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

Riveting

I didn't want it to end. Epic. The narrative is perfect: coherent, titillating, heroic, human.

The narrators were a delight: never a detraction or a distraction from the story line. The unfolding of the plot was beautifully paced.

Overall, this novel was smart. Intriguing. Addictive. Mesmerizing. Sanderson has created characters to root for, to admire; and i found myself soaring with them in their final crises and victories.

Going to go look for the next one in the series right now.

Incredible.

This story is incredible. This is the second time reading it this year and I can't wait for the 4th to come out. Would recommend if you love fantasy and are fans of the Wheel of Time series. Amazing performance and fantastic writing. Brandon Sanderson is a phenomenal author.

Amazing book!!!!!

Best fantasy book ever! The other two books are amazing too. (Words of radiance, oathbringer) this series is a must read.

Could NOT stop listening

I sometimes find it daunting to start a new book series due to the mental and emotional energy that can be required to become invested in new characters within an unfamiliar universe. From what I had heard about the intended scale, this was particularly true for The Stormlight Archive.

I could not have been more wrong! From the first words to the last, I was absolutely hooked. I’ve started to feel excited to be doing housework, lawn care, middle of the night baby feedings...anything that affords me the opportunity to immerse myself in this world.

The pacing, character development, and world-building are all expertly balanced, resulting in an experience that felt almost effortless as a reader. Sanderson is truly a master of his craft, and I’m thrilled to be along for the ride.

Initially skeptical, now a fan

I picked up this book in hardcover after several recommendations from friends who knew I was a fan of the high fantasy genre. I tried starting it a couple times, but the opening just didn't grip me right away and I was having trouble getting into the story. I eventually decided to try the audio book version and I'm glad I did.

The narration is excellent, and while it still took me a little bit to get into, it came easier in audio book. Probably the thing I really was enjoying is how Sanderson goes about the world building, He does an excellent job of treating you like you should know something, but revealing details in bits and pieces over time so you have these "ah-ha" moments which always feel good. Once I felt invested into one of the main characters, I couldn't stop listening. I don't think The Way of Kings is perfect, mostly because there is a lot going on being the opening book to a massive epic story so there is a lot of backstory and set pieces in place, However knowing that everything was building toward something made it easier to get through the early parts of the story. I'd also say that having read a ton of fantasy I thought I knew exactly where the story was going about mid way through the book, but the last few chapters were quite the ride that I honestly didn't see coming and made me appreciate it the writing that much more. I immediately came and picked up the next two books in the series and I'm looking forward to more in this world.

One of the best stories I’ve ever heard.

I loved it I loved every minute of it I love the tempo and the speed of winter is never slow or too fast everything about this is amazing

I cried out of sheer excitement and joy towards the end can’t wait to start the second one finishing a 55 hour buck in one week I don’t even know where the time went

Really really good.

There are books that are 8 hours long that I struggle to get through. Then there is this one. 45 hours long and at the end I am like “what?! No! I need more!”

great author great story

I love the different perspectives used to tell the tale. great premise and epic world building, as always with Sanderson

I loved it.

Good story. I will be buying the next book. Thanks for writing it. Good job!

Could have been a 5

The book was great. The 4 stars are because the narrators pronounced names differently.