The Way of Kings

The Stormlight Archive, Book 1

De: Brandon Sanderson

Narrado por: Michael Kramer, Kate Reading

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

Epic

I've been looking for a good epic fantasy world since I've finished Sword of Truth and got as far as you can with Wheel of Time, and if this book is anything to go buy The Stormlight Archive is going to be an amazing Epic fantasy series.

It might just be because this book has the same narrators as the Wheel of Time but the writing style is very similar to Robert Jordan, this might be why he was asked to finish off the WoT series after Jordan's death.

The writing is great, the narration is great and the action scenes flow nicely enabling me to really visualise the story in my mind.

Love it, five stars isn't enough.

Great book, but some issues with this copy.

Great book, great readers. some noice in the background and the book skips backwards sometimes like a broken CD.

Amazing!

Its a great book. Tightly written, and keeps you hanging on to every word. It builds a world you genuinely believe could be there and it keeps you in its grasp all the way to the end. Will literally start book two right after this review.

Just wow

I’ve longed for a book like this. A unique universe that is hard to leave. All wrapped up in amazing storytelling.

Author's best series!

This is my second reading and I loved it even more than the first time. Michael and Kate are my favorite narrator couple and possibly my second most favorite narrators ever (RIP Roy Dotrice).
The story is amazing and all I wish for in a fantasy saga. As always in Sanderson's books magic system is perfectly thought out and interesting.
After reading Arcanum unbounded the subtle hints at cosmere are more noticeable and I enjoyed them a lot more.
Overall one of my favorite books...

Epic fantasy at its best

Such an epic, immersive story with intricate character design and great world building. Definitely recommend!

Great book, great readers

Arguably Sanderson's best book in my opinion and very well read! I highly recommend this book.

Excellent story, hindered by narrator

The story is grand, detailed, and intriguing even if events sometimes unfold a bit slowly.
Michael Kramer is one of the best narrators I've come across, and he would get 6 stars if I could give them.
However, Kate Reading on the other hand is average at best, and her lackluster performance is contrasted bitterly by Kramer's brilliance. It seems they didn't even talk to each other regarding the characters, since they pronounce names differently sometimes.

A slow burn

Brandon Sanderson is a master of his craft. That being said, this book takes the long road. The detail and character exploration builds a rich world but does so at expense of maintaining the listener's attention. I do think the book could have been shorter and more action packed. But if you are willing to commit it is worth it in the end.

The Next Game of Thrones

Wow! I am amazed at the detail that went into this book! This is a work of art in word form! I’m am sad that it has ended, but excited for the next book! This is only the first out of 10 planned books!!! (Three of which are released already) This is going to be truly something to behold when it is completed! I recommend strongly.

The performances by the readers where really good actually. I enjoyed them. They were pretty consistent through out the book and appreciated the different gender voices for the different genders (depending on whose point of view it was written from), it did bug me a little that in one chapter the Lady pronounced the one character’s name different from the male voice. But all in all, really well done..

So in summer....
Get this book and start listening now!! But be prepared to set aside 2-3 weeks of your life as this will consume all your free time.

Happy listening