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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68427.Elantris?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Elantris" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170690753m/68427.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68427.Elantris?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Elantris</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/38550.Brandon_Sanderson">Brandon Sanderson</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/33179957?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 3 of 5 stars I picked up Elantris because I friend of mine couldn't say one bad thing about it. I found the novel to be fresh and interesting, entertaining and thought provoking. The thing I have come to love most about reading a <a href="/search/search?q=+Brandon+Sanderson&t=author"> Brandon Sanderson</a> novel is that he is not content to build upon those who have gone before. You will not find yourself in another cookie-cutter Tolkienesque fantasy realm populated with Elves, Orks and Dwarves. Sanderson's true gift lies in his imaginative ability to forge a completely new world housing it's own unique races, belief systems and magical elements. Be prepared to get a taste of something completely original.
 
 Elantris is a book about discovering who you really are - not who people assign you to be. The protagonist is easy to admire and faces some difficult obstacles in this novel. You will also find a healthy dose of villains to hate and heroes to love. On the surface it is an excellent work of fiction.
 
 So why only 3 stars? Well, for one thing, I think Brnadon Sanderson's writing style is still maturing. I think he is on a journey toward becoming an exceptional writer - I just don't think he's quite there yet. Don't get me wrong. I think his plotting is fantastic and his ideas and vision for his novels are superb. I just think his writing is a tad sophomoric and needs a few more years to mature into something special.
 
 I felt the pacing was slightly off throughout this story. There were times where I felt the narrative needed a little more "oompf" to propel it forward but just didn't quite have it. But I will say that once you reach the beginning of the end, this novel really takes off and won't let you put it down. My hat's off to the man for being able to nail a spectacular ending.
 
 So if you're a fan of fantasy fiction, I will recommend <a href="/search/search?q=+Brandon+Sanderson&t=author"> Brandon Sanderson</a>'s Elantris with only minor reservations. I think the ideas and the plot is too good to pass up due to some small quibbles of mine about the author's writing chops. Just don't go into this expecting to find a prose master such as <a href="/search/search?q=+George+R.R.+Martin&t=author"> George R.R. Martin</a> or <a href="/search/search?q=+J.R.R.+Tolkien&t=author"> J.R.R. Tolkien</a>.
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1309714?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Clay's review
rating:

bookshelves: fantasy
status: Read in November, 2006

I picked up Elantris because I friend of mine couldn't say one bad thing about it. I found the novel to be fresh and interesting, entertaining and thought provoking. The thing I have come to love most about reading a Brandon Sanderson novel is that he is not content to build upon those who have gone before. You will not find yourself in another cookie-cutter Tolkienesque fantasy realm populated with Elves, Orks and Dwarves. Sanderson's true gift lies in his imaginative ability to forge a completely new world housing it's own unique races, belief systems and magical elements. Be prepared to get a taste of something completely original.

Elantris is a book about discovering who you really are - not who people assign you to be. The protagonist is easy to admire and faces some difficult obstacles in this novel. You will also find a healthy dose of villains to hate and heroes to love. On the surface it i...more I picked up Elantris because I friend of mine couldn't say one bad thing about it. I found the novel to be fresh and interesting, entertaining and thought provoking. The thing I have come to love most about reading a Brandon Sanderson novel is that he is not content to build upon those who have gone before. You will not find yourself in another cookie-cutter Tolkienesque fantasy realm populated with Elves, Orks and Dwarves. Sanderson's true gift lies in his imaginative ability to forge a completely new world housing it's own unique races, belief systems and magical elements. Be prepared to get a taste of something completely original.

Elantris is a book about discovering who you really are - not who people assign you to be. The protagonist is easy to admire and faces some difficult obstacles in this novel. You will also find a healthy dose of villains to hate and heroes to love. On the surface it is an excellent work of fiction.

So why only 3 stars? Well, for one thing, I think Brnadon Sanderson's writing style is still maturing. I think he is on a journey toward becoming an exceptional writer - I just don't think he's quite there yet. Don't get me wrong. I think his plotting is fantastic and his ideas and vision for his novels are superb. I just think his writing is a tad sophomoric and needs a few more years to mature into something special.

I felt the pacing was slightly off throughout this story. There were times where I felt the narrative needed a little more "oompf" to propel it forward but just didn't quite have it. But I will say that once you reach the beginning of the end, this novel really takes off and won't let you put it down. My hat's off to the man for being able to nail a spectacular ending.

So if you're a fan of fantasy fiction, I will recommend Brandon Sanderson's Elantris with only minor reservations. I think the ideas and the plot is too good to pass up due to some small quibbles of mine about the author's writing chops. Just don't go into this expecting to find a prose master such as George R.R. Martin or J.R.R. Tolkien....less

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