Book Review: Brandon Sanderson - The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1)

Brandon Sanderson’s The Way of Kings is a remarkable fantasy novel and the first book in The Stormlight Archive series. Sanderson masterfully creates an entirely new world from scratch. While much of the book focuses on war, it also follows characters chasing ancient mysteries, blending these elements into one of the finest works of fantasy literature.

The Way of Kings is just the beginning of The Stormlight Archive, a series planned to span 10 books. So far, four books have been published, with the fifth expected to release in November 2024.

Personal Thoughts on The Way of Kings

This was one of those books that I always wanted to read but kept putting off. The main reason? It's a hefty book! With over 1,000 pages, The Way of Kings can be intimidating, but once you dive into it, you’ll wish it never ends. Sanderson’s creation of a detailed, imaginative world is truly captivating, making the length well worth the read.

Another book I delayed reading for similar reasons but recently finished is Patrick Rothfuss’s The Kingkiller Chronicle series, which offers a similarly immersive and enjoyable fantasy experience.

The Way of Kings begins by telling the stories of different characters, but these characters will eventually start working toward a common purpose, one way or another. The novel delves into themes of war, internal strife within the kingdom, a series of ancient mysteries, and different types of human characters, with a particular focus on leadership.

My fantasy reading list: 30 best fantasy books, novels, and book series of all time

Brandon Sanderson - The Way of Kings: Plot Summary

The book begins with the end of a war that took place a long time ago. However, it doesn’t really explain what happened. This is likely a mystery left to be revealed in later books, leaving the reader in suspense.

Then, the story jumps 4,500 years forward, where we witness an assassination attempt on a king. This assassination sets the foundation for the book's fantastical elements. The assassin, Szeth, is a character referred to as a “Truthless.” The first book doesn’t explain what this means, but we see that he has special powers. He is called a “Windrunner” and can change the direction of gravity at will, allowing him to walk on walls or ceilings. He also has other similar powers and uses “stormlight” to activate them.

Szeth is also a “Shardbearer,” meaning he possesses a Shardblade. As I mentioned, the book introduces a unique fantasy world with its own terminology and myths.

One of the most important things to know about the book is the concept of “Shards.” These Shardblades and Shardplates are ancient relics that once belonged to a group of warriors known as the "Radiants," who no longer exist. They are incredibly powerful weapons and armor. A Shardbearer is strong enough to defeat an entire army alone. They rarely lose, but if someone defeats a Shardbearer, they claim the Shardblade, which forms a special bond with its wielder.

“As always, the Shardblade killed oddly; though it cut easily through stone, steel, or anything inanimate, the metal fuzzed when it touched living skin. It traveled through the guard’s neck without leaving a mark, but once it did, the man’s eyes smoked and burned. They blackened, shriveling up in his head, and he slumped forward, dead. A Shardblade did not cut living flesh; it severed the soul itself.”

Szeth is a Shardbearer, and so is King Gavilar, whom he is sent to assassinate. Gavilar possesses both a Shardblade and Shardplate, yet despite his strength, he cannot escape the assassination.

Ultimately, the king dies, and the Parshendi take responsibility for the assassination. The Parshendi are another mysterious race in this fantastical world.

The story then continues six years after this event. The kingdom of Alethkar, now seeking revenge for their fallen king, goes to war with the Parshendi on the Shattered Plains.

Worldbuilding in The Stormlight Archive

As previously mentioned, The Stormlight Archive series is set in its own unique fantasy world called Roshar. We’ve already touched on the Shards, the powerful weapons and armor, but there's even more behind them—stories and mysteries that the author only partially reveals in the first book. Let's look at a relevant passage from the book:

“According to legend, the Shardblades were first carried by the Knights Radiant uncounted ages ago. Gifts of their god, granted to allow them to fight horrors of rock and flame, dozens of feet tall, foes whose eyes burned with hatred. The Voidbringers. When your foe had skin as hard as stone itself, steel was useless. Something supernal was required.”

Lighteyes and Darkeyes / Brightlady and Brightlord

Another aspect of this fantasy series is the caste system among humans. Since there are kingdoms, we see the division of upper and lower classes. People are separated based on their eye color into Lighteyes and Darkeyes. Lighteyes are the noble, upper class, while Darkeyes are the lower class. Even within these groups, there are further divisions, referred to as "Dahn." A Lighteyes individual could still be of a very low Dahn. Additionally, for the upper class, the terms "Brightlady" and "Brightlord" are used.

There are also two other concepts the author introduces: "Hauth" and "Havah." Lighteyes women are only allowed to show their hauth (their safehand) and must always keep their havah covered, usually by wearing a glove or keeping it hidden in their sleeve.

