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The Way of Kings

By: Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by: Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
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Summary

The groundbreaking first book of an epic series that has changed the face of fantasy. The Way of Kings begins The Stormlight Archive.

Speak again the ancient oaths:

Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before Destination.
Return to men the Shards they once bore.

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

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 ten 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 ten 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.



Other books by Brandon Sanderson

The Cosmere

The Stormlight Archive
The Way of Kings
Words of Radiance
Edgedancer (Novella)
Oathbringer
Rhythm of War
Wind and Truth

The Mistborn Saga
Mistborn
The Well of Ascension
The Hero of Ages
The Alloy of Law
Shadows of Self
The Bands of Mourning
The Lost Metal

©2010 Dragonsteel Entertainment LLC (P)2011 Orion Publishing Group Limited
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What listeners say about The Way of Kings

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Patient Giant of the Fantasy Genre

Brandon Sanderson has achieved something marvelous here. From the very opening scenes it is crystal clear that you are reading an author who has developed a fantasy world of incredible depth and detail. In these early action scenes he demonstrates a refreshingly ingenious form of combat magic, depth of character and hints at the world beyond. As the book unfolds the sheer scale of his imagination is revealed as the history, geography, flora, fauna, religion and mythology of his creation is revealed. This is done gradually without huge long paragraphs of description to bog things down.

The characters too are thoroughly detailed and explored through conversation, flashbacks to previous times and even their dreams. There are no one-dimensional heroes or villains here, nothing in that sense is spoon fed as the characters have a constant struggle to find their right path. When reading this book time and again you will imagine you know where something is heading and be pulled up short. Sanderson is a very patient author and doesn’t take the easy plot route often.

Of course with a book of this length the narration is important, forty-six hours of monotone would make this hard going and the idea of splitting the narration is a very sound one. Michael Kramer is excellent, he rumbles through the book adding real gravitas and atmosphere to Sanderson’s often grim world and its inhabitants. Kate Reading is eloquent and very precise but clearly not everyone’s cup of tea. I’m afraid she’s not mine, her intonation is too often lacking the correct inflection making her sound like an automaton at times. She does read much less of the book than her counterpart but I still think the audio sample should have included some of her reading to help prospective purchasers make an informed decision.

All told this is a book that demands respect, it does take an investment from you to get through it but the rewards are incredibly rich. I was hooked in from the brilliant opening scenes which included some very innovative ideas. Sanderson is a genuine giant in the fantasy genre and those wanting depth, detail and new ideas coupled with a gripping story will definitely want to head this way. The last few hours of the story are as good as anything I have read.

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76 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

good story slightly ruined by Kate reading

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and Michael Kramers narration of it but every time it came round to Kate Readings parts it just completely sucked me out of the story, she ends the last word of every sentence with this weird downwards and then upwards inflection and once you notice it, it's all you can focus on. this would be a 5 star if the entire narration was Kramer but I'm bumping it down due to Reading.

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Recommended

Not having the time the read this book (or perhaps the strength to lift it) I chose to listen to it.

I confess that I got 2-3 hours in an realised my mind had wondered so much that I had no idea what was going on. That is not good. However, on a second attempt I got up to speed and really enjoyed it. At first I was a little miffed that the readers are American. I generally don't like that. Reading isn't my preferred reader by any means. Kramer and Reading read all the Wheel of Time books on audio and I wasn't that attracted to her then - I have only listened to the first one. Her intonation is quite annoying at times. Perhaps not to the north american ear but it is to mine. I get through 3-4 audio books a month so I've listened to a few now.

Otherwise, it's a great book and worthy of the David Gemmell Legend Award for fantasy. It's high fantasy with a broad sweep and a different feel with Shardblades, light-eyes, great use of the stormlight in allowing wielders of it to 'lash' themselves to walls and ceilings such that 'up' becomes 'down' and so on. Great world building and vision with some truly memorable characters. High fantasy at its best.

If it wasn't for Reading, I would have given it a 5.

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30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another sensational Sanderson book

Amazing as always, quite slow to start and get into the full swing of things compared to say, Mistborn, but nonetheless an excellent read that charges on into its sequel with full force.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Epic indeed!

Having listened to and enjoyed the Mistborn trilogy and Elantris by Brandon Sanderson I was hoping this huge audiobook would raise a high bar even further, but I felt at times it got a bit bogged-down in its “epic-ness”. 45 hours is a big listening-time investment. Although I enjoyed the novel I ended up slightly disappointed; I’d give it 7 out of 10, a decent though not earth-shattering (or even plains-shattering) score. I’d hoped for more, based on the reviews it’s garnered. Not sure exactly what more I could have wanted, I just felt slightly underwhelmed.

The Roshar world-building is deep and magic systems are complex; it takes quite a while to “get into” the story and characters but it does eventually happen and things fall into place. As this is the first of a projected ten novels complexity and detail is to be expected. We are introduced to many peoples, locations, flora and fauna of Roshar – I’d definitely recommend a visit to Brandon Sanderson’s web-site to download some of the beautiful maps and striking drawings you don’t get with an audio download.

A word on the narration; the readers do an adequate job (they also read the Mistborn books), diction is clear and they generally stress the right words in a sentence. Personally I prefer British accents; I guess I’m biased!

Although at times it felt like a chore to persevere I do think it was worth it in the end. I will definitely be ordering the next audiobook (out next week) but I’d listen to anything by GRRM (if only!), Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence or Scott Lynch first.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

swords shields magic honour!

A brilliant book , take some time to get into the story and the characters , there is alot to take in . Some big revelations near the end and still some mysteries, but book 2 and 3 are already out so ill be diving straight back in . Buy it !

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

it was good

I thought that sometimes the narrator lacked a bit of power in the war scenes but he was clear and concise .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What a page turner, not perfect but brilliant

This is the best book ive read in a while, full of action and suspense and innovation

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Takes a while to get going but man oh man!

great book that takes a while to get going
it's 45 hours long
wish it was 60 hours longer!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

epic start to an epic saga

it does take a bit of time to start, but it is well, well worth it. Few stories have gripped me like this one. Magician in my younger years, possibly, but for me as an adult this book gives so much more.

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