Elantris
A Cosmere Novel
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4.5 • 160 Ratings
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
Elantris was built on magic and it thrived. But then the magic began to fade and Elantris began to rot. And now its shattered citizens face domination by a powerful Imperium motivated by dogged religious views. Can a young Princess unite the people of Elantris, rediscover the lost magic and lead a rebellion against the imperial zealots?
Brandon Sanderson's debut fantasy showed his skill as a storyteller and an imaginer of baroque magical systems to be fully developed from the start.
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.
Customer Reviews
Great Book
Only once in a while will a book come along that is worthy of a review - this is one of those books! There's a lot to admire about Elantris. One is the care with which the author builds his world. Great characters and conversations, interesting story and a beautiful unique magic system. He allows his world, its peoples, and most importantly the rules pertaining to its magic, to develop organically as his story draws you in. One of the best!!
so-so
Enjoyable enough, but it did get a tad bored in the middle where it dragged