The Way of Kings
Ratings1,604
Average rating4.6
This is a difficult book to rate for me.
I loved some aspects of it, like the world building, some characters and the epicness of the story. However, the page count doesn't feel justified and although they are some important themes in the book, I was never fully emotional invested in it.
I put this aside after listening to 27% of it. It's not bad, by any means, but it's a classic swords and sorcery epic with warriors and lots of magic, and that's just not my thing. None of the characters are unique or interesting to me: a bookish young woman who won't take no for an answer, a royal who disagrees with the way things are done, a warrior who came up from nothing with an unstoppable will... They all felt very generic to me, as did the whole setup.
I also found the writing style to just be very focused on action; description is saved for magic and the world, and less so the people or dynamics within it. I wouldn't say Sanderson is a bad writer, by any means, but I also wouldn't call him a good writer. He's prolific though, and he knows how to please his audience.
I did enjoy some aspects of the adventure and magic stuff, but that's not enough for me to commit to 5000+ pages / 200+ hours of my attention.
I can't praise this book enough! It's packed with breathtaking scenes and Kaladin, along with Bridge Four, stole my heart. I'm at a loss for words to describe its brilliance, I have a feeling that will be my favorite ongoing series.
Part One was not for me...
So far I'm not invested in any of the main characters. Especially Shallan and Kaladin are frustrating mostly because of their naivety and over-confidence. The most interesting and intriguing parts were the ones outside of the main plot - let's see where this goes.
3 generous stars.
I'm not sure I can praise this book in any way it already hasn't been. All I can say is that if you're a fan of high fantasy, this book should be at the top of your list.
5.00/5.00
Speak again the ancient oaths! Life before death, Strength before Weakness, Journey before Destination!
The Way of Kings is a cornerstone of modern epic fantasy, a new chapter in the fantasy genre, an exemplar of storytelling excellence. At its core, the way of kings is a character driver story, that is deep , intricate and emotional. This book tells such a complete story, with astounding worldbuilding that feels so fresh, such rootable characters and an intricate plotlines.
Plot -> the shattered plains and the bridges are enough by itself to make this a brilliant plot. Dalinar's plot is intricate and delves into political intrigue and has a wonderful twist at the end! I loved kaladin's stories more than anything happening in real time, except for the final battle where he speaks the ancient oaths to become a Knight Radiant! Shallan's storyline is fun but not as interesting as Kaladin's, but I think it is a necessary break from the shattered plains.Worldbuilding/Magic System -> Its all about the spren, in this magnus opus of Brandon Sanderson's world. Flame spren and wave function collapse ? wow. The magic system is probably one of the most innovative I have ever read, referring to surgebinding and the shards. Soulcasting seems a bit mundane. However, the biology and the geology of Roshar is second to none. I am so impressed by the idea of the shattered plains, the ancient oaths, the eye-colors and so much more. However, the worldbuilding is not the perfect 10. For example, I think the Wheel of Time does worldbuilding better in some books (like book 4 and 5). Maybe I'll be wrong when I read more of The Stromlight Archive.Character Development -> Best I have read. Kaladin's story is so gripping. I am a 100% on board on the Kaladin train. Dalinar's morality and his regret, his wonderful relationship with his son Adolin, Adolin's respect and loyalty to his father, OMG. Such rootable, wonderfully complex and flawed characters. They learn and change through the book. Dalinar learns that the book's ideas are not suited for the world as it is today. Adolin's path to trusting his father, his regret over doubting his father, Kaladin's despair, his honor, his leadership and his hatred and distrust of lighteyes! OMG!Prose -> Super competent prose. However, I think the prose could have done a better job of bringing out the grandness of this story. It is brilliant storytelling, and for this reason Brandon Sanderson is one of my favorite authors, but why not have a little of poetic and quotable work? At least during the high points of the book.. It leaves me wanting. I also did not enjoy how the book kept jumping from POV to POV in every other chapter. Why not have 2-3 kaladin chapters together, and then move on to 2-3 chapters of Dalinar and Adolin? I found the POV hopping a bit irritating. You can have multiple POV (i would argue that it is necessary in epic fantasy), without having to jump in every other chapter. Think Wheel of Time, which has so much more POV than Stormlight, but it handles it more gracefully. Its not that I don't enjoy Shallan, I do, I loved her story, but stop jumping back and forth! It adds no value to the book. Emotional Impact -> Absolutely loved the book. I didn't mind the slower pace, I actually enjoyed taking my time with Kaladin and Dalinar. What an ending! Dayum! Dalinar slamming the shardblade in the rock to buy Kaladin's freedom! Kaladin speaking the second oath! My favorite moment of the book is when Kaladin promises to being Tien back home to his father. I teared up! Teft asking Kaladin not to give up.. beautiful. "You will not lift these hanging men from their noose for a breath and then let them fall back!"
