620 books
—
3,291 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Rithmatist (Rithmatist, #1)” as Want to Read:
The Rithmatist
(Rithmatist #1)
by
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson: his debut novel for the young-adult audience.
More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the wild chalklings—m ...more
More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the wild chalklings—m ...more
Get A Copy
Hardcover, First Edition, 378 pages
Published
May 14th 2013
by Tor Teen
(first published May 13th 2013)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of The Rithmatist (Rithmatist, #1)
Listened to this one on audio, vainly hoping beyond hope that I might finally read a Brandon Sanderson book I don't like so I can feel better about myself as an author.
But no. I enjoyed this book as much as any of his. Good worldbuilding, just as you'd expect from Sanderson. And a clever, detailed magic system. Good mystery surrounding the world.
And I really like that things aren't easy for the protagonist. Everything doesn't just fall into his lap. He wants things at the beginning of the book ...more
But no. I enjoyed this book as much as any of his. Good worldbuilding, just as you'd expect from Sanderson. And a clever, detailed magic system. Good mystery surrounding the world.
And I really like that things aren't easy for the protagonist. Everything doesn't just fall into his lap. He wants things at the beginning of the book ...more
(3.5) As always with Brandy Sandy, the world building and magic system were very interesting.
I might be an old shrew but I think this book would have been much better in a university setting.
The character, while being 16, read as if he were 12. It made it pretty hard to believe that the adults would think he was doing great at solving the mystery.
Overall enjoyable, will possibly read the next one when it comes out but since there's no release date... maybe not. ...more
I might be an old shrew but I think this book would have been much better in a university setting.
The character, while being 16, read as if he were 12. It made it pretty hard to believe that the adults would think he was doing great at solving the mystery.
Overall enjoyable, will possibly read the next one when it comes out but since there's no release date... maybe not. ...more
A another mind blowing book.
The Rithmatist, is a Young Adult fantasy. Sanderson hits all the right notes when it comes to all the usual YA themes; coming of age, the meaning of true friendship, loyalty, perseverance, and even a didactic against bullying.
As expected in a Sanderson novel, the magic system is completely unique.
The characters are a fun bunch to read about – every one of them is unique with their distinct personalities and idiosyncrasies. Sanderson does a good job here and the charac ...more
The Rithmatist, is a Young Adult fantasy. Sanderson hits all the right notes when it comes to all the usual YA themes; coming of age, the meaning of true friendship, loyalty, perseverance, and even a didactic against bullying.
As expected in a Sanderson novel, the magic system is completely unique.
The characters are a fun bunch to read about – every one of them is unique with their distinct personalities and idiosyncrasies. Sanderson does a good job here and the charac ...more
May 17, 2018
Caz (littlebookowl)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
owned
Rating: 4.5 stars
This was such an enjoyable and fun read!
This was such an enjoyable and fun read!
Brandon Sanderson just made chalk figures scary. Chalk figures. As in these guys:
Ok, admittedly they don’t look like much, certainly not like man eating monsters, but after reading this, they are totally creepy. Sanderson’s certainly built up a (well deserved) reputation for writing interesting, intelligent, wildly imaginative magic systems - to the point it’s pretty much common knowledge in the fantasy community these days, but as The Rithmatist proves, those talents still go a long way, especi ...more
Ok, admittedly they don’t look like much, certainly not like man eating monsters, but after reading this, they are totally creepy. Sanderson’s certainly built up a (well deserved) reputation for writing interesting, intelligent, wildly imaginative magic systems - to the point it’s pretty much common knowledge in the fantasy community these days, but as The Rithmatist proves, those talents still go a long way, especi ...more
*deep sigh*
So, I've read 14 full-length novels and 2 novellas by Brandon Sanderson, and this is the one that didn't do it for me.
My one glowing positive is that, once again, Sanderson presents his readers with a fascinating magic system. Think Chalk Zone with more violence!
