I read book 1 of the Mistborn series thinking that it was pretty cool. Later, I had an itch for more of his work so I picked up Way of the Kings.
I didn’t know this book would be 1280 pages. That’s not a novel, that’s an entire set of encyclopedias. I read through it anyways, and 4 weeks later I’m barely at 44%. Another 4 weeks to finish this darn book? I don’t know if I could do that.
The book started off great. The setting was imaginative and the characters were interesting. But over time, I felt like it was progressing too slowly. Sanderson’s choice of writing inner monologues that spanned 7 pages each were starting to wear on me. Then it seemed like he added 20 more characters to the story. So yeah, more inner monologues that probably devoured over 70% of the book.
After reading through 44%, part of me feels like I should tough it out because I spent $14.99 on it. Gotta get my money’s worth, right? But at this point, why bother? I feel exhausted. If I’m not into this book, why should I keep torturing myself?
So I’m putting it down and reading another. It feels almost as if I failed. I gave up. The time wasted on that book could have been better spent reading something I could finish.
But the decision have been made. I feel kinda relieved now. Relieved that I no longer have to slog through it. I doubt I will go back to Sanderson again. Not only are his books too long, but his books just feel too mechanical. Like you read it and go, “Oh yes, that’s the inciting incident, exactly at the 10% mark.” Do you know what I mean? I’ve heard briefly that he is an over-planner, which is why when I read his work, I feel like I’m reading a roman numerals outline, point by point.
Not only that, but his writing doesn’t have the magic other authors do. You know, the magic where you feel like you want to be a part of that world? I don’t get that feeling with his books.
I don’t want to read fantasy next. I’m a little worn out after reading Way of The Kings. I think a comedy would suit me. Anyways, goodbye Sanderson. It was kinda sorta fun not-so-fun reading your books.
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by TheBaconBurpeeBeast
34 Comments
I don’t mind long books, but if it’s not enjoyable than it’s not worth it. Reading should be fun, not work so don’t beat yourself up for setting it down.
Brandon Sanderson overwrites…a lot.
I read all the current books of The Stormlight Archive, and I always leave each book thinking “this could have been 500 pages shorter.” I don’t even think his editors care, honestly.
I almost stopped reading after Oathbringer, which was a solid 2 stars to me, but I pressed on. Rhythm of War was probably the best book in the series, and you can see how he’s improved, but it was still too long. At least the interludes in RoW weren’t completely useless.
Will I read the next book of the series when it comes out? Probably not. Sanderson’s writing is… it’s hard to explain. It’s serviceable, it fills the need for fantasy, but his stories are about as exciting as fast food.
I read the whole Mistborn trilogy and loved them, and a few of his standalone books, and enjoyed them. But I couldn’t get through Way of Kings either. Here’s what felt like the problem for me: Sanderson was trying too hard to make the Stormlight Archive his own Wheel of Time.
The thing with the wheel of time is, while it has a well-deserved reputation as an incredibly long series with tons of characters, it doesn’t start that way. The first book is actually very archetypal, with six friends going on a quest. The myriad characters and locations are introduced over time. It builds up to it.
The Way of Kings felt like Sanderson was trying to have the scope of the middle of the Wheel of Time, in the first book, and it just didn’t work for me.
I wish Stormlight archive books were even longer.
His writing style is really best for audiobooks. Makes all of them 10/10.
I’m proud of you for putting it down. I’ve had trouble doing so with other books. I personally enjoy The Stormlight Archive series – on the latest book now – and have been plowing through them. I cannot imagine reading these WITHOUT enjoying them however, and I’m absolutely not starting another Sanderson series after catching up on this one. Good on you.
You should always stop reading stuff you’re not enjoying. There are literally too many books to ever read all of them, no point in sticking with ones that aren’t your style. Overall I really like Sanderson and would say he’s one of my favorite authors (and I think The Emperor’s Soul might be my favorite story of all time), but I don’t think even most of his fans would expect him to be for everyone. Some of his stuff is great, some is… less so. For the Stormlight books I loved the first two and significant parts of the third but the fourth has me questioning if I want to stick with it.