Found this one tough to get through at first, but man alive, those last few books are something else!
Not too sure about Sanderson's writing overall yet, to be honest. The constant lore dumps during the first half of the book were often distracting and tiresome. I also found myself struggling to visualize people and creatures throughout the story, especially in a lot of the skirmishes and battle scenes later on.
The thing I did fall absolutely in love with were the characters. Well, most of them. Dalinar was the standout, and Kaladin's arc was really engaging. Shallan's stuff, on the other hand? Abyssal. Everything slowed to a crawl when it came to a chapter of hers, and it all feels like wasted time, especially with how abruptly it ends.
I think my favorite thing about Sanderson, though, is the way he does dialogue. Brilliant, captivating, and real. I could read any of these characters talk to each other for hours on end; he just makes it all so interesting.
Gonna try and burn through the rest of the Stormlight books early next year if the Almighty wills it!
Thank goodness this is over.
I tried. I really did. I hung in there because so many have called this series a masterpiece. After finally making my way through this monster of a book, I doubt I’ll continue on. Anderson is an incredible world-builder, but all the descriptive words can’t make up for the fact that almost nothing happens in this book. At the end, I cared very little for the characters and their plights. I was able to skip whole pages without missing any important detail. I never thought I’d encounter a juxtaposition of interesting concepts and general *blandness,* but here we are.
It’s too bad. I must be missing something that many others are seeing, but I just don’t care enough to find out.
Eso me tomó tiempo. Pero fue divertido. Fantasía grandilocuente, compleja e intrincada. Personajes memorables y carismáticos, sencillos pero eficientes a la trama. Ahora entiendo el gusto de la gente por leer a Brandon; sabe prometer y esta saga pinta para algo inmenso que jamás he visto en el genero. Vamos a ver. Eso sí, el mundo, las imágenes extrañas que evoca, la naturaleza y las costumbres, son muy atractivas.
The way of kings é um livro perfeito. Os personagens, temas e todo o resto incrível.
Sobre os personagens:
Kaladin é o que eu acredito ter mais destaque, tendo todos os capítulos do livro focado nele, sendo o presente como escravo ou enquanto ele lutava no exército ou quando ele treinava com o pai cirurgião.
Shallan, eu realmente não acreditava que a história dela iria se desenvolver do jeito que foi, o que era para ser apenas um roubo para ajudar a família acabou desencadeando várias coisas que eu espero que se desenvolvam mais nós próximos livros.
Dalinar sendo o último protagonista a ser apresentado, ele traz a atual guerra contra os parshedins e também a dúvida de quem sabotou o rei em uma de suas caçadas.
O Szeth é estranho pois ele mal aparece, mesmo sendo o assassino em branco, a pessoa que matou o rei, agindo mais por atrás das cenas e questionando sua moralidade enquanto está em cena.
Sem contar nas aparições do Hoid que eu finalmente espero se desenvolver sobre sua história. Não aguento mais ficar vendo ele sem ter nenhum contesto sobre ele.
