Brandon Sanderson Showdown: Which Of The Authors 2 Highest-Rated Books Is Better?

Two Brandon Sanderson books consistently get rated as the best, but one inches its way to the number one spot. With over 30 full-length novels under his belt, the author has plenty of stories for readers to dig into. Sanderson is one of the most consistent authors in terms of output and quality, and his series have gained a massive following. Like most authors with such a big platform, the fanbase is divided on what the best book is. Each individual will have their own personal favorites. I have to go with Mistborn: The Final Empire, which was my first Sanderson book. When it comes to the larger fandom, though, two books consistently stand out as the primary contenders.

The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance, the first and second books in The Stormlight Archive, are tied for the number 1 spot across different platforms. The former takes the crown on Storygraph and LibraryThings. The latter takes the crown on Goodreads and Amazon. In all four cases, one barely beats out the other. The outlier in all this is StoryGraph, which has The Way of Kings and Mistborn: The Final Empire tied.

There are so many different ways to judge books, but it usually comes down to entertainment value. While that’s a good metric, it’s a little too nebulous. I’ve broken down both books into comparative categories of pacing and balance, worldbuilding, representation, and character interactions. After putting them up against each other, one barely comes out ahead of the other.

Warning: This article includes spoilers for The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance!

Words Of Radiance Improved The Pacing & Balance

The Way of Kings has a lot more work to do as the first book in an epic series. The story has to introduce the characters, establish the rules of the world, lay out the culture and magic system, show the ecosystem, and lay the seeds for future conflicts. Making matters more complicated, the characters haven’t yet met, so it has to find a balance between these completely divided stories. Plus, every book, no matter where it lands in the series, needs to provide its own character and story arcs that feel satisfying.

Because it has to do so much of the legwork, The Way of Kings is a much slower-paced part of the Stormlight Archive timeline. The story hasn’t built momentum yet. Instead, it takes its time, giving us an intimate understanding of each element. The story doesn’t really pick up until the last 20% of the book. On top of that, The Way of Kings feels a little disjointed when it switches perspective since they feel so far apart.

In comparison, Words of Radiance doesn’t have to do nearly as much of the gruntwork. Of course, in true Brandon Sanderson style, the worldbuilding continues in season 2, but it feels like it’s building on an already existing foundation. The novel can jump into the story and action, with much tighter writing and faster pacing. Because the characters actually come together, there isn’t a major imbalance every time the book changes points of view.

The Way Of Kings & Words Of Radiance Are Tied For Worldbuilding

From the cover flap of Words of Radiance. Art by Isaac Stewart

Words of Radiance gets praise for having better worldbuilding than The Way of Kings, but I think neither really beats the other in this category, with each having different strengths. The first book introduces audiences to a foreign world that’s incredibly detailed. However, it lets the audience discover the wars, races, and magic in an organic way. The Highstorms are incredibly detailed, impacting the plants and animals in Roshar. Plus, The Way of Kings has a strong sense of wonder and magic.

On the other hand, Words of Radiance does expand the understanding of the magic system, showing the theoretical concepts in action. The audience gets to learn about sprens, surgebinders, windrunners, and lightweavers. We get to see more fight sequences, and they are so much more epic. We also learn quite a bit about the Parshendi race and culture, expanding our understanding of the world.

Words of Radiance would win out when it comes to worldbuilding, if for no other reason than the magic. However, the interludes even things out. The interludes provide a lot of the worldbuilding and introduce characters who become important down the line. In The Way of Kings, the interludes feel more natural and digestible, but they are a little more grating in Words of Radiance.

The Way Of Kings Has A Better Representation Of Mental Disorders

Mental health themes are an integral part of Brandon Sanderson’s books, and I appreciate the way he approaches the topic with sensitivity. Virtually everything he writes features characters with mental disorders and neurodivergences, which normalizes it. That being said, The Way of Kings easily beats out Words of Radiance when it comes to accuracy. The Way of Kings is extremely difficult to read because of how accurately it depicts Kalidan’s depression and PTSD. However, Words of Radiance is more complicated.

Shallan has dissociative identity disorder, which is shaped by the magic system and culture she lives in. According to a YouTube livestream (quote archived on Arcanum), Brandon Sanderson intentionally wrote her from the beginning to have recognizable traits of DID, but he shied away from it slightly, not knowing if he would fully commit to that route of storytelling. He didn’t want his fantasy story to be commentary on the disorder. Because he didn’t fully commit to it, Words of Radiance is an okay-ish, but not excellent, portrayal of the disorder.

Luckily, he realized after Words of Radiance that his book became part of the conversation and opened the door to DID discussions whether he wanted it to or not. At that point, he did the responsible thing. Sanderson dug into the DSM-5, read firsthand accounts, and got beta readers with DID to provide feedback. However, taking Oathbringer, Rhythm of War, and Wind and Truth out of the conversation, The Way of Kings has to take this category.

Words Of Radiance Includes Better Character Interactions

SHALLAN by Michael Whelan

Whether Words of Radiance or The Way of Kings has better character arcs really comes down to personal taste. Some people prefer Kaladin. Others prefer Shallan. Both have top-notch development when they take center stage. So, it’s really up for debate. That said, The Way of Kings mostly keeps the characters apart, except for Kaladin and Dalinar meeting at the end. There aren’t many character interactions to enjoy, just independent storylines.

However, Words of Radiance brings Shallan, Adolin, Dalinar, and Kaladin together at different points. This makes the book flow better. There’s some great banter and entertaining humor that comes from these clashes of personality. Plus, the interactions tell us just as much about the characters as the independent storylines do. Folks don’t exist in a bubble but as a part of larger groups and societies.

Words Of Radiance Barely Beats Out The Way Of Kings

Taking each category into consideration, The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance are pretty neck-and-neck. They both include strong storytelling and character arcs. The worldbuilding carries over from the first book to the second. However, the character interactions are just enough to push Words of Radiance over the edge. In an epic fantasy like The Stormlight Archive that follows an ensemble, rather than an individual, the group dynamics can make or break the entire story. Luckily, Words of Radiance proves that this is a group worth following across eight more books.