The Way of Kings Book Review
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson book review and recommendation with NO SPOILERS
Date: 3-28-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 10/10
Book Cover Rating: 4.6/10
(My personal opinion)
Title: The Way of Kings
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Pages: !!!!!!!1007!!!!!!! (ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE)
Genre: High Fantasy
Subplots: Magic, Adventure, War
Series: The Stormlight Archive #1
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2010
Number of Editions: 109
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audio
Awards Won: Locus Award Nominee for Best Fantasy Novel, David Gemmell Legend Award, Whitney Award for Best Novel of the Year, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fantasy and for Favorite Book and for Goodreads Author
Goodreads Rating: 4.67/5
# of Goodreads Ratings: 588,682
Amazon Rating: 4.8/5
# of Amazon Ratings: 77,539
Movie/TV Show?? : Not currently, but it is supposedly being considered for the future…….
Book Type: Standard
POV Type: Multi, 3rd Person
Pacing: Slow
Generally: Epic war, high fantasy, immense character development
My Review
Going Into It:
Going into this book a TON of my family had already read this book and RAVED about it to me. I was SUPER excited to finally read it!!
Main Characters:
Kaladin- Kaladin grew up as an apprentice to his father, a surgeon. Now, he is a slave. Kaladin has suffered through a lot of failure and letdown throughout his life. He has the mentality that he never does any good, so why keep trying. That being said, he is also strong, perseverant, focused, and DEDICATED.
Shallan Davar- Shallan grew up as daughter to a fairly rich nobleman. But, she also went through struggle and trauma growing up. She is forced out of her comfort zone to help her family. She LOVES to learn and is amazing at sketching. She was often meek and passive growing up, but is learning to become more assertive and confident.
Dalinar Kholin- Dalinar is a rich High Prince. He was a war mongerer and tyrant when he was younger, but is now significantly older and has realized some of his faults.
I don’t think I have EVER read a book with this much CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!! It was absolutely crazy!! ALL of the main characters had fairly significant faults, but not in ways that made them seem less likable. I fell in love with these characters, cheered for their successes, and mourned their losses.
Character Rating: 10/10
Setting:
This book took place on The Shattered Plains and in Kharbranth on the continent, Roshar
This was an AMAZING setting. It was other-worldly, immersive, and SO unique. I LOVED how Brandon Sanderson had his ‘cosmere’ (which this was a part of), which made this feel so much more united and purposeful.
Setting Rating: 10/10
Plot:
This had everything you could ever want in a high fantasy book. War, magic, different species, gods, knights, kings, and more!! The plot was brilliantly complex and made a great story for the reader.
Plot Rating: 10/10
Writing:
Wow!! Brandon Sanderson is one of THE BEST authors I have ever read!! His books have depth, emotion, and he can somehow have the most complex plots, without the reader EVER becoming confused.
Writing Rating: 10/10
Ending:
This ending flowed PERFECTLY into book two!! It didn't really wrap anything up, but that’s totally fine (in my opinion), because the series is still SO MUCH longer.
Ending Rating: 10/10
The Overall:
WOW!! This was an AMAZING high fantasy book!! It had everything: war, magic, kings, and more!! Brandon Sanderson did a FABULOUS job creating a detailed and complex plot, without confusing the reader. The setting was detailed and this book flowed perfectly into the rest of the series!!
Overall Book Rating: 10/10
I would un-doubtably recommend this book
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He grew up in Nebraska, but now lives in Utah
He has three sons with his wife, Emily
He has sold over 30 million copies of his books
He is a creative writing professor at Brigham Young University
For more information, view Brandon Sanderson’s website: Brandonsanderson.com
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