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mayastone 's review for:
White Sand
by Brandon Sanderson
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.