The Way of Kings

The Stormlight Archive, Book 1

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

Length: 45 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

From number one New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings, book one of the Stormlight Archive, begins an incredible new saga of epic proportion.

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the 10 consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them and won by them.

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where 10 armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

The result of more than 10 years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.

Speak again the ancient oaths:

Life before death.

Strength before weakness.

Journey before destination.

And return to men the Shards they once bore.

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson:

The Cosmere

The Stormlight Archive:

• The Way of Kings
• Words of Radiance
• Edgedancer (Novella)
• Oathbringer

The Mistborn trilogy:

• Mistborn: The Final Empire
• The Well of Ascension
• The Hero of Ages

Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne series:

• Alloy of Law
• Shadows of Self
• Bands of Mourning

Collection:

• Arcanum Unbounded

Other Cosmere novels:

• Elantris
• Warbreaker

The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series:

• Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
• The Scrivener's Bones
• The Knights of Crystallia
• The Shattered Lens
• The Dark Talent

The Rithmatist series:

• The Rithmatist

Other books by Brandon Sanderson:

• The Reckoners
• Steelheart
• Firefight
• Calamity

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2010 Dragonsteel Entertaiment, LLC (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

A rocky start but incredibly compelling eventually

With a rapidly changing perspective, and fantasy elements that could use more explaination early on, I found this story difficult to get invested in. "What the heck are Spren?" "Why can't we focus on one character for a while longer?" "This magic system feel arbitrary or unrealized". Eventually, the plot congress into focus, and the core characters take center stage, and when everything starts to click, the story suddenly becomes an immensely compelling character drama.

Worth the effort of getting into.

Fantastic Fantasy

Great character development. Very imaginative. Captivating story line. The characters have a reality about them that draws you into the story.

really enjoyed it

really enjoyed the book. quality writing. looking forwards to listening to the next book in the series.

Pulls you in and keeps you coming back

I was nervous about starting this book given the lengthiness. I shouldn't have worried. It was so good, that I immediately got the next book and am still eager to learn more about the characters in this unique world. Well done!

epic

I have listened to this book and the others in the series six times in the last year. Every time I do I am still captivated and pick up more details that I've missed previously. the author and narrator do great work.

hands down best book.

this novels beautiful transitions between characters and entwining plot archs had me listening constantly. great read.

Favorite series ever!

This is a fantastic story, and I love anything that Michael Kramer and Kate Reading narrate. They do a fantastic job of immersing you into a story without distracting theatrics. The only bad thing about this book is the series isn't completed yet so you may get impatient!

Great Listen

I loved it and can't wait to start book 2 the performers kept my attention and anticipation to keep listening

amazong book

great character development and great story telling with monumental world building that sparks the imagination

Fantastic story, very deep.

My second go through, found myself enjoying it even more than that first. Wish both narrator's were consistent with names of characters. One says it this way and the other has the same character pronounce it another way. Drives me up a wall, but the sections where it happens are brief I suppose. Still well worth the listen.