Rithmatists are a chosen elite, trained from a young age & charged with protecting civilization by way of breathing life into mathematically intricate chalk sketches. These sketches rely on the precision & intent of the artis ...more
So, I've read 14 full-length novels and 2 novellas by Brandon Sanderson, and this is the one that didn't do it for me.
My one glowing positive is that, once again, Sanderson presents his readers with a fascinating magic system. Think Chalk Zone with more violence!
Rithmatists are a chosen elite, trained from a young age & charged with protecting civilization by way of breathing life into mathematically intricate chalk sketches. These sketches rely on the precision & intent of the artis ...more
"What good is having friends if they don't put you in mortal peril every once in a while?"
I FLIPPING LOVE THIS BOOK
That's it.
That's the review.
...more
Pre-read reaction, October 2011:
I have only a vague idea what it's about. But it's by Sanderson, so *cue droning robot voice* . . . I will read it. I must read it.
Now:
If an author came to me and said: "I have a great idea for a magic system. These guys called Rithmatists draw in chalk on the ground, and their chalk drawings have power. They can draw chalklings, which can be given instructions. Some chalklings can actually injure people, especially the wild chalklings. Those guys are dangerous!" ...more
I have only a vague idea what it's about. But it's by Sanderson, so *cue droning robot voice* . . . I will read it. I must read it.
Now:
If an author came to me and said: "I have a great idea for a magic system. These guys called Rithmatists draw in chalk on the ground, and their chalk drawings have power. They can draw chalklings, which can be given instructions. Some chalklings can actually injure people, especially the wild chalklings. Those guys are dangerous!" ...more
4.5 stars.
One of the reasons why fans of Brandon Sanderson (including yours truly) love him so much - when he gets into a writing funk he sidetracks himself by writing something completely different from his main project and it can result in a gem like this book.
MG and YA are not my go-to genre and hence, I'm very selective when it comes to these books. However, I have immense faith in Sanderson as he consistently churns out good, if not amazing, books. I also failed to understand why he had be ...more
One of the reasons why fans of Brandon Sanderson (including yours truly) love him so much - when he gets into a writing funk he sidetracks himself by writing something completely different from his main project and it can result in a gem like this book.
MG and YA are not my go-to genre and hence, I'm very selective when it comes to these books. However, I have immense faith in Sanderson as he consistently churns out good, if not amazing, books. I also failed to understand why he had be ...more
Sep 28, 2019
Hamad
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
paperbacks,
2019-reads
This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷
★ It has been a while since I read a Sanderson book and I was really in the mood to read one. This is currently the only book in this series so I decided to jump in since it was not huge.
★ This is one of Sanderson’s YA books and although the characters and writing were indeed YA, I felt it could be enjoyed b ...more
“… everyone knows that ice cream is worth the trouble of being cold. Like all things virtuous, you have to suffer to gain the reward.”
★ It has been a while since I read a Sanderson book and I was really in the mood to read one. This is currently the only book in this series so I decided to jump in since it was not huge.
★ This is one of Sanderson’s YA books and although the characters and writing were indeed YA, I felt it could be enjoyed b ...more
Must read 'The Rithmatist' for those who are:
huge fan of Sanderson
huge fan of fantasy books
children (10 years old+)
teenagers
adults
The magics of Rithmatics are very strange because I haven't seen this kind of magic before.
The Rithmatist is an usual book. I haven't read this kind of fantasy book.
This book has mixtured genres: fantasy, crime and mystery.
My favourite characters are Joel and Melody. ...more
huge fan of Sanderson
huge fan of fantasy books
children (10 years old+)
teenagers
adults
The magics of Rithmatics are very strange because I haven't seen this kind of magic before.
The Rithmatist is an usual book. I haven't read this kind of fantasy book.
This book has mixtured genres: fantasy, crime and mystery.
My favourite characters are Joel and Melody. ...more
Feb 06, 2014
Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
my-library-catalogue,
my-ya-library-catalogue
[4.5 stars] I hope no one gets tired of hearing me say “I read another Sanderson, and it was amazing!” because I say it a lot.
