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.