The Way of Kings
Ratings1,609
Average rating4.6
What a story! I was worried I'd find it juvenile as I did Wheel of Time, given that that series seems to be used as means of selling this one. I know the connection, but it's misleading as I enjoyed this immensely and Wheel of Time hardly at all.
One thing to beware of though in the Audible version – highprince Sarrius is also Sadeas. I found it quite confusing. The male narrator was clearly doing that American English thing of turning Ds into Rs, while the female narrator kept them as Ds and moved the stress. There are enough characters to keep track of without having multiple pronunciations of their names!
While it got a little denser at the end and the pace moved a little too quick, this was a phenomenal read and I recommend it to every fantasy fan.
I don't know how to review this book. Firstly, I would like to give myself 5 stars for finishing this behemoth even when at the start it felt like a bit of a slog. Every single chapter after I was about 150 pages in made me impatient for just one more chapter. I was left in complete amazement at the incredible talent and intellect required to create a world so intricately detailed that it blew my mind.
My favourite aspect of this book is how character-driven it is. It is also a truly exceptional piece of literature in the sense that it has it all - tales of love, death, trust, betrayal, hope, despair, and faith, all told from multiple povs. Truly exhilarating. Intense in the best possible way.
Slow Start but a great ending.
I personally consider Brandon Sanderson's books to be mystery books. We are placed in a completely different world of which we have no idea and we have to figure out how the world ticks. I love having a small notebook while reading his books where I can write my discoveries and start speculating on the future reveals, half of the fun happens between reading sessions. I never get them all but somehow even if I predict a plot twist before it happens I still get pleased by seeing my theories unfolding before my own eyes, because of the journey. JOURNEY BEFORE DESTINATION. And the plot twist I don't predict lead to jaw-dropping moments where I am like... OMG how is this happening and why didn't I see that coming??? It was all there.
I can not say much about the plot because anything I could say about it could be considered a spoiler, the magic lies in discovering it on your own.
You just got to experience it yourself and figure things out by yourself, it makes it 10 times more enjoyable.
I must warn you that this book has in my opinion a very slow start. Since we have several characters we got to know them well before the story even begins. I would say I got fully invested in the story more or less 400 pages in. Many people would be put off by such a big introduction (not me), but let me tell you ... it is 100% worth it. Just push through it and you will thank me later.
All in all this book is a classic Brandon book, great while reading and between reading sessions.
Overview: A confusing start, then a slow beginning that leads to an awesome story and a world that just sucks you in.The Cons: I've known of this book for a long time - if you like Epic Fantasy this is pretty much the biggest thing around, but I've been put off by two things:1: It's smegging huge. There are five books and counting and book 1 is 1000 pages. If you want resolution you've got to be in it for the long haul!2: The beginning. I tried to read this a couple of times before and basically read the first chapter and just thought “What the heck did I just read?”.OK so lets deal with issue 1 - the size. After reading several of the author's other (shorter) books I've developed a bit of a trust for him. I've seen how he always seems to have a plan and a goal. He builds to a grand satisfying ending - but still throws in enough development and excitement that you don't feel bored along the way. So I decided to trust him and really give this epic a go. Which left me with...Issue 2- The baffling opening. I decided to just power on through the “What the heck?” opening. I still had not a clue who anyone was or what was happening or where this took place. I ended that section with pretty much a sum total of 0 info gained. Then I carried on reading. By about two thirds of the way through the book I'd figured out what that chapter is for:If you are thinking of reading this book - Important info: You are not meant to understand the opening yet.Instead the opening is just a bunch of clues to be figured out as the plot unfolds. Also it takes place in ancient history (think of Sauron's loss of the ring in LotR).So what I'm saying is, don't worry if you don't get it, it's nothing like the rest of the book.The Pros: Once you get past the barriers to entry, you are introduced to a rich and different world, and to characters that are fascinating and a plot that slowly unfolds more like a world-spanning murder mystery than anything else. I particularly liked the character of Dalimar myself, but really all the characters were great.The world is really different. This is not your classic Medieval England riff, this is a world with a very different ecology and set up. I was somewhat reminded of the Pern series by [a:Anne McCaffrey 26 Anne McCaffrey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1666324369p2/26.jpg] in the way that the ecology and society has developed in strange ways to cope with extreme weather-ish conditions. I ended up spending an inordinate amount of time just thinking about the world and the Highstorms and imagining what it must be like to live there.And then there is the action. As always with Sanderson the action is tied up with the characters and so rewarding there is one utter classic moment...a classic for all fantasy when BRIDGE FOUR GOES BACK! that makes the hair on my arms stand on end just thinking about it.I'm already reading book 2 and loving it.
