Elantris (Elantris)

Title: Elantris

Series: Elantris (Book #1)

Year: 2006

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Summary: 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.

Arelon's new capital, Kae, crouches in the shadow of Elantris. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives for a marriage of state with Crown Prince Raoden, hoping -- based on their correspondence -- to also find love. She finds instead that Raoden has died and she is considered his widow. Both Teod and Arelon are under threat as the last remaining holdouts against the imperial ambitions of the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. So Sarene decides to use her new status to counter the machinations of Hrathen, a Fjordell high priest who has come to Kae to convert Arelon and claim it for his emperor and his god.

But neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspect the truth about Prince Raoden. Stricken by the same curse that ruined Elantris, Raoden was secretly exiled by his father to the dark city. His struggle to help the wretches trapped there begins a series of events that will bring hope to Arelon, and perhaps reveal the secret of Elantris itself.

A rare epic fantasy that doesn't recycle the classics and that is a complete and satisfying story in one volume, Elantris is fleet and fun, full of surprises and characters to care about. It's also the wonderful debut of a welcome new star in the constellation of fantasy.

Review: I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. It's just about as un-cliche a fantasy story as you can get nowadays. Some of the characters reminded me of grown-up Prydain Chronicles characters, and you just can't help but love them for it. While many fantasy books you're able to predict a good amount of what's to come, with this one -- forget it. Get ready for a wild ride, and make sure your seatbelt's bucked.

Raoden is your typical, every day prince. He's well liked by the people, he argues with his father, he's got big dreams -- until everything is shattered when he's taken by the Shaod. Now cast out and shunned, he must find a new life in Elantris, the former city of the gods, now home to the dead of a terrible curse.

Sarene is headed to a new kingdom and a new husband -- the latter who she's never actually met in person. She believes, though, that this marriage will make her happy, and she's eager to start on this new adventure. Upon her arrival, however, she's greeted with the news that her betrothed, Prince Raoden, is dead. Thrown into grieving for a man she never met, she determines to get to the bottom of his death. No one wants to talk about it, and it's not that difficult to suspect some evil at play.

Hrathen's main goal is to save a kingdom. His religious beliefs are the people's only hope for survival, since -- if they don't convert -- they'll be overturned and lost in a bloody battle. He has to convert everyone fast, and he believes the mysterious, cursed city of Elantris might have some answers.

This book is terribly hard to describe in a nutshell. Ok, it's just terribly hard to describe in any type of short description. I don't even think the summary does it justice. Sanderson has woven multiple subplots along with each of the three main characters, and the reader doesn't get a break. But all roads lead to the ocean, and it all marvelously comes together at the end. Even though this is the first book in a series (which is part of a larger Cosmos, I'm told), the ending is incredibly satisfying.

I don't know that I could properly review this book lest I fall into terrible fangirling and all caps typing. Sarene was superb. Galladon was probably my favorite and I NEED MORE OF GALLADON. I loved politics and the intrigue. I loved all the things. RAODEN was perfect; his interaction with Sarene -- ALL OF IT -- was just amazing.

See? I succumbed to fangirling and all caps. *le sigh* It was fated to happen. Just go read this. You won't regret it. I can't English very well and review anymore.

Advisory: The people of Elantris are taken by a curse known as the Shaod. It's basically a living-dead type of situation, where they continue to live, but their hearts stop and they don't require food to eat. Their skin turns brown and their hair falls out. However, their bodies do not heal themselves (even after a simple stubbing of the toe), so eventually, the build-up of pain in one's body drives them mad. It sounds awful, but Sanderson actually did very well in portraying the Shaod. Yes, you get the sense that it's dreadful, but it's not over-the-top sickening.

There is obviously some magic going on in this book. The way I understood it was that the world is controlled by Aons, little elements/letters/symbols that only those of Elantris can draw/empower. The Shaod curse that now destroys lives used to elevate lives with a blessing: power with immortality. One character spends a good deal of the book studying the Aons, though since this is strictly a fantasy world, it is nearly impossible that anything done in Elantris could be replicated in our world.

There are also two main religions battling for supremacy in the book. I can't tell if Sanderson fashioned them after actual religions known on earth, but they did carry elements that I recognized from familiar religions. To analyze that, though, I think I would need to read more of his works to learn more about each one.

Also, fantasy violence and fighting. Several characters are injured in battles and whatnot. One cult practice briefly shows a human sacrifice.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars