Introduction
Welcome to April’s book of the month—The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson! This will be my first time diving into this epic fantasy, and I’m bringing you along for the ride with a chapter-by-chapter read-along. This book is massive (both in page count and worldbuilding), so I’ll be breaking it down piece by piece, sharing my thoughts, reactions, and attempts to make sense of Sanderson’s intricate storytelling.
Expect daily updates as I work through this tome, and feel free to join in the discussion! This won’t be a spoiler-free breakdown—everything is fair game as I experience it for the first time. Whether you’re a longtime Stormlight Archive fan or a fellow first-time reader, I’d love to hear your thoughts, theories, favorite moments, or anything else that stands out to you along the way.
Let’s see if I survive the weight (literally and figuratively) of this book!
With the introduction out of the way let’s dive right in! Be sure to click the arrow to view the content below.
The Way of Kings
Prelude to the Stormlight Archive
Right from the get go we are introduced to so many new elements, people, and creatures. We are introduced to Kalak who describes a post battle scene, and the destruction of the land and a large dying Thunderclast.
What is a thunderclast? A large stone beast with long limbs, red eyes and skeletal in shape.
Kalak – How old is Kalak, centuries of having not seen a thunderclast boasts of an older age. Where did he go if he died? Why did he sound almost relieved to have survived although even having survived he was expected to go back to a place of pain?
Surgebinders? Dustbringers?
Who are the ten people? Kalak, Jezrien, Talenel (Taln), Ishar?
Shardblades?
Desolation, The Desolation, Cycle of Desolations- an event obviously.
Oathpact?
Who are the Radiants?
The prelude ended with so much anguish. We get this glorious depiction of the warscape and gain some history (minimal) of the ten individuals who play a role in the wars. There is a short dialogue between Kalak and Jezrien about pretty much a shared experience of pain that occurs between the Desolations. Based on the description it alludes to some mild torture. 🧐 These two men are standing there staring out over the war torn land and are making such a [seemingly] cold decision to abandon Taln, a, dear I say friend and fellow warrior to a place that neither of them can suffer through again. I mean I did not gather that the decision caused too much turmoil. Plus they seem to be immortal. When will Taln be freed?
Book One: The Way of Kings
Prologue: To Kill
4500 years later.
Enter Szeth-son-son-Vallano (sheesh), Truthless of Shinovar, a Shin servant. He obviously does not belong and is at a celebration where both the Parshendi and Alethi were both in attendance. (later found out they are celebrating a treaty that made them allies).
I immediately pictured a party where everyones wasted and looking stupid while that one somber friend stands in the corner wondering why they came. Hmm, have a listen to Here by Alessia Cara and you’ll get what I’m envisioning, but more fancy and ridiculous like that scene from The Wolf of Wall Street.
Anyway, interestingly enough, while Szeth is walking through this party he acknowledges the “Ten Heralds from ancient Vorin theology” Jezerezeh, Ishi, Kelek, Talenelat, Shalash…Yeah you saw that correctly. I do not believe this to be a spelling error more of a general depiction of history and knowledge being lost to time.
Why is stone not to be walked upon?
“White to be bold. White to not blend into the night. White to give warning.”
I’m sorry Szeth was sent to kill a king and it was tradition amongst the Parshendi to wear white so that they would know? That is wild. So the Parshendi drummers acknowledging him earlier also possibly knew what Szeth was there to do. I mean we could surmise that every Parshendi knew. Okay fast forward to this cool little fight scene…if you can call it that. It was more of a spanking than a fight considering there was not much of a recourse. I thought the use of Stormlight was freaking unique. It’s described as a light source, but Szeth used it as part of his skill. It’s not telekinesis or travelling through constructs of space but still gives me vibes of if the movie Matrix, and Lucy had a baby.
In the prelude we are introduced to the Shardblade as these weapons that are weaker than that of the ten, but this fight scene and description of the Shardlblade really tells you how strong the blades of the ten must be. The Shardblade severs the soul if a lethal strike occurs, but can also cause a limb to die, like paralysis. I mean if it touches the spine then the individual dies eyes burning.,
“The Shardblade was just a tool; it could not be blamed for the murders.”
Szeth is a bad mama jamma. I’ll just leave it at that. Okay i won’t just leave it completely at the beginning of this prologue he is portrayed as intentionally mysterious, but then he is all meticulous, crude, and calculated with an interesting moral compass. What’s with the focus on death by his own hand?
The king is killed and I am left with more questions than answers which seems to be a trend of this book.
Three Types of Lashing
| Basic | allows for the user to manipulate anything that holds a person(s) to the ground |
| Full | binds objects together (uses more Stormlight) |
| Reverse | required constant touch, but able to reverse an objects trajectory to the Lashing itself (uses the least amount of Stormlight) |
That was only the prelude and the prologue… I cannot wait to see what else this book has in store.
