Who Is the Woman Breaking Art in Way of Kings

Novel past Brandon Sanderson

The Way of Kings

Offset edition book cover
Author	Brandon Sanderson
Illustrator	Isaac Stewart Ben McSweeney Greg Call
Cover artist	Michael Whelan
Land	United States
Language	English
Series	The Stormlight Archive
Genre	High fantasy
Publisher	Tor Books (U.s.a.), Gollancz (UK)
Publication engagement	August 31, 2010
Media type	Print (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, east-book
Pages	1007 (showtime edition, hardcover)
ISBN	978-0-7653-2635-five
OCLC	799352269
Dewey Decimal	813/.half-dozen
LC Class	PS3619.A533 W375 2010[1]
Followed past	Words of Radiance

The Way of Kings is an epic fantasy novel written past American writer Brandon Sanderson and the start book in The Stormlight Archive series.^[ii] The novel was published on August 31, 2010, by Tor Books.^[iii] The Manner of Kings consists of one prelude, 1 prologue, 75 capacity, an epilogue and ix interludes.^[4] It was followed by Words of Radiance in 2014,^{[5] [6] [vii]} Oathbringer in 2017 and Rhythm of War in 2020. A leatherbound edition was released in 2021.^[8]

In 2011, it won the David Gemmell Legend Award for best novel.^[9] The entire audiobook is read by narrator team Michael Kramer and Kate Reading.

Development [edit]

Sanderson started working on pieces of The Way of Kings in the late 1990s and finished the first draft in 2003.^[10] Its publication was delayed when Sanderson instead decided to focus on his Mistborn trilogy.^[11] The original, non-canon version, The Way of Kings Prime is available on the official website of the author.^[12]

On June ten, 2010, the prologue and the first three capacity of the book were released, along with an introduction past Sanderson, as a preview on the Tor website.^[xiii] On July 8, 2010, the next 3 capacity (4–6) were released in sound format.^[14] On August 5, 2010, chapters ix and 11 were released. Tor wrote that they did not release chapters 7, 8, and 10 considering they wanted to focus on the storyline of Kaladin, one of the master characters.^[15] On August 26, 2010, chapters 12 and 13 were released. ^[sixteen]

Plot [edit]

The story rotates betwixt 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. Szeth, a Shin man bandage out by his people and condemned to obey his constantly irresolute masters, is sent to electrocute the king of ane of the world'southward most powerful nations, Alethkar. As the story progresses, he continuously changes easily, doing his best to hide the fact that he possesses an Honorblade, a mythical blade used by the Heralds that can cut through whatever fabric. He besides possesses admission to powers that are no longer bachelor to normal humans ("Surgebinding"), one time possessed by the Knights Radiant and thought lost, making him incredibly hard to defeat in battle.

When Szeth was sent to kill the Alethi King Gavilar, the Parshendi, a race similar to the docile parshman slaves of other nations, claimed responsibility for the bump-off. Gavilar's son, Elhokar, and then goes to war with the Parshendi. The story shifts to the viewpoint of Highprince Dalinar Kholin, the brother of the murdered male monarch. Before he died, his brother directed Dalinar to an ancient tome called "The Way of Kings", which leads Dalinar to start questioning the warlike and competitive Alethkar manner of life. He also begins to experience visions in which he sees the aboriginal Knights Radiant. For Dalinar, these visions not only cast dubiety on the mistaken history of the Radiants, they also begin to reveal the truth about the Voidbringers and the current land of the earth. All of these events make Dalinar reluctant to fight in boxing. Dalinar'southward conviction is questioned by those closest to him, casting heavy doubt on his sanity and bringing into question his claim to leadership. In the political unrest of the age, perceived weakness is cause for others to attempt to eliminate him.

