The Way of Kings

I read the last 250 pages of the book in one day. But I can't bring myself to give it 5 stars. It's remarkably entertaining and gripping. I love all the tangential philosophical questions the book poses. The characters are well-developed and dynamic.
One of my favorite lessons from the book is in the final pages (no plot spoilers, don't worry). What is it that humans value most? The character posing this question finds an answer: novelty. Both Newton and Leibniz discovered calculus independently, but we credit Newton because he did it first. If I had read The Way of Kings before I read The Lord of the Rings, I'd have eagerly given it 5 stars. But it lacks novelty. It feels so cliché sometimes. It feels repetitive.
The Way of Kings is a fantastic book. Thought-provoking, engaging, enjoyable. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series. But I do not believe this book will stand the test of time as The Lord of the Rings has. 4 stars!