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The Way of Kings cover art

The Way of Kings

Written by: Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
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Publisher's Summary

From number one New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings, book one of the Stormlight Archive, begins an incredible new saga of epic proportion.

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 10 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 10 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 more than 10 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.

Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson:

The Cosmere

The Stormlight Archive:

  • The Way of Kings
  • Words of Radiance
  • Edgedancer (Novella)
  • Oathbringer

The Mistborn trilogy:

  • Mistborn: The Final Empire
  • The Well of Ascension
  • The Hero of Ages

Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne series:

  • Alloy of Law
  • Shadows of Self
  • Bands of Mourning

Collection:

  • Arcanum Unbounded

Other Cosmere novels:

  • Elantris
  • Warbreaker

The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series:

  • Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
  • The Scrivener's Bones
  • The Knights of Crystallia
  • The Shattered Lens
  • The Dark Talent

The Rithmatist series:

  • The Rithmatist

Other books by Brandon Sanderson:

  • The Reckoners
  • Steelheart
  • Firefight
  • Calamity

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2010 Dragonsteel Entertaiment, LLC (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Featured Article: The Best Female Narrators You Can Listen To All Day


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What listeners say about The Way of Kings

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Amazing book - Phenomenal narrators

I picked this book up on some recommendations from friends and once I started I couldn't stop listening! one of the best fantasy books I have ever experienced. The voice acting was top notch and pulled me deep into every battle and adventure. One of the best books and series on #Audible1

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Excellent read

I wasn't sold by the first chapter but this book quickly picks up with a unique world of rock and crustaceans and fascinating well-developed characters.

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The Way of Kings

This book is absolutely AMAZING! I was captured from the first minutes and look forward to the sequels. The author did a really good job of introducing terms at a manageable rate to not overwhelm the listener.I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in fantasy/adventure novels. It's so good it may even get you interested in the genre!

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Great read ! Great audiobook

Love the narrators. Really like the story. Very gripping. Can’t wait to read the next book.

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Started slow but worth sticking with

Was very hard to understand and get into at the beginning. By the end I actually couldn’t stop listening, especially the last hour. I didn’t notice it was a series until a few days ago and have bought the rest of the books. Hoping very much they continue to impress.

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First Fantasy type novel

Fantastic, I have not had a book pull me in so much in a long time, was hard to stop listening.

So much detail in his writing, very well thought out characters and the different story lines were great.

Will be moving on to Book 2 now.

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Excellent

Loved this book. Rich story, world and lore that captivates until the end. Remarkable narrators.

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Epic!

I've enjoyed other books by the author but had put off starting this series. I was feeling like some epic fantasy, though, and this really delivered! Really enjoyed this epic novel and went straight into the second book. Both narrators were good. #Audible1

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My Favorite Series

Brandon Sanderson is my favorite author; it all started with Mistborn a couple years ago. Enter The Way of Kings, Book 1 of the Stormlight Archive. The characters are relatable, the magic system is imaginative and engaging. Fantasy readers beware - this could be your new obsession! #Audible1

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Complex and Thorough

Brandon Sanderson has built another complex and thorough world for us to immerse ourselves in. It is complicated but comes together nicely. An excellent book for those of us who enjoy such things.

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