Meanwhile, the story also follows Kaladin, a darkeyed villager with a burning hatred for lighteyed nobles. Trained in his youth equally a surgeon, Kaladin volunteered to become to state of war for the ground forces of a local lord named Amaram, to watch over and protect his brother, Tien, on the field of boxing. In his third boxing, Kaladin fails to protect his brother, who is killed. This drives Kaladin to go a amend fighter, resolving to protect others from the same fate. During a later battle, Kaladin succeeds in killing an enemy Shardbearer, and could merits the enemy'southward Shardblade and Shardplate by right, becoming a lighteyes himself. However, he rejects the Shardblade and Shardplate and is then betrayed by Brightlord Amaram, who takes the treasures for himself and brands Kaladin a slave to hide the theft. This result cements Kaladin's hatred for nobles and leaves deep emotional scars. After a number of escape attempts, he is forced into service as a bridgeman in an army battling the Parshendi on the Shattered Plains. Bridgemen are used strategically equally bait for the opposing armies' archers, allowed to die so that the trained regular army tin attack more than easily. Kaladin manages to rally the other men in his group and turns them into a team that can survive. Yet, afterwards he accidentally ruins a battle past changing tactics, he is beaten violently and left outside during a highstorm to die. However, he manages to survive. As a result of his unlikely survival, he begins to discover that he possesses the Surgebinding power. As he struggles to detect a way for his men to escape their lives as bridgemen, he comes to terms with his powers and begins to larn how to apply them.

Shallan, a small lighteyed adult female whose family and lands are in danger, hatches a daring plot to switch a broken Soulcaster (a device that allows people to alter objects to other things) with a working one belonging to Jasnah Kholin, sister of the Alethi king. She petitions Jasnah to go her ward, and through persistent effort she manages to gain Jasnah'southward confidence and becomes her apprentice. After successfully stealing the Soulcaster, she is frustrated past her disability to employ it until one fateful day, when she accidentally turns a goblet into claret. Knowing Jasnah will soon arrive on the scene, Shallan breaks a pitcher and cuts herself to get in seem equally though the blood was hers, which Jasnah mistakes for a suicide attempt. Shallan soon discovers that Jasnah'south Soulcaster does not possess the power to transmute, simply instead hides her uncommon inherent power to Soulcast. When Jasnah learns that Shallan likewise has the inherent ability to Soulcast, she forgives the girl for trying to steal her Soulcaster and begins instructing her in the proper employ of their shared power. She too reveals her inquiry into the origins of the Knights Radiant and Voidbringers and prepares Shallan and herself to travel to the Shattered Plains to come across with Jasnah's uncle Dalinar.

Setting [edit]

The backstory of the novel revolves around recurring disasters known as Desolations, where monstrous Voidbringers ravage the earth and homo survival hangs in the residual. To counter the threat, the Knights Radiant (so named for their glowing aura and eyes) possess magical armor and swords known as Shardplate and Shardblades as well as magical powers. The last Desolation was believed to be the last one, and has go a time of myths and legends, in particular equally the Knights Radiant left behind their weapons and armor and disappeared into obscurity. Their discarded armor and swords remain as some of the near priceless heirlooms.

The magic of the world is based on gemstones that glow with lite for many weeks later on recurring, powerful storms known as highstorms. These commonplace gemstones are also used equally mundane currency in merchant transactions, as well as interior lighting at dark in wealthy houses and palaces. Cartoon in this "stormlight" energy is what fuels the magical talismans of priest-wizards (the gem encrusted gloves chosen Soulcasters) that catechumen matter into some other course, such every bit stone into grain, or people into rock, and powered gemstone constructs known every bit fabrials, such equally a fabrial that creates reddish lite and estrus to replace forest in a fireplace. Soulcasting and fabrials are typically but owned past the nobility. In Alethkar, dignity is too based on eye colour, blueish optics being seen equally the purest royalty due to the clan with the legendary Knights Radiant, who had glowing eyes.

