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d3vilxl3gacy's review against another edition
4.0
Early Sanderson feels werid but it's still Sanderson. Worth the read and fun throughout with magic circle words and evil monks.
pinstripe819's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mrbear's review
4.0
This was a tough book to rate, and I considered giving it a 5 for quite a while before deciding on a 4. Perhaps the only reason I didn't give it a 5 was that it wasn't quite as good as Mistborn, and the conclusion was a little confusing (in regards to the Aons). It was a very interesting and well written book, however, and it is a testament to Sanderson's natural writing ability that this was his debut novel.
The only issue I had with this book was that I read Mistborn first, so I was always comparing the two. The books seemed to me to be remarkably similar in a number of ways. Serene seemed like a less fully realized version of Vin, and Sanderson's focus on religion was also similar in Elantris (despite being more important to Elantris' plot than to Mistborn's). Many of the characters were interesting, but his revelations and descriptions of events were also not as good as in Mistborn. In other words, I would have thought the novel phenomenal, had I not already read the full Mistborn series.
So for anyone who liked Mistborn even a little, this book is a MUST. Don't pass it up because I say you it wasn't as good, because you'd really be missing out.
The only issue I had with this book was that I read Mistborn first, so I was always comparing the two. The books seemed to me to be remarkably similar in a number of ways. Serene seemed like a less fully realized version of Vin, and Sanderson's focus on religion was also similar in Elantris (despite being more important to Elantris' plot than to Mistborn's). Many of the characters were interesting, but his revelations and descriptions of events were also not as good as in Mistborn. In other words, I would have thought the novel phenomenal, had I not already read the full Mistborn series.
So for anyone who liked Mistborn even a little, this book is a MUST. Don't pass it up because I say you it wasn't as good, because you'd really be missing out.
sanne6je's review against another edition
3.0
So while the general plot of this book is really good (I mean it is Brandon Sanderson), the writing often isn’t. Everyone agrees with literally everything so easily. Sometimes the world building could have been better and I felt not that big of a personal connection with any of the characters. They are all so perfect and unreliable.
I do know that the later books of Sanderson are great so I hope that when this book finally doe get a sequel, it will be amazing
I do know that the later books of Sanderson are great so I hope that when this book finally doe get a sequel, it will be amazing
sushizhan's review
4.0
This chunker was a great book! I think my favorite part of it has been the characters. A satisfying read. It, like most fantasy books, does take some time to build momentum. But if you're like me who's into fantasy in general, you will enjoy this.
(((Ok SPOILERS:::
So who else thought Raoden and Sarene were adorable? A good part of the book had their romance in it and I freaking enjoyed that sfm...
And our friend Hrathen. Man I hated him at first, but when we met Dilaf and his insanity, well Hrathen started looking much nicer.
I had a feeling it wouldnt be a good end for any of the three main characters, and I was right....
I loved Gallodan too, and Raoden and Sarene's 'gang'. They were just adorable.
Aaaah that feeling when you hit the 400-500 pages it gets harder to put down. So glad I finished though. This was a tome!
(((Ok SPOILERS:::
So who else thought Raoden and Sarene were adorable? A good part of the book had their romance in it and I freaking enjoyed that sfm...
And our friend Hrathen. Man I hated him at first, but when we met Dilaf and his insanity, well Hrathen started looking much nicer.
I had a feeling it wouldnt be a good end for any of the three main characters, and I was right....
I loved Gallodan too, and Raoden and Sarene's 'gang'. They were just adorable.
Aaaah that feeling when you hit the 400-500 pages it gets harder to put down. So glad I finished though. This was a tome!
astheplotthickens24's review
5.0
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WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?
This novel basically features a paradise gone wrong. ELANTRIS, is a magnificent city full of creatures with silvery skin and hair. These creatures possess the ability to use magic in order to turn dust into food, and stone into a precious metal. But then paradise suddenly ended, turning the once magnificent creatures into a bald, spotted monsters. The curse of Elantris is also called the “Shaod.” Our story starts from there. The narrative features three main characters. The first one is Raoden, who is the crown prince of Arelon. Followed by Sarene, who is a Teod princess that is almost past her prime, but, is very cunning and talented. The last one is Hrathen, who is a priest with a sole purpose to save a country full of heretics.
