One thing we love about this time of the year, with all the holidays coming up, is that it is a great opportunity to re-read books, especially those that are part of a series. One of our favorite series of all time is The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. This review covers all the books in the series. If you are looking for a series that you can read or re-read, this is a perfect one to pick up.
The Stormlight Archive has five main books but also includes two additional companion books that expand the world and fill in key story moments.
The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, Book One)
Title: The Way of Kings
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2010
Date of Publication: August 31, 2010
Pages: 1,007
ISBN-10: 0765365279
ISBN-13: 978-0765365279
Audiobook Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Summary of The Way of Kings
The Way of Kings is the first book in the Stormlight Archive and is set in a world known as Roshar but the majority of book 1 takes place in a Kingdom known as Alethkar. In Alethkar, classes are separated based on the colors of your eyes. Lighteyes rule over darkeyes. The kingdom has been united and includes several princedoms. It includes multiple storylines but primarily focuses on three main characters i.e. Kaladin Stormblessed, Shallan Davar, and Dalinar Kholin.
At the start of the book, Kaladin Stormblessed is a respected soldier who later becomes a slave. As a slave, he is assigned to a crew known as Bridge Four. These are men who are forced to carry mobile bridges used to help the army cross over certain areas during their battles. The catch is that these men are sent to war unprotected, placed at the forefront of an ongoing war and essentially serve as bait, so that the group who are attacking the army Kaladin serves on (the Parshendi), focus their archers on the bridgemen instead of the soldiers.
“Charging with your bridge might get you killed, but refusing to do so would get you killed.” — Kaladin’s reflections
Shallan Davar is a young woman of noble lineage. She enters the service of the scholar Jasnah Kholin to save her family but in the process, she learns some secrets about her world. Her father has died and her family is in serious debt. Shallan approaches Jasnah seeking to join her service as a scholar but Shallan also has some ulterior motives.
The story also follows a man named Dalinar Kholin. Dalinar is a high-prince and war commander. When his brother, the former King (Gavilar Kholin), is killed and leaves a cryptic message for him, he begins looking into what the message means. Shortly after he starts experiencing visions that occur during a storm. Dalinar, the new king and the other highprinces enter what they call a vengeance pact seeking vengeance for Gavilar’s death.
As ancient forces stir and long-lost orders known as the Knights Radiant prepare for return, these characters’ paths converge, setting the stage for epic change and dire challenges.
Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive, Book Two)
Title: Words of Radiance
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2014
Date of Publication: March 4, 2014
Pages: 1097
ISBN-10: 0765326361
ISBN-13: 978-0765326362 (hard cover) 978-1250166531 (trade paperback)
Audiobook Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Summary of Words of Radiance
Words of Radiance continues the story that begun in The Way of Kings. We learn more about Shallan’s family history. She travels towards the shattered plains, and we really watch her character evolve.
Kaladin and his men in Bridge Four are no longer slaves but Kaladin has to deal with challenges in his new role as a leader, his powers as a windrunner, and what it means to be a darkeyes in a world where lighteyes rule.
The book is divided into five parts. Part One, titled Alight, focuses on Shallan, Kaladin, and Dalinar. Part Two, Wind’s Approach, highlights Shallan, Kaladin, Adolin, and Sadeas. Part Three, Deadly, follows Shallan, Kaladin, Adolin, and Navani. Part Four, The Approach, centers on Shallan, Kaladin, and Dalinar. Finally, Part Five, Winds Alight, brings together Shallan, Kaladin, Adolin, Dalinar, and Wit.
Words of Radiance also includes a number of interludes that introduce us to some additional characters. Most memorable from the interlude are Eshonai and Lift. Eshonai is Parshendi and through her story we get a different perspective of what is happening with the Parshendi on the other side of the war.
Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive, Book Three)
Title: Oathbringer
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2017
Date of Publication: November 14, 2017
Pages: Approximately 1,243 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0765326379
Audiobook Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Summary of Words of Radiance
In Oathbringer, the third book in the The Stormlight Archive, the fate of the world of Roshar hangs in the balance as the ancient enemy returns.
At the start of Oathbringer, Kaladin has left Urithiru and has gone to warn his family of the impending storms. Through his journey, we learn more about the Parshmen. Remember after the events in Words of Radiance, the expectation was that the Parshmen would turn on the humans. Shallan, on the other hand, is embracing her powers and the other personalities she creates from illusions.
