Elantris by Brandon Sanderson (2005)
Uninteresting and tedious
Book cover blurb
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.
My Review
Well, I've had to call it a day at the halfway point. I guess I'm just not going to get along with Sanderson after all.
This book just doesn't really go anywhere...or at least, it takes its own sweet time about it.
The characters are bland and two-dimensional.
And I'm sorry but "show don't tell!"
I'm sure all fantasy can't be this uninteresting, but it's going to take me a long time to get over this disappointment enough to try another.
That cover though! A thing of beauty!
I have Skyward by Brandon Sanderson on my to-read shelf, let's hope he can pique my interest a little more with my favoured sci-fi.
My copy of this novel
Tor hardback edition.
Published in 2015
551 pages
ISBN 9780765383105