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A review by jeremychiasson
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
“Overcome your guilt. Care, but not too much. Take responsibility, but don't blame yourself. Protect, save, help- but know when to give up. They're precarious ledges to walk. How do I do it?”
After a couple false starts, I finally scaled this peak, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the view from the top. While this book was enjoyable and readable throughout, it did require patience. I promise you however, when everything comes together this becomes a fucking barn burner of a book. I am not given to a lot of dramatic "giffable" reactions when reading. However, over the last 100-200 pages of Way of Kings I was fist pumping, squealing, shouting, gasping, and cackling in public spaces.
For me it all comes down to loving the primary characters and being super invested in them. Everyone talks about the worldbuilding of this book, and sure, sure, whatever. The characters are what did it for me! I was 100% invested in Dalinar and Kaladin (Shallan to a lesser extent, because let's face it--she's kind of annoying). The way the characters have such grand ambitions yet frequently fall short of them. How they assume such responsibility for others, but also occasionally buckle or bend underneath the weight of leadership. How they transcend ridicule and self-doubt to make the world a better place--that all really inspired me.
Sanderson does a great job marrying traditional high fantasy elements, with the grittier, morally complex stories that are currently in vogue. Lord of the Rings meets Game of Thrones, except with more original world-building. I would qualify that Sanderson lacks Tolkien's love of language, and I might even use the term workmanlike to describe his prose at times. However, Sanderson's inventiveness and wisdom more than makes up for his shortcomings as a stylist.
I feel like I have grown as a person after finishing this 1000 page monster and I need to know what happens next, so I IMMEDIATELY bought the next two instalments of the series (each of which are even longer!).
I am IN!
After a couple false starts, I finally scaled this peak, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the view from the top. While this book was enjoyable and readable throughout, it did require patience. I promise you however, when everything comes together this becomes a fucking barn burner of a book. I am not given to a lot of dramatic "giffable" reactions when reading. However, over the last 100-200 pages of Way of Kings I was fist pumping, squealing, shouting, gasping, and cackling in public spaces.
For me it all comes down to loving the primary characters and being super invested in them. Everyone talks about the worldbuilding of this book, and sure, sure, whatever. The characters are what did it for me! I was 100% invested in Dalinar and Kaladin (Shallan to a lesser extent, because let's face it--she's kind of annoying). The way the characters have such grand ambitions yet frequently fall short of them. How they assume such responsibility for others, but also occasionally buckle or bend underneath the weight of leadership. How they transcend ridicule and self-doubt to make the world a better place--that all really inspired me.
Sanderson does a great job marrying traditional high fantasy elements, with the grittier, morally complex stories that are currently in vogue. Lord of the Rings meets Game of Thrones, except with more original world-building. I would qualify that Sanderson lacks Tolkien's love of language, and I might even use the term workmanlike to describe his prose at times. However, Sanderson's inventiveness and wisdom more than makes up for his shortcomings as a stylist.
I feel like I have grown as a person after finishing this 1000 page monster and I need to know what happens next, so I IMMEDIATELY bought the next two instalments of the series (each of which are even longer!).
I am IN!