Book Review: Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

Dude. I LOVE Brandon Sanderson.

This semester, I haven't very much time to read, and so I don't know what compelled me to pick up Way of Kings. It's 1252 pages long, and it's part of a series. A LONG series. After I finished the book, I got online for the fan forums and stuff, and I found that Sanderson plans the Stormlight Archive series to contain 10 books.

TEN.

So while this book is a fine read on its own, and has enough of a conclusion to keep me satisfied for now, I know it's going to drive me crazy waiting years and years to reach the end of the whole story. Thank goodness the second book just came out last week. I get to read the sequel right away! Apologies to all you long-time fans who have been waiting for years...

Thankfully, Brandon Sanderson is a writing machine. As I believe I mentioned in my review of Steelheart, Sanderson is currently working on like eight different series. He's got this one (Stormlight Archive), the sequels to Alloy of Law, the Steelheart series, some Dragonsteel series I've heard of but haven't read, and I'm sure there are others I don't know about! Even his books that were supposedly "standalone" novels (like Elantris and Warbreaker) apparently are going to have sequels.

How does he do that?? Each one is so different from the other--how does he keep them all straight? His mind must work at a million miles per hour to keep all those plot details organized. And it's not like it takes him a long time to write all these brilliant books, either. Check out his bibliography and look how frequently he publishes!

Anyways, here's a synopsis of the book:

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 soiless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

This doesn't even BEGIN to cover the scope and depth of the plot.

Sanderson's world building is always so thorough that as you get into it, you can really picture the place, even though it's totally foreign. It does take some getting used to, though, much like visiting an actual foreign country. You start the story and there are all these crazy new terms and cultures and your mind just spins trying to keep up with it all.

Thankfully, one of the main characters is an artist, so some of her sketches are included and we can really see what Sanderson is describing.

(These are pulled straight from the book.)

That is NOT how I initially pictured an axehound.

Sanderson doesn't mess around when it comes to creating new cultures and new places. In Way of Kings, the only familiar animals are hogs and horses. All the others are based off of marine life (eels, and crustaceans, mostly) but they are crazy different from what we know. Even the plants in this book are foreign. I'm used to fantasy where the world is based mostly on our own, with the occasional fantastical element thrown in--dragons, magic, and the like.

This is more than high fantasy. This is over-the-top fantasy. It doesn't read like he's just throwing stuff around, either. It's solid. When he writes a new creature, you can tell he's asked himself, "Okay, how does this fit into the ecosystem? How does it affect the people who live in its environment? Does it help or hinder their economy? How does it react to people? How does it react to magic?" Every question you could think of has been covered. And it's the same for every cultural difference, every character, every place, every thing. Everything is so well-established that even though it's so foreign and new and overwhelming at first, after a little while you're just as used to it as the characters who live there.

Same with his magic systems. They're different with every book, but each one has understandable and even believable rules, with strengths and limitations and exclusions. Each one His magic systems are always solid. And they're always different.

His characters are amazing. He has so many of them, I have no idea how he makes them all so vibrant. Every time he names a new character, you can tell that Sanderson knows this character's whole life story--their habits, their passions, their family life, everything. Even the random shopkeeper the main character runs into is well-rounded and alive.

And those are just the unimportant minor characters who are never seen again. When you get to the main characters, whose stories you do hear, it's like they become a new friend in your life. You know exactly what they would or wouldn't do.

The story was SO GOOD. It's amazing that it was the last hundred pages or so that had me hooked. I'd complain that he used 1100 pages just to lead up to those 100 gripping climax pages, but I really can't complain. All 1100 pages were necessary and made the ending that much more stunning. You get the whole buildup and world-building, and then the end happens and you're genuinely worried about the characters, because you know exactly what implications the revelation will have on the whole world he's created.

I can't wait to read the sequel, Words of Radiance. Unfortunately, it just barely came out, so unless I'm willing to buy a 1300-page brick, I need to wait for the library to get it, then wait on the "hold" list for who knows how long, and then just hope I even have time to read a book that huge.

I have a feeling it's going to be an agonizing wait. Knowing Sanderson, all the things he hinted at in this first book won't really be understood or resolved until Book 10. ):( Oh well. I'm just glad I've found an author who never fails to entertain me. After Harry Potter ended, there was this empty part in my soul that longed for another long, wonderful series to read. Now I think I've found it. :)

Words of Radiance, here I come!

Doodles in the Margins: BEARS!!

I have a longer post planned for tomorrow, I promise! But for now, here's another drawing--the second in my series of "Lucky Animals of March". 

Sadly, a lot of those traditions of revering and worshipping bears involved raising a baby bear from infancy (they would feed it and clothe it better than their own children), then sacrificing the bear to send its spirit to heaven (basically so the bear could put in a good word for them to the gods), and then they'd have a big feast (with the bear meat as the main meal) and party for a few days.

