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

Amazing Book

I absolutely loved this book. It’s a very imaginative, compelling story. I loved the narration by Michael Kramer but really disliked the chapters by Kate Reading. It was just very jarring to get into the rhythm of one narrator and then have to switch over to the other. However, it didn’t stop me from finishing, and adoring this amazing book.

Wonderful listen

Bit hard to follow at first but once you understand the style it was written it is much easier to follow. Fantastic plot and characters. Highly recommended

Brandy Sandy doing it again

Both readers did an amazing job. having two readers also allowed me to better prepare for which characters story was being told

That was awesome

Best narration I've ever heard, both of the narrators have soothing, relaxing voices. They also are capable of conveying the right amount of intensity when the story requires it. I'm completely in love.

kate and shallans story

I found myself wishing shallans story voiced by kate to be over everytime it started .Loved everything else

Fantastic story. Beautifully narrated.

I've been looking for a new (to me) fantasy series and this one has me hooked. It was a bit difficult at first, as it felt like the audio book dropped me into the world without detailed information about the things that were name dropped. I did have to google some things. Reddit helped a lot. That said, once you get a feel for it you're in for a wild ride. Interesting characters, unique world building, intriguing storytelling and smoothe narration combine to create an experience I haven't found in a book in some time. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm on my way to get the next one.

Just WOW

Slow to start. Just realize this is a big story to tell with alot of world building. 100% worth it!

now THIS is Podracing

what a roller coaster. love Kalludin and Dalanar's stories the most, and I warmed up to the others as the story went on.

Promising Beginning of the next great Epic

Sanderson is a master, and his concept of the Cosmere is taken to new heights in the Stormlight Archive! His works are proving to be of a magnitude in scope that surpasses even Middle Earth and the Wheel of Time.
This is a must read for all fantasy readers.

wonderful

The only issue was the dual narrators who sometimes voiced the same characters with the tone and cadence of dialogue being different. it essentially created two versions of a character in my head which was not enjoyable. This was a rare occurence though.