Brandon Sanderson - Elantris

Pros: The raw potential of the ideas.
Cons: It's rough around the edges.

It's tempting to be more critical of an author who isn't safely on a pedestal. I can't reverence Brandon Sanderson because he's too close to me. Though only recently acquainted, we've shared class schedules and mentors. When I speak with him I think ...

Pros: Writing, world-building, character development, intricacy
Cons: A few aspects of the magic were under-developed

This is Brandon Sanderson’s debut novel, and is unrelated, story-wise, to his wondrously good Mistborn trilogy. Elantris is a rarity: a one-book, stand-alone fantasy epic.The setting is the kingdom of Arelon and the city of Kae, that ...

Pros: Beautiful land, incredible original story.
Cons: Slow to build, simple, but likeable characters.

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson I don't know what it was that first drew me to Elantris sitting on the shelf at my local Barnes and Noble. However, I picked it up, and I read the prologue. I was immediately sold. I read the first ...

Pros: the original idea contained within, character motivations
Cons: some may find the book merely average (but Sanderson sold me)

"Elantris" is the debut novel from Brandon Sanderson. Blurbs on the cover from Orson Scott Card and David Farland say this book is "the finest novel of fantasy to be written in many years" and "one of the finest debuts I've seen in years." When I read a ...