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Series: Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson ("Way of Kings")
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Allison, Fairy Mod-mother
(last edited Jan 26, 2018 05:03PM)
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rated it 3 stars
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LOL. Just picked up the library hardcover edition of Warbringer, which is so heavy and cumbers..."
I got WoK and WoR for Christmas and they stand equally well on their spines as they do on their sides. In the words of my father, "that ain't right."
I just started in on my read of Words of Radiance, and had the startling realization that the entire light/dark eyes dichotomy is a misunderstanding on the parts of the entire alethi caste system. Radiant practitioners, when using stormlight, literally leak light from the eyes. They are the only “light eyes,” because the color doesn’t matter, the power does. As society forgot about what the knights radiant really did, they just assumed that “light colored” and “light” meant the same thing.
I know someone reading this probably figured all of that out already, but I missed it the first time, and it’s a great piece of world building.
Travis wrote: "Allison wrote: "But my God, if they keep getting longer, I think even my iPad is going to revolt. "
LOL. Just picked up the library hardcover edition of Warbringer, which is so heavy and cumbers..."
I love my Kindle for that reason - no chance of concussion when falling asleep reading in bed! 😝😝😝
Finished off Words of Radiance today. I really love the action of the finale. And the twist in the politics...
Starting in on Oathbringer.
Lowell wrote: "Finished off Words of Radiance today. I really love the action of the finale. And the twist in the politics...
Starting in on Oathbringer."
Enjoy!
Haha gotta love Pattern
Mod
Allison wrote: "OMG Leonie, I was cackling during that scene. I was reading in bed and woke my spouse up because I was shaking with laughter so hard."It was very funny! I just recently listened to it on audiobook - possibly even funnier!
I have to necropost here, cause every now and then I feel the urge to squeak while listening to the audiobook of "The Way of Kings".While an audiobook certainly isn't the best way to start into a complex high fantasy world (especially not for somebody with a mediocre understanding of English), I'm enjoying the narration a lot. Certainly I don't get everything and most names I can only guess, but I'm at chapter 8 now and I think I can follow the story.
After the initial 1.5 hours of fighting descriptions I was pleasantly surprised that the writing of the characters is equally strong.
(view spoiler)
Mod
And omg yes! Shallan's agency is one of the best things this book does right from the get go. I love it so much!
LOL! Thanks, Allison. The triple letter looked very strange to me. I'm now end of part I and I understand why this book gets such high ratings. As I see the POVs change now, so on to some confusion ;).
It's funny. the first time I read Way of Kings, I found it kind of mediocre. Then I read Words of Radiance, and realized I cared about the characters, and then I did a full re-read when Oathbringer came out and I'm fully hooked.
I wonder about the near-death excerpts at the beginning of each chapter. Do they somewhen tie into the story?And the second interlude with Shallan's brother (don't know the name, since my tablet doesn't get internet connection since yesterday and in the desktop audible version there are only chapter numbers and no names) was "yeeek!" - disgusting!
Since I'm listening to The Way of Kings - so no maps, no visual references, I google from time to time for pictures and look what I've found … isn't this cute? (I live in a family of three Lego maniacs, so everyhting with those bricks catches my eyes on default)https://www.secondbrickfast.com/index...
Mod
Gabi, those little excerpts at the beginning of each chapter do tie in and get answered. Sanderson does a good job of explaining almost everything. And there are a lot of interesting hints and tie ins through the book and series with the character Wit. So keep an ear out for those! Such an amazing book. #BridgeFour
Gabi wrote: "Since I'm listening to The Way of Kings - so no maps, no visual references, I google from time to time for pictures and look what I've found … isn't this cute? (I live in a family of three Lego man..."Those are amazing!
Gabi wrote: "Since I'm listening to The Way of Kings - so no maps, no visual references, I google from time to time for pictures and look what I've found … isn't this cute? (I live in a family of three Lego man..."Aww, these are great! Quality custom work. I'm a recovering Lego addict myself (still in process of ridding myself of a space hogging collection).
Gabi wrote: "Since I'm listening to The Way of Kings - so no maps, no visual references, I google from time to time for pictures and look what I've found … isn't this cute? (I live in a family of three Lego man..."Those are super-duper fun!
Jemppu wrote: "Aww, these are great! Quality custom work. I'm a recovering Lego addict myself (still in process of ridding myself of a space hogging collection). "
As an unrepentant Brickhead... you monster! how could you! ;-)
I really want such a lego skyeel - I have to pester my boys (at least they instantly could tell me from which set those wings come)--
I'm now roughly a quarter into the book. I'm positively surprised how likeable the characters are, even though they follow the typical set of medieval fantasy characters, even a fool is there (where I had to grin that he is called "the Wit"). As so often I would wish for women other than in their typical role, but this only comes up as an afterthought now and then. Though I'm glad for Sil (well … who can't be counted as woman, can she?).
What I very much adore is the world building. Those plateaus and trenches and the need for the bridge teams is a marvellous idea.
And did I get this correct, that most of the fauna is crustacean, and there are no mammals?
I'm very much enjoying the audiobook - I just have to fade out the fact that this is the first book in a 10 novel series. My kingdom (well … if I had one) for authors who are able to bring their idea across in 3 books or less.
Mod
I love the women, and how we have strong characters who still do important work even with patriarchal roles. I love the ridiculous extremes he plays with --it's unmanly to read, modesty requires women only ever show one hand. I also love seeing Shallan learn new ways of thinking and Syl try to figure out how humans work ^^
OMG his world building! So, so much thought into every detail. Yes! Everything in this part of the world is built to withstand high storms. Incredible how he made something so weird feel so natural.
