Review - The Way of Kings (Revisited) by Brandon Sanderson

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was my second read of this novel (see my first review) and occurred both before, during, and after I read its sequel, Words of Radiance. It holds up well after 3 years and, frankly, was a better read after I finished #2. Some plot and thematic elements become more apparent and reading them back to back lets one eliminate the initial bump of in-world terminology.

I found Kaladin a much more tolerable lead character this time. Since the book's initial publication, when I first read it, I've learned much more about depression and its inescapable presence. Kaladin reads as an authentic depressed character now that I've put that together. Dalinar again annoyed me a bit, although Adolin was also more interesting after reading book 2. Nonetheless, Jasnah & Shallan are still my favorite storyline and I greatly enjoyed the secondary cast of characters.

Definitely still recommended for epic fantasy fans. At only 2 books in, this world is already rich and deep enough to get more out of the first installment.

Review - Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

And breathe. (spoilers marked)

Epic. Truly epic. I hesitated to give this 5 stars simply because I want to be able to rate the later entries relatively higher if it improves from here, but it would be a disservice to give it 4. The pacing is excellent, never slacking, often intense. The characters are easily the best Sanderson has ever written, with complex, flawed motivations and goals. You could read this story just for the basic plot but where's the fun in ignoring the rich, hint-laden undercurrents? It's not for a new fantasy reader but rewards long time fans with a complex world and vivid characters.

I've rarely read a second-in-a-series book that had this much energy and individuality. Sanderson's choice to use each book as a backstory focus for one character is really working to keep the story fresh, although Shallan's story left me with as many questions as answers!

Some personal (and spoiler-marked) thoughts:
-Pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed Shallan's present-day storyline (view spoiler)[even without my favorite character, Jasnah (hide spoiler)].
-Adolin is also growing on me, particularly as his slightly antagonistic relationship with Kaladin evolves. Plus, he and (view spoiler)[Shallan (hide spoiler)] are a fun match.
-Super excited that (view spoiler)[Jasnah's not really dead. So tired of the dead mentor so the hero can rise trope. Loved the epilogue with her and Wit. (hide spoiler)]
-Sanderson's descriptions of Kaladin's recurring depression and his anxiety about when/if it will return. Just... spot on, especially with how it never really leaves him. Kaladin bothered me when I read Way of Kings the first time but 3 years later, I really get it.
-If you're willing to go even slightly down the rabbit hole on 17th Shard or Coppermind, this book becomes a much richer experience. (This will also improve your reading of book #1's pacing, IMO.)
-The story left me with sincere tears in places (pg 849 I'm looking at you) and made me catch my breath in several places (especially (view spoiler)[Adolin's 4-on-1 fight and Kaladin jumping into the ring (hide spoiler)]).

In short, if you like Sanderson, you'll like this one. I think it will even convert those fans who were on the fence about Way of Kings. Highly, highly recommended for epic fantasy fans.

View all my reviews

Review - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit, I was worried for the first 500 pages. This book is slow going at first. Early on, I found it difficult to really root for Kaladin (who wallowed in his own crapulance a lot) and for Dalinar (who has a crisis and withdraws from life). Fortunately, the Shallan/Jasnah storyline kept me pulling through and was, for me, the best of the three throughout.

All the main characters are vividly drawn and their personalities are intact and consistent throughout, which gets high marks in my opinion. Otherwise, how could I loathe Dalinar's inaction and Kaladin's wallowing? And let me not forget the two most dynamic characters of all, Syl and Wit(view spoiler)[/Hoid (hide spoiler)]. Having just come off reading Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, I love that Wit, like Hobb's Fool, seems too knowledgeable and yet powerless. It works well in Way of Kings. All the secondary characters (and who knows how long they'll remain secondary) are brightly written as well. I enjoyed scenes with Adolin, Renarin, Danlan, Navani, Elkohar, Rock, Teft, Sigzil, and Taravangian.

I only have one small quibble with this book and it's really more of a request for future installments: Please, more of the women. Perhaps the clichest of cliches in modern fantasy is the male hero with female supporting cast. Navani, Danlan, and especially Jasnah and Shallan are very well written and deserve just as much "screen time" as the battle fighting heroes; they don't receive it in this book. The story moves well and Jasnah and Shallan's "big reveals" needed to wait to the end for plot reasons, so I understand spacing out Shallan's viewpoints, but I hope that the rest of the series will have more of these leading ladies.

There are, of course, plenty of cliffhangers by the end. (view spoiler)[What is Teft/Sigzil/Rock's full story? Who are the Ghostbloods and what do they want? What does Taravangian hope to accomplish? Will Szeth succeed in killing Dalinar or can Kaladin/Jasnah/Shallan thwart him? What is a Truthless? Why does Jasnah dislike her mother? What did Dalinar request of the Old Magic and what did it cost him? and so on. (hide spoiler)]

A review such as this can't begin to approach the complexity of this book and it is, regardless, difficult to write a complete review of the first book in a series without a series to place it in. So I'll say this:

For fantasy fans who are worried about getting sucked into yet another endless series, this one felt more deliberate to me. Sanderson has a track record of delivering on extremely challenging deadlines and The Way of Kings is clearly a meticulously thought out plot. It may be a long series, but I feel like it will be worth the wait. The story is layered and twisted, the world-building is interesting without being gratuitous, the battles are spectacular, the characters are varied and vivid and complex. I will gladly keep shelling out money and time for this series if all the other books are this well executed.

ETA: I later re-read this book when the sequel was published.  Read that review here.