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The Way of Kings

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The Way of Kings
First edition book cover
AuthorBrandon Sanderson
IllustratorIsaac Stewart
Ben McSweeney
Greg Call
Cover artistMichael Whelan
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Stormlight Archive
GenreEpic fantasy
PublisherTor Books (US), Gollancz (UK)
Publication date
August 31, 2010
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book
Pages1007 (first edition, hardcover)
ISBN978-0-7653-2635-5
OCLC799352269
813/.6
LC ClassPS3619.A533 W375 2010[1]
Followed byWords of Radiance 

The Way of Kings is an epic fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson and the first book in The Stormlight Archive series.[2] The novel was published on August 31, 2010, by Tor Books.[3] The Way of Kings consists of one prelude, one prologue, 75 chapters, an epilogue, and nine interludes.[4] It was followed by Words of Radiance in 2014,[5][6][7] Oathbringer in 2017, Rhythm of War in 2020 and Wind and Truth in 2024. A leatherbound edition was released in 2021.[8]

The story rotates between the points of view of Kaladin, Shallan Davar, Dalinar Kholin, Adolin Kholin, Szeth-son-son-Vallano, and several other minor characters, who lead seemingly unconnected lives. In 2011, it won the David Gemmell Legend Award for best novel.[9] The unabridged audiobook is read by narrator team Michael Kramer and Kate Reading.

Setting

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The backstory of the novel revolves around recurring disasters known as Desolations, where monstrous Voidbringers ravage the world and human survival hangs in the balance. To counter the threat, the Knights Radiant (so named for their glowing aura and eyes) battle against the Voidbringers using magical armor and swords known as Shardplate and Shardblades, as well as magical powers. The most recent Desolation, which occurred thousands of years before the main events of the novel, was believed to be the final one, and has become a subject of myth and legend. The Knights Radiant discarded armor and swords remain as some of the most priceless heirlooms.

The magic of the world is based on "stormlight" from recurring, hurricane force magically powered storms known as highstorms. Commonplace gemstones infused with stormlight are used as mundane currency in merchant transactions, as well as interior lighting at night in wealthy houses and palaces. Many artifacts are powered by stormlight, such as one that convert matter into another form, like stone into grain. Nobility is also based on eye color, blue eyes being seen as the purest royalty due to the association with the legendary Knights Radiant, who had glowing eyes.

The world itself has flora and fauna which have adapted to the common and extremely powerful highstorms. Most animal life is based on crustaceans, many of which can burrow into the ground to survive a highstorm. Plant life is also mobile, in that it retracts into the ground to survive highstorms. Because all highstorms come from the eastern ocean and travel west, the western side of rocks and mountains harbor plant and animal life. Also, spirits called spren exist and react to the emotions of people and the environment. High wind will have windspren in the form of ribbons of light that flow with the wind and can change their shapes. Suffering from pain will cause red painspren to appear around the wound, and giving a noble, heartfelt speech or completing a hard task will have gloryspren of golden, twinkling lights form a halo around the head of the speaker. Spren are so common that many people pay no attention to them.

Plot

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Prelude

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Four thousand and five hundred years ago, Kelek meets with his King Jezrien. Their group, the Heralds were in an Oathpact, an ancient agreement to do eternal battle against evil, presumably for the sake of humanity. They would reconstitute into a place of fire and ruin when they died. The King Jezrien tells Kelek that 7 of the 10 Heralds had already abandoned their pact. Kelek and Jezrien abandon the Oathpact as well, leaving only one Herald, Taln, to fight.

Prologue

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Szeth is sent to assassinate the king of one of the world's most powerful nations, Alethkar. He possesses a Shardblade, a mythical blade that can cut through any material, and kill with a touch. He also has access to powers that are no longer available to normal humans (“Surgebinding”), being able to affect gravity.

Szeth confronts and mortally wounds King Gavilar before revealing to the King that he was sent by the Parshendi, a race of humanoids with mottled red and black skin. A dying Gavilar gives Szeth a black sphere of unknown use and asks him to send his last regards to his brother Dalinar. After Szeth flees the scene, Gavilar's son, Elhokar, declares war on the Parshendi for their betrayal and violating their peace treaty.

Part One

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Six years later, Kaladin, a relatively high-station peasant volunteers to follow his brother Tien, who was drafted, into war in order to keep him safe. In his third battle, Kaladin's brother is killed, driving Kaladin to become a better fighter, resolving to protect others from the same fate.