Spren

In this fantasy world, there are also beings called spren. These come in many varieties and are not living creatures. For example, when a person feels fear, fearspren begin to appear around them. They have no physical form, they float in the air, and they do not interact with people. When victory is achieved in battle, you might see luckspren. When someone dies, deathspren emerge. Similarly, if a wound becomes infected, rotspren start to gather around.

Their exact purpose and why they exist are unknown, adding another layer of mystery to the book.

Soulcasting and Fabrials

Another magical element in the series is soulcasting, which allows people (usually priests known as ardents) to transform one substance into another. For instance, they can turn stone into grain, change a wooden house into stone for durability, or convert plants into metal if there’s a need for iron. However, these soulcasters work with gemstones, and their numbers are very limited. The gemstones lose their power with use and eventually shatter, making soulcasting accessible only to the wealthy elite or the royal class.

Fabrials are another form of technology or magic. These devices serve various purposes. For example, there is a fabrial called the "spanreed," which allows people to communicate by writing over long distances. These fabrials are crafted using the science of fabrial engineering, adding further complexity to the world.

Main Characters

The Way of Kings introduces a range of characters whose paths eventually intertwine:

• Gavilar Kholin – The king of Alethkar who is assassinated at the beginning of the book.
• Elhokar Kholin – The son of the assassinated king and the new king of Alethkar.
• Dalinar Kholin – The king’s uncle and the brother of the late Gavilar. He holds the title of Highprince.
• Adolin Kholin – Dalinar’s son, a skilled swordsman.
• Sadeas – Another Highprince, second in power only to the king. While he is technically loyal to the crown, the Highprinces wield significant power in their own right, and there is a lack of unity in the kingdom.
• Szeth – The assassin responsible for killing the king. He is known as a "truthless" and possesses the ability to manipulate gravity as a "Surgebinder."
• Jasnah Kholin – Gavilar’s daughter and Elhokar’s sister. A scholar and intellectual, she plays a pivotal role in uncovering the mysteries of their world.
• Shallan Davar – A Lighteyes and Brightlady who seeks to study under Jasnah and hides her own secrets.
• Kaladin Stormblessed – Perhaps the most significant character in the book, Kaladin’s journey from soldier to slave, and beyond, is central to the story.

Kaladin Stormblessed

Although The Way of Kings has multiple key characters, Kaladin Stormblessed stands out as one of the most prominent. Kaladin's father was a doctor who wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. However, Kaladin was more interested in becoming a warrior. He believed that if he could defeat a Shardbearer in battle and claim a Shardblade, he could elevate his status and become a Lighteyes.

Fate, however, had different plans for him. Kaladin joins the army and quickly rises through the ranks, eventually becoming the commander of his own squad. But as the story unfolds, we find him in chains as a slave. His journey from soldier to slave—and beyond—unfolds as a central part of the novel, with much more of his fate to be revealed as the series progresses.

The Heralds, Voidbringers, and Religion

The world of The Stormlight Archive is called "Roshar," a land plagued by frequent and devastating storms known as highstorms. These storms are so powerful that when they hit, people must seek refuge in stone structures; survival outside is nearly impossible. Because of this, people often reference the storms in daily conversations and oaths, using phrases like "Stormfather" or cursing with expressions such as "storm take you." The storms originate from the east and gradually weaken as they move westward. Even the plants in Roshar have adapted to these storms—some retreat or hide when they sense movement, protecting themselves from the violent winds.

These storms also carry a unique energy known as "stormlight." It is used for illumination and is stored in gemstones, which are also used as currency. The value of a sphere is determined by the gem inside, and during a highstorm, these spheres are left outside to be recharged with stormlight.

Stormlight is particularly crucial for the Radiants, who use it as a source of power. It serves a dual purpose, functioning both as a magical resource and a practical form of energy.

Vorinism, the most prevalent religion in Roshar, also plays a key role in shaping the world. This faith tells of a single god and ancient beings known as Heralds and Voidbringers. Heralds were divine beings sent to aid humanity, while Voidbringers were destructive entities whose nature remains largely mysterious. The Knights Radiant were an order of warriors who used the Heralds' power to fight against the Voidbringers. However, they are said to have betrayed humanity at some point, and the truth behind these events is shrouded in mystery.

““The Heralds were sent to teach mankind,” Lirin said.

“They led us against the Voidbringers after we were cast from heaven. The Radiants were the orders of knights they founded.”

“Who were demons.”

“Who betrayed us,” Lirin said, “once the Heralds left.” Lirin raised a finger. “They were not demons, they were just men who had too much power and not enough sense.”

