Stormlight Archive: Way of Kings (spoiler free review) by Brandon Sanderson

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yes, I realize the video is blurry. I literally JUST started this KZbin channel a few years ago and don't know what I'm doing yet. Give me about a decade and I'll have this thing honed in!

[@Cyro6]

You making these video's really tempts me to make my own channel. I actually appreciate the mistake lol

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

@@Cyro6 Do it! I'll be your first subscriber! :)

[@Tarantella.Serpentine]

Are you writing book 3 in the king killer chronicles. I heard about your reviews for the first binding 😂😂😂😂

[@mr.orange8205]

It's actually a lot better this way. Joking.

[@shadowoflugia]

Omg your oldest video is two years old???

[@storky1456]

Part 5 is the purest definition of Hope

[@csd8204]

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[@nazimelmardi]

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[@holdenpop12]

I just finished the book for the first time last night. I am absolutely hooked! Dalinar is such a great character. The resolution of the final battle and its aftermath was very well done! I was feeling things I haven’t felt in a book in a looooong time! Journey before destination! I’m new to Sanderson in 2024. I’ve read Mistborn Era 1, Warbreaker, and now The Way of Kings. Seeing his growth across all of these has been awesome to take in. I have quickly come to understand why everyone was telling me to pick up his books!

[@cappy2282]

Ya Dalinar is cool 😎

[@alexklozano]

I like the story for its herioc moments and characters. Not every book needs to be "real." Sometimes I just want to have a good time.

[@IbbyMelbourne]

I really think Brandon's imagination is underrated. Critics will talk about his prose or whatever, but I feel like more "literary" readers undervalue creativity and imagination in Fantasy. Creativity is wonderful, and why I fell in love with this genre

[@daelaenor]

What's the best example of his creativity in the Stormlight Archive books? I haven't started reading them yet, but I don't care about spoilers.

[@IbbyMelbourne]

@@daelaenor Brandon is really great at painting the most vivid magical imagery in your minds eye, yet giving enough hard-magic to make his world feel real. In Stormlight, a vast neverending hurricane circumnavigates the planet every few weeks. The entire planet, it's ecology, flora and fauna feels alien. Most animals are crustaceans, and plants work entirely differently. There's high oxygen in the the atmosphere. Rhe diverse human civilizations have to take the storm into account with their architecture, and their way of living, etc. The storm leaves behind sediment that people can use for building. The storm also fills gems with magical light, which people use for currency, but also a convenient light source. Magic users siphon this light as batteries to use their magic. There's also Spren. They're a mix of fairies and quantum particles. There're countless types of Spren, usually tied to an emotion or concept, and they randomly pop in and out of existence everywhere in the world. Angerspren, windspren, anxietyspren, etc. Spren have properties of real life particles, and scientists and scholars have figured out how to use them for all kinds of useful technology. A telephone-like system. Manipulating gravity. Bending light. The recent books have introduced Spren-powerd airships. There's also a completely different alien parallel dimension with it's own set of magic and cultures that I won't get into here. In Tress, another book, magic grows on the moon and falls down to the planet as spores that clump into vast ocean-sized masses. People will sail on the magical spore oceans and use the spores for magical abilities. Every series is incredibly creative, and he never seems to run out of ideas.

[@daelaenor]

​@@IbbyMelbourne I fumbled, and now my comment is gone, so I'll give you the short form: Stories like One Piece are peak creativity, in my opinion. Sanderson's ideas, though not mind-boggling, seem original. Maybe I'll like them more once I read the books.

[@ignaciogarcia8602]

@@daelaenor Big fan of both here. Stormlight won't dissapoint you, it's just that EPIC

[@IbbyMelbourne]

@@daelaenor ahh, another man of culture! Stormlight has been the closest thing to One Piece I've ever read. OP is pure imagination and creativity!

[@dylanbeazer2506]

I’ve got a few hundred pages left of Rhythm of War and I’ve throughly enjoyed the reread. All of the nuggets that he sprinkles through make them have such great reread value.