During a later battle, Kaladin succeeds in killing an enemy Shardbearer and is given the chance to claim the enemy's Shardblade and Shardplate by right. However, he rejects the Shards, fearing the person he may become, and is then betrayed by Brightlord Amaram, who takes the treasure for himself and brands Kaladin a slave to hide the theft. After numerous escape attempts, Kaladin is sent into service as a Bridgeman - a slave who is forced to carry massive bridges for the Alethi army battling the Parshendi on the Shattered Plains, a biome of vast chasms.The lord of this section of the army, Sadeas, uses the bridgemen as bait for the enemy archers. Along the way, Kaladin meets and befriends an amnesiac spren named Sylphrena, who serves as Kaladin's emotional support. Having felt depressed about his past failures, Kaladin decides to cast himself off a cliff to end his life until Syl convinces him to renew his efforts to protect the Bridgemen.

Meanwhile, Shallan, a minor light-eyed (highborn) Veden whose family's inheritance is in danger, hatches a scheme to switch a broken Soulcaster (a device that allows the user the power of transmutation) with a working one belonging to Jasnah Kholin, sister of the Alethi King Elhokar. Shallan travels to the city of Kharbranth and eventually convinces Jasnah to accept her as her ward.

Part Two

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Dalinar, uncle to current king Elhokar, witnesses Elhokar's saddle suddenly breaks in what is thought to be an assassination attempt. Dalinar also starts questioning Alethekar’s warlike and competitive nature. He also begins to experience visions during highstorms, in which he sees the ancient Knights Radiant and receives a cryptic message to unite his allies. His sanity and leadership is questioned by those closest to him.

Kaladin is determined to become the leader of Bridge Four in order to train and protect the brigemen. He comes bridgeleader and finds ways of making more money to buy additional food and antiseptic for his crew, eventually overcoming their reluctance and forming camaraderie with them. The bridge crew decide to join Kaladin in training to be faster and stronger with the bridges in hopes of surviving the assaults on the Parshendi.

Szeth finds a new master who knows his capabilities, and who sends him to assassinate high ranking nobles around the kingdoms.

Part Three

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After he accidentally ruins a battle by using a creative new bridge tactic, Kaladin is beaten violently and left outside during a high storm to die under Sadeas' orders. However, he somehow survives and heals rapidly.Kaladin begins to lose hope again, but, with Syl's encouragement, he decides to secretly train the bridge crew to fight with the spear.

Shallan grows comfortable as a ward, bonding with a young ardent (priest) named Kabsal who eventually begins courting her. Shallan is conflicted between her original plan to save her family by stealing Jasnah's soulcaster, and her growing respect for Jasnah, but eventually makes the switch. Following an assassination attempt by Kabsal, who had been using Shallan to get close to Jasnah, Shallan realizes that both she and Jasnah can Soulcast without a Soulcaster, which is supposed to be impossible.

Szeth arrives at the banquet hall of Jah Keved, successfully defeats the Shardbearers and guards, and assassinates the king.

Part Four

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As a result of his unlikely survival from the Highstorm, Kaladin begins to discover that he possesses abilities that grants him enhanced strength, speed, and healing every time he consumes Stormlight. He experiments and comes to terms with his powers and resolves to do whatever he can to save Bridge Four.

Dalinar and Adolin argue about their decision to focus on the war, Dalinar's visions, and the stability of Alethkar. Dalinar discusses with Sadeas their plans to unite the Highprinces by setting up a trap for the Parshendi at a Tower in the Shattered Plains, to which Sadeas agrees. Navani, the King's widow and Dalinar's sister in law confesses her feelings towards Dalinar, and they begin a courtship.

During the Battle of the Tower, Sadeas betrays Dalinar by retreating with his bridges stranding Dalinar and his troops. Kaladin and his bridge crew remain behind, and Syl pleads with a reluctant Kaladin to save Dalinar. Overcoming his desire to escape with his crew, Kaladin decides to attempt a rescue of Dalinar's army. Kaladin attempts to get the attention of the Parshendi archers, unleashing a surge of Stormlight to lure an entire volley of arrows to himself, momentarily stunning the Parshendi. Infused with stormlight, he alone charges the Parshendi army and unleashes his Surgebinding abilities. With the power of Surgebinding and Bridge Four's eventual aid, Kaladin cuts a path through the Parshendi forces, allowing the Kholin army to retreat.

