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

An Amazing Story with Amazing Narration

Headline says it all. So much so that I am buying the complete series and will quite likely get every book he has written. The narration wasn't just narration, it was storytelling at its finest

Reading Robots?

I think they used a speech program to narrate this story. The voice actors sound like my phones GPS navigation. Wonderful book though!

LOVE IT!!!!

Brandon Sanderson is an amazing author bringing life to words, painting beautiful images. I feel like I am living with the characters suffering their pains, feeling glee with their joys.

Amazing Lore - Be patient

I was used to reading RA Salvatore’s books. I love me some Drizzt and the Forgotten Realms but this... this world has me wanting to know more about it.

The battle scenes are eloquently portrayed. I can picture every battle in my mind. The sights, how the characters look, behave, react... wow. There is such a richness in this story.

The only reason why I put a 4/5 on performance is because one of the characters names is said differently by both the readers. Other than that, I cannot complain.

First, it felt long but oh em jee... I want more. I cannot wait to read the next.

Masterful world builder

Sanderson never fails impress. Every character is complex, even the ones only briefly seen. Every ounce of the world is throughly fleshed out, and he reveals information in a way that feels natural, not forcing exposition down our throats. Perfect author when it comes to the show, don't tell method. Michael Kramer is perhaps the best reader out there, which by comparison makes Kate Reading pale. She isn't bad, just not at the same level. There are instances where they pronounce the same words differently, which causes a bit of a headache.

its amazing

the book is fantastic Michael Kramer and Kate reading make you feel the story and Brandon Sanderson is amazing

Fantastic Read

Absolutely loved this book. Brandon Sanderson has quickly become one of my favorite fantasy writers. I particularly enjoyed his ability to play with perspectives, effortlessly making the reader aware of certain details without giving these details to the characters themselves. The seamless blending of knowledge and discovery is tantalizingly well done. Would recommend to any serious fan of fantasy novels any day of the week. Thanks for the story Brandon, I appreciate your effort.

GoT with more fantasy and magic

Look, I know hardcore fans of Brandon Sanderson will be upset with me for comparing this series to Game of Thrones, but for people looking for a new fantasy world to enter, The Way of Kings is a perfect next step into a whole other “Medieval” creation that pulls you in and connects you to these characters that Sanderson has ingeniously and masterfully built with his words. In addition, the narrators are fantastic and seems to love to read the books just as much as I love hearing it. You will be addicted as soon as you start to understand the characters and the plot that is unfolding. It’s a long book but you will find the time to listen, trust me. It’ll be over before you know it and you’ll be buying the next one.

Epic Novel

Epic novel. Hope they make a movie sometime. Great action, story line, and characters.

The next GOT/LOTR

This book is dope. Not my typical read, but this world the author designed is so detailed and imaginative. The next book is already downloaded and I can’t wait for this whole series!