The review of these two books, "The Way of Kings" and "Words of Radiance" have been a while in coming, partially because I am lazy about writing reviews and partially because I wasn't sure how to get my message across. To put it simply, these books are grand in every sense of the word. Each book is larger than 1000 pages, yet I never got bored or bogged down. They inspire you to keep reading. In truth, I couldn't get enough; I devoured these books back to back in a week each because I wanted to keep going.
These books tells the story of multiple people whose tales converge.
Kaladin, once a formidable captain, is now a slave, depressed because of the people who have died because of him and his inability to protect anyone. He is forced to become part of Bridge Four, an army's suicidal distraction used in the siege against the Parshendi, a group who murdered a king 5 years back. Bit by bit, Kaladin overcomes his depression and tries to make a difference in Bridge Four, tries to save lives and perhaps even work towards regaining his freedom.
Dalinar Kholin is the murdered king's remaining brother. He declined the throne, leaving his nephew as king, but remains hard at work to get back at the Parshendi as one of the lead generals. However, recently he has begun having visions from the Almighty and he begins to wonder if this is the right war to be fighting. A larger foe comes and he has been tasked with uniting the the high-princes. Except, who will follow him if they believe him delusional?
Shallan Davar is an ambitious girl seeking to become a ward and student of the heretic Jasnah Kholin, niece of Dalinar. In truth, she is there to steal her soulcaster, an device capable of causing transmutation. Her family is relying on her for it before the truth comes out that their father is dead and they can't pay their debts. But can she steal from Jasnah? And does she really want to?
Over the course of both books, the main action leads them all to the Shattered Plains, the location of the siege against the Parshendi. The real enemy begins to appear larger than this long war. Why was the previous king murdered? Who is the Assassin in White, his murderer, and who is behind him? And finally, what happened to the Knights Radiant so long ago and how can they be gotten again?
Through bits of information here and there, the reader begins to better understand this complex plot and world that Sanderson has woven together.
This series takes place on the fictional world of Roshar:
Here, many cultures and races live and storms often rage across the land. The majority of the action takes place in the southeast of Alethkar, that country being the place where the king was murdered. Yet Sanderson, through short "interludes," as he calls them, is able to give us glimpses of what is going on in other parts of the land and thus able to show us the world at large and hint at the larger struggle to come.
These books are part of a planned 10 book series (split into two sets of 5). Sanderson knows how to write Epic Fantasy and these books are as epic as can be. Yet at the same time, each is so far worth reading on its own. As other commentators have mentions, the author understands how love and trust form in the human heart and shows us how it can happen. He understands the nature of repentance as felt by the individual and how hard it is to put off the past or accept it. Sanderson knows the importance of truth and how integral it is both to power and peace of mind.
I love these books and everything else I have read by this author. So if you're looking for a book to inspire you to read again and you enjoy fantasy, read these books. The series may be a long time coming, but you will never regret starting now.
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