The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive #1)

[Ilona]

Yay! We are finally starting Stormlight Archive!

[Dominique]

Can't wait to dive into this series!

[Alison]

I have had this monster on my Kindle for a long time now! So glad to have some friends to read it with!! 😀

[Therese]

Alison wrote: "I have had this monster on my Kindle for a long time now! So glad to have some friends to read it with!! 😀" Same with me!

[Dominique]

Alison wrote: "I have had this monster on my Kindle for a long time now! So glad to have some friends to read it with!! 😀"

I have the paperback.. it's massive. I think we'll have a lot of things to chat about.

I didn't check how it's written, hope it's separated by parts.

[oshizu]

I started this last night and only read the first 25 pages.

In response to Dominique's comment, there are Parts One through Five, separated by three three-chapter Interludes.
Excluding those 9 interlude chapters, there's 75 main-story chapters + Epilogue.

I'm just glad this is a two-month buddy read. :)

[Dominique]

oshizu wrote: "I started this last night and only read the first 25 pages.

In response to Dominique's comment, there are Parts One through Five, separated by three three-chapter Interludes.
Excluding those 9 in..."

Thanks for the info. I bought the book but didn't peaked.

[Therese]

Okay it looks like I will finish this book on April 20th. I'll finish up just in time for Book 2 to start,

[Franci]

How do I join? I really wanna do a re-read.

[Ilona]

Franci, you can join simply by posting here that you would like to do so :)

[Franci]

Thanks Ilona!

[oshizu]

Therese wrote: "Okay it looks like I will finish this book on April 20th. I'll finish up just in time for Book 2 to start,"

That's great to hear, Therese!
Each BR thread stays open for an extra month so we'll still be able to read your comments, respond, and such. :D

[oshizu]

Franci wrote: "How do I join? I really wanna do a re-read."

If you're joining us for the rest of the available books in this series, which we truly hope you will, you can also sign up in the 2020 Buddy Reads Sign-Up Thread by posting that you wish to join the Stormlight Archive series Buddy Reads.

Our current schedule:
Feb-Mar: SA #1 (2010): The Way of Kings
Apr: Elantris #2 (2012): The Emperor's Soul (175 pages)
May-Jun: SA#2 (2014): Words of Radiance
July: SA# 2.5 (2016): Edgedancer (272 pages)
Aug-Sep: SA #3 (2017): Oathbringer

Cheers, Franci!

[Kishore]

Awesome!! Stormlight Archive finally. I started reading it in December and am now reading 'Oathbringer'. Haven't read 'The emperor's soul' and 'Edgedancer' yet though.

It would be great to discuss the book with veryone.

[Alison]

I am about 10% in! Part way through Part One! It is a little confusing at first but I have settled in and am now following the stories/characters and look forward to what happens next! 😊

[oshizu]

Kishore wrote: "Awesome!! Stormlight Archive finally. I started reading it in December and am now reading 'Oathbringer'. Haven't read 'The emperor's soul' and 'Edgedancer' yet though.

It would be great to discuss..."

@Kishore
The Emperor's Soul is actually Book 2 in the Elantris series, not Stormlight Archive. Haha, I'm sure you knew that already.:D
I just posted the book along with the Stormlight books as some of us in this Buddy Read have recently read Elantris #1.

[Ilona]

I just finished Part 1 and agree with you, Alison, that the beginning is a bit confusing, but now the book starts to give more information about the characters.
This world is so detailed that it is almost too much!

[Kishore]

Ilona wrote: "I just finished Part 1 and agree with you, Alison, that the beginning is a bit confusing, but now the book starts to give more information about the characters.
This world is so detailed that it i..."

I went through the same when I first started reading it. I almost gave up but then once you get through the first pages, it gets kind of slow, a good kind of slow.

[Therese]

I am at chapter 5 and am starting to enjoy this novel.

[Dominique]

The book is next to my couch looking at me, waiting for me to open it. Will for sure start this weekend.

[Therese]

I'm enjoying the book so far. I am slowly learning about the characters and the world Sanderson has created. It is an interesting world. I am on Part II now.

My favorite character is Kaladin.

[oshizu]

Due to my usual over-commitment to various reading challenges (#noregrets), I only started reading this last night.
Actually, I read the Prologue and Chapter 1 at the start of this month but found I had to reread it.

Anyway, I just finished Chapter 8. I like the format of alternating narrators. I never felt very connected to the Mistborn Trilogy characters, but I'm enjoying this book a lot.

My favorite character so far is that ardent, Brother Kabsal, whom Shallan met in the "royal library" while waiting for Jasnah Kolin.
I hope he reappears in later chapters. *crosses fingers

[oshizu]

I finished Part 2 including the 3 Interlude chapters today.
Feeling rather sleep-deprived now but I kept reading "one more chapter" last night. It is a highly readable book.

Random impressions on Part 2
(view spoiler)[*Italicized intro sentences: This is a narrative gimmick we previously encountered in the Mistborn Trilogy (but not the Wax & Wayne Trilogy) which ultimately linked to a major plot secret. Haha, I find it mildly annoying.
*Brother Kabsal: To my disappointment, my favorite ardent was absent from all of Part 2. I shamelessly did a Kindle search just now and am delighted to find he reappears in Part 3. I didn't start Part 3 yet, but know his name appears at least.
*Dalinar: I absolutely loved the description of Dalinar saving his idiotic nephew King whatz-his-name from the chasmfiend by capturing the chasmfiend's claw in his gauntleted hands. For me, that was one of THE great moments in Part 2. I'm eager to learn where his visions lead him. Will Jasnah return too late?
*Szeth: When are we going to learn his backstory? (hide spoiler)]

So many questions? So many loose threads!
I am burning with curiosity! LOL
How's everyone else's reading going?

