Is It THAT Good? Way of Kings BOOK REVIEW

Greatest book of all time? The GOAT of books??? Find out what we think and chime in as we discuss and review The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. This is the first book in the Stormlight Archive and it starts with a bang. Wars, magic, realistic characters and behaviors, and a whole new fantasy world.
Subscribe to see more thoughts from us as we continue reading through the Cosmere and more. Also, check out our more detailed videos we completed each part of the Way of Kings leading to this final review!
We are preparing for The Knights of Winds and Truth release in 2024 by rereading the Stormlight Archive.
We're SO excited to jump into these books are rediscover what makes Brandon Sanderson one of the best authors of all time.
#brandonsanderson #bookreview #booktube

[@BlackHand531]

Great book. Words of Radiants is still better.

[@NextChapterYT]

So great! Would love to see what you think of our Stormlight Ranking episode too!

[@BlackHand531]

@@NextChapterYT I'll check it

[@Moonadept]

I started Sanderson with Way of Kings, based on some recommendations and getting the card game Call to Adventure: Stromlight Archives. While this one is not my favorite of the series (I have a hard time picking between 2 and 3), the series itself is one of my favorites. I am still getting through the rest of the Cosmere now and enjoying myself immensely. I can see the opinion on starting with Mistborn, but it is definitely not necessary. It is fun seeing the connections happen between the series too.

[@NextChapterYT]

Great perspective! Honestly Way of Kings and Mistborn are both great ways to get into the Cosmere! The Cosmere as a whole is so fun. Definitely can’t get enough of it!

[@Moonadept]

@@NextChapterYT I have finished re-reading Way of Kings! For me, part 1 and some of part 2 are harder to get through, relatively speaking. Though I am rarely a fan of the wrongfully "imprisoned" story, especially with how...sad it is here. Which is probably a compliment to the writing really. But as Bridge 4 comes together and the other plots start to move, I fell right back in. I really haven't rated books much, I am thinking this will probably get a 9.2 for me

[@SnipleFlipper]

Stumbled upon your podcast because I am also rereading Stormlight before Book 5 and just wanted to say that your show is awesome! Oathbringer is my personal favorite Stormlight book, but I have to say that I appreciate the Way of kings even more after my 2nd time through. Rating wise, my gut tells me that it is a 9.7.

[@NextChapterYT]

Thanks!! We are having a lot of fun with the reread. It really does get better with the reread as you understand more of the world and everything we know from the later books. Soo good!

[@robertkruger5744]

I’ve read stormlight 1-3 twice each and I’ve read almost everything else in the cosmere now. Way of kings is one of my favs, def top 10 maybe top 5 fantasy book. But words of radiance is my all time favorite novel. Have to subscribe now to see what you guys think!

[@NextChapterYT]

Definitely belongs among the greatest! Can’t wait to do the Words of Radiance read. It’s coming VERY soon!

[@fredcole6844]

9.5 is totally a fair rating. The book is amazing, but it's a REALLY hard intro to get through. The time skipping and confusion in the beginning almost had me putting down the book - so glad I powered through!

[@NextChapterYT]

I’m with you there for sure. Glad Marty convinced me to keep reading through it, the payoff is incredible!

[@anticorrupcao5631]

TheStoryGraph lets you do .25 or .50 and even .75 in your review scores. You can import your data from GoodReads too

[@NextChapterYT]

That’s super cool!! And way better to have the smaller intervals to rate things properly ;)

[@Spiderweb444]

It took me a week to finish it. I just love the scope of the series.

[@NextChapterYT]

Such a massive world and idea. Hard not to fly through once you start!

[@DanielSClouser]

I read TWoK in 2011, and I knew nothing about it at the time. I didn't even realize how long it was because I got a Kindle edition sale. I read Mistborn Era 1 and Alloy of Law first, but I was not aware of the existence of the Cosmere. I just thought Sanderson was reusing some ideas that he thought were cool. I got all these books on a huge discount--I think the entire Mistborn trilogy was $1.99--so I thought maybe they were self-pub (which had a very poor reputation in 2011, compared to today) or older books of his that hadn't done so well. It's not unusual for SFF authors mine ideas form their own work, after all. I found out about the Cosmere a few years later, googling stuff ahead of the WoR release.

[@maayanlaufer821]

You cant talk about books like mistborn annd stormlight without mentioning the cosmere. But great video folks

[@NextChapterYT]

Seriously, so connected! Love that. Thanks!!

[@jonbelakio]

I found words of radiance to be my favorite book of the stormlight archive so far.

[@NextChapterYT]

That’s a fantastic one!! So much happens and you learn so much about the knights radiant… I’m excited for when we get to dive back into that one and do another ‘Reaction Series’ with it!!

[@truthless8261]

i read this book every year. by far my favorite fantasy book.

