Reviews tagging 'War'

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

168 reviews

mmkn_99's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

To review this book, is to review myself and the journey I went through while reading it. 

I started this book because my boyfriend told me it was an incredible book. This book, the fifth one written by Brandon Sanderson I’d ever read, was the book that spiraled him into completing all of the books written by the author in a frenzy of intrigue and need. So, I reluctantly began reading. I did not feel the passion or gusto to read this amazing book. I treated it like a slog to get through. Indeed, it is a large book. It has taken me a long time to finish it. But at some point, I realized it was no longer a challenge to consume. I craved the next word and the following chapter. I needed to know what came next more than I needed to do anything else.

I became paralyzed in this state of need. I needed to move through the book with speed and vigor. I had to physically move through the telling of the story. I couldn’t sit still and listen, I had to exercise the tension and anticipation. 

I feel like I can only say that this book is a journey. I started reluctantly and finished it hungry. I finished this book while I walked 3 miles because I needed to be moving in order to contain my hunger for the next page to be metaphorically turned. 

The world building is immaculate. There is so much to learn because there’s been so much built. The characters are real, their hearts beat and their lungs draw breath. The plot moves ever steadily towards a point in the distance I cannot yet grasp, but I am chasing after it on my two feet. I will reach the end of the universe one day, and I will be elated to be there, because then I will have experienced something like this book again and again. 

I am happy to have read this book and experienced the wide array of emotions that swept through me while I read. I look forward to the next one, and anticipate that it will feel the same revelry upon completing that one too. I have been reborn. The way this book was written, God must be real for man to have created something so beautiful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, War, and Suicidal thoughts

mattiedancer's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Writing: 5⭐️/5 

I think Sanderson’s writing is outstanding. Rich descriptions, beautiful dialogue, and stunningly crafted characters all twine together in this novel to create some truly decadent writing. Even the fight scenes were wonderfully written, as Sanderson has a way of describing the action without the details becoming tangled in the movement. 

Characters: 5⭐️/5

Sanderson could write a spin-off about probably any character in this series, and I would care enough to read it. Every character feels real in this book. 

Plot: 5⭐️/5 

The plot and the world in this novel are stunning. I loved learning about the world, and I loved the stories that were explored throughout. It’s a long novel, and yet the pacing is perfect, taking the time to explain each moment that needs explaining. Ugh, I just want to dive into it again.

Who Should Read This Book? 

• Someone looking for a remarkable high-fantasy series
• Someone who likes Brandon Sanderson
• Readers looking for a fantasy series with stunning writing

Content Warnings? 

• War, violence, blood, slavery, mental illness, suicide, suicidal thoughts, classism, grief, murder, injury, injury detail, vomit

Post-Reading Rating:  5⭐️/5

Love, love, love. Where has Sanderson been all this time? 

Final Rating: 5⭐️/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Child abuse, Violence, Suicide, Death, War, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Physical abuse, Stalking, Blood, Slavery, Gore, Murder, Child death, Gaslighting, Vomit, Colonisation, and Emotional abuse

adbird13's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I saw myself and so many people I know in the characters of this book. Struggling at times, but ultimately trying to do what is right. Towards the end of the book there is an exchange on the role that story tellers have - with the point being that storytellers don't tell stories to teach a lesson, but rather ask a question. The question that this book leaves me with is "how do I live my life everyday in a way that brings meaning to my journey?"

The plot of the book is somewhat slow moving, but never boring or dull. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and War

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

theinkwyrm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

That was… a lot. Definitely not an instant favorite, but still a worthwhile read. I have to say, there’s so much worldbuilding for such a large world that I got so confused at times and honestly felt kind of stupid (and still do). I liked our three main POVs, although Dalinar and Kaladin kind of feel like alternate universe versions of the same character, especially with their internal struggles. I also kind of feel like most of the interludes (except for Szeth’s) were kind of unnecessary and made the worldbuilding more confusing because they draw in narratives from different parts of Roshar other than the ones that relate to the main plot and don’t really seem to connect to or add anything to our main storyline. But it also may just be a bit of an issue with adjustment to Sanderson’s writing style, since it’s the first book of his I’ve read. I think I’ll probably continue with this series (since I have basically no idea what to expect in the next books), although maybe not until all the books are out so I won’t have to take a couple months of rereading each time a new book comes out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, and War

Minor: Mental illness

jeffjk's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A solid fantasy epic that feels like a puzzle box you can untangle with enough careful attention. The characters are people I want to know or be, just exceptionally well-made lil people.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Grief, Violence, Suicide, War, Death, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Slavery, Colonisation, Alcohol, Trafficking, Mental illness, Blood, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Genocide

ekcd_'s review

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Infidelity, Suicide, Torture, Animal death, Classism, Alcohol, Body horror, Death, Suicide attempt, Genocide, Murder, Physical abuse, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, War, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, and Religious bigotry

lakinglaze's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I’m officially obsessed, yet again, with another Brandon Sanderson book! The magic system, the world building, the characters — it’s all just incredibly perfect!! I am going to consume this series so quickly and I absolutely can’t wait!! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, Abandonment, Gore, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

rkeith94's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Mental illness, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, and War

Minor: Self harm

emeraldtaila's review against another edition

4.25

My head hurts... 

Overall I gave TWOK an 8.2/10 - This story was intriguing and filled with amazing dialogue and a plot line that sucks you in an never lets you go. There are some pieces of the story that I just straight up don't understand, but I believe that to be a fault of my own and not that of BranSan. Syl and Kaladin were by far my favorite characters - along with the found family trope we get to see with the Bridgemen and kaladin as well.

I hear a lot of grumbling about the pace but ?? truthfully I don't see why. There is always something going on, regardless of whichever 3 of the POV's you're reading. I do wish however the switching between them would have been more consistent. We see Shallan in pt. 1 and then ZERO of her in pt. two, where we are switching back and forth between two characters in the same location? This did make the world feel a bit small for me, the scale of the first book was not as large as I had anticipated, but I am sure that will change as the series continues. Overall I thought that this was really great and I am excited to read Words of Radiance!

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

mads_reads_books's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Murder, Death, Colonisation, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Genocide, Child death, War, Violence, Slavery, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Genocide, Ableism, Dementia, Deportation, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Death, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, and Gaslighting

Minor: Slavery, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, War, Xenophobia, Racism, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Police brutality