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liesl_meador's reviews
95 reviews
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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? Yes
5.0
"Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before destination."
At risk of sounding cliché, there aren't enough words in the human language to describe the mastery that is "The Way of Kings." The prose that Sanderson uses is both elegant and beautiful, and he commands language in a way that I haven't read before. I read that Sanderson spent ten years on the plot outline and characters before he even wrote the first book in the Stormlight Archive, and it is clearly evident throughout the course of this novel.
It is a rare thing as an author to have the ability to give each of your characters a unique voice. Too often have I read novels where the language a MC uses either sounds off-kilter in relation to their personality, or they aren't much different from any other character in the novel. Sanderson has proven to be quite exceptional at this. Throughout the events of "The Way of Kings," we follow four MC's, each unique in their struggles, personality, and voice. Each of these characters have a language of their own, and it became easy to grow to care for them. The character development is masterful.
As for the plot, while intricate, it is incredibly intriguing. Without revealing too much (as no one likes a spoiler), I found myself constantly on the edge of my reading chair wondering what was going to happen next and becoming impatient that while hundreds of pages had passed, the main characters still hadn't met. We end the first book in the Stormlight Archive series with all four characters heading to the same place (if they weren't already there).
If you're heading into this book from TikTok and are hoping for a love sub-plot, I'm sorry to inform you that there really isn't one to speak of. You won't find your spice in this book, but what you will find is an adventure unlike anything you have ever read before. You'll find characters to cherish and root for. You'll find yourself cheering along and (as long as you aren't the type who peaks ahead) an addicting anticipation for the unknown.
I don't usually leave reviews of books, but it has been a long time since I have felt such a love and passion for one. I sincerely hope you all love this as much as I did. Happy reading!
Strength before weakness.
Journey before destination."
At risk of sounding cliché, there aren't enough words in the human language to describe the mastery that is "The Way of Kings." The prose that Sanderson uses is both elegant and beautiful, and he commands language in a way that I haven't read before. I read that Sanderson spent ten years on the plot outline and characters before he even wrote the first book in the Stormlight Archive, and it is clearly evident throughout the course of this novel.
It is a rare thing as an author to have the ability to give each of your characters a unique voice. Too often have I read novels where the language a MC uses either sounds off-kilter in relation to their personality, or they aren't much different from any other character in the novel. Sanderson has proven to be quite exceptional at this. Throughout the events of "The Way of Kings," we follow four MC's, each unique in their struggles, personality, and voice. Each of these characters have a language of their own, and it became easy to grow to care for them. The character development is masterful.
As for the plot, while intricate, it is incredibly intriguing. Without revealing too much (as no one likes a spoiler), I found myself constantly on the edge of my reading chair wondering what was going to happen next and becoming impatient that while hundreds of pages had passed, the main characters still hadn't met. We end the first book in the Stormlight Archive series with all four characters heading to the same place (if they weren't already there).
If you're heading into this book from TikTok and are hoping for a love sub-plot, I'm sorry to inform you that there really isn't one to speak of. You won't find your spice in this book, but what you will find is an adventure unlike anything you have ever read before. You'll find characters to cherish and root for. You'll find yourself cheering along and (as long as you aren't the type who peaks ahead) an addicting anticipation for the unknown.
I don't usually leave reviews of books, but it has been a long time since I have felt such a love and passion for one. I sincerely hope you all love this as much as I did. Happy reading!
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0