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.