Summary
The Way of Kings is an epic fantasy novel by American author Brandon Sanderson, published in 2010 as the first book in The Stormlight Archive series. Set on the world of Roshar, it follows multiple characters as they navigate political intrigue, ancient mysteries, and looming threats in a land shaped by powerful storms. The novel is notable for its intricate worldbuilding, complex magic system, and sprawling 1000+ page length.
Sanderson spent over a decade planning and writing The Way of Kings before its publication. The book received critical acclaim for its creativity and scope, winning the 2011 David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Novel. It became a New York Times bestseller and launched what is planned to be a 10-book series, with four volumes published as of 2023.
A virtual reality game based on the novel was released in 2018. The unabridged audiobook narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading has become popular among fantasy fans, bringing the world of Roshar to life through their performances.
Plot
The novel is set on the world of Roshar, where powerful storms sweep across the land and shape both the environment and civilization. The story follows several main characters whose lives become intertwined. Kaladin, once a promising soldier, is now enslaved as a bridgeman in a brutal war on the Shattered Plains. As he struggles to protect his fellow bridgemen, he slowly discovers he has magical abilities tied to ancient powers.
Meanwhile, the highprince Dalinar Kholin experiences troubling visions during storms that lead him to question the war and seek to unify the fractious Alethi armies. His niece Jasnah, a heretical scholar, takes on Shallan Davar as her student. Shallan has secret motives for becoming Jasnah's ward, but finds herself drawn into Jasnah's dangerous research about the mythical Voidbringers and the true history of their world.
In another storyline, the mysterious assassin Szeth reluctantly carries out a series of high-profile killings across the world at the behest of his ever-changing masters, using magical abilities similar to Kaladin's. As the various plotlines unfold, it becomes clear that ancient powers are reawakening and the world stands on the brink of momentous changes and dangers.
The novel builds to a climax where Dalinar is betrayed on the battlefield, and Kaladin must choose whether to flee to freedom or stay to help rescue the man who enslaved him. Shallan's deceptions are revealed but she proves her worth to Jasnah, while the enigmatic Wit observes key events and drops cryptic hints about what is to come. By the end, the groundwork is laid for an epic confrontation between the forces of light and darkness.
Themes
The struggle between honor and pragmatism
The importance of unity and cooperation
Personal growth and overcoming past trauma
The nature of power and leadership
Faith and skepticism in the face of the unknown
The ethics of war and violence
The discovery and mastery of hidden abilities
Setting
The epic fantasy novel The Way of Kings takes place on the world of Roshar, a land shaped by powerful storms called highstorms that sweep across the continent from east to west. These storms are so intense that they have molded both the ecology and civilization of Roshar. Plants and animals have adapted unique defenses, like retracting into shells or the ground, while human settlements are only built in areas with natural shelter from the tempests.
The main action unfolds on the Shattered Plains, a rugged region of rocky plateaus separated by deep chasms. Here, the Alethi armies wage a prolonged war against the mysterious Parshendi people. Other key locations include the coastal city of Kharbranth, where characters pursue scholarly research, and the Alethi capital of Kholinar. The story also references legendary places from Roshar's past, like the lost city of Urithiru.
Temporally, The Way of Kings is set thousands of years after a cataclysmic event known as the Last Desolation. In the centuries since, the legendary Knights Radiant have vanished, leaving behind only their magical weapons and armor. As the plot unfolds, characters begin to rediscover long-lost magical abilities tied to ancient oaths and bonds with nature spirits called spren, hinting at the reemergence of powers thought lost to time.
Characters
Kaladin Stormblessed: A skilled spearman and surgeon who becomes a bridgeman slave. He discovers he has magical abilities and gradually becomes a leader, protecting his fellow bridgemen. Kaladin struggles with depression and guilt over past failures but finds renewed purpose in saving others. He bonds with the honorspren Syl and begins to manifest Windrunner powers.
