This was a fantastic analysis. When I read WoK Prime I thought it was a decent book in and of itself, but leagues below where the canon WoK ended up. As Stormlight is one of my favourite series I glad to see how much better the new version is. And I thought that you did a really good job finding and describing all the changes. I'm pretty sure that Meridas' counter point is Amaram. Given that Amaram's first name is Meridas, and that Gavliar wanted him engaged to Jasnah in the WoR prologue (though she obviously wanted nothing to do with him.)
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Pinning this for your comment about Amaram...I mean...like how did I miss that?? 🤦♀️ Like...it's literally the same name lol. I apparently went crazy while making this. Maybe it's because Amaram puts on this "holy face" where he's like "I'm such a nice guy!" and Meridas in Prime doesn't even try that threw me off lol.
@readbykyle3082
3 жыл бұрын
An hour of differences, wow. Not all heroes wear capes.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks 🦸♀️
@coin2039
2 жыл бұрын
To someone who writes fiction, this analysis makes me very hopeful about the progress I can make with my writing. The fact that a such a bad draft turns into one of the greatest fantasy books ever is amazing.
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
It really is a great testament to knowing that hey...the first draft isn't everything.
@eazypeazy33
Жыл бұрын
That is very true.. 🤌🏽
@JessietheSleepyKoala
2 жыл бұрын
You mad woman, you have done the fandom a great service this day. 🙏
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching ☺️
@smadgulkar
3 жыл бұрын
Just came to say what a deep and well researched video this is. It is fascinating to see how Sanderson's vision for the book changed over the years. Thank you Bookborn, you are a hero!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! It made me wish more authors talked about the transformation of their novels - its such an interesting look into one of my favorite series.
@trewaldo
3 жыл бұрын
Sanderson's thoughts are expressed like an open book every time he posts a video of his lectures or interviews. It's not surprising he wants to share his draft to readers. 😅 Wow, what a lengthy video you've just made! You have really drilled down to the details of the world itself. Great video! 😍🤓🥰
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
It's one of my favorite things about following him as an author! He's so open to all of his fans and you can tell he just honestly loves what he does.
@micahtataje
3 жыл бұрын
Wasn't gonna watch this whole video, but you put in so much work, I couldn't click away. Definitely glad that Dalinar's son's are still alive in the official version, lol.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I appreciate your commitment a lot...I know it's long 😂. I am VERY glad too - I found Renarin's storyline in Prime to be particularly depressing.
@tanyam928
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this! It is interesting to see where Way of Kings started when Sanderson was much less experienced at writing. I am glad that he kept working at it and improving and we eventually got the final version. I was surprised by all the deaths and how much more brutal the world in general was written. He has talked about a period where George RR Martin had gotten big and there was a push for him to be more like George and he tried doing it but didn't like results. Maybe this was part of that because it is so different from his current style of writing.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Yes someone else had just said that to me, and I think it provides SUPER important context. Like...he was still coming off of the "trying to be grim" and it really shows in the book once you know that.
@LabelWatch
3 жыл бұрын
Great in depth video, I'm glad I won't have to read WOK Prime myself. I'm sure the book had it's strengths but I'm so grateful that this isn't the finished product we were presented with in the end
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Totally agree. He's admitted himself that he wasn't ready at the time he wrote it!
@CupCakeUnleashed
3 жыл бұрын
Man I'm a huge Sanderfan and an aspiring writer. Seeing the differences and learning about why certain things were changed really does help with progressing my own skills.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I totally agree! Like...I'm not even a writer and I felt like it taught me a lot about even just reading books and how they can evolve.
@ethan-scott
3 жыл бұрын
Your videos are so organized and easy to navigate! Props for including timestamps. :)
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I figured no one really wants to listen to an hour long video so might as well make it easy to skip around 😂
@ethan-scott
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn I did, and it was awesome! It’s interesting to hear how he changed as a writer over time.
@markmartin5817
3 жыл бұрын
Way of kings is one of my favorite books. The end of the book made me love the characters. It is probably my favorite storm light book.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I'm glad to hear the love for it because I feel like it often gets overlooked compared to the other books! Something and Kaladin's arc with bridge four just really speaks to me
@markmartin5817
3 жыл бұрын
Yess! I am also sad how they made shard blades feel less valuable as the series moves on. It was so powerful to have the shard blade traded for their freedom at the end, when it was worth a nation.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
@@markmartin5817 That's interesting that you feel like they've become less powerful as the series goes on! Is that because so many people are radiant? I don't think it lessons the sacrifice any, because at the time Dalinar made the sacrifice it did matter a lot, which is probably the important thing.
@ssmcquay
3 жыл бұрын
Loved the analysis, thank you. I was asking myself through the whole video how he got from A to B, so glad you called out that exact question in the conclusion. However he did it, I'm glad he evolved! Also, that concluding thought about why we love Kaladin so much was wonderful. Deep and very appreciated!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Sean...also I think you are my first "real life" friend to ever comment on any of my videos which seems both weird and monumental at the same time ;)
@LoreoftheWorlds
3 жыл бұрын
You just made an hour long video but I need more Don't stop being awesome, Bookborn! Love your content
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Lore ☺️
@yousefabdullah5982
3 жыл бұрын
Fantastic video about a subject I haven’t seen anyone else talk about in this detail. Thank you so much!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the support!
