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66th out of 561 books
—
1,270 voters
The Emperor's Soul
by
Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)
A heretic thief is the empire’s only hope in this fascinating tale that inhabits the same world as the popular novel, Elantris.
Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Though her skil...more
Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Though her skil...more
Paperback, 175 pages
Published
October 11th 2012
by Tachyon Publications
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The Emperor's Soul
By Brandon Sanderson
A Review by Eric Allen
Due to his work on The Wheel of Time, Brandon Sanderson has not had much time over the last few years for working on his own books. As such, he has elected to write several novellas as sequels to his already published works to tide his fans over until he is freed up from his obligations to the Wheel of Time, and can put his focus entirely back into his own works. The Emperor's Soul is one of these books. Though not actually a sequel, it...more
By Brandon Sanderson
A Review by Eric Allen
Due to his work on The Wheel of Time, Brandon Sanderson has not had much time over the last few years for working on his own books. As such, he has elected to write several novellas as sequels to his already published works to tide his fans over until he is freed up from his obligations to the Wheel of Time, and can put his focus entirely back into his own works. The Emperor's Soul is one of these books. Though not actually a sequel, it...more
18 likes · like · see review
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"The Emperor's Soul" is a really marvelous fantasy story, a study of three splendid characters amid a life-and-death debate about the nature of "art".
Shai is a Forger, a con artist who uses complex magical transformations to duplicate other works, anything from clothing to paintings to statues. She uses this talent for deception as a thief and con artist. Gaotona is an elderly politician who finds Shai's work simultaneously a heretical abomination, a crime, and a waste of what he sees as true or...more
Shai is a Forger, a con artist who uses complex magical transformations to duplicate other works, anything from clothing to paintings to statues. She uses this talent for deception as a thief and con artist. Gaotona is an elderly politician who finds Shai's work simultaneously a heretical abomination, a crime, and a waste of what he sees as true or...more
Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson was a quick read at a BN - it was ok and with some interesting stuff but not worth the 15$ cover price in any shape or form unless you are a true fan.
The usual obsession of the author with minutiae of invented magical systems takes most of the novella's space leaving stock indistinct characters no real time to shine, while the action as is is also predictable.
Still no one today does magical systems as Brandon Sanderson and sometimes it is fascinating to read...more
The usual obsession of the author with minutiae of invented magical systems takes most of the novella's space leaving stock indistinct characters no real time to shine, while the action as is is also predictable.
Still no one today does magical systems as Brandon Sanderson and sometimes it is fascinating to read...more
8 likes · like · see review
WOW! a piece of art, it's like a puzzle you work throughout the book and not until the end do you realize what the whole picture is, I was so disappointed when the book ended, I actually exclaimed loudly when I turned the page and found the author's notes or something... I didn't want it to end, a beautiful beautiful book
6 likes · like · see review
I first heard of Brandon Sanderson when he was chosen to complete Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I picked up Mistborn and it became one of my favorite fantasies of all time. So then I picked up Elantris, and I liked that too, although not as much.
The Emperor's Soul is a novella set in the same world as Elantris (Sel), though to be honest I didn't see any crossover (I'm not sure if it's a different time period). It reads as an entirely independent story. The plot centers around Shai, a Forger, wh...more
The Emperor's Soul is a novella set in the same world as Elantris (Sel), though to be honest I didn't see any crossover (I'm not sure if it's a different time period). It reads as an entirely independent story. The plot centers around Shai, a Forger, wh...more
I love every Brandon's book and all his new ideas - so just because i'm biased i was compelled to give it 5 stars but then after rethinking a bit i decided 3 is more closer what i felt after finishing it .
It is a good story with a great new kind of magic but overall i had the feeling that the writer rushed it to much to finish it.
Everything is happening to fast,nothing is developed enough and to many coincidences that favorite the success of the main character didn't work enough to be believable...more
It is a good story with a great new kind of magic but overall i had the feeling that the writer rushed it to much to finish it.