Dalinar Kholin: A highprince of Alethkar and uncle to the king. Once a fierce warrior known as the Blackthorn, he now seeks to follow a code of honor and unite the Alethi highprinces. Dalinar experiences mysterious visions during highstorms that urge him to reunite the Knights Radiant. His change in behavior causes others to question his sanity and leadership.
Shallan Davar: A bright young woman seeking to become the ward of the heretical scholar Jasnah Kholin. Shallan has a gift for art and memory, able to create photorealistic drawings from brief glimpses. She initially plans to steal Jasnah's Soulcaster to save her family but discovers she has magical abilities of her own. Shallan struggles with a dark past and secrets about her family.
Szeth-son-son-Vallano: An assassin from Shinovar bound to serve whoever holds his Oathstone. He possesses an Honorblade that grants him Windrunner abilities. Szeth is tormented by the acts he is forced to commit, weeping as he kills. He follows orders to assassinate kings and other leaders across Roshar.
Adolin Kholin: Dalinar's eldest son and heir. A skilled duelist and full Shardbearer, Adolin is loyal to his father but concerned about Dalinar's visions and changing behavior. He struggles to support his father while maintaining his own position among the Alethi nobility.
Jasnah Kholin: The king's sister and a renowned scholar. Jasnah is a heretic who questions religious doctrine and researches the true nature of the Voidbringers. She takes on Shallan as her ward and secretly possesses the ability to Soulcast without a fabrial.
Syl: An honorspren who bonds with Kaladin. She appears as a small ribbon of light and gradually regains her memories and abilities as Kaladin progresses as a Windrunner.
Teft: A gruff, older member of Bridge Four who becomes one of Kaladin's trusted lieutenants. He recognizes Kaladin's budding magical abilities.
Rock: A large Horneater (a people from the Peaks) who joins Bridge Four. He becomes the group's cook and one of Kaladin's most loyal followers.
Sadeas: A rival highprince to Dalinar who commands the bridge crews. He is cunning and ruthless in his pursuit of power.
Quick facts
The book is over 1000 pages long and took Sanderson over 10 years to write and plan.
It is the first book in a planned 10-book series called The Stormlight Archive.
The magic system in the book is based on gemstones that can be infused with “stormlight” during powerful storms.
Sanderson created an entirely new ecosystem for the world of Roshar, with plants and animals that can retract into the ground to survive storms.
The book features illustrations and maps drawn by artists Isaac Stewart and Ben McSweeney.
It won the 2010 Whitney Award for Best Novel of the Year and Best Speculative Fiction.
The audiobook version is narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, who also narrated The Wheel of Time series.
Sanderson wrote several early drafts of the book dating back to the late 1990s before the final published version.
The rights to adapt the book into a film were acquired by DMG Entertainment in 2016.
A virtual reality game based on the book called “Escape the Shattered Plains” was released in 2018.
About the Author
Brandon Sanderson is a prolific American author known for his epic fantasy and science fiction novels. Born in 1975, he rose to prominence with his Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive. Sanderson's intricate magic systems and interconnected universes, collectively known as the Cosmere, have captivated readers worldwide.
In 2007, Sanderson was chosen to complete Robert Jordan's acclaimed The Wheel of Time series after Jordan's passing. This opportunity catapulted him to international recognition. His ability to seamlessly continue Jordan's work while maintaining his own distinct style earned him widespread praise from fans and critics alike.
Sanderson is renowned for his innovative approach to magic systems in fantasy literature. He developed “Sanderson's Laws of Magic,” which provide guidelines for creating consistent and engaging magical elements in fiction. These principles have influenced many aspiring authors in the genre and contributed to the growing popularity of “hard magic” systems in fantasy writing.
Beyond his novels, Sanderson is actively involved in the writing community. He teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University and co-hosts the writing advice podcast “Writing Excuses.” In 2022, Sanderson made headlines with a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign, raising over $41 million for four secret novels, demonstrating his immense popularity and the loyalty of his fanbase.