The Rithmatist, while not as sophisticated as some of Sanderson’s high fantasy (for obvious reasons), is still one of my new favorite works from him. The magic system was particularly fun to read about – Rithmatists who duel one another using chalk drawings (ground wards for defense, animated chalk drawings for offense),and set in a school setting where they learn everyth ...more
The Rithmatist, while not as sophisticated as some of Sanderson’s high fantasy (for obvious reasons), is still one of my new favorite works from him. The magic system was particularly fun to read about – Rithmatists who duel one another using chalk drawings (ground wards for defense, animated chalk drawings for offense),and set in a school setting where they learn everyth ...more
I think I should start every Sanderson review with: Brandon Sanderson does it again!
There is a reason this guy is one of my favorite authors, he cannot disappoint.
This book is all about expectations. It’s Sanderson’s first try at YA and he did a great job making fantasy more accessible to a younger audience. For those who are used to Sanderson’s other adult works however, this may be a disappointment. The Rithmatist is a lot shorter than his other novels, with only 370 pages, large font and nume ...more
There is a reason this guy is one of my favorite authors, he cannot disappoint.
This book is all about expectations. It’s Sanderson’s first try at YA and he did a great job making fantasy more accessible to a younger audience. For those who are used to Sanderson’s other adult works however, this may be a disappointment. The Rithmatist is a lot shorter than his other novels, with only 370 pages, large font and nume ...more
4.5/5 stars
I wasn't going to round up. I mean not every Sanderson's book can be 5 stars, right? Wrong. Because when it came down to the last pages I was tearing up...So I just had to.
I thought that maybe because this was intended for younger readers (middle to young adult) it will be duller and not as interesting as his other series that I've read so far. I thought that I will read it and just think of it as a nice stand-alone book. I thought that there couldn't have possibly been another new a ...more
I wasn't going to round up. I mean not every Sanderson's book can be 5 stars, right? Wrong. Because when it came down to the last pages I was tearing up...So I just had to.
I thought that maybe because this was intended for younger readers (middle to young adult) it will be duller and not as interesting as his other series that I've read so far. I thought that I will read it and just think of it as a nice stand-alone book. I thought that there couldn't have possibly been another new a ...more
I loved this book.
The story was solid and the world was AMAZING. So much fun to read, the characters were lovely. This book is technically young adult, but it is so unique and so focused on a beautiful and well thought out world, and not romance that I forgot sometimes while reading.
The story was solid and the world was AMAZING. So much fun to read, the characters were lovely. This book is technically young adult, but it is so unique and so focused on a beautiful and well thought out world, and not romance that I forgot sometimes while reading.
After reading a bit of the initial commentary on this book, some people mentioned that maybe there was a little too much focus on the magic system. Being a huge Sanderson fan, my thoughts were along the line of: there's no way, his magic is THE reason I love his novels, there's literally NO way.
As it turns out, there does seem to be a way, although only just a bit.
The magic of The Rithmatist is as creative as ever. I've mentioned this before and I'll say it again, Sanderson's magic really takes ...more
As it turns out, there does seem to be a way, although only just a bit.
The magic of The Rithmatist is as creative as ever. I've mentioned this before and I'll say it again, Sanderson's magic really takes ...more
A bit too bland for my taste. I'll be back to finish.
Q:
“My life," Melody declared, "is a tragedy.” (c) ...more
Q:
“My life," Melody declared, "is a tragedy.” (c) ...more
LONG STORY SHORT: THIS BOOK IS FUCKING AMAZING! DON'T BE STUPID. PICK THIS BOOK UP.
REACTION AFTER READING THE BOOK
This book was fantastic. Everything about this book oozes with awesomeness! I mean, who would have thought chalk figures could be so menacing and scary?
Who?
Has it ever crossed your mind that chalk drawings could eat you, or worse, kill you?
It hasn't for me. The concept just sounded so farfetched. Too weird.
