Way of Kings Review
My review of Way of Kings. Minor spoilers.
This is the first book in Brandon Sanderson’s epic Stormlight Archive. And it’s a prototypical Sanderson book. Filled with an interesting world, Rosher. Plants behave differently and the mostly unpredictable highstorms, force people to seek shelter. And the magic. Unlike most of his works were the magic is spelled out for you here at times you are left wondering what and how the magic works. And again it appears to have more than one, all tied together, yet separate. The mystical shard blades and plate armor, granting superior fighting ability. The soulcasting, allow people to change any and everything around them, how this works has yet to be revealed. Then there is the powers that Szeth Truthless of Shinover, and Kaladin. I’m not even sure what the magic is called. With the book being as dense as it was. It might have been named but I missed it. However, with Szeth this is the magic that we get the most detail, much more of what Sanderson typically does. It’s interesting seeing Szeth the master use the magic to be the Shin in white assassin. And also seeing Kaladin learn to control parts of it at the end of the book.
The story follows for the most part the battle taking place on the Shattered Plains. With Kaladin a bridge man, a former slave and former military member and surgeon apprentice. With each bridge run, a race to battle, the bridge men face death, sacrifices. Forced to face arrow without arrow. Most don’t last long. Kaladin won’t allow it. He finds a way to solve this, it’s a rough and hard journey for him to save bridge 4.
Also at the plains we see the brother of the slain King. Dalinar Kholin and his son Adolin. After the King’s death, Dalinar goes through many changes. The codes, a way for military men to live, become his life. His son tries to change understand it, and to help his father change. The relationship the two have is not that of a normal father and son, but when you’re a High Prince in war and seeing visions of the past. That is to be expected and provides a nice shift.
Away from the Shattered Plains we have Shallan seeking and finding Dalinar niece, the new Kings sister. She seeks to learn from the Princess who is a heretic. And to steal from her. Along the way we see her shift and learn, and fall back. The story is a drastic shift from the other PoV’s. Helping to build the world and set up for the larger story of the series.
In the end we see each achieve much of what they sent out for or what they needed. The book was a tough read with all the magic and learning of it and the world. But was well worth it. It’s worth the time if you enjoy epic fantasy.
The post Way of Kings Review appeared first on Nathan & Derek Howe.
