A review by scifi
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

ELANTRIS is solid. Definitely can tell this is Brandon’s first published novel, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad, of course. Just that some of the time it can read really unevenly and has a hard time keeping a good pace to maintain interest. I felt like I barreled through a lot of the slower parts because I simply didn’t have to patience anymore. Sanderson’s prose is so-so, and his characters are perfectly serviceable. Sarene being the strongest here. I’d say what makes the novel worth reading is:
  1.  It’s incredibly relevant to the Cosmere-at-large. 
  2. As always, the political machinations and plotting are fun. 
  3. The magic system, while simpler here than in other books (like say Mistborn), is pretty dope.