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The Way of Kings Part One: The first book of the breathtaking epic Stormlight Archive from the worldwide fantasy sensation

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About the book

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 civilisation alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soil-less 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 armour that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.

Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. 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. Her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

Editions (11)

ISBN9781473233287
PublisherGollancz
Publication Date03/03/22
Pages624

Reviews & Ratings

365 ratings

56 reviews

4.7

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  • banshee666
    banshee666

    3 Followers

    5.0

    What a Journey. Compelling, thrilling, complex and deep.

    First of all: i held my breath a lot while reading certain parts of the story. So if i have less brainfunction now compared to before its definetly Brandon Sandersons fault for writing books as good as this one. I was honestly a bit afraid going into this book. Not beacause of the amount of pages, rather because i loved all the books ive read from sanderson so far, and i feared it might changed with a book as popular as this one. Thankfully thats not the case. At times i was not as engaged with the book because i was frustated with the change in perspective but while continiung on i appreciated even the short chapters from one time only POVs. I loved Syl. I mean… who wouldnt? And kaladin and his emotional, mental and ethical struggle spoke to me. Also i adore it in books if lots of stuff is plotwise foreshadowed while still keeping readers on edge as to when we find out specifics. Oh and fusing different POVs and strands of plots together effortlessly seems to be a talent of Sanderson. Also i am so curious to figure out more about the world, the history, the magic and the religion in this story. So far ita been amazing 🫶🏻

    Apr 26, 2026

  • felarof
    felarof

    137 Followers

    5.0

    Fantasyliteratur vom Feinsten 👌🏼

    Ich habe alles geliebt. Das World Building fühlt sich so dermaßen natürlich an, es gibt kein unnötiges Infodumping. Kein Charakter muss mir in ellenlangen Paragraphen erklären, wie die Welt funktioniert. Wir erleben es selbst während dem Lesen. Stück für Stück wird die Welt größer und komplexer. Die ganze Sache ist einfach sooo immersiv, es macht richtig Spaß, sich vollständig in die Welt fallen zu lassen. Die Charaktere?! Ich liebe sie alle. Alle haben ihre Ecken und Kanten, sie machen tatsächlich Fehler die weitreichende Konsequenzen haben, obwohl das, was sie tun, moralisch richtig ist. Ihnen stehen ihre eigenen hohen moralischen Standards im Weg und das macht sie so unfassbar nahbar. Man lernt das Wesen eines jeden Charakters durch seine Entscheidungen und sein Handeln kennen, nicht weil uns ein anderer Charakter sagt. So schreibt man komplexe Charaktere, liebs. Emotional hab ich auch noch nie mit einer Gruppe Sklaven so sehr mitgefiebert wie hier. Bridge Four hat mein Herz, lieb die Jungs ❤️ Ein muss für jeden, der gute High Fantasy erleben möchte. Lasst euch nicht von den über 1000 Seiten abschrecken. Die sind vollkommen gerechtfertigt.

    Oct 20, 2024

  • 5.0

    Wow. Amazing High Fantasy! One of my FAVE books now and forever 🥰

    How am I ever supposed to find the words for this book? How do you find words for a book that made you cry at least 6 times throughout its 1001 pages and one time latest about 10 minutes? This book wrecked me. It absolutely wrecked me. It damaged me so profoundly emotionally. But storms you need to read this. You could describe stormlight as "a guy carries a bridge for 1000 pages and it's the best stroming thing I've ever read". But for real: If you want an awesome and very unique worldbuilding, characters you will grow to love and hate, epic battles and plottwists that are absolutely killing you with suspense and that you won't believe are truly happening? Read this book. If want found family vibes and funny banter even though the world is ending everywhere around them? Read this book. If you want storytelling that will grip you to your bones and make you want to finish this story all in one setting - and if you want to be enraptured with the details (Stormlight, the world and the magic are so thought through, its a masterpiece of planning and scheming and it comes together so beautifully!)? Read this book. If you are in need of a book that will give you all the feels? Read this book. Read it for the epic battles, read it for the beautiful character development, read it for the magic system & the worldbuilding. This book is worth every hype & I do finally understand what people mean when they say Sanderson is an awesome writer! The way he builds his characters & makes you care even about the assholes (!) - it's pure magic. I fell in love with Kaladin Stormblessed from the very first page & he is now one of my fave characters of all time! But I also really started caring about Dalinar Kholin which I did not think possible since he is quite... unreachable in the beginning, but he grows on you - I promise. Combine that with how much detail Sanderson put into the world and its inner workings and you get the masterpiece that is Stormlight 1. If you love high fantasy or even just wanna give it a try this is the one for you.

    Wow. Amazing High Fantasy! One of my FAVE books now and forever 🥰

    Jul 6, 2024

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