[Kishore]

oshizu wrote: "I finished Part 2 including the 3 Interlude chapters today.
Feeling rather sleep-deprived now but I kept reading "one more chapter" last night. It is a highly readable book.

Random impressions on ..."

I went throught the same when I read it the first time, 'one more chapter' kept me going until I was reading till 3 AM in the morning most of the days.

I am not sure if I should comment on the questions and loose threads since I finished the third colume few days ago.

[Dominique]

L'm starting the audio today.

[oshizu]

Kishore wrote: ".I went throught the same when I read it the first time, 'one more chapter' kept me going until I was reading till 3 AM in the morning most of the days.

I am not sure if I should comment on the questions and loose threads since I finished the third colume few days ago.."

Thanks for responding, Kishore!
By "third colume," do you mean Part 3? I'm in the middle of that now.
I like to post questions that puzzle me in the course of reading. Unless I specifically request an answer to something I've missed, though, I'm not actually asking for answers because I'd like to see for myself how the story unfolds.
In part 2, for example, (view spoiler)[we've seen spheres losing their glow in Kaladin's possession on several occasions. (hide spoiler)]
In Part 3, (view spoiler)[it becomes obvious that, like Szeth the Assassin in White, Kaladin is somehow able to draw energy from spheres. What does that mean? Is he one of the Heralds? (hide spoiler)]
However, non-spoilery discussion of unaanswered questions is always welcome!

Dominique wrote: "L'm starting the audio today."
@Dominique
Hurry up! I'm waiting to hear what you have to say! :D

[oshizu]

I just finished Part 3 and its interlude chapters (Kindle says I'm at 71%). At this rate, I might try to finish reading this book in February.

A few more thoughts
(view spoiler)[Kabsal: I have the absolute worst taste in book boyfriends, haha. In the Mistborn Trilogy, my favorite was Zane. I wonder who Kabsal was working for...
Adolin: I enjoyed his random encounter with Kaladin over the battered courtesan. Now I know they're roughly the same age and look forward to their future clashing.
Kadalin's backstory: Is being dished out in little bits. Have we learned everything now except how Tien died? Do you think Kaladin will eventually become a Shardbearer? It seems fitting...
Heralds and Lost Radiants: These two terms keep getting thrown around and I don't really understand them. I tried googling but the Coppermind was so detailed that I was afraid it would spoil the plot. So I guess I'll just stay confused until the author decides to reveal all.
Shallan/Jasnah: I have not found this storyline that interesting through it does provide some historical context. I am, of course, curious about what the deceased King Galivar's days before his death but find the intellectual dueling between Jasnah/Shallan as well as Shallan's moral conundrum tedious. They are bot surely crucial to the plot but they still bore me.
Szeth interlude: Am i allowed to feel sorry for Szeth or am I suffering another of my Zane Venture moments? (hide spoiler)]

[Dominique]

oshizu wrote: "Kishore wrote: ".I went throught the same when I read it the first time, 'one more chapter' kept me going until I was reading till 3 AM in the morning most of the days.

I am not sure if I should c..."

Ahhhh pressure!!! Lol! So far I like it. I might listen to half of the book and then do the rest physical.

[Ilona]

I finished this book last weekend! It actually took me way longer to read than the other books by Sanderson.

I loved how detailed this world is and how the characters develop. Can't wait to read the other books :)

[oshizu]

I was planning to take a reading break for the rest of the month, but ended up finishing this book this morning.
For me, it was more enjoyable than any of the other Brandon Sanderson books I've read so far.

[oshizu]

@Scott
How you doing? Is everything okay in your part of the world?

[Alison]

I am starting part three...I was hoping to finish this by the end of February but it is such a Monster! ;) I am really enjoying the world building and the characters, however!
My favorite character so far is Dalarin...he is somewhat tortured, I would say! Kaladin is a bit of a mystery to me...I think there is something big in his future in the story!

[oshizu]

@Alison
I agree with you about Dalarin and I'm also quite a fan.
Kaladin reminds me a lot of Kelsier who I never warmed to, but I'm hoping Kaladin will surprise me in Book 2.

[Dominique]

L'm at part 3. Liking it so far. Kaladin is my fav so far. The audio is pretty good, just wished people didn't bother me while l'm working/listening so I can get further!

[DivaDiane]

I started listening to the audio book about 6 months ago but had to interrupt listen for other more pressing Buddy Reads (I know! I really didn’t want to!) but I started listening again a week and a half ago and am now at about 70+%! I’m enjoying it so much. It was actually really easy to get back into, but I am a little confused by the chapter-opening death scenes and the interludes. They go by so quickly in the audio. It doesn’t help that I’m listening at 1.75x speed. 😂That speed is fine for the main story.

At this point in the story, so many dramatic things are happening, I can barely wait to get back to it!!

[Alison]

I just finished and seriously, the last third of the book would not allow me to put it down!! Thank You for allowing me to Buddy Read this with you...I am looking forward to Words of Radiance! 😊

[Scott]

Finally starting. I just finished the wheel of time series.

[Dominique]

Sorry been late but finished it last night. Loved it!

[Scott]

@oshizu sorry i haven't been as active lately. I've been spending alot of time studying my family history so not reading as much fiction. But i'm definitely going to continue with the Sanderson series. I did finish the the first two books in this series back in 2017 so i'm really looking forward to the 3rd book. I'm going to reread the first two so everything will be fresh when i get to the third.

[DivaDiane]

I finished this last week and loved it! I especially like how Sanderson paints only individuals as reprehensible and not who types of people. Kaladin clearly hates the light eyes, and many of them are truly awful, but we also get to see how at least Dalinar and his son behave humanely and with honor.

I’m really wondering how the next book with play out.