Elantris
Elantris: gigantic, beautiful, radiant-----filled with powerful individuals who use their magical abilities to benefit all the people of Arelon. Yet each of these godlike beings was once an ordinary person until touched by the mysterious transforming power of Shaod. Then, ten years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, feeble, leper-like creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling. The Shaod became a curse. Arelon's new capital city, Kae, crouches in the shadow of Elantris, which its people do their best to ignore. Princess Sarene of Teod has come to Kae for a marriage of state with Crown Prince Raoden, hoping also to find love. Sarene learns instead that Raoden has died, and she is considered his widow. Both Teod and Arelon are under threat from the imperial ambitions of Fjordell, a city filled with ruthless religious fanatics, and whose high priest, Hrathen, intends to convert Arelon and claim it for his emperor and his god. Now Sarene alone stands in his way. But neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspects the truth about Prince Raoden's disappearance. Taken by the same strange malady that felled the gods of Elantris, Raoden was secretly imprisoned within the dark city. His struggle to create a society for the wretches trapped there begins a series of events that will bring hope to Arelon, and reveal the secret of Elantris itself. -- From the hardback inside cover
Stats for nerds
15recommend
27mentions
26people
2010–2026years
56% recommend41% neutral4% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Very cool - it reminds me of some of the programming-language-like magic systems in Sanderson's books, especially AonDor in Elantris and Lines in The Rithmatist.
- As far as his epic fantasy stuff goes, I started with Mistborn (starts slow, but finishing the 1st trilogy is mind-blowing) & my friend began with Elantris (release order, in my opinion, his writing gets better every book--there are now 50 & I've read/loved nearly all of them). Alternatively, Way of Kings could be a good starting point as well (my personal favorite).
And of course there's a ton of non epic fantasy (Skyward & Steelheart skew younger).
See also: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/where-do-i-start/
- Yep, world building and system building is what he does.
The only book of his that wasn't like that... and which i liked most... Elantris... was never really continued.
- > They are his main series, and generally regarded as his best stuff.
I think Elantris is his best. It's just that there's less of it (one book) than there is of the big series.
- Skyward was great. The 2nd book in the series, Starsight, less so. I believe those are considered YA novels though. I think Elantris would be a better recommendation. Its a standalone book and probably one of his best works.
- Elantris is great, but the end of the books is basically a gaping gap. Not entirely, but a bit like the story was cut off in the middle.
