The novel takes place in an alternative universe, cosmere, which is also where a number of Sanderson’s others works, such as Elantris, Mistborn, and Warbreaker are set. Cosmere’s grand narrative is about a powerful being or force called Adonalsium who is killed by a group of 16 people. These 16 individuals then break apart Adonalsium’s power into 16 Shards. Each shard is named after an intent, an action or an ideal, such as Ambition or Honor. The conspirators take the Shards, becoming Vessels, and travel to different worlds where they settle and create new systems of magic. Odium, one of the Shards, covets ultimate power and begins destroying the others. On Roshar, the world of The Stormlight Archive, Odium was able to kill Honor, but was trapped on the planet in the process.

As a way to fight Odium, Honor created the 10 Heralds, who in turn were helped by the Knights Radiant. The Heralds are able to contain Odium’s legions, the Voidbringers, in an alternative dimension. However, while they hold back the enemy, they are being endlessly tortured, until one of them breaks, opening an entrance onto Roshar and starting a new cycle of war and destruction, called a Desolation.