Brandon Sanderson "The Way of Kings"

[AndrewT]

I have heard mixed reviews of this massive tome. Some think it's the best new thing yet while others think it's so so or even a waste of trees. Any comments from those who have read it? I notice Sanderson does not have his own forum yet as well. He has quite a bit of material now. Time for his own link don't you think.

 

[biodroid]

I am over 100 pages in and its building into a good story with great characters. Its a long book so its a given for things to take time to get to a point but at least it does. I like his style, descriptive but not self indulgent and anyone who doesnt have an English Literature doctorate can understand him as well. To me he writes like he wants you to be watchsing a blockbuster movie but still feel engaged. Most of the chrons rate himhighly for being consistently good and his production is great, the man is like a robot producing at least a book or more a year. Just check out how he wrapped up the Wheel of time series and he was praised for that as well. I like him and dare I say I think he might be my fave author when I finish this novel.

 

[Grunkins]

It really depends on whether or not you are a Sanderson fan. I made it about 600 pages into the book before I just couldn't take it any more. Sanderson's writing just bugs me. It feels like everything happens in cartoonland. And Shallan's faux-logic diatribes made me want to strangle myself.

 

[thaddeus6th]

I enjoyed it. It was the first work of his I read, and it's probably my favourite. It's not perfect, but I'll definitely be buying the next one.

 

[Heather Myst]

I liked it but I am a fan of Elantris, Warbreaker, and the first Mistborn book. From what I hear it is book one of a projected ten book series?

 

[Jonathan C]

I liked it but I am a fan of Elantris, Warbreaker, and the first Mistborn book. From what I hear it is book one of a projected ten book series?

Yes, it is.

And it and those others you've mentioned are all set in the same universe, with a projected 36+ books to be part of it by the time he is done. Some characters from Elantris and Mistborn pop up in Stormlight, and the character Hoid appears in all three works as well as Warbreaker. The Stormlight Archive is one of the centrepieces of his cosmology- it is its own story, but it ties all the other ones together.

 

[Mangara]

I've not read it but thought I'd say that I like Sanderson's style, its nice to not come across blood sex and violence in every chapter.

 

[ratsy]

Loved this book. I am going to do a reread before the new one comes out this fall (crosses fingers).

Sanderson has great characters and the world he builds here is epic and beautiful. With mini chapters with unknown characters he really makes you realize there will be so much more to the story and world than what he shows us in book one.

Great stuff to me.

 

[Janga]

I am about 20% finished of this book. At this point it is quite tedious for me and I thought about giving up a few times, but i will stick it through to the end.

I think it's the names of people and places that bug me the most about the story. It seems like Sanderson just quickly put letters together to make up most of the names and really distracts me from the story.

 

[Bick]

From what I hear it is book one of a projected ten book series?

Holy heck - can't these guys write single novels? Why the peculiarity in fantasy to write stories 8000 pages long?

 

[ratsy]

I think he wants to leave his mark by doing a monster epic. There are only a few that have done so many and he was part of the Wheel of Time ones. Sanderson has done standalones and a trilogy so why not entertain me with a massive series. I am cool with it. Also he writes so fast that one a year should not be an issue. Unlike everyone else out there

 

[Bick]

I think he wants to leave his mark by doing a monster epic. There are only a few that have done so many and he was part of the Wheel of Time ones. Sanderson has done standalones and a trilogy so why not entertain me with a massive series. I am cool with it. Also he writes so fast that one a year should not be an issue. Unlike everyone else out there

Yeah fair enough. I don't mean to sound disparaging - I'm just a bit mystified why the phenomenon exists to such an extent in fantasy I suppose. 10 seems like a lot. A bit mad.

 

[AndrewT]

Yes, it is.

And it and those others you've mentioned are all set in the same universe, with a projected 36+ books to be part of it by the time he is done. Some characters from Elantris and Mistborn pop up in Stormlight, and the character Hoid appears in all three works as well as Warbreaker. The Stormlight Archive is one of the centrepieces of his cosmology- it is its own story, but it ties all the other ones together.