Dalinar, Adolin, and Kaladin arrive in Sadeas's camp to confront the highprince over his betrayal. When Sadeas refuses to grant Dalinar the bridgemen, Dalinar trades his Shardblade, Oathbringer, in exchange for the thousand bridgemen under Sadeas' control, Dalinar confronts Elhokar and correctly deduces that Elhokar rigged his own saddle to prompt an investigation into possible assassins, clearing himself of any responsibility. Having grown distrustful of the Highprinces, Dalinar forces the king to declare him the Highprince of War and sets forth plans to enforce codes of chivalry to unite the army, likely earning the ire of the other factions in the king's army.

Part Five

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Jasnah starts to instruct Shallan in Soulcasting, and shares her research into the Parshendi. Jasnah, and later Shallan, believe that the Parshendi have lain waste to humanity in the past, creating the myth of the Voidbringers. Jasnah also reveals the existence of the Ghostbloods, a secret organization searching for the same answers she is, but for different reasons. Kabsal was a member of the Ghostbloods, and Shallan realizes that her father was as well.

In the Shattered Plains, Dalinar appoints Kaladin and the men of Bridge Four to serve him, his family, and the king as bodyguards, and appoints Kaladin the captain of the guard. Dalinar resolves further to refound the Knights Radiant and prepare humanity for a destruction he believes is coming.

It is revealed that Taravangian, the seemingly infirm and rather simple king of Kharbranth is actually the one who hired Szeth. In addition, Taravangian uses his hospital as a front for recording "death rattles": small glimpses of the future that sometimes occur as a person dies.

Epilogue

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In Kholinar, Hoid waits for an event to happen, suddenly, a darkeyed Shardbearer breaks through Kholinar's gates, stunning the guards. The Shardbearer identifies himself as Talenel’Elin, or Talenel, a Herald who disappeared along with the others thousands of years earlier (during the events of the prelude) and who the Vorins now remember as a god. He announces that the Everstorm is coming, before collapsing on the ground along with his Honorblade. Having witnessed this event, Hoid worries that the warning has come too late.

Characters

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The primary chapters within the book are told from the viewpoint of several major characters, while the book's interludes are told from the viewpoint of other characters (not all of which repeat). As with each Stormlight Archive book, particular characters are given a series of chapters detailing their backstory; Kaladin's backstory is detailed in The Way of Kings.

  • Kaladin is a darkeyed (lower-class) slave from the nation of Alethkar. He is accompanied by a spren named Sylphrena.
  • Szeth-son-son-Vallano is an assassin from Shinovar. He refers to himself as a "Truthless", who must serve those who bear his Oathstone.
  • Shallan Davar is a minor lighteyes (upper-class) from the nation of Jah Keved. Her family has fallen on hard times after the death of her father. She seeks to be accepted as the ward and student of the renowned scholar Jasnah Kholin, sister to King Elhokar of Alethkar. A skilled artist who can with a single glance remember and recreate a scene with charcoal and paper, she learns that she is able to Soulcast without a Soulcaster, just like Jasnah.
  • Dalinar Kholin, a highprince of Alethkar, brother to the slain King Gavilar, and uncle to the current king. Nicknamed the Blackthorn. A general who helped unite the kingdom with his brother Gavilar. Dalinar experiences visions during the highstorms, and begins to be criticized as weak after he begins to follow the Codes and referring to war Alethkar is engaged in.
  • Adolin Kholin, a lighteyes of Alethkar and heir to his father Dalinar's highprince seat. A skilled duelist, he loves and respects his father despite fearing that he has gone mad.
  • Navani Kholin, the widow of King Gavilar, mother of King Elhokar and Jasnah. A skilled scientist. She has always loved Dalinar, even when she was married to his brother, Gavilar. She attempts to rekindle a relationship with Dalinar but is initially rebuffed.
  • Jasnah Kholin, the sister to the king of Alethkar and the greatest scholar in Roshar. Mostly viewed as a heretic by the ardentia.
  • Taravangian, the king of Kharbranth. He employed Szeth to kill a great number of leaders around the world, following the Diagram, a master plan to prepare the world for the Last Desolation, made by himself.
  • Kalak, a Herald of the Almighty. His viewpoint chapter is the prelude which takes place 4,500 years before the events of the first chapter.
  • Axies the Collector, a Siah Aimian engaged in a quest to catalog all the different varieties of spren on Roshar.
  • Baxil, a thief of Emuli nationality.
  • Geranid, a scientist and philosopher. She lives on a small island, where she spends her time studying spren.
  • Ishikk, a fisherman from the Purelake.
  • Nan Balat, one of Shallan's brothers, a lighteyed Veden.
  • Rysn, a young woman from Thaylenah, and an apprentice merchant.
  • Wit, also known as Hoid, is the court jester of king Elhokar Kholin at the Shattered Plains. Hoid is in all books in the Cosmere, a universe where most works by Sanderson are set.[10]

