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

Sanderson just has a way

It doesn't seem to matter what he writes it keeps you captivated. 180 degrees from the Steelheart series yet just as good and great storytelling. I have a lot left in his catalog but this is a must for any Sanderson Fan.

An excellent fantasy!

I just have to keep this short because the reviews already stand tall on this one. It’s a fantasy making its own name. A stray away from original magic and lore. This book tackles something new, bringing a strong sense of morality and honor, questionable faith, doubt of character, a world in a state our own would relate too; etc. There is some familiarity but Sanderson’s writing is intelligent. He knows how to attract you to every detail and keep you entertained the entire time. It’s a book that makes you care and that’s all I can ask as a reader. A praise and a thank you from a fan of the genre. Recommended to all.

Stick with it

While the book is hard to get into at first. There is a moment when confusion turns to curiosity and you can't stop listening

Absolutely Fantastic!!

Any additional comments?

Ever since finishing the Wheel of Time series (for the fifth time) I have been floundering for another fantasy series that would capture and keep my interest. I don't know why it took me so long to find this series because I love Brandon Sanderson, but I am so grateful I did. What a wonderful and rich beginning to what promises to be a fantastic series. As usual, Michael Kramer and Kate Reading are fantastic narrators and bring this story to life in a way that is completely entrancing. Simply wonderful - worth reading and listening to over and over again.

Great flight into fantasy

Well laid out characters and plot. I enjoyed the entire book.
a good book overall.

slow to start

slow beginning but the story developed very nicely and had me gripped once I figured out who the main characters are

Great story that kinda just stops for book 2

On to book 2 to continue the story, which is excellent, but knocked it down a star because I feel like such a long book should provide a bit more closure. In the end, I hope the end of book 3 has closure or I'll be really upset. I suspect this is one huge, excellent story that you simply must read all of. The male narrator is outstanding.

45 hours for a single credit

Besides being written by one of the best fantasy authors around it is 45 hours of story for a single credit. You can't go wrong unless you don't like fantasy or you don't like Brandon Sanderson. Personally I enjoy Brandon's creativity when it comes to building new worlds and the magic and creatures that inhabit them. Once again I'm not disappointed.

best

don't hesitate buy and never regret. one of the all time greats. can't wait for more

This was awesome.

I love this book a friend of mine recommended to me after listening to the warded Man series. And I have to admit I really like this and I'm looking forward to the second book.