The Way of Kings is an epic fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson and the first book in The Stormlight Archive series. The novel was published on August 31, 2010, by Tor Books. The Way of Kings consists of one prelude, one prologue, 75 chapters, an epilogue and nine interludes. It was followed by Words of Radiance in 2014, Oathbringer in 2017 and Rhythm of War in 2020. A leatherbound edition was released in 2021.
In 2011, it won the David Gemmell Legend Award for best novel. The unabridged audiobook is read by narrator team Michael Kramer and Kate Reading.
Development
Sanderson started working on pieces of The Way of Kings in the late 1990s and finished the first draft in 2003. Its publication was delayed when Sanderson instead decided to focus on his Mistborn trilogy. The original, non-canon version, entitled The Way of Kings Prime, is available on the official website of the author.
On June 10, 2010, the prologue and the first three chapters of the book were released, along with an introduction by Sanderson, as a preview on the Tor website. On July 8, 2010, the next three chapters (4–6) were released in audio format. On August 5, 2010, chapters 9 and 11 were released. Tor wrote that they did not release chapters 7, 8, and 10 because they wanted to focus on the storyline of Kaladin, one of the main characters. On August 26, 2010, chapters 12 and 13 were released.
Summary
The story rotates between the points of view of Kaladin, Shallan Davar, Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Dalinar Kholin, Adolin Kholin, and several other minor characters, who lead seemingly unconnected lives.
Plot
Prelude
4500 years ago, a catastrophic war known as the Last Desolation ended when mankind fought victoriously against their enemies known as the Voidbringers. Devastated by the war and mass casualties, The Herald Kalak meets up with his leader Jezrien while learning the other Heralds had renounced their Oathpact and left their Shardblades behind. Jezrien announced to Kalak that they must remain secret for their departure and left his Shardblade behind in despair while Kalak left his sword as well feeling heartbroken about their departure.
Prologue
Szeth, a Shin man cast out by his people and condemned to obey his constantly changing masters, is sent to assassinate the king of one of the world's most powerful nations, Alethkar. As the story progresses, he continuously changes hands, doing his best to hide the fact that he possesses an Honorblade, a mythical blade used by the Heralds that can cut through any material. He also possesses access to powers that are no longer available to normal humans (“Surgebinding”), once possessed by the Knights Radiant and thought lost, making him incredibly difficult to defeat in battle.
Within the palace of Kholinar, Szeth sneaks into the hallway and uses his Lashing abilities to outmaneuver the King's guards. Within the headquarters, Szeth confronted King Gavilar covered in an armored Shardplate. Szeth defeats the King by causing the balcony he is standing on to collapse, mortally wounding him. Szeth reveals to the King that he was sent by the Parshendi to kill him. Before Szeth flees the scene, a dying Gavilar gives the black Spheres to him and informs him to give his last regards to his brother Dalinar Kholin before passing out. When Szeth was sent to kill the Alethi King Gavilar, the Parshendi, a race similar to the docile slaves of other nations, claimed responsibility for the assassination. Gavilar's paranoid son, Elhokar, declares war on the Parshendi for their act of treason.
Part One
Six years later, the story shifts to focus on Kaladin, a dark-eyed Alethi villager with a burning hatred for light-eyed nobles. Trained in his youth as a surgeon by his father, Kaladin volunteered to go to war for the army of a local lord named Meridas Amaram, to watch over and protect his brother, Tien, on the field of battle. In his third battle, Kaladin fails to protect his brother Tien, who is killed. This drives Kaladin to become a better fighter, resolving to protect others from the same fate.