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levic'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
4.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
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
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
badbadwolf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
mkaiww's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gore, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Genocide, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
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
ericarao's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
Moderate: Gore, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming and Suicide
diana_barv'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? No
4.25
Oh Elantris, for a first work it is surprisingly solid and I could see the roots of the style I so loved in Mistborn. The 3 POVs were very solid as was the world building. I could read an entire book on pre Shaod Elantris tho.
Sarene has everything I could wish in a protagonist, she was witty and bold and yet she had insecurities and fears. I loved her banter with Spirit.
Raoden was every bit a "good Prince this kingdom needs" but it slaps. His endless optimism was wonderful and I would have loved to see what he could have achieved with new elantris, separated from him as king of Arelon. Galladon (my beloved) was right, this dude was a sappy romantic and you know what? Some straights do deserve rights and him and Sarene were meant to be.
Hrathen's arc... sir, Mr. Gyron... holy shit. I am still unconvinced if I liked the last bit. His story was so complex and I loved the way he approached his mission and how strong his morals were, autodeception aside. He had purpose despite his lack of faith and he tried to mend his ways at the very end. BUT I do question his motivation. He and Sarene had mutual respect as opponents and barely. This was not an enemies to lovers and I think respect->admiration->love would have taken a bit more time. I feel that he could have realized he had faith in the people more than in his God's will (which was more Wrym's than a divine mandate but theological discussed will take us nowhere) And avoid parting with a dumbass confession he didn't even voiced.
Other random things that kept me from 5 stars are the weird shit with the king's rituals and lack of acknowledgement later. The "pope" who just came to read the frankly ex-machina decree. Sarene taking advantage of the shock; no way the people would have just calmly accepted an elantrian as king, not even their beloved returned-from-death prince.
Adien or whomever. He... No. Bad autistic rep. I am not well informed to give the particulars of why (Jack had however told me he IS bad rep and I trust her first-hand judgment) but even I know that was so wrong.
The pace was a bit funky, the last 3rd was super packed! But all in all I enjoyed it immensely. I even cried when I thought all elantrians lost forever. I am definitely going into the storm light archive next. Wish me luck.
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism and Blood