[Tiste Simeon]

So I'm about a quarter of the way through The Way of Kings, book 1 of the Stormlight Archive and actually, despite going in with a slightly cynical view (something this massively popular must be a bit naff, surely) I'm quite enjoying it thus far.

The whole war on the shattered plains is really dumb and seems like a stupid way to do it. Is that the only way to get to the Parshendi? Why not just attack their kingdom instead of sitting in a camp, going out and occasionally fighting before going back to the camp? And then do it for 6 years?

Aside from that I'm enjoying the characters, though I want to see more of Szeth.

I know these books are pretty massive and I'm prepared that there might be a slog ahead at points but actually it's fairly straightforward and fun so I'm planning to read all five.

[QuickTidal]

Tiste Simeon, on 08 July 2025 - 01:56 PM, said:

So I'm about a quarter of the way through The Way of Kings, book 1 of the Stormlight Archive and actually, despite going in with a slightly cynical view (something this massively popular must be a bit naff, surely) I'm quite enjoying it thus far.

Nothing (aside from Brooding Kaladin, and Shallan-is-too-studious) will stand out to you as naff till after book 2 at the earliest, and maybe not till after book 3. Book 1 and 2 are both GENUINELY solid throughout.

Tiste Simeon, on 08 July 2025 - 01:56 PM, said:

The whole war on the shattered plains is really dumb and seems like a stupid way to do it. Is that the only way to get to the Parshendi? Why not just attack their kingdom instead of sitting in a camp, going out and occasionally fighting before going back to the camp? And then do it for 6 years?

So the Parshendi are not the main goal of the Shattered plains when you enter the story, it's the gemhearts that the big crab creatures hold as their hearts, as they power the armour suits because they can hold a lot of stormlight, but they are hard to find and difficult to defeat....the territory on the Shattered plains where said creatures live is Parshendi territory, thus the fighting with the Alethi. So they are going out to find gem heart crabs, and end up fighting the Parshendi in the process....this will Ramp up as the book progresses to where fighting the Parshendi becomes more important to the war camp. Their kingdom (or what's left of it) is IN the Shattered plains and no one really knows where it is as the Alethi have not penetrated that far into the plains. The rest of the Parshendi are scattered.

Tiste Simeon, on 08 July 2025 - 01:56 PM, said:

Aside from that I'm enjoying the characters, though I want to see more of Szeth.

He's genuinely enjoyable...and if you've read WARBREAKER, he will become even more enjoyable later.

Tiste Simeon, on 08 July 2025 - 01:56 PM, said:

I know these books are pretty massive and I'm prepared that there might be a slog ahead at points but actually it's fairly straightforward and fun so I'm planning to read all five.

I genuinely don't see you having any trouble with Books 1-3, it's 4 & 5 where you may stumble after Sando's old Editor retired and the new one can't seem to tell him no.

[Tiste Simeon]

I get the stuff about the gemhearts but the whole thing started as a "we must destroy the Parshendi" and seems to have devolved into the gemhearts thing.

But them not knowing exactly where the Parshendi live makes more sense.

I've not read War breaker but I'm looking forward to seeing more of him!

[QuickTidal]

Tiste Simeon, on 08 July 2025 - 03:28 PM, said:

I get the stuff about the gemhearts but the whole thing started as a "we must destroy the Parshendi" and seems to have devolved into the gemhearts thing.

Ah right, I've seen the murder of Gavilar like 5 times now from 5 different POVS (all the books start with it) so my view has changed, but you're right, there is an aspect of "kill the whole race for some of them killing Gavilar" racism shit.

Tiste Simeon, on 08 July 2025 - 03:28 PM, said:

I've not read War breaker but I'm looking forward to seeing more of him!

Oh he's not in it...something eventually associated with him is.

[Abyss]

put your dickens back in your pants it's not that kind of series.

[Tiste Simeon]

Hehehe knobweed