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

worth it

the writing and character development were great. very vivid descriptions and fully realized stories. the only thing i found confusing with the audio was sudden change of perspective between characters with no visual cues. but definitely worth the read and anticipating the story's further development

The first Time i Tried Listening I Gave UP....

I read Sanderson's Misborn series and was intrigued. So I decided to try this huge tome. After "trying" to listen to it the first time I gave up. I felt as thought I started reading the book from the middle and I couldn't follow. I actually returned the book to get my credit back.
After a long time of TRYING to find something fulfilling in sci-fi and fantasy... I kept seeing this novel's high ratings and a read a few reviews noting that many others had the similar jarring experience when the first started the book... some where bored and gave up... but by and far, most of those who followed it through fell in love with it... I wanted to see if that could be me, and so I gave it a second chance. Boy was that a choice that I'm glad I made. It started the same way the second time, but I hung in there through the initial rapid changes in point of views (POVs) until it got to the Kaladin story line. Then there was something that I could hold on to... I wished to know more about this guy and why he was in the position he was in... and boy did i get what I wished for. By the end I felt like Kal and I were old buds, I felt like i was a bridge 4 member who had been inspired by my bridge leader. I left wanting more.

By the end of the story, all of my initial confusion was indeed resolved, they were of course some questions left to be answered, but thats why the series is projected to be 10 books long.

I really enjoyed this book, more than any other that I've listened to on Audible. I highly recommend it.

I CANT buy the next book fast enough!!

Loved this book and cannot wait to read the others! the narration was wonderful and the world is rich with intrigue. Sanderson took me on a fully journey and it's just getting started.

Absolutely captivating!

I have never been one for fantasy but one a suggestion of a friend I tried it. this book had me confused for about the first 3 hours. after that I was hooked. The world and the people in it were fascinating. I found myself talking to the radio and yelling when something good happened. I would HIGHLY reccomend this book to anyone who likes anything fiction​. I can't wait to start book 2.

Slow Start Great Story

This book took quite a while to get going. If you read Wheel of Time, you may have the same issue. It's weird hearing Kate and John do this story after Sanderson finished WoT. They do a great job, but it hinders this audiobook by sounding exactly like WoT.

Riveting!

Excellent voice acting makes the many different
characters easy to follow. Vivid story-telling envelopes you in an intriguing alternative world as you grow attached to a host of inspiring characters. looking forward to the next book!

Highly entertaining and intriguing story

Woven through a miriad of tales and history, and written like a legend. Characters are rich and the background setting is wonderfully unique. Sets the stage for further epics. I look forward to reading or hearing the rest!

The Best 1st book of a series i've ever read.

Where does The Way of Kings rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The way of Kings is by far the best audiobook I've listened to.

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

The way Mr. Sanderson incorporates the flash backs into the Story, absolutely brilliant.

What does Kate Reading and Michael Kramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

If you liked them on the WOT, you will enjoy them here. They're just great.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I have to say i did teared up a bit near the end. After all the Struggles one of the main character goes through, the final reveal is very heart warming.

Any additional comments?

I've read Tolkien, GRRM, RJ, who's series are considered the best on epic fantasy and i have to say that The way of kings is by far the best I've read/listened (first book). The book is long, but so worth it in the end. If he keeps up with the quality and don't try to milk it like RJ, and GRRM did, this will be by far the best epic fantasy story ever told. I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.

An avid readers favorite by far.

For the last 20 years I have read an average of a novel every other week. I read nearly every genre and have a handful of books and series that I have read more than once. I first read the ebook version of this book and loved it. I then bought the audio book to pass the time during a long commute to work. I have listened to this audio book no less than 5 times. The story is wonderful pulling you into the writers world, and the narrators work is masterful. The highest recommendation I can give a book is to purchase a hard copy in this digital age. My once huge collection of books is down to a couple dozen all time favorites, this book sits on the shelf next to my other favorites.

Slow start, strong finish

The book started out pretty slow for me and somewhat hard to follow but once I got over that hump I was hooked!