The Way Of Kings’ Opening Copied Mistborn’s Very First Scene – But It Did It Better

The prologue of The Way of Kings mirrors the very first scene of the Mistborn saga, but The Stormlight Archive accomplishes more with its opening. Brandon Sanderson’s books have a tendency to pull readers in with gripping beginnings, with all his fantasy novels being great from the very first scene. The similarities between The Final Empire‘s and The Way of King‘s prologues go beyond that, establishing the intricate worlds of their respective series through incidents that mirror one another.

Of course, Sanderson’s two series unfold quite differently from then onward, with The Stormlight Archive boasting larger-scale storytelling than Mistborn. Naturally, this leads to pacing differences, as well as a much larger cast of characters to follow in The Stormlight Archive. Despite the differences between the two series, they both dedicate a lot of attention to the political workings of their worlds and how they affect the individual characters and grander conflicts between gods. And both additions to the Cosmere introduce their political stakes through similar openings.

The Way Of Kings’ Opening Scene Mirrors The First Moments Of The Mistborn Saga

Both Introduce The World’s Politics Through Assassinations

The prologue of Mistborn: The Final Empire sees Kelsier killing Lord Tresting, one of the noblemen who serves the Lord Ruler. The Stormlight Archive opens with a more organized assassination, but it mirrors The Final Empire‘s prologue in the way things play out. Both novels begin with someone killing an adversary, introducing the political tensions of their worlds and kicking off the major conflicts of their respective books.

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Kelsier’s prologue reveals the hierarchy of Mistborn‘s world, laying the foundation for the skaa to rebel against the noblemen later on. Meanwhile, Szeth’s prologue in The Way of Kings introduces the tense relations between the Parshendi and Alethi — relations made worse after Szeth assassinates King Gavilar. There are differences between Szeth and Kelsier, as the former is a weapon wielded by others, while Kelsier is acting of his own volition. However, it’s clear Sanderson leans into a similar opening style in both The Final Empire and The Way of Kings.

And it works to the author’s advantage in both cases, as starting his fantasy series with high-stakes action moments successfully gets readers invested in his stories. The Way of Kings’ prologue leans further into the action of the moment, however, which is why it does a better job with its opening sequence despite Mistborn doing it first.

The Stormlight Archive’s Opening Sequence Accomplishes More Than Mistborn’s

The Greater Focus On Action Works In The Way Of Kings’ Favor

There’s no denying that The Final Empire’s opening scene is iconic — it would work well for a Mistborn TV show or movie — but it doesn’t go as far as The Way of Kings’ prologue. It’s obvious that Sanderson’s writing evolved between the two series, allowing the author to fully capitalize on The Stormlight Archive‘s similar beginning. It’s simply more effective at pulling readers into the story, as it spends a lot more time on the action of Szeth’s mission. By contrast, The Final Empire doesn’t actually show Kelsier using his powers or fighting anyone.

That makes The Stormlight Archive‘s opening more thrilling, but that’s not the only benefit of showing Szeth in pursuit of the king. The Way of Kings also manages to establish the series’ magic system amid everything else happening, rendering its prologue impressively effective. The first Mistborn book unravels its complex magic system later on, but The Stormlight Archive outlines the world, political stakes, and magic during its opening — and it still manages to make a strong impression on top of all that.

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  The Stormlight Archive

  The Stormlight Archive is an epic fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson, set on the storm-ravaged world of Roshar. The series follows multiple characters, each with their unique storylines, as they navigate political intrigue, ancient prophecies, and powerful magic. Central to the story are the Knights Radiant, legendary warriors with magical abilities who must return to save their world from impending destruction. The series explores themes of honor, leadership, and the burden of power.

  Created by

  Brandon Sanderson

  Character(s)

  Kaladin Stormblessed , Shallan Davar , Dalinar Kholin , Adolin Kholin , Jasnah Kholin , Szeth-son-son-Vallano , Navani Kholin

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  Mistborn

  The Mistborn series, created by Brandon Sanderson, is a high-fantasy saga set in the world of Scadrial, where magic is powered by metals through a system called Allomancy. The series focuses on political intrigue, heists, and the battle between good and evil. The first trilogy, Mistborn: The Final Empire, follows the struggle to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, the Lord Ruler. Later books in the series, including Era 2, take place hundreds of years after the events of the original trilogy, expanding the story into new settings with new characters, all while maintaining connections to the original storyline.

  Books:

  Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)
  Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (2007)
  Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (2008)
  Mistborn: The Alloy of Law (2011)
  Mistborn: Shadows of Self (2015)
  Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning (2016)
  Mistborn: The Lost Metal (2022)

  Created by

  Brandon Sanderson

  Character(s)

  Vin , Kelsier , Sazed , Marsh , Elend Venture , Waxillium “Wax” Ladrian , Wayne , Steris Harms