Everything is happening to fast,nothing is developed enough and to many coincidences that favorite the success of the main character didn't work enough to be believable...more
4 likes · like · see review
Shai is a Forger. The magic of Forging involves rewriting the history of an object—or a person—in order to change it. Brandon Sanderson takes this simple concept and crafts an elegant, brilliant magic system that raises questions of object and personal identity and the artistic merit of making a perfect copy. It's a brilliant, fascinating, exciting novella that reads as polished and tightly written as a published novel (and it's clear from the Acknowledgments that Sanderson put a huge amount of...more
4.5 stars.
I don't read much fantasy and this is the first of Brandon Sanderson's work that I have read. I very much enjoyed it.
The story uses a unique type of magic to explore what it means to know a person.
There is a difference between knowing about someone and knowing that person. Sometimes, particularly when we are young, we get confused. We think we are in love with a musician or actor (or author!) because their work resonates with us and we know so much about them. We feel close to them...more
I don't read much fantasy and this is the first of Brandon Sanderson's work that I have read. I very much enjoyed it.
The story uses a unique type of magic to explore what it means to know a person.
There is a difference between knowing about someone and knowing that person. Sometimes, particularly when we are young, we get confused. We think we are in love with a musician or actor (or author!) because their work resonates with us and we know so much about them. We feel close to them...more
Shai is a Forger. She doesn't just forge the appearance of objects, she forges their past to create a new object in the present. For example, she completely reforges a table in her room by changing its past to one of careful maintenance and not of neglect, making it beautiful and sturdy again. She forges these things with objects called soulstamps, into which are carved the new history and makeup of the object being forged.
Forging is considered an unnatural art, especially since Forgers also hav...more
Forging is considered an unnatural art, especially since Forgers also hav...more
1 like · like · see review
I am a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson, and it's a treat when one of his books is made available at the very reasonable price of $2.99 for the Kindle Download, as it was in May. I don't know how long the price break will continue, but even at $4.99 this is a great deal. The Emperor's Soul is a novella, but it is a long novella, and is a satisfying weekend read. This tale has been nominated for a Hugo Award, and for good reason.
THE BLURB:
When Shai is caught replacing the Moon Scepter with her nearl...more
THE BLURB:
When Shai is caught replacing the Moon Scepter with her nearl...more
I just recently downloaded my Hugo packet and put a bunch of the ebooks on my iPad, many of which (especially for the Campbell) I'm very excited to read. But I decided to start off small, with this novella that I'd heard about on the Writing Excuses podcast. I like Brandon Sanderson on that podcast, but I was underwhelmed by the one thing of his that I read, his superhero adventure "Legion." This novella is a little more in his comfort zone--it's fantasy rather than contemporary adventure.
But "...more
But "...more
This book was a really quick read and I enjoyed every fast moment of it. I enjoyed a magic system that wasn't set on spells and air born magic (ie, manipulating the elements around you physcially). I really liked that changing how the wall "thought" or "felt" into something that was better was the way the magic worked. Convincing a window that it had been well taken care of so that it was well taken care of is just magnificent! Sure, the window is inanimate, but that's the fun of the system!
I l...more
I l...more
3.5
And before I say anything else, I should say that I did quite enjoy this book...
...but it frustrated me like crazy. It was an incredible idea with so much potential, but it really failed to live up to itself.
The irony of the book is that the main character is a master artist who chooses to use her talents to create forgeries. One of the other characters keeps asking her why she doesn't use her talents to her full potential. For me, that question was never adequately answered and the whole ex...more
And before I say anything else, I should say that I did quite enjoy this book...
...but it frustrated me like crazy. It was an incredible idea with so much potential, but it really failed to live up to itself.
