Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Overview
A prince named Raoden is stricken with a terrible curse – overnight he is transformed into an Elantrian and mercilessly tossed into the fallen city of Elantris. While this city was once a center of power and magic, it is now an abandoned, hellish prison for Elantrians. Once beautiful magic wielders, Elantrians are now stricken with a curse that borders on zombie. They lose their hair, their heart stops beating, and they can never heal. Many Elantians eventually lose their minds from the pain. Yet, Raoden is not so easily defeated. Using all his charm and intelligence, he attempts to heal the hearts of these downtrodden Elantrians that did nothing to deserve their fate. Yet, there is much more at stake than meets the eye, and many characters in the balance, like Raoden’s stranger fiancee who arrives just in time for him to disappear.
Elantris is a stand-alone novel, but does exist with in the Cosmere (Brandon Sanderson’s fictional universe).
Plot
While I found the plot of this book to be complex, it was much easier to follow than a typical Sanderson novel. There were only three perspectives, all of which were vital to the story. Something I found quite refreshing was a bit of an interesting romance. There was just the right amount of it, allowing the romance to play an important part without allowing it to overtake the entire story. Overall, the plot was unique and fascinating. I found myself entirely drawn in, reading late into the night to figure out what would happen next. If you have not yet attempted a Brandon Sanderson novel, I would highly encourage you to start with this one.
Writing Style
I loved the writing style of this book. It is quite a bit simpler than Sanderson’s other novels, and yet, still maintains a complex plot and incredible twists and turns. In true Sanderson fashion, the world-building is wonderful, and I find myself truly able to feel as though I am there with the characters. The dialogue is believable and endearing, making me feel like a little fly on the wall of a real conversation happening between characters.
Characters
Okay, really though, after reading Elantris, Raoden is one of my favorite characters ever. I loved his undefeated optimism in the face of terrible tragedy. He is the kind of character that sees disaster, and interprets it as an opportunity for good. If you have not read any of Sanderson’s other works, this comparison with likely be lost on you, but Raoden reminds me of Kelsier from Mistborn, though with a bit of a softer side. He is also like Kaladin, from The Stormlight Archive, in that he is constantly trying to help those round him. Another character that I VERY MUCH enjoyed was Sarene. I often dislike how women are painted in fantasy. They are either simpering fools, or ruthless killers. For some reason, people don’t know how to write about a woman who can be powerful and feminine at the same time. Sarene is a character that is. I love how intelligent she is, and how she does not buy in to the expectation that a princess should simply smile and look pretty. She is surprisingly snarky, and an incredible politician. If Percy and Annabeth from Percy Jackson and the Olympians had a kid, it would be Sarene – fusing Percy’s heroic impulsiveness with Annabeth’s cunning and wisdom.
Overall
I would highly recommend this book to lovers of epic fantasy. It is fresh, exciting, and enthralling and I absolutely loved it.