@QuestLegacy
3 жыл бұрын
Been looking forward to this one! Excited!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks 😊
@moma-b
2 жыл бұрын
The audiobook is also available on Brandon Sanderson's KZitem channel for free.
@5kastubh5
6 ай бұрын
Thank you for devoting your time to reading and reporting all this data. I mainly listen through graphic audio on my commute so it was very helpful to listen to this instead of reading prime . Keep up the good work
@clarisse-fayetan5608
3 жыл бұрын
this was such an amazing video! So organised and well thought out🙌🏻 honestly, this just makes me respect sanderson even more as an author for putting this draft out there and it is so so inspiring! I also loved your thought about how our struggles are such a huge part of what makes us lovable haha i’ll definitely remember that🥰
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
So you gonna read this after Skyward or what? lol jk
@DW_Tang
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for making this video. I was very curious as a big sanderson fan, but didnt want to confuse any story points by reading this version having read probably 100 books since way of kings. Plus im well behind on my to be read list.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Glad I could help!
@karissahorst1977
3 жыл бұрын
This is insane! Thank you so much for a such in-depth discussion! I loved it!!!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@brightwatcher3757
3 жыл бұрын
I wasn’t going to watch all of this but you sucked me in! Thank you for such a well organized, well executed summary and break down. The way you discussed how Sanderson’s writing has changed/improved was incredibly well done and thoughtful and I loved hearing your thoughts.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for the support!
@storieswithc
3 жыл бұрын
I think even between the Mistborn trilogy and Stormlight Archive there was a massive improvement in the treatment of female characters. I absolutely love Mistborn but there are definitely some eye-roll moments when it comes to the women. I think as he's become more successful, he's really put effort into getting and *listening* to sensitivity readers, which I appreciate. It's always nice when someone is humble and motivated enough to be open and willing to listen, and it absolutely shows in his work. Maybe being a university professor has also motivated self-reflection as well? Even the Writing Excuses podcast evolved over the years to include more diverse speakers. Sanderson is totally my safe-space when it comes to not wanting to read upsetting things (especially involving the female characters). Nice video, I was curious about Prime but probably wouldn't have had the time to read it!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
oh totally agree. As much as I love Mistborn, even the fact that Vin is basically the only female of note (and particularly in the crew) is so different to what he writes in Stormlight.
@TheBookishMom
3 жыл бұрын
You are the real MVP for this hour-long video!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I tried to keep it shorter but...I failed lol
@TheBookishMom
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn it was perfect to listen to while I was working
@KatieGimple
3 жыл бұрын
I would argue that it isn't our struggles themselves that should define us and help us relate to people, but rather how we overcome our struggles that is important.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
That's definitely a huge factor that I didn't articulate correctly!
@stayaz8789
3 жыл бұрын
The effort put into this video is astounding!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the support!
@the_dragon_reread
6 ай бұрын
Loved this! I listened to TWoK prime on audiobook a little while ago and love that you did this great deep dive! I completely agree that I think it's so special that he released this, not just for his fans but for aspiring authors. It's amazing to see the differences and improvements that he was able to make between these two editions. I think in some ways it really gives hope and inspiration to authors who often can only see the finished product of these hugely successful authors. Also, completely agree with everything you said about Shallan/Taravangian. I hadn't put two and two together that he basically used that same plot point in Warbreaker which just goes to show how much better he did it in Warbreaker. Very astute point! Loved your point about the main characters missing their "struggles." Great point. Overall, great, great video. Thank you so much!
@QuestLegacy
3 жыл бұрын
Excellent and awesome video. Thank you so much! This was so much fun!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@jimave
2 жыл бұрын
I just finished listening to the WOK prime and thank you for the amount of work you put into this video. We can see/read/hear the growth of Sanderson's writing by comparing the two versions. Many of the points that Sanderson and you made about the writing are right on point. While watching your video, I thought that many authors do not have the skill to "close the loop" on the points of view or multiple plot points like Sanderson can do now. I've read several books where an author brings up things that I have nothing to do with the plot. It seems to me that WOK Prime is better than many published books! I think he learned a lot writing from completing the Wheel of Time series. When I started WOT, I thought that it was very much like a Sanderson book (as I read Sanderson before WOT). Maybe he got annoyed by the hair twirling from the WOT as I did and became a better author. :-)
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
Sanderson has been very vocal about how much finishing WOT helped him! He said that he really just didn't have the skills to keep track of multiple viewpoints in a satisfactory way, and I think you can see the huge jump in that from Prime to official WOK. It was so interesting seeing how much he changed between the two books, but how his original ideas were always still there.
@ninpipu
3 ай бұрын
Thanks for the summary. I won’t read the prime version . But was curious how it compares to the official version . You are the MVP
@jedediahbaker9132
3 жыл бұрын
This video was great! I didn’t want to actually read wok prime but I wanted to know the differences so it was perfect. Thank you!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I figured there would be a lot of people in that position! Thanks for the support :)
@michaelwest3953
3 жыл бұрын
Wow. Awesome work here. I've had little to no interest in reading "Prime" due to wanting to get to my list of TBR books. Thanks for your sacrifice. :)
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I figured few people really want to devote the time to read a less-good version of a great book (especially when it's 900 pages long). I'm glad it's useful!
