The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive

by Brandon Sanderson

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765365278
• ISBN13: 9780765365279
• Release Date: May 2011
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 1280 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.1" x 4.1" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

It Might Be My Favorite Book Of All Time

OK. If you don’t like fantasy. Do not read this book. If you like fantasy and are not afraid of a deep dive of World building. You will love this book. It is incredible and masterful and completely worth it. I’ve already read it and I’m gonna buy another copy.

A masterpiece.

I bought a box set from theiftbooks with way of kings, words of radiance, and oathbringer and it was in perfect condition. I’m on WOR right now. The way of kings is packed with world building and a character driven plot. The last 100-200 pages are perfect. All the buildup of the thousand pages before hits like a punch in the face and I love it. Top tier epic fantasy.

Great book, great story-line, characters, and writen at a pace that makes a large book feel small.

I got the mass production new or like new I believe and was very satisfied. The book came in perfect condition. The story itself is great and I ended up flying thru it as quickly as I could. The world is deep but given to you at a pace that is both easy to understand and enjoyable. Pro tip might as well buy the second book at the same time so you don't have to wait. If I could go back, I would have bought them all at the same time. That week was torture..

Seductively Enthralling

My kiddo loves to read, and recommended this book for me. He warned me that, at first, he thought it took a while for character development. But then suddenly, somewhere in the middle of the book, he realized he was fully immersed in the book and it had not been development after all. I kept his perspective in mind as I began reading. Turns out, it’s just a unique world from the very beginning. It felt like a small mental adjustment that I do not experience from most books - they’re just not as unique. This one is 100% worth the investment. One of the finest, seductively enthralling books of all time. You find yourself wishing for more time to read. I even went back to read the beginning again with a new level of understanding. I’m excited to continue this journey as the author reveals more & more. Don’t let the size of the book intimidate you; it’s entertaining and worth it! I think many terms are overused these days, diminishing their quality - but in my opinion, this book truly is a masterpiece. Enjoy! :)

Don’t Let the Size Scare You!

This book is one of the best I have ever read, and such an enthralling introduction to an amazing series. A hefty book at over 1200 pages, its packed with action, magic, politics, and everything that makes fantasy novels interesting. This may not be a book for beginner fantasy readers, but if you like fantasy and like Sanderson, BUY THIS BOOK

Pleasantly Surprised

My 23 year old son is reading the series and loves it. He suggested I read it because it was so good and we could discuss it together ( yes, we’re the book nerds of the family 😊) I am absolutely loving! The descriptions are wonderful and really draw you in to enable you to picture the world described. Character development is some of the best I have read. You will begin to “know “ and fall in love with certain characters. All this being said, I am definitely not part of the expected demographic of fantasy/sci fi as a woman in her 50’s and yet I am loving it! A series for all.

Modern Epic Fantasy at its Best

This book is absolutely fantastic. The length really allows you to feel fully immersed in the world, attached to the characters, and makes the many payoffs so much more worth it.

Long and Worth It

This is a long book. There is no getting around that. Going over the texts I sent my cousin as I was reading it, especially the last five hundred pages (the fact that I can say last five hundred pages and still mean a minority of the book says something), I used a lot of caps. I picked up a lot of new favorite characters. The magic system(s) is/are interesting. Word of warning, there is a steep learning curve to the magic system, so steep that it almost turned me off from the book at the very start. Once I got over the panic of the complexity (aka, as soon as I got halfway through the first chapter), I was very, very quickly sucked into the characters and their lives. Narrative complexity is about the same level as Game of Thrones, but Way of Kings is a lot less grim dark. I say this knowing how the book opens. I recommend this book for fantasy lovers of Robert Jordan and Mercedes Lackey. Also, this isn't anything close to a standalone novel. Some first books could function like that. This definitely does not. To expose my bias, Mistborn by the same author is in my top three favorite books of all time.

One of the best books I've read

I bought this on a whim after a recommendation from a friend. I was GLUED to it and finished it in under 2 weeks. It was absolutely amazing! I am now hooked on the series and am reading his other books. I highly recommend this if you enjoy fantasy and insane character development!

Absolutely fantastic!

This book is so ridiculously epic!!! If you want a book that you’ll end up glued to try this one!

Brilliant book brilliant author

Great story. Great world. Brandon Sanderson is brilliant in the execution of the story but also adds leadership principles to a fantasy novel. Will go down in history aside Tolkien.

A wonderful fantasy experience

At first the length was intimidating, but I cannot recommend this enough for fantasy fans, very well written and thorough.

Exceptional Fantasy Epic! My new favorite book

Brandon Sanderson has created an amazing, magically-invested fantasy world with a biodiversity that tests the imagination, though he explains it so well it simply feels natural while reading about it. Systems of magic, nature, and culture are all solidly laid out and explained to the best of the abilities of those who inhabit and experience them. There is well-written action and strife, and the world of Roshar does not yet know it faces danger of apocalyptic proportions, and throughout all of this Sanderson maintains a wonderful focus on characters and their development. At over 1200 pages, this glorious tome can appear somewhat intimidating, but it is worth every penny and every moment spent. I lent this to a friend who does not usually enjoy books longer than a couple hundred pages, and despite her usual tendencies, she devoured the Way of Kings with enthusiasm. It is a fantastic addition to Sanderson's growing Cosmere of worlds.

One of the Best Books in Existence

Do you like fantasy? Do you like the idea of other worlds and systems of magic that hold endless possibilities? Then you should not only read this book, but anything else by this author that you can get your hands on. He weaves a complex yet stimulating story with amazing characters and intricate plotlines that leave you wanting to turn the next page, even when you have to put it down. I finished this book in three days because it was just too good. Enjoy.