I wouldn’t recommend reading anything you don’t like. I also quit reading Way of Kings at one point. I picked it back up tho and ending up reading the entire series. Sanderson isn’t for everyone.
That’s unfortunate, but understandable. I love Way of Kings but it was at times a drag to get through. And I usually love the smaller, unnecessary world building details.
Also, Kaladin provided me one of my all time favorite moments in reading during the battle of the shattered plains.
I don’t like Sanderson because he is explaining things ALL THE TIME. Always a lecture on something. It seems he cares more about worldbuilding than proper plot.
Also he repets himself a lot. Almost as if he didn’t trsuted his own readers to pay attention and remember things.
I stay way from people who wear [magic underwear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_garment)
I don’t know exactly how to respond. I recently read the first mistborn trilogy and thought they were fun easy short reads. So a bit later I picked up the next mistborn trilogy and they were also fun easy short reads.
It sounds like Way of Kings isn’t a fun easy read for you, is long, and you aren’t enjoying it and I’m glad you’re stopping!
I’m not a Sanderson stan or anything, but hasn’t he written 40-60 novels? Lol. Seems odd to me to have one good experience, one bad, and to write an author off.
I don’t think it’s a big deal, not for Brandon Sanderson books or any other author or genre. It’s just part of reading, especially with huge books read in close proximity to one another. Read what makes you happy.
Life is too short to force yourself to read books that you’re not enjoying.
If you ever decide to give Sanderson another try, read Elantris. I think it’s some of his best writing, and it’s a single self-contained story with a much more reasonable length and less overexplaining than a lot of his other stuff. Much better about having the worldbuilding be a backdrop in service of the plot, rather than being front and center.
i can’t stand bloated fantasy
I read the Mistborn trilogy a while ago and I credit it with whetting my appetite to read more fantasy, and for that I’m thankful because I hadn’t been reading much fantasy and I’ve quite liked what I’ve read in it since. I maintained a positive view of it afterward then went on to read other popular contemporary fantasy, authors like NK Jemisin, Ursula K. Le Guin and Patrick Rothfuss.
After all that I came back to Sanderson with excitement to read The Way of Kings after hearing so much positivity about the Stormlight Archive. And it was a slog, I felt like it was far too long for its payoffs and the prose felt clunky, the dialogue stilted. It had some good moments though, some things I definitely liked, and I was split, feeling like I was convincing myself I liked it even though I had some issues with it, issues I didn’t really have with the contemporary authors I’d read after Mistborn. Then I went on to read Hobb and Abercrombie, and I realized I didn’t like The Way of Kings all that much. It takes so much more time than those authors do to tell what feels like a quarter of the story, with less memorable characters and prose that, like you say, doesn’t evoke a sense of wonder and place. Plus people have said the later books in the series have pacing issues *compared* to The Way of Kings and all drive I had to read on died, because TWoK was a slog despite having very readable, if clunky, prose.
I think Sanderson is a cool dude, seems like he cares about the ethics of his industry and about encouraging budding authors to hone their craft, that’s all excellent, but I’m worried if I go back to Mistborn I’m going to find I don’t like it very much anymore.
So you’re not alone, the book didn’t really work wonders for me either, and personally I’ve read stuff in the genre that’s much shorter and much more impactful. That said though I don’t wanna yuck anybody’s yum, I’m glad for anybody it worked for. Maybe down the line I’ll give his books another try, but with so many other things to read I’m not sure when that’ll be.
Hey OP. I’ve read five Brandon Sanderson books. The last one was Way of Kings. And I was exactly where you were at with that book. I was like “Holy crap, I’m 500 pages in…when is this going to ‘get good’”. I actually googled that question because I couldn’t believe how highly praised it was. And I was bemused when I found so many other people asking the same question.
So the answer is 800 pages. That’s when it gets good. So my strategy at that point was to get the audiobook. I walk 2-5 miles a day and it was much easier and faster to multitask walking the dog and listening to the audiobook.