@faultier1158
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn Yeah. I've seen several hardcore fans of the 17th Shard say that they opened the book, read a few pages, and then were like "nah, I'm good" and put it away.😂
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
@@faultier1158 lol trust me there were several times I thought that during this book...mostly during Jasnah perspectives 💀
@adf3903
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the analysis! This is by far the best I've come across. The funny thing is, this is by far my favorite Brandon Sanderson book and your opinion section basically reverse outlined everything I find difficult with Sanderson's writing. I respect his craft but just can never get into his books. They're too... polished. Like a film adaptation that has trimmed out all the redundant, messy parts I love in books in order to have a streamlined, focused narrative. I personally don't like when authors tie up all the loose ends, it retroactively flattens out the experience for me. And I love random background characters that fade in and out of the story, it makes the world seem richer. But it just goes to show how subjective the whole reading thing is.
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
That's so funny, I have a friend who is just like that and so we always argue about books because I don't mind the clean tidy wrapped up endings, and she's like "but it's not as realistic!!" 😂
@Mightyjordy
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much. I was so curious but just don’t have the time to read Prime
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I figured a lot of people would be in your shoes!
@jessand01
6 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Great job on the detailed explaination of the differences, and the plot of this draft version of the way of kings. I definitely like more the final version that we all know, however it is still very interesting to see how much his plot building has evolved.
@michaelkelly5157
3 жыл бұрын
Great analysis. I think the most interesting change was renarin creating the diagram. Where as in the published he just instrumental/influences/corrupts it.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Totally. And interesting that he's still related to the Taravangian character / messing him up, but just in a different way. I think the Diagram as it is in the official version is more interesting, though.
@TheNeodarkwing
3 жыл бұрын
Ha, "Sanderlanche!" How fitting for his book endings!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I obviously didn't come up with it, but it's absolutely my favorite Sanderson term. Whoever did come up with it is a genius.
@urigatt6815
3 жыл бұрын
lol look it up in the Gif search engine on any texting app. You'll have a good time guaranteed
@cbob213
3 жыл бұрын
Made it to the end 🙃 One of the best things about this book is Vashers thumb disappearing training. Kaladin ends up doing it while in Jail, and when he first gets his shard blade he is summoning and dismissing it, over and over and over. Making Shallan go crazy. But he then figures out at a pivotal Sanderson style epic battle that he can dismiss his Shardblade and summon it again instantly and it brings together Vashers Shardblade forms and he passes the blade through another Shardblade and kills a guy that kept blocking his attacks. Also cutting a guy wearing Shardplate in half is pretty dope. I thought that scene was excellent and well built up. You can definitely tell he was still a fantastic writer at this time. Just not his current, legendary self.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Oh I almost mentioned that exact scene weirdly! When he reappears the shardblade in the guy it was freaking EPIC. Like it was the scene I was like "OK, this is where I'm seeing classic Sanderson".
@mikem1585
3 жыл бұрын
Finally got around to watching this. I am very grateful you read this so I didn’t need to!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
lol I don't mind taking one for the team
@mikem1585
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn always appreciate a good Cosmere video!
@laceyh
3 жыл бұрын
I still so deeply regret not adding this to my kickstarter order! It's just so pretty and I want it on my shelf!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah I definitely vacillated back and forth on whether to do it or not and I'm glad I went for it. I'm nervous for the WoR leatherbound kickstarter...I feel like even more people are going to want that one and I'm going to have to sign on and be decisive immediately to get one 😂
@laceyh
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn Me too!! It took me daaaays of deliberation on these leatherbounds. My wallet is shaking in terror lol
@jennysnape2682
3 жыл бұрын
I watched the whole video! Really interesting as I’m not planning on reading it myself but I like to know what the differences are
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Here's a 🌟 for actually making it to the end! lol
@tovekauppi1616
3 жыл бұрын
I 100% read Vasher as the actual Vasher. The counterpart of that character in the published version is after all actually Vasher even though he has changed names after he changed planet.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Everyone agrees with you. For some reason he just didn't give me "true" Vasher vibes! IDK why!
@scottockerman6456
2 жыл бұрын
Although this book was trying to do too much, I still love that it sounds like Brandon just has always had really cool twists. I love the whole thing you talked about Taln and how we find out he was crazy only for it to turn out that he was a herald. It also definitely is interesting to see how Brandon took all these ideas he tried to do too much with and explored them more fully in different books. With that said I would find it really interesting for him to explore the whole mad vs being a herald in a different book because we don't really get that in the actual stormlight archives anymore, while it seems like he has explored the other ideas to a much greater degree.
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
Oh TOTALLY AGREE. I actually found Taln's storyline to be super interesting, even if it was slightly ruined by the fact I knew too much going in since we've obviously read the "real" version. But the whole unreliable narrator thing is one of my favorites, and I think Brandon could do it really well even if it was used in a completely different setting/story.
@VoidLantadd
3 жыл бұрын
Brother Lhan totally reminded me of Llarimar from Warbreaker.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
For sure. It seems like a lot of things were just moved over to Warbreaker. Someone in the comments told me that originally, Warbreaker was going to be a prequel to Way of Kings.
@ryanratchford2530
2 жыл бұрын
Poor Shallan! Way of Kings, Kaladin kills her brother. Way of Kings Prime, Kaladin kills her betrothed! Poor girl can't catch a break even through the multiverse!!!
