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Elantris
May 2013 - Elantris
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Elantris - Chapters 1-8
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So, I actually had loads of time to read on my train journey and before today so I've already managed to blast through the first 8 chapters.I'm quite enjoying it so far. It took a while to get used to the world and the different cultures, religions etc., which to be honest is still taking some getting used to, but I think Ive got my head around it a bit. I like Raoden and Sarene I think will be a good protagonist as well, and uncover a lot of mysteries. And Hrathen looks like he'll be quite deadly and formidable later in the story. I won't say too much more though until other people have read some/all of these chapters to discuss :) The Elantrians are also very intriguing...
I am really enjoying it too. It took me a bit to get used to the names of everything, very Slavic with letters you don't need before everything like, Fjorden, Fjordell, and Fjon. I just ignore the F's in this case. I really like Raoden's determination, Searene's spunk, and even Hrathen's belief. I may not really like Hrathen, but he is doing what he thinks is best as far as I can tell. I don't take him for an evil person, just a leader that sometimes needs to make tough choices for the greater good. The Elantrians... curious, very curious. =)Oh and King Iadon, yeah, F that guy. Seriously.
Yeah, Iadon is just.... grr! I like Sarene and her wittiness and spunk, very amusing and great character. Raoden's interesting and I like how determined he is not to let Elantris get to him and stuff. I don't know about Hrathen. I mean, obviously he's kind of antagonistic towards Kae and stuff but yeah, he doesn't seem really evil and I'm interested to see how his storyline develops and how it ties in to what else is going on. yeah, the names took some getting used to. I've been ignoring the 'j's in the names like that and saying in my head "forden" "fordell" etc., or maybe like "fyorden", cos I assumed it would be like how we say the word "fjord" (which is like a river)...
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I have to agree Iadon just makes me angry. Other than that I am quite hooked, Sanderson is just amazing(always finds a wat to hook me)! I am huge sucker for political intrigue and it seems Sarene is a key player in it. Sarene is my favorite character so far although I am enjoying all the main characters. Does anybody have any ideas/guesses at what Reod was. Lastly, I agree that it takes a while to get used to the names. Can't wait to continue reading!
Well from the context of these 8 chapters at least, I assume the Reod was the event that caused the Elantrians to fall and the magic that created them to backfire, and all of the subsequent chaos. But yeah, it is quite hooking so far. I think all 3 main characters are really interesting, and I keep changing my mind about who's my favourite! haha
I have read this before - three or four times actually - so I am going to be very careful not to reveal any spoilers.
As the first 'known' Sanderson book it is interesting to see how much his style has changed and remained the same. It still feels like one of his books though.
It is also unusual to see a fantasy book start so fast. In only a few pages, the main character is already exiled. It is maybe a little too quick?
I like the characters too, though there's not much yet. Raoden/Spirit is my favorite. But Sarene is more than a match for him. And Hrathen is... interesting.
As the first 'known' Sanderson book it is interesting to see how much his style has changed and remained the same. It still feels like one of his books though.
It is also unusual to see a fantasy book start so fast. In only a few pages, the main character is already exiled. It is maybe a little too quick?
I like the characters too, though there's not much yet. Raoden/Spirit is my favorite. But Sarene is more than a match for him. And Hrathen is... interesting.
Traci L. wrote: "As the first 'known' Sanderson book it is interesting to see how much his style has changed and remained the same. It still feels like one of his books though."
That is interesting. I've never read any of Sanderson's other books, so in time, I am looking forward to seeing that transformation.
It is also unusual to see a fantasy book start so fast. In only a few pages, the main character is already exiled. It is maybe a little too quick?
It is funny you should say that. In college I always had professors who said people tend to drag things out too much in essays and in stories. More than once I had professors say, "Write what it is that you are going to write, then delete the firs paragraph/chapter then you're finished." Haha.
I liked the opening. I didn't quite get what was going on yet (which does make it feel like it is too fast, but it grabbed my attention and made me want to keep going in order to find out.
=)
Yeah, I was kinda confused with the opening cos it did happen so fast because you don't know anything really about the world. But at the same time, it does make it more dramatic and makes you want to carry on and I don't think it would have had the same impact if there'd be another chapter or something before hand to set out the world a bit more, although it may have improved my understanding.But that also seems to be the case throughout the book, as Sanderson just keeps throwing in names and ideas and stuff without really explaining what they are. It does make you feel kind of immersed in the world and is realistic cos we don't explain everything all the time, but it does make it confusing as well at times I feel...
I haven't read any other Sanderson yet either so I'm interested in how that changes.
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I agree that fist chapter I was quite confused everything happened so fast. I actually read the first chapter about a month ago and was sorta confused and just stopped reading(mostly because I was read something else interesting at the time.
I have read Sanderson's other books and he does improve as a writer. His best book has be The Way of Kings it is a bit slower paced because it is 1200+ pages and its a start of a 10 book series. The books is just fantastic he immerse's you in the world you can feel the history oozing out of it.It has the feel of LOTR. ASOIAF, and WOT like him building the myth and history of the world and characters are fantastic. Lastly his Mistborn series is also fantastic I am hoping the group will read it(although it does seem like quite a few people have read it already).
There are also similar themes he uses throughout all of his books. I won't say more for fear of spoilers. But his books are all very much connected. Though they aren't the same book over and over again.
I love this one and it is probably my second favorite Sanderson book.
I love this one and it is probably my second favorite Sanderson book.
DO NOT post any spoilers from further along in the book, this is just for chapters 1-8. Discussing events from these chapters and previous ones though is perfectly fine.