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karlin0336's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The pacing definitely isn't as good as in Sanderson's later books. The beginning is soooo slow and really confusing on your first readthrough (it was a whole lot less confusing the second time around when I understood what all the made-up fantasy terms meant). Once it gets going, though, it REALLY gets good. The ending was just as action-packed and mind-blowing as Sanderson's later books. And of course, there were all the plot twists.
I'm really looking forward to the continuation of this series in the very near future! It will be especially exciting to learn more about this book's magic system.
Hrathen is by far my favorite character now, which is funny because I absolutely HATED him at the beginning of my first readthrough. His character development is amazing in this book.
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, War, and Classism
miguelito_juanito's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Genocide, Death of parent, and Classism
kashby's review against another edition
2.0
it’s written very different from sanderson’s other books. instead of plot twists and surprises, elantris is more constantly suspenseful, where you’re watching as plans slowly crumble and plotlines cross over at the least convenient times. i was never truly shocked reading this, which is an emotion i feel a lot while reading sanderson, unless the plot twist is something that doesn’t make sense (no spoilers but some of the plot choices are not something that i think sanderson would write today). it’s also a lot darker than his current books. oathbringer is sanderson’s book that i would say is equally as intense but oathbringer feels very hopeful while elantris is much more despondent. it’s not frighting and i wouldn’t classify it as a horror book but it’s definitely very dark.
i think this book is written slightly like a dnd campaign in the sense that when we begin a scene, sometimes the vibes are “this is this person. this is who they’re related to and a quirk about them. this is the next person and who they’re related to and a quirk about them.” which honestly made the book drag a lot. i understand trying to give the side characters different personalities but i had a hard time telling them apart because they all had the same type of speaking tone. the graphic audio helped a lot because the different side characters have different voices but the actors did a lot of heavy lifting on that front. the plot was amazing and creative and interesting but i could tell it was his first published novel. i would be very interested in a rewrite of this book with sanderson’s current knowledge.
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Moderate: Medical content and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Blood, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
troublesometrios's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Reading this book is like starting a puzzle and putting it together piece-by-piece. We follow three characters, each quite different from the other particularly in personality. Two are written as heroes, but they achieve nothing without the communities they helped build and lead. The third character is more complex and experiences the most character growth of the three. Thoughtful conversations surrounding religion, government, and community are rife throughout the story.
There IS a slow spot in the pacing -- just know that it is well worth pushing through it!
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Genocide, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Torture
asearl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I, personally, did not enjoy Elantris. I believe this opinion is more because of the order I chose to read Sanderson’s books, than the quality of this book itself. I read this book after already finishing Stormlight, Mistborn (Era 1 and Era 2), Frugal Wizard, and Tress. Because I started off knowing what he was capable of writing, I was underwhelmed. He has come a long way since 2009.
The Cons
- From the beginning to the last couple dozen pages, the plot is ploddingly slow.
- The characters are one dimensional (at least relative to someone like Shallan or Tress or Dalinar). They have their “trait” and stick to it.
- There is so much politicking. I normally don’t mind scheming over action, so much of the book focused on scheming for it to not pay off well in the end.
The Pros
- The magic system is, of course, wonderful and unique.
- The last dozen or so pages explode in your typical Sanderson-esque finale. I think this makes the plod through the rest of the book worth it.
All-in-all, I’d recommend Elantris to anyone willing to read his other books as well, or to those looking to understand this particular magic system. If this is going to be your only Sanderson book ever, maybe try Mistborn.
Graphic: Body horror and Chronic illness
Moderate: Xenophobia and Classism
elwh's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Suicide
bergha1998's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Multi-POV, Romance Subplots, Hidden Identity
“Pain loses its power when other things become more important.”
“Truth can never be defeated… Even if people do forget about it occasionally.”
“When you can’t find reason in life, you tend to give up on it.”
“Joy was more than just an absence of discomfort.”
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lakinglaze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
proza's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Sexism, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Blood and Cannibalism