[@lewisshemery2585]

This is so crazy. I just finished this book last week! I came here for your thoughts, and was suprised I couldn't find a review. Thanks for the upload :)

[@leviosalegolas]

Definitely all valid criticisms, but tbh I kinda disagree on the heroic characters/spending more time with villains. I'm honestly so tired of grimdark. Following characters that are heroic was a breath of fresh air for me in adult fantasy and despite their heroism, they still have plenty of flaws that make them feel real and well rounded without the exaggerated pessimism of grimdark. And with the villains, sure we don't get that much time from the main antagonist's POV for example, but the story did present him in a grey enough light that I wasn't sure what he would do in the end, and to me that was enough nuance to make their consequences satisfying.

[@dookieshoe2905]

Just finished my 3rd Stormlight reread/listen so I'm hyped for December 6th. I'm reading the Aspect-Emperor books right now which is such a different thing and I don't even care. Sando gives a wild ride and it's just fun so the haters can hate all they want, I don't care. As for this book itself I've always felt the same about the Parshedi, I wish we could have gotten their pov as well. They are incredibly important to the story and this world going forward and they deserved more fleshing out and earlier on. Obviously the reason was for a big reveal which Sanderson really likes but the story does suffer a bit for that. Also I think I've teared up like a big dumb baby at least once in the 3rd and the 4th books...maybe even at the end of this book too. XD

[@fidato_]

I have ordered mine. Will be reading soon

[@Mister_Sosotris]

I just finished my first time read of this one, and while I AM engaged and want to continue reading, I definitely noticed that I spent much of the book wanting to shake the main characters and say, PLEASE NOTICE THIS OBVIOUS THING! But I still adored the world and the arcs are satisfying, and I am so stoked to see how things develop in future books!

[@highburyful]

Question-About to start this but would it be beneficial to start Warbreaker first? Thanks

[@Theoneandonlytek]

Not necessary for Way of Kings. Honestly not necessary for Words of Radiance. You should definitely read it before Oathbringer though.

[@highburyful]

Appreciate the reply, thanks ill start with Way of Kings-looking forward to finally beginning this series

[@joshuanowlin443]

Idk i have readit 3 times, i never had the thought that we need less kaladin. In the sequels i did have some fatigue, especially by book 4, but not at all in the 1st one. I do agree it could use some time spent with the bad guys.

[@gingernytemare]

What you said about the readers figuring out things beforehand really hit me with rhythm of war. From the beginning of both Adolin and Shallan's stories I had already figured out what wouldn't be resolved until 1000 pages later and it was quite frustrating. Sanderson is so good at planning things out he can sometimes struggle to fully obfuscate them from us!

[@Mightyjordy]

I remember listening to THAT scene in my car driving to work and literally fist pumping while crying my man tears and then not being able to focus on anything the rest of the day. I think it might be the only book I’ve cried during. I got close in Oathbringer and Rhythm of War, but this one hit my out of nowhere which is why I think it got me so good

[@akellerhouse83]

The best thing about Sanderson's books is definitely his imagination. I love his books. I don't care if it's not cool to like him. I did a re-read of all these right before Rhythm of War was released. I was amazed at how much better i liked Oathbringer the second time around. I got a lot of Shallan's plot in Oathbringer mixed up with Words of Radiance.

[@rster15]

As soon as something gets popular, all these detractors come out of the woodwork to make their Reddit posts saying, “Unpopular opinion: Author is overrated.” It’s like clockwork. They just want to be seen that they’re different.

[@csd8204]

Or it's how they really feel. Just sayin'.

[@dinocollins720]

Sanderson's prose is honestly incredible... for the amount of content he pumps out and for the fast-paced, straight-forward style he's going for.

[@csd8204]

Incredible?

[@dinocollins720]

@ yes incredible. Did you read my entire comment? I never said it was descriptive, flowery, or eloquent. It’s fast paced, to the point, and simplistic. You judge an author’s prose based on their goals and purpose. Sanderson’s goal is to be as clear and concise as possible in order to pack in as much lore, world building, history, magic, etc without confusing the reader. At this he succeeds. Sanderson is no Tolkien, but… he’s not trying to be. His prose perfectly accomplish his goals.

[@misternegative4918]

I’m excited to start this book. Almost done with era 1 of Mistborn and hoping to get caught up with Stormlight before the new one releases.

