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

Intriguing and a good listen

If you could sum up The Way of Kings in three words, what would they be?

I enjoyed this audio book, the narration was pretty good.
The story is involved and draws you in and keeps you listening.
The use of of modern terms, accents and military tactics in a fantasy world seems a bit lazy. When an alternate world is constructed it should be complete.

What about Kate Reading and Michael Kramer ’s performance did you like?

The voices were clear for the most part, there was a time or two I was not sure WHO was speaking until the text clarified it. The use of accents was disappointing to hear modern accents from an alternate planet was distracting.

The best book I've read in quite a long time

Where does The Way of Kings rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The Way of Kings is the best audiobook (and indeed, book) I have listened to yet.

What other book might you compare The Way of Kings to and why?

It reminds me of the First Law series by Joe Abercrombie. The narration follows several characters separately as they slowly spiral into a single plot. It takes its time, building a rich picture of the world and its occupants, so that the reader can savor each event in its time. Though Way of Kings has more magic present in the world and story than the First Law series.

What about Kate Reading and Michael Kramer ’s performance did you like?

Kate Reading and Michael Kramer both had an excellent variety of voices for the numerous characters. It was very easy to tell who was whom by the voices alone, which helps when following so many different characters through scenes filled with dialog. Kramer in particular has a remarkable talent for giving different voices to different people, and capturing the accents of different lands. And with two strong female protagonists, it was excellent to have a skilled female performer to give them the character of voice they needed.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

By the second half, I absolutely wanted to listen to it all in one sitting. But at more than 40 hours, that wasn't very likely to happen. Still, I found myself listening to it for great spans of time every chance I could.

Amazing story, and worth the time.

the only gripe I carry is with the voice acting. I feel since they had both a male and female they'd split the characters they voice by gender. A man doing a woman's voice and vice versa is off putting and at one point Kate Reading does the voice of Brightlord Sadias and after hearing his distinctive arrogant lord voice done by Michael Kramer for almost 40 hours it just felt off putting. however I suggest this book to anyone that enjoys a good fantasy with plenty of intrigue.

Room for Depth

Huge book that takes the time necessary to really break down characters and build up suspense.

Great story! Did not like the female narrator

She sounded like a robot! No emotion at all. Kind of wish this was being read by the guy who narrated GOT

Why is this book only 45 hours??

Would you consider the audio edition of The Way of Kings to be better than the print version?

I didn't read The Way of Kings in print form, but I really enjoy reading longer books in audio form. It makes me feel like I'm making more progress than having to see the small percentage of pages I'm reading. I also love listening to high fantasy books so I know how to pronounce everything!

What did you like best about this story?

Brandon Sanderson creates such intense worlds that it's so easy to get lost in his books. The world that he's created for this book feels so big and expansive. It feels like it could be a real place!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I felt extremely invested in Kaladin as a character. Whenever he did something impressive, I felt like a proud mother (despite being a 22 year old with no kids).

Any additional comments?

If you're intimidated by the size of this fantasy monster, definitely try out the audiobook. Don't let the length stop you from reading an amazing book!

A great read for fantasy lovers!

Long book but never a dull moment. Leaves you wanting more when you finish. Can't wait to jump into the second book in the series.

His best book to date!

This author just keeps getting better & better. I love the way he jumps around, adding characters as he goes along and still ties things together. Each character is so interesting in their own way, they never feel like they are filler or fluff material just to give the book length. Each character comes to life within minutes & never gets dull. This is the new standard that I will hold all books I read to.

wow

loved it. a very captivating and mysterious world has been created in this epic. on to the next book.

This Book Hooked me and Then Reeled me in.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Way of Kings to be better than the print version?

For me? Yes, I love Michael Kramer and Kate Reading as narrators. I also hardly ever get time to sit and read these days. So I listen while I run errands and drive.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Way of Kings?

The opening assassination of the king is what hooked me but this book is full of great scenes. The world the Brandon Sanderson describes is rich and interesting as well.

Which character – as performed by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer – was your favorite?

Kaladin (one of the main characters) I thought was done well as well as the wind sprin who Kaladin has befriended.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I particularly like the the small bread crumbs throughout the book about the main character. You really don't get to know him until deep into the book.

Any additional comments?

I came to Brandon Sanderson by way of "The Wheel of Time" series. I am glad I did I had been looking for new series to to immerse myself into. I think that this particular book was a great introduction to what could turn out to be Brandon Sanderson's best series. I am also listening to the Mistborn Series now while I wait on the second book.