But is it good?  Big doesn’t matter that much if a book can’t get your attention.  What matters most in any book is whether or not the author can grab and hold a reader’s attention.  Then there is that matter of the payoff at the end.  Is it worth the investment of time you put in to read it?

For me the answer to these questions is a resounding: “Yes!”  It is good and it is most definitely worth the investment of time.  Brandon Sanderson has pulled of an amazing balancing act with The Way of Kings.

I was introduced to the author, Brandon Sanderson, a couple years back by his book Elantris.  At that time all I knew was that he was tapped to finish Robert Jordan’s huge Wheel of Time series.  I was interested to see who this guy was and let me tell you, I am very glad I checked him out.  Since then I have read all his adult fiction (he has a young adult series out there that I will read some day) and I have been throughly impressed by each one of them.  Sanderson has a talent to create very unique and fully thought out worlds.  Each of his books will take you to a different place.  The Way of Kings is no different in its uniqueness.

Welcome to Roshar, a world of extreme storms and landscapes; where men of honor seem few a far between.  The world Sanderson has created is both vast and detailed.  And incredibly foreign.  Stark landscapes are the product of massive storms that sweep the land.  Plants and animals survive inside of shells.  Each detail of the world seems thought out and intentional which makes it feel very real.

The world also comes with a deep history that is wrought with questions.  Who are the Radiants and why did they disappear?  What are the Voidbringers?  Like any Sanderson novel magic plays a pivotal role in the world.  Men fight over magical armor and swords.  Wars are fought to control gems with magical energies inside.  One difference in this book from other Sanderson books is the knowledge you have at the end.  Or don’t have in this case.  We have been introduced to many ideas but I don’t feel that any of them have been fully fleshed out.  There are still many mysteries to be solved and I like that.  Especially considering that we have quite a few books to go.  I am looking forward to finding out much more about the history of Roshar as we go.

Next, say hello to the characters you will be getting to know: Kaladin, Shallan, and Dalinar (there are some others but these are the main three).  Kaladin: the warrior turned slave who trusts none of the ruling class.  Shallan: the scholar with theft on her mind.  Dalinar:  the Highprince who holds to the codes above all else.  There are some wonderful supporting characters as well.

The story begins with murder (by a mysterious and cool character) which launches many questions, some that will be answered and some that won’t.  But that is fine.  The Way of Kings is the first book of a planned ten book series.  That means that we have much to look forward to from this world and these characters.

Is this book for everyone?  A non-reader might not like it.  It is big.  But it is most definitely for people who are willing to read a big book to get a big world, big story, and big payoff.  Don’t let the fact that this is a “fantasy” book get in the way of you reading it.  The best recommendation I can present you with comes from my wife.  She read it with me and she loved it.  That is a big deal.

Simply put, The Way of Kings is for anyone who enjoys reading a good story.

Same Kind of Different as Me is told from two viewpoints: a modern day slave turned homeless bum and a wealthy art dealer.  There is a third main character in the story: the art dealers wife; the catalyst behind the two storytellers amazing friendship.  Denver, Ron, and Deborah.  I really enjoyed the two different viewpoints of the same events.  It gives the story fullness and weight that it might not have otherwise.  The short chapters made it feel like a very short read.  It flew by.

I don’t want to get into the story because I want you to read it, but I will tell you this, it makes you take a step back from life and consider what is important while we are here.  The main message is that God’s plans, even though they aren’t what we would choose, are still God’s plans and are meant to bring Him glory, even (you could say especially) when they are painful.

This book will change the way you look, specifically, at homeless people, but also people different from yourself in general.  Gods plans include, well, everyone, not just those that look or think like you and me.

Some people say to live like there is no tomorrow, but I say love like there is no tomorrow because we don’t know when there will be no tomorrow.  And not just people that we think of as deserving our love.  Love like Christ loved.  That includes everyone, especially the “tax collectors and sinners”, the homeless and prostitutes.

This book has many good quotes but I will leave you with one of my favorites:  “The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain’t no final restin place.  So in a way, we is all homeless – just workin our way toward home”

Pick up this book. 

