Alright, folks, let’s talk about Elantris. For the nth time (I’ve lost count at this point), I’ve made a resolution to read the Sanderson-verse. It’s October and I’ve finally checked out The Way of Kings from the library so…it’s not looking great for completion, but at least we’ve started!
And what a start it is.
First things first: it’s fascinating to see how Sanderson has evolved as a writer. You can see the seeds of his later work here, especially when it comes to writing female characters with agency and flaws (for those of you who call Sarene a Mary Sue, you may take your patriarchal moaning elsewhere). It’s like watching a master chef’s early attempts at their signature dish—not quite there yet, but you can taste the potential.
Now, let’s get into the meat of it (going with this metaphor, clearly). Sanderson’s got this knack for taking a concept and building a whole elaborate world around it, a la Stone Soup. I feel similarly to early Pixar (“what if toys had feelings?” but make adults cry). I’m not saying that’s how he crafted this novel–I’m almost certain it’s not, and probably he’s written how he did it somewhere on his website) but it’s nice to be able to distill a book to its component part.
Can I also ironically talk about how refreshing it is to have a standalone fantasy novel? I mean, yes, it’s part of the larger Cosmere series, but you can actually read this thing and get a real, honest-to-goodness ending by the last page. No cliffhangers, no “tune in next time for the thrilling conclusion!” Just a complete story.
Yes I’ve heard some grumbling about said Grand Reveal at the end being obvious. Well, call me oblivious, but I didn’t see it coming. When the climax hit, I was right there with the characters, wide-eyed and slack-jawed.
If I had to nitpick (and let’s face it, that’s half the fun of reviewing), I’d say that you can definitely tell this is an early work. The pacing can be a bit wonky at times, and some of the character development feels a tad rushed. In a nutshell, though, Elantris is a solid entry in the Sanderson canon. It’s got all the hallmarks of his later works—intricate magic systems, interweaving plotlines, and characters you can’t help but root for—even if they’re not quite as polished as what we’ve come to expect from him now. If you’re Cosmere Curious like me, join me (slowly) and give it a shot.