Elantris
A Cosmere Standalone
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4,4 • 23 Bewertungen
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- 5,99 €
Beschreibung des Verlags
Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person until touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod.
Ten years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, leper-like, powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling.
Arelon's new capital, Kae, crouches in the shadow of Elantris. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives for a marriage of state with Crown Prince Raoden, hoping - based on their correspondence - to also find love. She finds instead that Raoden has died and she is considered his widow. Both Teod and Arelon are under threat as the last remaining holdouts against the imperial ambitions of the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. So Sarene decides to use her new status to counter the machinations of Hrathen, a Fjordell high priest who has come to Kae to convert Arelon and claim it for his emperor and his god.
But neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspect the truth about Prince Raoden. Stricken by the same curse that ruined Elantris, Raoden was secretly exiled by his father to the dark city. His struggle to help the wretches trapped there begins a series of events that will bring hope to Arelon, and perhaps reveal the secret of Elantris itself . . .
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Sanderson's outstanding fantasy debut, refreshingly complete unto itself and free of the usual genre clich s, offers something for everyone: mystery, magic, romance, political wrangling, religious conflict, fights for equality, sharp writing and wonderful, robust characters. The godlike inhabitants of Elantris, once the capital of the land of Arelon, have degenerated into powerless, tortured souls, unable to die, after the city's magic inexplicably broke 10 years earlier. When the same curse strikes Prince Raoden of Arelon and he's imprisoned in Elantris, he refuses to surrender to his grim fate and instead strives to create a society out of the fallen and to unlock the secret that will restore the city's glory. Meanwhile, Princess Sarene of Kae (Arelon's new capital), who was betrothed to Raoden sight unseen, believes her intended has died. Officially declared his widow, she must use her political savvy and wit to protect Kae from malevolent forces without and within the city, chiefly Hrathen, a leader of the creepy Shu-Dereth faith, who aims to either convert Kae or destroy it within three months. The intrigue and excitement grow steadily in this smoothly written, perfectly balanced narrative; by the end readers won't want to put it down. As the blurb from Orson Scott Card suggests, Sanderson is a writer to watch.
Kundenrezensionen
Good premise
A fallen city of gods, that chooses it‘s victims ( through the Shaod ) at random while political strife is tearing the city adjacent to it apart? It‘s a good idea however the characters are weak in this book.
Raoden the crown prince is the embodiment of a fantasy husband for your average gal. He is kind to a fault which doesn‘t fit his status as a spoiled rich royalty and he is overall meek towards anything his love interest does. Always understanding. Always caring. Does that sound familiar? Yes because that‘s a dog in human form.
But nothing made me at times want to quit reading this book like the obnoxious princess Sarene. She is rash, capricious and is the textbook Marry Sue.
She is the embodiment of women who erroneously claim that nobody wants to date them because of their superior intellect which is supposed to be intimidating.
I think all women who hold on to this belief and further feel vindicated by the author, should seriously seek a professional.
The reason nobody wants to date you, is your obnoxious personality. Most men and women are sapiosexual. We are not intimidated by intelligence. Like women we are turned off by someone who believes their antisocial behaviour is acceptable.
This unfortunately brings me to the only character in this book that is barely above average. Hrathen is somewhat interesting. His dilemma and predicament are believable however the author intentionally forces him to fumble to give Marry Sue options for comeback.
In the end Elantris has potential. If Brandon Sanderson ever decides to rewrite this book, I happily read it again but until then ( which is probably never going to happen ) enjoy the premise and look at the characters as plotdevices and nothing else.
If some of the characters I described vex you then read other works of Brandon Sanderson. Arcanum unbounded is great.