The Rithmatist

The Rithmatist is set in a country called The United Isles in a world eerily similar to our own. In fact, author Brandon Sanderson has created a fascinating alternative world that is powered, not by electricity or oil, but by gears. Instead of a single land mass, the western hemisphere is a cluster of large islands including Nebrask, Dakote, New France (think Louisiana), and Georgiabama, to name a few. The setting is a private school on the eastern island state called New Britannia.

Armedius Academy focuses on training young Rithmatists in the skills associated with a powerful magic; a magic which can mean the difference of life and death. These students use chalk and their geometry skills to wage battles against animated two-dimensional show more chalk figures which can be manipulated by their creators to break down defenses drawn by other rithmatists.

Joel is a scholarship student at the Armedius Academy. His deceased father was a revered chalk maker and his mother remains at the Academy where her husband worked as a cleaning lady. Joel has a fascination with Rithmatic principles and an impressive knowledge of strategies used in the animated battles of chalklings, the name given to the chalk figures, though he longs to be a rithmatist, he is not.

But Joel's knowledge and skills are needed when bright young rithmatist students begin to disappear and unusual and unexpected events begin to occur. Ominous traces of blood remain, but no bodies... Are they still alive? Why is this happening? A gifted rithmatist professor is tasked with resolving the mystery and surprisingly, he chooses Joel as his assistant. Sanderson uses some clever plot twists to keep the story moving toward a stirring and exciting conclusion. It ends like the first of a series needs to end, with the beginning of a new and exciting plot line introduced.

This is a Young Adult fantasy that is a pleasure to read. And how cool is it that the kids who are best at drawing and geometry have the edge on the battlefield? show less

Fans of either the Crimson Tide or the Bulldogs will hate this book. For myself, as a resident of Nebraska, I was pleased to find that the ancient power in this young adult fantasy novel is contained by a perpetual war on the island of Nebrask. I thought at first this might be a semantic coincidence, but soon learned that this North America is a collection of disconnected islands. It’s also not a coincidence because Brandon Sanderson was born in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The fact that he anchors so much of his plot in the struggle (albeit unseen) on an island analogous to his home state might make this the most Sandersonian of all his novels. Certainly all the usual elements are here, from well-crafted action scenes to flowing and believable show more dialogue to an intricate magical system into which he’s clearly invested way too much thought.

In addition to these, his Mormon heritage is more obvious than is often the case. Membership in the Monarchical Church comes through an inception ceremony at the cathedral. A fractional percentage of participants receive power to manipulate chalk drawings in ways that affect the world kinetically, and these Rithmatists are sworn never to reveal the secrets of their inception. All of this seems pretty clearly inspired by the Mormon endowment ceremony.

Though written for teenagers, the story is smart and smartly told in a way that can appeal to adults. I’ve read a few modern YA books in recent years; they always leave me aghast that, if they bear any semblance to reality, today’s youth appear to be drowning in an abyss of angst and despair in a world where adults are absent when they aren’t detached or clueless.

This book subverts that, with well-adjusted teenagers and thoughtful adults working together on the mystery of what’s causing Rithmatists of Armedius Academy to vanish. As a delightful bonus for me, Sanderson casually drops hints of his world’s alternate history along the way. One of my favorites is the traditional Italian dish of spaghetti “mixed with fried peppers, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and a tangy tomato soy sauce” due to the hegemony of the joSeun (Korean) Empire over Europe.

At the time of this review, fans of “The Rithmatist” have been waiting over a decade for the next installment, though Sanderson admitted in 2019 that his own son is badgering him for the sequel. For now, this is a fun and satisfying standalone story with more than a passing resemblance to the classic British boarding school novel. Admirable characters and Mormon-clean writing make this a safe bet for parents who want their kids to read but don’t want to worry about what they’re reading.

Oh, and why would I say that certain college football fans will hate this book? Because in this world, the island just northwest of the Floridian Atolls is known as Georgiabama. If another civil war breaks out in the United Isles, my money is that this unnatural powder keg will be the flashpoint. show less

There is a world in this novel that I dearly wanted explained! The protagonist is the perfect narrator - the outsider who wants to be in, the one who wants to solve the mysteries and learn the things that are given so freely to the rithmatists and denied all others. I enjoyed the mystery, the relationships, and the possibility of another novel in this world - though the story is complete in itself.