Using flashback, we learn more about Dalinar in his younger days and also about his wife, his relationship with his brother, King Gavilar, and some of the choices he made as a younger man and soldier. We also follow Dalinar as he seeks to unite the various kingdoms.
The book is divided into five parts. Part One, titled United, focuses on Shallan, Kaladin, Adolin, and Dalinar. Part Two, New Beginnings Sing, highlights Shallan, Jasnah, Dalinar, and Bridge Four. Part Three, Defying Truth, Love Truth, follows Shallan, Kaladin, Adolin, and Dalinar. Part Four, Defy! Sing Beginnings!, centers on Shallan, Kaladin, Adolin, Navani, Szeth, Taravangian, Venli, and Dalinar. Finally, Part Five is titled New Unity.
Just like the previous books, Oathbringer includes a number of interludes. Some of the interludes focus on characters we previously met like Venli but we also meet some new characters including Puuli, Mem, and Sheeler.
Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive, Book Four)
Title: Rhythm of War
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2020
Date of Publication: November 17, 2020
Pages: Approximately 1,232
ISBN-13: 978-0765326386
Audiobook Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Summary of Words of Radiance
Rhythm of War continues the saga on the world of Roshar after the events of Oathbringer. The human coalition led by Dalinar Kholin and the Knights Radiant fights a brutal war against the forces of Odium. Meanwhile, technological breakthroughs by Navani Kholin’s scholars threaten to shift the balance of power. In the midst of this, characters such as Kaladin, Shallan, and Roshar’s Parshendi climb new heights while contending with internal and external betrayals.
Wind and Truth (The Stormlight Archive, Book Five)
Title: Wind and Truth
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy (High Fantasy)
Year of Publication: 2024
Date of Publication: December 6, 2024
Pages: 1,329 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1250319180
Audiobook Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Summary of Words of Radiance
Wind and Truth is the fifth installment in The Stormlight Archive and serves as the climax of the first half of the series. As the ancient god Odium challenges Dalinar Kholin to a contest of champions, the fate of the world of Roshar hangs in the balance. Multiple characters—including Kaladin Stormblessed, Shallan Davar, and the former assassin Szeth-son-son-Vallano—face personal and cosmic trials as war, magic, and revelation collide.
Unlike the previous books, which are divided into five parts, Wind and Truth uses a different structure, organized from Day One through Day Ten. Most of the chapters focus on Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, Navani, Adolin, Szeth, Renarin, Rlain, Lopen, Sylphrena, Sigzil and Venli. There are also interludes that focus on other characters including Odium, Lift and Zahel.
Main Plot & Characters
- Kaladin Stormblessed (Kal) – A former slave and soldier who becomes a Windrunner, gaining powers of Gravitation and Adhesion through his bond with the spren Sylphrena. He is 19 years old at the start of the book and is from a town in Alethkar called Hearthstone.
- Shallan Davar – A young noblewoman and scholar with the ability to create illusions as a Lightweaver, bonded to the spren Pattern. Shallan loves art especially sketching and is 17 years at the start of the book.
- Dalinar Kholin – Highprince of Alethkar and uncle to King Elhokar. He is King Gavaliar’s brother. Dalinar is a Shardbearer and weilds the sword Oathbringer. He is nicknamed “the Blackthorn.”
- Adolin Kholin – Dalinar’s son and a skilled duelist who wields the Shardblade Maya.
- Renarin Kholin – Dalinar’s younger son and brother to Adolin.
- King Gavilar Kholin – He was the King of Alethkar.
- Jasnah Kholin – She is the daughter of King Gavilar and Navani Kholin. Jasnah is a sister to Elhokar and aunt to Adolin and Renarin. At the start of the book she is 34 years old. Jasnah vocally denounced religion and considers herself a veristitalian i.e. a scholar who tries to find the truth in the past. She is also viewed as a heretic.
- Elhokar Kholin – He is the King Gavilar’s son and heir. He weilds the blade Sunraiser.
- Navani Kholin – Jasnah and Elhokar’s mother. Navani is a brilliant engineer and artifabrian who advances fabrial technology.
- Szeth-son-son-Vallano (Szeth or Szeth-son-Neturo) – He is also known as the Assassin in White or Truthless of Shinovar. Szeth is a Shardbearer, a Surgebinder, and a Windrunner.
- Lift – A streetwise, food-loving girl with the ability to convert food into Stormlight. She’s a Radiant of the Edgedancer order. Lift can manipulate friction and has the power of regrowth.
- Nale (Nalan) – Herald of Justice and leader of the Skybreakers.
