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4.37 AVERAGE
4.37 AVERAGE
medium-paced
As is so common with anthologies, this one is a bit inconsistent. When the stories are good (The Emperor’s Soul, Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell, Sixth of Dusk) they are VERY good: exciting, engaging, and full of wonder and mystery. Whether it’s murderous ghosts or magic birds, Sanderson can create a fantasy hook like no other. But some of the deeper explorations of Sanderson’s existing worlds fall flat for me. The Secret History in particular dragged on way too long without much emotional payoff, feeling more like tired fan service than proper recontextualization.
In conclusion: Arcanum Unbounded is good, but don’t be afraid to skip the stories that aren’t working for you.
In conclusion: Arcanum Unbounded is good, but don’t be afraid to skip the stories that aren’t working for you.
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Top ten existential dread moments: Mistborn: Secret History
The segments from Mistborn Era 2 have not made me excited to start that series....
The segments from Mistborn Era 2 have not made me excited to start that series....
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Average rating: 3.39 ★
This was a fun collection with some true standout gems which are so good that I'm going to rate this 4★ even though my average rating was much lower. The Emperor's Soul and Mistborn: Secret History are enough for me to consider this close to essential reading for any die-hard Cosmere-fan.
The little introductions before each system and the author's notes were also really fun and I'll probably use this as a kind of reference-guide in the future. Lovers of easter eggs, lore, alternative perspectives and realmatic theory; this one's for you!
The Selish System
➽ The Emperor's Soul – ★★★★¼
Note: Outstanding. This is going to be one I recommend to people who want to try Sanderson, but doesn't want to commit to a series of chunky books.
➽ The Hope of Elantris – ★★½☆☆
The Scadrian System
➽ The Eleventh Metal – ★★★½☆
➽ Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Elantia – ★★¾☆☆
➽ Mistborn: Secret History – ★★★★☆
The Taldain System
➽ White Sand – ★★★☆☆
Note: Reading the prose-version actually made me like it more, and now I'm kind of onboard with Sanderson realising it at some point in the future.
The Threnodite System
➽ Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell – ★★★½☆
The Drominad System
➽ Sixth of the Dusk – ★★★½☆
Note: Such a cool world and now I'm really curious about Isles of the Emberdark.
The Rosharan System
➽ Edgedancer – ★★★½☆
This was a fun collection with some true standout gems which are so good that I'm going to rate this 4★ even though my average rating was much lower. The Emperor's Soul and Mistborn: Secret History are enough for me to consider this close to essential reading for any die-hard Cosmere-fan.
The little introductions before each system and the author's notes were also really fun and I'll probably use this as a kind of reference-guide in the future. Lovers of easter eggs, lore, alternative perspectives and realmatic theory; this one's for you!
The Selish System
➽ The Emperor's Soul – ★★★★¼
Note: Outstanding. This is going to be one I recommend to people who want to try Sanderson, but doesn't want to commit to a series of chunky books.
➽ The Hope of Elantris – ★★½☆☆
The Scadrian System
➽ The Eleventh Metal – ★★★½☆
➽ Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Elantia – ★★¾☆☆
➽ Mistborn: Secret History – ★★★★☆
The Taldain System
➽ White Sand – ★★★☆☆
Note: Reading the prose-version actually made me like it more, and now I'm kind of onboard with Sanderson realising it at some point in the future.
The Threnodite System
➽ Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell – ★★★½☆
The Drominad System
➽ Sixth of the Dusk – ★★★½☆
Note: Such a cool world and now I'm really curious about Isles of the Emberdark.
The Rosharan System
➽ Edgedancer – ★★★½☆
The Emperor's Soul - My absolute favourite thing as a whole that Sanderson's done, bar none. Short but gorgeously formed. 5/5
The Hope of Elantris - I have to admit that while fine on it's own, I didn't care enough about Elantris to begin with to really find this moment interesting. Cute reason for writing it though. 1/5
The Eleventh Metal - Fine for those curious but definitely the lightest/easiest cut piece in here, barring maybe... 2/5
Allomancer Jak - Fun enough for what it is, but I wouldn't have missed it if cut. 1/5
Mistborn: Secret History - While avoiding spoilers: I feel like this character in particular worked better in the context of the original novel. It did peel back the veil for some fascinating glimpses on the wider world in the background though, and for anyone who is a fan, I'm sure it's a highlight. 3/5
White Sand - Interesting enough; I'll definitely be checking out the graphic novel, though I actually felt the written section was better? Also, found it funny that Sanderson went with this as being the magic system that made the most sense in comic format when he has an entire one based on colour? I know what he means but still. 3/5
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell - Talk about a crapsack world. I really enjoyed this if only because everything about it felt significantly different from the rest of Sanderson's work. Particularly the fact the entire thing had a definite suspense/horror feel. If he chooses to veer off in this direction for some of the other Cosmere stuff that is forthcoming (making them a bit more genre distinct) I wouldn't be mad. 4/5
Sixth of the Dusk - I feel like the themes at play here are tricky to write well and avoid the easy 'Noble Savage' tropes, and there's some of that, but overall, loved this. Fuck me up with more Drominad please (lol it's never happening). 5/5
Edgedancer - My journey with Lift is complicated. This worked for me, but sufficed to say, there's a very thin line being walked with this character across the books before she becomes entirely too grating, distractingly overpowered or both. This was good though. 4/5
The Hope of Elantris - I have to admit that while fine on it's own, I didn't care enough about Elantris to begin with to really find this moment interesting. Cute reason for writing it though. 1/5
The Eleventh Metal - Fine for those curious but definitely the lightest/easiest cut piece in here, barring maybe... 2/5
Allomancer Jak - Fun enough for what it is, but I wouldn't have missed it if cut. 1/5
Mistborn: Secret History - While avoiding spoilers: I feel like this character in particular worked better in the context of the original novel. It did peel back the veil for some fascinating glimpses on the wider world in the background though, and for anyone who is a fan, I'm sure it's a highlight. 3/5
White Sand - Interesting enough; I'll definitely be checking out the graphic novel, though I actually felt the written section was better? Also, found it funny that Sanderson went with this as being the magic system that made the most sense in comic format when he has an entire one based on colour? I know what he means but still. 3/5
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell - Talk about a crapsack world. I really enjoyed this if only because everything about it felt significantly different from the rest of Sanderson's work. Particularly the fact the entire thing had a definite suspense/horror feel. If he chooses to veer off in this direction for some of the other Cosmere stuff that is forthcoming (making them a bit more genre distinct) I wouldn't be mad. 4/5
Sixth of the Dusk - I feel like the themes at play here are tricky to write well and avoid the easy 'Noble Savage' tropes, and there's some of that, but overall, loved this. Fuck me up with more Drominad please (lol it's never happening). 5/5
Edgedancer - My journey with Lift is complicated. This worked for me, but sufficed to say, there's a very thin line being walked with this character across the books before she becomes entirely too grating, distractingly overpowered or both. This was good though. 4/5
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated