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

TRULY AMAZING

I just finished the 48+ hrs of this audiobook in under a week's time. I couldn't listen to anything else, it was that good. In fact, this is the first written review I've taken the time to submit. The character development and narration create intrigue and excitement. This thoughtful story of battles, adversity, bravery, and true honor in a distant time and place, provoked profound thought and imagination within me throughout the day and even proliferated my dreams at night. Brandon Sanderson has quickly become a favorite author of mine, and I look forward to listening to the rest of the Stormlight Archive. If you are even slightly interested in this genre of audiobook, my highest recommendation couldn't come close to serving this one the praise it deserves.

Outstanding!

Incredible pacing and supreme writing. Great new universe created and, once again, a unique and understandable magic system. Terrific and engaging!

awesome definitely a must-read for anybody interes

this book is definitely worth a read. Brandon Sanderson amazing story teller and will be reading the rest of his books in The Stormlight Archive

Great story and performance

This could very well be one of the greatest epic stories Ever Told on Earth.

An awesome journey with a great ending.

Favorite characters were Kaz and his crew and the kings uncle and his crew.Omg and whit! How could I almost forget to mention him!

Least favorite were Seth and the kings uncle's FRIEND guy.

This story is so intricate that I had to get the e-book after getting the audio book in order to actually get into the story--plus I couldn't remember character transitions or names and swing them spelled really helped. I LOVED this audio book but I somehow feel like I missed a lot of content by not reading the book. This is a high fiction trilogy in a sense so the pictures and notes . I want the physical copies.

Only one complaint

This is a great story. Far better than The Wheel of Time in my opinion. The narrators do a good job but my one complaint is that they pronounce things/names differently. I know it’s small but I find it highly annoying.

Next great fantasy epic

What made the experience of listening to The Way of Kings the most enjoyable?

Interesting characters struggling through compelling situations placed in a unique and vividly imagined world.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Way of Kings?

Kaladin's first bridge run.

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

Yes. I noticed more misspoken elements in this performance then in others, but overall it was very good.

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

The Everstorm comes!

Great book!!

Slow start, but once it gets going it gets going. Highly recommend this book. I really enjoyed it

Absolutely stellar

Powell full characters. Top notch writing. Deep and intricate world. Brandon Sanderson is our modern day Tolkien and spiritual successor of Robert Jordan.

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