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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
This is a classic Sanderson feeling plot and setting, and I like it so far! The art is also very good.
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
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
Naturally, this book isn't polished so I just didn't feel right giving it five stars even though the story was very interesting. The magic in this book was really cool and the world building is fantastic (as always with Brandon Sanderson). I also really enjoyed the fight scenes which I thought were brilliantly done.
Anyone interested in reading it can e-mail Brandon Sanderson.
Anyone interested in reading it can e-mail Brandon Sanderson.
For being an unpublished, "rough" novel, it was very good That being said, it does have some glaring weaknesses that aren't so prevalent in Sanderson's other novels. I'd go into detail more, but Sanderson asked that people who have received copies don't discuss the book online in a public forum as a graphic novel adaption will be coming next year. I'm looking forward to that and how the story will change.
4.5/5 stars.
Read the sampler in Arcanum Unbounded.
I wish he would publish this as a novel.
Read the sampler in Arcanum Unbounded.
I wish he would publish this as a novel.
Despite this being an unpolished work, it is an excellent piece of work. I really want to see how it develops even though it won't happen now. This work was supposed to be a trilogy but it is now being converted to a series of graphic novels.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
My favourite thing about Sanderson fantasies is the magic system. In Elantris we got sigils and a magic land, Mistborn was magic fuelled by ingested metals, here the magic comes from sand and the power of the sun. Each group of magic comes together with a rich culture and land, this is no different. The land is sandy, hot with an intricate water system (there is a real difference between the desert parts and the non-desert parts), unique animals, foods sources, and goods to supplement the human population. As a dark-skinned individual, my favourite part was the inclusion of people with a similar skin-tone who were not relegated to the place of evil villain or side kick. Usually a dark-skinned person in fantasy is male, or if it’s a race, they are barely human or a harsh, primitive culture.
At it’s heart, white sand is very similar in tone to Elantris. There is a lot of political intrigue, prejudice towards the magical people (although in this case, some of the resentment is warranted – nobody likes a freeloader), and a strong religious presence that is against the sand masters. Duchess Khrissalla and her people serve the position of the foreign visitors. Although in this story her involvement is only indirectly linked to Kenton’s story, and the romance is more heavily implied and features more heavily than in Elantris.
The main story follows Kenton, a half Kershtian/half Lossander sand master who finds himself having to use his determination, as much as anything else, to save the place that has been his home for many years. Facing betrayal, assassination attempts, political attacks and his own internal struggles. Around this central story are several other tangents, some more significant than others.
There is Khriss, a darkside duchess from Elis, who is on a mission to find her betrothed Prince Gevalden, a man who had travelled to dayside two years prior seeking knowledge of the sand mages, in the hopes of defending the nation against the Emperor Scythe. Scythe is determined to absorb Elis into the greater Dynasty. The twist about what happened to Gevin was pretty easy to guess, then again this is an unpolished novel.
There is also Ais, a trackt, who is facing conflict and some form of mental trauma as he searches for a brutal killer. The A’Kar, the religious head who had promised to get rid of the sand mages permanently and is determined to deliver on that promise. And other more minor tangents.
Since it’s incomplete, in the sense that it’s not publish-ready, there are some things that seem unresolved. The final scene at Ker Kedasha with the holy warriors and the A’Kar. What will happen with Eric? I found that part with Eric strange considering how every other such hard decision was resolved. To give so many so much leniency and yet choose to make that single sacrifice, at the cost of so much, seemed uncharacteristic. That was resentment earned unfortunately.
I’m guessing the Cosmere cannon graphic novels probably resolve these plot lines, perhaps with Ais helping on one front since he is heading towards Ker Kedasha. The ending has a strong sense of “to be continued.” Would book two have explored darkside? Or would book two have focused on the growing conflicts of dayside? Both sides have the possibility of war brewing. Is there a possibility of making something similar to sand mastery work on darkside? Probably not, but if anyone can find it it's Khriss.
What can I say? Even unedited Sanderson promises a good time. Anyone can write about magic, Sanderson gives you a unique magic system with a culture and language to go with it. Here, he also gives you a foreigner to walk around with and experience the new culture through, genuine prejudices and tensions within the culture, twists and betrayals and real people. It’s not perfect but it’s entertaining to read.
At it’s heart, white sand is very similar in tone to Elantris. There is a lot of political intrigue, prejudice towards the magical people (although in this case, some of the resentment is warranted – nobody likes a freeloader), and a strong religious presence that is against the sand masters. Duchess Khrissalla and her people serve the position of the foreign visitors. Although in this story her involvement is only indirectly linked to Kenton’s story, and the romance is more heavily implied and features more heavily than in Elantris.
The main story follows Kenton, a half Kershtian/half Lossander sand master who finds himself having to use his determination, as much as anything else, to save the place that has been his home for many years. Facing betrayal, assassination attempts, political attacks and his own internal struggles. Around this central story are several other tangents, some more significant than others.
There is Khriss, a darkside duchess from Elis, who is on a mission to find her betrothed Prince Gevalden, a man who had travelled to dayside two years prior seeking knowledge of the sand mages, in the hopes of defending the nation against the Emperor Scythe. Scythe is determined to absorb Elis into the greater Dynasty. The twist about what happened to Gevin was pretty easy to guess, then again this is an unpolished novel.
There is also Ais, a trackt, who is facing conflict and some form of mental trauma as he searches for a brutal killer. The A’Kar, the religious head who had promised to get rid of the sand mages permanently and is determined to deliver on that promise. And other more minor tangents.
