Colton Casados-Medve Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I just picked up The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson in hardback. Its the first installment in a planned ten-book series by the guy who finished off the Wheel of Time series. I'm really excited to delve into this world because it looks like he truly put a lot of effort into the worldbuilding and current reviews of the first book say it really is more of a huge worldbuilding volume than a plot advancing one. Anyone else read it and have thoughts? Avoid spoilers please, as I have not actually started it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnar of Skagos Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I enjoyed the characters and world-building, though I did find Kaladin's chapters far too long and with too little action. I did, however really enjoy Shallan's storyline. I feel like you could probably skip every other Kaladin chapter and not miss much. The ending was quite good, and well worth the wait. Just be patient and you should enjoy it like I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Never heard of it. Must be German. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhom Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 The search feature is off on the forums, but if you use Google it's readily accessible. I searched "Way of Kings Westeros" and this was the first result. Plenty of discussion on both Stormlight Archive books on this forum. There's also a general Sanderson thread. Enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
End of Disc One Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I don't think anyone else has had time to read it yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westerosi Coast Gangster Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Patiently awaiting book 3, although I wish Sanderson would continue the Infinity Blade series. Something about those books really got me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicomo Cosca Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I absolutely loved The Way of Kings! Never thought it had any boring parts. Slow, yes, but I still found myself completly engrosed with the story and the world. I believe the overall pacing was great, it's the kind of pacing I think works the best with fantasy (starts slow but picks up steam as it goes). Haven't started the second one yet but I'm extremely excited about it. I don't know how to describe it, but the book has "Star Warsy" feel that works so great. If the rest of the series keeps up with the same quality this series is going to be among my own personal favorites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli Fury Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I read it but found the way they used the word "storm" obnoxiously similar to the use of "smurf" on the Smurfs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muwhahaha Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I read it but found the way they used the word "storm" obnoxiously similar to the use of "smurf" on the Smurfs. Storm-it, I wish there was a way I could "like" your comment. Me? Sanderson's dialogue is so immature it's cringe-worthy. Just my opinion. I'm well aware of how many people think he's the best around but he's just not for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuncle Stark Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I absolutely loved it. Yes there are valid people complains people have about this or that part (like Shallan's wittiness), but based on the strength of Kaladins story alone its one of my favorite fantasy books. Have read it around once a year since it came out, and the journey of the bridgeman always gets me pumped up, going from a bunch of worthless nobodies to heroes. Also Dalinar is the Uncle I never knew I always wanted. Words of Radiance is good too but it didn't thrill me as much. Super excited for the third book though! He keeps writing Reckoners and Mistborn and all this other stuff but I want more Stormlight Archives!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkynJay Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I think the best thing I can say about The Way of Kings is it is plotted well enough to not read like it's thousand pages. But Sanderson's dialog (especially when being 'witty') makes me cringe. And his info dumps are especially egregious in their timing; often breaking up action scenes to explain what's going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muwhahaha Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I actually really like Sanderson's imagination (worlds/world-building, magic, and much more). However, his dialog is so bad that it (IMHO) outweighs his other merits. I've read/listened to most of his stuff but the back and forth between Kaladin and Shallan was so bad that I stopped listening to it and just by chance picked it up again 6 months later when I ran out of material and it was the only other thing loaded on my sansa. I gave up on the Reckoners half way through book 1. I may check out his new stuff but, please god or other possible hidden genie, teach him to write some decent banter. I know, he needs to sub out all his dialog to Mathew Stover and Guy Richie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli Fury Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 And the glaringly obvious yet ill suiting setup between Shallan and Kaladin sucks. Shallan and Adolin are actually well suited and have chemistry unlike Shallan and Kaladin even though they are written like you ought to think they do, it just isn't believable at all. I can see it coming miles away and I am cringing already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhom Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I actually really like Sanderson, but this Penny Arcade strip always cracks me up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barty Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Way of Kings was awesome, Words of Radiance was very good. But tbh I really liked Sanderson's rithmatist (its a lot more light) and Steelheart series more. Wish he'd pay more attention to Rithmatist - its like, last on his list of things to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninefingers Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Storm-it, I wish there was a way I could "like" your comment. Me? Sanderson's dialogue is so immature it's cringe-worthy. Just my opinion. I'm well aware of how many people think he's the best around but he's just not for me. This. I still think he's a net positive, but the dialogue really sticks out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fionwe1987 Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 But Sanderson's dialog (especially when being 'witty') makes me cringe. And his info dumps are especially egregious in their timing; often breaking up action scenes to explain what's going on. The two biggest issues with his works. He has interesting ideas. But he just doesn't execute too well most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry of the Lawn Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Never read it and dont think I'd like it, FWIW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cry_Havoc Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Storm-it, I wish there was a way I could "like" your comment. Me? Sanderson's dialogue is so immature it's cringe-worthy. Just my opinion. I'm well aware of how many people think he's the best around but he's just not for me. I have to agree. I mean, for someone with so much plublished material you would think that his writing would not seem so amateurish now. But it does. I guess we're supposed to find Shallan's witty back-and-forths with other characters funny, but they drag on and become annoying. I remember someone describing his fight scenes as though they were reading a video game (or Dragon Ball Z) and that is exactly what it's like. Imagine my dissappointment when Rothfus resorted to the same technique later in, "The Wise Man's Fear". I think Rothfus is the better writer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Snark aside, WoK was alright. Warbreaker is 100x better. (PEOPLE HAD SEX! IN A SANDERSON BOOK!) Have yet to start WoR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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