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

Tedious at first, but slowly builds to awesomenes

I listen to itober the dozens of hours of cleaning up after Hurricane Irma. perhaps I was in a bad mood, but all the seemingly irrelevant details and super powers of disconnected characters in the beginning annoyed me. Nevertheless it was good background noise and I stayed with it as the various pieces of the plot came together and created a very clever and imaginative narrative that carried me away and made me forget the nasty job that I was doing. My yard is almost cleaned up and I just ordered book 2

Excellent. Simply excellent.

The actors and text were simply superb. Each chapter grew in intensity as the battles grew closer, and the end was a complete takeover of my being. I hung on each word as it was read, and I found myself wanting to be in the story to be helping the heroes, scolding the villains, and wishing for justice. It did come, but how it came was why this book is worth it. Bring on the sequels!!

A great story with great narration

I don't post many reviews but I felt compelled to recommend this book. I think Brandon S. has been honing his craft and combined with 2 of the best narrators in the business, this book is a step above everything else I've downloaded thus far. Michael K.'s hard, dark voice inflection truly complements the story. This is one of those books you can't leave your car for - don't miss it. The only downside is waiting for the next installment in the series.

Favorite Author

My favorite author proves himself once again. Loved every minute of it and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Awe inspiring.

A must read for every one. Readers and non-readers alike. I've read alot of great series over the past several years. It's hard to compare fantasy books because the world's created are unique and wonderfully done, but I must commend Sanderson on this one. Magnificently done.

amazing.

loved every second. Brandon Sanderson is brilliant. the voices were wonderful. keep making more of Brandon Sanderson books.

That was the fastest 45 hours...

What did you love best about The Way of Kings?

The author has an incredible ability to draw a scene, develop characters and pull the reader into the overall mode of the story line...to the point where many times you forget you're reading and think that you have been watching a mental movie. Sanderson is very talented and shines in The Way of Kings. The book does start on the slower side, but it is very necessary to fully develop the background necessary to invest the reader in the later parts of the story.

What other book might you compare The Way of Kings to and why?

The Wheel of Time series would be a close comparison with The Way of Kings in the authors have the ability to paint an incredibly clear mental picture, extremely strong character development and also the not-over-the-top fantasy components such as magic, supreme beings, etc. Both are incredibly well written and I was sad to see both of them end.

What about Kate Reading and Michael Kramer ’s performance did you like?

Both authors convey emotion without sounding ridiculous and have perfect tempo, speed and annunciation. I really enjoyed their performance.

loved the book, I'm hooked

I really loved this book and the narrators were great. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series

THE BEST BOOK EVER

BEST BOOK EVER! I loved to so much! The story was very well written. Can't wait to read next one!

A good start

I had a bad/good feeling this is going to be a LONG series. This book is a beginning and i mean that unlike some of his other books only one thread of this books many threads has even partial closure. This appears to be a start of a grand epic. But if you looking for a complete story you may want to wait till another volume comes out perhaps more then one.