Elantris

I debated which of Cosmere’s many books to put here but settled on this one because it was my introduction to Sanderson. The main attraction of his books for me is always the unique and scientific hard magic systems and how they relate to every aspect of his stories, from characters to worldbuilding.

My favorite part was how the characters had to study the magic system and uncover its specific functions to “solve” the problem that was plaguing them. This is a pretty common narrative force behind many of Sanderson’s books, but I also enjoyed this one because of its… show more.

I found this book around the same time I started writing my book, and it gave me a whole new perspective on what it means to write zombies.

In a fantasy world, in a country called Arelon, Prince Raoden is struck by the mysterious Shaod—a magical power that turns anyone it afflicts into an undead monster. Unable to heal or die, Raoden and those like him live in the murky slums inside the walls of Elantris, the once-grand City of the Gods.

As far as zombie stories go, Elantris is probably the most benign. It’s more a subversion of the… show more.

I, like many, started reading Brandon Sanderson when he finished the last few books of the Wheel of Time fantasy epic. I already liked his style, so it was a no-brainer to pick up Elantris, his first published book. As a fledgling author at the time, it was amazing to see how creative his ideas were and how he fearlessly pushed them as far as they could go. Also, the magic system in this story and how it affects the climax is a special kind of awesome.