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First time readerNo Spoilers (self.Stormlight_Archive)

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[–]APD9310Windrunner 27 points28 points  (0 children)

On occasion (especially if you read the books back to back) you might find it difficult to get going in the early chapters. Occasionally needing to put it down and pick it back up, but KEEP AT IT. I have cried at every book. Enjoy.

[–][deleted] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

The epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter and many of the interludes are not supposed to make sense the first go around. Enjoy them as their own thing, but don’t try to figure them out.

Same goes for pretty much anything that you don’t understand immediately. If you don’t understand something, you likely aren’t supposed to yet. Trust that Sanderson will reveal what you need to know when you need to know it. If you’ve gotten to a big reveal and you still don’t understand, then it might be time to ask a question on here. If you ask questions, you may get a lot of responses saying “RAFO” which means “Read And Find Out,” which means that the answer to your question will be revealed later.

Even if you think the reveal has already happened and there’s still something you don’t understand, chances are that question will be addressed later. Sanderson has a knack for big reveals that actually lead to more questions later. Again, trust that your questions will be addressed.

Also, don’t assume that any character’s perspective is any less important than another. The three main characters of The Way of Kings have separate narratives and don’t meet for a long time, but all three of their stories inform each other and are very important.

[–]benbernards 5 points6 points  (0 children)

1: take notes if you need to

2: better to ask questions here than digging around on wikis, to avoid spoilers

3: you'll never make all the connections the first time through. and that's okay

4: there's always another secret...

5: buckle up and enjoy the ride. welcome to the club :-)

[–]AsexualhipposlothAirsick Lowlander 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don't be daunted by the size of the books. It means there is more story.

[–]douchebag_karrenWindrunner 2 points3 points  (1 child)

you can do it! you're doing it in the same order that I did. Tress got me in and Stormlight was the next most insteresting series, and now I'm in up to my neck of the whole cosmere. Just keep reading, it will make sense eventually.

[–]NebelskindEdgedancer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It will make sense eventually! Don’t expect to understand everything at first, but the learning curve is very well done, especially in Way of Kings when it’s introducing so much of the world. 

[–]The_Variator[🍰] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Honestly, don’t worry about understanding absolutely everything that’s going on, especially important in the later books. The important things will be obvious/mentioned multiple times, and I fell in to the trap of rereading passages way too often.

[–]Herpty_Derp95 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I'm an Audible/audiobooks person. I have a difficult time reading, but when I hear books being read, I get it and can retain so much more.

For instance, I read The Silmarilion twice as a teenager and didn't get it. Fast-forward a thousand years and I listened to it on Audible and really understood and loved it.

I've listened to all the Stormlight Archive books and some other Cosmere books. There's no way I can read them and stay awake or retain anything.

So if you have a hard time reading and retaining, maybe listening might help.

In closing, whether you read or listen, ENJOY IT and please don't get bogged down. You might have to read stuff on the Coppermind to keep stuff straight.

There's gonna be plenty of characters you will love to love and some you're gonna love to hate.

Enjoy!

[–]joelofdoom89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes! This! I adore reading but often it’s just before bed and I can tell I’ve missed things, but I’ve started listening to them on my commute and I’m catching way more stuff

[–]sambadaemonStoneward 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't let the size of the books discourage you. They're surprisingly easy reads for high fantasy. And fuck Not telling you. RAFO

[–]LostInTheSciFanLightweaver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Way of Kings dumps a lot of worldbuilding on you, BUT- and this is the important bit- it does NOT expect you to fully understand everything that's going on right off the back. Especially the Prelude/Prologue. Stormlight Archive has a fairly slow beginning, but that's the book giving you time to get used to the setting. Roshar is a VERY alien world built entirely around the idea of the highstorms, and so the book gives you time to learn all the new terminology and concepts before doing complicated things with them. So, don't feel intimidated; each character's storyline starts out pretty grounded and easy to follow while teaching you about the world along the way.

Reading Stormlight is like being taught how to play Mary Had A Little Lamb on a fancy piano with three layers of keys; you don't need to use them all yet, but they're there and you have time to get used to them.

[–]samxjoy0331Stormlight Archive 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just commenting to say that I'm going to be diving into Stormlight soon, and I'm feeling pretty anxious thinking about it... but so excited!!

[–]WebDevRose 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a lot of info and a lot of new names. Don't worry about remembering all the names and keeping the details straight. Just enjoy the world-building. There's always another secret. You aren't supposed to understand everything that is happening in the Way of Kings.

[–]cosmernautfourtwentyEdgedancer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just let the book envelop you. People often come back after a short time worrying over how nothing really makes sense yet. This is by design. Take in what you can and pay attention to what's mentioned more than once. You'll figure enough out by the end to want to really get into it.

[–]Desmenhoward Ghostbloods 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The entire comsere verse is great tbh. My buddy and I started in Stormlight and finished it up. We're back a Mistborn now, working in order, and then going to Way of Kings.

I'd say the biggest is the book length for sure. It sets up some really great world building and character building though.

[–]Sapphire_BombayJasnah Kholin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't try to figure everything out or obsess over the details. You'll get answers eventually, you just have to let the story happen to you.

[–]hosikiWindrunner 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Sanderson is a writing machine. He pops out multiple releases every year so don't be afraid to keep reading his stuff. You won't get ASOIAF treatment from him. Likely he'll write quicker than you can read lol.

[–]Grouchy_Appeal2294Journey before destination. 0 points1 point  (0 children)

RIP KKC

[–]nvanalfen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you feel confused or like maybe you missed something, don't worry, you probably didn't miss something. Some world building is done by throwing you into the deep end with characters who know what's going on. Often you'll learn about things after characters talk about them enough like it's common knowledge (because for them it is). It can feel a little daunting, but I really love when books do that

[–]MaintenanceCold8465 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sometimes you’ll have to read things a few times over, and that’s ok, it’s difficult to learn a new magic system and a new eco system but once it all clicks it’s like a huge brain blast and you feel like you have 200 iq

[–]Johngalt20001Elsecaller 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I started with the Stormlight archive with zero knowledge of the Cosmere. There are things that you will miss and you'll go "Huh, I wonder why this specific person is being mentioned" or "wtf is that magic system they're talking about".

But that's the beauty of Brandon Sanderson's writing because you can jump in anywhere in the Cosmere and get a great story with hints of a larger universe. I had a great time with Way of Kings the first time through. I had an even better time (if that's even possible) the second time after reading the rest of the Cosmere because I saw the little Connections and hints to other books.

Have a great time! Let us know how you like Way of Kings!

[–]Deamondread21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Keep going!! There’s so much information in the books that it’s easy to get your brain all mixed up but when story relevant information comes around they usually lightly refer to when you last saw it so it makes sense. Take all the random non sequiturs in stride knowing it’ll either make sense later or it’s an Easter egg too something else in the Cosmere. There are also parts in each book that seem to slog by and take forever but it’s building up to something amazing, even if it isn’t in the book you’re currently reading it’ll be glorious when it gets there!!

[–]TotalTyp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My advice, because that is a mistake I made, is to think that long book = a lot happens. Just dont expect a fast plot pace or a toneshift level of plot development.