“The Voidbringers were an embodiment of evil. We fought them off ninety and nine times, led by the Heralds and their chosen knights, the ten orders we call the Knights Radiant. Finally, Aharietiam came, the Last Desolation. The Voidbringers were cast back into the Tranquiline Halls. The Heralds followed to force them out of heaven as well, and Roshar’s Heraldic Epochs ended. Mankind entered the Era of Solitude. The modern era.”

““The stories,” he continued between puffs, “they prove it. What happened to the Heralds? They abandoned us. What happened to the Knights Radiant? They fell and became tarnished. What happened to the Epoch Kingdoms? They crashed when the church tried to seize power. You can’t trust anyone with power, Syl.”

Pashendi and Parshmen

In the center of the story lies the Parshmen race and their distinct offshoot, the Parshendi. They have marble-like skin with black and red patterns. Parshmen are a race used as slaves throughout Roshar, employed in various parts of the world. Their characteristics are described as follows:

"Parshmen need the hand of civilized peoples to guide them. This has been proven time and time again. Leave one out in the wilderness, and it will just sit there, doing nothing, until someone comes along to give it orders. Yet here was a group who could hunt, make weapons, build buildings, and—indeed—create their own civilization.”

While King Gavilar was leading exploration expeditions into the uncharted regions of the country, he came across a race similar to their enslaved counterparts but different. These were the Parshendi, who, unlike their enslaved kin, were warriors.

"The Parshendi. They weren’t like common parshman workers. They were far more muscular, far more solid. They had the bulky build of soldiers, and each one carried a weapon strapped to his back. Some wore dark red and black beards tied with bits of rock, while others were clean-shaven."

It was they who assassinated Gavilar, sparking the war. However, the reasons and motivations behind these actions are not fully answered in the first book.

Roshar is home to various races, each with distinct characteristics and customs. For instance, among the Alethi, being a warrior is the most honorable duty. Alethi men do not read or write; they consider it a shameful task. Instead, women handle the duties of reading and writing. Let's take a look at how things work in a race with a different view of warriors:

"Shin are a curious folk,” he said. “Here, warriors are the lowliest of men—kind of like slaves. Men trade and sell them between houses by way of little stones that signify ownership, and any man who picks up a weapon must join them and be treated the same. The fellow in the fancy robe? He’s a farmer."

 

Brandon Sanderson's Writing Style

In the preface of the book, author Brandon Sanderson mentions that this series is something he had been planning and dreaming of for many years. As you read, it becomes evident that this is a meticulously thought-out novel and series filled with high fantasy elements.

As I mentioned earlier, the book begins with events from 4,500 years ago and then jumps to 6 years ago, occasionally going back a few years to describe Kaladin's life before becoming a soldier and later a slave. We also see glimpses of the past in Dalinar’s visions, which take us back to the time of the Heralds, Voidbringers, and Radiants. Additionally, there are interludes between sections, where the author takes you to different corners of Roshar, revealing more details about the world.

In this fantastical world, everything is different—even the plants and creatures. Given this, the author has included drawings of these various plant and animal species he mentions. Imagining these things is one thing, but seeing them depicted by an artist based on the author's descriptions adds another dimension. In this sense, both the narrative and the visuals make this a true high fantasy novel and series.

It may take a few hundred pages to get used to the book, its style, and the series as a whole. But once you do, it will captivate you. Speaking of storytelling, I found a particular dialogue between characters in the novel about the nature of telling stories quite intriguing, so I wanted to include it here.

 “A story doesn’t live until it is imagined in someone’s mind.”

“What does the story mean, then?”

“It means what you want it to mean,” Hoid said. “The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon. Too often, we forget that.”

 

Conclusion

The Way of Kings is an epic fantasy novel filled with complex characters, a richly imagined world, and mysteries that keep you hooked from start to finish. With Sanderson’s detailed writing, every page immerses you deeper into Roshar’s history, its conflicts, and its magic. Although the book is long, the depth and intrigue make it an unforgettable journey into one of the best fantasy worlds ever created.

• Title: The Way of Kings
• Author: Brandon Sanderson
• Series: The Stormlight Archive (Book 1)
• Genre: High Fantasy
• First Published: August 31, 2010
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Number of Pages: 1,008 (U.S. hardcover edition)
• Language: English
• Setting: The fictional world of Roshar
• Key Themes: Honor, leadership, war, and personal struggle

It is the first book in The Stormlight Archive series, which is planned to be a ten-book series divided into two arcs of five books each. The series is ongoing, with the latest book published being the fourth one, Rhythm of War, released in 2020. The next book in The Stormlight Archive series, Wind and Truth, Book 5, is expected to be released on December 6, 2024.