- Taravangian – At the start of the book he is the king of Kharbranth. He is an elderly man.
- Moash – Former bridgeman.
- Eshonai – She is a Parshendi general who becomes the first to bond with a stormform spren.
- Venli – Eshonai’s sister. At the start of the book she is a Listener scholar.
- Rock (Lunamor) – He is a Bridge Four member known for his humor and cooking. His people are called Horneaters because they are known for eating horns and shells of creatures they catch.
- Teft – He is a member of Bridge Four.
- Lopen – He is a cheerful Herdazian and a member of Bridge Four.
- Members of Bridge Four – They include Rock, Teft, Lopen, Sigzil, Leyten, Moash, Hobber, Earless Jaks, Peet, Koolf, Murk, Yake, Dunny, Narm, Amark, Natam, Skar, Arik, Dabbid, Beld, Yake, and much more.
- Shen (Rlain) – A Parshendi who joins Bridge Four.
- The Heralds of the Almighty – Ten immortal warriors tasked with protecting humanity from Desolations; includes Jezereh (Herald of Kings), Ishi, Kelek, Nale, Ishar, Ash, Jezrien, and Talenelat (the Herald of War).
- Odium – The god of passion and hatred, primary antagonist of the series.
- Lirin – Kaladin’s father. He is a surgeon.
- Hesina – Kaladin’s mother.
- Tien – Kaladin’s brother.
- Helaran, Balat, Asha Jushu, Tet Wilkim – They are Shallan’s brothers.
- Eylita – Balat’s betrothed. She is the daughter of Brightlord Tavinar.
- Malise Gevelmar – The woman Shallan’s father remarries after her mother’s death.
- Roshone – He is the new citylord in Kaladin’s town.
- Amaram – He is a highlord and the first man who sold Kaladin to slavery. He is a distant cousin to Roshone and the head of Alethi defense in the area Kaladin’s family resides.
- Torol Sadeas – He is the ruler of Kaladin’s home district. At the start of the book Sadeas is not a full shadebearer (he had only the Plate not the Blade). His bridges are the fastest in the army.
- Ialai – She is Sadeas wife.
- The Highprinces – They include Aladar (brilliant politically), Roion (best archers, smallest princedom), Sebarial (strategic business man), Hatham (the mediator), Thanadal (one of the richest men in Emul), Ruthar (ally with Sadeas), Vamah, and Sadeas.
- Gaz – The man who assigned Kaladin to Bridge Four. He nicknamed Kaladin “lording.”
- Lamaril – He is Gaz immediate supervisor at the start of the book.
- Brother Kabsal – He is the ardent Shallan meets while waiting for Jasnah. He has a very witty sense of humor.
- Laral – Her father was the old citylord in Kaladin’s hometown, Heartstone.
- Parshmen – Parshendi call them dullform. They serve as laborer’s for the humans and are considered thick-witted at the start of the book.
- Parshendi (the Listeners) – Another type of Parshmen but they are stronger, taller, keener of mind. They live around the Shattered Plains in an area called Narak.
- Teshav – She is the wife of one of Dalinar’s officers, General Khal
- Kadash – He is a lighteye who was once a soldier (one of Dalinar’s elite) but is now an ardent. He tutored and trained Adolin.
- Zahel – He was also a former soldier turned ardent after his retirement. He is Renarin’s trainer and offers shardbearer training.
- Janala, Rilla, Danlan, Malasha – Some of the women Adolin was courting.
- Gallant – Dalinar’s Ryshadium stallion. Described as being much larger than a horse.
- Matal – The new captain of Bridge Four. He is married to Brightness Hashal.
- Hashal – She is the wife of Brightlord Matal.
- Sureblood – Adolin’s Ryshadium.
- The Ghostbloods – The group demanding Shallan’s father’s soulcaster.
- Mraize – He is part of Ghostbloods. Nicknamed Shallan “Little Knife.”
- Graves – One of the men Moash introduces to Kaladin
- Mrall – Taravangian’s bodyguard.
- Adrotagia – She is a scholar and Head Kharbranthian scribe that serves under Taravangian. They grew up together. She calls him “Vargo,” a childhood nickname.
- Queen Aesudan – She is Elhokar’s wife.
- Teleb – An officer in Dalinar’s army. He is married to Kalami.
- Kalami – She is one of Dalinar’s senior scribes. She is Teleb’s wife.
- Hanavanar – He is the King of Jah Keved.
- Captain Tozbek – He is the captain of the ship who take Shallan to find Jasnah.
