A Goodreads user
asked:
How are women treated in this story? Are any of the prominent characters women? I'm just tired of getting invested in high fantasy stories that deprecate, flatten, or completely ignore women.
To answer questions about
The Way of Kings,
please sign up.
Alanna Smith
This first book arguably has four main characters: Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, and Jasnah. Two of those four are women, and they are both wonderfully written, highly intelligent people. They probably are not as important in this book as the men are (at least, they get less pages of the story), but they take on much larger roles in the following books.
Also, I think it's worth noting that in these books, society regards women as scholars and men aren't usually even literate. If a man wants to read, he will have a woman come and read to him. So there's that.
I think you'll enjoy these!
Also, I think it's worth noting that in these books, society regards women as scholars and men aren't usually even literate. If a man wants to read, he will have a woman come and read to him. So there's that.
I think you'll enjoy these!
Trong Tran
If you've read some of the top reviews by women, each of them address that very point, that Sanderson writes incredibly powerful women that are believable, intelligent, brave, and full of talent. Shallan and Jasnah are heavily loved in the community, and many people dress up as them because of how well they are written.
Jane
I hate that in books too! But I love Brandon Sanderson because he's one of the few male fantasy authors who recognize women are people too, with intelligence and complex emotion. I'd say give it a shot
Pablo Sánchez
I would say that women appearing here had edges. I finished the book and so far, the most interesting characters to me are woman.
I don't want to spoil anything but it is quite interesting the role played by women and men in this Sanderson world.
HAVING SAID THAT, I'm a man and the writer is a man so I am not able to give a disaggregated response... I think you should unveil all by yourself.
I don't want to spoil anything but it is quite interesting the role played by women and men in this Sanderson world.
HAVING SAID THAT, I'm a man and the writer is a man so I am not able to give a disaggregated response... I think you should unveil all by yourself.
Stephen
I agree with the other answers, Sanderson does a great job on this front.
One thing to be aware of, though, is that the prominent in-world religion has very strong gender roles. Only women can do this, only men can do that. But rather than just leaving it at that, you see various characters who deal with it in very different ways, from finding identity and safety in it to outright rebelling against it. The gender roles in the culture is actually a minor theme of the books, so it definitely gets explored and tested.
One thing to be aware of, though, is that the prominent in-world religion has very strong gender roles. Only women can do this, only men can do that. But rather than just leaving it at that, you see various characters who deal with it in very different ways, from finding identity and safety in it to outright rebelling against it. The gender roles in the culture is actually a minor theme of the books, so it definitely gets explored and tested.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more