First of All: I think I already mentioned how big of a Brandon Sanderson fan I am. Let me check...yep. Though I think "mentioned" should be replaced with "gushed about". Actually, a few days after finishing The Way of Kings, I got to meet the man himself in person at a book signing in Idaho Falls! What an awesome experience! Despite the huge line, he took time to speak on a personal level with each and every one of his fans as he signed their books. To those incredulous among you, here's a photo as proof!
I'm the one with some wicked widows peaks--or "power alleys"--in the back. Please contain your swooning, ladies.
Second of All: This is the first book in The Stormlight Archive series, of which the next book is coming ot in March of next year, and which is part of Sanderson's universe called the Cosmere. The story itself, in keeping with the sheer epic nature of any Brandon Sanderson book, is set in its own world, with rules that are radically different than our own. Most of the planet--at least the parts we get to see--is rocky, with plant and animal life unique to the planet. Vegetation keeps itself contained in stone-like shells, into which the plant withdraws itself if threatened, and most of the animals we see are crustacean in nature, just on a large--or in the case of some monsters called "chasmfiends", huge--scale. There are seas and far-off lands where things are different, but most of the action takes place in the rocky part of the world. Also, there are the constant danger of the Highstorms, massive hurricane-like tempests which rage across the worlds at somewhat predictable intervals. Sanderson even creates his own monetary system, composed of gems embedded in glass spheres which become more valuable when infused with Stormlight, an energy harvested from the Highstorms. This Stormlight also powers suits of armor called Shardplate, ancient artifacts that are nearly indestructible and which grant the user enhanced strength and speed. The greatest warriors of this world own a suit of Shardplate and wield Shardblades, huge and nearly weightless swords that can cut through anything except living flesh. Instead, the sword burns the soul out of whatever living thing it touches.
The story follows several principal characters. First is Kaladin, the son of a surgeon who fought in the army but later became a slave for reasons that don't make themselves clear until late in the book. While in the army, he earned the title "Kaladin Stormblessed," due to the masterful grasp he had of fighting and warfare in general. There's something special about the man, something that everyone who meets him notices, which is truly epic in nature.
Second is Shallan, the daughter of a wealthy merchant who is seeking to learn under the care of Jasnah Kholin, an atheist heretic scholar in possession of a powerful artifact known as a "Soulcaster" which can transmute any substance into any other substance. Shallan, despite her innocent appearance, is hiding a dark secret about her purpose to learn under Jasnah.
Third is Dalinar, one of the Highprinces of a nation in a war to avenge their assassinated king, who was Dalinar's brother. He owns a suit of Shardplate and a Shardblade, and his legendary feats of battle in the past have earned him the nickname "The Blackthorn." He is entrusted with protecting the new king, his nephew, and is wrapped up in the political plots and deadly warfare that surround him. Dalinar also suffers from visions during Highstorms, which make people fear he is going mad.
Third of All: The Review!
Though the amount of originality in creating a whole new world--with its own monetary system, government hierarchies, animal and plant life, and so forth--is incredible (and a good job is done of introducing these new concepts without breaking character), it is still a bit confusing for a new reader until about a good quarter of the book passes, when you start to get a hang of how things work. Kudos to Sanderson, though, for depriving himself completely of all conventional fantasy devices or creatures, while creating his own.
The story is magnificent, with Sanderson's trademark explosive climax at the end. Tensions build constantly through the book, and due to the sheer number of pages, that makes for a huge amount of conflict at the end, which Sanderson handles with the master's touch. Each of the characters, even the small ones, are incredibly well made, with personalities, history, and development throughout the book. Also, none of them seem invulnerable. Each has flaws, weaknesses, and is plunged into mortal danger which could very well end them if they're not careful. Overall, it was a masterful work, full of plot twists and mysteries whose answers have to wait until later books, as well as a colorful cast of memorable characters. Also, it's packed with tidbits and hints at the over-arching plot that encompasses all worlds set in the Cosmere.
My only complaint comes from the length of the book. Well, not so much the length in pages, but the spacing of the action throughout those pages. At several points during each of the main characters' plots, I found myself frustrated with what seemed like the tediousness of the plot. I'm thankful that I had a friend who had already read it, who constantly reassured me that the good stuff was just around the corner. Looking back, I can see how all of the little things which I was impatient with had to exist to contribute to the awesome finale, and I'm glad that I powered through the hard parts. The Way of Kings is certainly much larger than any of Sanderson's other works, except perhaps his work with Robert Jordan in The Wheel of Time series, which are even more massive in scale. Whether this book is Sanderson's contribution to the tradition of epic-length novels, or simply just a huge story that necessitates a ton of pages is unclear.
Regardless, this book was fantastic, as is anything that Sanderson touches. I give it a Five out of Six Nerd Stars.
