‘The Way of Kings’ is the first book in the series ‘The Stormlight Archives’ by prolific high fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson published in 2010. With the rise of this author and with the fifth book coming out later this year, is this book worth the read?
This book has long been on the radar of the book club for quite a while. Bel Air graduate and former book clubber Julia Kraczek made an entire PowerPoint to convince us to read it in 2022. She described all the animals as being ‘crabs’ (which is mostly true with context). But it wasn’t until Will Hall brought it up in the April/May meeting of 2024 that it was chosen.
A world of stone terrain and powerful storms, Roshar’s inhabits adapt around these elements. Mystical swords and suits of armor called Shardblades and Shardplate from the fallen order known as the Knights Radiant are highly prized. After the assassination of the king, Brightlord Dalinar Kholin (the brother) fights upon the Shattered Plain. Troubled by psychic visions of the past, he turns to the ancient text called the Way of Kings. In another army, Kaladin is fighting to survive slavery as a Bridgemen while saving his men from leaders who think they’re expendable. Across the ocean, a naive young woman named Shallan seeks to train under the scholar, Dalinar’s niece, Jasnah. But not all her motives are pure, and she fights between saving her family or her love of learning. The Knights might not be as dead as they all think with a threat looming that even the ancients couldn’t prevent.
I love this book, and it only gets better in the second. The world is immersive and unique with each species of animal and race of humans being distinct. The intercludes allow for further exploration into this interesting world. “I love how [Sanderson] slowly reveals the story and shows the world through the lens of many different characters during the interludes,” explained Will Hall, “[his] worldbuilding is on another level.” The concept of the world revolving around High Storms makes for a cool antagonist and plot as well as setting.
You fall in love with all the characters and their advancement in the plot. The pace makes sure you are never bored even when amid worldbuilding. The plot twists and turns so you never know what will happen with “unrivaled” action. Pasts of the characters happen naturally and unrushed, making for better connections with the characters.
Will further states, “He’ll also just go from describing a normal scene or character to dropping the most random yet thoughtful nugget of wisdom you’ve ever seen in the middle of a fantasy book and you just gotta pause and ponder for a second.”
I highly recommend this book and series whether in book form or audiobook. The fifth book, “Wind and Truth,” comes out December 6, 2024. The first book club meeting of the year is October 3.