- Luesh – He is Shallan’s house steward.
- Fen Rnamdi – She is the Queen of Thaylenah. Her prince consort is Kmakl and her son is Kdvalk.
- Gawx – When this character is first introduced to us, he is a common thief from Azir but his life changes after an event. Later named Yanagawn the First.
- King of Azir – The position reserved for the ruler of Azir. The King of Azir is also the Emperor of Makabak.
- Malata of Jah Keved – She is a Knight Radiant. She is a dustbringer.
- Wit – A mysterious wanderer who often appears as Elhokar’s jester but also as a storyteller. Wit uses humor and tales to comment on events unfolding around him.
- Son of Honor – This group believes that a desolation would restore both the Knight Radiant and the classical strength of the Vorin church.
- Skybreakers – Lead by Herald Nalan’Elin, this group are believed to be that the only order of Radiants that did not betray its oaths during the Recreance. They believe that men speaking the words of other orders would hasten the voidbringers.
Radiants and Spren
- Sylphrena (Syl) – Kaladin’s honorspren, granting him his Radiant powers.
- Pattern – Shallan’s cryptic spren, embodying truth and lies.
- Stormfather – A vast spren of storms and Honor’s remnants, bonded to Dalinar.
- Wyndle – A cultivation spren bonded to Lift.
- Ivory – The spren Jasnah is bonded with.
- Timbre – Venli’s spren.
Locations in Roshar
- Alethkar (Kholinar) – Alethkar is the kingdom where a majority of the story takes place. Kholinar is a city in Alethkar and is Dalinar’s home. It is the seat of government.
- Shattered Plains (Narak) – Narak is in the Shattered Plains and is where the Parshendi live. It is in the Shattered Plains that Elhokar is seeking the vengeance for his father’s murder.
- Jah Keved (Vedenar) – Powerhouse for its manpower. This is where Shallan is from.
- Thaylenah (Thaylen City) – Powerhouse for its shipping and naval prowess.
- Azir (Azimir) – Powerhouse because of its organization and political influence. The Azish Prime rules from Azimir and is the Emperor of all Makabak, a region made up of half a dozen kingdoms and princedoms.
- Babatharnam (Panatham) – A smaller kingdom within Makabak.
- Reshi Isles (Kurth) – A collection of island nations
- Iri (Rall Elorim) – A kingdom recognized for its distinct culture and wealth.
- Urithiru – An ancient city, built by long-forgotten civilizations and central to the history and legends of Roshar. Described as home to the Knights Radiant.
Writing Style
In each of the books (except Wind and Truth), the story is told in five different parts and also from multiple perspectives. In The Way of Kings, there is an opening scene (this is not a spoiler) where Szeth attacks the King’s palace. The way Sanderson describes this scene reminded us of the chill we got when we first watched Nightcrawler in X-men attack the White House. It pulled us into the story instantly, and we were hooked from that moment on.
The battle scenes in The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance are some of our favorite scenes ever! They were intense and the descriptions are so detailed that as a reader you imagine yourself being right in the middle of it all. The way Sanderson describes the Parshendi singing during the battle, the arrows cutting through the air, and the moment the two sides collide is unforgettable.
If you ever watched the movie Brave Heart or HBO series Game of Thrones, where Jon Snow is in the Battle of the Bastards, that’s the closest a show on television has come to depicting what we imagine some of the battle scenes in these books made us feel but multiply that action by 10! When Danilar gives his battlefield speech in Words of Radiance, we felt the gloryspren in our bones and gave him a bridgeman salute!
One of our favorite aspects of this book series are the illustrations. There is something incredible about reading the words used to describe a story and the characters and then seeing the illustrations included in the book and how they match what you visualize. Take for example, the Chamsfiend, Chrysalis, the traditional Vorin havah, and of course the Shardplate illustration in Wind and Truth. When we saw the illustrations we were blown away because they perfectly matched what we imagined. Seeing illustrations of the creatures and plants Shallan encounters, along with the landscapes, fighting stances like Windstance, and honor blades and Shardblades such as Firestorm and Sundraiser, truly brings the book to life.
Now let’s talk about the characters and the world-building. The characters in this story are so well-written and some are extremely likable. Kaladin for example is a character we will never forget. You can’t read this story without routing for Kaladin and caring for his journey. Same thing we felt for Danilar, Shallan, Adolin, and also for supporting characters like Rock and Teft. Even the characters that test your patience (shoutout to Sadeas, Taravangian, and Moash) will stay with you when the story ends.