[@tea1722]

I remember when I first read it I called what I experienced after finishing "awesomeness withdrawal" (don't judge me I was young)

[@strangementalitypaperYT]

This is one of those books that I keep saying I'll be reading soon but just never pick up. Lol.

[@ToriMorrow]

Great review, Matt! Really looking forward to starting my stormlight archive journey soon!

[@Ak1193]

The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance are some of my favorite reading experience of all time. I'm so hesitant to start a reread before book 5 though, because Sanderson's 'formulaic' writing style and desperate need of a better editor makes the reading (or listening) experience such a slog in books 3 and (especially) 4. But... I'll still probably do another listen of all the audiobooks - the Graphic Audio versions are so, so good.

[@praetorxyn]

Read this a month or so ago. The Sanderlanche was great. Should be starting Words of Radiance soonish.

[@krislimpus]

Just re-read stormlight in preparation for the new book. Great to hear your timely take on it and hope you do the rest and maybe a predictions video going into book 5? I’m Ron Burgundy?

[@RyanMireles]

I also think the Sanderson hate is crazy. Sure he has his strengths and weaknesses, but I feel like the things he is strong at he is unparalleled in the industry in. In fact I think most S tier Fantasy authors at some point specialize in a specific thing to a degree that they are the best in the industry at that specific thing (Robin Hobb is unparalleled in character work, imo, for example) I'm currently almost finished with WoK and its crazy how good Sanderson is at World Building and Magic Systems. Say what you want about Sanderson, but I don't think anyone is as good and creative as him at those aspects of fantasy. The Stormlight world and magic system is so wholly unique that thier isn't anything else even remotely like that world in fantasy, and yet it still feels clearly fantasy. Some authors make worlds that while unique, end up veering so far from epic fantasy that it doesn't really hit that core audience as well. Mistborn Era 1, felt more like a twist on high fantasy that introduced a lot of new ideas and concepts, but at the end of the day still felt like a twist on a Victorian era high fantasy setting. Stormlights world and magic system feel like something completely and utterly new in the fantasy world. Even Malazan or Wandering Inn which are both incredible, and massive worlds, feel rooted in classic fantasy (Like LotR and DnD) where as SA doesn't, imo. It doesn't feel like a derivative of LotR, like so many fantasy worlds do, even if they are executed very well. He's still not my favorite author, though I am quite fond of his writing, but I think it's crazy how many people brush aside how strong he is in some areas because of the places he is weaker at (Like prose, for example)

[@cappy2282]

Ya I enjoyed this book as well. Fun read

[@danieldelicate8015]

I have just read it (well about a week ago) for the first time…. Wonderful just absolutely wonderful.

[@valliyarnl]

If you had to rank the Stormlights today, what would your ranking be?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Somewhere between #5 and #7.

[@valliyarnl]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviews I meant the individual books! Sorry I wasn’t clear 😅 as in which is your favorite/least favorite

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

@@valliyarnl Ah! I would go: #2, #4, #1, #3. But I'll probably swap #3 and #1 on my re-read of #3.

[@bohannon2692]

How are you ranking them if you never read all of them?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

@@bohannon2692 this was a reread for me. I've read them all once before this.

[@thomazeblen]

I really like the graphic audio version of yhr stormlight archives

[@nazimelmardi]

It’s a game based fantasy (what once was RPG based in the time of Drizzt and Dragonlance) but he made advancement in the game, and it’s better in characters and he obviously loves hero stories. The planning is also a strongsuit of his. Now that’s literally the MCU of fantasy. Not that deep as Malazan in the themes, avoids to make you think (explains everything), so it’s going for enjoyment. But in that? The maximum effect. So… MCU. Still very good epic fantasy, but not superior literature. Fantastic work of construction how it is made. The biggest complaint could be: he doesn’t use the editor as much as he could and these books prob easily could be shorter by 20% without losing any content. As Bookborn said… the “magic system” phrase is really overused and comes from Sanderson……… 😂

[@dinocollins720]

Another fantastic video! thank you Matt!