Brian

I want to make a quick plug for the science fiction and fantasy books I read.  Many people are immediately turned off by books in this genre.  I think that these feelings stem from exposure to movies in this genre.  These movies tend to be narratively underdeveloped or sci-fi/magic overpowered leaving character development and story in the dust.  It also leaves viewers who are interested in story and character and not interested in how a phaser works with a bad taste in their mouth.  If you haven’t given books with the label of “fantasy” or “sci-fi” a try you really should.  If you enjoyed the Lord of the Rings films (these are fantasy films done right in my opinion) you will probably enjoy a good book from these genres.  Try a book called Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.  Wonderful book.

If you are interested in a more extensive listing of the books I have read check out Shelfari.  This is a great site to keep up with your books and see what others have to say about them.  Enough of my blabbering; on to the reviews!

Heaven – Randy Alcorn

This is the second book I have read from Mr. Alcorn.  The first was Deadline, a fiction suspense/mystery novel, and I would highly recommend that you look that one up.  Heaven is a non-fiction work that attempts to make us aware of what we can expect in heaven through the lens of scripture.  I think it succeeds greatly.

The driving force behind Alcorn’s writing is preparation.  He makes the case that many believers in Christ don’t know all that much about Heaven.  I have to admit that I really didn’t.  It is not something that gets a great deal of focus in seminary so it doesn’t get much attention afterwards.  Alcorn points out, though, that we would not plan a trip to Mars without training the astronaughts going about what to expect there.  Knowing what to expect there would change how they planned for it here as well as providing them a goal to shoot for.

In the same way we need to prepare ourselves for Heaven by knowing as much as we can about what to expect there.  The Bible really does speak quite a bit about heaven so there is much we can learn.  Not only will this help us gain an eternal perspective that is so elusive while we are here on earth, it will encourage us to prepare for it by attempting to bring others with us.

With this premise, Alcorn begins to unfold different scriptural truths about heaven.  Every claim he makes is backed up by scripture.  He also encourages his readers to call him to account if they find something they believe is not the truth.

This book really is a great read but it is a bit hard (very heavy and meaty).  It is an effective way to refocus on what is really important: our (and other’s) eternity with Christ.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Ender in Exile – Orson Scott Card

This is the direct sequel to the book I mentioned above, Ender’s Game.   Ender’s Game was published in the 70′s and several sequels followed it but there was a gap between them.  This book fills that gap.  Since we know what comes before and after this book I would have expected so big surprises but I was wrong.  Card does a great job of “bridging the gap” while at the same time giving us an engaging story that ties up some of the loose ends left by other books in the “Enderverse”.  I would recommend reading Ender’s Game first if you haven’t.  If you have read it and enjoyed it then you should give Ender in Exile a try.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Hood & Scarlet – Stephen R Lawhead

These are actually two separate books (the first two in a trilogy) but I will review them as one.  This is a wonderful retelling of the Robin Hood legend.  Lawhead makes the case in an appendix to the book that even though many of the myths we have heard about Robin Hood before take place in England, he believes that the roots of those myths can be traced back to Celtic stories.  So he sets this telling in historical Wales when it was under control of the Normans.  This telling is not nearly as idealized as some of the ones of recent memory.  It feels very real and gritty, much as I can imagine living in those times would be.

The first book, Hood, is told from the third person point of view which is good for introducing us the people and places dealt with in the trilogy but  the second book, Scarlet, switches to the first person.  In this book we get inside the head of Will Scarlet as he is giving his story to a monk while he is in prison so most of it is told as a series of flashbacks.

If you are looking for a book that has a historical feel and gives a great retelling of a well known legend then you should read this trilogy.  I have not read the third book (Tuck) yet but all of the reviews I have read have been very positive.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Name of the Wind – Pat Rothfuss

This is the debut book for this author and let me tell you, it is great.  It is one of the most well-written books I have ever read.  You can tell the author is very careful with his words.  The book begins by introducing a man with a mysterious and famous past.  A scribe who has been searching for this man finds him and thus begins our tale.  It is told mostly in flashbacks with a few interludes from the present that remind us of where we are.