The world-building in this book is one of the best we have seen. We learn about places like Alethkar, Jah Keved, Azir, Emul, and of course the Shattered Plains. The author describes each of these places in a way that just hearing the names conjures up specific images and memories, and as a reader you buy into the existence of these locations. The descriptions are detailed to the point that you even remember cities within each of the kingdoms i.e. Kharbranth and Kholinar.
In addition to the character development and the world-building, another thing we appreciated is how the author used minor details to distinguish between each group. Take for example the clothing and how women in certain regions covered their left hand and also the use of colors to distinguish between the armies of the highprinces (blue for Dalinar and green for Sadeas’s army). We also loved how technology was integrated into this story with the use of spanreeds and fabrials.
With that said, these are big books! Most of them are over 1,000 pages and so if you are going to get into them, set out time to truly enjoy this epic fantasy.
Memorable Quotes from The Stormlight Archive
- “Brother. You must find the most important words a man can say.”— The last words of King Gavilar for his brother
- “As truthless, there was only one life he was forbidden to take. And that was his own.”— Szeth’s reflections
- “Storm you!” and “Blood of my fathers.”— A way of cursing
- “The Everstorm comes. The True Desolation. The Night of Sorrows.”— Words from Danilar Kholin’s visions
- “You have to learn when to live and when to let go.”— Lirin
- “There will be times when you must make decisions that churn your stomach.”— Jasnah Kholin
- “Bridgemen weren’t supposed to survive.”— Kaladin’s reflections
- “Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.”— Sigzil and Teft quoting the motto of the lost Radiant / The first ideal or Ideal of Radiance
- “If you were to overthrow the lighteyes and place yourselves in power, abuses would still happen. They’d just happen to other people.”— Sigzil
- “Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right. If nobody starts, then others cannot follow.”— Lirin
- “I will protect those who cannot protect themselves.”— The second ideal of the Knights Radiant
- “Honor is dead.”— Kaladin
- “You must speak the words.”— Syl
- “Unite them.”— Recurring saying from Danilar’s visions
- “I will protect even those I hate….So long as it is right.”— Kaladin
- “I guess that’s one problem solved!”— Palona
- “Sometimes a hypocrite is nothing more than a person who is in the process of changing.”— Dalinar and Nohadon
- “An Animal….a half-man creature of war and blood.”— Noura
- “Once it’s gone feral, you can’t just whistle it back to you.”— Dalinar’s reflections
- “Someone has to fall, that others may stand.”— Taravangian
- “Brother, follow the codes tonight. There is something strange upon the winds.”— Dalinar reflecting on the words of King Gavilar.
- “What was the most important step a man could take?”— Dalinar’s reflections
The Stormlight Archive – Recommended Reading Order
- The Way of Kings
- Words of Radiance
- Edgedancer – This book is considered book 2.5 but you can skip it and continue with Oathbringer, which is Stormlight 3. The author does explain in the postscript of Edgedancer that the book was written keeping in mind that the main character (Lift) would have already sworn some of the oaths and since she is going to be a main character in the Stormlight Archive, it felt wrong to have that happen off screen. Pretty much the same rationale to explain the character growth of the Herald of Justice, Nale. Our recommendation is to read it before proceeding to Oathbringer even though Lift was in the Interludes in Words of Radiance. Edgedancer is only 272 pages and it is our opinion that it makes a difference in how your receive Lift’s entrance into Oathbringer.
- Oathbringer
- Dawnshard – This is viewed as book 3.5. Just like Edgedancer, you may choose to skip this and move on to Rhythm of War, which is Book 4 but our recommendation is that you do not.
- Rhythm of War
- Wind and Truth
Final Thoughts
Whenever we are compiling a list of our favorite books and series of all time, without a doubt, The Stormlight Archive, always makes the cut. Everything from world-building, illustrations, characters, and the writing itself work perfectly to give us an unforgettable story. Also, something that may seem very minor these days, since there are various mediums to enjoy books, but even the font size and texture the book is printed in is something we really appreciated. Fans of books like The Shadow of What Was Lost, The Will of the Many, and The Goblin Emperor will enjoy this series.
Rating of The Series
Characters ★★★★★ (5/5)
Plot ★★★★★ (5/5)
Writing ★★★★★ (5/5)
Book Cover ★★★★★ (5/5)
Audiobook (Narration only) ★★★★★ (5/5)
Overall ★★★★★ (5/5)
Have you read any of the books in The Stormlight Archive? Share your thoughts and until next time, keep turning those pages.
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