Elantris (original 2005; edition 2006)

As is typical in many fantasy stories - the world is very small. Limited to a few kingdoms, other parts were alluded to, but not really relevant to the story. I always find this sort of book hard to read - its seems too simple. But this story redeems itself by being a completely different sort of fantasy story - this one with Gods (or not Gods?) that have fallen, taking the whole country with them. It has likeable characters - an interesting magic system, and an interesting plot. The writing is solid.

It took a few chapters to get into the story, and, at times, I wanted to give it up. Not because it was badly written - but just how predictable the story was. What kept me reading was how the author managed to twist a familiar story - I wanted to see how the inevitable ending happened!

All in all, I would have loved this book in high school. But, my taste in literature is now more complex, so it was only a good book for me, not great. ( )

Elantris was once a fantastic city and the capital of Arelon. Its inhabitants had magical powers and were worshipped as demi-gods. Suddenly the magic disappeared – everything started to rot and the Elantrians became a cursed people. Even after the fall of Elantris Arelenes were taken by the so-called “Shaod” (the transformation to an Elantrian). From that point Elantrians are seen as dead – they cannot be killed unless they’re decapitated or burned, they don’t need food, although they feel like they’re starving all the time, and if they’re wounded in any way, their bodies cannot heal themselves.

This is what happens to the first of our three main protagonists at the beginning of the book: The prince of Arelon, Raoden, is thrown into the city of Elantris. His storyline focuses on how he wants to improve the lives in Elantris.
The second protagonist is Sarene, Raoden’s fiancé, who arrives in the new capital Kae a few days early to her wedding with Raoden. Although Raoden is thought dead as she arrives, their marriage contract is valid and Sarene is now a widow to a husband she has never met. She struggles to find her place at the court: She wants to stabilize the monarchy and improve the situation of the Arelens, even of the Elantrians. She chooses Hrathen, a high-ranking priest of a rivalling religion, as her nemesis and tries to corrupt all his plans.
Hrathen, a gyorn of the Derethi religion, is coming to Elantris at about the same time as Sarene. He wants to convert the people of Arelon to the so-called Shu Dereth. If he doesn’t achieve the conversion before three months are over, his countries’ armies will run over Arelon.

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I’m very new to the Fantasy genre and haven’t read much apart from The Lord of the Rings or A Game of Thrones. I liked this novel very much and I’m sure that I would have enjoyed it even more when I could have read it in one go. It was just the right balance between fantastical elements, politics and fighting. Although the protagonists could have been a little bit more ambivalent, it was a good read. ( )

If you have talked about fantasy books with me, you surely know that I simply adore Brandon Sanderson. I think he is the one of the big new hopes for the genre with his talent and originality. I have only read Mistborn series, so recently I decided to rectify that error and read the rest of his books.

Elantris is the one of the first books that Sanderson published. And you can sense that a little bit in his writing, but it is still very original and addictive. This book kept me awake until 1am reading (2 hours past my usual fall-asleep time) and in the end I had to force myself to put it away not because I am tired but because I know that I will be tired tomorrow and that I need to sleep now.

The story follows three main characters: Raoden (royal heir to the throne), Serene (his fiance) & Hrathen (priest). Each chapters switches perspective between them (in order). Reading about their story we again have opportunity to admire Sanderson's ability to make, realistic and likable characters - there is no black & white but shades of gray.

I admired price Raoden, his faith and belief in human goodness. Hope is pouring out from his action and sentences. He was my favorite character.
My other favorite not characters but creatures (or race?) in this book were Seons. They were so cute and lovable. And so noble. To a Seon, there is no above or beneath. There are only those we love. And we serve those we love.

As for the plot of the book, I simply can not say anything without spoilers. So I will say only this: If you like fantasy with good world & character building and original plot, that involves court intrigue, religious machinations and magic - then read this book. You will not be disappointed.
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I rarely get excited about fantasy these days. This book gives me hope for the genre. I could hardly put it down. I even told my family to shut up so that I could keep reading it in peace.