If you have read my reviews before you will know that I am not big on revealing the plots of books and I won’t do it here.  Just know that this is a character driven book and the characters are very convincing and good.  It is one of those books that you forget you are reading and feel more like you are experiencing it.

This is a book that would easily fit into my top ten.  Well worth every minute of reading.  Probably the best way I can think of to recommend this book is to tell you that after purchasing and reading the paperback I sought out a hardback copy.  Here is why.  When I find a book that I really enjoy and I know will get lots of use (either by me or others I will allow to borrow it, or even my kids someday) I try to find a hardback copy so it will last.  This is one I want to last.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Assassins Apprentice – Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb is an author I have been wanting to read for a while and I think I picked the right book to start with.  Assassin’s Apprentice begins the Farseer trilogy which is the story of young Fitz, illegitimate son of the heir to the throne.  He has his problems but he also has his uses (as an assassin.  shhhhh……don’t tell!)

The pacing of this story is somewhat slower than most of the books I read but this is because of the detail put into the characters and their social/political interaction.  In this case, slower is better.  I was fortunate enough to find books two and three at Half Price books recently so I will get to finish the trilogy soon.  I will let you know if the last two books fulfill the promise of the first.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Warbreaker – Brandon Sanderson

Ever since discovering Sanderson’s Elantris last year I have been a huge fan.  I ate up Elantris and his Mistborn trilogy and was ready for more but I would have to wait until June.  I waited and it was worth it.

I will tell you that I would not consider this book “kid friendly”.  There is nothing explicit in the book but there is an issue of “producing an heir” and the discussions that will come with that.

One of Sanderson’s greatest skills is coming up with magic system and world that fit so well together that it feels real.  This book is another excellent example of this.  Some of the elements of the world are a bit underdeveloped.  For example, one of the main plot points the characters are trying to achieve is to keep two counties from going to war.  So much of the story takes place in one that by the end of the book we don’t really remember much about the other one, and it is the underdog, the one the characters were trying to save.

The characters are another strong point in this book.  One in particular was quite enjoyable.  In the book, one of the countries is governed by people who have died but return and are worshiped as “gods”.  Lightsong is one of the Returned, the kicker is, he doesn’t believe in his own divinity.  This makes for some great, hilarious dialogue.  I was reading in bed one night and laughed loud enough to wake up my wife.  The other characters are just was well developed and fun to read.

One of Sanderson’s other strengths is his plot twists.  As usual, they are clever, unexpected, but make complete sense after they happen.  They don’t feel contrived at all.  I don’t read a book looking for the twists because I like to be just as shocked as the characters.  It’s more fun this way for me.  But they are clever enough that even if you looked you wouldn’t see them all.

Something that did detract some for me was the lack of resolution at the end.  The main plots are resolved but it felt that there was some more story that could be told to finish some of the side plots.  This is not a reason to skip the book, just a small complaint.  I do know that the author likes to leave a few things out there to make the reader feel like the story continues even after the book ends.  In the long run I think I will appreciate this.  I have also read that the author plans on doing more books in this world so it will be nice for him to have something to tie into this one with.

I am already a Brandon Sanderson fan and this book just adds to my enjoyment of his writing.  He is currently one of my favorite authors and there isn’t a book he has written that I couldn’t recommend.  Fortunate for me and the rest of his readers he is a quick writer so we won’t have to wait too long for his next book.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Hero of Ages is the book that caps off the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson.  After reading the first two books I had very high expectations for this one.  I was a little worried that it could not live up to the standard the author had set in the previous books but I am glad to say that I was not disappointed at all.  Not even a little bit.

The book picks up a year after the events of The Well of Ascension with events tumbling toward the destruction of the world.  I won’t talk too much about the plot as I don’t want to give anything away to those of you who will be reading it.  I will say that it moves at a very quick pace and kept me turning pages until the end.  We get to experience more of the world than we have in previous books.

