The Way of Kings is Brandon Sanderon’s first novel in a sweeping fantasy series entitled The Stormlight Archive. Set in a mythical world called Roshar, the book centers on a few characters; the dead king’s brother Danilar, who is attempting to avenge his brother’s memory. Kaladin, a slave who has survived many hardships and is cursed to endure them. Shallan, a young girl set on saving her family through whatever means necessary. The Shattered Plains, a deadly and unforgiving background for much of the novel, sees a war between the humans of Roshar and Parshendi, humanoid creatures with shell-like armor that grows from their skin.
I absolutely loved this book. As soon as I finished it, I knew I had found one of my favorite books and series of all time. Something about The Way of Kings was different from any other fantasy novel. The three main storylines of Dalinar, Kaladin, and Shallan are all interesting in their own right, but the way they weave together throughout the novel is so satisfying by the end. Every character has a distinct voice, which makes it easy to go back and forth between perspectives. The ending of this novel has so much payoff that it made the long read entirely worth it, and I immediately started on the second novel. The Way of Kings does take some time, as the book is 1000 pages. However, it goes by extremely fast and it is a must read for anyone who loves fantasy.