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
JUSTICE FOR SHALLAN (can you imagine a multiverse scene for her. It'd probably be pretty depressing)
@huntersteed2880
3 жыл бұрын
Made it to the end! Great job!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Very impressed! Thanks for watching!
@s.r.dragonreads4915
3 жыл бұрын
I didn't find the struggle to pronounce Alethkar nearly as upsetting as the pronunciation of the J in Jasnah and Jah Keved. But that's just me being a pronunciation snob
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Oh the Jasnah one is purposeful - I know it isn't a hard J, but I read them initially with that in mind and now I refuse to change because I'm stubborn and don't like "ya-snah".
@aeonarin
Жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn Jasna (without the H) is an actual Slavic name though. It means light or bright (👀) and is pronounced Yas-nah.
@cbob213
3 жыл бұрын
Vasher is definitely Vasher here. Just not named Zahel. He teaches Merin a form that literally no one else even knows about. Vasher here was one of the Herald names also I believe. So he eventually became a world hopper instead of a Herald.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Possibly! I was just saying I wasn't sure if it was *warbreaker* Vasher. He may still have been a worldhopper, but was he nightblood wielding? Hard to say.
@cbob213
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn I don't think Nightblood was a thing yet. I reckon when he moved Awakening to Warbreaker and started Cosmere building more it all started to become more.... familiar xD
@VoidLantadd
3 жыл бұрын
31:13 - I mean, this is mostly the same Vasher as in Stormlight, he's just not using the name "Zahel" this time around.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I felt that there energies were different lol. I guess I made the assumption he wasn't a worldhopper, but I realize I def do not have enough information to definitively say that.
@VoidLantadd
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn Yeah, I doubt that Nalthis existed in this iteration of the proto-cosmere, but _maybe_ Brandon always intended him to be from a planet other than Roshar. He did feel the need to write a prequel for Vasher seven years later.
@gauthamvignesh17
2 жыл бұрын
This sounds so rough....i can't imagine stormlight without Depressed Kaladin
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah I just find it so fascinating that by missing their struggles, they become so much less interesting. Or, I should say, more relatable struggles - I think more of us understand depression than "hmm gotta go from commoner to noble" lol
@gauthamvignesh17
2 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn yeah.... though i haven't been in a situation like Kaladin, well not anywhere close, but i find some of his traits so relatable and frustrating tbh. I like that and him without that frustrating mental health is just....bland
@andrewdoughty5449
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for doing this it seems like a lot of work!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
It was actually, thanks for noticing 😂
@nuggetdoja871
Жыл бұрын
Wow I didn't know this other version existed! Very cool to hear of the differences. I am halfway through the video and just want to say that I like all the differences EXCEPT that Jasnah gets less screen time in the official version, since she is by far my favorite character. It actually hurts me how little screen time she gets. How could he make such an amazing character and not have her in the story more? lol
@nuggetdoja871
Жыл бұрын
Finished the video now, thank you for making it! The fact that Brandon released this makes me appreciate him so much more. I don't think I would have the balls to do that. Glad I found your channel, liked and subbed
@ASJames
3 жыл бұрын
Crom!?! oh no ahaha Jasnah embarrassed!? That's the most shocking to me haha. And she's in relationship!?!? what is happening!? hahaha Wait there's a religion which is known as Elends? As is in Elend Venture from mistborn? Interesting that Jasnah can hear special tones considering how much of a role that played in Rhythm of War. Adolin's head on a spike!? oofff Wow, this was so much bleaker than the released edition! Its strange that at this time he was being told he needed to write more like GRRM to get published but he didnt want to and so he wrote this instead! Because its still pretty dark and very GRRM compared to the final version. Awesome video!! Thanks so much for doing this, its so interesting to see all the differences
@ASJames
3 жыл бұрын
Also, yes, I made it to the end!! hahaha :P
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
It's actually *Elin* which I probably should have thrown up on the screen haha. Supposedly Sanderson said that he thinks even though he was trying to get out of being pushed to write dark like GRRM, it still influenced Prime a lot, and I'd agree with him. Like you said, it's pretty dark - I find especially Renarin's storyline to be messed up haha. Thanks for watching the whole thing 😂 I'm very impressed
@Hazelnut51000
3 жыл бұрын
The way that Brandon talks about Shinri is really interesting. He talks about how Merrin turned into Kaladin, but says that he came up with Shallan after Way of Kings Prime, so it seems like Shallan is not evolved from Shinri, despite some similarities.
@Hazelnut51000
3 жыл бұрын
From what I read of Prime, it felt like the bad ending for the Stormlight Archive. Especially the end of the book. Taln’s dead, Jasnah loses her political power, Shinri is captive, Merrin loses his shardblade, Jek is about to escape, Alethkar is in ruins, it just feels so bleak
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Oh that's so interesting about Shallan! I'm loving all this WOB that you guys are giving me about Prime, I need to find a way to collect them all in one place. Makes sense to me that Shallan was almost a new invention. There are clearly influences from Shinri, but so much is different - especially her role in the novel. I do want to know what the plan for Merin was after book 1 since he goes back to be a farmer, and supposedly Bridge 4 was going to come in somewhere?
@RobMedellin
3 жыл бұрын
Wow amazing content (including delivery) ! This is the first time I've seen a video from you and I am surprised you don't have more subscribers. That will change I'm sure.
