The Way of Kings (Stormlight Archive #1)[August 16, 2024]

[Ann-Marie]

Part 3 is looooong lol Through ch40 (view spoiler)[Kaladin has powers???? Yes, now he can get his revenge eventually <3<3<3 Hopefully.....The way he is protecting his bridge, helping those who get injured, training and building their strength & stamina, working on new techniques to protect them, love that all so much. The flashbacks to his early years are very interesting too. Shallan is back and I can't believe she stole the thing from Jasna! That was a bold move but I can't help but think that those 2 are not going to be done for in this story. I am really enjoying this so far :) (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Part 5 is the denouement and hook for the next book... the climax of the story tends to be the end of Part 4, and around 90-95%...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

The timeline of this first book is easy to get confused by, on first readthrough... it's easy to assume everything is happening in relatively the same time, when jumping between POVs, but actually...

(view spoiler)[the Dalinar sections, right from the start, are more like halfway through the book for Kaladin... and you can only line up the Shallan / Jasnah chapters with it all, when you pair together the message stone communications across sections (hide spoiler)]

(That whole spoiler is from memory, so don't take it as 100% fact, but it's what I remember... I think there's a wiki page somewhere that links the chronology together)

Also, I don't feel like it's 100% relevant to the story, but it should be noted the Roshar Calendar is 500 days... 10 months of 10 weeks of 5 days...

This is mostly relevant to people trying to track the timeline of the story, and the storms and other complicated interactions between plots... for general reading you can just ride with it...

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "The timeline of this first book is easy to get confused by, on first readthrough... it's easy to assume everything is happening in relatively the same time, when jumping between POVs, but actually...."

I am okay just riding with it this time around :)

[Ann-Marie]

So just finished Part 3.....(view spoiler)[Kaladin's story! Seriously, after all the back & forth he WAS going to be a doctor and he ended up joining the military to protect his brother who dies anyway??? And then how he got branded a slave, that was just terrible and that guy is still around, right? He needs to be exposed and then die a painful, horrible death. The Shallan storyline, what a way to confess her theft! I feel like Jasna will forgive her, I'll be surprised if she ends up going back home. I want all Kaladin though so I hope that Shallan's story becomes more engaging.because even with the shady guy who was obviously stupid who tried to kill the women I find this the least interesting storyline so far. (hide spoiler)]

Just under 7 hours to go! Definitely plan on finishing this up tomorrow :)

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I struggle with all the character stories, at one time or another, I think... at least the main characters... (view spoiler)[Stormlight Archive is so much meatier than Mistborn and other Cosmere stories...

In Mistborn, while you get bits and pieces of Kelsier and Rin's past trauma, you don't really marinate in it, flesh out all the triggers, coping mechanisms, relapses, etc, the same way you do with Stormlight Archive...

I think I have the most struggle with Shallan's storyline, but not so much in book 1 as in books 2-3... Kaladin I didn't really have any trouble with until book 4, and Dalinar is mostly a struggle in book 3, when you finally get his flashbacks...

Each character has different trauma and different solutions, but they all have something... that's the nature of Cosmere magic systems... the magic can't "get in all the way" if you don't have foundational trauma to your psyche/soul to leak in through...

Kelsier thought his wife betrayed him in the pits of Hathsinn, Rin's got family stuff... Kaladin has the loss of his brother and back home stuff... Shallan has family stuff that hasn't been fully revealed yet... Dalinar has dead wife stuff...

And from previous comments, yes there's a thing between Navani & Dalinar... in the past it was a bit of a love triangle between Dalinar and Gavilar, but Navani chose Gavilar... nothing ever happened in the past, and now Gavilar and Dalinar's wife are dead and it's been years, and Dalinar refuses to pursue Navani (until he inevitably doesn't)...

Many people say romance is Sanderson's weakest point as a writer, and Sanderson is aware of that, altho he tries to improve at it and still does romances in stories... but with everything else going on, it's never going to be the biggest focus, anyway... (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I struggle with all the character stories, at one time or another, I think... at least the main characters....."