The things you learn from Wikipedia. :)

Sunday Soliloquy: the Grass is Greener

I really like this. And I'm short on time today (THANKS Daylight Savings *sarcasm*). So I'm just gonna leave it up to you:

What do YOU think this means?

Deadline: Explore, Dream, Discover

(This is a short essay that I wrote and submitted for our Stowaway staff essay contest--it was mandatory, hence the blandness. But I got it done, so here it is!)

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." 

 --Mark Twain

 

When one reads the quote by Mark Twain about avoiding regrets by exploring, dreaming, and discovering, one undoubtedly thinks of that dream vacation yet to be taken--that bucket list destination that must be visited--that sight that must be seen before the end of one's life.

Sadly, we human beings are creatures of habit. How many of us actually follow through with our plans and go exploring somewhere new? It seems that any worthwhile adventure takes dedication, money, and time that we simply don't have. It is easier and more convenient to stay at home and keep wishing.

But how far can our dreams really extend if we don't step outside and explore, even if it's just to the next city over? Travel isn't just about bucket lists and accomplishments. It's about opening our eyes to new worlds and different ways of life.

Exploring, dreaming, and discovering aren't all part of one single journey. It doesn't happen over one weekend. Rather, it is through exploring that our dreams are kindled and further discoveries are made. It is a cycle, that can continue throughout our lives if we let it.

By exploring, we see that there are other ways to live life. This revelation can occur even close to home, but the farther out of your comfort zone you go, the heavier the impact the trip has on your life. Once these new steps are taken, and new things are seen, we start to imagine new things we could try--new ways to live. Thus, dreams are born. When we dream, and really work to fulfill those dreams, we discover that we are capable of so much more than we ever even imagined. Our lives change forever, and we can never go back, even when we physically return home.

Once that sense of discovery and adventure has been kindled, the next natural step is to explore further. There are so many things to see in this world, and not nearly enough time to see them all. But it is important that we all try to keep our exploratory nature alive. Without it, our dreams fade into the monotony of everyday tasks. Fresh discoveries become stale. We continue on the same path, never knowing how enriched our lives could be if only we continued exploring.

And so, let us all take Mark Twain's words to heart: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Freewrite: Say What?

You ever have one of those times where someone asks you a question and you think you hear it correctly, but you really don't? This just happened to me at work today, and I feel like a colossal idiot, so I'm blogging about it to feel better. :)

So I work in the Biology Department, right? My job is to answer phones and be nice to students and tell everyone who they need to talk to. I actually do very little question-answering myself. I typically just hear the problem and point the student in the right direction to where they can find the solution.

Well today, this kid came in all sheepish and asked, "Hey, do you know anyone who works with Brian Shrimp?"

I squinted at him sympathetically. "Brian Shrimp? Hmm... I don't." I reached for the campus directory. "Which department is he in, do you know?"

"...Um...No I just... need to find... Brian Shrimp..."

I looked through the directory under the S's and found nothing. "Sorry," I said, "If I knew which department he's in I could redirect you, but without more information..."

I kind of shrugged helplessly. He smiled helplessly and said, "Okay, no problem, I'll just keep looking."

"Good luck!" I said. The picture of competence.

He left, and I went back to work on the computer, typing away, checking the clock...

Then suddenly--

It hit me.

Not Brian Shrimp

BRINE shrimp!!!

Do I know anyone who works with brine shrimp?? Of COURSE I do! This is the biology department!

I felt like such an idiot. I immediately left my desk and ran down the hall to catch up with the guy, who had thankfully stopped to talk to someone else. Without preamble I blurted, "I'm such an idiot! Yeah I can help you!"

We went back to the office and I found him a professor who's literally an expert on brine shrimp.

It was so stupid. After all that I've learned in my ELang classes, I should have known that we pronounce "brine" and "Brian" almost exactly the same way, and reworked in my mind what the guy was asking. In all fairness, he was being really vague and he didn't pick up on the fact that I was totally confused. Plus, most of the questions I get in any given day are just about people and places, not about tiny crustaceans, so it took my mind a moment to catch up.

The important thing is that I realized my mistake in time and helped that poor guy out.

Just another day at work in the Biology Department.

Doodles in the Margins: Fishies and Foxes

Since I don't have a lot of time today, here are some doodles I did over the last few days:

I got a bit tired during stake conference, so I doodled to keep myself awake. It started as a fox face, then a whole fox, then I put the fox on a rock, then I added foliage. :)

Then I drew a wolf face because I like drawing wolf eyes, and then the rest of the face is just the natural next step. I've had way too much practice drawing wolves. I need to try some different animals. And someday learn how to draw people...

Dry-erase markers are definitely not my strongest medium, but I'm rather proud of this white board I did yesterday. It especially made my boss and other professors happy, because biologists really like fish.

I'm going to do a series of these for March--lucky animals! I'll put up a new one every week, and then it'll all lead up to a rabbit for the first week of April. Rabbits are both lucky animals AND Easter animals, so it's a win-win for me!