@RobMedellin
3 жыл бұрын
Ah Ps. You are very pretty (I promise I'm not a creep, it's just an observation that I felt had to be said).
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for the support! It really means a lot!
@neiliusflavius
3 жыл бұрын
My guess would be that the wedding night scene didn't come across well partly because it was written several years before he was married and therefore lacking experience to write it sensitively. I've not read it (yet?) so I may be completely wrong.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Totally agree, and I mention that a little in my opinion portion. It more just surprises me since his current books don't suffer from that at all - but like you said, he got married after which probably helped lol
@VoidLantadd
3 жыл бұрын
51:11 - I don't remember whether it's confirmed in the book, but I believe Balenmar was Ishar in disguise.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
AHH OK. That makes a LOT of sense. I knew there had to be something going on there, but it was given so little attention in this book.
@Aplesedjr
3 жыл бұрын
I think nale and the other herald identify balenmar as Ishar at the very end. And might I say, there has never been a character that was clearly a more powerful figure than they let on more so than balenmar.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
@@Aplesedjr Ahh, just didn't write it down/remember. Sanderson made it pretty clear there was something up with him lol but I missed it
@BensBookCave
3 жыл бұрын
This book wasn’t as bad as I hear, people say it is awful but it wasn’t as enjoyable as the original but it was still a solid book
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I think it's just really hard to read this as just a book. Like...If I had never read the real version, would I be so critical of this one? Probably not. But when you see what it became, it becomes a really stark contrast that's super hard to be neutral about, you know?
@tovekauppi1616
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn for me, having read a lot of fanfiction, (though not of Sanderson works) I enjoyed my listen immensely.
@Glokta4
11 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing the differences.
@pretty5793
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome review! I don’t care how you pronounce. Thank you for sharing your opinion. In rhythm of war I was extremely impressed by Sandersons ability to write an entire book from a woman’s perspective so well. Whereas way of kings prime has been written by a male perspective of women. I agree with you on his handling of female characters and his growth as a writer.
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
It's really cool to see the growth. A good reminder that being good at anything is just dedication and practice. I personally LOVED RoW!
@Legioss199
2 жыл бұрын
I'm pretty sure Balenmar was Ishar, since he was pointed out at the end wearing stormwardens robes. He seemed to be trying to stay in the camp with the most power.
@imuncreative1626
3 жыл бұрын
The gemstone that Taln powers his stonewarding with is amber, which is just solid tree goo. As I’m sure some others have said
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Nope, nobody said it! While I was writing this I honestly couldn't remember if some of them were different and for the life of me i couldn't find any mention in the book when I was flipping through.
@bhuvanalakshmi5584
3 жыл бұрын
How do you pick out the exact questions I want (need!) answered? 😂 Thank you for this! Edit: (finished watching) Wow, Prime was daark... Also the characters are definitely better in the final version, when their struggles are present.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
lol thank you! Yes Prime was crazy dark. That death toll...like somehow all of Dalinar's sons being dead was particularly gruesome.
@tovekauppi1616
3 жыл бұрын
I think the issue is that since many main viewpoint characters don’t deal with their inner darkness and struggles, the outer struggles and plot got really dark to make the narrative feel weighty and as an attempt at making us care about all the characters knowing the stakes are high.
@2thslpr166
Жыл бұрын
Would you consider doing a summary like this for each Cosmere book? It would be nice to go back and watch your summaries vs re-reading a series when a new book comes out.
@Bookborn
Жыл бұрын
Probably! I did a recap of Era 2 for the Lost Metal, and I may do them as other cosmere books come out.
@2thslpr166
Жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn that’s gonna be perfect. I still need to read the lost metal. And the video is gonna come in clutch. I’ll search for it now.
@TheNeodarkwing
3 жыл бұрын
Found your channel recently and I've been binging on your Cosmere videos today while I work and love your content! I didn't even know WOK had a previous version. Have you considered doing full recap videos for the Stormlight Archive (if you haven'talready)? I for one could use a refresher on the WOK and WOR.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I haven't done it yet, but I've considered it for sure! I think I'm going to do recaps for Mistborn Era 2 first since Wax and Wayne 4 is coming out soon-ish. I'll probably do Stormlight ones closer to #5's release date!
@TheNeodarkwing
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn awesome! I could use a refresher on Wax and Wayne too!
@pragyadhir1906
3 жыл бұрын
Amazing analysis..thankyou for the video😍
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@lucaslibovicz6572
Жыл бұрын
I am new to sanderson and started with prime, good to see the differences. Thanks.
@faerdineth4239
3 жыл бұрын
As I saw this video I immediately downloaded and read wok prime (didn't know it was out there before) and just today I finished it and watched your video :D I totally agree with you especially on the females in the book I think the most interesting was the paying for magic part like with merin. I mean how would this be in following books? Would there be a solution like practicing and it would be better? Can't imagine big and long wind runner fights with this handicap... Oh and also wasn't there a hint that balenmar was a herald at the end? He reminded me also a bit of a not so witty wit :D Thanks for the video :)
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Yesss TOTALLY agree. I had such a hard time imagining how the magic would end up being very "cool" because it had such a steep cost. I think the stormlight solution is much more elegant for the purposes of the novel. Oh yeah, there was! I totally forgot to mention that. We aren't sure but he probably WAS going to be a Herald...or a Wit. Something was up. If he was originally supposed to be Hoid, I feel like he was much more "switch sides-y" then Hoid usually is. Hoid certainly isn't necessarily GOOD, but I feel like he's more subtle.