That’s what I recommend. The high points are the last 200 pages. It’s unfortunate that it takes Sanderson so long to set things up.
As a fan of his books, its gonna be cringe but “journey before destination.” If you ain’t feeling it then its not the right path. Honestly as a normal read I can’t blame you getting tired of it. The audiobook versions have decent narrators and make it more entertaining and just lets you enjoy it while doing other things. If you really do ever want to get back in mistborn era 2 is more fun imo.
Way of Kings is definitely my least favorite of his books. By a wide margin. I get it.
i read in short bursts now adn then, keeps it more engaging for me haha
Life is too short to be reading something you dont like!
I loved the Stormlight Archive series, I get that his style can get dry at times. My only real problem with Sanderson is in the Mistborn series, I don’t think he has an idea what goes through a woman’s head. Some of the stuff he has for Vin’s inner monologue is cringe worthy at best. Very painful to read at times.
I was done with Brandon Sanderson before I even got through the first chapter of Way of Kings.
What a bland writing style he has.
I couldn’t stomach it. Especially when there are so many better and more evocative fantasy authors out there.
Bro I had already spent $200 on the Secret Projects when I realized I was kinda over him. Then I found out that he was just going to publish the books in stores anyways, so basically I’m out $200 on books that, even if I did want to read, would’ve cost me like $100.
The hardcovers are cool though I guess.
You did the right thing (and look up an explanation of the sunk cost fallacy. It will help with those feelings that you MUST finish a book because you spent X amount of money/time on it already).
I don’t mind it, but I also read through Wheel of Time….twice, Kingkiller Chronicles, Game of Thrones, and Lord of the Rings all of which I feel like are pretty hefty volumes. I just went through the Mistborn series and after the first 3, the last 4 are like 1/3 of the length.
I usually try to splice in fun or silly or mystery or sci-fi or bios or whatever in between things like the above
If you don’t like it, there are a TON of other amazing books about a billion different things, don’t waste your time on something you aren’t enjoying and don’t feel like you failed because you didn’t like it so you stopped.
There are a handful of books that I’ve just put down because I didn’t like the writing, or the plot, or it wasn’t what I thought it was, and sometimes it’s just that it’s not the book for me right now and I may circle back to it later. It’s your time and you can’t get it back, read what you like!
You should stop reading an author if you are not enjoying their work. I love Sanderson’s work so I will continue reading and enjoying it.
Matter of tastes, I suppose. Way of Kings was brilliant and the final act is *fantastic*.
I can totally get your formulaic-writing complaint though. He has a definite method he sticks to, and rarely deviates from that method. If it ain’t for you, then definitely explore other things.
Maybe try the Malazan series if you want epic, or head on over to some Joe Abercrombie for some morally ambiguous dark fantasy that isn’t afraid to utterly shatter tropes for interesting story-beats and unique plot resolutions? Just some suggestions, of course. Plenty of others out there.
If I don’t enjoy a book I just stop reading it. Especially if it’s not a classic (though I’ll set them aside too). Life is too short!!
ITT: People who don’t like reading or read abysmally slow.
I can’t imagine taking 4 days to read 800 pages, much less thinking 1500 pages is a lot.
Harry Potter bridges almost 1000 in the later novels. Imagine that lol.
Time is never wasted when reading, even if you don’t finish.
Personally, I don’t mind big books. I love getting lost in them for weeks at a time.
But to each his own. If you prefer shorter books, that’s great.
Airsick lowlander.
I have The Way Of Kings, too, and I want to finish it, but I am on book three of The Wax and Wayne series, a continuation of The Mistborn Saga.
Sanderson melded, like 20 stories, if not more, into what he calls “The Cosmere.” It’s a universal story told over many different books, with many characters and worlds to learn about. The Mistborn Saga, The Wax and Wayne series, and The Stormlight Archive ‐- a series of 10 books that The Way Of Kings begins — are all part of “The Cosmere.”
I would like to read all of these stories one day to see this vast universe Sanderson has imagined, but that will be a long while from now.