, five-book arc with Wind and Truth, and Brandon Sanderson confirmed that it will be a while before the next half of the series begins. In the author's State of the Sanderson blog post for 2024, he told fans to "savor" the newest addition to the fantasy series, as he's "ready for a break" from it. Although Sanderson is penning a novella centered on Rock in the semi-near future, his primary focus for the next few years will be writing Mistborn Era 3 and then his Elantris sequels.

With that in mind, it could easily be a decade or longer before he returns to The Stormlight Archive. Even with Wind and Truth's satisfying ending, that's going to be a lengthy and agonizing wait for those eager to return to this world. But despite Sanderson's latest Stormlight Archive update being a bit disappointing, it could benefit the second arc in the long run.