Last week I talked about Brandon Sanderson’s awesome book Warbreaker. This week I address another stand alone novel by Sanderson: Elantris. Elantris was his debut onto the science-fiction novel scene and it is a great opening novel. The story is superbly written and has a wonderful plot that deals with religion, political subterfuge, and of course, magic. So come along on a journey with me into the world of Elantris. I promise that the ride will not disappoint.
This story revolves principally around three main characters: Raoden, Hrathen, and Sarene. Raoden was the prince of the country of Arelon, recently cursed by a force called the Shaod and thus thrown into Elantris. Hrathen is a gyorn (high priest) of a religion called Shu Dereth from the country of Fjordell. He is sent to Arelon to either convert the people of the land, or destroy them. Finally, Sarene is a princess from the neighboring country of Teod who was betrothed to Raoden and now that he has been thrown into Elantris (and become legally dead,) is a widow to a man she never met face to face.
Every chapter revolves around one of these characters, giving you an insight into each specific characters, actions, and thoughts. It can be aggravating when you get invested in a certain character’s actions just to have to read about the other two for two chapters. That said, it’s really wonderfully written because the characters’ actions affect not only the three of them, but the entire country as a whole.
The most tension in the book arises from religion. This comes not only from Hrathen trying to convert the people of Arelon to Shu Dereth, but also, from the city of Elantris which abuts Arelon. Elantris is the home of the Elantrians who, up until a few years ago, were people who had vast magical powers. They weren’t born, but rather, the Shaod came to them during their sleep and they awoke with shining silver skin, empowered physiques, and magical abilities which they manifested through the drawing of Aons in the air.
However, years ago Elantris fell to ruin and its inhabitants became little more than people who couldn’t die and couldn’t live.
The transformation that once imparted magical powers and youth now turns people into zombies who cannot heal their wounds and cannot do magic. Many of them become insane due to the painful half-life in which they exist. However, Raoden, the newly turned Elantrian, refuses to submit to the curse. He may yet become the savior of Elantris.
This book appeals to me because it delves into the problems of forcing a religious change on people. Hrathen, in his attempt at missionary work, is forced to do questionable things in the pursuit of his goal. Sarene is made to defend her new homeland against the threat of foreign religious invaders and is made to think over what virtue means. I’m just a sucker for books that deal with religion in a setting but don’t simply force a straight theological debate. If you are a fan at all of religious fiction intertwined with sci-fi, this book will be right up your alley.
Elantris is a great book by Sanderson, with a wonderful system of magic and enough intrigue to engross anyone in it. The three principle characters all experience growth and change, never staying stagnant, which unfortunately happens frequently in fantasy fiction. Sanderson’s first big hit novel is definitely worth the read.Like it? Love it? Be sure to let me know in the comments!
Tune in next week when I take a look at How to Make Friends with Demons by Graham Joyce.