@VenusAsAFormerBoy
3 жыл бұрын
I'd love to read the Prime version but I'm so bad at keeping track of all the plot and worldbuilding details in these massive books. I'd get everything mixed up so bad
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
It actually does get quite confusing. It's interesting because in the process of this video I found the characters starting to relate less and less (like in the beginning I'd always be subbing in "Kaladin" in my mind for Merin, but by the end, it felt like such different books those characters almost didn't relate any more for me.)
@charlessmith31
3 жыл бұрын
Just finished the KZitem audio version of Prime. While I agree with most of what you said, there are a couple I disagree with, a few points you didn’t touch on. I think NOT Szeth is a more interesting character in Prime, not just because of more POV time. There are some good points with NOT Kaladin, especially with his friendship with NOT Adolin. But best thing about Prime is Taln, he is not only a much more developed character, he is major part of the story, and a side/background character. Would love to know what he’s other pact mates story would have gone. There mayhaps be some of where that storyline of in future novels. There also seemed like a good background storyline about NOT Jasnah’s husband, coming later.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
For whatever reason I found the struggles of real!Szeth more compelling, but I can see how his less-conflicted self in Prime might appeal to people. I agree that it was great hearing from Taln's perspective. I hope we get to in the future - I think he's slated for one of the back five books if I remember correctly. I wonder how much will be taken from NOT Taln.
@keatonr776
2 жыл бұрын
So glad I found this. I will be skipping WoKP, thank you.
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
Glad I could help :)
@leonmitas
7 ай бұрын
Well, Jasnah's power looks kind of like dustbringers. I'm not sure if it is stated in TWOKP that Jasnah is NOT a dustbringer, so I think she might be, cause we know almost all parts of her magic, except order name, and we only know order name of dustbringers
@laatikkolapsi3883
3 жыл бұрын
Amazing video, you saved me from reading WOK Prime. One thing: 27:25 Meridas sounds a lot like Amaram? And Amaram's first name is Meridas.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah someone else pointed this out 🤦♀️ Like...it's literally the same name, how did I miss that?? I think the reason I went to Sadeas is that Meridas in Prime doesn't come off as the "I'm such a good person" way that Amaram pretends to be. IDK, it was a huge brain lapse lol
@starkazing7817
3 жыл бұрын
I've read the free version of WoK Prime on Brandon's website a few months ago (just because I love his work so much) and it's definitely not that good. I actually forgot a lot and your video (yes I watched until the very end) helped refresh my memory. I kind of want to know what someone would think of this book without reading WoK first, because I still enjoyed my reading experience. But that was mostly because I found it so interesting to see the differences and similarities between the two stories. That was the best part. I mean, no spren? No Parshendi? The characters are so different? I think the most interesting change for me was Jasnah, just because I also love her so much and she is so different (definitely worse) here. It was so weird to see her in a relationship with Taln of all people. Even though the book wasn't that good, I read it quite quickly and really wanted to know what would've happened next in this version of the events. Oh well.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
First I'm extremely impressed you made it to the end lol. And I totally agree. I'm actually surprised at how some very random details - like Kholin's wearing blue - survived. For some reason that was super interesting to me to see those little things. And even the title - the difference in the "in world" books of Way of Kings give SUCH a different feel to why the title is the title, if that makes sense. Although, like you said, the story was painful in some places, overall it was a very cool experience.
@VoidLantadd
3 жыл бұрын
Another difference with the Heralds is that in Prime, it seems like the majority of the Heralds were male, whereas in modern Stormlight there are 5 male and 5 female Heralds.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
That's something I actually had written down in my notes but forgot to discuss! It's not super clear but it does seem they are all male.
@VoidLantadd
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn I think there may have been one or two female Heralds, but yeah the majority were male. One part I found strange about that is that they still had similar names, but they were gender swapped. So, for instance Taln said things like, “Chanaral himself designed the mechanism.” I find it weird because this is obviously Chanah, who is a woman in modern Stormlight (even though we know next to nothing about her).
@ElijahStormblessed
3 жыл бұрын
"This may be upsetting to some viewers" .... Well at least she's self-aware 🤷♂️😂
@ElijahStormblessed
3 жыл бұрын
C R O M D A L E N A R
@ElijahStormblessed
3 жыл бұрын
In all seriousness tho, great video as always!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Look, I know my audience. I know how I've hurt them in the past.
@ElijahStormblessed
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn Honestly I was more upset by how you pronounce "Shinovar" than anything 🤣
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
@@ElijahStormblessed My husband literally HATES how I say it. He's like "no...no stop. How could you say it that way?"
@WJRobbins125
3 жыл бұрын
I made it all the way through. :)I read it, and enjoyed it for its own merit. It was better (for me) that many of the names were different and made it easy to enjoy w/o the constant comparison. It was nice to see threads that ultimately became different stories in here. I wonder, in reference to the wedding night scene, how much Brandon was influenced by Robert Jordan? This felt a lot like the scenes where Mat was in a similar type of circumstance to me.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I'm currently rereading WOT and I'm going to be so interested to reread that scene. I think it's going to hit me VERY differently than it did when I first read it. It's possible he was influenced, although I think they read differently: in Jordan's case, I think it was "haha men can't be assaulted" whereas in Sanderson's case it felt more like he didn't understand how to write the trauma correctly.
