samwisepotatogamgee 's review for:

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

3.75

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Elantris was a book that took me some time to warm up to. The opening felt slow, and it was hard at first to really get invested in the city, the magic, and the characters. But once I settled into the story and the political and personal stakes became clearer, I found myself pulled in and eager to see where it was going. Brandon Sanderson’s worldbuilding, especially for a debut novel, was impressive once it began to unfold. 

I especially enjoyed Sarene’s chapters. Her intelligence, wit, and ability to navigate court politics made her one of my favorite parts of the book. Every time she outmaneuvered her opponents or cleverly worked her way through another political snare, I found myself smiling. Her chapters added both energy and humor to the narrative, while also showing the importance of strategy in a city on the brink of collapse. 

Hrathen, though, might have been the most interesting character of all. His arc was layered and full of moral conflict, and watching his faith and his loyalty tested was one of the best parts of the book. I liked how he wasn’t a one-note villain but a man truly wrestling with belief, duty, and doubt. By the end, I appreciated how much depth Sanderson gave him. 

The side characters also made the story richer and more memorable. Galladon’s dry humor was a constant highlight, while Karata brought heart and determination to Elantris itself. Outside the walls Roial, Eondel, Kiin, Kaise, and Shuden all added texture to Sarene’s world and showed how vibrant the supporting cast could be. Even though they weren’t always in the spotlight, they made the world feel alive and gave weight to the bigger conflicts. 

Overall, Elantris was slow to start but ultimately very rewarding. Once I was invested, I found myself caring deeply about the characters and their struggles, and I appreciated how the three different viewpoints wove together by the end. While it may not have the polish of Sanderson’s later works, it was still a creative and satisfying story that I’m glad I stuck with.