[@Gorix17]

Nowadays I can pick up a Cosmere book and have a good time, but TWOK frustrated my interest in reading fiction for about 10 years until I finally got back into it, and fantasy in general, last year. There's slow and then there's this book's pacing, which is frankly pretty dire at times and I didn't really connect with any characters. Then I read and enjoyed The Final Empire which was more my speed, so now going back I can enjoy the qualities it has more and be patient with it because I know the payoff is there. Still, a pretty difficult starting point for Brando considering all the hype it got back then. I should not have listened to my buddy at all lol.

[@BridgeburnerToni]

Ive read the first three stormlight books and i found the 1st and 3rd couldve been trimmed down quite a bit. I thought the 2nd was amazing with its pacing.

[@benjaminb4407]

I'm very happy that a lot of people like this book. I think Brandon definitely deserves the Acclaim he is getting. That said I did not like Way of Kings. I felt like for the vast majority of the characters very little changed chapter to chapter. I definitely believe that this book could have been half as long and all of the same things could have happened. I'm no stranger to long books but this one really tried my patience. I will probably still continue The Stormlight archives, for me though the first book was the opposite of fun

[@DMRufio]

Sounds like Matt might be a fan of the storming lighteyes

[@shadowoflugia]

I’m reading this book for a second time after over ten years lol (the only one I’ve read of this series).

[@SleepParty30]

I'm reading the skyward series right now. I loved Skywars. Starsight had its moments. And I'm just starting Cytonic. But holy fuxk, I'm stoked to begin the Stormlight Archive shit.

[@mmorgan1980]

Its really refreshing to hear your take on Kaladin in this book. He's always been my least favorite POV character, and I lay most of the blame for that on this first book spending too much time with him floundering. But you cant voice that opinion too often because so much of the fandom is like The Kaladin Appreciation Society. Lol. More time with, and development of Shallan would have been great.

[@pedromeza474]

Hi Matt, could you put together a list of some fantasy books that are easy to read, for some of us we dont have english as a first lenguaje there are few ones that because of the vocabulary or grammar are not the ones we commonly came across in other books, thanks!

[@BeardofDarkness]

I have had this one on the shelf for a while now and have waited for a review like this to start it. Who gives a shit about the fuZzy video, those who arent petty didnt even notice until reading your comment. Great stuff man!

[@cavendar24]

Every time I read Sanderson (except WoT maybe) I have no doubt I could edit the book down by 25-35% without losing anything of the story or the character arcs. It's to the point where I have stopped reading his books, because I can't stop mentally editing and critiquing every useless line or the 1348th time he starts a sentence with the word "Still". The first time I read this book, I skipped almost all of Shallan's chapters because they were so boring. Weirdly, the 2nd time I read it, I enjoyed her chapters a lot, probably even more than the other PoVs. I find Kalladin to be rather annoying, especially with the cheesy flashbacks. The characters around him are usually great, though their attitude toward him feels forced. But the last part of the book is very satisfying.

[@danielbujdos]

Getting through the first half of this book was a chore for me and I considered giving up multiple times, because I was bored by Kaladin’s POV. I decided to force myself through it, though, and really liked the second half. Shallan’s chapters were my favourite, so I hope the second, Shallan-focused book will be a much more enjoyable experience.

[@csd8204]

Glad you enjoyed it. Could've been half as long and lost nothing. I read the first four but don't plan on going any further. Too long with not enough pay off. Good review.

[@jarltrippin]

In recent years, I've come to the conclusion that exceedingly few books need to be a thousand pages long, even if it is fantasy. The only one I can think of is Book of the New Sun (it was written as a single whole, but split into four parts). Hell, as much as I love LOTR, even that has its bloated moments. I've gone back to the old swords & sorcery stuff like C. A. Smith and Fritz Leiber because the world building was mostly done through the actual writing and atmosphere. I find that way more interesting, personally. For my tastes, fantasy should always have something ethereal and elusive about it, and it's a shame that we never see that in the modern landscape of the genre.

[@csd8204]

​@@jarltrippinWell, except for John Gwynne and Ryan Cahill.

[@randellcrouch]

Interested to hear your thoughts when you eventually get to book 4, which has seemed kind of divisive for some (me included)

[@ilikecomicstoareallyproble8617]

Currently listening to this as the thing I listen to when I bike. I'd read it before hand, but it's really nice to look back and see all the stuff I missed.

