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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved the characters. Awesome first book, but nothing compared to his other work. Well worth the read though.
adventurous
mysterious
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:
No
Really enjoyed the book! The world building and magic system were awesome. The city of Elantris was written so well and it was so grim and gave off some dark souls vibes to me. All of the characters were likable for the most part. I partially predicted the ending but there were some things I did not. Regardless of whether it was predictable or not, I still really enjoyed it. Off to read Mistborn now!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Elantris was a book that took me some time to warm up to. The opening felt slow, and it was hard at first to really get invested in the city, the magic, and the characters. But once I settled into the story and the political and personal stakes became clearer, I found myself pulled in and eager to see where it was going. Brandon Sanderson’s worldbuilding, especially for a debut novel, was impressive once it began to unfold.
I especially enjoyed Sarene’s chapters. Her intelligence, wit, and ability to navigate court politics made her one of my favorite parts of the book. Every time she outmaneuvered her opponents or cleverly worked her way through another political snare, I found myself smiling. Her chapters added both energy and humor to the narrative, while also showing the importance of strategy in a city on the brink of collapse.
Hrathen, though, might have been the most interesting character of all. His arc was layered and full of moral conflict, and watching his faith and his loyalty tested was one of the best parts of the book. I liked how he wasn’t a one-note villain but a man truly wrestling with belief, duty, and doubt. By the end, I appreciated how much depth Sanderson gave him.
The side characters also made the story richer and more memorable. Galladon’s dry humor was a constant highlight, while Karata brought heart and determination to Elantris itself. Outside the walls Roial, Eondel, Kiin, Kaise, and Shuden all added texture to Sarene’s world and showed how vibrant the supporting cast could be. Even though they weren’t always in the spotlight, they made the world feel alive and gave weight to the bigger conflicts.
Overall, Elantris was slow to start but ultimately very rewarding. Once I was invested, I found myself caring deeply about the characters and their struggles, and I appreciated how the three different viewpoints wove together by the end. While it may not have the polish of Sanderson’s later works, it was still a creative and satisfying story that I’m glad I stuck with.
I listened to the Graphic Audio version which might have improved my perception of the book, but I actually found it very enjoyable? If this is his worst book, I'm in for a treat for the next few...
B-Money don't miss. Overall I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. It's one of his darker books and I enjoyed that aspect of it. I only wish that he committed harder into it and have this be his darker series. This is still a very good book though and I'm curious how it ties in with the rest of the cosmere.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-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