@WJRobbins125
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn Don't disagree, but I feel like it was also handled poorly...but then I'm known as anti-WoT. 😉
@danielvan12
2 жыл бұрын
Chanarach’s name in Prime, “Chanaral”, is close to the name for the river “Channerel” from Mistborn…just thought that was cool
@taelorh1289
2 жыл бұрын
The way of kings prime left me wanting a sequel with that ending.
@rock53355
3 жыл бұрын
I will never have the courage to read WoKP because Kaladin is my favourite character and I can't imagine him in any other role
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Honestly I had a hard time using the name "Kaladin" when talking about Merin in the plot. They feel so different to almost be unrelated. Merin is a good guy, but he doesn't come close to Kaladin's charisma, leadership, or overall character.
@rock53355
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn Thankfully Branderson knows his limits. He has said that before he wrote the wheel of time, he knew the way of kings wasn't ready and the characters 'fell flat'. After WoT, he called up his publisher and told them he is ready. And oh boy are we lucky he chose to wait because kaladin is my favourite fictional/fantasy character
@octavia458
3 жыл бұрын
I may not have to, but I'm gonna. But then I'll still come back here.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Let me know what you think of it! Not many of us have read it yet, I feel like haha
@superkickcity1610
Жыл бұрын
You are absolutely fantastic
@dv253
3 жыл бұрын
Love the video! I couldn't make it 2 sentences in without cringing at Dalinar's name. Im up to the part where you talk about the age differences and... Well im reading mistborn right now and i kind of feel like he didn't quite fix this all the way lol. Wax and Marasi, Breeze and his girl, even the teasing about Kelsier and Vin which is never shot down properly. He always lampshades it but doesn't... You know, just age up the female characters as he is well within rights to do as the author lol. Its the only thing that makes me really uncomfortable about his books so far
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I personally NEVER read Kelsier/Vin as a romance but purely as a mentor/mentee relationship, and it drives me crazy that people read romance in that. It's interesting that you think Sanderson has hedged on that, I feel like he's been pretty clear that it was a father/daughter sort of thing, but he also does so many interviews I may have missed the one where you felt he was hedging it haha. I think Wax and Marasi get a pass from me because they aren't together; Wax never views Marasi in a romantic way, only Marasi views Wax that way. I agree that I've never loved Breeze and his girl, and probably no surprise that Mistborn was written shortly after WOK Prime. I'm really glad we have Dalinar/Navani - I've always so appreciated an adult relationship where both individuals are similar in age. Media in general seems to be obsessed with Older men with younger women and nothing could drive me more crazy. I find YA in particular uses this trope so much and I'm just like...PLEASE STOP.
@Kcoldraz
3 жыл бұрын
Actually I think the reason is still the same. I believe there was a Shin rebellion because there was a group that believes the return was coming. And Sek is part of that rebellion so he became truthless.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Was there a rebellion in the original books? Maybe I'm misremembering it but I thought it was just Szeth who thought that, so he was turned truthless. Here in prime it seemed like they already believed it and were using it for their own gains...
@Kcoldraz
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn No the rebellion is in prime. In the original he is alone in stating the return of the radiant. But essentially in both Szeth became truthless because he believes the return is coming.
@JoanaSousaReads
3 жыл бұрын
I did make it until the end and wow not at all what I was expecting
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Congrats, I'm impressed lol! I know, it was so much darker and just doesn't feel like Stormlight at all.
@Koyomix86
Жыл бұрын
You said Meridas is like Sadeas but I actually think he’s supposed to be Amaram because Amaram’s first name is Meridas and Gavilar wanted Jasnah to marry him.
@Kcoldraz
3 жыл бұрын
Just came to me, isn't Merida's an analog to the prince that took in Shallan?
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Merdias is absolutely supposed to be Meridas Amaram lol. Just had a little brain blank lol
@Kcoldraz
3 жыл бұрын
It is so weird because I also can't remember what stonewards use but I know it is mentioned when Taln awoke in the Monastery.
@Rhedak
4 ай бұрын
I found the book very interesting but kept missing stormlight and spren. Also spoilers but I was very sad that Taln died. It seemed like such a waste. This book makes me very much look forward to the Herald viewpoints in the books 6 to 10
@Rhedak
4 ай бұрын
Also it feels like there are way too many named character deaths in this... I mean in the original many of Bridge 4 dies but in this it feels like we invest a lot in Dalinar's sons and Taln and then they just die
@ryangibson7192
3 жыл бұрын
I just realized Brandon used Szeth's original name for a bird in Words of Radiance (Jeksonofnone). I don't know why, but I find that kind of funny!
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Oohhh that's a super good catch! What an easter egg.
@lordruler69
3 жыл бұрын
Looks like the Amaram thing was already covered by others lol. Comments don't refresh while you're watching so I didn't see that. I did make it to the end! The most important change is that our kinda-warlord guy no longer has Dale as a possible shortname/nickname. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful teacher named Dale, but it just sticks out like a sore thumb.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I'm dying DALE 💀 💀 💀 Can you imagine. Also I'm super impressed you watched until the end lol
@lordruler69
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn it's good content, so not really that tough :P. I think you have the production quality and charm of some of the bigger fantasy youtubers, but probably a touch more detail oriented. I expect this to really take off at some point. If the WoT show is any good that could be an in to a larger audience, though I can't remember your feelings on the series. More people can also result in toxicity too. Oh, and yeah. Big bad Dale and his magic sword. All I can think of is Nascar and grilling lol.
