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A review by bhgold1711
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Elantris isn't a great book. It's not bad, but it's only good... with caveats. It's a deeply flawed work that shows its flaws in a big way. Brandon Sanderson in 2024 is a different, and superior, author than in 2005. I don't think I'm grading Elantris on a curve with this rating, though, I'm fairly grading it.
Some higher level thoughts I had on reread.
- The foreshadowing of the ending in Chapter 3 is beautifully done
- From the jump, the way characters talk about women is just bad. It starts from the beginning. Sarene talking about Eshen. Raoden talking about the women who enters Elantris in Chapter 4. It's just juvenile and one of the things that's aged the worst. The way the royals talk about women is also... rough.
- Raoden kind of is a Gary Stu.
- Brandon's writing of Kiin's children is also pretty weak. Kaise is supposed to be smart... but she reads like a young adult, not a child. Daorn to a lesser extent. And the less said about Aiden the better (as Brandon acknowledges, it's baaaaaad)
- Hrathen still stands out as the star of this story. His crisis of faith is a great story and his characterization is deep. Hrathen is the best indicator of what would come down the road.
- Brandon even in his early books is good at not doing too much exposition and finding ways to weave in worldbuilding effectively. It's a hallmark of his writing and you see it in Elantris
- Sarene has her moments despite far too much "I'm not like other girls" for my liking. Her relationship with her father stands out (one of the best parents in the Cosmere!)
- Sarene and Raoden's relationship is... not well written. All of his deceit just feels wrong.
- Hrathen's crush on Sarene NEVER WORKS AT ALL. It is so bad. And so jarring.
- There are too many mysteries and reveals late that don't really matter. Dreok Crushthroat? Not that important.
- There are others that are jarring and make no sense. Iadon and the Mysteries never really fits in
- The Dilaf reveal, on the other hand, is just masterful
Some higher level thoughts I had on reread.
- From the jump, the way characters talk about women is just bad. It starts from the beginning. Sarene talking about Eshen. Raoden talking about the women who enters Elantris in Chapter 4. It's just juvenile and one of the things that's aged the worst. The way the royals talk about women is also... rough.
- Raoden kind of is a Gary Stu.
- Brandon's writing of Kiin's children is also pretty weak. Kaise is supposed to be smart... but she reads like a young adult, not a child. Daorn to a lesser extent. And the less said about Aiden the better (as Brandon acknowledges, it's baaaaaad)
- Hrathen still stands out as the star of this story. His crisis of faith is a great story and his characterization is deep. Hrathen is the best indicator of what would come down the road.
- Brandon even in his early books is good at not doing too much exposition and finding ways to weave in worldbuilding effectively. It's a hallmark of his writing and you see it in Elantris
- Sarene has her moments despite far too much "I'm not like other girls" for my liking. Her relationship with her father stands out (one of the best parents in the Cosmere!)
- Sarene and Raoden's relationship is... not well written. All of his deceit just feels wrong.
- Hrathen's crush on Sarene NEVER WORKS AT ALL. It is so bad. And so jarring.
- There are too many mysteries and reveals late that don't really matter. Dreok Crushthroat? Not that important.
- There are others that are jarring and make no sense. Iadon and the Mysteries never really fits in
- The Dilaf reveal, on the other hand, is just masterful