Elantris (Elantris, #1) in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Apr 05, 2008 J.M. Brister rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2008

My fiance made me read this book because he started reading Sanderson not too long ago. I was surprised how quickly I read through it. Elantris was fairly fast-paced and had a lot of mystery surrounding the ill-fated city. My only complaint with the book is that everything got wrapped up a little too neatly at the end, and the solution was a little too simplistic. Otherwise, it's a great fantasy read, especially if you don't want to commit a lot of time to a long series. I look forward to readin ...more

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Oct 19, 2009 Carl is currently reading it

I decided to try something out by Brandon Sanderson, who will be completing Robert Jordan's immense Wheel of Time epic. Elantris is his first book, and a stand alone, which is nice-- I'm sick of people thinking that fantasy can only be written in series with more than three books (but of course, the publishers want to make more money, and a series is the best way to do that, from what I hear). Anyway, it's interesting so far, but it's also a bit frustrating b/c it's one of those stories where th ...more

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Apr 28, 2014 Lucija rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, audiobooks

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 30, 2008 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2009

This is an incredible stand-alone fantasy novel. Elantris was once the home of near god-like people, with incredible powers. The inhabitants of Elantris were marked by their silver skin and white hair; people were not born this way but experienced a transformation (the Shaod) at a random time in their lives. Ten years before the start of the narration, something bad happened to the Elantrians. Their hair fell out, their skin became mottled gray, and their hearts stopped beating.

Now, instead of r This is an incredible stand-alone fantasy novel. Elantris was once the home of near god-like people, with incredible powers. The inhabitants of Elantris were marked by their silver skin and white hair; people were not born this way but experienced a transformation (the Shaod) at a random time in their lives. Ten years before the start of the narration, something bad happened to the Elantrians. Their hair fell out, their skin became mottled gray, and their hearts stopped beating.

Now, instead of ruling over their neighbors, they are shunned. Elantrians are thrown into the city and the gates are locked behind them. They are left to go mad from pain and hunger. Since their bodies are not alive, they don't heal - and they don't need food to survive, although they still feel hunger.

This is the story of Raoden, the prince of Arelon who is taken by the Shaod. Even a prince is thrown into Elantris; his family pretends he is dead to avoid political repurcussions. It is also the story of his bride-to-be/widow Sarene. By marriage contract, if one member of the wedding party dies prior to the ceremony, the marriage is considered to be intact. Sarene must find her place amidst the dangerous political intrigues of Arelon.

It is also the story of Hrathan, who has come to prepare Arelon for an upcoming invasion by Fjordell.

This is a stand-alone novel, but the magic system and the world were complex enough to support a whole series. There was so much more I wanted to know - about the Elantrians, about AonDar, about the militaristic religious practices of the Fjordell. Not that more details were necessary for this story - I just wanted more.

I read this purely for pleasure; I was more interested in the characters and what was going to happen next than in any bigger thematic messages. I think I will probably read this again someday; if I do, I want to spend more time thinking about the different religions and the conflict. I'd also like to think more about the Elantrians and the types of 'gangs' that formed before Raoden transformed. ...more

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May 11, 2014 Annie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sf-f, audible

Nobody does despair like Sanderson. I started reading this book many years ago on an airplane and then left the book on the plane. Oops. Finally got around to listening to the audio version, and it was fantastic. The worlds he builds are always interesting and unique, and this one is no different. His characters are interesting, and the plot intriguing.

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Oct 21, 2012 Jasmine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Awesome! Haven't been so drawn in to a book in a long time ...more

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Feb 01, 2008 Margot rated it really liked it

Shelves: adultfantasy

Not perfect, but a wonderful debut novel. I got to meet the author recently and that always adds to the fun.

My gripes are small. I don't like fantasy that has weird, impossible-to-say names, and this one has some of that (although not all). At times it got a little cute, if you know what I mean. (think Eddings) But overall, it was so imaginative, so different from the rest. ...more

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