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

The Way Of Kings

What did you love best about The Way of Kings?

The Way of Kings

Fantastic writing, the jumping back in time drove me up the wall. Thought at times I was in an advanced philosophy class, which was ok in that Sanderson really had a huge grasp of concepts and ideals. The fantasy was first rate if you can handle one thousand page tombs it should fit like a glove. Plan on reading the next one starting later this week. Listening to the audible at the same time added greatly to the experience the readers were fantastic, there were words substituted at times but not distracting.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kaladin and Shallan. Plus Rock the Horneater.

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

No this is the first, and they are A plus all the way!

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

Spirit of a Spearman!

well worth getting past the 1st few chapters

I struggled to get interested at first. The writer seemed so cheesy with the compound words he made up. But it was well worth getting past the first few awkward chapters.

So good!

This story has depth, superb characters, adventure, battle, intrigue (executed well), and it moved me tears a few times. I even found myself shouting at my phone in excitement or anger on occasion. The world building is also unique and interesting. I'm impressed at how well thought out it is- we're talking near LOTR quality. I'm impressed by the continuity. I can feel the author's love for the world and the characters. Also, many of the philosophical themes Sanderson explores through his narrative are thought-provoking and stirring. I'm downloading the next book in the series now, and I will listen to this one again later. :-)

Thoroughly enjoyed.

The length of this book was daunting and I was hesitant, but 45 hours later I want to hear more. I just purchased the next in the saga. Loved it.

Great listen

I was skeptical about this due to the length but realized that it left you wanting to hear more. The beginning was a bit slow but was needed to get the characters introduced properly. It picked up very well and I found myself at the end wanting more. Onto the next in the series!

AMAZING!

The first audio book I listened to EVER. I'm now on THEM and THIS SERIES!!

Excellent world. Quite creative.

This is my second time to read this book and it is excellent. It had been long enough since I last read it that I wanted to start over before getting into book 3.

left me wanting more

one of my favorite books of all time. after 45 hours it left me wanting more.

Awesome!

Loved the book, the main characters can be occasionally annoying due to their guilt issues but it's character building and the rest of the book is quite good.

Incredibly compelling

I was hesitant to get into a series that'll span ten novels, but finally I decided to check the Stormlight Archive out. I'm glad I did because this was a great book.