The irony of the book is that the main character is a master artist who chooses to use her talents to create forgeries. One of the other characters keeps asking her why she doesn't use her talents to her full potential. For me, that question was never adequately answered and the whole ex...more
I wasn't sure what to expect of this book. Asian culture, a 150 page novella that was initially listed at the price of a full book. But one the other hand it's written by Brandon Sanderson who is among my favorite authors and of which I haven't yet read a book that I didn't like.
Now that I've read it I can say this. I was not what I expected, I don't know what I expected to be honest but this was probably not it. As it's written by Sanderson the magic system was brilliant as ever and unique and...more
Now that I've read it I can say this. I was not what I expected, I don't know what I expected to be honest but this was probably not it. As it's written by Sanderson the magic system was brilliant as ever and unique and...more
Brandon Sanderson continues to amaze with his characterization . I find that he's much better at it than many of his peers, and he does it so seamlessly that you don't notice the pieces of the puzzle coming together until they start falling into place. I still find myself surprised that he can tell a story of such depth in so few pages.
This is a story of a forger who has been hired--coerced--to "fix" an injured emperor and, to an extent, (view spoiler)...more
This is a story of a forger who has been hired--coerced--to "fix" an injured emperor and, to an extent, (view spoiler)...more
3 likes · like · see review
If you are looking for a short but engaging book read this one!
Shai is a forger. As such she has the ability to flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. If she sees a beat up table she can restore it beyond its former glory by erasing years of damage and perfecting its original design. Because she can apply this same skill to a human soul, her craft is regarded as evil in the land of the emperor. When she tried to steal the Emperor's scepter she was se...more
Shai is a forger. As such she has the ability to flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. If she sees a beat up table she can restore it beyond its former glory by erasing years of damage and perfecting its original design. Because she can apply this same skill to a human soul, her craft is regarded as evil in the land of the emperor. When she tried to steal the Emperor's scepter she was se...more
I think this novella is what happens when Brandon Sanderson tries to write a short story... ;-)
I quite enjoyed this novella. It's a much smaller stage than he usually writes on, a story involving a small handful of people (three main characters, and three minor named characters) and a very limited scope of time. It's an in-depth exploration of a kind of magic that allows the practitioner to re-write the history of a thing and change it's current nature by use of intricately carved stamps. The ma...more
I quite enjoyed this novella. It's a much smaller stage than he usually writes on, a story involving a small handful of people (three main characters, and three minor named characters) and a very limited scope of time. It's an in-depth exploration of a kind of magic that allows the practitioner to re-write the history of a thing and change it's current nature by use of intricately carved stamps. The ma...more
The story in a few lines is:
Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Though condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor's sceptre, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Despite the fact that her skill as a Forger is considered an abomination by her captors, Shai will attempt to create a new soul for the emperor, who is almost dead from the attack of assassins. (from Amazon)
I very much enjoyed this...more
Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Though condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor's sceptre, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Despite the fact that her skill as a Forger is considered an abomination by her captors, Shai will attempt to create a new soul for the emperor, who is almost dead from the attack of assassins. (from Amazon)
I very much enjoyed this...more
It’s been a long time since I have read a fantasy story with a female protagonist I actually liked. Shai is accomplished, independent, clever enough to have multiple plans, and doesn’t fall madly and foolishly in love with a royal. I thoroughly enjoyed this short read and looking forward to the rest of Sanderson’s books~
Quotes
Her aunt Sol had once told Shai to smile at the worst insults and snap at the minor ones. That way, no man would know your heart.
A person was like a dense forest thicket,...more
Quotes
Her aunt Sol had once told Shai to smile at the worst insults and snap at the minor ones. That way, no man would know your heart.
