The Year of Audiobooks - Part One

My reading year may have been slow this year, but I did finally do something I have been trying to do for ages - listen to audiobooks. At the beginning of the year I decided I all ready had a treadmill, so why not take some of the money I was not paying to go to the gym and get an Audible membership. It was something to listen to while on the treadmill and gave me a chance to read books that I may not have got around to otherwise. Since blogging is another casualty of my strange year, I thought I would talk about the audiobooks I listened to this year.

I started my exploration of audiobooks in March. The very first credit I had was used for Redshirts by John Scalzi. I had read Old Man's War by John Scalzi a few years ago, but then I sort of stalled. This seemed like a good chance to get back to him. I love Star Trek and thought this would be a fun. The narrator is Wil Wheaton. I had started listening to him narrate Ready Player One by Ernest Cline last year and was enjoying his narration. I decided to start with something I had a good chance of enjoying.

Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It’s a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship’s Xenobiology laboratory.

Life couldn’t be better…until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship’s captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations, and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues’ understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is…and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.

Description from Goodreads.com.

It turned out I was quite right that I would enjoy this audiobook. It was funny, John Scalzi wrote well, and Wil Wheaton is a fun narrator to listen to. This would lead to me eventually getting all the Scalzi books narrated by Wil Wheaton, actually. And best of all I kept listening to audiobooks after finishing it.

One of the things that I really enjoy about my audiobook journey is getting to know BethFishReads a bit better. She listens to a lot of audiobooks and has become my audiobook mentor by giving me suggestions and alternative sites to visit. This lead to a mini shopping spree on Tantor and me listening to The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni. I didn't remember really hearing about the book before, but it did sound different. And it was fun. The audiobook is narrated by Lloyd James. It's a bit of a coming-of-age novel, which I don't normally like, but it was original enough that it didn't bother me too much. The novel centres around Sebastian who has been raised by is grandmother and been kept a bit isolated from the rest of the world. When his grandmother unexpectedly becomes ill this opens up many new experiences for the character. It includes some other 'misfit' children and music. Plus there are some futuristic explorations as the main character lives in a geodesic dome with a grandmother has some advanced ideas about the world.

Sebastian Prendergast lives in a geodesic dome with his eccentric grandmother, who homeschooled him in the teachings of futurist philosopher R. Buckminster Fuller. But when his grandmother has a stroke, Sebastian is forced to leave the dome and make his own way in town.

Jared Whitcomb is a chain-smoking sixteen-year-old heart-transplant recipient who befriends Sebastian, and begins to teach him about all the things he has been missing, including grape soda, girls, and Sid Vicious. They form a punk band called The Rash, and it's clear that the upcoming Methodist Church talent show has never seen the likes of them. Wholly original, The House of Tomorrow is the story of a young man's self-discovery, a dying woman's last wish, and a band of misfits trying desperately to be heard.

Description from Goodreads.com

Unfortunately, this is the only book I listened to from my Tantor shopping spree. I really must get back to the others! 

My next read was a book off my wish list: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I thought because of when the book was set and how stories at that time would have been oral on a regular basis, this was a perfect book to read by audio. And, I was right. I enjoy books set in the Ancient World, have always been a bit fascinated with Troy, and always appreciate a story done well. Miller takes a well-known story and makes it her own. Is it factual? Who really knows, but you do not question once if it could be a lie. This audio book is narrated by Frazer Douglas and is primarily about Patroclus, Achilles unexpected best friend. He sees the world in such a manner that it brings freshness to an age-old story. 

Greece in the age of Heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia. Here he is nobody, just another unwanted boy living in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles.

Achilles, 'best of all the Greeks', is everything Patroclus is not — strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess — and by all rights their paths should never cross. Yet one day, Achilles takes the shamed prince under his wing and soon their tentative companionship gives way to a steadfast friendship. As they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something far deeper — despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel and deathly pale sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.

Fate is never far from the heels of Achilles. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows Achilles into war, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they have learned, everything they hold dear. And that, before he is ready, he will be forced to surrender his friend to the hands of Fate.

Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

Description from Goodreads.com

After visiting Ancient Greece, I decided to find something short to listen to. This lead me to Legion by Brandon Sanderson. I have loved Brandon Sanderson in the past and had never really heard of this particular book by him. It is essentially a very creative spin on the idea of multiple personalities. This was a quick look at Stephen Leeds, aka The Legion, and his world. I hope that Sanderson plans to return to the idea in the future! The novel is narrated by Oliver Wyman.

Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion,' is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society.

Description from Goodreads.com

One thing I am really bad at is rereading... And keeping up with series... Enter audiobooks. I loved The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss when I read it ages ago. I decided it was about time I get to book two in the series. Only I couldn't really remember book 1. I am new to this audiobook thing... Could I stay interested in something so long? I can! Because, well, it is Patrick Rothfuss and the book rocks. Now, I still haven't read book 2, but at least book 1 is fresh in my mind. Seriously, The Name of the Wind is one of my favourite fantasy novels ever and I really need to move on to book 2...  For the narration you get to enjoy Nick Podehl and he returns for book 2. 

Told in Kvothe's own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen. The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature. A high-action story written with a poet's hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.

Description from Goodreads.com

Huge undertaking out of the way, I decided it was time for more John Scalzi and Wil Wheaton. This time I went with Fuzzy Nation. I had this on my TBR pile for a while, but I was enjoying the audiobook thing and decided that was the way to go. I loved this book. I am so happy I finally got around to it! I enjoy animals in novels and couldn't resist these cute ones. The book is very relevant for today even if it is presented in a science-fiction package. It raises some issues worth thinking about no matter what decade it is presented in. I can't wait to read more Scalzi. I have another one narrated by Wheaton, I think, and then I really must get back to his series.

Jack Holloway works alone, for reasons he doesn’t care to talk about. Hundreds of miles from ZaraCorp’s headquarters on planet, 178 light-years from the corporation’s headquarters on Earth, Jack is content as an independent contractor, prospecting and surveying at his own pace. As for his past, that’s not up for discussion.

Then, in the wake of an accidental cliff collapse, Jack discovers a seam of unimaginably valuable jewels, to which he manages to lay legal claim just as ZaraCorp is cancelling their contract with him for his part in causing the collapse. Briefly in the catbird seat, legally speaking, Jack pressures ZaraCorp into recognizing his claim, and cuts them in as partners to help extract the wealth.

But there’s another wrinkle to ZaraCorp’s relationship with the planet Zarathustra. Their entire legal right to exploit the verdant Earth-like planet, the basis of the wealth they derive from extracting its resources, is based on being able to certify to the authorities on Earth that Zarathustra is home to no sentient species.

Then a small furry biped—trusting, appealing, and ridiculously cute—shows up at Jack’s outback home. Followed by its family. As it dawns on Jack that despite their stature, these are people, he begins to suspect that ZaraCorp’s claim to a planet’s worth of wealth is very flimsy indeed…and that ZaraCorp may stop at nothing to eliminate the “fuzzys” before their existence becomes more widely known.

Description from Goodreads.com

Then, I discovered Whispersync provided by Amazon. This essentially means you can switch back and forth between audiobooks and e-books. This means that I own audiobooks and e-copies of Leviathan Wakes and Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey. And, actually, print copies as well... I have been sort of waiting for book 3 to come out on audio, should check on that after I finish this post, but I have the print copy on my shelves and book 4 pre-ordered for next year. I love this series! Horror, science-fiction, intrigue, deception, the list goes on and on with awesomeness. And it is presented so well! (And the audio IS out for book 3!!!)

Description for Leviathan Wakes:

Humanity has colonized the solar system - Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond - but the stars are still out of our reach.

Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, "The Scopuli," they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for - and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.

Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to "The Scopuli" and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything.

Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations - and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe.

Description from Goodreads.com

And then the description for book 2, Caliban's War:

We are not alone.

The alien protomolecule is clear evidence of an intelligence beyond human reckoning. No one knows what exactly is being built on Venus, but whatever it is, it is vast, powerful, and terrifying.