Development

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Sanderson started working on pieces of The Way of Kings in the late 1990s. Some characters and scenes, particularly Bridge Four, originated in Dragonsteel, Sanderson's honors thesis at Brigham Young University that was completed in 2000. The finished first draft of The Way of Kings was completed in 2003.[11] Sanderson approached Tor (later renamed Reactor) with the book at this time. Although the publisher was interested, it decided that "something wasn’t quite right" and declined to publish it.[12] Its further development was delayed when Sanderson instead decided to focus on the first Mistborn trilogy, which was published from 2006 to 2008.[13] Returning to the task in the late 2000s, Sanderson indicated that he "threw away everything, and started on page one again."[12]

On June 10, 2010, the prologue and the first three chapters of the book were released along with an introduction by Sanderson as a preview on Tor.com.[14] On July 8, 2010, the next three chapters (4–6) were released in audio format.[15] On August 5, 2010, chapters 9 and 11 were released. Chapters 7, 8, and 10 were not released on that date as Tor desired the contemporary focus to be drawn toward Kaladin, a main character.[16] On August 26, 2010, chapters 12 and 13 were released.[17]

Some of the early drafts have been made available in the years since. The original Dragonsteel text from 2000 is still in the possession of Brigham Young University.[18] It was formerly available only via inter-library loan, and was the only undergraduate thesis in BYU history that needed to be rebound because it had been read so frequently.[19] Several Dragonsteel-era Bridge Four chapters were released on Sanderson's website in 2017.[20] The full text was ultimately made available as a bonus for the Words of Radiance leatherbound edition Kickstarter,[21] as well as on Sanderson's website in 2024.[22] The 2003 draft, retroactively entitled The Way of Kings Prime, was made available in its entirety on Sanderson's website in 2020.[23]

Reception

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Critical response and sales

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In its first week of released, the book was #7 on The New York Times Best Seller list.[24] In subsequent weeks, the book was #11,[25] #20,[26] and #25.[27]

The Way of Kings received critical acclaim and received praise for its extensive world-building. An early review from the website Unshelved gave the book a positive review.[28] A review from Elitist Book Reviews pointed out some problems with the book (black-and-white characters, too much exposition), but gave an overall positive opinion of the book.[29] The website SFReviews.net gave the book a mixed review, praising Sanderson's writing and creativity, but criticizing its extreme length and overall dearth of action.[30]

SF Reviews pointed out, "The ride is luxurious, the scenery is often breathtaking, but The Way of Kings is truly a long and winding road."[30] KeepingTheDoor.com commented, "The Stormlight Archive is a series that, like Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and Robin Hobb's The Realm of the Elderlings epics, every fantasy fan worth their salt must read and be familiar with. This will be one of the giant series that will help shape the entire scene."[31]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Result Ref
2010 Whitney Awards Best Novel of the Year Won [32]
Best Speculative Fiction Won [32]
Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fantasy Novel Nominated [33]
2011 David Gemmell Legend Award Best Novel Won [34]

Adaptations

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Audiobook

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An audiobook version was released in August 2010 by Macmillan Audio, read by narrator team Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, who have also read several other books written by Sanderson, including The Wheel of Time series.[35] A 5-part GraphicAudio version of The Way of Kings was released from March to July 2016. Reading and Kramer also recorded an audio version of the 2002 draft, The Way of Kings Prime. That version is freely available on the Dragonsteel website.[36]

Film

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In October 2016, the rights to the entire Cosmere universe were licensed by DMG Entertainment, though the rights on all Cosmere works besides The Stormlight Archive have since lapsed.[37] DMG is fast-tracking an adaptation of The Way of Kings.[38] Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan were hired as screenwriters. DMG founder Dan Mintz will produce the film, with Sanderson and Joshua Bilmes serving as executive producers.[39]

Video game

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A VR game, "The Way of Kings: Escape the Shattered Plains", developed by Arcturus VR, was released on March 2, 2018.

