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

Slow start but great finish.

The first third of the story was very slow and somewhat boring. Some characters were way more interesting then others. Some even seem like a waste at the end despite their significant role at the end of the story. Everything that had to do with Kaladin was great as well as with Dalinar Kholin. The shin assassin was great with the uniqueness of his abilities and the application of them. At first I didn't appreciate just being thrown into the world without much explanation. You're just told about all the different magical properties of the world in passing. However, the announce passed quickly once I fully comprehend the writing style. The voice work was good. I didn't really see the need for two VA's. The male VA didn't most of the work and did it fine. Overall, I recommend the book and will proceed to the next.

Instant favorite!

an imaginative and sweeping story with memorable characters, high stakes, and non stop satisfying pay offs.
the performance of both speakers was incredible as well!

Borderline perfect book

Book book book book book book book book book book book book book book reading books good book gotta love a book

Life in many pieces.

Well developed story with myriad sub stories. The voices are very well performed. The descriptive are effective.

Deeply Satisfying

This is probably the most satisfying fantasy novel I have ever read.

The extent to which Brandon has built his world and its characters is breathtaking. The world is eminently believable, rich in detail, and cohesive. You are dropped in an intricate world, fully formed with rich cultures and history, and get to spend hours upon hours discovering its secrets and coming to love it and it’s people. I have just l finished this massive tome and still feel as if I an still just beginning to experience this world. I have to use quite some restraint to not begin the next book immediately.

I highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy.

Engaging Fantasy book.

I’m not a huge fantasy reader but the Stormlight Archive Series has me hooked. Give The Way of Kings a listen, you won’t be disappointed.

Great Story, Dull Male VO

Not the best voice actors, especially from the male as most voices had similar tones.

Just…. amazing

I cannot express in words how insanely good this book was. It had a slow start, in my opinion, lots and lots of world and character building. However, it pays off later in a grand way. Stick with it, you won’t regret it.

..well that was great

It starts of a bit strange and slow (like all fantasy with a big worlds) but when it picks up! A big recommendation!

a great book... eventually

so i love some of Sanderson's work and some Im just not a fan of. this was unique for me because i really liked it even though for the majority of the book not much happens. this is an exceptional world building book. that eventually becomes a great story. the last few hours is where all the action is, and wow! when u get there it is a blast. but you gotta get through some 40 hours of world building. if you can you will definitely enjoy this