When a creature of unknown origin and seemingly impossible physiology attacks soldiers on Ganymede, the fragile balance of power in the Solar System shatters. Now, the race is on to discover if the protomolecule has escaped Venus, or if someone is building an army of super-soldiers.

Jim Holden is the center of it all. In spite of everything, he’s still the best man for the job to find out what happened on Ganymede. Either way, the protomolecule is loose and Holden must find a way to stop it before war engulfs the entire system.

CALIBAN’S WAR is an action-packed space adventure following in the footsteps of the critically acclaimed Leviathan Wakes.

Description from Goodreads.com

Oh, Jeffrey Mays narrates. I forgot to mention that above! And, since this is getting really long, I will be back with the second half in a separate post.

Group Read - A Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - The Final Post

The Way of Kings: The Stormlight Archive - Book 1 by Brandon Sanderson

Completion Date: September 1, 2011
Reason for Reading: Group read hosted by Deanna at Polishing Mud Balls. (You can find the dedicated blog here.)

Brandon Sanderson, widely acclaimed for his work completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time saga, begins a grand cycle of his own, with The Way of Kings, Book One of the Stormlight Archive.

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.

I wasn't entirely sure if I really wanted to do another post about this book, but I wanted something to sort of tie everything up. This is where I attempt to write a review! First up, if I can't manage it, you should know that this is one of my favourites read of 2011 and will more than likely make my Best of... List at the end of the year. I am very happy to have finished a book that is over 1000 pages long. I am terrible with chunksters. It could be the best book in the world and I put it aside for whatever reason... Never to pick it up again. Since this was for a read-along, another thing I typically am terrible at, I was determined to finish the book with everyone else. I knew I would regret it if I didn't!

How do you even tackle a review of a book of this magnitude? I think this is why some of my favourite books ever are not reviewed on this blog. I regret it later on, but it is just so hard to put my love into words. Plus, it is typically books that are so in-depth that it is virtually impossible to give a clear picture about them. I can safely say that this book grabbed me from the very start. All of the characters have interesting stories, so I was excited to see what was going to happen to them all. That being said, when all the introductions were done for the characters in the very beginning, I was worried there would be too many characters and I would never be able to keep track of what is going on. I didn't need to worry. I have a clear picture of all of the main characters, have a vested interested in all of their stories, and cannot wait until the next book to see what Sanderson thinks up for them next.

The book basically centres around the character of Kaladin. He is the son of surgeon who thinks his life is on-track until his young brother is assigned to the army. Kaladin is strong, but his brother doesn't have the personality to kill. Kaladin finds himself following his brother and attempting to protect him, but everything seems to fall apart for him. The book will show the path he took to become the main we see. It is a very compelling story of a man who comes into some amazing powers, but is basically the average person who has had a string of bad luck. Other characters that are show-cased are Shallan who has gone out to seek her fortune and attempt to become a ward for Jasnah. We know that her intentions are not pure, but she does manage to talk Jasnah into taking her on. Jasnah is a scribe and the sister of the present king. Her father has died under suspicious circumstances sending the kingdom into war, so she is attempting to research the reasoning for things to play out this way.

Then, there is Dalinar and his two sons. Dalinar is the brother of the deceased king and the uncle of the current one. He has always been a warrior, but has found that his mind-set is changing a great deal. His sons question whether or not he is going crazy. He questions whether or not he is going crazy. He finds his inspiration in The Old Ways and in a book called Way of Kings. He is also having visions. Through these main characters, many other characters are introduced. If I talked about all of them, though, we would be here for a while. I will just say that Sanderson manges to bring his characters to life without overwhelming the reader. I know just enough about each of them to appreciate them, but not enough to make my head spin.

That is just the characters... There is also the war, the kingdom, the magical elements, the fact that men can't read, the women's safehand, and so much more going on in this book. It is a ground-breaking achievement that gets even more exciting the more that I think about it. If you are at all a fan of the fantasy genre, than you really should read this book. I can't say enough good things about and I cannot wait to read more of the story!

To see my answers to each weeks questions, click the following links:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Group Read - A Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - Part 4 & 5

Brandon Sanderson, widely acclaimed for his work completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time saga, begins a grand cycle of his own, with The Way of Kings, Book One of the Stormlight Archive.