[@DoNotLookDown]

This is still the strongest Stormlight book for me. I feel it has the best pacing and emotional payoff out of all the books. The series kinda got a bit long winded and added too many povs that didn't click for me as it went on. I still really love the series. It's also the only book where I like Shallan so that helps my enjoyment of it. She kinda ruined Oathbringer for me. Maybe I'll change my opinion on a re-read but The Way of Kings felt special in a way that the other books didn't.

[@SuperCliffReviews]

Way of Kings is 1000% legit

[@andrewp319]

This is a great review. It doesn't quite hold up on the re-read, imo. It's still great, but the re-read drops it by 0.5-1 star for me.

[@darthmalgus232]

The book’s okay. To me personally, Brandon Sanderson isn’t the greatest author, and sometimes parts of his books can be a slog to get through, but he’s serviceable enough. I’ve read Mistborn era 1, Elantris, The Emperor’s Soul, Whitesand, Warbreaker, and I’m almost done with the The Way of Kings. Emperor’s Soul is one of my favorite stories in general, I really like it. It’s the only one of his stories so far that I’ve completely enjoyed, which is funny because I prefer male protagonists (mostly because I just can’t find an author who writes women/girls very well. That’s my big issue with most female characters in fantasy that I’ve read. I feel Brandon Sanderson falls into this category at times as well, but he does write them better than some others I’ve read, and while I didn’t like Vin all that much by the end, I do think she was generally a well-written female character. I’m usually hesitant to read books with just female protagonists and dread reading female povs because they just let me down. I so badly want to read a well-written female character but I just can’t find any. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place) over female ones. I thought White Sand was awful. I liked some parts of Elantris but hated the rest. I enjoyed the first book of Mistborn trilogy, and really liked Vin in that book, but didn’t like the next two as much and didn’t like Vin in them either. I liked Elend more than Vin by the end, but I still wouldn’t call him a favorite or anything. Warbreaker was good in some parts and meh in others. I really, really like the concept of it though, just wish it was executed a little differently here and there. The Way of Kings is so slow, and I knew that going in, but still, a good portion of it is a major slog. None of the characters appeal to me that much. I like Kaldain and Dalinar, but I feel there characters are dragged down by how slow the book is, especially Kaladin. I don’t like Shallan or Jasnah, though I do find the stuff surrounding Shallan very intriguing. I’m meh on Alodin. I don’t completely dislike him, but I don’t exactly like him either. I really want to finish the first four Stormlight books before the fifth ones comes out this December, but I know it’s probably going to take me years before I completely finish all four of them. All in all, I don’t think Brando Sando is a bad author, because he’s not, I just don’t think he’s as great as his fans say he is. I really want to like his stuff more than I actually do, especially since he’s a fast author compared to his betters, but I just can’t make myself do so.

[@IzzyZil20]

Honestly what you said Matt is probably how I’ll feel. That more I read other fantasy, the further down stormlight drops on my list

[@PaulRamen]

I'm curious how much you read per day haha As a slow reader I could never be a booktuber.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

I read about 150 or so pages a day.

[@Mxe00.]

Six of crows and Voyagers of hell will always be my favorite fantasy books.

[@genralawsome244]

I still haven't finished book 4 because of the slowness problem, and because Kal will not shut up about being depressed constantly 😂

[@IzzyZil20]

The fourth book is a though one to get through

[@Days-rh5rs]

All the issues you stated are the reasons why I don't like this book

[@FranzBinder20]

I think you are completely wrong with the take that Sanderson only gets criticism because he is popular and it's even a bit condescending and insulting to assume so. There are objectively aspects in his books that he doesn't do very well and if people are annoyed by it why would you be so personally insulting to them and invalidate their opinion. Also, by your logic of being popular, there should also be a huge group of people who complain about the writing of Tolkien and George RR Martin and so on, but there isn't.

[@malcolmhodnett8874]

There are plenty of people who complain about both of those authors.

[@MidnightChronicler]

Cant wait to drop my own review, because i agree on so many of your negatives. This book (at times) is like watching the Sand Crawler from Star Wars move along a desert. 300/400 pages could have been cut off this thing.

[@Henry-jp3mc]

After The Second Apocalypse i cant go back to Sanderson.😂

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

They are like polar opposites in terms of vibe, lol.