Regarding Shallen (view spoiler)[I think for sure there will be pay off for her storyline but out of those so far I find her boring. (hide spoiler)]

Regarding Kaladin (view spoiler)[I cannot imagine what he would have to do in book 4 for me not to love this character! (hide spoiler)]

Regarding romance (view spoiler)[the pining was clear the first time she waked into the feast and they saw each other and I just finished the part this morning where he was like "Had she asked again..." ohhhhh some love connection! But yeah I can see romance may not be a strength of Sandersons lol (hide spoiler)]

I am enjoying it quite a lot however I just looked at the lengths of the other books in the series.....Super excited to get to book 4 and the 57 and a half hours!!!!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "I struggle with all the character stories, at one time or another, I think... at least the main characters....."

Regarding Shallen [spoilers removed]

Regarding Kaladin..."

(view spoiler)[it's not that I don't like Kaladin... it's Kaladin's STORY... Kaladin's story is heavily linked to depression... so it can get depressing/dark... I understand why the story is the way it is... doesn't mean I have to love it... especially depending on the mood I'm in in real life...

You haven't even really met the villains of the story, yet, and I don't want to spoil anything... (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "I struggle with all the character stories, at one time or another, I think... at least the main characters....."

Regarding Shallen [spoilers removed]

Regar..."

So you're telling me (view spoiler)[Kaladin lives!!!! And the depression thing is not a surprise, he makes promises that he cannot possibly keep and then he blames himself when people die. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

You got it in a nutshell... Kaladin has half my favorite scenes in the series to date... (view spoiler)[when Kaladin fails, he's super depressed, and comes close to suicide, as seen here in book 1... but when he succeeds, it's a thing to behold...

Heartpounding cinematic climaxes are what I think Sanderson excels at... each Stormlight Archive book, especially, has really satisfying climaxes and pre/post-climax high points... I could start listing highlights of the series for me, but it would be full of spoilers and all over the place adding more and more... Sanderson is also good at going from a super high to a fumbling lowpoint... as demonstrated in the middle of book 2, when 2 of my favorite chapters in the series happen... (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Through part 4 and (view spoiler)[that was crazy good! Sadeas being a douche was not a surprise but how did he think that would work? One of his soldiers would have admitted what happened, there is no way something that huge would have stayed secret. And Kaladin's power! What was that?!?!?!?!?! And now the bridge 4 crew are going to be working with Dalinar, right where they belong :) I can't believe he gave his sword up though, hopefully the king makes Sadeas give it back quickly. Then the end end part with Dalinar & Elpkar! Letting Dalinar take control is the best thing to be done but as he walked out and was like "BTW me & your mom? That is a thing that is happening!" lolololol Loved that :)(view spoiler)[

An hour to go!!! (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

I am finally starting. I have such sky high expectations. I might be starting my new absolute favourite fantasy series. I want to be closed in a room until I am done so no one disturbs my experience lol.

[Marie]

I was hooked by the first page lol. Done with the prelude now. What an amazing beginning.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Through part 4 a..."

(view spoiler)[You got to the good stuff... you'll start understanding the magic system, worldbuilding, and lore alot more in book 2-4, once people with magic powers become openly acknowledged and studied... for now they're more a myth reappearing...

To me, Elhokar is a tragic figure, but that's heavy into spoiler territory... for now, I'll just say, he knows his shortcomings and tries to overcome them... nobody was really prepared for the death of Gavilar... Gavilar + Dalinar are the reason there IS a nation, and not just a bunch of warlords ruling their own little fiefdoms... it's hard forging an Empire, especially in this world...

Did you ever figure out Hoid? (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "Through part 4 a..."

It was the best part! And about figuring that one thing out (view spoiler)[unless he lied he gave the name Hoid twice that I can remember so if he isn't Wit then I missed something huge lol (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "Through part 4 a..."

