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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
dredadonx's review
- 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
4.75
The Shaod is a supernatural curse that pervaded all throughout Elantris and gives you dark blemishes all throughout your skin, turns your skin a dark-greyish color, and pronounces you "dead", but technically you can still "live", breath and talk like normal. You don't retain a heartbeat, and you feel hunger, but you don't need food to keep living (but without food you can suffer from extreme hunger, fatigue, and deliriousness, eventually causing you to pass away). It is a weird curse, and **spoiler** Raoden almost gave into the hunger in the book, which made me cry because it seemed like he was considering un*living himself.
My review is a little over the place but I did not want to give too much away with spoilers. PLZ PLZ PLZZZZZ READ THIS BOOK and I cannot wait to dive in further into Emperor's Soul, which is a sequel, but also stand-alone novel, to Elantris.
My only issue with this book was how Sarene would describe herself due to how perverse patriarchal norms are in the setting of this book. Once you read it you'll understand what I am referring to. Also, I was not a fan of how Shuden, who is a darkskinned man from an indigenous Jindo , was kind of fetishized throughout the book due to his skin type. I understand the book was written in the early 2000s so reading this in 2023 where we have made great advancements in gender and racial issues definitely had me uncomfortable.
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
anastasiamakes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Elantris spends more time exploring the politics if and relationships in a fantasy world, more than the magical elements of it, which I personally enjoyed but others may not.
Graphic: Genocide, Terminal illness, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery and Suicidal thoughts
cerilouisereads'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
emilyplun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Genocide and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Torture
jamieleepilk'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
"Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person until touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod. Ten years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, leper-like, powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling."
Epic fantasy at it's finest, I will admit it's not quite as polished as his later work but I loved it all the same. With his Trademark charming characters, Raoden a resilient Prince, Sarene a sword fighting, political minded princess and Hrathen a priest with a dark purpose.
Filled to bursting with unforgettable characters, captivating magical systems and mysterious religions. Something I always love about Brandon's work is how immersive it is, every little detail is incredibly well thought out I also do not understand how one many can have this whole universe inside his brain.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Cannibalism
sweekune'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
4.5
This was my second dip into Sanderson's cosmere and it was one hell of a journey. Slow-paced, slowly building and then hits you with a flurry of impeccably timed action. I enjoyed the three main characters' interactions with this new setting, its people and magic and I would love to see a sequel some day.
The good:
- A twisting plot that was fun to follow. Full of politics, discovery, introspection and hope.
- The magic system was intriguing and different from any I've seen before.
- The cast of characters was diverse and each one distinct enough that it was easy to keep them separate
What could have been better:
- Whilst the journey was incredibly enjoyable, it was occasionally predictable though never enough to cause dissatisfaction.
- A couple of the characters were a little too perfect. Whilst all the characters faced adversity and worked through it, it occasionally seemed that they were good at everything that mattered already or in relatively little time.
Overall an amazing read and I'm already researching which cosmere book to read next.
Moderate: Death, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Murder