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.

I am a bit behind in answering the questions for the read-along. It's my fault. I am really bad with weekly posts. I also asked questions last week without even having finished the section they were about. I figured I had read enough of the book to come up with them, but I wasn't so sure about answering them. Now that I am entirely finished the book I can catch-up.

Part 4: The Questions I Asked

1. One thing that I have thinking about during the course of this book is what Brandon Sanderson is trying to say about religion. Jasnah is an atheist. Shallan believes, but is still trying to find herself. Dalinar believes strongly in the ‘Old Ways’. What do you think of this idea?

I wasn't sure what to make of all the religious ideas in this book. In the beginning I was worried they would be too much of a focus and I wasn't sure if that was what I was looking for in a fantasy book. I have to be in the right mood to explore religious ideas and you wouldn't really be able to say the religious ideas in this book were not mirrored off our own world views. The religious ideas were a bit tweaked, but in many ways this book was exploring the people that make up our own world. I think that religion, especially at this part of the book, is largely unexplored. I expect a lot more will be said about it as the series progresses.

2. The relationship between siblings is an important part of this book. Adolin has always been at the forefront of Dalinar’s two sons, but Renarin is important, too. What did you think of the two brothers? Going back a generation, what do think of Dalinar and our glimpses of his brother? Then there is Kaladin who joins the war to protect his brother and fails. And Jasnah whose brother is King. Or Shallan who puts herself in a dangerous situation to help her brothers out following her fathers’ death. What do you think of these relationships? Did any stick out for you?
One of my favourite characters in this book was Shallan. We had an insider look at why she did the things that she did, so even when they didn't go quite to plan; we understood where she was coming from. Here was this innocent girl, we think, who has gone out into the world to save herself and her brothers. I am looking forward to that playing out more as the series continues.

Kaladin was also a relationship that stuck in my mind. We get brief glimpses of Shallan's childhood, but with Kaladin we go back and replay the events as they happen. He joins a dangerous war to protect his brother. We are told over and over again throughout the course of the book that he failed, but it takes a while before we find out exactly what happened. All I know is that I felt terrible for Kaladin. He had his whole life ahead of him and one good deed starts a chain reaction that brings everything tumbling down around him.

As to some of the other relationships, I look forward to seeing Renarin explored a bit more. Right now he is sort of in the background when things happen. I am also curious to see what Adolin accomplishes. He is an impressive character so far. Jasnah and her brother, the king, are shown a lot separately, but they are not explored together much. Hopefully they will be back in the same place and we can see them together a bit. Then, there is Dalinar. His brother is dead, but he is having lasting effects on Dalinar's decisions and plans for the future. I look forward to seeing how things play out.

3. Kaladin has been included in every section. Why do you think this was? Did you wish to have a break from him, or did you enjoy knowing he would be explored with every section?

I really enjoyed reading about Kaladin, so I am glad he played an important role throughout the book. There was a lot going on with him, so it was important to have so much time with him. He was just the son of a doctor who found his life getting very complicated. We got to go back and view his childhood and then watch him grow into the man he is by the end of the book. I think of all the characters in the book he is the most like the reader, so he is the easiest to relate to. He has a bit of an impressive power, but ultimately he is just a regular guy who has done impressive things and had a bit of bad luck along the way.

4. One of my favourite characters in the book is Syl. What do you think of her and her development throughout the course of this book?

I really enjoyed Syl. We learn a lot about her in the course of the book. We actually watch her grow and become someone. Every scene that she is in something else amazing has happened to her. Suey compared her to Tinkerbell and I have to admit a long the way I thought of her like that, too.

5. And, the big question, what do you think is going to happen in the last section? Any predictions?

I can't really answer this because I am behind and I actually know what happens, so... Next section!

Part 5: Suey's Questions

1. It seems like every main character had a little wrap up chapter in this section, with each section ending on a bit of a cliff hanger. What do you think? Do you appreciate these cliff hangers or do they make you crazy? Did you predict some of them, or have no idea they were coming? Did one of them stand out as most surprising?