A person was like a dense forest thicket,...more
This book definitely goes down the checklist of elements required in "high fantasy", especially that fundamental necessity, a coherent magical scheme. The book's main charm is the novelty of its magic, which is definitely not the usual (e.g. magical powers over natural elements, ability to walk in dreams, ability to communicate with animals, attached animal souls, the dead coming back, etc.) In this book's world, the heroine is a "forger" who can, by virtue of engravings made onto soulstone, mak...more
I'm a big Brandon Sanderson fan. Since first reading (and loving) the Mistborn trilogy a few years back, I've read just about everything he's put out (except the Wheel of Time books), including the small stand-alone tales, like Infinity Blade, Legion, Firstborn and, now, The Emperor's Soul.
The main character, Shai, is a master Forger, but not just in the way we view forgery in this world. In Sanderson's world, a Forger can carve intricate soulstamps and fundamentally alter the history and substa...more
The main character, Shai, is a master Forger, but not just in the way we view forgery in this world. In Sanderson's world, a Forger can carve intricate soulstamps and fundamentally alter the history and substa...more
This is a very simple story, with a very interesting magic system. Brandon Sanderson's self-proclaimed love of the "heist" is very much in evidence, with a story reminiscent of an episodes of White Collar, or an Iain Pears novel. I'm a fan of these McGuffin plots in Sanderson's work, in that they keep the action up.
The magic system is an interesting combination of Chinese writing and Platonic idealism. Not only is the system interesting in and of itself, it is an excellent vehicle for the questi...more
The magic system is an interesting combination of Chinese writing and Platonic idealism. Not only is the system interesting in and of itself, it is an excellent vehicle for the questi...more
Awesome!! Tight story, great magic and wonderful conclusion ~ Brandon Sanderson has once again deliver his magic flawlessly!!!!
The opening immediately grip my attention firmly and never let go, Shai's character is amazing and how she interact with the challenge is as interesting as her interaction with Gaotona.
As the novella, Brandon forgo his usual complex twist plotline and instead focuses in one single relationship, between Shai and Gaotona. It felt much more like character story as there is...more
The opening immediately grip my attention firmly and never let go, Shai's character is amazing and how she interact with the challenge is as interesting as her interaction with Gaotona.
As the novella, Brandon forgo his usual complex twist plotline and instead focuses in one single relationship, between Shai and Gaotona. It felt much more like character story as there is...more
I'm not a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson. He's a great writer, but I don't fully enjoy the stories that he tells.
The Emperor's Soul felt, right. It just seemed correct. With Sanderson, with a lot of his (longer) books/series/trilogies, I've always felt as if he was stretching thing, pulling parts and pieces too far to actually include very good content.
But with this, in its size, with the plot and story incorporated, it didn't feel stretched nor compact. It felt right.
I'm not a big fan of magic s...more
The Emperor's Soul felt, right. It just seemed correct. With Sanderson, with a lot of his (longer) books/series/trilogies, I've always felt as if he was stretching thing, pulling parts and pieces too far to actually include very good content.
But with this, in its size, with the plot and story incorporated, it didn't feel stretched nor compact. It felt right.
I'm not a big fan of magic s...more
One of the things I like most about Brandon Sanderson's works is how refreshingly creative his fantasy worlds are, and The Emperor's Soul is no different. When an assassination attempt leaves Emperor Ashravan in a coma, his arbiters make a desperate attempt to restore him: asking the Forger Wan ShaiLu to Forge Ashravan a new soul. Already a prisoner for attempting to steal a sacred relic, this opportunity presents Shai with her only way out of a death sentence. If only Forging a soul wasn't impo...more
I know I've been raving a lot about Robin McKinley recently, and she is amazing, but now it is time to give Brandon Sanderson his due. He is also amazing! I have never yet been disappointed by one of his novels. And he continues to impress with The Emperor's Soul.
It is shocking how less talented authors can take pages and pages to say nothing and not move their plot forward at all, but in this relatively short novel (only 167 pages!), he creates an entire new world with characters whom I really...more
It is shocking how less talented authors can take pages and pages to say nothing and not move their plot forward at all, but in this relatively short novel (only 167 pages!), he creates an entire new world with characters whom I really...more
Read this book: For a quick, fun fantasy read and innovative take on magic.