(Late) Sunday Soliloquy: The Temple of Our God

(I apologize for posting this today instead of yesterday. Yesterday was crazy for me.)

This weekend, the Gilbert Arizona Temple was dedicated, following a cultural celebration put on by the youth. 

I haven't been able to watch the cultural celebration yet, because my internet connection was whacky during the live feed on abc15.com. I was planning on giving an overview of the performance, but since I haven't watched it yet I've decided instead to just give my thoughts on temples in general.

I'm sure there are a lot of people who have seen all the hubbub surrounding the temple and wondered why we're all so excited. Why do we build such a huge, ostentatious, glowing-white building in the middle of the city? Why did the temple have an open house for everyone, only to lock its doors and suddenly become exclusive? Why did 12,000 youth come together to celebrate it like it was the greatest thing since Netflix? Why did the prophet himself come to see it? 

Well, let me tell you.

This is the temple in Oakland, California.

Just look at that picture. The temple is (often literally) a beacon of light in an increasingly dark world. I often find myself surrounded by noise and conflict and distractions, but when I go to the temple, all of that melts away. Some temples have large lawns and gardens surrounding them to provide a refuge from the storm. But even the little Asuncion temple in Paraguay, crammed on a busy street corner, with a very small lawn, had such a peaceful feeling surrounding it. 

And when you actually go inside, all noise is cut off. The temples are quiet and reverent, and going inside makes it feel like all your worldly problems are melting away. Every time I go, I feel revitalized. I can briefly forget all my worries, and instead feel close to God. I receive strength to overcome my weaknesses and avoid temptation. I feel loved and valued.

The temple really is the House of the Lord. They're different from any other building, in appearance and in feel--cut off from the world even though most are right in the middle of their cities. Similarly, those who strive to have a connection with the Lord try to be a beacon and a source of refuge in the middle of a chaotic world. 

Why do we go to temples? For further instruction. After really dedicating ourselves to the gospel of Jesus Christ, we continue to progress and seek more knowledge and make more covenants. That's what we do in temples. We are taught how to further prepare to meet God.

We have to prepare ourselves before we even enter the temple, and then once inside we are inspired for further preparation throughout our day-to-day lives. Going to the temple reminds me that I can always improve in some way or another.

I need to improve a lot spiritually, but temples also inspire me to strive to improve relationships, as well. In the temple, we make covenants that seal us to our families and our spouses. Seal us. For eternity. That's something I desperately want, and so I'm going to work for it. When I fight with my sisters, I'm going to apologize and mend the rift between us, because I want us to be an eternal, happy family. When I look for a spouse, I'm looking for someone who will work at a successful marriage no matter how hard things get, because I want us to have an eternal, happy marriage. In the meantime, I try to be the kind of person that others will want to spend eternity with.

So, in short, temples motivate me to be better. First I needed to prepare to enter the temple, and then the temple showed me that I need to prepare to enter the Kingdom of God. It inspires me to strive for an eternal marriage and an eternal family, and not to settle for anything less. Without that kind of guidance, I don't think I would try as hard to make lasting relationships.

And one thing I love best about the temple is that they're not exclusive, as opponents of the Church always claim. The only precursor to entering the temple is personal worthiness and a dedication to following the gospel of Jesus Christ. There's no minimum wage requirement. No ethnic discrimination. No physical fitness qualifier. No matter who you are, if you've been striving to do your best to keep God's commandments, you are welcome in His house. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to wear Prada. You don't have to be the prophet himself. God loves YOU and He wants YOU to visit Him. 

In the temple, we are reminded that we are all brothers and sisters, all striving for happiness together. It's not a competition. It's not a race. We are all here together. The temple reminds us that there is a plan and an order and a purpose to everything. We are not alone. We are not unknown. We are significant. We are loved. 

We want everyone to go to the temple, which is why we have the open houses. But once the temples are dedicated, only those who really want to be there are invited in, to maintain the peace and reverence of such a sacred place.

So that's why we're all so excited about the Gilbert Temple. That's why 12,000 youth put on a performance in the pouring rain of their own free will. That's why the prophet himself came. Because now, we can visit the temple more. Before this temple was built so close to home, we hardly ever got the chance to visit the House of the Lord. The Mesa Temple was always too crowded to allow the youth to visit whenever they wanted. In my high school years, I only actually went into the Mesa Temple three times. Now my sisters live five minutes away from a temple, and they'll be able to go much more frequently. It's something we're all excited about, even people like me who don't even live in Gilbert (anymore).

I wish I could write more about why I love the temple--because there is a lot more--but real life calls and I think this is enough for now. I just hope that, even if you haven't been in a temple before, you have felt the peace and power that comes through being close to God. Even the simplest home can be a temple of God if those who live inside its walls strive for love and harmony. I'm one of those who needs to strive to make my daily life more temple-like, and I testify that all the preparation and gospel living is worth the effort.

(Also, here's a link to the cultural celebration, which I haven't even been able to find the time to watch yet.)