The world itself has flora and fauna which have adapted to the common, and extremely powerful highstorms. Virtually beast life is based on crustaceans, almost of which can burrow into the ground to survive a highstorm. Establish life is as well mobile, in that it retracts into the ground to survive highstorms. Considering all highstorms come from the eastern ocean and travel west, the western side of rocks and mountains harbor plant and creature life. Also, spirits chosen spren exist and react to the emotions of people and the environment. High wind will take windspren in the course of ribbons of lite that menses with it. Suffering from hurting will cause red painspren to appear around the wound, and giving a noble, heartfelt speech will take gloryspren of aureate, twinkling lights form a halo around the head of the speaker. Spren are and then common that many people take them for granted.

Viewpoint characters [edit]

The primary chapters within the book are told from the viewpoint of several major characters, while the book's interludes are told from the viewpoint of other characters (not all of which echo).

Chief [edit]

• Szeth-son-son-Vallano: An assassin from the country of Shinovar. He refers to himself as a "Truthless", who must serve those who conduct his Oathstone. Bearer of an Honorblade and wielder of Stormlight. His Windrunner abilities are granted by his Honorblade. He hates existence forced to murder and weeps as he does.
• Kaladin: A darkeyes from the nation of Alethkar, who is forced to serve on a span crew in the army of Highprince Torol Sadeas. Formerly an apprentice learning surgery from his male parent and a member of the regular army of Brightlord Amaram, he hates lighteyes because of Amaram. Amaram betrayed Kaladin, by starting time causing the expiry of his brother, Tien, and afterwards Kaladin saves him from a human being in Shardplate, forcibly takes the Shards for himself, killing all of Kaladin's shut friends in the procedure. Kaladin is able to utilise Stormlight to heal himself and make himself stronger and faster than whatsoever normal human existence. He is accompanied past an Honorspren named Sylphrena, or Syl for brusk. She came to him considering of his innate honor and kindness in the face of the evil and betrayal that seem to surround him. Kaladin's connection with Syl is what gives him his power with Stormlight; information technology besides gives Syl the level of sentience she possesses.
• Shallan Davar: A pocket-size lighteyes from the nation of Jah Keved. Her family has fallen on hard times subsequently the death of her father. She seeks to be accustomed equally the ward and student of the renowned scholar Jasnah Kholin, sister to King Elhokar of Alethkar. A skilled artist who tin can with a single glance remember and recreate a scene with charcoal and paper, she learns that she is able to Soulcast without a Soulcaster, just like Jasnah. Though the beginning of the volume has her plotting to steal Jasnah'south Soulcaster to save her family, she has get Jasnah's truthful amateur by the stop of the volume.
• Dalinar Kholin: A highprince of Alethkar, brother to the slain Rex Gavilar, uncle to the current king. Nicknamed the Blackthorn. A full general who helped unite the kingdom with his brother. A man who experiences visions during the highstorms, and a Full Shardbearer, he is criticized as weak after he begins to follow the Codes and talks nearly stopping the pointless war Alethkar is engaged in.
• Adolin Kholin: A lighteyes of Alethkar and heir to his father Dalinar'due south highprince seat. A skilled duelist and a Full Shardbearer, he loves and respects his father despite fearing that he has gone mad.
• Navani Kholin: Widow of Rex Gavilar, mother of Rex Elhokar and Jasnah. A skilled artifabrian (one who creates devices known as fabrials). She has ever loved Dalinar, even when she was married to his brother, Gavilar. She attempts to rekindle a human relationship with Dalinar but is initially rebuffed; eventually she convinces Dalinar to embrace his feelings at the end of the book.

