Original, beautiful, and most excellent. I don't remember why I added this to my reading list, but I'm incredibly grateful that I did. I usually read a review or three before starting a new book, going all the way back to when only print books were available and reading the blurbs led me to all kinds of new and interesting stories. I'm pretty sure I've read some of Mr. Sanderson' work before, but without reviewing his body of work, I'm unable to tell you what or even how I felt about it. But this is one of the best, if not the best, books I've read in the last 30 years. I'm almost afraid to pick up the next one in the series as I have work to do and don't know if I'll be able to get it done knowing that more of this world is available to unfold before my eyes. I don't think I've rated more than four or five books at five stars, but I had no hesitation here .

I do not think you will be disappointed with this book or the time spent reading it. And I suspect many of you will feel just as I do as to its place as one of the great fantasy novels of our time.

Brandon Sanderson is quickly becoming my favorite author. I grew up with Tolkein, Asimov, Herbert, and other gifted writers. Though I was young and didn't understand everything on the page, the stories came alive for me. I was also a huge fan of Orson Scott Card in high school, and the past 15 years of George RR Martin.

In my opinion Brandon Sanderson might just beat them all. I know that will be taken as blasphemous and borderline heresy, because Tolkein and Asimov are considered two of the greatest writers of all time. Just hear me out as to why I think Sanderson has something special with this series.

The Way of Kings is the first in a planned 10 book series in the Stormlight Archive. These 10 books take place on a planet called Roshar, a planet with a unique and rich history. While humans are present, the world is very different than our own. The world is a very unforgiving place, with hurricane level storms traveling across the world every couple of weeks, giant crab like crustaceans roaming the world, and trees and other plant life have evolved a rock-like resilience to the elements.

Right away you can see that this differs from the more traditional fantasy worlds of other authors. As if this isn't interesting enough, Sanderson goes one step further and introduces a magic system that hasn't been seen before. I won't go into detail because I don't want to spoil it, but the discovery of this "magic" (if it can be called that) is both interesting and refreshing.

Though this book and presumably all books in the Stormlight Archive will take place on the planet Roshar, Brandon Sanderson has done something even more ambitious with his books than other authors have attempted in the past. He has other series, such as Elantris, Mistborn, Warbreaker, etc that take place IN THE SAME UNIVERSE. Though these books take place in the same universe they take place on different planets, with different magic systems on each. How are there different magic systems? Well there is an explanation, (a really good one I might add) but for it to make sense, you really need to read the books. Do you have to have read one series first to enjoy another series? Absolutely not! That said, if you HAVE read some of the other books, there are numerous "Easter Eggs" that you will discover in some of the books that will make you smile.

There is an over-arching plot between all of the books in each of Sanderson's series in the Cosmere Universe, but that plot is still in its infancy. Sanderson has said he knows his end game, and thankfully he is a very fast writer. It is amazing to me that Sanderson can write so quickly and yet so well at the same time. The character development each of the characters experiences is amazing. Each is well written, and even though I get annoyed at some of the decisions the characters make, I am not annoyed at the WRITING of those characters. The characters don't always make the best decisions, because Sanderson writes them as humans, and humans make mistakes. There are twists in the books that would rate very highly on the M. Night Shamalayan scale. There are very few books that have made me tear up as if someone cut an onion in the room, but for some reason this book (as well as Words of Radiance and Oathbringer) has made me do so.

Do yourself a favor and buy this book. There's humor, romance, comedy, drama, and best of all, GOOD WRITING.

The title says it all. I. Became. Obsessed. Oh, you think I'm kidding? Let me explain. I bought the physical copy of this book due to a suggestion from a friend after finishing all of the Song of Ice and Fire novels (that are currently out). I started to read the first part of the book with the Heralds and then the second first part of the book with Szeth..and I couldn't get into it. The magic didn't make sense, the fighting was weird, I just couldn't get into it...but I pushed on.
I started to read about Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, Syl, and Jasnah. I started to learn more about them, more about what was driving them, who they were, what they were about, what was going on with them, and it's like I've said before, I became obsessed. I HAD to know more. I took the book with me, everywhere that I went, picking it up and reading a few pages during small bits of spare time. I would think about it driving to work, the magic system, what was happening with the characters, what was happening with the world all popped into my head at weird times. I started to miss the book while driving so I bought the audible version of the book, even though I hated Michael Kramer at first (he gets better the more you listen). I bought the Kindle version so I wouldn't have to lug around my physical copy anymore...and so I could read on my web browser in between patients at work. When the physical copy got destroyed by my 2 year old daughter, I went and bought the book for the 4th time!
What I'm trying to point out is that the book is THAT good. Good enough to purchase it 4 times on 3 different mediums. The world is incredibly well built, the characters are well thought out and they truly become your friends, you root for the invite everything that they do, other characters you will hate, love, and hate again. Sanderson is that good. The magic system is so convoluted and hard to grasp, there is so much to it, it truly is a wonder and really amazes me.that somebody could think this all up and keep it all straight while writing it.
Please, if you haven't given this book a chance, do. I promise it is worth every single penny.

I am a fan of most fantasy books. I've read G.R.R.M, Rothfuss, Goodkind, etc., but this is by far my favorite book. Sanderson does an excellent job telling the story from multiple points of view and this large book became a very quick read. I'm not a fan of all the characters, but I'm also not a fan of everyone I meet in real life, so I guess he does a good job portraying different types of people. There's plenty of character development and the story never seems forced or clunky. If you are a fan of fantasy, magic, or just well-written stories, then I highly recommend this book.