It was the best part! And about figuring that one thing out [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yea, it's Wit... I told you he played a larger part in the story... he is/was also Sigzil's mentor for a time in the past... and the man worshipped as a god among the Horneater people, because that pool up there is one of the Perpendicularities he uses to travel between worlds (locations where the excess shard magic pools into solid/liquid form... these kinds of places crop up in all the series... there's a water pool in Elantris, the Pits of Hathsinn & the Well of Ascension in Mistborn, and the Horneater Lake here among other possibilities...

Outside of Roshar, you generally see Hoid as a white haired beggar (unnamed, believed to be him storing luck using Feruchemy to help him be in the right place at the right time to witness important events in other books), or a random named character that helps the story for a second (carriage driver, informant, etc in multiple Mistborn books)...

Hoid also likes to tell stories and create moving images that make the listener feel like they can see the story playing out before them... (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

I finished earlier and loved it. (view spoiler)[Immediately going back to Shallen after the epicness of part 4 was not my favorite thing about the book but her story got a satisfying conclusion for where we are in so far. I did not in any way expect that she would go back to her family and leave Jasna so her remaining in training made sense. The stuff with the assassin guy, is it Zeth? Interesting, the king he went to kill was the one in control of him all along and now he wants Dalinar dead, like my Kalidan will allow that to happen! I love how the bridge 4 guys got a solid place to be now and while Sadeas is still lurking around and will no doubt be causing trouble Dalinar getting the appointment to highprince of war will hopefully keep him mostly in check. Really enjoyed it and am looking forward to another chonker next month..... (hide spoiler)]

I really need to look some of these names up to learn the spelling, I am sure I am killing some of them lol

[Ann-Marie]

About the ending/epilogue (view spoiler)[am I supposed to know what that means or is it to be revealed in the next book? Is the Odium guy the big bad? (hide spoiler)]

[Tabea]

About the ending?! Wasn’t this BR just supposed to start this Friday? My library hold ist still some time out though… 🫣

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

There's leeway in starting up to a week early... depending on library checkout arrival/etc... I think the people that started so far expect/expected the book to take them longer to read...

I haven't re-read, and dunno if/when I'll get to, just been responding to Ann-Marie from memory... the others that have started are still in Part 1, I think, early going...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Ann-Marie wrote: "About the ending/epilogue [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes, Odium is the big bad... Shard of Hatred, basically...

And the guy that appeared, Taln / Talenel, is the Herald that spent the past 4500 years in Damnation, being tortured, and delaying the next Desolation, which has just begun... you met him in the Prelude, way back at the start of the book, before the Prologue of Gavilar's death night... (hide spoiler)]

[Chris]

I finished Part 1 and the first set of interludes. Oh, first chapter in Part 2 as well...Hit a bit of a slowdown with the work week...

I know, there are those that are blinking and wondering exactly how I can be slower. I listen at 1x speed and I'll die on that hill, but other stuff happens too so..

What's funny, it's been so long since I read this the first time, I'd totally forgotten we get an interlude with Balat...

[Marie]

I started early because so many did and since it's my first time I didn't want to be left behind. Also I was just excited to finally start and I am on tight schedule to read the other Cosmere books in between... But I am reading slowly, really enjoying my time with it.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I think iMusic can go down to 0.75x or 0.5x speed if you need slower ;)

[Chris]

Ha, slower would be worse....I'm good with just normal speaking speed.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Michael Kramer is already slow as molasses...

[Chris]

I've actually tinkered with speeding him up some....I could probably keep up, especially with it being reread. Just can't get past that Alvin & the Chipmunks sound when speeding readers up...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I can listen faster on earbuds… 2x on speakers, 3x in-ear…

[Marie]

Chris wrote: "I've actually tinkered with speeding him up some....I could probably keep up, especially with it being reread. Just can't get past that Alvin & the Chipmunks sound when speeding readers up..."

I went from 1,25x-1.5x to 1.5x-2.25x this year. Normal speed sounds to me like someone is talking painfully slow. Your brain just gets used to it... Idk if I can ever go as high as 3x unless maybe on some re-reads.

