From #1 New York Times bestselling 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 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.

The result of over ten 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.

Reader Reviews

Petrik

(5/5)

1071

Nov 23, 2024

I have a Booktube channel now! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/petrikleoIncredible, impressive or fantastic, all these words are an understatement to the quality this book holds. The Way of Kings is the beginning of a masterpiece series in epic fantasy. It is now my life goal and a new addition to my bucket list to obtain and read the entire series of The Stormlight Archive, which will probably take at least another 20 years from now to complete.Before you started reading this book, let

carol.

(3/5)

829

A three and a half star read."What?" Sanderson's fans say, "this is a classic!""What?" people who read my reviews say, "you gave the same rating to that mess of a zombie book!"Let me 'splain.No, there is too much. Let me sum up.Ignore comments about the length. I've read books that were as long (hello, The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition), and everyone has read series that were over a thousand pages. What troubles me about The Way of Kings is that I felt like I was reading the fantasy equi...

Felicia

692

WOW. Ok, so I actually cried during this book (it was a stressful day, but I'm usually not a weeper). This book captures the epic grandiosity and scope that I remember as a kid reading Eddings and Feist and Jordan. I didn't know what was going on all the time, but I was keenly aware of the great plot, the secrets, and the depth of world building and character in this book.Yes, it's REALLY long, and yes, it lags a bit from time to time under all the philosophy, but honestly I was just staggered b...

Patrick

1178

I got to read an ARC of the book and I really enjoyed it. Sanderson really knows how tell a story and create an interesting world....

Regan

1137

ugh omg

Emily (Books with Emily Fox)

824

Me? Giving a Brandon Sanderson's book 5 stars? sHoCkIng

Sean Gibson

489

So, a buddy of mine has been trying to get me into Sanderson for some time (figuratively speaking, I should note...he has not, as of yet, physically tried to jam me inside the poor man, for which, I'm sure, Mr. Sanderson is quite grateful). At my friend's suggestion, I started with Mistborn, which--and don't freak out on me here, Sandersonites--I thought was solid, but didn't exactly salt my pickle (is that a thing?). So, he proceeded to give me The Way of Kings as a gift--his polite way of forc...

Claudia Ramírez

285

I will now proceed to make Dalinar an altar.Also, Kaladin must be protected at all costs.

Althea ☾

281

If you’re intimidated by this book/series, don’t be. Seriously, don’t be. It’s a vast world but I assure you that Brando Sando has got your back and will hold your hand as he leads the way to a world that’s just brimming with imagination. You won't feel the 1000 pages (lol) as it passes you by. "Authority does not come from a rank""Where does it come from?""From the men who give it to you. That's the only way to get it." I knew 3 different people who started this book after I did, but still fi...

TS Chan

269

Fourth time and it is still as awesome! The Stormlight Archive is Brandon Sanderson's "love letter to the epic fantasy genre". His magnum opus. From my perspective, he had lovingly and painstakingly crafted a masterpiece that was not just his greatest but one of the greatest of all time. And thus, this is my love letter to The Stormlight Archive and I hope it can do some justice to this favourite series of mine. There are many great fantasy books out there; some have a compelling story to tell s...

Robin (Bridge Four)

258

Sale Alert 27Feb22: Kindle Daily Deal for Rhythm of War is coming soon.I'm amazed every time I read this how great it is. This is my favorite fantasy series and each time I read it I find new things that are just fantastic. One of the greatest series of all time. Buddy read/reread and 3rd read of this monster done. The thing I love the most about Way of Kings is that even though it is my 3rd read of the book I catch so many new things, remember things I've forgotten and still get just as caug...

Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin

459

Reread 2020 Bridge 4 is everything! I even own a shirt that says Bridge 4! ****************Re-read on Audible. It was even better the second time around. Shallan's story wasn't as boring this time around. I'm not sure if it was the audio or what, but I'm glad. I'm still in love with Kaladin and I still love Dalinar! Their parts are my favorites even though the whole book is awesome. **First Read Review**I loved how everything in the book came together. Everyone's stories eventually collided into...

Muhtasin

296

The Way Of Kings (The Stormlight Archive,#1)Honour, love, and survival. The story is mind-blowing, the ideas and thoughts create a world that is believable and intriguing. A strong tale with a well fleshed out world and multidimensional characters that are easy to care about. Life before Death. Strength before Weakness. Journey before Destination.Epic!!!!!!

J.L. Sutton

267

“Life before Death.Strength before Weakness.Journey before Destination.”Fantastic reread of Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings! Such a rich history and so much I'd forgotten from my first reading. Planning on continuing the series with a rereading of The Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive #2). Brandon Sanderson’s Roshar is a world with a rich history, mythologies, magic systems and an ecology which has been shaped by violent (high)storms; this is massive world-building at its best! When you...

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More books from Brandon Sanderson

The Final Empire

The Well of Ascension

The Hero of Ages

Words of Radiance

Elantris

The Alloy of Law

The Gathering Storm

Towers of Midnight

Warbreaker

Oathbringer

The Bands of Mourning

Skyward

Reader Reviews