But this is Sanderson. I shouldn't have doubted his ability t ...more
REACTION AFTER READING THE BOOK
This book was fantastic. Everything about this book oozes with awesomeness! I mean, who would have thought chalk figures could be so menacing and scary?
Who?
Has it ever crossed your mind that chalk drawings could eat you, or worse, kill you?
It hasn't for me. The concept just sounded so farfetched. Too weird.
But this is Sanderson. I shouldn't have doubted his ability t ...more
This was good and ... different :D
I loved the magic system! Even though it wasn't as good as the others magic systems created by him (in my opinion), it was entertaining and I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT! JUST FOR FUN! We get the opportunity to know a lot about this magic system but there's still a lot we don't know and the book ends with "TO BE CONTINUED". NOOOOOOOOOO
Seems like we still need to wait a few years for a sequel :(
"So someday I will get to this, but it’s going to require some ali ...more
I loved the magic system! Even though it wasn't as good as the others magic systems created by him (in my opinion), it was entertaining and I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT! JUST FOR FUN! We get the opportunity to know a lot about this magic system but there's still a lot we don't know and the book ends with "TO BE CONTINUED". NOOOOOOOOOO
Seems like we still need to wait a few years for a sequel :(
"So someday I will get to this, but it’s going to require some ali ...more
2.5*'s with a rare round up. I just didn't think this was the usual Sanderson quality.
...more
Of course Brandon Sanderson can do no wrong and even his Young Adult books, like this one, are really worth a read. He has this tremendous ability to keep creating new and fascinating worlds with equally fascinating science and magic.
The Rithmatists of the title are people who can use chalk to create magic wards and creatures which can in turn be used for duelling and fighting. Our main characters are Joel who is not a Rithmatist but wants to be and Melody who is one and does not care. Both char ...more
The Rithmatists of the title are people who can use chalk to create magic wards and creatures which can in turn be used for duelling and fighting. Our main characters are Joel who is not a Rithmatist but wants to be and Melody who is one and does not care. Both char ...more
I don't know how Sanderson does it! To come up with a whole system of Rithmatics was brilliant. I didn't guess who the rogue Rithmatist was and I loved the main character Joel and his friend Melody working together. Looking forward to the sequel when it finally gets released.
...more
"Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s."
Brandon Sanderson has hit a home run here in this awesome world of chalk, just sick with possibility. He drops you into this world of chalk drawings that come to life, possess power and threaten the main protagonists, who also duel and defend in chalk.
These protagonists, the people of whom I speak, are interesting; possess a depth that contradicts Sanderson’s sparse prose. I found it easy to connect with and ca ...more
3.5/5 stars
This was a really enjoyable read! The whole concept is so interesting - a really cool take on steampunk without actually being steam punk!
I loved the reimagined US as islands and the whole world in general.
The plot was interesting but (mostly) pretty predictable, Joel was an alright main character - not great though, and the story, while overall interesting, just didn't have enough meat to it. It was a really great concept but the actually story played out had too many pacing issues f ...more
This was a really enjoyable read! The whole concept is so interesting - a really cool take on steampunk without actually being steam punk!
I loved the reimagined US as islands and the whole world in general.
The plot was interesting but (mostly) pretty predictable, Joel was an alright main character - not great though, and the story, while overall interesting, just didn't have enough meat to it. It was a really great concept but the actually story played out had too many pacing issues f ...more
May 22, 2016
Helen 2.0
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
original,
magic,
school-setting,
read-16,
cover-candy,
steampunk,
mystery,
young-adult,
fantasy-epic,
brs-done
3.5 rounded up.
Imagine a steampunk Hogwarts where Muggles and wizards study side by side. Magicians' power is derived from chalk lines and drawings that obey the maker and affect the real world.
The Rithmatist tells the story of Joel, a normal guy whose greatest wish was to become a Rithmatist, a chalk wizard.
Since Joel was not selected to learn Rithmatism, he dedicates his time to studying as much as he can about the world that's forbidden to him. Then Rithmatist students start disappearing and ...more
Imagine a steampunk Hogwarts where Muggles and wizards study side by side. Magicians' power is derived from chalk lines and drawings that obey the maker and affect the real world.
The Rithmatist tells the story of Joel, a normal guy whose greatest wish was to become a Rithmatist, a chalk wizard.
Since Joel was not selected to learn Rithmatism, he dedicates his time to studying as much as he can about the world that's forbidden to him. Then Rithmatist students start disappearing and ...more
Apr 08, 2013
Steven
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
new-series-first-books,
read-in-2015
Awesome YA read. I need him to write the sequel already!!!
I recommend Sanderson to the nth degree. N being whatever you like, because he friggin rocks. This novel rocks and I'm now convinced the man can't write a bad book. I read it through audio, but it didn't matter. The diagrams that were so essential to the action were still very clear and fascinating. Again, his magic systems soar. It was a near perfect win.
...more
Well, how can I put this gently.... it's an easy, entertaining read. I certainly enjoy most things about this book... all except for the chalkling things. The writing is brilliant. And honestly, I loved the story as a whole. Just when it came to the chalklings being these big scary things that have terrorized the world, I wasn't feeling it. If you took them out and replaced them with some other magical system it would have been a phenomenal story. It just seemed too far fetched. I just could not
...more
YES!!
I'm a bit dying bc it's been almost 6 years and there's not even a publication date for the sequel but I'm so happy I picked this one up.
It was one of those books that I keep reading and with every scene I say, I hope it doesn't go that way bc it'd be so cliche, or this aspect of the book is lacking, and then the book responds and everything is amazing.
----------------------------------------------
Buddy read with The girl so hip, she makes a hippopotamus looks like a regular popotamus
And no ...more
I'm a bit dying bc it's been almost 6 years and there's not even a publication date for the sequel but I'm so happy I picked this one up.
It was one of those books that I keep reading and with every scene I say, I hope it doesn't go that way bc it'd be so cliche, or this aspect of the book is lacking, and then the book responds and everything is amazing.
----------------------------------------------
Buddy read with The girl so hip, she makes a hippopotamus looks like a regular popotamus
And no ...more
Good ol' Sanderson. I'll be drawing chalklings and lines in my office building in the next week or so. I hope nobody cares.
...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fantasy Buddy Reads: The Rithmatist [Jan 5, 2021] | 47 | 35 | Jan 14, 2021 04:24AM | |
| Strictly Fantasy ...: The Ritmatist - first impressions | 4 | 11 | Nov 16, 2019 04:57PM | |
| All About Fantasy!: May BOTM YA - The Rithmatist | 2 | 8 | May 09, 2019 03:55AM | |
| Fantasy Buddy Reads: The Rithmatist [July 25, 2018] | 104 | 52 | Aug 13, 2018 10:13AM | |
Club de lectura p...:
[MAR/MAY 2018] El Rithmatista
|
19 | 108 | May 28, 2018 09:01AM |
Readers also enjoyed
4,132 users
1,508 users
538 users
403 users
313 users
195 users
192 users
168 users
162 users
Brandon’s major books for the second half of 2016 are The Dark Talent, the final volume in Alcatraz Smedry’s autobiographical account of his battle against the Evil Librarians who secretly rule our world, and Arcanum Unbounded, the collection of short fiction in the Cosmere universe that includes the Mistborn series and the Stormlight
Archive, among others. This collection features The Emperor’s S ...more
Archive, among others. This collection features The Emperor’s S ...more
Other books in the series
Rithmatist
(2 books)
Related Articles
Ciannon Smart has been holed up in her England home since the pandemic began a year ago, but by no means has she been idle. She’s been on...
63 likes · 7 comments
2 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
“... everyone knows that ice cream is worth the trouble of being cold. Like all things virtuous, you have to suffer to gain the reward.”
—
118 likes
“Joel, lad, school is about learning to learn. If you don't practice studying things you don't like, then you'll have a very hard time in life.”
—
62 likes
More quotes…