Another win for Mr Sanderson!
It was extremely different from his other books I've read so far, for obvious reason, the genre and the age range. But it doesn't mean it wasn't intriguing and well done because duh, it was!

As usual Sanderson's magic system is incredibly particular and fascinating. Duelling with chalk drawings was something I've never read about before and it was so fun to see it.

I adored the unlikely friendship that slowly builds between Joel and Melody, it was so nice to see them working together and trusting one another. It was also intriguing to see their different side of things, Joel wanting to be a Rithmatist with his entire heart, and Melody always being one and feeling slaved by it. They start with prejudice against show more one another and ending up understand the other's point of view.

I also didn't see the twists coming at all, one maybe yes, but it was really well done. You guess one thing then the story completely turns in another way and then you realize it was there in front of your eyes the entire time.

It has a mix of mystery and fun and it's definitely one I liked. Now I gotta wait until Sanderson writes his other 12383939 series to have a continuation because it. can't. end. like. that. show less

The first couple of chapters left me feeling meh", as the main character was not that likable. Then it gelled and became a standard Sanderson book, which being translated, means it was AWESOME!

This is steampunk. I hate steampunk. And Sanderson made me like this book.

Age of reading is definitely a step above the Alcatraz books, but not the full on adult world of say [b:Mistborn: The Final Empire|68428|Mistborn The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312038619s/68428.jpg|66322] or even [b:Elantris|68427|Elantris|Brandon Sanderson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316637512s/68427.jpg|2908871].

Really cool ideas that are well thought out. Characters were interesting, engaging, true to life [ie, even show more complete dicks have their good points] and fun.

The plot was twisty, turny with just the right amount of sentiment, hints of young love, pathos and courageous determinism.

The main reason I didn't give this a 5star is because it is the first of a series. Maybe the series will suck later and affect my thoughts on this book. Maybe Sanderson will die partway through book 2. Who knows. So I reserve judgement for that final star..." show less

The Rithmatist is steampunk (or, to be more technically correct, gearpunk) set in an alternate North America where magicians called Rithmatists duel with chalk figures that come to life.

Joel has always been fascinated by Rithmatists, though he knows he will never be one. Joel is a non-Rithmatic student at Armedius Academy, one of only eight schools in the United Isles where Rithmatists are trained. As the son of a chalkmaker and a cleaning lady, Joel could never have afforded tuition at Armedius, had not Principal York given Joel a scholarship after his father died. Joel dreams of becoming a scholar of Rithmatics, though his grades in his normal classes are lackluster at best. When he sees a chance to study with Professor Fitch, a show more Rithmatic professor, over the summer, he jumps at the chance. Little does Joel know that the quiet, orderly world of Armedius is about to be turned upside down by the disappearance of several Rithmatic students. When the principal asks Professor Fitch to help the police by examining the Rithmatic lines found at the scenes of the disappearances, Joel is drawn in to the the investigation as well. He's also drawn in (much more reluctantly) to a friendship with Melody, a young Rithmatist who is seeing Fitch for remedial tutoring over the summer. Can Joel, Melody, and Professor Fitch unravel the mystery before other students are taken?

Once again, Sanderson has come up with an innovative and complex magic system, a detailed and imaginative setting, a gripping plot, and fully realized characters. In fact, my only real quibble with the book is that Melody is a stereotypical "spunky redhead" -- where are all of the spunky blondes and brunettes in novels, huh? But that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. Fans of Sanderson's adult novels may find this a little simplistic, but I think the target audience (young teens) will find a lot to like here. show less

I almost wish that Sanderson would write something terrible. Because so far I love every one of his books and it's getting... strange. Anyway, this book is perfect. Although meant for a younger audience and not that complex as his other works, Rithmatist brings everything that Sanderson does so wonderfully. The characters are unique and easy to connect to, the plot is original, the "magic" system is new and detailed and I just loved the alternative version of our world (especially things like "traditional European food" – Italian stir-fry spaghetti). With a great twist at the end, there is an opening for a sequel, which in this case I quite appreciate. I want to criticize something, just so this feels more unbias, but I struggle to show more find something. Even a girl obsessed with unicorns, constantly yelling that "The Unicorn Is A Very Noble And Majestic Animal" to everybody seems in place here, not annoying as one would expect. show less