[Ann-Marie]

I started early because I did expect it to take quite a bit longer to finish and I was pleasantly surprised that it was basically 2 days and I worked part of that time. I listened at 2xs speed, that seems to be a good spot for me depending on the narrator (I will go from 1.75 to 2.25 as needed). I have also been starting most books a little early because I am determined not to fall behind again this year lol

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "About the ending/epilogue [spoilers removed]" ..."

Hmmm maybe I'll go back and re-listen to the prologue. Thanks for confirming my questions though :)

[Ann-Marie]

I did find it funny Sanderson invented all sorts of things but then when he described how long something was at one point it was in feet lol

[Narilka]

I'm eye reading this and I'm curious... do the audio books mention the art pages or just skip them?

[Ann-Marie]

Narilka wrote: "I'm eye reading this and I'm curious... do the audio books mention the art pages or just skip them?"

The drawings Shallen does? Those are described pretty well but I don't remember anything else off the top of my head.

[Narilka]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Narilka wrote: "I'm eye reading this and I'm curious... do the audio books mention the art pages or just skip them?"

The drawings Shallen does? Those are described pretty well but I don't remember..."

That's cool. Yeah there's some of her drawings and a map of the Shattered Plains so far.

[Narilka]

First interludes (view spoiler)[Well that was awful. Shallan's family is moderately horrible and now I feel bad for Szeth. (hide spoiler)]

I'm in the middle of Ch 15 and still getting a feel for the new characters. (view spoiler)[Kaladin has my favorite story line so far. We'll see if that changes by the end of the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

The notes in the drawings are mentioned mostly, and some descriptions... I dunno if the Audible book links you a PDF or not, that happens occasionally with audio on Audible, but all the inserts are on the Dragonsteel website, from what I remember...

https://www.brandonsanderson.com/the-...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Narilka wrote: "First interludes [spoilers removed]

I'm in the middle of Ch 15 and still getting a feel for the new characters. [spoilers removed]"

Kaladin is an easy favorite... (view spoiler)[Shallan has a complicated backstory... the white noise in some of her memories is important...

And Szeth is a complicated character... (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

I <3 Kaladin!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

In contrast, (view spoiler)[I hate Moash... but in reality, Moash is just the mirror of Kaladin... saying more is a spoiler... (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "In contrast, [spoilers removed]"

Interesting.....

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "In contrast, [spoilers removed]"

Interesting....."

In the most general terms, (view spoiler)[Moash and Kaladin both hate nobles for legitimate reasons, but Kaladin is able to see the person, separate from the title, and not just paint them with a broad stroke... (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Ch 19 (view spoiler)[Now I'm intrigued with Dalinar's story line. Something is trying to communicate about something important with these visions. I know, I know. RAFO :) (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Ch 21 epigraph, Cosmere spoiler/conjecture... (view spoiler)[Sel is Elantris. It's been a really long time since I read it. Hoid's the only world hopper we saw there right? The Emperor's Soul was published after Way of Kings so... I think another epigraph could've referenced him too in Part 2 though I didn't note it. Or they all do? I may go back and reread all of them together after finishing this section. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Through Ch 25. Something I've been thinking about for a few chapters now. (view spoiler)[The whole making his spheres go dull in one day has had me thinking. Is Kaladin like Szeth? Can he absorb stormlight and not know it? Is that where his "luck" comes from? (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Wait a second! I thought this BR started yesterday and already people have finished! Wow! Well, I will be reading a little bit at a time, so I can manage my time...

[Ann-Marie]

Choko wrote: "Wait a second! I thought this BR started yesterday and already people have finished! Wow! Well, I will be reading a little bit at a time, so I can manage my time..."

It went much quicker than I anticipated but honestly I will likely start all of these as well as chonkers like The Stand early as well...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Narilka wrote: "Through Ch 25. Something I've been thinking about for a few chapters now. [spoilers removed]"

[Narilka]

haha perfect gif Iain :D

[Narilka]

Choko wrote: "Wait a second! I thought this BR started yesterday and already people have finished! Wow! Well, I will be reading a little bit at a time, so I can manage my time..."

I started early because I'm a slow reader. You'll catch me easy as I'm only about a third in.