Prologue, epilogue and Interludes [edit]

• Kalak is one of ten Heralds of the Almighty. His viewpoint chapter is the prelude which takes place 4,500 years earlier the events of the first affiliate.
• Axies the Collector is a Siah Aimian engaged in a quest to catalog all the different varieties of spren on Roshar. He is virtually immortal due to an interaction with magic.
• Baxil is a thief of Emuli nationality, the cousin of Av. He and a beautiful lighteyes adult female break into places to destroy artwork.
• Geranid is a scientist and philosopher. She lives with Ashir on a small Reshi island, where she spends her time studying spren.
• Ishikk is a fisherman from the Purelake. He is approached by iii strangers, who he calls Grump, Thinker and Edgeless. They are using him equally an agent to find a human named Hoid.
• Nan Balat is 1 of Shallan's brothers, a lighteyed Veden. After Nan Helaran, Balat'south eldest brother, was proclaimed dead by their begetter, Balat gained the title 'Nan', making him first in line.
• Rysn is a immature adult female from Thaylenah, an apprentice merchant. She travels with Vstim to Shinovar.
• Wit, likewise known every bit Hoid, the Drifter, and Cephandrius, is the court jester of male monarch Elhokar Kholin at the Shattered Plains. Wit's role as courtroom jester simply allows him to insult everyone he meets, oft past only deliberately discussing that person'due south worst character flaws openly. Wit is also secretly more than than he seems, often possessing an all-seeing knowledge of things he shouldn't, and the ability to know where to travel to meet important people and offer obscure merely useful advice and information to those he briefly meets. Hoid is in all major books in the Cosmere, a universe where most works by Sanderson are set.^[17]

Reception [edit]

Critical response and sales [edit]

In its first week of release the book was #7 on The New York Times Best Seller list.^[18] In subsequent weeks the volume was #eleven,^[19] #twenty,^[20] and #25.^[21]

The Way of Kings received critical acclaim and received praise for its all-encompassing world-building. An early on review from the website Unshelved gave the book a positive review.^[22] A review from Elitist Volume Reviews pointed out some problems with the volume, (black-and-white characters, as well much exposition) simply gave an overall positive opinion of the volume.^[23] The website SFReviews.internet gave the book a mixed review, praising Sanderson's writing and creativity, only criticizing its extreme length and overall dearth of action.^[24]

SF Reviews pointed out, "The ride is luxurious, the scenery is often breathtaking, just The Style of Kings is truly a long and winding road."^[24] KeepingTheDoor.com commented, "The Stormlight Archive is a series that, like Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, George R.R. Martin'due south A Song of Ice and Fire and Robin Hobb'southward The Realm of the Elderlings epics, every fantasy fan worth their salt must read and be familiar with. This will exist i of the giant serial that will assistance shape the unabridged scene."^[25]

Awards and nominations [edit]

Year	Honour	Category	Outcome	Ref
2010	Whitney Awards	Best Novel of the Twelvemonth	Won	[26]
		Best Speculative Fiction	Won	[26]
	Goodreads Choice Awards	All-time Fantasy Novel	Nominated	[27]
2011	David Gemmell Fable Award	Best Novel	Won	[28]

Adaptations [edit]

Audiobook [edit]

An audiobook version was released in Baronial 2010 past Macmillan Audio read past narrator team Kate Reading and Michael Kramer who have also read several other books written by Sanderson, including The Wheel of Time serial.^[29] A five-office GraphicAudio version of The Mode of Kings was released from March to July 2016.

Film [edit]

In October 2016, the rights to the entire Cosmere universe were licensed by DMG Entertainment. DMG is fast-tracking an adaptation of The Way of Kings.^[30] Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan were hired equally screenwriters. DMG founder Dan Mintz will produce the film, with Sanderson and Joshua Bilmes serving as executive producers.^[31]

Video game [edit]

A VR game, "The Style of Kings: Escape the Shattered Plains", developed past Arcturus VR, was released on March 2, 2018.

