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A review by chakgilbert
The Emperor's Soul - the 10th Anniversary Special Edition by Brandon Sanderson
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Book notes: www.chakeira.com/the-emperors-soul/
"The Emperor's Soul" is a fantasy novella about a young woman named Shai, a skilled forger. After being caught and imprisoned, she is given an impossible task: to create a new soul for the emperor within 100 days or face execution. As she works on the task, she uncovers secrets about the emperor, his empire, and herself. I believe this is the best Sanderson book I have read so far, and I would recommend it.
I thought the characters were well-written. I felt invested in Shai's survival, while also feeling invested in her discovery of the essence of the emperor. She didn't have that annoying feel like some of his other main characters. She had an inner strength that could be both beneficial and detrimental. Also, I feel like we spent plenty of time with Gaotona and got to know him. Since it is a novella, Frava's intentions were told and not shown, but it didn't feel as if I was missing part of her motivations.
The conflict is pretty straightforward: Shai has 100 days to forge a new soul for the emperor or be executed for her crimes. However, as the story goes on, this conflict does not seem as cut and dry, and I loved that. I think it added more stakes to the story. Shai's internal conflict is whether to finish Forging a Soul for the Emperor. She views herself as an artist, and the thought of not finishing her project is painful. At the same time, she truly believes that she will not live after she finishes the stamp. There is a fascinating progression of Shai's view of the emperor from project to knowing about him. Gaotona's internal conflict, and for the most part that of the other officials, is that while they think forging is an abomination, they must utilize Shai to keep power. That internal strife for Gaotona is different, as is his relationship with the emperor. We also watch his horror of Shai's artistry to his understanding. Frava embodies the external conflict. She stands between Shai and her freedom.
The magic system in this world is fascinating. It is performed using specialized stamps and inks, and the effectiveness depends on the skill and knowledge of the user. Although it is explained through exposition, I also saw it in practice throughout the book. I thought the limitations of the magic system were believable. While Shai's Forger magic was explained, there was some mystery about whether the Bloodsealer's magic worked similarly. The power dynamics are fascinating as well. There seem to be different factions of the government. The unity of the ruling class seems to be in flux, so I did wonder about the effects on the people.
One of the issues I have with Sanderson's books is his tendency to overwrite and wait until the end to pick up on the action. This novella is paced well, does not overwrite, and lacks his usual humor, which isn't that funny to me. While the end has a flurry of action, it does not seem rushed or forced like in some other books I've read. This book left me thinking about a few questions: Who owns art, the artist, or the people who view the art? What makes up a soul? Does nature or nurture matter more? I would recommend this novella pretty broadly. 4.5 ⭐️.
I thought the characters were well-written. I felt invested in Shai's survival, while also feeling invested in her discovery of the essence of the emperor. She didn't have that annoying feel like some of his other main characters. She had an inner strength that could be both beneficial and detrimental. Also, I feel like we spent plenty of time with Gaotona and got to know him. Since it is a novella, Frava's intentions were told and not shown, but it didn't feel as if I was missing part of her motivations.
The conflict is pretty straightforward: Shai has 100 days to forge a new soul for the emperor or be executed for her crimes. However, as the story goes on, this conflict does not seem as cut and dry, and I loved that. I think it added more stakes to the story. Shai's internal conflict is whether to finish Forging a Soul for the Emperor. She views herself as an artist, and the thought of not finishing her project is painful. At the same time, she truly believes that she will not live after she finishes the stamp. There is a fascinating progression of Shai's view of the emperor from project to knowing about him. Gaotona's internal conflict, and for the most part that of the other officials, is that while they think forging is an abomination, they must utilize Shai to keep power. That internal strife for Gaotona is different, as is his relationship with the emperor. We also watch his horror of Shai's artistry to his understanding. Frava embodies the external conflict. She stands between Shai and her freedom.
The magic system in this world is fascinating. It is performed using specialized stamps and inks, and the effectiveness depends on the skill and knowledge of the user. Although it is explained through exposition, I also saw it in practice throughout the book. I thought the limitations of the magic system were believable. While Shai's Forger magic was explained, there was some mystery about whether the Bloodsealer's magic worked similarly. The power dynamics are fascinating as well. There seem to be different factions of the government. The unity of the ruling class seems to be in flux, so I did wonder about the effects on the people.
One of the issues I have with Sanderson's books is his tendency to overwrite and wait until the end to pick up on the action. This novella is paced well, does not overwrite, and lacks his usual humor, which isn't that funny to me. While the end has a flurry of action, it does not seem rushed or forced like in some other books I've read. This book left me thinking about a few questions: Who owns art, the artist, or the people who view the art? What makes up a soul? Does nature or nurture matter more? I would recommend this novella pretty broadly. 4.5 ⭐️.