Book #122 of 2019:
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson’s debut novel is full of the rich worldbuilding, intricate magical systems, and ballroom intrigue that have now made him a household name within the fantasy genre. Although there are some cracks that show on a reread and mark this as a first book — like certain developments in the back half that would probably benefit from more narrative attention — it’s overall a tremendous achievement and a real joy to (re-)encounter.
I especially adore the tripartite chapter structure, which devotes a third of the text to the perspective of the primary antagonist and allows for great insight into what’s driving him. All three focal characters exhibit and reflect on interesting dynamics of community, leadership, and loyalty, and their earthly conflicts are nicely balanced with another classic Sandersonian trope of exploring a mystery in the setting’s magic. It’s a modern classic and as a standalone story is still a wonderful entry-point to the author’s style.
★★★★★
[Disclosure: I’m Facebook friends with this author.]
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