About the Book
The Way of Kings Part Two is the second half of Brandon Sanderson's opening volume in The Stormlight Archive, one of the most ambitious ongoing fantasy series in print. Gollancz split the original novel into two parts for this edition, so Part Two picks up mid-story and is not a standalone listen, you need Part One first.
The book is set on Roshar, a world defined by violent, recurring storms called highstorms that have shaped everything: architecture, biology, culture, and religion. The central characters include Kaladin, a soldier-turned-slave fighting to keep his men alive on the Shattered Plains; Dalinar, a highprince questioning the morality of a war being fought largely for political gain; and Shallan, a scholar attempting to access a library of forbidden texts for reasons that become clearer as the story develops.
This second half is where the major plot threads from Part One start to converge. The pacing tightens, backstory that was carefully laid in Part One begins to pay off, and the world-building moves from orientation into consequence. Readers who found Part One slow will likely find Part Two more rewarding. The final act of The Way of Kings is among the more discussed conclusions in modern epic fantasy, and it lands here.
Narration & Audio Performance
This edition is listed as a full cast production, which is a strong fit for a novel with multiple distinct point-of-view characters. Sanderson's prose shifts in tone and register depending on whose perspective you're in, Kaladin's chapters are grounded and grim, Shallan's are more scholarly and occasionally wry, Dalinar's carry a weight of age and status. A full cast can honor those differences in ways a single narrator often can't.
The Stormlight Archive audio productions have generally been well-regarded among Sanderson's fanbase, particularly for their handling of the Kal and Dalinar sections. If this Gollancz edition uses the same cast and production as the widely circulated Macmillan version, listeners can expect clean audio and competent differentiation between characters. However, because the metadata for this specific edition does not confirm individual narrator credits, it's worth checking the Audible sample before committing a credit, different regional editions occasionally use different casts.
For a novel of this length and complexity, production quality matters more than usual. Missing a passage or losing track of a character due to unclear voice work compounds quickly across hundreds of pages. Based on available information, this production appears solid, but sampling the opening minutes is a reasonable precaution.
The Audible Verdict
The Way of Kings Part Two is a strong book and a good audio fit, but it's the back half of a split edition rather than a complete, self-contained work. If you're already partway through the story on audio, finishing here is the natural choice and the full cast format serves the material well. If you're new to the series, consider starting with Part One first. The split format and unconfirmed narrator credits for this specific edition make a free trial credit the smarter starting point over a paid one.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
The Way of Kings is a character-driven epic with a linear structure within each POV thread. That's a good fit for audio. The worldbuilding is delivered primarily through prose and dialogue rather than charts or appendices, and while there is supplementary material in the print edition (maps, illustrations, an in-world glossary), the core narrative doesn't depend on any of it. Listeners who skip the end matter won't lose the story.
The multiple POV structure does require some attention, Sanderson cuts between Kaladin, Shallan, and Dalinar across long chapters, and some listeners find it easier to track in print where visual chapter headers help with orientation. In a well-produced full cast version, voice differentiation handles most of that work. The sections titled 'Interludes,' which follow minor characters between the main parts, are brief and generally self-contained, so they land fine in audio.
One practical note: this is a long book, and Part Two represents roughly the second half of a novel that runs well over a thousand pages in print. Commuters or gym listeners doing short sessions may find it harder to maintain momentum across a narrative of this scale. It rewards sustained listening more than it does ten-minute increments.
Popular Listener Questions
Do I need to listen to Part One before Part Two?
Yes. This is the second half of a single novel split across two volumes. Part Two begins mid-story and assumes full familiarity with the characters and world established in Part One. It is not a standalone entry.
Is this part of a larger series?
The Way of Kings is the first book in The Stormlight Archive, which is itself part of Brandon Sanderson's larger Cosmere universe. The Stormlight Archive is planned as a ten-book series, with five books currently published.
Is the audiobook unabridged?
This edition does not have confirmed abridgment information in the available metadata. Checking the Audible product page directly will confirm whether it is the full text.
Does the audio production include music or sound effects?
This is not confirmed in the available metadata for this specific edition. The Audible sample is the most reliable way to check before purchasing.
Is this suitable for listeners new to epic fantasy?
It can work, but The Way of Kings has a deliberate pace and a large cast of characters. Listeners new to the genre may find it demanding. Those already comfortable with long-form fantasy series, Tolkien, Jordan, Martin, will find it more immediately accessible.
Similar Audiobooks
The Way of Kings Part One
The required starting point. Part Two picks up directly where Part One ends and cannot be meaningfully listened to without it.
The second book in The Stormlight Archive, continuing the storylines concluded here. If Part Two lands well, this is the immediate next listen.
Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicle shares Sanderson's interest in detailed world-building and a protagonist defined by survival against difficult odds. The audiobook narration by Nick Podehl is widely praised.
Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time is a direct predecessor to the Stormlight Archive in terms of scope and structure. The full cast Audible production is a strong audio experience for fans of large-ensemble fantasy.
Mistborn: The Final Empire
A shorter, faster-paced entry point into Sanderson's writing for listeners not yet ready to commit to a multi-thousand-page series. Also part of the Cosmere.
Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy shares Sanderson's interest in morally complicated soldiers and political warfare, with a grimmer edge. The audiobook narration by Steven Pacey is frequently cited as a standout performance.
Audiobook Details
| Title | The Way of Kings Part Two |
|---|---|
| Author | Brandon Sanderson |
| Narrator | full cast |
| Genre | Epic Fantasy |
| Year | 2021 |
| Publisher | Gollancz |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
The Way of Kings Part Two is available on Audible and is a reasonable use of a free trial credit if you're already invested in the story. If you're new to the series, start with Part One.
Open on Audible