Well, cliff hangers do always drive me crazy, but then I say that and half the time I don't read the sequel right away. If it bothered me as much as I say it does I would be a bit more timely! I was happy for the most part where things went and I am looking forward to seeing how they play out in the next book. I would have read it without the cliff hangers, though. There were a few surprises. I was surprised by who killed Shallan's father. I think that was my biggest surprise. Not to say it didn't make sense to me when I read it. I was more annoyed that there wasn't more elaboration. That's a big thing to reveal and then move on from. It is the centre to everything that Shallan has been doing the entire course of the book.

2. Did the book leave you with an overall satisfied feeling, or are you left with too many unanswered questions? If so, what are some of the questions bothering you the most?

I think the book wrapped up just enough for me. It leaves just enough things circulating in my mind to make me excited for the next book and everything playing out. I think the biggest thing I am wondering about is what I said above.


3. What did you think of the book ending with a Wit chapter? Did you understand what he was trying to say? What does this chapter mean in relation to the rest of the series?
I enjoyed the way the book ended. It was just the author saying there is more to come in the next book, so be prepared. I also like Wit as a character, so I look forward to more from him. In many ways he makes me think of the Fool from Robin Hobb's books and I always enjoyed him, too.

4. If someone asked you what this book is about... how would you answer them? In just two or three sentences!

um.... Evil question! I have a hard enough telling people what books are about in unlimited words.

This book is about a huge cast of characters who are all finding that they are things that even they didn't know about themselves and are coming into their own. The book looks at each of their stories, but also addresses the larger issues of the world around them. It has pretty much any element you could hope to find in a book, but it does it in such a way that you don't feel overloaded.

5. And finally (even though I suspect I know everyone’s answer) will you be reading the rest of this series? Will you be there the day it comes out? Or just whenever? Will you be recommending this to others?

Yes, I will be reading the rest of the series. Maybe not when it comes out, but soon afterwards. And, yes, I strongly recommend this book to others. It will be on my Best of List for the end of the year.

Previous Weeks:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Group Read - A Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - Part 3

Brandon Sanderson, widely acclaimed for his work completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time saga, begins a grand cycle of his own, with The Way of Kings, Book One of the Stormlight Archive.

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.

I am really enjoying Brandon Sanderson's book so far. I was a bit worried that it would go the way of many chunksters I have started over the years, but it is working out really well. This week Memory came up with the questions. For all the information on the read-along, head over to Polishing Mud Balls to read all about it.

1. Part III reunites us with Shallan, who we haven’t seen for a few hundred pages, and separates us from Dalinar and Adolin for a few hundred more. How do you feel about leaving characters behind for such long stretches? Did you lose any of your connection to them during the break?

I was really happy to be reconnected with Shallan. I am really enjoying her storyline, so I was curious what had been happening while the story was concentrating on other characters. There is lots of bookish connections with Shallan, so I enjoy that because I can relate to many aspects of it. I don't mind when the characters are not present in the sections. I know they will be back and the story will progress.

2. So far, how would you compare this to other epic fantasies you’ve read? Does it remind you of any other series?

There are always a few connections that can be made with other stories, but for the most part I am finding this fresh and original. I am really enjoying this series so far, so I have high hopes that it will be a great epic fantasy series as it goes along.

3. How do you feel about the masculine and feminine arts? If you’re female, do you think you’d be content to stick to scholaly pursuits, or would you rather do something physical, like go to war? If you’re male, would you be willing to forgo learning to read, even if there were women around to read to you? What about the food? Does the spicy for men and sweet for women restriction fit your own tastes?
I love to read, but I am not sure I would be content with just scholarly pursuits. I think part of the reason I love fantasy novels is because I like to think about the sword-fighting and magic. It is the aspect of the book that I enjoy. If I am reading a book I do get excited about things like libraries, but what I dream about doing is the more 'exciting' aspects. As to the food, it would never work for me. I am not crazy about sweet food. I am one of those weird people that is not crazy about chocolate. I would rather eat spicy foods.

