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

Phenomenal and Captivating

I've read and listened multiple times. And I find myself getting pulled in every time.

Amazingly Epic.

Already bought book 2 and can't wait for book 3. I hear there is to be 10 books total in this series. If that holds true and the quality remains the same, nothing else will touch it.

Amazing

Just read it already!!! It was gosh darn freakin amazing! (Warning it does start slow)

liked it

loved it at the end but in the beginning there were so many stories I was confused. it came together in the end though.

Out...STANDING

This book is well ahead of its time EPIC is not bug enuf but its the only word that comes to my mind...across the book world and back, this stands with the bigs! Everything was perfect

great escapism

Where does The Way of Kings rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It was one of the better ones ... very long, but in this case the length actually may have helped because it allowed the author to take his time and build each character.

What did you like best about this story?

Great characters. Great story. I loved the descriptions of the world.

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading and Michael Kramer ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not. Both were good.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I am not sure ... I need to see what happens in the other books.

A Good Start - Excited to See Where It Goes

Great performances by both narrators. Overall, a good enough story, but in some ways a huge exposition piece. Given that there are nine more books in the series, this somewhat makes sense, though, and I'm excited to see where it goes. Starting the next book now!

Wow!

This book exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed every moment. Caladin's story is so good. The narrators are perfect for a book with this many characters. Buying the second book right now:)

amazing as always

wish I didn't listen to it just so I could reexperience it all over again

diggit

fantastic book with a great reading. it was a bit unsettling getting used to the cadence of the narrator, but once I did, I was absorbed.