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

Honestly grimdark in general ruined most other fantasy for me lol.

[@KristinLovesBooks6]

​@@nightmarishcompositions4536 any recommendations for a grimdark newbie?

[@sirvazo1633]

I’ve read this and did not enjoy it. I found it quite bloated and not that interesting so will not be continuing the series. Very happy though to see that others really enjoy it 👍

[@thatsci-firogue]

While I'm enjoying my slow re-read, I really don't like Sanderson's humour.

[@bohannon2692]

Noone likes an unnecessary 1000 page book, i think he needs to start trimming down if he wants more people to read his series i hate being trapped in a 1000 page book because theres so much books i need to read. Everyone always says way of kings is his best. Such a shame because everyone here is talking bad about it, guess ill have to skip it once i finish mist born

[@nightowl1337]

The characters are dumb with eye rolling cringe. Oh no Kaladine is depressed and afraid to to show his powers. Bridge 4 makes it out of harm again. Maybe a love triangle going to happen? Saddiuess spill the beans like a Bond villain. This is the most overhyped series I have ever read. If you like YA then this is the series for you.

[@keller3647]

This book was mid at best for me and I can’t get thru the second book. What’s wrong with me

[@ptc726c2]

I can’t stand Shallan. She is not likable or interesting to me and she only gets worse

[@shawnlinnehan7349]

Well, I have to completely disagree. The story was fine, but I have never gotten past this book and read the rest because the world is the most illogical and worst world I have ever come across. I have no problem suspending disbelief, but this is just too much. He put no thought into this world. I live in Florida. I have been through many hurricanes and lost my house to one and had to rebuild. It took almost a year. I have a concrete block house, but the roof still came off. These people just going indoors and shutting their little medieval door and surviving is nonsense. Nothing makes sense. All the animals should be covered in scales and carapaces, or they would not survive. How are there cows and horses in this world? How? Who is rounding them up and securing them indoors during these storms? Not to mention how are they eating as the grass is described to get pulled in when anyone walks on it. Come on man!!!!! The trees pull their leaves in during a storm. Wow, that's cute, except the freaking trees themselves would snap like matchsticks and there would be no trees! The people would not be wearing clothes, they would be wearing the carapaces and shells of the creatures. Where are they getting cotton and silk? So annoying! There would be no crops. I have a commercial landscaping company and a hurricane just brushed by us, it did not make landfall, and it took 6 months to fix everything and clean up all the properties. 6 months of just cleaning up. There is no way at all any society could live on this world as described. Period. This world makes me so mad!

[@ericF-17]

Is this supposed to be a joke? I legitimately can't tell. If not, maybe you should consider the fact that, for example, there AREN'T horses and cows outside of Shinovar, and that they DON'T have cotton and silk (although they do have something called sea-silk and also make some of their clothes from certain rockbuds according to a Q&A/WOB) because Sanderson has thought this through because Sanderson thinks of everything.

[@victoriat.similien4973]

They have soulcasting, animals adapts and evolved in consideration to their environment, also it’s a make believe world where people are over 7ft minimum as well as a lower gravity planet… You don’t like the world that’s fine but comparing the real world, applying its physical laws to a make believe world is false equivalency at its finest

[@leviosalegolas]

to add on to what ericF-17 said, "the trees themselves would snap", not necessarily, that's why trees are described as short and thick. And the cities and towns are all built in a way that protects them against the storms. Unlike on Earth, Rosahrans know which direction the storm will come from because it's always the same, so they built houses in a way that accounts for that, like slanted roofs on the storm side or building towns/cities right next to hills for shelter, and cities like Kholinar have giant magically created structures that serve as wind breaks. Hell, there's a city built in literal trenches in the ground for this reason. Sure, maybe the reasoning behind everything isn't all fool proof, but there's definitely thought behind all of it. Plus, Roshar is not equivalent to medieval Earth, you have to account for the fact that it's a fantasy world and not everything is gonna work exactly the same as it does in our world. Their materials may work differently, for example, for all you know tree bark on Roshar might have evolved to be stronger than ours etc etc.....

[@TheJoshuaborden]

I hadn’t loved this series. I’m in the minority I know. But I’ve found this series uninteresting/ boring.