At least I trust him to finish series, though I am sad I'll have to wait so long for the full story. I think this will be his magnum opus. All of his books are said to inhabit the same universe, and apparently at some point they'll all intersect. The mind he must have to keep all of this moving in the same direction...I am astounded!
Oh yes, the real-men-don't-read is so funny! When this came up the first time I had to laugh out loud. A cute idea.So far there have been no other scenes with women (apart from Adolin's x courting affairs) but the ones with Shallan in the first part. So it's rather men-heavy at the moment. I must admit that I prefer worlds like in the Nightrunner series, where women are Queens, Military Generals or Sorcerers - even though the emphasis here is as well on the male characters.
Will it somewhen be explained, why grown-up women have to cover one of their hands?
Just listened to the Rysn interlude … how weird! I'm at a loss - but that's probably how it should be at that moment. So many settings, so many characters.ETA: and now I'm listening to the Axies interlude and I'm nearly falling over with laughter.
(view spoiler)
Can it get any better than that? :D :D :D
Mod
Gabi wrote: "Will it somewhen be explained, why grown-up women have to cover one of their hands?"It hasn't yet. It appears to just be a cultural practice. I've personally written it off as a modesty/religious practice based on something in the past that we may (or may not) get a hint of in future novels.
Woohoo! Chapter 32 "Side Carry" was one intense chapter! Amazing
I'm now half way into the first book. Question to those who read all so far available ones: does the quality and pace go on like this? This is so awesome!
Mod
Then I know where my next audible credits go :) - I hope the narrator stays the same. This is the first audiobook where I didn't have to rewind one single time, cause I stay so focused on the plot (and that with all those names and settings and stuff).
Gabi wrote: "Then I know where my next audible credits go :) - I hope the narrator stays the same. This is the first audiobook where I didn't have to rewind one single time, cause I stay so focused on the plot ..."Yep. The narrator(s) stay the same throughout. And they are both excellent!
Mod
Lowell wrote: "Yep. The narrator(s) stay the same throughout. And they are both excellent! "Great! I read some ppl complaining they were too emotionless … I have no idea what makes them say that? The narration sweeps me away.
I would personally say WoR>WoK>Oathbringer but that’s without any logic. There is hardly much to choose between the books in terms of quality and pace. This series is definitely the best going around. Period.
Mod
You really give me hope! It's more often than not that I'm fascinated by a first book in a series and then have difficulties to stay onboard the longer the series runs, cause I stop caring (especially when it comes to high fantasy).And I just have to fangirl a little bit here, before I listen on :). I LOVE the witty and humorous word battles between Shallan and Kabsal (ah, found his name written, after I fruitlessly searched for "capsule" ^^'!) and the running gag of the jam. This feels so carefree and I hope that Shallan and the Wit will have some scenes together in the future.
I also love the exchanges between Shallan and Jasnah, I'm soooooo curious how Shallan's conscience will work here in the end.
And then the stark contrast to the life and death scenes with Kaladin (as well in the past as in the here and now). The bandwidth of Sanderson's character and plot development is terrific!
Near the end. Gosh! This is so melodramatic, but it pushes all the right buttons!
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It does! Sometimes I sit there and think that I should find it somehow tacky, cause of all this larger than life drama. But he writes it in such a compelling way, that I'm completely sucked in. It goes straight past my brain and into my heart.That the one sentence of his father that impressed me so much when he first spoke it is used to propel Kaladin's decision is just terrific!
Finished! Awesome from beginning to end. Even things I do not like in other books worked here.Thank you for convincing me to have a go at this one!
Mod
:D I hate nitpicking, cause it ruins the stories for me. But here it really would have been hard to do so.I'm extremely curious how all the interludes will fit into the story later on. So far the only one with connection to the rest is Szeth.
Oh, and I LOVED the reveal of the rather strange chapter beginnings in the first and a later part. And the unexpected twist that came with that.
Mod
Gabi wrote: ":D I hate nitpicking, cause it ruins the stories for me..."But nitpicking can be affectionate too! And doesn't really have to focus on the story itself. At least it can be a sign, that the book was captivating enough to make one pay attention to some aspects, not just breeze through it all.
That said, there truly is very little to nitpick here. It was curious to find how much one forgave those tackier 'fantasy trope-y' bits. Most of the credit for that must surely go to the colorful, fully fleshed cast of emotional and intellectual characters, each perfectly imperfect with their strengths and weaknesses, and who helped sell the wonderful, culturally rich world, kept one invested through the highs and lows of the story, and made one able to relate to even the more epic and fantastical aspects of the narration through their personal struggles.
Well crafted stuff.
You are all making me want to reread this book like right now!
Travis wrote: "You are all making me want to reread this book like right now!"If they just weren't so long.
Just started "Words of Radiance" (couldn't resist) - and had to restrain myself from going all "aaaawww!" over the Pattern … how old am I? ;)
I want to join the discussion too but don't have time, aw:(
Gabi wrote: "...Just started "Words of Radiance" (couldn't resist)..."I so want to too! It's right there in my library, taunting me! Alas, I'd rather need couple shorter ones to try and reach the even 50 for the end of the year perhaps.
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LOL. Just picked up the library hardcover edition of Warbringer, which is so heavy and cumbersome. Totally reminded of the new copy I bought of Oathbringer. I'm a diehard real booker, but Sanderson makes me start thinking seriously about some sort of e-reader thingy.