4. What do you think of the flashbacks to Kaladin’s childhood?

I actually really enjoy the flashbacks to Kaladin's childhood. I am really curious about how he became the person he is in the later years. There is a lot we don't know about him. The book starts with him in an entirely different point of life, so it is interesting to see how he progresses. Things are hinted around about, and we have actually learned a lot in this section, but there is likely more to explore.

5. Do you have any theories yet as to where the story is headed? What do you most want to see in the last quarter of the book?

Well, I am hoping for more from Dalinar and Adolin, of course. We have been away from them and I want to see more. I am also curious about how all the many story-lines are going to be wrapped up and whether they all will be... This is a series, after all. I think I will just enjoy the reading and hope that I continue to love it like I am so far.

Previous Posts:

Part 1

Part 2

Group Read - A Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - Part 2

Brandon Sanderson, widely acclaimed for his work completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time saga, begins a grand cycle of his own, with The Way of Kings, Book One of the Stormlight Archive.

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.

I am a day late. I came on to write my post yesterday, but I just had other things in my mind. So, in the spirit of the book I posted an Interlude. Sanderson says that Interludes are a way to show parts of the larger world; as the first question Carl came up with mentions. My blog centres around reading, but sometimes it is nice to get a better idea of what the rest of my world is like.

On to the questions. I must say I am really enjoying this book! I am usually read bad at reading on a schedule because I get impatient and read the whole book, but this time I am trying to stick to the plan. This is helped by the fact that I have been busy and haven't been reading as much.

This group read is being hosted by Deanna from Polishing Mud Balls. To join in or read other posts, visit the dedicated read-along blog.

1. In a recent interview Brandon Sanderson mentioned that the interludes are meant to show us parts of the larger world since much of the action is focused in one or two places. What do you think of the first two sets of interludes? Any characters or situations stand out to you?

I actually enjoy the interludes. They break the book up nicely. I think in a book this long you would get tired of the same story-lines. It is not to take a break and read about some other people for a few minutes before resuming the regular story. In the Interlude 'Axies the Collector' I enjoyed learning more about the spren. There is a spren included in Kaladin's story, but it is said over and over again that she is not like other spren. There are spren mentioned in other situations, too, but it is nice to get some back-story on them. I actually wish this interlude had gone into more detail. I also enjoyed learning more about what is going on in the outside world while the main story is playing out and learning more about the different groups of people that are mentioned, but never entirely elaborated on.

2. In small increments Brandon Sanderson is revealing the geology and ecology of Roshar. What are your thoughts on what has been revealed thus far?

I enjoy that Sanderson is bringing these things up without bogging the story down too much. It is obvious that a lot of planning went into the writing of these books. Sanderson has created an entire world in a very believable manner. One of the things I enjoy learning about, like I said above, is the spren. They tie into the nature of the world and are often present for his descriptions because they are part of the living and even the dead. Sanderson talks about the rocks, the plants, and the planet comes to life in your mind.

3. This second section of The Way of Kings featured two distinct story lines, those of Dalinar and of Kaladin. How do you feel this section of the book compares with the first section and what are your thoughts on either or both of these story lines?

The first section had a few more story-lines, but now those other story-lines have become intertwined with these two. For Kaladin's story-lines I enjoy that the story continues to progress, but Sanderson also flashes back to talk about the events that lead to Kaladin's captivity. It is done very smoothly and never takes too much time in either time period. As for Dalinar, I really enjoyed learning about his visions. The reader knows that he is using a type of magic long forgotten on the world, but everyone else thinks he is going crazy. It makes for an interesting contrast and makes you wonder what will happen as events progress. Dalinar is thinking about a lot of things that have been taken for granted and raises some interesting points. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next section.

4. In the interview set out earlier in the week Sanderson talked about the Stormlight Archive being a series about the return of magic. What are your thoughts on this, particularly in relation to the visions Dalinar is having during the highstorms?

I think this is actually a really interesting idea. In many fantasy novels magic is just taken as a given, but in this book people think you are crazy if you do something against the norm. The characters in the book have some amazing abilities, but they don't consider that magic. As a reader, I obviously think that Dalinar is having visions, but the characters in the book think that he is going crazy. The characters in the book cannot seem to grasp the idea that since there is all ready many magical things in use on a regular basis, it stands to reason that more is plausible.

