Review: The Way of Kings

The Way of Kings The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

🌩️ 🗡️ 🧭

4.75 ★

I was honestly terrified of picking up this book. At around 1,140 pages, The Way of Kings had been sitting on my shelf for quite a while, and after hearing so many good things about it, I was almost intimidated by the expectations. Then I finally started reading it, and I FLEW through it. Apparently, all I needed was to actually get started.


Brandon Sanderson's worldbuilding is genuinely astonishing. Roshar feels like an entire universe with its own history, politics, cultures, currencies, magical systems, libraries, and social hierarchies. There's SO MUCH to take in, but what impressed me most was how Sanderson weaves the history and lore into the characters' stories without making it feel like an endless history lesson. I found myself tabbing pages, taking notes, and constantly updating the map as I discovered new connections. I wanted to understand EVERYTHING.


The multiple perspectives make this world feel even bigger. Kaladin's storyline, particularly his growing bond with Bridge Four, gave me some of my favourite moments in the book. The found-family element was beautiful, and watching these characters develop alongside one another added so much heart to a story that could easily have been consumed by its enormous scope. Dalinar's political and moral struggles offer another fascinating perspective, while Shallan's storyline brings a sense of discovery, scholarship, and mystery. And the interludes? Surprisingly important to the bigger picture. They introduce different corners of Roshar and characters like Szeth, whose story left me with plenty of questions.


I also loved the spren and the way they connect the world's magic to emotions and, potentially, something much bigger. Between them, the mysterious Oathpact, and the different magical devices and abilities, there is so much I'm still desperate to understand.


What really stood out to me, though, was the complexity of this world. The divisions between light-eyes and dark-eyes, the treatment of the Parshendi, and the expectations placed on men and women create a society with deeply ingrained prejudices and power structures. The more I learned, the more I questioned what I thought I understood about the conflict. I love when a fantasy world challenges you to look beyond the version of history you've initially been given.


And THAT ENDING. It ties the journey together so satisfyingly while leaving an enormous world of possibilities ahead. By the end, I finally felt like I had my bearings, and all I could think was: Brandon Sanderson, WHERE IS MY NETFLIX BIBLE? I need to know everything.


A massive undertaking that made me want to dive straight back in. I'm ready for the next book.



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