@joaquinalvarez2784
3 жыл бұрын
Great video, thank you so much
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you 😊
@paulinetayloe9988
2 жыл бұрын
If the way of kings prime just like another copy of the way of king printed book?
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
Nope! It's the original draft that Sanderson wrote about a decade before the "real" WOK got released.
@brookelawrence6740
3 жыл бұрын
Renarin!
@AlcheonArt
3 жыл бұрын
I love your videos and I'm not trying to be mean here, but I'm mentioning it since you said Jasnah if your favourite character. Brandon said that her name is pronounced as "Yasnah", not the direct "j" sound. BUT it shouln't matter, everyone is free to pronounce the names in books however they want, I just said it as a FYI for you, since she's your favourite :)
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
I actually do know she's pronounced "Yasnah", but I didn't find out until years after I read it so it's just sooo hard for me to change, you know? But, thank you for saying this in such a kind way!
@AlcheonArt
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn Totally understandable! I first listened to the Way of Kings audiobook and then picked up the books and it was so weird to see "Szeth" in the book when i heard it like "Zed" in the audiobook haha
@VoidLantadd
3 жыл бұрын
Also, the in-world Way of Kings in Prime was written by a guy called Bajerden. In modern Stormlight, they call him Nohadon, but Shallan says that was a holy symmetrical name given to him after his death. Pattern complains that Nohadon is not symmetrical, and doesn't like the idea of putting an h in there and just pretending it makes it symmetrical. The name Nohadon had before he was called Nohadon, was Bajerden. I didn't double check anything before making this comment, so I may have spelled some things wrong.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Oh shoot, I originally had who wrote WOK in Prime in my notes but forgot to say it. I didn't remember though that bit from the official Way of Kings, though, and I love the easter egg.
@VoidLantadd
3 жыл бұрын
I found the bit I was talking about from Words of Radiance-I remembered it mostly because of Pattern's reaction: ‘Behardan King . . . something I do not understand . . . order, perhaps . . .’ Pattern said. ‘Map? Yes, that would likely be map. So the next is perhaps to draw . . . draw . . . something I do not understand . . .’ ‘You’re _reading_ it?’ ‘It is a pattern.’ ‘You’re _reading_ _the_ _Dawnchant.’_ ‘Not well.’ ‘You’re reading the _Dawnchant!’_ Shallan exclaimed. She scrambled up to the map beside which Pattern hovered, then rested her fingers on the script at the bottom. ‘Behardan, you said? Maybe Bajerden . . . Nohadon himself.’ ‘Bajerden? Nohadon? Must people have so many names?’ ‘One is honorific,’ Shallan said. ‘His original name wasn’t considered symmetrical enough. Well, I guess it wasn’t really symmetrical at all, so the ardents gave him a new one centuries ago.’ ‘But . . . the new one isn’t symmetrical either.’ ‘The _h_ sound can be for any letter,’ Shallan said absently. ‘We write it as the symmetrical letter, to make the word balance, but add a diacritical mark to indicate it sounds like an _h_ so the word is easier to say.’ ‘That - One can’t just _pretend_ that a word is symmetrical when it isn’t!’ -Words of Radiance, Chapter 47 And then from TWoKPrime: “Do what is right. Be honorable, even to your enemies. Study _The Way of Kings._ Have the monks read it to you often, until you have it memorized. Remember what Lord Bajerden wrote: ‘Nobility is service. Rank is a privilege, not a right.’ Do these things, Merin, and even the jealous ones will admire you.” -The Way of Kings Prime, Chapter 3
@Kcoldraz
3 жыл бұрын
Is it really 10seconds. I know it is mentioned but in story they seem to be able to summon it right away. I suppose because in cannon version they have scenes where they count so it is more apparent.
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Ahh I must've just missed it
@Jan_ne
6 ай бұрын
39:42 isnt that just basically Wheel of Time?
@Scaryder92
3 жыл бұрын
Great video as always! I am fairly new to your channel, sorry in advance if this question pops up a lot: do you have a public Goodreads account?
@Bookborn
3 жыл бұрын
Hi and welcome! No, I don't own a goodreads. It's a long story 😅 But I'm working on a strorygraph account right now so that people can see what I'm reading/what I've read easier!
@paulinetayloe9988
2 жыл бұрын
Where did you get the way of kings physical book? I can’t find that anywhere but I’m from the uk.
@Bookborn
2 жыл бұрын
I received it as a part of backing the kickstarter for Way of Kings leatherbound. So, I'm unsure if the physical copies will ever be sold outside of that...
@paulinetayloe9988
2 жыл бұрын
@@Bookborn well I don’t have the letherebound but I do have the pervious stormlight archive right up until oathbringer, here in the uk the books are split into two parts the rhythm of war was sold separate and I got dawn-shard edge dancer and mistborn era 1 and two physical copies mind you I’m still waiting for mistborn 7 to come out, I can wait iv got 191 books plus another 4 comeing for my birthday in June the 5th this year. I’d rather read books than anything else keeps me sane in life.
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