This is not your typically epic fantasy that features a peasant who suddenly turned into a hero, or a princess who needed help from a shining, shimmering, and glittering prince. This book Is ripe with political drama and strategies that my puny, little mind couldn’t even begin to comprehend. The thing that impressed me the most about this novel is not the twists and turns, not to mention emotional trauma that I went through while reading the story. It’s the way Brandon Sanderson vividly wrote about the experiences of a beloved crown prince who was exiled in a city full of zombie lepers and his struggle to build a functioning society in a place reigned by primal need, chaos and agony. It’s also the way he wrote about a female protagonist who strived to prove that women are not just trophies that men can flaunt and display in parties. And the way he created a priest who is doubting his own faith and was forced to choose between what he believed is right and his duty as a servant of god.
If a city full of zombie lepers, a princess who has the knowledge to overthrow an entire kingdom and a faithless priest, did not pique your interest, then you have a serious problem.
REASONS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU’RE CONTEMPLATING TO PUT THIS BOOK DOWN
This is Brandon Sanderson’s first published novel which means that he has yet to find his writing style and is still growing as an author. It may sound a little off on the first few chapters, but it gets better, I swear. Once you’re in the zone, the full epic adventure begins.
It is a privilege as a reader to see where Brandon Sanderson started and how he slowly but surely built the Cosmere Universe. It’s been more than a decade since the publication date of Elantris and I am one of the hundred thousand fans who is hoping for a sequel.
theratqueen987's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
dawnilton's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It’s a great book, but by far it is not the best Brandon Sanderson book and that’s the reason why I’m giving it a three stars.
The pacing in the first half of the book was very slow. There was a lot of just filled up which I didn’t really mind because the build up and the side stories were still interesting. The only issue I had was the POV switches that kept happening every chapter. I was not invested in all of the POVs which made me lose interest and slow down my reading pace.
The plot definitely got more interesting in the second half of the book. I couldn’t stop reading once I got past the 50% mark. And after the 80% mark, it was just a break neck pacing with MAJOR events happening back to back.
The character development was disappointing, especially knowing that this is a Sanderson book. The princess’ character fell so flat for me. Her main goal was to fall in love. That’s it. Just boring. The prince was the ideal golden boy who shines with optimism, loved by everyone and would do anything for his kingdom. Predictable and boring. Hrathen was still a little interesting and brought personal conflict that we explore throughout the book. But even that isn’t fleshed out completely.
——SPOILERS——
I just wish the climax of the book was better executed. I just didn’t like the fact that Raoden given two fake out deaths (not exactly deaths but it was equivalent to that). Same thing with Hrathen. We didn’t even spend time talking about how Elantris got back its powers. We just moved past it SO quick. I also need to talk about the fact that the little kid was a hidden elantrian. UGH I hated that so much! It was so obvious that the kid was only there because of ONE plot twist and that it!! It just feels such an easy way out of the plot conflict. Speaking of why did the conflict have to leave Elantris?? It’s literally the main setting of the book. So the climax should be there too. It just didn’t make any sense. It felt so weird. Again, I loved the ideas in the climax but I just wish everything was just more polished and better executed.
One the major things that kept me hooked to the book was Hrathens personal conflict with his religion. It was just so disappointing to me that we didn’t get to spend more time with Hrathen when he resolved his conflict.I also think that him coming back to save Sarene one last time just made his last POV loose meaning and weight. ALSO he loved Sarene?!?!! That was so random. I was completely taken aback by that revelation. It just didn’t make any sense.
I wouldn’t really recommend reading this book unless you’re wanting to read all cosmere books (which was why I picked this book up in the first place). There are many other books by Sanderson which are much better written.
The pacing in the first half of the book was very slow. There was a lot of just filled up which I didn’t really mind because the build up and the side stories were still interesting. The only issue I had was the POV switches that kept happening every chapter. I was not invested in all of the POVs which made me lose interest and slow down my reading pace.
The plot definitely got more interesting in the second half of the book. I couldn’t stop reading once I got past the 50% mark. And after the 80% mark, it was just a break neck pacing with MAJOR events happening back to back.
The character development was disappointing, especially knowing that this is a Sanderson book. The princess’ character fell so flat for me. Her main goal was to fall in love. That’s it. Just boring. The prince was the ideal golden boy who shines with optimism, loved by everyone and would do anything for his kingdom. Predictable and boring. Hrathen was still a little interesting and brought personal conflict that we explore throughout the book. But even that isn’t fleshed out completely.
——SPOILERS——
I just wish the climax of the book was better executed.
One the major things that kept me hooked to the book was Hrathens personal conflict with his religion. It was just so disappointing to me that we didn’t get to spend more time with Hrathen when he resolved his conflict.
I wouldn’t really recommend reading this book unless you’re wanting to read all cosmere books (which was why I picked this book up in the first place). There are many other books by Sanderson which are much better written.