ElantrisElantris
Score Modern
What it's about
Elantris was once a radiant city of benevolent demigods, ordinary people transformed by a mysterious magic called the Shaod. Ten years ago, the magic failed, and the Elantrians became wizened, powerless creatures in a filthy, crumbling city. When Prince Raoden is struck by the Shaod and thrown into Elantris, he sets out to discover what went wrong.
Why it's worth reading
It was Brandon Sanderson's debut, the first book of his Cosmere, and a strong standalone fantasy.
You'll love it if you liked
Warbreaker
Mistborn
The Emperor's SoulGood to know
It's a standalone. It's Sanderson's earliest published novel, so a little rougher than his later work.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller38 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #180 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #645 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1219 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Epic, Adventurous
More by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of KingsMistborn
Tress of the Emerald Sea
SkywardIf you like this, read next
A Deepness in the Sky
Parable of the Sower
Good Omens
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold
Blindness
The Evening and the MorningExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Elantris worth reading?
Yes. It was Brandon Sanderson's debut, the first book of his Cosmere, and a strong standalone fantasy. It ranks #1,219 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Elantris about?
Elantris was once a radiant city of benevolent demigods, ordinary people transformed by a mysterious magic called the Shaod. Ten years ago, the magic failed, and the Elantrians became wizened, powerless creatures in a filthy, crumbling city. When Prince Raoden is struck by the Shaod and thrown into Elantris, he sets out to discover what went wrong.
How long does it take to read Elantris?
About 16 hours (656 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Elantris?
If you liked it, try Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson or The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson.