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

Spectacular

Fictional investigation of the most real and paramount challenges facing the human species with admirable direction for hope and action.

addictive character plots

You are drawn into wonderful character development. Feeling disappointed when you switch to a different character plot, only to find that one is just as exciting

Top of the top!

Amazing series of books, hooked me right from the start! Listing everything amazing about it would take too long but let me start: writing style, immersion, magic system, the whole story, characters, character development, world building,plot twists and reveaks...
Of course there were characters and their story arch I was tempted to skip but that is in big part due to other characters I just couldn't wait to hear more about. And I am glad I didn't skip anything, it was all worth it! Too be honest, it's hard to find other books that satisfy me now, Sanderson kinda set a new standard for me that is hard to reach. 10/5, can highly recommend!

Sanderson has done it again

a truly fantastic book, Mr. Sanderson never seems to fail when making his worlds into reality on the page. This book had me listening whenever I had the chance, it was hard to stop listening I was very intrigued and got attached to the characters. two thumbs up could not recommend more of your into these types of fantasy books, not to mention the voice actor does a great job

One of the best stories I’ve heard

This was one of THE best stories I’ve ever experienced. And to be able to get so much value for a single credit it’s amazing. I love the characters and the world Brandon Sanderson has created in the Stormlight series. My only issue was with the narration by Reading. It took a little getting used to the way she reads with almost an “up and down” intonation. Towards the very end of the book there was a chapter that felt like each sentence was being read by two different women. Besides that the book and narration was awesome. Especially Kramer. The way he is able to create different voices for characters and remember them all throughout a book as long as this is amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone even mildly interested and even to those who aren’t. Awesome book and awesome experience!

Glad I believed the hype

Slow at parts, but overall glorious. Pumped to have so much more ahead of me!

Best credit I’ve spent

I’ve spent a lot of credits in a lot of genres. This is the best credit I’ve spent. So many hours of enthralling and riveting story. Well written, well edited, well narrated, WELL DONE. I’ll be spending my next several credits on the rest of this series.

I was happily surprised!

Friends have all read this book. I wanted to see what it was about. Highly recommend!

Greatest book I’ve read

Bay fat the best book I’ve ever read/listen to. Only time I’ve ever written a review

AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!

I loved the complexity of the story and can’t wait to read the next one! It was a little slow at some parts but gets much better at the end. The only thing I didn’t like was the two narrators some people might like it, but I thought it was a little confusing in the beginning. Overall though, it was an incredible book and would definitely recommend it.