Hi, Friday Fiction Friends! I’m so excited to announce a new contributor to our blog–Grace MacPherson. I know you’ll love her reviews as much as I do. Grace lives in Casper, Wyoming, and studies the classical liberal arts at Luther Classical College. A little more about my friend:
Grace MacPherson is a Christian fantasy author who writes about sacrifice, redemption, and the triumph of good over evil. You can read her book reviews, free short stories, and musings on writing at authorgracemacpherson.com.
Now on to her first review on Friday Fiction…
Elantris
Elantris is not the first book I’ve read by Brandon Sanderson, but it just might be my favorite. Humor and wisdom collide in this sweeping story of a man’s struggle to find meaning in a world that considers him beyond all help.
The story begins with Raoden, the Crown Prince of Kae, stricken with the curse of Elantris, turning him into something between a zombie and a leper. When his fiancée, Sarene, arrives for their arranged marriage, she is told he is dead—and thus begins one of the most delightful fantasy novels I’ve read.
While Sanderson doesn’t shy away from tackling darkness, both in the curse of Elantris and in the political machinations that Sarene finds herself caught in, Elantris is also suffused with humor and hope.
One recurring theme I’ve seen in Sanderson’s writing is the struggle of his main characters to bring order out of chaos and meaning out of meaninglessness, even in the worst of circumstances. The sheer grit of Raoden and Sarene was a beautiful thing to see, and it hit hard given the general chaos of our world at the moment. Sanderson never even approaches stating a moral to Elantris, but it’s impossible not to follow the example of his characters as they react with courage and grace rather than anger, fear, or despair.
And in addition to the depth of this book, Sanderson does a brilliant job of weaving humor throughout the story. Aside from clever dialogue, the rom-com-esque subplot was a delightful surprise. Given the tragic element inherent in Sarene’s belief that Raoden is dead, I wasn’t expecting Sanderson to handle that subplot so playfully, but I found myself chuckling out loud several times as I read.
He also does a fantastic job with all his characters—Raoden initially starts out as a generic prince, but swiftly develops into a complex and well-layered character that you can’t help rooting for. And Sarene is probably one of the best female characters I have ever seen: simultaneously intelligent, courageous, and tenderhearted.
All in all, if you’re looking for a unique fantasy novel with rich themes, an unpredictable plot, and a healthy dose of humor, I highly recommend Elantris!
Caveats: Elantris is written for adults, but would be appropriate for teen readers. While there’s a brief description of a human sacrifice, there’s very little on-page violence, and the romance is limited to brief kisses.
Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person until touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod. Ten years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, leper-like, powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling.
Arelon’s new capital, Kae, crouches in the shadow of Elantris. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives for a marriage of state with Crown Prince Raoden, hoping — based on their correspondence — to also find love. She finds instead that Raoden has died, and she is considered his widow. Both Teod and Arelon are under threat as the last remaining holdouts against the imperial ambitions of the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. So Sarene decides to use her new status to counter the machinations of Hrathen, a Fjordell high priest who has come to Kae to convert Arelon and claim it for his emperor and his god.
But neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspect the truth about Prince Raoden. Stricken by the same curse that ruined Elantris, Raoden was secretly exiled by his father to the dark city. His struggle to help the wretches trapped there begins a series of events that will bring hope to Arelon, and perhaps reveal the secret of Elantris itself.