References

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  1. ^ "The way of kings" Archived 2022-12-05 at the Wayback Machine (first edition). LC Online Catalog. Library of Congress (lccn.loc.gov). Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  2. ^ "Brandon Sanderson: My History as a Writer". Brandon Sanderson. October 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Fulton, Ben (August 27, 2010). "Author Brandon Sanderson's real-life fantasy". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  4. ^ "Re: Post Questions For Brandon Sanderson Here!". Barnes & Noble. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2010.. The book has 75 chapters, along with a prelude, a prologue, an epilogue, and nine interlude chapters.
  5. ^ Sanderson, Brandon (February 28, 2013). "The Title for Brandon Sanderson's Second Stormlight Archive Book Has Been Revealed". Tor.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  6. ^ "Updates for this week". Brandon Sanderson. July 1, 2013.
  7. ^ "Words of Radiance Release Date has Moved". Tor.com. July 30, 2013. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  8. ^ "The Way of Kings Leatherbound Kickstarter Sneak Peek". June 30, 2020.
  9. ^ "The Way of Kings Wins the David Gemmell Legend Award". June 22, 2011. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  10. ^ Sanderson, Brandon (October 5, 2017). "Introduction to the Cosmere | Brandon Sanderson". brandonsanderson.com. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  11. ^ Sanderson, Brandon (2010). "Acknowledgements". The Way of Kings. Tor. ISBN 9780765365279.
  12. ^ a b Flood, Alison (July 23, 2020). "Brandon Sanderson: 'After a dozen rejected novels, you think maybe this isn't for you'". The Guardian.
  13. ^ "Brandon Sanderson Blog: Baffled Editor". Brandon Sanderson. May 12, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  14. ^ "Preview The Way of Kings on Tor.com". Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  15. ^ "Pages currently available for The Way of Kings in Sample Chapters". BrandonSanderson.com. June 13, 2023.
  16. ^ "*New* Chapters 9 & 11 of the Way of Kings: Now Available Exclusively on Tor.com." 18 Aug. 2010 <http://www.tor.com/wok/register.>., also from email from Tor.com to members Archived 15 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "*New* Chapters 12 & 13 of the Way of Kings: Now Available Exclusively on Tor.com." Tor.com: 26 Aug. 2010. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.tor.com/wok/register>., also from email from Tor.com to members Archived 15 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Sanderson, Brandon (October 20, 2018). "Will You Ever Publish Your Unpublished Novels? | Brandon Sanderson". faq.brandonsanderson.com.
  19. ^ "Will You Ever Publish Your Unpublished Novels? | Brandon Sanderson". faq.brandonsanderson.com. October 20, 2018.
  20. ^ Sanderson, Brandon (October 2, 2017). "Dragonsteel Prime Chapter 25: Bridge Four 1". Brandon Sanderson.
  21. ^ "Words of Radiance Leatherbound by Brandon Sanderson". BackerKit. March 31, 2024.
  22. ^ "Dragonsteel Prime eBook".
  23. ^ "The Way of Kings Prime". July 7, 2020.
  24. ^ "The Way of Kings is a New York Times Bestseller". Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  25. ^ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction." The New York Times, 17 Sept., 2010. 4 Oct., 2010 [1] Archived 2022-12-05 at the Wayback Machine.
  26. ^ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction." The New York Times, 24 Sept., 2010. 4 Oct., 2010 [2].
  27. ^ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction." The New York Times. 1 Oct., 2010. 3 Oct., 2010 [3].
  28. ^ "Unshelved review of "The Way of Kings"". Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  29. ^ "Elitist Book Reviews: The Way of Kings". Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  30. ^ a b "SF Reviews.net: The Way of Kings / Brandon Sanderson". Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  31. ^ "Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings review". keepingthedoor.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  32. ^ a b "Whitney Awards 2010 Winners". whitneyawards.com. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  33. ^ "Best Fantasy Novel". Goodreads. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  34. ^ "Gemmell Legend Award Winners 2011". sffworld. June 17, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  35. ^ "The Way of Kings: Book One of The Stormlight Archive [Unabridged] [Audible Audio Edition]". Amazon.
  36. ^ "The Way of Kings Prime Audiobook". Dragonsteel Books.
  37. ^ Sanderson, Brandon. "State of the Sanderson 2020". Brandon Sanderson. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  38. ^ "Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere Universe Movie Rights Sold in Massive Multi-Film Deal". Tor Books. October 27, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  39. ^ Lang, Brent (October 27, 2016). "DMG Nabs Rights to Brandon Sanderson's 'Cosmere' Book Universe in Massive Deal (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
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