[@NextChapterYT]

Wow!! Do you reread the whole series each year? Or just the first one? It’s a huge book so that’s super impressive

[@truthless8261]

@@NextChapterYT usually just number 1. it started just as a on holidays thing. cheated this year and checked out the audio version. ive also had this book since release and had to wait a very long time for #2

[@renskedunnewold1995]

On the 5 stars thing: there is a difference between rating pieces of art and people. I used to work in customer service, and the ratings we got was part of our work performance. We had a rating out of ten, and only a 9 or 10 counted positively. I've heard others say the same thing about 5 stars. When people's livelihood depends on it, just give them 5 stars. It doesn't cost you anything. Only deviate when something actually goes wrong please.

[@NextChapterYT]

I think that’s a fair argument honestly, and I generally do so (unless there is a good reason why other future consumers should be warned of course)… but I’d say the fault then lies with those employers that are ‘expecting’ the 9/10 as a minimum for a compensation of some sort, then it gets a bit muddy

[@renskedunnewold1995]

@@NextChapterYT that is very true, it's on the companies really. But I'm sure we both know never to take our displeasure with the system out on the poorly paid worker in front of us ;)

[@NextChapterYT]

100%!! I’ve been there and its awful :/ Don’t wish that situation on anybody

[@paul_miller43]

I spent most of 2022 plowing thru the stormlight archive Its a great story told well, but fuck they arent short

[@NextChapterYT]

Oh absolutely. They are crazy long books!! But the payoff is just so sweet at the end... :)

[@wobblyboots5814]

The way of kings was my introduction to Sanderson. I heard some people talking about it and I figured I would see if I liked it…. turns out I loved it. I would listen to the audiobook at work and smash chapters at home at night. Just finished it last week, and I am a good portion into words of radiances! Once I go through all four books and the Novelas There’s a very good chance that I started over again until Book 5 comes out

[@NextChapterYT]

That’s fantastic!! Exactly what we’re doing too with the Stormlight books before book 5… I need to sprinkle in a lot of the other books I haven’t read yet in the series too, and we’re posting all of that here on the channel! Let us know if you ever have any feedback or ideas to share as you’re reading too!

[@neilvita3230]

10/10 for sure

[@NextChapterYT]

Love it. And we definitely agree with you! It’s an amazing story

[@neilvita3230]

@@NextChapterYT as someone who’s been to dragonsteel con I might be biased hahah

[@Ghost-Toast819]

So I am a very picky reader. I havent read more than 20 series and the content that i play, read, or watch has to take me away to earn my time. That said when i really like something I will return to it endlessly. I have read (or listened) to the way of kings 6 or so times, with the rest of the series. way of kings is probably my favorite in the series. somehow despite the end of the book being nowhere near the end of the first major arch and being a book that doesnt even scratch the surface of the over arching story, its pace, development and the climax is some of the best Ive ever read. I get goosebumps when i think about some of my favorite scenes. this book deserves the 9.8 rating in my mind. Im not sure how one could deliver a better story really. Since reading way of kings ive become a real fan of Sanderson and the voice actor that reads his books. Mistborn is amazing in both eras and so are his other lesser know stories including those that arent part of his universe. The reckoners cycle is an example. ive heard good things about the alcatraz series and skyward, and his stand alone novels are amazing as well.

[@NextChapterYT]

Wow 6 times?? That’s amazing!! I just loved the fact that even during a second reread the power and emotion of the stories still hit so strong 😀 A 9.8 is amazing! And I agree that the story, it’s telling, the complexities, etc are all just so so good And I have sooo much more Sanderson to discover!!

[@ItsNickster]

nothing has ever hooked me like stormlight, besides one piece.

[@NextChapterYT]

It is such a phenomenal series. I'm so excited to re-read the rest of the books too!!

[@ModdedGTA6]

5 stars have been ruined by our society lmaooo

[@NextChapterYT]

100%. Its crazy that 5/5 is what is expected, which leaves no room for anyone to go above and beyond! That means everyone, amazing/average/poor is lumped into the same 5-star bucket and now the scale is useless 😂

[@ModdedGTA6]

@@NextChapterYT you guys are hilarious. The 10 scale is a great choice. Definitley subbed.

[@NextChapterYT]

Thanks!! Glad to have you with us, let us know if you have any feedback / ideas for future videos ;)

[@michellehinds3302]

The whole series so far is a 10

[@NextChapterYT]

Can't argue with that! Thanks for contributing to the audience-score!!

[@michellehinds3302]

Sometimes actual reading is better than listening and I do both with these books

[@NextChapterYT]

There is a special element to reading a physical book! So fun.

[@Llooktook]

No fantasy author has matched tolkien, the beauty of writing, the depth of the culture is unparalleled. Modern fantasy Especially WoT and to some extent Sanderson is bloated with overdrawn description and unnecessary world building which almost ruins the imagination of it. Don't get me Wong I do love it but I have yet to find something like it.

[@NextChapterYT]

Tolkien was absolutely a legend!! The ability of Sanderson (presently) to captivate so many while he is still writing is pretty impressive as well, but time will tell whether that becomes as legendary as Tolkien :)

[@ryanskeff]

Great video! The excitement yall have for the book is palpable.

