“Worldbuilding” is a term frequently used in the realm of fantasy writing, primarily because it is one of the most vital components of any narrative. It holds even greater significance in high fantasy stories, which take place in entirely fictional worlds separate from our own. Essentially, worldbuilding refers to the process through which an author develops the history, lore, culture, and atmosphere of their world, reflecting it through their narrative. Effective worldbuilding is not about overwhelming the reader with information but rather allowing it to unfold naturally as the story progresses.

Many of the finest fantasy novels have excelled in this area, but a relatively recent entry stands out as a prime example of successful worldbuilding. This book is part of Brandon Sanderson‘s Cosmere universe, a shared literary universe comprising over 30 novels, novellas, short stories, graphic novels, and picture books. One of the most notable and successful entries in this expansive universe is The Stormlight Archive, which currently includes five books in a ten-volume epic. The saga began with 2010’s The Way of Kings, which quickly garnered critical acclaim, particularly for its intricate, complex, and compelling worldbuilding, serving as a masterclass in creating an entire world from scratch.

What Is ‘The Way of Kings’ About?

As previously mentioned, The Way of Kings is set on the planet Roshar, a world that is constantly plagued by highstorms stronger than hurricanes that sweep across the planet’s only supercontinent from East to West. Due to these violent weather patterns, plant life is nearly non-existent. All animals are crustaceans, equipped with shells to protect themselves during highstorms. However, these storms also have a peculiar trait: they fill gemstones with an iridescent substance known as Stormlight as they pass.

The Way of Kings begins with a man in white robes, Szeth, assassinating the king of the powerful realm of Alethkar during a significant event. The Alethi learn that the assassin was hired by the Parshendi, a race of crustacean humanoids. The Alethi are a warlike people: when not fighting other nations, they often battle among themselves, so this murder inevitably provokes a retaliatory war. The Alethi surround the Parshendi in their territory, a flat and barren area known as the Shattered Plains. Five years later, the conflict has devolved into a stalemate with little progress on either side.

On the Shattered Plains, ten Alethi highprinces engage in a perilous political game against one another while attacking the Parshendi. One highprince, Dalinar Kholin, brother to the slain king Gavilar, begins receiving visions from the Stormfather, a spiritual entity residing within the highstorms, and attempts to interpret their meaning while commanding his forces. Meanwhile, a soldier-turned-slave named Kaladin arrives on the Shattered Plains and is tasked with running bridges for Highprince Sadeas’s armies. He and 30 other men must hoist heavy bridges over their heads and place them between plateaus for army crossings. They repeat this task continuously, with some collapsing from exhaustion. Even worse, these bridgemen are intended to serve as cannon fodder — resulting in a high fatality rate. Miles away, young student Shallan Davar arrives in Kharbranth, hoping to study alongside Jasnah Kholin, Gavilar’s daughter and one of Roshar’s most esteemed scholars.

Interspersed throughout are flashback sequences, with each entry focusing on different characters. In this instance, it explores Kaladin’s life before he became a slave, detailing how he ended up in that situation and his mindset. This narrative technique allows for a deeper understanding of each character’s trauma, which is essential to the story.

The World of Roshar Is Among the Most Unique Fantasy Worlds

Although Roshar appears barren and largely lifeless, it remains endlessly fascinating. There are numerous mountain ranges, hidden cities, and vast untamed regions, such as the Frostlands where humans seldom venture. To the North lies the Purelake, an enormous body of water filled with exceptionally pure water so shallow that entire civilizations have been built on stilts above it. To the South exists the Azish Empire, comprising nations loyal to Prime Kadasix of Azir while maintaining individual rulers. To the West lies Aimia, an abandoned island perpetually battered by fierce hurricanes that render it inaccessible. However, worldbuilding extends beyond mere geography.

Around 30 sovereign nations exist on Roshar, each possessing distinct cultures, religions, and governments. For instance, the Horneater Peaks are inhabited by large red-headed individuals known as Horneaters or Unkalaki who have adapted to high altitudes by requiring less air and follow cultural practices where occupations are determined by birth order instead of desire or class. In contrast, documentation dominates life in the Azish Empire: every action must be accompanied by signed forms and meticulous records. Among more unusual cultures are the Thaylens to the East who have long white eyebrows and an almost unpronounceable language alongside a seafaring tradition. Remarkably, all these cultures feel distinct and authentic, as if they could genuinely exist in reality. While inspired by real countries and cultures, they result in something entirely original, unlike anything found on Earth.

Lastly, Sanderson introduces us to spren, spirit-like entities inhabiting Roshar that are attracted only by specific aspects they represent: for example, fearspren appear solely in fearful situations. However, spren are not limited to emotions — there are also windspren appearing only when wind blows or rotspren appearing near infected wounds. Some varieties are exceedingly rare leading scholars to dedicate their lives to studying them. Each type has unique appearances: fearspren resemble small purple blobs while windspren appear as bluish-white ribbons dancing with the wind.This exploration of new spren varieties keeps readers engaged throughout.

‘The Way of Kings’ Is a Triumph of Worldbuilding

The numerous elements contributing to making The Way of Kings a remarkable example of worldbuilding illustrate how distinct it is from other works within its genre. The planet bears no resemblance to Earth or any other known celestial body for that matter. Additionally, it genuinely feels like a functioning world complete with international politics, diverse governance systems, well-developed religions and cultures alongside an impressive array of non-human life forms.

The Way of Kings sends a clear message that worldbuilding knows no bounds when it comes to an author’s creativity — whether or not a world is feasible becomes irrelevant. Each narrative serves as a canvas for writers’ imaginations where breaking rules is part of its allure especially within fantasy or sci-fi genres. While Roshar may lack extensive historical depth compared to J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle-Earth , it excels in areas where Tolkien fell short — particularly how its world cohesively integrates distinct religions alongside unfamiliar cultures.The Way of Kings delineates that worldbuilding transcends mere lore — it encompasses how intricately everything functions within its narrative framework.