An intriguing plot and the "soul stamp" magical device carry this novella, and its short length makes it easy to finish fast. Flat character development and uninspired prose kept this from a higher rating for me. Our heroine is too good. A thief with a heart of gold whose crimes (the ones we hear about) all seem ethically justified, she is also good at everything - which, while mostly explained by magic, still feels cheap...more
An intriguing plot and the "soul stamp" magical device carry this novella, and its short length makes it easy to finish fast. Flat character development and uninspired prose kept this from a higher rating for me. Our heroine is too good. A thief with a heart of gold whose crimes (the ones we hear about) all seem ethically justified, she is also good at everything - which, while mostly explained by magic, still feels cheap...more
Only one of two books I've completed in one day in my adult life. That being said -
This was a book club pick, so it's not a genre I would ever have picked for myself, so this is a little surprise that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. A fantasy, not clear on the time period or the exact location, this story is set somewhere in Asia.
A woman, Shai, known as a forger, (a stealer of other's talents) finds herself in prison awaiting execution after committing the worst of the worst forging crim...more
This was a book club pick, so it's not a genre I would ever have picked for myself, so this is a little surprise that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. A fantasy, not clear on the time period or the exact location, this story is set somewhere in Asia.
A woman, Shai, known as a forger, (a stealer of other's talents) finds herself in prison awaiting execution after committing the worst of the worst forging crim...more
My friend lent me this book about a month ago, and I finally sat down and read it yesterday. This is a fun quick read. The Emperor's Soul has a ton of elements I like in a good story: female protagonist, crime/thieving (I love a good mystery, whether it is told from the investigator's point of view or the criminal's), and believable, quiet magic. In this world, the main character Shai is able to make changes to the soul of objects (and people) to reshape them. For example, she can make an old, b...more
The Emperor's Soul, a novella by Brandon Sanderson, is a pleasant but ultimately forgettable fantasy about Shai, a Forger.
Forgers are capable of making copies of anything--art, rooms, and even souls. Souls, however, are difficult to create. A Forger must know and understand everything about the person's soul they are copying. This is difficult enough when one is copying their own soul. It is near impossible when copying the soul of another.
When the Emperor is seriously wounded, Shai is called...more
Forgers are capable of making copies of anything--art, rooms, and even souls. Souls, however, are difficult to create. A Forger must know and understand everything about the person's soul they are copying. This is difficult enough when one is copying their own soul. It is near impossible when copying the soul of another.
When the Emperor is seriously wounded, Shai is called...more
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| The Sword and Laser: Emperor's Soul eBook on Sale | 8 | 64 | May 09, 2013 10:15am | |
| Sci-fi and Heroic...: The Emperor's Soul | 10 | 63 | Apr 01, 2013 07:34am | |
| The Sword and Laser: Excerpt from Brandon Sanderson's new Novella | 2 | 57 | Oct 21, 2012 07:16am |
Brandon Sanderson was born in 1975 in Lincoln, Nebraska. As a child Brandon enjoyed reading, but he lost interest in the types of titles often suggested to him, and by junior high he never cracked a book if he could help it. This changed when an eighth grade teacher gave him
Dragonsbane
by Barbara Hambly.
Brandon was working on his thirteenth novel when Moshe Feder at Tor Books bought the sixth he...more
More about Brandon Sanderson...
Brandon was working on his thirteenth novel when Moshe Feder at Tor Books bought the sixth he...more
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“If you were the wall, what would you rather be? Dreary and dull, or alive with paint?"
"Walls can't think!"
"That doesn't stop them from caring.”
—
3 people liked it
"Walls can't think!"
"That doesn't stop them from caring.”
“Her aunt Sol had once told Shai to smile at the worst insults and snap at the minor ones. That way, no man would know your heart.”
—
3 people liked it
More quotes…