References [edit]

1. ^ "The style of kings" (kickoff edition). LC Online Catalog. Library of Congress (lccn.loc.gov). Retrieved Apr nineteen, 2017.
2. ^ "Brandon Sanderson: My History as a Writer". Brandon Sanderson. October 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
3. ^ Fulton, Ben (August 27, 2010). "Writer Brandon Sanderson's real-life fantasy". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
4. ^ "Re: Post Questions For Brandon Sanderson Hither!". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved February 27, 2010. . The book has 75 capacity, along with a prelude, a prologue, an epilogue, and nine interlude capacity.
5. ^ Sanderson, Brandon (28 February 2013). "The Championship for Brandon Sanderson's 2d Stormlight Archive Book Has Been Revealed". Tor.com.
6. ^ "Updates for this week". Brandon Sanderson. July 1, 2013.
7. ^ "Words of Radiance Release Appointment has Moved". Tor.com. July 30, 2013.
8. ^ https://www.brandonsanderson.com/the-way-of-kings-leatherbound-kickstarter-sneak-peek/
9. ^ The Manner of Kings Wins the David Gemmell Legend Accolade
10. ^ Sanderson, Brandon (2010). "Acknowledgements". The Mode of Kings. Tor.
11. ^ "Brandon Sanderson Blog: Baffled Editor". Brandon Sanderson. May 12, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
12. ^ https://www.brandonsanderson.com/the-style-of-kings-prime number/
13. ^ "Preview The Way of Kings on Tor.com". Retrieved 2010-06-10 .
14. ^ "Pages currently available for The Way of Kings in Sample Chapters". BrandonSanderson.com.
15. ^ "*New* Chapters 9 & 11 of the Fashion of Kings: Now Bachelor Exclusively on Tor.com." 18 Aug. 2010 <http://www.tor.com/wok/annals.>., likewise from electronic mail from Tor.com to members Archived 15 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
16. ^ "*New* Chapters 12 & thirteen of the Mode of Kings: Now Available Exclusively on Tor.com." Tor.com: 26 Aug. 2010. 26 Aug 2010 <http://www.tor.com/wok/register>., also from email from Tor.com to members Archived 15 August 2010 at the Wayback Car
17. ^ Sanderson, Brandon (2017-x-05). "Introduction to the Cosmere | Brandon Sanderson". brandonsanderson.com . Retrieved 2019-07-28 .
18. ^ "The Fashion of Kings is a New York Times Bestseller". Retrieved 2010-09-08 .
19. ^ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction." The New York Times, 17 Sept., 2010. 4 Oct., 2010 [1].
20. ^ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction." The New York Times, 24 Sept., 2010. 4 Oct., 2010 [ii].
21. ^ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction." The New York Times. 1 Oct., 2010. 3 Oct., 2010 [iii].
22. ^ "Unshelved review of "The Fashion of Kings"". Retrieved 2010-08-27 .
23. ^ "Elitist Book Reviews: The Mode of Kings". Retrieved 2010-09-10 .
24. ^ ^{a b} "SF Reviews.net: The Way of Kings / Brandon Sanderson". Retrieved 2010-09-22 .
25. ^ "Brandon Sanderson's The Manner of Kings review". keepingthedoor.com. Archived from the original on Jan 2, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
26. ^ ^{a b} "Whitney Awards 2010 Winners". whitneyawards.com. Retrieved Apr 16, 2013.
27. ^ "All-time Fantasy Novel". Goodreads. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
28. ^ "Gemmell Legend Award Winners 2011". sffworld . Retrieved April half dozen, 2013.
29. ^ "The Way of Kings: Book One of The Stormlight Archive [Entire] [Audible Audio Edition]". Amazon.
30. ^ "Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere Universe Motion picture Rights Sold in Massive Multi-Motion-picture show Bargain". Tor Books. 2016-x-27. Retrieved Apr 28, 2017.
31. ^ Lang, Brent (2016-10-27). "DMG Nabs Rights to Brandon Sanderson's 'Cosmere' Book Universe in Massive Bargain (Exclusive)". Multifariousness. Retrieved April 28, 2017.

External links [edit]

• The Way of Kings title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• The Mode of Kings at the Internet Volume List

langridgemulaked.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_Kings

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