Es increíble, pero ojo, aunque Sanderson explica mucho del planeta Roshar, que de hecho pienso que es el ‘personaje principal' , el libro termina en un continuará muy fuerte.
El desarrollo de personajes es impecable.
9.8/10
EDIT: Error en la calificación, jeje
Just awesome. Draws you in from the first chapter.
And the last 100 pages..... Chef's kiss
It takes a long time to get interesting, but I'm interested enough that I'll pick up the next. It still feels a bit devoid of character, even with some big bombs near the end that seem like they should be shocking. But there's enough in there to keep me intrigued.
oh my gosh.
what do I even say? the payoff with this book was incredible. I can't wait to read the rest of the stormlight archives
First half: 8/10
Second half: 5/10.
The writing is pedestrian, but not bad. The world is obviously incredibly multidimensional and well thought-out. The plot in this book was just mind-numbingly slow. In all three main plotlines, the setting NEVER CHANGED. It just wore me down. I kept thinking something epic was going to happen. There were a few good and well-written action scenes. But man, such a massive book for so little to actually happen.
Welcome to a world ravaged by storms that shape the lands, where creatures inhabit its desolate landscapes, where shards are used to power weapons and make gods out of the people who can wield them. The people who inhabit the land are a wild bunch. There are those seeking power, those seeking vengeance, those brave enough to seek truth despite insurmountable odds, those who seek knowledge, and those being controlled to enact heinous acts of violence.
War rages on the Shattered Plains. An inexplicable war. Soldiers are expendable, armies are divided, thrones are coveted, and uniting the lands seems insurmountable. A small glimpse of hope is out there. Could it be in the form of visions? Could it be in the hands of a slave? Could it be from a voice reading from The Way of Kings? The answer is not so complex. “Unite them” is the mantra.
All life is priceless, all life is meaningful, and all life needs is a small glimpse of hope. Some characters trust, some characters destroy, and some characters put life before death.
Can a past be so atrocious that we may want to erase those we love from our memories? Can a deed so dark and unbecoming make us steal power and artifacts to protect the family? Can a betrayal and death of a loved one set us on a path to captivity and self-harm? Can a kingdom hang in the balance because of an insignificant piece of material? These are questions to ponder upon.
It's the strength before weakness that helps the phoenix rise; it's the journey before destination that helps pull characters out of the muck and believe in themselves; and it's the constant disregard of the odds that makes us captivated and marvel at their selflessness.
Welcome to Roshar, my friends...
6 out of 5
How could I not have rated and reviewed this yet? I read it years ago and think of the series often. Definitely worth the read!
The audiobook of this was excellent. Yes the story is long, but there is more than enough action and emotion to pull you through the more philosophical bits. I have no idea how I would have fared with the written book, however the audio performances easily paper over any slow parts. I am now very much looking forward to the next in the series.
Ondanks zijn twaalfhonderd-en bladzijden las The Way of Kings als een trein. Erg indrukwekkend hoe gemakkelijk ik in de complexe wereld werd mee getrokken en hoe snel ik meeleefde met de personages. De magie is ook weer extreem intrigerend. Een meesterlijk begin in een ongetwijfeld epische serie.
One of the best books I have ever read. I always used to shun fanatasy novels because I thought they were kind of cheesy. This book along with The Name of the Wind and Lies of Locke Lamora have 100% changed my opinion on that. Yes, it's long but not for one second did I ever think that it should have been shorter. Def a must read!
