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The Way of Kings

Book One of the Stormlight Archive

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The Way of Kings

By: Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by: Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
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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.

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

Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy Military Royalty War
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Critic reviews

“[Michael Kramer] does justice to the text and makes it come alive…In fact, the narration adds a new dimension to the novel in a way which an ordinary paperback simply cannot match.” —SFCrowsNest.com

“Just the thing to accompany you on that cross-country drive you've always been planning.” —SFReviews.net

“Perfect entertainment for fantasy fans on a long car trip!” —BookLoons.com

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It takes a good chunk to get into it, but it flowers out into an interesting and dynamic story, leaving you loving the characters.

The biggest downside here is both of the narrators, most of the male parts are a little monotonous, but luckily good writing prevails through. For the female narrator I agree with how robotic and impersonal she comes across. Making almost no distinction between male or female speakers in her parts.

Great opening work.

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This book is absolutely fantastic. It is so full of details, creativity, adventure and relatable characters. The more I listen to this book the more curious I am of the world Brandon Sanderson has created. Sanderson really has taken fantasy to a whole new level with a world that is completely original. The voice actors are also very talented and make it easy to understand diologue between different characters and make the story come to life. Really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy books with a touch of mystery.

A story full of imagination and mystery

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Sadly cannot finish, the female narration parts are very bad. It's like bad text to speech, very difficult to interpret and process what is going on in the story. Not enjoyable.

Can't finish due to narration

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It was hard to get a hold of the story at first, alot of impressions at the same time, but when I got the story and the characters I was more than entruiged. Will buy the next book aswell.

A vast and great story

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Brandon is probably the best writer of Epic fantasy in the world! He creats and draw you in into an dark and wellconstructed world.

The story and characters are captivating and you cant stop listning. The Narrorator is also the King of dark Epic fantasy and suits Brandons books perfectly! Really makes you belive in the story and characters.

Fantastic

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