The Way of Kings is an epic high fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson and the first book in The Stormlight Archive trilogy. As with all of Sanderson's works, it's also somehow connected to his other series, but I don't yet know how...
The book is long as fuck but any fan of fantasy and worldbuilding will probably enjoy the whole thing. Sanderson has a strong, appealing type of prose that often invigorates and immerses the reader instantly. His world design, the aesthetics of his cold world made of wind and stone and storm, and his ability to write conflict are all strong signs of someone who knows how to write a good yarn. Rarely do you see a high fantasy novel that isn't set in your typical LOTR landscape, and Sanderson's world is full of fascinating geometry, color, and life in the midst of silence and desolation. The book also has a gazillion characters, whose relationships are not immediately apparent: the wrap up at the end of the book was really satisfying to read, not trite or unsubstantiated as some ending twists/reveals are, as most of the mysteries are revealed.
I do unfortunately find that some segments seem awkward or fall short of my expectations given the rest of the book-- my fault perhaps for having expectations, but it's Brandon Sanderson, after all-- especially with Shallan's segments. I found Dalinar and Kaladin's narratives engaging and stimulating while I often found Shallan's sharp-tongued routine a little cringy, and her expositing with Jasnah on certain "scholarly" topics a little facetious. But perhaps they were meant to be taken that way. In the end, though, it gives me the feeling of a man trying to write what he doesn't know, or maybe trying to write something he has limited experience with.
But all in all, I really enjoyed reading The Way of Kings and getting a glimpse into Sanderson's imagination. I tried to listen to the audiobook a while ago, but couldn't finish in time, either because I wasn't interested in it at the time or because I don't pay close attention to audiobooks. I brought a print copy with me on a trip and finished it in a couple days...
The main characters Kaladin, Dalinar, and Shallan are constantly asked to make decisions that will alter their life forever. These decisions do not only impact them, but the people around them. As such, themes such as the responsibility to live your life for others, the responsibility to live your life for yourself, and giving righteous purpose to your life are some of the most common themes.
Dalinar concedes that he may be crazy and prepares to step down to prevent ruining his princedom or steering the kingdom of Alethkar wrong. Kaladin despairs and gives up only to realize that he must go on for others, to protect those who can't help themselves. The book draws interesting parallels between medicine and the military in Kaladin's character, while drawing different parallels between power and the military in Dalinar's character. To Kaladin, giving up means failing in his responsibility to those around him, to Dalinar, at least for most of the book, giving up means protecting them. Shallan embarks on a mission to deceive the woman considered to be the most intelligent in Alethkar to save her family. Giving up means safety for her, but ruin for those she loves. In this way, each of the three characters operate on different strata of influence but still develop the same three themes. All three characters are selfless, but are tempted to stray and give up, yet in gathering their resolve to ont give up, they realize that they have the responsibility to live their lives for their own benefit as well.
Many of the character dynamics-- Kaladin and Gaz, Dalinar and Sadeas, Shallan and Jasnah-- are at least in part dictated by power, who knows more than the other, who trusts the other to behave as expected, who trusts the other to do the right thing, who believes they're more intelligent and who doesn't. Every character's familial relationships are also developed-- how they've shaped the main characters, how responsibility turns into guilt, how guilt can become responsibility to others. That's not even going into the dozens of side characters that all have their own role to play in the series...
If you enjoy high fantasy, and politics or military stories, I'd recommend the Way of Kings. It's a long read, but still manages to feel concise, and Sanderson is good at building tension and developing characters in a way that is not just believable but also satisfying and compelling.