Part One: Above Silence
Chapter 1: Stormblessed
5 years later
In the beginning there was despair and panic of course. Another battle is beginning and we are introduced to Cenn, a 15 year old boy masquerading as a man who is very afraid of the inevitable that is death. I cannot even begin to imagine being conscripted at the age of 15. Thinking about myself at 15…yeah I would definitely not be prepared for war and poor Dallet trying to convince Cenn he will be fine. I could infer that he may not make it, but you never know.
Initially I thought this was the war between the Alethi and Parshendi, however it is not and is only a squirmish between two Alethi kingdoms. Oh, but no worries we will probably get to that war, or at least I hope so.
Who is Kaladin? Why did he want Cenn? Why is there so much care being taken with Cenn? Kaladin assigned Dallet, a veteran, to watch out for Cenn during the battle? Why is he important? Cenn seems to have come from a farm or something similar as he wished to have never left his herds.
Also, sidenote, can we talk about the ability to have a conversation while running, carrying shield and spear, and not falling let alone hearing one another over the clamour of boots and other weapons clanging.
The fight scene had me thinking of the 300 or Vikings with how well trained and tight knit the squad fought. It was interesting to see how different they fought from the general foot soldiers and how disciplined they were. Cenn obviously had no idea what was going on and he could still appreciate how they fought.
Cenn of course being so young and under prepared gets lost while transitioning to a new location with his squad and nearly gets killed, but is saved by Kaladin, which of course has me wondering again why does Cenn matter.
Kaladin, is a well trained leader who craves purpose and honor and wants to be included in the war between the Parenthi and Alethi, but why.
Oh yay, Dallet to the rescue with all the answers. Kaladin snaps up young fighters who are untrained and brings them to his squad to save/protect them. Who do the youth remind him of?
Is Cenn dead or just unconscious? He had lost a lot of blood and was beginning to go numb and felt very little pain. Did he make it off the battlefield? Did he finally see a real Shardbearer?
Chapter 2: Honor is Dead
8 months later
Kaladin has been enslaved. With all his skill in deduction and working out details quickly I guess he never saw that one coming. Unless he planned it…
Nope didn’t plan it. He did plan to escape and fail ten times though. Kaladin while being transported with other slaves has been branded three separate times and had five different owners and the man still fights although tired. He meets a Spren, Spirit, who calls him by name. Is he hallucinating due to the final brand that now itches and leaks blood hinting at infection or is he losing his mind after being enslaved for 8 months.
Unfortunately we find out that everyone is dead including Cenn and Dallet. Due to the Shardbearer?
“…Young girl with pale skin.” Is she the reason for Kaladin saving young fighters like Cenn? Well obviously not saved, but you get what I mean.
We finally get to meet the slaver who does not value life but coin. Kaladin who has sat the entire time trying not to save or help anyone for fear of losing someone once again finally attempts to help a sick man who has been coughing the entire trip. He has been hearing his fathers voice throughout the journey whether again due to possible illness we are not sure, but he tries to once more help and save the sick man’s life by intervening and letting Tvlakv know that the man would get better, but instead Tvlakv still chooses to have the man killed so as not to lose out on potential money if the rest of the slaves fall ill.
We already knew Kaladin was a man seeking honor, and that he cared about others lives including youths and his squad. After being enslaved he was resolved to help no one since everyone he saved died. So to finally try and save this last man and to see him killed. I would imagine that that would be the final breaking point. I hope he becomes a savage.
Chapter 3: City of Bells
Setting: Kharbranth, City of Bells. A large city nestled into a steep incline that was wedge-shaped with towering buildings that were blocky.
But expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.
Brandon Sanderson
Hm not much to say about Shallan. She is looking for a woman of wealth to save her home because they are running out of money. Shallan sailed all the way to Kharbranth, pretty much stalking this woman, Jasnah, who had been seemingly dodging her to ask for her assistance. She seems sweet enough and sheltered in some regards. She has a sharp tongue, is smart, and witty. She is dressed in modest garb, based on her social status.
Juicy tidbits. The entire reason Shallan has travelled so far, and mind you she has never been to Kharbranth is because of her own secrets. Her family is not well liked because of her father, who is secretly dead, and the man who was protecting her family is ill and unable to provide the protection he once did. So she, not her brothers, traveled to ask for assistance lest her household be found out and be worked to death… if not assassinated.
Chapter 4: The Shattered Plains
Kaladin.
This man is still just travelling. His life is one of repetition. He has a discussion with Tvlakv, slaver, and find out that Kaladin is only 19. This man had joined the army young as well and had already suffered so much loss. How could his squad have put so much faith behind him? Especially one who was so well seasoned like Dallet. Well unless he wasn’t much older…
A storm occurs and we find out that the slavers will uncover the cart to allow for the slaves to be cleansed but it’s downpouring. So now they are travelling sopping wet and [they] slavers wonder why the slaves are ill.
New Creature: Legger – a spiny creature that gives warning to changes in wind.
Kaladin assumed that they were travelling to the city to be sold off but low and behold nope just going to the war. I mean could be ideal for him. He finally made it to where he always wanted to be.
Chapter 5: Heretic
Shallon.
