3 ms·

I like Sanderson, I really do, but I wish he would aim for a bit more brevity. He has a really interesting story to tell, and built an incredibly creative world

I like Sanderson, I really do, but I wish he would aim for a bit more brevity. He has a really interesting story to tell, and built an incredibly creative world, but it's like he gets distracted by all the other stories he would like to tell. Just like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, Way of Kings seems to get slower with each book as more subplots are developed and explored. But I think my biggest complaint about Way of Kings is that the characters often make such frustrating decisions. The fate of the world is at stake and people are petty, self-absorbed, secretive, and sullen. Maybe that's reality, but it's so frustrating to read sub-plots that drag out for hundreds of pages simply because people won't communicate. I miss, to some degree, books like King's Gunslinger and Moorcock's Elric, that could tell a story in ~200 pages. Or even the TSR pulp fantasy books of the 80's which all seemed to be 300-400 pages. Now everything is super-sized, but I don't feel like I'm getting more "story", I'm getting in-depth descriptions of clothing and internal monologues on what to cook for dinner. Despite that critique, I still recommend Way of Kings (and Wheel of Time!). Just flip through the filler.

SunlightEdge 5y ago
Moorcook's Eldrich... Wait! I read Hawkmoon years ago by him and liked it. A light breezy read. I'll get this. Cheers
CRConrad 5y ago
> Just like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, Way of Kings seems to get slower with each book as more subplots are developed and explored. Heh, now that's ironic, knowing what happened to the WoT: Jordan[1] died before he could finish it, and years later another author stepped in and finished it based on Jordan's notes. That other author was... Brandon Sanderson. So one would think he'd know the dangers of creating too big a sprawl. (Also: Take heed, GRRM!) ___ [1]: Actually Oliver Rigney, IIRC.
Elora 5y ago
> my biggest complaint about Way of Kings is that the characters often make such frustrating decisions I find the decisions are often not predictable, which I think for some can be a turnoff because things don't go the way you expect/want them to. I find this a strength.

SunlightEdge 5y ago

Moorcook's Eldrich... Wait! I read Hawkmoon years ago by him and liked it. A light breezy read. I'll get this. Cheers

CRConrad 5y ago

> Just like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, Way of Kings seems to get slower with each book as more subplots are developed and explored. Heh, now that's ironic, knowing what happened to the WoT: Jordan[1] died before he could finish it, and years later another author stepped in and finished it based on Jordan's notes. That other author was... Brandon Sanderson. So one would think he'd know the dangers of creating too big a sprawl. (Also: Take heed, GRRM!) ___ [1]: Actually Oliver Rigney, IIRC.

Elora 5y ago

> my biggest complaint about Way of Kings is that the characters often make such frustrating decisions I find the decisions are often not predictable, which I think for some can be a turnoff because things don't go the way you expect/want them to. I find this a strength.