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

Glorious

The fact that this book isn't 5.0 on average is an insult. but all jokes aside, this book is riveting from beginning to end.

like many of you, I was convinced to try this book off the recommendations of others. after about three attempts from my friends, I finally caved in. 48 hours later, now I'm writing this review telling you how amazing it is. I encourage all of you to tell everybody you know and annoy them so that they read this book. I know it is a gigantic book, and I know that for some people they might consider it extreme. but this is the time to introduce people to the glorious World a long big beautiful books.

The most gripping book I've ever read/heard

This book was absolutely amazing, a must read for lovers of high fantasy. definitely going to get the rest of fhe series.

Fantastic

This is a story that I've gone through many times and love revisiting. It's a captivating tale and the world building is phenomenal. You truly understand what it's like to be on Roshar.

Reading isn't my favorite narrator, but Kramer is a delight to listen to.

Great story.

This book created a detailed world with overlapping stories. I grew to know the characters by the end of the book. I have to read the rest of the books in the series.

Amazing world and great narration

I normally don’t write anything… I love Elmore Leonard, Star Wars, the expanse, Christopher Moore, and other iMac in between. I wasn’t sure about storm light as I tend towards more sci-fi or hard fiction theses days. But I grew up reading every single redwall book and that was my real introduction to fantasy. I was concerned this would be long winded and dense but without real interest for those that love a reflection of true technology, dark hard edges, or the comedic absurd or satire… but this captivated me. It was barely interrupted by my normal media intake of shorter books, podcasts, YouTube, etc.

I’m already excited for the next book. The detail and action while still reflecting the complexities of humanity and the possibilities of magic in a context of the possible is something else.

“Bridge Four 4 Ever!”

Great new fantasy series

I haven't read consistently in years, but when I was reading it was fantasy novels. My last favorite series was the Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind. Now, years later I'm falling in love with Brandon Sanderson's writing and storytelling. This first installment was a little slow compared to other series I've read, but with good reason. It built characters, the world, and in me at least an appetite for more. The Stormlight Archives are the first of Sanderson's books that I've read, but now I cannot wait to dive into his ever expanding universe and explore. Best of all, Sanderson doesn't wait until the conclusion to start delivering hard-hitting truths about the world we all struggle to exist in, touching on real world philosophies and situations that apply to almost everyone. Also, despite some comments to the contrary, I thoroughly enjoyed the narration.

Fantastic book with a few narration issues

Love the book. It starts out slow but I was glued by chapter 10. Easily some of Sanderson's best work.
I love Michael Kramer's narration--he does an excellent job--but Kate Reading sounded a bit robotic. Kate also changed pronunciations of names quite frequently, which led to some minor confusion.
Both the book and the narration were, overall, great.

Fabulous, thoughtful fantasy

One of the most enjoyable fantasy novels I have read in years. Nails the balance of world-building and story.

one of my favorites

this book got me truly hooked on Sanderson after reading elantris when that first came out. now, nearly a decade after my first time reading this book, I've re read and listened to it multiple times, sometimes multiple times a year. truly one of the best books I've read.

Journey before destination

A tale of the best kind. It binds you, mesmerizes you, through carefully evolved mysteries and revelations. A story with layers more profound than a listeners early assumptions can fathom, and a world which is described in a way to fuel imagination. A really good listen, and a story for the ages.