The Stormlight Archive
by Brandon Sanderson · first published 2016
51% recommend44% neutral5% critical
Why HN recommends it
Epic fantasy with deep characters, a complex cohesive world and well-built, internally consistent magic systems. Seen as Sanderson's most serious and best-written work; suits fantasy fans wanting total escape.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
GraphicAudio® A Movie in Your Mind® proudly releases THE WAY OF KINGS, the first of ten planned titles in New York Times Bestselling author, Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy series, THE STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE. Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. It has been centuries since the fall of the 10 consecrated or
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Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
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Audiobooks I have Read Recently: (Sanderson is Awesome) * The Reckoners #1/#2 * Stormlight Archive #1/#2 * Mistborn #1/#2/#3 * Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures As the World's Most Wanted Hacker Digital Books: * How to Win Friends and Influence People * Malazon Book #1 * The Forever War…
on “Ask HN: Which book are you reading these days?” ↗The Stormlight Archive (series) by Brandon Sanderson has probably changed my life the most. I don't think I've enjoyed a book as much or have had one mean as much to me as I've have with this series. The series is incredibly…
on “Ask HN: What book changed your life?” ↗…re-reading of the original Mistborn trilogy. I absolutely love it. To me, the "Robert Jordan situation," though sad, has brought me many, many hours of joy. That said, with the exception of Sanderson's Stormlight Archive (because he is an absolute writing machine), I'm done reading books in long series that haven't been finished yet. Besides, there's plenty of great stuff out there that's finished that's waiting for me…
on “What ever happened to Wordstar?” ↗Thanks for being vague, I just started The Way of Kings last week. I've read Elantris and the first Mistborn trilogy from Sanderson. I'm roughly half way into this first book of The Stormlight Archive and I've already come to the conclusion that this likely is my favorite of his work. I very much agree with your thoughtful sentiment. I've been wondering if the story of Joseph from the Bible had influence…
on “Ask HN: What book changed your life?” ↗…could keep the first 2-3 books from Robert Jordan and have Brandon Sanderson rewrite all of the middle books up to his last 3 books. It would really improve the series. I'm loving Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series right now. The third one is coming out in a few days.
on “Burn the Programmer” ↗I just finished reading Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. It is the third book in the Stormlight Archive series. It was a fantastic read and the entire series is totally epic. Sanderson has many different trilogies, novels, and short stories in a universe he calls The Cosmere. If you like fantasy and haven't…
on “Ask HN: What books are you currently reading?” ↗I liked the first trilogy of mistborn but lost interest in the sequels. There were parts of the first trilogy that .. well, were better than others. I think the Stormlight archive is Sanderson at his fantasy best. Characters driving plot in a cohesive, complex world. Stormlight has huge tombs of books covering a story that feels like it is really moving and subplots that tie…
on “Show HN: Top Fantasy Reads – Fantasy books Reddit is reading” ↗…exist in our world) then I would recommend picking through Stephen King. If you want to completely escape our world then I recommend the old Conan books or the modern Brandon Sanderson starting with Stormlight Archive. You have received plenty of Sci Fi recommendations but I will add my own personal favorite (this is one novel in the series): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Death_Ground If you want fiction that…
on “Good Books for a Lousy Year” ↗…which does severe damage to the universe. Haven't read the prequels.) Asimov's short stories Tolkien Ben Hur The Count of Monte Cristo (brilliant revenge story) A lot of Brandon Sanderson's work (The Stormlight Archive is promising to be fascinating) Too long a list of other stuff to put here.
on “Ask HN: What literature do you read?” ↗Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive) by Brandon Sanderson Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
on “Entitlement issues (2009)” ↗…can search by. I have no idea why; if I could find the good books with no DRM I'd have spent way more money there. Recently discovered that Brandon Sanderson's books are among the DRM free (Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, others), which is a great set of reads for fantasy fans.
on “The Danger of E-Books” ↗You might enjoy the stormlight archive by Brandon Sanderson, who finished the last novel in the wheel of time.
on “Post Virtual Reality Sadness” ↗Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan) Stormlight Archive; Mistborn (Brandon Sanderson) Belgariad and Malloreon (David Eddings) Discworld (Terry Pratchett) Sword of Shannara (Terry Brooks)
on “Amazon to Adapt J.R.R. Tolkien’s Globally Renowned Fantasy Novels” ↗Excellent series. I thought Sanderson's writing noticeably improved with each book, as well. Humbly suggest jumping into The Stormlight Archive next!
on “Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?” ↗…books in long series? Sign me up! If you are wanting to scratch a fantasy fix, you can't go wrong with Brandon Sanderson. He is really good at world building, and his books are very immersive. His 'The Stormlight Archive: The Way of Kings' is the first book in the Stormlight Archives, my favorite series of his. If you like to save the best for last, you could do his Mistborn series or Elantris to start. If you are wanting…
on “Ask HN: Which audiobooks did/do you like?” ↗