The Way of Kings

The Stormlight Archive, Book 1

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

Length: 45 hrs and 30 mins

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

Gratitude

I’m so grateful to have found this series. I’ve listened to the first 2.5 books and cannot stop. Fantastic story.

300’sh books listened to and this one is at the top!!

I’ve listened to nearly 300 books on audible and this book instantly climbed to the top. I never thought the Red Rising series could be topped but Strormlight Archive is doing just that.

The narrator is superb as well and really invigorates and already epic story.

thoroughly enjoyed it.

It took me a while to finish this book. Initially, I found it slow, but once it got rolling, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Brandon Sanderson’s writing is immaculate

This is a very pulling story from every angle. I could not stop listening from the moment I started to the moment I finished. The way Brandon Sanderson has crafted this masterpiece of a book impresses me beyond words. The story holds a strong message of being honorable even in the face of the most horrible adversity.

Good Character development

I enjoyed this completely. I listen to get away from the day to day grind.

Utterly Amazing

I was invested in every character, the performance was powerful, and I couldn't get enough of the story. I was listening to this book during my commutes and was always disappointed when I would arrive at my destination as it meant I had to wait to listen further. Brandon Sanderson is really a fantastic author and I can't wait to start the next book!

Kaladin's Honor

Kaladin's chapters were always so alluring. There was always something happening regardless of action. The author really gravitated the reader towards his development. The chapters with Dalinars visions had great importance however each one ended with a similar song and dance of a squabble after each one. Those interactions seem to drag on a little more than needed.
Overall loved the book and look forward to the series.

Better characters, clearer world vs. others in genre

After reading a ton of TikTok (BookTok) recommendations, this definitely stands out as a winner. I liked it over Mistborn 1, Red Rising, and Will of the Many, which are all pretty similar in that there's a low caste protagonist clawing his/her way up to eat the rich. I'll continue this series, though!

It's a slower burn at first but back third was much more interesting vs. it's contemporaries and went in a direction I was hoping for.

Amazing world building

I feel like I truly KNOW and understand every character and the story is getting INSANE

Beautiful rendition of the story.

An amazing high fantasy story filled with multiple plots that merge together to make a beautiful tale, full of strong characters, intriguing locals and an amazing plot. The multiple reader adds to the switch of stories and brings out a connection to the protagonists.