Thanks for telling me this because now I think I will read those first then start Stormlight.
And by the way ten is not too many. If people like it they want more. For instance, how many people wish Tokien had done more works that were not historical narratives like a Second Age prequel about the first war of the rings.

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

It really depends on whether or not you are a Sanderson fan. I made it about 600 pages into the book before I just couldn't take it any more. Sanderson's writing just bugs me. It feels like everything happens in cartoonland. And Shallan's faux-logic diatribes made me want to strangle myself.

I actually quite like Sanderson's writing style for the most part but I will confess I found the Shallan chapters very hard work in Way of Kings. As a character she's a lot more whiny and petulant than Kaladin or Szeth, both of whom probably have more reason to be so!

I can only hope she improves in the next book as she's now part of the 'cool kids crowd' and can show off her special powers and stuff.

Yes, it is.

And it and those others you've mentioned are all set in the same universe, with a projected 36+ books to be part of it by the time he is done. Some characters from Elantris and Mistborn pop up in Stormlight, and the character Hoid appears in all three works as well as Warbreaker. The Stormlight Archive is one of the centrepieces of his cosmology- it is its own story, but it ties all the other ones together.

Wow. I hadn't made the connection between Hoid and all the various books he's appeared in. I'm still not sure it makes all that much sense to have each of these works be their own "shard" (world? universe?) and allow travel between them, without it being a massive distraction. I liked the idea of them all being separate works rather than as some overarching connected piece.

 

[Northoceanbeach]

Holy heck - can't these guys write single novels? Why the peculiarity in fantasy to write stories 8000 pages long?

Lol. I just picked this book up last night an one I the things I was looking for was a long book and long series. I put a couple down without even considering them because they were only 550 pages. Lol.

 

[Bugg]

I read it and thought it was okay, but it was just too long for its own good, imo (and I like long books). Agreed about Shallan. I found it quite predictable and repetitive, too, especially where Kaladin was concerned. I doubt I'll read the next one.

 

[biodroid]

I just want to know a few things about this book if someone would be so kind to clear things up for me. Spoilers to follow, although they are mild.

SPOILER

How big are these bridges the slaves have to carry, will Kaladin be slaving away with these bridges for any longer and does the pace pick up because it feels bogged down with Shallan planning her future events with the Jasnah?

END SPOILER

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

I just want to know a few things about this book if someone would be so kind to clear things up for me. Spoilers to follow, although they are mild.

SPOILER

How big are these bridges the slaves have to carry, will Kaladin be slaving away with these bridges for any longer and does the pace pick up because it feels bogged down with Shallan planning her future events with the Jasnah?

END SPOILER

Well I don't know about future events because the second book hasn't come out yet! As for the bridges, I'm sure it's mentioned in the text itself (which i don't have to hand) but I pictured them as around 20-30 foot, considering they needed around 10 people to carry them.

I doubt he will be doing that work for much longer though but will probably end up with that team of his being his 'unit' or it'll be a bit of a waste explaning their backstories and building up their characters in the first book.

 

[biodroid]

Thanks Winters Sorrow

 

[Northoceanbeach]

After reading all of the wheel of time last year I needed a new series. I like long series. The longer the better. So I read three malazan books which are so depressing its pathetic. I decided since I loved the way Sanderson finished the wheel, but not really sure how much of the books were "him" I grabbed the way of kings. I'm on page 965 after a week and love it. It's just what I was looking for. The writing style isn't heavy, but the world he is beginning to create has the potential to be great and the character development is starting strong. I already can't wait for number two. I've got the first two mistborn sitting next to me though to tide me over.

I probably like fantasy that is medium heavy, like goodkind, Jordan, and Sanderson. As opposed to heavy; Martin and Ericsson or light, pratchett or brooks. Does that make sense?