Kaladin, once a promising surgeon's apprentice, threw his career away to save his younger brother Tien. A soldier, and now a slave, he has become disillusioned, betrayed and failing to save others again and again. Shallan, the only daughter of a lord of Jah Keved, journeys to distant Kharbranth, determined to become the ward of the renowned scholar Jasnah Kholin. During her studies, she discovers frightening truths about the history of Roshar. Dalinar Kholin is the younger brother of the assassinated Alethi king Gavilar Kholin. While fighting the enemy Parshendi during the Vengeance Pact sworn after his brother's death, he receives strange visions about the Knights Radiant.
The Way of Kings is the first volume in a planned ten-novel series by fantasy author Brandon Sanderson. Following his successful Mistborn series, Sanderson's skills remain tight as ever. The novel is immense (over 1000 pages), and starts off a little slow. Nevertheless, it sucks you in and immerses you entirely in the fictional world of Roshar. The world is constructed masterfully and feels real, albeit alien. The spren spirits, violent highstorms, and various cultures mix to form a detailed world. The powerful prologue establishes a lore and history that hints at future revelations to come. Throughout the novel, characters learn and reference the Knights Radiant, and the history feels very developed and real.
As always, Sanderson is a master at creating logical magical systems. In Roshar, magic seems to revolve around the number ten: Ten Heralds, Ten orders of the Knights Radiant, Ten Silver Kingdoms, Ten essences, to name a few. Although the opening chapter features a lot of magic (Shardblades, Shardplate, Lashings, Stormlight), overt use of magic is sparse throughout the remainder of the novel. The only prevalent magic lies in Shardblades/Shardplate, although both seem natural in the world of Roshar, rather than plot devices.
Sanderson's characterization has vastly improved since his earlier works. Kaladin and Dalinar are deep, developed characters. The interspersed chapters on Kaladin's past reveal a lot about his history and motivations for his actions. Dalinar's position as the king's advisor is particularly noteworthy, as he is the sole champion of honor amidst of a crowd of squabbling nobles. The only character who feels underdeveloped is Shallan - however, her final chapters are very striking, as we finally learn about her motivations.
The scope of the volume is epic. There are many interludes that establish sideplots that don't conclude, hinting at more plotlines to come. The entire novel is one giant buildup, as characters learn more and more about the impending doom. Despite starting slow, the novel gains steadily in pace, ending with a very frantic climax. The final chapter ends spectacularly, setting up an explosive momentum for the sequel.
The Way of Kings is an epic novel, ambitious yet successful at the same time. It delivers on all levels, and does not drag or postpone too much for the later novels. Author Brandon Sanderson has begun a work that may become one of the best fantasy series of the decade.
Rating: (9.5/10)
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