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Words of Radiance  By  cover art

Words of Radiance

By: Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by: Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
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Editorial reviews

Brandon Sanderson’s brilliant second instalment in the epic fantasy series The Stormlight Archive, Words of Radiance, rivals anything dished up by other masters of the genre. In this thrilling audiobook, various factions vie for control of the magical Shard artefacts whose mysterious power is in great demand. As war looms on the horizon, aristocratic dynasties struggle for power. Available from Audible, Words of Radiance: The Stormlight Archive, Book 2 is narrated by the team of Kate Reading and Michael Kramer and is perfect for fans of Game of Thrones.

Publisher's summary

Book two of the Stormlight Archive.

From the best-selling author who completed Robert Jordan's epic Wheel of Time series comes an original new creation that matches anything else in modern fantasy for epic scope, thrilling imagination, superb characters and sheer addictiveness. Return to a planet swept by apocalyptic storms, a world tipping into war as aristocratic families move to control the shard blades and shard plates, ancient artifacts from a past civilisation that can win wars.

As the world tips into a war for control of the mythical artifacts of power made from Shard, characters are swept up into new dangers which will threaten their integrity and their lives. Huge ideas-filled, world-spanning fantasy from a master of the genre.

©2014 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

What listeners say about Words of Radiance

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Improves on the first book. Go for it.

PROS:
- Satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable continuation of the first book. Fans of Brandon Sanderson's work will be thrilled.

- Characters grow in substantial ways.

- The narration is top notch for the most part. My ears never got bored and fell asleep on me.

CONS:
- The pacing drags in the middle, but stick with it because the payoff at the end is very much worth it.

- Kate Reading, one of the narrators, puts on comical and ear grating accents for some of the characters and I couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed and pulled out of the narrative every time she did.

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Awesome

I really hope the next book has been released on audible, I'm hooked on the story.

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breath taking addiction

Love it!😍 narration incredible! couldn't stop listening! very addictive, be aware before you start listening!

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Fantastic Read

Fantastic read. I really enjoyed watching the growth of characters as the story continued from book one

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Words and Radiance Audiobook Format

As always with Sanderson, WoR provided a superb interweaving of culture, magic and history. Michael Crame truly stepped up his performance, providing a broad and credible range of emotion, particularly for those characters in their moments of haunted agony or disbelief. Kate Reading unfortunately did not provide believable character readings, save perhaps Shallan and Jasnah, often making the characters seem too old, too young, too rigid or generally vapid. Still, the overall effect of the narrative and delivery was extraordinary and well worth every dollar.

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"Whoo hoo! Only one of the best books ever written

Where does Words of Radiance rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Absolutely in the top 5.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Words of Radiance?

When Kaladin was trying to save the king and faced down Moash even as he was in such a terrible physical shape. He was not about to give up. I gave him real props for that.

And when Dalinar tricked out Amaram re Kaladin's story. And whenever Lopen had something to say - he is FUN-NY!

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

Their nuances for the funny bits make the funny bits funnier. Their performance of the character's voices made it easier to understand their personalities; Sadeas is a prime example - he sounds slimey and underhand, a perfect fit.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Air-sick lowlanders! lol

Any additional comments?

I really like that the characters are humanly flawed. Kaladin is still finding his way, and filled with a lot of conflict about the whole light eyes/dark eyes dynamics. I groaned in disappointment when he agreed to help kill the king, and again when he gave Moash the shardplate and sword. That was a dumb move. But it was great to see that he has to struggle to get to where he has to be, and not just wake up one day all perfect and superheroish.

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An excellent start to the story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

At 40 hours long some might say it's a bit long winded but I was gripped right to the end.

What did you like best about this story?

The lead characters development from hero to slave and back to hero

Which character – as performed by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading – was your favorite?

Kaladin

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When, despite the prejudice he suffered from Eihokar and his peers, he puts himself in danger to save his life

Any additional comments?

Can't wait for the next book in the series

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Lives rent-free in my mind

The first two books in this series ruined me for any other level of storytelling. The plot is captivating, the characters are multidimensional and interesting, and the world building is just *chef's kiss*

While it took a while to become immersed in this new world, the second you arrive where Brandon has been leading you all along, there's no escape. I think about The Stormlight Archive in the shower, while I'm driving, on my daily walks, and while I attempt to read anything else. Very few books can compare. Can't wait to start Edgedancer!

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Strapped in for the long haul

I like the vibrance of the world, the intricacy of the magic system, and the wonderful character development. The story is intriguing and I could definitely feel the build up of tension and anticipation. If you aren't a very patient reader, this series probably won't be for you. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, and the pace is slow and steady. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as it's easier to absorb the story and keep up with what's happening. Don't rush this story, ride it like a Wind Runner.

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Sweeping epic fantasy

The first book is a slow start to a complex world with many role players. The second book picks up the pace and I listened every chance I could find. The reading is beautiful, both narrators are true artists and make the characters come alive.

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