The strengths of the previous books remain in this one as well.  Sanderson delves even deeper into the magic system he introduced us to in The Final Empire.  The characters are well developed.  The surprises keep coming and the end was unpredictably perfect.  The plot twists this author comes up with are one of his greatest strengths.

It still amazes me how, while reading this book, I could not figure out what would happen.  But it all made perfect sense at the end.  Amazing.

This trilogy is one my favorites.  It comes very highly recommended.

Brian

One of my favorite things the first book does so well is tell an angle of a story that many don’t.  The Well of Ascension keeps this going strong. “…And they lived happilly ever after” is a common (often assumed) theme at the end of a story.  What happens after the characters get their happily ever after?  Is it really as happy as most stories allude?  This book explores that idea. 

Book two starts out a little slower than the first one did but allows for more in depth characterization.  We get to see more view points on what is happening.  The story develops quickly through this and the ending is fast and furious.  Come to think of it, every book by Brandon Sanderson has had a great ending with unforeseen twists.  I was guessing what would happen up until the last chapter.  From what I have read alpha readers of the third book are saying that it is just as great as the first two.

I am trying to expand the authors and genres that I read so if you have a book or author that you really enjoy let me know who or what it is.

Brian

The story told in this book is amazing and one of the best I have ever read.  The action is well balanced with political intrigue and character development.  The world that Sanderson builds for us is so engaging and it draws you into it immediately.  The basic story premise, without giving too much away, is about a group of thieves in a world where an oppressive immortal ruler keeps a large portion of the populace down-trodden and subservient.  It has been this way for one thousand years.  The goal is to free the people from their state by overthrowing the government and it’s ruler.  The problem is, the Lord Ruler as he is called, is immortal and attempts to kill him have failed every time.  The magic system that is woven into the story is very unique and intricate.

One of my favorite things about this author is his ability to keep you guessing throughout the entire book.  You think that either option one or option two could happen and you a pretty sure it is option one.  In reality it is option three, that you never saw coming, that happens.  The foreshadowing is there for everything but it is still hard to guess what is going to happen.  Personally, I like this so much about the books I read that I really don’t try to figure it out too much.  I like for the story to unfold on it’s own.

Another thing I am enjoying about Mr. Sanderson is that he seems to have a moral sensibility about him.  I have read books that their authors seem to think that cursing and sex makes the story more real and believable.  Sanderson apparently doesn’t agree with this philosophy but his books have just as real and gritty a feel as books that have this content.  I know that there are people who won’t wait for marriage to have sex but there are people out there who would wait so it is just as believable to me if characters do wait.  Reading is just one more avenue that we as Christians have to be discerning as to what we dwell on and put into our minds.  I haven’t had to decide whether to put a book by Sanderson down based on my pursuit of holiness yet.  That makes me happy.

If you enjoy a good fantasy novel then this book is definitely one you should pick up.  If his first two books are this good, I am excited to see what his future books hold.  If you have never read fantasy then try out his first book, Elantris.  It is a stand alone novel so you wouldn’t be committing yourself to more than one book.  I love immersing myself into another world for a little while.  It helps me deal with the real world better.  From what I have read so far, Brandon Sanderson is an author that I can do this with and be very satisfied.

Brian

I have to say with all honesty that Elantris is one of the best books I have ever read and I have read quite a few books.  This is an amazing statement considering that this book is Brandon Sanderson’s debut.  It is his first published book.  The story and characters were so well written and the world in which it takes place is very well developed.  The book is free of many stereotypes that plague the fantasy genre.  Very refreshing.  Another great thing about this book what that it was just a one book story.  I didn’t have to weed through volume after volume to get resolution.

Another great thing about Elantirs was that it kept you guessing.  I thought I knew what was going to happen but that almost never held up.  There would be some twist that took me completely by surprise.  I can’t talk anymore about the surprises though as they are part of what made this book great.  I highly recommend this book to you whether you like to read fantasy novels or not.  Some books break through their genre lines and make an appeal to a larger audience because they tell such a great story through wonderful characters.  So I will say this: if you like a great story with great characters then read Elantris.  You won’t be disappointed.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Brian