It pulled me in from the start. Raoden is just an ordinary princeling, until one morning he wakes up as an Elantrian. Once, this would be a blessing, but now, it is a curse. He is now a wretched, diseased soul, alive but with no heartbeat and no blood. His family pretends he is dead, and he is thrown into the once-great city of Elantris where he will suffer for eternity, the doors locked tightly behind him. Except he is not the type to give up that easily as he searches for the reason why Elantris fell, making allies and enemies in this new world along the way.

There are actually three stories in the book that end up intertwined:
Raoden's story. Described above.
Sarene's story. She is Raoden's would-be bride from another country, determined to find out why her husband is dead before she ever met him.
Hrathen's story. He is a highly-ranked man in the religion of a holy empire that is determined to convert Raoden's home country. He ends up at odds with Sarene.

At first I did not like Sarene, for she is far too clever, and she knows it, and her little manipulations always seem to pan out, but eventually one of her schemes fails, and that's when the story really gets going, and she becomes a real person I can sympathize with.

I kind of liked Hrathen (even though we know he is the 'bad guy') because his motivations are realistic. He truly believes that if he does not convert the country, the holy empire will destroy it. So I was kind of on his side when he and Sarene fought (but then may be because I didn't like Sarene then). He does his fair share of trickery and deceit, though, which actually just made him that much more interesting, and it's hard to guess what he is going to do next.

Raoden is the best character, and Galladon (a friend he makes in Elantris) is the perfect foil for him, optimist vs. pessimist.

But the Kaloo part was kind of silly; I guess it was an attempt at injecting some humor into the story when it was starting to get grim.

The magic system was also well-designed, basically based on drawing signs (Aons) in the air. Of course, this doesn't exactly matter since the magic is defunct in the world ever since Elantris fell, but I still thought it was neat.

My only complaint is that a lot of the terminology sounds the same: Reod, Teod, Seon, Shaod, and all the religions starting with Shu-whatever, etc. I was able to keep them all straight in my head but maybe a glossary beyond the (admittedly nifty) Aon list would have been nice.

Overall I think it's a great book and if you need some refreshing fantasy, give it a try. Kolo? ( )

I wish that this was my first Brandon Sanderson book, rather than my fifth. I did really enjoy it, but I just can't help but compare it to his later stories, and there are times when Elantris just fell a little short in the comparison.

But that's not really fair, honestly, because as a first novel, this was great. Of course Sanderson's writing would improve, and may it continue for the rest of time, but considering where he started, it's mighty damn impressive.

We've got a whole world here, nay, two whole worlds. Elantris, and Opelon. That one resides within the other, much like the Vatican in Rome, is irrelevant. They couldn't be more different. Elantris is a dead place, and those who find themselves almost-but-not-quite-dead are outcast there, to starve and suffer and eventually lose their minds from pain. The people outside of Elantris fear and hate it, but mainly just go on about their lives trying to ignore it completely. That is, until the Biggest, Baddest Religion comes knocking and the Conversion begins. Things get all interesting then.

This did feel like a first novel, but still Sanderson is an incredible author. My complaints about this one are pretty small, except one major one, and as I've read his later books, I feel that it's only in comparison that I even noticed them to complain at all. Like the fact that everyone's names are created around an aon, and the aon represents a feature or quality, not necessarily in the person, but in general. So how then do they not put together the aon "Rao" (which means spirit), with the real name of the person who goes by Spirit, Raoden? It seemed rather obvious to me, and I only just met this world!

I did really enjoy the characters, Sarene especially. She was independent, clever and daring and pulls no punches. I will give Sanderson huge props, his books are full of awesome female characters.

I loved Raoden, and Galladon, and Karata, and Hrathen. I thought they were all interesting and compelling characters that I wanted to read more about.

Maybe Sanderson will write more books in this world, and in fact I hope he does, because I feel like his major conflict was never really resolved here. I guess it's implied, perhaps, but I want definites. I don't see someone as power-hungry as Wyrn just taking his ball and going home. I see a full out war... and so I hope that that comes to pass one day. Otherwise, the ending seems like a sugar-coated cop-out... as much as it pains me to say it.

I still love you though, Brandon! When (not if, but when - I'm being optimistic!) you write Elantris II, Brandon, I know it will rock my socks off. And while we're on the subject of new books... The Way of Kings #2? Hurry? Pretty please?


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