5. There has been a change in this second section of the nature of the quotes prior to the beginning of each chapter. What are your thoughts on the opening lines featured in both sections of the book to this point?

The quotes are interesting. In the first section it was the last words of people on their death bed. In the second section it is quotes. I enjoyed the first section more because after stating their last words there is always a description of said them and when to give some context. The second section treats things as more of a mystery. They fit into the story, but you are not told who is saying them and why. I look forward to seeing what the opening quotes are for the third part of the book.

6. In the questions for these first two sections we've talked about characters and the story lines and the world that Sanderson has created, but there are a lot of interesting flourishes and touches to The Way of Kings thus far (shardplate, spren, the actual Way of Kings book, highstorms, etc.). Talk about some of the non-character/non-setting things that you are finding either fascinating or annoying (or both) in the book thus far.

Well, I have all ready mentioned my interest in the spren, so I will leave that subject for now. One of the things that really stands out for me is that men cannot read. The women do all the reading for them. On the one hand this is rather sad, but on the other hand it puts the women right in the front lines. It will be interesting to see how this idea develops throughout this book and the later series as a whole. The shardplates are very interesting, too. When Dalinar had one of his visions he went back to a very different world with very different shardplates. It was interesting to read about how much things had changed. It lead to Dalinar giving serious thought to how the use shardplates now.

Previous Posts:

Part 1

Group Read - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - Part 1

Brandon Sanderson, widely acclaimed for his work completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time saga, begins a grand cycle of his own, with The Way of Kings, Book One of the Stormlight Archive.

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.

This is the first part of a group read hosted by Deanna from Polishing Mud Balls. If you are interested in joining in, you can find all the information on her read-along blog. Let me just say that this book was very readable from the beginning and I am very excited to read more!

Deanna's Questions for Week 1:

1. Before I started reading The Way of Kings, I did have some thoughts on how I would like this story; did you? If you did, how is The Way of Kings actually comparing to those thoughts?

Well, a small part of me was hoping maybe I would hate it. I know, it sounds crazy but this is going to be a huge series and I am terrible with series... Then, the majority of me was hoping that I would love it because I have been saying all year I don't read epic fantasy novels like I used to enjoy regularly. I think I am going to love this book, so the majority of my hopes are living out. I enjoy the setting and the characters so far. I am looking forward to watching the plots play out.

2. What do you think of the pace of this story? so far. And what do you think of the prose? Do you think the prose is too descriptive? Not descriptive enough? Give me your thoughts on the writing thus far.

Well, the writing is not too descriptive for me. I hate it when a book is too descriptive, so I am happy that this one seems to be flowing really well for me. When there are lots of descriptions I haven't felt tempted to skim through them either, so I am hoping that will continue for the entire book. I was a little worried about the pacing because he is trying to show what is going on several places, but it hasn't been so bad so far. The book is moving along rather well and I actually found the first section a quick read once I sat down and concentrated.

3. What was your favorite part of this first section?
I think my favourite part was when Shallan was discussing books with Jasnah. Even though they are not books that exist in our world, it is always fun to witness a book discussion. I also am enjoying watching the characters develop. They all have interesting stories that I want to learn more about. From the book description you know there is a lot more to learn and there are a lot more pages to learn from!

4. Which character(s) do you find most interesting and why?

That's a hard question. So far I am curious and interested in all of them. I want to know more about them and who they are. I think it might be too early for me to pick an overall favourite. We haven't visited with them long enough to entirely get a grasp of their personalities and what they are going to bring to the book.

5. All right, what I really want to know is... what do you think of this book overall? so far. Are you finding the story easy to follow? Are you fascinated, interested? Is the book holding your attention? Are you Bored? Indifferent? Please share your overall thoughts.

I am really enjoying this book so far! I wish my hard copy of the book would arrive so I can flip around easier to write these posts, but the mail seems to be a bit slow! I am interested in the story and what is going to happen next. I look forward to seeing more from the characters. I am interested in seeing some of the things mentioned in the books description play out. I am looking forward to starting the second section, which I probably will have done by the time this post actually posts.