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The Way of Kings

By: Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
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Publisher's summary

From number one New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings, book one of the Stormlight Archive, begins an incredible new saga of epic proportion.

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 10 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 10 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.

The result of more than 10 years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.

Speak again the ancient oaths:

Life before death.

Strength before weakness.

Journey before destination.

And return to men the Shards they once bore.

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson:

The Cosmere

The Stormlight Archive:

  • The Way of Kings
  • Words of Radiance
  • Edgedancer (Novella)
  • Oathbringer

The Mistborn trilogy:

  • Mistborn: The Final Empire
  • The Well of Ascension
  • The Hero of Ages

Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne series:

  • Alloy of Law
  • Shadows of Self
  • Bands of Mourning

Collection:

  • Arcanum Unbounded

Other Cosmere novels:

  • Elantris
  • Warbreaker

The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series:

  • Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
  • The Scrivener's Bones
  • The Knights of Crystallia
  • The Shattered Lens
  • The Dark Talent

The Rithmatist series:

  • The Rithmatist

Other books by Brandon Sanderson:

  • The Reckoners
  • Steelheart
  • Firefight
  • Calamity

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2010 Dragonsteel Entertaiment, LLC (P)2010 Macmillan Audio
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Featured Article: 16 of the Best Fantasy Authors Ever


There is no feeling quite like falling in love with a great fantasy listen, doing a little digging, and joyfully discovering that the author has an extensive catalog of audiobooks for you to dive right into. Fantasy as a genre is particularly blessed with a wealth of diverse authors writing all different kinds of stories. From classic epics to standalone novels that were published in the last few years, it's the perfect genre for losing yourself in a full day’s worth of listening. These brilliant fantasy authors will transport you to another world—whether a parallel universe or a post-apocalyptic version of Earth.

Editor's Pick: Best of the Decade

Here’s to another 10 years at the top
"My journey as a Brandon Sanderson fan began more than a decade ago. My brother and I discovered one of his very first published books, Mistborn, at a gas station rest stop in high school and both of us have been hooked ever since. But Brandon Sanderson, who started out as our little secret, has grown to be one of the biggest and most respected names in fantasy today. It’s been such a joy and delight to be his fan as he’s only gotten better and better at creating compelling, creative, and human stories over the years. Is it weird to say that I feel proud? There is no doubt in my mind that his epic series, the Stormlight Archive, deserves a spot as the best of the decade."—Melissa B., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The Way of Kings

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Addicted

Dandersone is an amazing author. This book will draw you into the series, no doubt.

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Amazing Story!

Incredible setting, character development and plot. I would recommend this book to anyone! Highly enjoyed it!

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Great journey, I have loved this series!

Brandon Sanderson is one of my newest favorite authors! I've read all of this series so far and wanted to go through and officially rate the book. my 12 year old son is listening to them all now and is on book 3. Highly recommend and prepare to be pulled in once your start.

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Incredible book- terrible narration.

This is one of my absolute favorite series. But this narration ruins is. It sounds like it’s read by AI. The female reader raises the clip of her voice at the end of every sentence. Awful. The male voice is like a boring robot. What a bummer.

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Expected nothing less

After a little slow start, the world Sanderson developed was fun to explore. Reading fantastic.

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Best series ever

Amazing and original. This story can be a lot to handle if text format but by listening to it you can complete it without getting overly hungry due to lack of ability to put it down.

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AMAZING

Despite taking months to read this book, it was amazing!!! Brandon Sanderson does it again!! Can’t wait to continue the series!!

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Well worth your time; slow start - hooked around ch. 15 or so

While not a fan of 4 simultaneous plot lines always skipping around, the author is no doubt an artist with words. No regrets whatsoever and I became quite attached to the characters sharing the same emotions.

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Epic World ....

My son wanted me to "read" the Stormlight Archives as he was excited for the 4th of the series coming out and wanted me to know what he is into as well as knowing I would enjoy it. Not much of a fantasy buff before .... BUT THIS TALE IS EPIC! The narration is great (although I found I enjoyed it more at 1.5x speed). Looking forward to plowing through the rest. I marvel that authors like Sanderson can create such a detailed world reality. I completely bought into it. Highly recommended!

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loved it

Hooked from the very first chapter. Sanderson entrenches you into the story line right away, and you can't help but to feel emotions towards the characters. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series quite a bit.

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