[@NextChapterYT]

Thanks! We had a lot fun. Such a great book!!

[@benjaminhile769]

No one recommended this series to me or Brandon Sanderson. It was my introduction to him and the cosmere. Fell in love with it instantly.

[@NextChapterYT]

Wow! Very cool! What a way to experience it! How did you find the book in the first place? Just on the shelf at a book store or something?

[@lisabonnet1794]

You need new friends!!! 🤣

[@chrisprosser5055]

"A little bit difficult for the first few chapters" might be a small understatement, I think it took about 800 pages for it to really start coming together and making sense for me 😂. That being said I did still enjoy it up to that point. But when it finally all comes together it's just masterful. I think Sanderson does this better than any other author IMO. He really knows how to work different strands of a story line together to lead to these epic moments of pay off. I will go for 9.5. Straight after reading it I would have said 10 and wished there was a higher score available. I have cooled a little over time, but it's still one of my favourite books for sure.

[@NextChapterYT]

Completely agree! No one finishes books like he does! Was this the first book of his you read or did you know to expect the slower starts with the huge crescendo from reading a Mistborn or something else first?

[@chrisprosser5055]

@@NextChapterYT I had read Mistborn era 1 first and I think that helped because I remembered how well that finished, so I figured he would bring it all together somehow.

[@NextChapterYT]

It’s all about getting into the Sanderson universe somehow!

[@marcelbeaudoin3886]

You guys are awesome - just subbed. About the beginning, I think you’re right that it’s a weakness that it takes so long to get into it. The reader really needs to enter into Stormlight with some “faith” that things will all come together, which I think can come from reading Brando Sando’s other books (ie. Mistborn) or from just having a friend yelling at you that it’s worth it. I bet most people going in blind would have a very hard time not falling off of it, which is why I usually recommend reading Mistborn or warbreaker first to build up that faith. The good thing is that the building blocks last throughout the whole series, so you don’t have to go through that again and the rest is just fun

[@NextChapterYT]

100% agree!! Luckily I had a friend pushing me along through the dry parts ;) Also great recommendations for places to start! I also heard in Brando Sando’s recent DragonSteel announcement that he thinks Tress is actually a great entry-point into his writing as well! (Still haven’t read it yet so can’t confirm just yet) :)

[@DavidDecero]

In the first half I was like, "This is OK." In the second half I was crushed by the Sanderlanche. lol. So good.

[@NextChapterYT]

Right?? Gotta love the Sanderlanche! His books have the best payoff

[@noname3609]

My favourite stormlight book! ❤

[@NextChapterYT]

Such a good one!!

[@theoperumal5174]

Great book, start of my favorite series. 9.5 because the later books get higher ones.

[@NextChapterYT]

That second book though 🤯

[@jimmychurch9588]

I’m giving it an 8.0. I really loved the book. It wasn’t perfect for me, but very good.

[@NextChapterYT]

Great score! Definitely in that “would recommend” range. Thanks for sharing!

[@bencered]

You guys have some great insights to share! Can't wait for the Words of Radiance review. Personally, I'd give it a 9.8, the only real downsides being the Kaladin/Tien flashbacks cutting into some of the meatiest parts of the book. The Shallan bits were definitely a tad weaker than the Kaladin chapters, but in my opinion it's more than made up for with one of the best twists I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

[@NextChapterYT]

Thanks!! So glad you enjoyed the video! I think we have similar opinions on the flashbacks you and I, I can understand why they are there but man sometimes it was so rough to cut away from an intense scene or a big reveal into a slower passage! Love the twists and logic in the Shallan parts but sometimes switching is hard :P

[@WritingAdviceUA]

Awesome channel, keep it up At Christmas holidays I'm taking Oathbringer

[@NextChapterYT]

Thanks for watching! So glad you enjoy the channel! We’re so excited to dive into more of our favourites :) Oathbringer is phenomenal!

[@spade555]

Read Mistborn first and decide if this is the kind of high fantasy that you want. The Way of Kings is a huge commitment. But once you get sucked in...its REALLY hard to stop.

[@NextChapterYT]

Great advice!! Way if Kings is a massive commitment but oh so good!! I’m secretly hoping to get as many people into it as I can before Stormlight 5 comes out next November!

[@luckyowl6432]

Great video! The only Sanderson books I've read are The Reckoners Trilogy ( highly reccomend btw ) but your last couple videos have convinced me to read this one. Also a recommendation I would love to see your opinions on is the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix

[@NextChapterYT]

We love the Reckoners! Such a good series!! That’s the series that got us started with Sanderson. And thanks! Can’t wait for you to dive into the Cosmere! We will have to check that one out! Thanks for the recommendation :)

[@NextChapterYT]

What did YOU think of Way of Kings??

[@blameluke]

As a second read through, I'd give it a 9.6 as well. Was a 10 the first time, but then I read Words of Radiance.

[@NextChapterYT]

Agreed!! Hard to keep it a high score when Sanderson keep writing awesome stuff ;)