Elantris - First Thoughts

[Melanie, the neutral party]

I am about 1/2 way through, and so far I love this book. The pace is steady, not fast or slow. I enjoy the switching perspectives and look forward to the prince and princess meeting or at least their efforts combining. My favorite part is the antagonist who is not evil, just approaching life and politics from a different point of view. His growing crisis of faith is intriguing to me.

I have not read Mistborn, but I have read both books in the Legion and Steelheart series. This book is not as action packed as they are, but the characters' actions match the world and social class they live in.

[Veronika KaoruSaionji]

Great book. I love it!
When I started to read it, I disliked it, but slowly I became to like it and endly I love it very much. :o)

[Leticia]

I want to read this now in March!
Btw, there is also a Readthon called #cosmerealong, happening now in 2020 where they are reading Brandon Sanderson books the whole year and in Feb/March they are reading Elantris.

[Gabi]

I'll be joining as well. It will be my first Sanderson book that I actually read. The last 7 I listened to as audiobooks.

[DivaDiane]

I'm not much interested in a read-along and since I just got back into The Way of Kings, I'm pretty sure I need to finish that (at 67 percent right now), and possibly insert some short palate cleanser from my Audible queue before I embark on another, different epic Sanderson novel. I may not get to this until the end of March. Official start date is March 15th, right?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I read this recently! Very excited to talk about it with folks :D

And yes, Diane, that is correct. I also recommend taking a beat before launching into another Sanderson world. But I hope you eventually join us!

[Meredith]

I will be joining in too. This will be my first Sanderson and I am looking forward to it. I'll probably start a bit early, but I told myself I have to finish reading at least one of the books I am currently reading before starting this.

[Gabi]

Meredith wrote: "I will be joining in too. This will be my first Sanderson and I am looking forward to it. I'll probably start a bit early, but I told myself I have to finish reading at least one of the books I am ..."

How cool, Meredith. Starting Sanderson with his first published novel. I sometimes think it was a mistake for me to have started with the Stormlight Archives, cause I fear nothing can compare to them.

[Meredith]

Gabi wrote: "How cool, Meredith. Starting Sanderson with his first published novel. I sometimes think it was a mistake for me to have started with the Stormlight Archives, cause I fear nothing can compare to them. "

I was actually interested to start with the Mistborn books since I've heard a lot of good about them. But then this won in the Reread poll. I do like that it is (more or less) stand alone and feel like it will give me a good idea of whether I like Sanderson without starting a series that I might leave hanging.

[Iris]

Elantris is sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read, so the group read for mid-March is perfect timing for me! :) I'm also a new member here, so this will be my first group read with this group. Can't wait!

[Meredith]

Okay, I've read the first 4 chapters (~50 pages) and I am very pleased with this so far. I like the setting and am intrigued with the history that is being revealed. The characters are interesting and I am looking forward to how their stories develop. It definitely feels like a fantasy that is moving away from some typical aspects of the genre, particularly with the characters and their responses to the situation they are in.

[Ryan, Your favourite moderators favourite moderator]

You know when as a kid you were having fun at home and then your parents tell you to get ready because you were going out and so you sulked all the way there only to end up having even more fun at the destination until once again your parents said you're leaving now and you got upset again about having your enjoyment interrupted? That. Stupidly that.

[Ryan, Your favourite moderators favourite moderator]

I could have articulated that as if I were an educated adult but it was more enjoyable to match it's tone to my avatar.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

haha! i thought it was perfect Ryan! i haven't thought about that feeling in decades, but you got it just right.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

And welcome, Iris! hope your first book with us is a winner!

[Ryan]

Uh...what is Ryan talking about?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

He's saying he wasn't sure he wanted to start this book but is loving it :)

[Ryan]

Ah, I was trying to connect it to the story somehow and coming up short. heh

[Leticia]

I'm reading this for the first time now and it's a good book, only that I consider the plot with the (view spoiler)[civilization fall and disease (hide spoiler)] quite heavy for the current situation.
I'll try to go on reading it even though because the writing is very good.

[Iris]

Thank you, Allison! :)
I'm also enjoying it so far (200 pages in), but mostly because of Raoden's chapters. I'm still warming up to the others and hope that they'll become a little more interesting soon.
I also agree with Leticia. It gives you a bit of a strange feeling reading this right now.

[Ben]

Comparing this to other Sanderson books I've read makes it feel not quite up to what Ive come to expect from him (it was a early work so that makes sense I guess)

But compare it to most other fantasy authors and its easily on par if not a step above

Some parts of this I've found to be more entertaining then others thus far, even the lesser parts are still good just missing a wow factor maybe?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Yes, it is very early (it's his first novel after all) and I also like how he seems to have evolved on religion.

[Gabi]

I finally started it! My edition has a very cute and funny foreword by Dan Wells which already is worth reading.

ETA: Two chapters read and I think I met Shallan's role model :D.

[Leticia]

Sarene is an awesome character indeed :-)

[Gabi]

She is great! I already love her <3

[Bobby]

I finally got my hold from the library. I put in one for both the e-book and the audio just to see which I would get first, and it turns out Audio is the winner. I listened to the first 4 chapters last night, and I'm really enjoying it so far.

The characters are already very interesting, and the world building has been top notch, so we're off to a good start. I have to say it had been a long time since I read the blurb so I kind of went into it blind, but I don't mind that too much.

[Bonnie]

Allison wrote: "Yes, it is very early (it's his first novel after all) and I also like how he seems to have evolved on religion."

Starting this for the Re-read. Two chapters in. Seems easy to get into, and interesting. Also, all my GR Friends & Following peeps who have rated or reviewed it, like it. Yay!

Interesting, did not know it was his first book. And this is not part of the Cosmere world?

[Bonnie]

Greetings sules,
Kulo the rulos and rudas suffering Shaod in this hellhole!

Online Elantris Glossary:

https://www.brandonsanderson.com/elan...

[Olga]

I think it is a part of Cosmere.
Will get to Elantris some time next week, looking forward to it.

[Ron]

I finished Elantris a few weeks ago. I'm new at the fantasy genre. Although I did read The Lord of the Rings trilogy when the movies came out. But, nothing fantasy before that and nothing since then except for Elantris and The Emperor's Soul by Sanderson. And, a couple of The Witcher pre-series books.

I really liked Elantris. Also, enjoyed The Emperor's Soul. Just liked Elantris more. I have yet to read the Mistborn series, but, Era 1 is on my TBR and will bubble up pretty shortly.

I'm also reading The Blood of Elves in The Witcher series. Very early in the book for any evaluation of it.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

That's great Ron!! I think Elantris is a great start in Sanderson appreciation and in fantasy ready. It's nice and chunky but still got lots going on.

[Jen]

I'm late to the re-read but started today, excited to check out Sanderson's first novel.