Since it’s incomplete, in the sense that it’s not publish-ready, there are some things that seem unresolved. The final scene at Ker Kedasha with the holy warriors and the A’Kar. What will happen with Eric? I found that part with Eric strange considering how every other such hard decision was resolved. To give so many so much leniency and yet choose to make that single sacrifice, at the cost of so much, seemed uncharacteristic. That was resentment earned unfortunately.
I’m guessing the Cosmere cannon graphic novels probably resolve these plot lines, perhaps with Ais helping on one front since he is heading towards Ker Kedasha. The ending has a strong sense of “to be continued.” Would book two have explored darkside? Or would book two have focused on the growing conflicts of dayside? Both sides have the possibility of war brewing. Is there a possibility of making something similar to sand mastery work on darkside? Probably not, but if anyone can find it it's Khriss.
What can I say? Even unedited Sanderson promises a good time. Anyone can write about magic, Sanderson gives you a unique magic system with a culture and language to go with it. Here, he also gives you a foreigner to walk around with and experience the new culture through, genuine prejudices and tensions within the culture, twists and betrayals and real people. It’s not perfect but it’s entertaining to read.
I love Brandon, but his stuff does not translate well to comics. There is too much of the interior world of his characters that do not come through. Also, the art is poor and confusing. It looks like the artist is stuck in the early 90s of Image. Disappointing, but because of the cosmere connections I'll probably read the next.
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3.5 stars: This (old) new story by Brandon SanderGOD (yeah, I'm a fanboy) was entertaining for the most part, but being only a third of the whole story, it left me wanting more.
The magic system is extremely awesome and original, and the characters were very interesting. The artwork was also great, and it was cool to read an adaptation of a Sanderson story in graphic novel format.
What I didn't like was that at the beginning of the story, Kenton (the main character) was very similar to Joel, the protagonist of The Rithmatist. Also, except for Kenton's storyline, I didn't completely understand what the hell were the other character's were doing...
Anyway, this was a nice introduction to a new Cosmere story (although I only found one reference to the Cosmere) and I'll read the other volumes.
--------------------------------------------
Esta novela gráfica es la adaptación de un manuscrito que Sanderson escribió al mismo tiempo que Elantris, y que por distintas razones no había sido publicada.
Como siempre pasa con las historias de este autor, el sistema de magia es impresionante y sumamente original. Además es presentado de una forma bastante sencilla y con reglas muy claras, y el hecho de ser presentado en forma gráfica hizo que fuera todavía más fácil de comprender que en algunas de sus novelas, donde al principio puede ser un poco complicado acostumbrarse a cómo funciona la magia.
Sin embargo, a pesar de que amo todas las historias que escribe este autor, este volumen es apenas un tercio de la historia completa y sirve más que nada como introducción a los diferentes arcos argumentales de la historia. Justo cuando la historia me empezó a enganchar se terminó la novela gráfica y tener que esperar un año a que salga el siguiente no va a estar bueno -.-'
Por lo tanto ten en cuenta que es apenas la presentación de una nueva historia que promete mucho, pero capaz que sería aconsejable esperar a que esté terminada para leerla. Aunque es presentada como una novela del Cosmere, en este volumen la única referencia que encontré fue una mención a los ten fools (no sé como lo tradujeron porque leí los libros en inglés xD), así que supongo que en los siguientes volúmenes veremos cómo encaja esta historia en el maravilloso universo de Sanderson.
3.5 stars: This (old) new story by Brandon SanderGOD (yeah, I'm a fanboy) was entertaining for the most part, but being only a third of the whole story, it left me wanting more.
The magic system is extremely awesome and original, and the characters were very interesting. The artwork was also great, and it was cool to read an adaptation of a Sanderson story in graphic novel format.
What I didn't like was that at the beginning of the story, Kenton (the main character) was very similar to Joel, the protagonist of The Rithmatist. Also, except for Kenton's storyline, I didn't completely understand what the hell were the other character's were doing...
Anyway, this was a nice introduction to a new Cosmere story (although I only found one reference to the Cosmere) and I'll read the other volumes.
--------------------------------------------
Esta novela gráfica es la adaptación de un manuscrito que Sanderson escribió al mismo tiempo que Elantris, y que por distintas razones no había sido publicada.
Como siempre pasa con las historias de este autor, el sistema de magia es impresionante y sumamente original. Además es presentado de una forma bastante sencilla y con reglas muy claras, y el hecho de ser presentado en forma gráfica hizo que fuera todavía más fácil de comprender que en algunas de sus novelas, donde al principio puede ser un poco complicado acostumbrarse a cómo funciona la magia.
Sin embargo, a pesar de que amo todas las historias que escribe este autor, este volumen es apenas un tercio de la historia completa y sirve más que nada como introducción a los diferentes arcos argumentales de la historia. Justo cuando la historia me empezó a enganchar se terminó la novela gráfica y tener que esperar un año a que salga el siguiente no va a estar bueno -.-'
Por lo tanto ten en cuenta que es apenas la presentación de una nueva historia que promete mucho, pero capaz que sería aconsejable esperar a que esté terminada para leerla. Aunque es presentada como una novela del Cosmere, en este volumen la única referencia que encontré fue una mención a los ten fools (no sé como lo tradujeron porque leí los libros en inglés xD), así que supongo que en los siguientes volúmenes veremos cómo encaja esta historia en el maravilloso universo de Sanderson.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure if I wish Brandon Sanderson continued the novel in text format or if the graphic novels were better. Either way, it has really interesting magic in an otherwise dull beginning of a story.