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

Amazing fantasy epic.

This is like Game of Thrones mixed with the Lord of the Rings. The characters are entertaining and the story keeps you engaged.

Etraordinary book!! Excellen Narration!!

I have no words to describe how good the book is. The narration is amazing. Two authors makes it a great experience!

Brandon Sanderson does it again!

The world creator - Brandon Sanderson has created another rich world, full of unique characters that feel alive. Complete with it's own unique system of magic called stormlight. This series is a must listen

Truly amazing writing and detail. Engaging voice.

Intriguing and memorable! Dont pass this gem of writing and fantasy up. The best story I have read since the Mistborn series.

Favourite Series Ever

This is a Journey that brings so many important questions to the reader. Stormlight is full of intrigue and mystery, while asking and debating on serious philosophical topics. If every person read this, I believe we would live in a better world.

Great book!

Best fantasy book I have ever read. Loved every second of it. Not too graphic for young readers, but not too cute for adults.

The book was great.

Loved it. but the download had 3 points were there was electronic scrub noises really loud. only lasted a second each . So great other then that.

For the Practiced Listener a bonbon of many favors

This is a complex story; actually it more like 3 stories all set in the same world but not even at the end inter winded. This is in someways Sanderson writing in the style of the later Wheel of Time Books; a little for each character here and there but no great links between them. It's enjoyable; yet it Sanderson seems to have forgotten that a novel should in someway be a story no matter however many the views. I think I would buy the second book but unless the characters started to draw together not the third.

This is a long story. If you aren't use to an audio book this one might a poor introduction.

Bridge 4!!!!

Cool inventive magic-check
Main character and supporting cast that you actually care about-check
Sick battles-check. Kramer and Reading are a joy to listen.

intricate character development with great story

this book, had some of the most masterfully written methods of using multiple character stories with different settings and motives - making multiple plot points for the series to run with. The author then uses the most subtle of strings that tie them all together to give the reader an understanding of how all of these people are in-fact connected, and a tease of foresight as to how they may or may not impact one another in the coming events! Such A GREAT story! the best part is that the extreme lining put into each character doesn't feel drawer out, obvious as to his [Sanderson] reason for doing so but, rather, it GRABS YOU, pills you in and constantly screams, "YOU PAY ATTENTION!!!", and you scream back, "SHUT UP, ARBITRARY METAPHORICAL VOICE! I'M TRYING TO PAY ATTENTION!" Haha... in short, the book is effing awesome and *points*you should read it. cheers!