The Way of Kings

Template:BookInfobox The Way of Kings is the first volume of The Stormlight Archive, an epic fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson.

It has three main characters and several minor characters, many of whom are explored through Interludes.

The Way of Kings also has a series of Epigraphs, which give hints of foreshadowing and information about the Cosmere.

Summary

For a detailed chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the book, see the summary

The Way of Kings follows the stories of Kaladin, Dalinar, and Shallan. There are also several minor characters who receive viewpoints; Szeth, Adolin, Wit, and Navani in the main text, and several others in the Interludes.

Kaladin

Template:Main Kaladin is the focus character of the novel. At the beginning of his story, he is a squadleader in Amaram's army. His storyline then cuts to his time as a slave. As a slave in Sadeas's army, he is placed in Bridge Four, and made to run headlong into enemy fire with the rest of his bridgecrew to give the army a way to cross the chasms. After a period of despair, Kaladin works to improve the life of his bridgecrew, and figure out how to escape the trappings of the army.

Kaladin faces the internal struggles of his inability to save those around him and his distrust of any lighteyes, both of which are resolved with the climax of the novel.

As the focus character of The Way of Kings, Kaladin's past is viewed through the use of flashbacks. The flashbacks show his childhood and his surgeon apprenticeship under his father, as well as how he joins the army and why he became a slave.

Dalinar

Template:Main Dalinar's story centers around the politics of the Alethi nobility. Following his brother Gavilar's assassination, Dalinar took his last words to heart, and began following the Alethi Codes of War and the teachings of The Way of Kings, a book written by Nohadon. He is plagued by visions of the past during every highstorm, and has a strong sense that the war on the Shattered Plains is not what the king needs to be focused on, but rather uniting the Alethi highprinces completely. Following the betrayal by Sadeas, he finally drops politics and embracing the Blackthorn, realizing that he must force the highprinces to unite and finish the war quickly, so they may focus on the Desolation to come.

Shallan

Template:Main Shallan becomes the ward of the rather infamous scholar Jasnah, in the hopes of stealing her Soulcaster. Her story is a mostly an internal conflict between continuing her wardship, which she loves, and stealing the fabrial to help her family. As her conflict progresses, Shallan begins to draw mysterious spren when she's not paying attention, and she believes she is going mad. Things come to a head when her love interest Kabsal is caught trying to poison Jasnah, and Shallan's theft is revealed. She confronts Jasnah, who can also see the spren and can Soulcast without the use of a fabrial, and she reveals that she is researching the Voidbringers.

Szeth

Template:Main Szeth's story is told through the Interludes. A Truthless of Shinovar, he is first introduced when he famously assassinates King Gavilar of Alethkar. Known as the Assassin in White, he goes through several masters before getting orders to assassinate several highranking people by a mysterious master. Hating himself, he murders the people on his list until he gets to King Taravangian, who turns out to be the man holding his oathstone.

Magic System

The Stormlight Archive has several magic systems. Most of these are used by the Knights Radiant orders, with some of these powers including Soulcasting and Surgebinding.

Independent of the Radiant orders is the Old Magic.

Ten Essences

Number	Gemstone	Essence	Body Focus	Soulcasting Properties	Primary/Secondary Divine Attributes
1.Jes	Sapphire	Zephyr	Inhalation	Translucent gas, air	Protecting/Leading
2.Nan	Smokestone	Vapor	Exhalation	Opaque gas,smoke, fog	Just/Confident
3.Chach	Ruby	Spark	The Soul	Fire	Brave/Obedient
4.Vev	Diamond	Lucentia	The Eyes	Quartz, glass, crystal	Loving/Healing
5.Palah	Emerald	Pulp	The Hair	Wood, plants, moss	Learned/Giving
6.Shash	Garnet	Blood	The Blood	Blood, all non-oil liquid	Creative/Honest
7.Betab	Zircon	Tallow	Oil	All kinds of oil	Wise/Careful
8.Kak	Amethyst	Foil	The Nails	Metal	Resolute/Builder
9.Tanat	Topaz	Talus	The Bone	Rock and Stone	Dependable/Resourceful
10. Ishi	Heliodor	Sinew	Flesh	Meat,flesh	Pious/Guiding