Elantris

Starred review from April 18, 2005
Sanderson's outstanding fantasy debut, refreshingly complete unto itself and free of the usual genre clichés, offers something for everyone: mystery, magic, romance, political wrangling, religious conflict, fights for equality, sharp writing and wonderful, robust characters. The godlike inhabitants of Elantris, once the capital of the land of Arelon, have degenerated into powerless, tortured souls, unable to die, after the city's magic inexplicably broke 10 years earlier. When the same curse strikes Prince Raoden of Arelon and he's imprisoned in Elantris, he refuses to surrender to his grim fate and instead strives to create a society out of the fallen and to unlock the secret that will restore the city's glory. Meanwhile, Princess Sarene of Kae (Arelon's new capital), who was betrothed to Raoden sight unseen, believes her intended has died. Officially declared his widow, she must use her political savvy and wit to protect Kae from malevolent forces without and within the city, chiefly Hrathen, a leader of the creepy Shu-Dereth faith, who aims to either convert Kae or destroy it within three months. The intrigue and excitement grow steadily in this smoothly written, perfectly balanced narrative; by the end readers won't want to put it down. As the blurb from Orson Scott Card suggests, Sanderson is a writer to watch. Agent, Joshua Bilmes.

In the first half of Brandon Sanderson's stand-alone epic fantasy, a prince struggles to surmount a devastating magical curse. At the same time, his betrothed (whom he has never met and who believes him dead) works to save her fiancé's country from political collapse and prepare it for a holy war. The production, featuring a full cast backed by music and sound effects, strongly accentuates the stagey nature of this type of high fantasy. It's hard to decide whether the radio-play treatment adds dimension or inadvertently weakens the story. The actors playing clever Prince Raoden; conflicted priest Hrathen; and cautious friend Galladon are particularly convincing, but the actress voicing Princess Sarene overplays the heroine stereotype of a smart, feisty woman in a man's world. A.B.G. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine