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The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1)
by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)
by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)
Messie's review
Sep 14, 10
Recommended for:
Fantasy Lovers
Read from September 08 to 10, 2010 — I own a copy, read count: 1
I loved so many things about this novel, the world, the various magic systems introduced, the different characters, etc. I was so anxious for Dalinor and Kaladin to meet and share ideals, or for Shallan to show her mysterious drawings. I had no idea the the voidbringers would be who they are and I thought that every scene with Szeth was amazing. Also I think that this book leads into, from what it sounds like, an amazing story.
Here is my objection. Where is the story line for this novel. After the first few chapters you know Kaladin is a bridgman who wants to inspire others and escape, Dalinor wants to inspire others to unite, Shallan wants to be a ward and save her family but is conflicted about which to do, and Szeth is a wicked sweet assassin.
By page 700 you get a small change in Kaladin's story when he discovers his powers. Besides that not much seems to happen until somewhere around page 850. The last 150 pages were amazing! Everything before that was quite interesting but I think he could have taken out 500 pages and given us the same thing. Perhaps it doesn't need less pages but just a little more action.
I love long reads so I was still happy at the end. I'm excited to find out who the Voidbringers are (more in depth), why did the Knights Radiant leave, what are the Heralds, how do the Kings in the Prelude tie in, and most importantly, who is the enemy? The Parshendi? Probably, although they seemed like really honorable warriors and the lighteyes from Alethkar seem much worse. I found there to be no goal in this book so I had to take off a star because having a story line in a fantasy novel is pretty important.
That being said, I'm very excited for the next book and thoroughly enjoy Brandon Sanderson.
Here is my objection. Where is the story line for this novel. After the first few chapters you know Kaladin is a bridgman who wants to inspire others and escape, Dalinor wants to inspire others to unite, Shallan wants to be a ward and save her family but is conflicted about which to do, and Szeth is a wicked sweet assassin.
By page 700 you get a small change in Kaladin's story when he discovers his powers. Besides that not much seems to happen until somewhere around page 850. The last 150 pages were amazing! Everything before that was quite interesting but I think he could have taken out 500 pages and given us the same thing. Perhaps it doesn't need less pages but just a little more action.
I love long reads so I was still happy at the end. I'm excited to find out who the Voidbringers are (more in depth), why did the Knights Radiant leave, what are the Heralds, how do the Kings in the Prelude tie in, and most importantly, who is the enemy? The Parshendi? Probably, although they seemed like really honorable warriors and the lighteyes from Alethkar seem much worse. I found there to be no goal in this book so I had to take off a star because having a story line in a fantasy novel is pretty important.
That being said, I'm very excited for the next book and thoroughly enjoy Brandon Sanderson.
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Cathy
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rated it 4 stars
Sep 14, 2010 08:10pm
While I share your frustration that we can't mark only a part of a review as a spoiler through the official Goodreads spoiler alerts, I have to say that the spoiler that you included is way to huge to include in a non-spoiler review. Especially placed at the top of your review. Despite your spoiler note, it's too easy to see something in scanning down a pageant you will ruin some major surprises for other readers. Please change the review or use the official spoiler alert.
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Good point Cathy, thanks for the comment. I changed the beginning a bit and decided it's not much of a spoiler anymore. What do you think?
Great! Thank you. I'm sorry if I sounded rude, I was kind of in a hurry but wanted to make the comment before I forgot. You're a good sport to be so nice in your response. I've done the same thing with spoiler comments in reviews, though usually at the end and with a bunch of returns after the first **spoiler** notice. It's not ideal, but sometimes it seems like the best thing to do. I wish we could make just one or more paragraphs within the review hidden.I agree with most of your points, especially the huge surprise about the voidbringers - that was NOT what I was expecting at all! Which is cool, it's nice to actually be surprised on occasion. I think the length question leads back to one of his lines from the book - is it the journey or the destination? I enjoyed all of it, even the meandering parts, but a bit faster and more focused might have been nice too. And some pieces are clearly only there because they'll come into play in future books (the part about measuring spren, or those traders in the country where they actually have dirt and regular grass) so they felt odd and out of place. I haven't decided for sure what I think yet, still pondering before I write my review.
Hey Messie, was this book as violent or have as much innuendo as Sanderson's Mistborn series? More, less, or about the same?
It was less violent. There is still a battle scene or two but Mistborn was rather gory and brutal at times and I didn't get any of that feel in The Way of Kings. As far as innuendo I'm not sure because I don't remember what there was in Mistborn. There is some sexual innuendo in The Way of Kings and although I didn't find it to be overly prominent it was definitely there.
I think there was almost no sexuality. There were a few scenes with whores or camp followers, but no activities in that area, just a statement that they existed or a rescue of one woman by a more brutish fellow. Their idea of overtly sexy is women showing their left hands. Overall it was a very chaste story. Their society seems to practice old-fashioned, courtly love and wooing. I'd feel very comfortable with my 13 year-old very sheltered niece reading it.As for violence, as Messie says, there are a few pivotal scenes that are quite intense, but very limited in number. There are battle scenes, but they don't seem too gory, more sad and desperate. But get more opinions if it's important to you, I wouldn't want you to be upset by anything.
It's actually the kind of fantasy that I like best, now that you helped me realize it; good for all ages of readers who are old enough to handle the vocabulary. It's not dumbed down for teens but it's still appropriate. I learned to love fantasy with books like this.
I shared the same feeling wondering when an overarching "plot" would kick in... like, a plot that deals with the overall world, rather than the personal stories of the three main characters. I still enjoyed the book quite a bit, but considering the way this is being marketed as the newest and best EPIC fantasy series, I was a little let down to see the book focus so much on smaller scale stories. Having finished the book I can see where it's heading, and I suspect a big plot will probably kick in now that the world-building and character introductions have all taken place, but I was hoping for some kind of propulsive narrative thread or event to kickstart that sometime during this book.
