BOOK REVIEW: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.
The first thing that strikes me about this novel is the character development. Sanderson has a way of telling a story from the vantage point of several characters without giving away too much information about the plot, a task that is harder than it sounds. Kaladin faces his haunting past and discovers new, awesome abilities...Shallan overcomes her timidity and realizes her strength and unique talents...Dalinar goes against strong cultural beliefs and the taunts of those around him to follow his heart. Each storyline is powerful in its way, drawing you into their struggles and their joys. You get to know so many characters so well, you begin to feel they are your friends. Finishing the book was sorrowful, as if saying farewell to ones you've grown to love, unsure when you'll meet again.
The story is imaginative with awesome attention to detail. You become familiar with so many new places, cultures, beliefs and environments, the images painted vividly in your mind. I want to visit the Shattered Plains, with grass blades that retract when anyone draws near and chasmfiends that are as big as a house. The characters, landscapes, and even the source of power in their world is awesome. I mean...power from highstorms that can be captured in spheres and used? Simple, yet genius. He creates a new world, yet it's completely believable. Nothing is forced. Events occur and characters act logically.
Sanderson has the knack for creating stories that are unpredictable; this book is no different. To say the least, it is completely refreshing and kept me totally intrigued (to my children's chagrin...I think they felt quite neglected).
The only cons I could think of were the grammatical errors which really boil down to being rather unimportant. I don't know if I've ever read anything without some sort of grammatical error.
Also, there were a few parts that seemed to drag, mainly when describing the history of their world. But that information is imperative to the story, adding to the mystery and rich detail of the culture, so it isn't a complete con. Just something to "get through" in very minute parts of story. But then again, that could just be me.
This book gets 5 stars from me!! PG-13 rating just for adult themes and violence, though it's not super gory or violent. An excellent and entertaining read I would highly recommend for anyone who has even the slightest interest in fantasy. It's not for the slight of heart, however, with 1001 pages! But you'll be soaking up every last page. Way to go, Brandon Sanderson! You've created awesomeness once again. May you hurry with the sequel!
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