This is a mind-blowing story, full of suspens, mystery and a great world building.
Made me weep imagining a noble man. Might have accidently turned me a little mormon.
These thousand page high fantasy classics (TOMES) are always so fucking rewarding, how could I ever want to read anything else?
I loved it. I wish I read it sooner. I wanted to dive into the next book right away but I also feel like I need a breather.
I'm a very character motivated reader and I got attached immediately to Kaladin and Shallan. I feel like this series has the potential to destroy me and that is exciting.
Reseña (sin Spoilers) ‘El Camino de los Reyes': https://youtu.be/VCvUMd1HXFk
Reseña (CON SPOILERS) ‘El Camino de los Reyes': https://youtu.be/BlI2c2kpols
O busca “Morporkiano” en el buscador de Youtube.
tinha dado 5 estrelas até ler o words of radiance, tive que diminuir pra 4 por que a dimensão do universo aumentou tanto que esse livro ficou um pouco datado, mesmo sendo uma ótima introdução (lento até demais tho)
Stormfather what a ride!
This review has the impartiality of a Sanderson fangirl who at this point is willing to read everything Sanderson writes. I can't imagine how exciting his supermarket lists must be.
The way of kings it's the first volume of The Stormlight Archives, and what a wonderful start it has been.
When picking a Sanderson book I already know the ending will blow my mind, despite how attentive I might be to his foreshadowing and clues, and how many things I guess right until the end. The way of kings, however, deserves a special praise for how perfectly woven the whole story is.
The pace appears to be slow, but it is absolutely necessary to support the magnitude of the story being told.
I loved the ecology of Roshar, both the honorable and grey characters, the magic system and the engineering that uses the magic and applies it to everyday use. I was also very impressed with the religious, cultural and gender commentary and criticism.
As usual, Sanderson builds an intricate world, with such an easy and direct writing that I believe it makes high fantasy accessible to everyone, though I wouldn't recommend starting the Cosmere with this one.
The stormlight archives have everything to be a masterpiece.
‘Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.'
Hollywood and streaming companies: when can we have something from Sanderson instead of reboots and remakes?
someone give szeth a homemade bowl of soup and a warm blanket pls he deserves a nice nap
Way of Kings re-read was a 5 ⭐ experience.
Amazing character development, interesting & compelling plot, and exciting action scenes that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The destination of the Stormlight Archives series might be unknown but I'm certainly enjoying the journey.
(FREE SPOILERS)
This book was awesome and I totally enjoyed every moment of it.
Characters 5/5
these characters were just incredibly well written and how Brandon manage to give that crazy depth to some characters like Kaladin make them so worth reading them and although some of them were more on the side they slowly were built till I was totally hooked to them.
World building 5/5
OMG how well this was done I Loved the detail of the world the drawing of different creatures made it so cool as well it is totally amazing knowing the variety of creatures man like even the plants are given some though so yeah its really easy to get in this world because of the beauty of it and all the depth the surrounds not just the characters but the world as well
Story 5/5
I would give this a 4 cuz its an starting point and mostly those are tiring but it's just crazy the way this was built up how every turn every part of it was just art even with the need of introductions or the process of starting the story even with this Brandom got to draw me on this I love it and oh the battles there was some beauty in all the battle scenes that I haven't found close to another there was a sense of heroism that was captivating
ME
I love it and from the 2 books I've read this is my favorite some of the philosophies here have helped me even in daily life so yeah this book have a special place for me now
I legitimately cannot recommend this series enough. Without knowing anything about the Cosmere (Sanderson's multiverse that connects many of his books), the setting of this book is fascinating. Plus, I don't think I have ever enjoyed a character's story arc as much as this protagonist's. If the series is too big an ask, this book is 100% worth the time as a standalone.
Age range: 14+
This rating is less about mature content and more about the depth and length of the book. It may be hard for younger readers to keep track and not get bored with reading the same story for so long.