The Way of Kings discussion

For the readers who read and loved The Way of Kings (just like me): can you remember one feature of the book that made you like it that much?

Asking this is always funny because most of the times people come with pretty different aspects :D

I love the description and looking back how far the story has come.

I like the dynamic way in which the characters are described and how the author manages to show you little by little a completely new world, complicated at times, but wonderful, well structured and very entertaining. (I could spend hours writing about this topic :D)

As a fan of "The Way of Kings" by Brandon Sanderson, I can confidently say that this book is a must read for the genre.

First, the world-building in this book is top-notch. Sanderson has created a fully realized, complex world with its own unique magic system and rich history, and the book does a great job of introducing the reader to this world and its inhabitants.

Second, the characters in this book are well-developed and engaging. Each character has their own distinct personality, motivations, and arc, and their interactions with one another drive the plot forward in interesting ways.

Finally, the plot of this book is well-paced and engaging. It weaves together various threads and subplots in a way that keeps the reader guessing and invested in the story.

WORLD-BUILDING

Way of Kings had me by the first paragraph, something about the descriptiveness of the writing just seemed immediately vivid and I wanted to find out more and more. The characters are incredibly complex and I loved the setups for the various mysteries in the first book, some left unresolved until further entries in the series. The magic system and general world building is easily the best I've come across in this genre, its so incredibly alien but clearly well-considered and though obviously fantastical doesn't seem void of purpose or reason for the sake of being fantastical.

Brandon Sanderson is known for his fast-paced writing style that is both engaging and easy to follow. He possesses a remarkable talent for vividly describing characters and settings, making it effortless for readers to visualize the story in its purest form. Sanderson's world-building and character development are masterful, particularly in his magnum opus, The Stormlight Archive. He dedicated years to crafting this epic tale, carefully considering every nitty-gritty detail necessary to immerse readers in the fantastical world of Roshar.

Reading The Way of Kings, I found myself experiencing emotions I rarely feel while reading a book. Sanderson's storytelling is so compelling that it's impossible not to become invested in the characters and their journey. Throughout the story, small details that at first seem insignificant come together to create something massive, leaving readers in awe and eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Overall, The Way of Kings serves as a gateway to a world filled with all the amazing elements that epic fantasy has to offer. I can hardly wait to see what the future holds for this series.

The AWESOME WORLD BUILDING: the ecology and interactions between the plants, animals, their environment, and the weather, the complex history, the intricate culture, the unique magic system and BIG SWORDS.

Almost even better than big swords, BIG CRAB. I loved the scene where the king goes on a chasmfiend hunt. A friend recommended this book to me, and after I got to that part I was like "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THERE WAS A BIG CRAB?? I WOULD HAVE STARTED READING SOONER!"

It was Kaladin's story of survival for me. Being stuck in a situation where he's almost guaranteed to die with seemingly no way out, and how he gets through it.

Why is Way of Kings so good?

I think mostly because it has a world and characters that draw you in. Sanderson doesn't explain the world, he shows the world to you. What drew me in initially was Kaladin's story and how he is a hopeless situation feeling hopeless and the weight of the things he has suffered in the past - however, you don't know this at the beginning, it is a mystery.

Also, the plot is layered, with many characters lives slowly becoming intertwined. There are no major plot holes, and every scene moves the story forwards in some way. The plot is interesting and unique.

There are many themes in this book and it is great for youth, but adults can enjoy it and think more deeply on these themes (like religion, truth, history, mental health, etc.). I find all of these put together - the mystery of Kaladin, the slow construction of a new world, the plot, the themes, the other characters - are all what make the book good.

The mysteries. You have to keep reading to find out e heck is going on.

There are many things that are so good: characters, progression, worldbuilding, magic...

But for me, the most engaging things were the mysteries. From the very beginning amazing and epic situtations are briefly given to you so you just want to discover what really happened and why.

Worldbuilding and loved Kaladin's slave origin story.

Worldbuilding its just amazing. You dont get punched with a lot of things to the face, you swim in the world and discover it through every chapter and you get to know what yo need to.

The character writing is so effortlessly complex and deep. The writing/pacing is incredible. And the world-building is one of the best world-building i've ever seen, truly a marvel of fantasy and writing. Roshar is so vast and unique and creative that it's mindblowing how one guy created all of it

1) The characters and their development both internally and externally.

2) The way Sanderson approaches world building. He teases an idea then drags you in as he adds more bread crumbs and reveals more as the story goes on. He always rewards readers for making it to the end!

3) Cool swords.

World-building has already been mentioned a hundred times over (and mentioning it 100x more would not be enough to emphasize how well-done it is), but, particularly, I love authors who treat their audiences as intelligent, and that's just what Sanderson does. He explains when necessary but otherwise enables you to understand and experience the world on your own. And - oh my gosh - does the world have so much depth: the nuances of religion, the diversity in appearances, I could go on and on.