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

Consistency

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the narrators. However, a couple names were pronounced differently deeper into the story by the other narrator which took me out of the story as I kept catching myself “correcting” them. Otherwise, I’m excited to dive into the next book!! OH! And the accompanying PDF’s are pretty cool to see!!

Incredible

Some of the best fantasy I've read in a long time. Compelling narrative that raises interesting questions through it's character's inner dilemmas.

LOTR pace and scope, amazing

This book took a while to get into because I haven’t read any epic fantasy in years. About 4 hours in I was hooked though, and binge listened to this in a week. So good.

a masterpiece

absolutely loved it the story is gripping from beginning to end protected by the amazing voice work of Michael Kramer Kate reading. Brandon Sanderson never ceases to amaze

it's a good story. well written.

it's a good story. Well written. the assembly, do not let the writer build something. it seems well and good disjointed. It is good and I'll try part 2

Fantastic epic fantasy

I loved this book. The story was amazing and the performance was top notch. Can't wait for next book. Highly recommend!

6 stars

5 stars just aren't enough. I have ginger through this book for times and it still hits hard.

Exceptional

Fingerprints of the greats paired with its own novelty and originality. Sanderson is a master of Fantasy. Such a tale gives life meaning and value. Do something good today. Hug those you love and chase your dreams.

Slow Start, but Overall a Good Listen

The first part of the book was very slow but gets better as you get into it. the build up, climax, and resolution were beautiful.

I had a difficult time connecting with the character Shallon. I found myself dreading her chapters due to her particular way of solving her family's problem and the lack of foresight involved in it. she also eventually got better, but that was near the middle end of the book.

Sanderson is the best.

title says it all. great book, narrator, and overall great experience. On to the next in the series