Initial Impressions 2/11/17: WHEW, I made it! I listened to the audiobook and it was quite the long journey, but I am all about Michael Kramer so it's totally worth it! It took me over a month (really!?) but I did it! 
 I think my one... "let down" so to speak (I'm not really let down but I can't come up with a better word right now) of the book is that ALL of the reveals were in the end. So much happened in the last few chapters that it was excitement overload and I would have loved a bit more of that throughout the whole book to keep excitement levels high, but that seems to be an evolution that happens in Sanderson's later works rather than his earlier ones. 
 My Sanderson theory that the theme of pretty much everyone of his books seems to be something along the lines of (possible spoiler for pretty much any Sanderson book) (view spoiler)["the gods are among us" (hide spoiler)] seems to hold true! I figured it was coming, especially considering (more Sanderson series spoilers) (view spoiler)[everything that I learned (and what all you other people learned who read the Mistborn series before anything else) in the Mistborn series started to really delve into creation theories and history and how all of the Cosmere is connected. (hide spoiler)] I really like it though! I'm catching on to it so it's not as much of a shock or twist to see that coming in the ending of THE WAY OF KINGS (well, I guess it kiiiiind of started that way too) but I'm so, so, so anxious to learn more about it! 
 The characters in this book were fantastic! I LOVED Kaladin and for some reason I was surprised to see what his role was throughout this whole book. I was expecting a Kelsier sort of situation where his history involved a hardship and he ended up with that as a shadow of his past but really his present ends up being one of his greatest hardships and he's not on anyone's favorable side throughout the book (until he takes matters into his own hands and starts to work on those leadership skills). I basically fell a little bit in love with him and I can't wait to see what his future holds because it looks... bright *snicker* 
 I also love noble and wise and apparently super important Dalinar. Obviously he's important as a main character but I loved what his fate ended up being and naturally, I can't wait to see what happens to him in the second book and where things go from here. Readers are able to guess at what is happening to him throughout the book but I'm not quite sure what it REALLY means yet and why it's happening to Dalinar. 
 I wasn't the BIGGEST fan of Shallan but that's also because I didn't really care for her narrator in the audio (not that I have issues with Kate Reading (also how is THAT for an audiobook narrator's last name!?) but meh. Female narrator. And I love Michael Kramer. A lot.) so I didn't get into her character as much. I actually find myself not really liking a lot of Sanderson's female characters except for Vin. I don't dislike them but I just find the male characters much more interesting and apparently prefer their story lines much better. I think part of it is because the women are figuring things out (you go, gals!) and the men are in the action so there's just a bit more draw to some of those action-based scenes. 
 I'm also enjoying the new world of Roshar and exploring everything that is has to offer! The cultures/races/people are interesting (especially with some recent reveals) and I love learning about all of the different people and places in Brandon Sanderson's worlds. Book two looks like it'll explore that history and creation even more which is totally my fantasy addiction and the reason I can't put Sanderson books down! I haven't felt as connected to a world since Scadrial but they're all quite interesting and I have a feeling I'll be learning much more about Roshar soon! 
 I don't know why I thought this series was only three books so there goes my plan to binge read them all this year....... Well, I guess I can still binge read them (as long as Oathbringer is still on track for later 2017) but I just won't be finishing the series when I do. Why do I do this to myself??? I'm in the middle of too many Sanderson series. Or rather, he seems to trap us in his series (okay, I'm not really that upset about being in the middle of all of his books) and won't let us go! Just the waaaaait though. I'm so glad I was able to binge Mistborn because this is going to be a long journey with The Stormlight Archive!