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Elantris [Dramatized Adaptation] #1
Elantris: Tenth Anniversary Author's Definitive Edition (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]
The city of the gods. Elantris once stood as the symbol of all that is beautiful. A sprawling metropolis of unrivaled grandeur, it was a symbol of power and strength, built to be as imposing as it was magnificent.
The only thing more glorious than the city itself was its inhabitants, Godlike beings, with silvery skin and hair of the purest, flowing white. Able to create powerful magics with a mere wave of their hands, the Elantrians were able to heal mortal wounds and create any object they desired. To be an Elantrian was to be without sickness, without pain and without want.
And anyone could become a god. Through a process known as the "Shaod",a normal person could go to bed one night and awake the next morning to throw away the shackles of mortality and become a being of incomparable power and grace. With Elantris as their beacon, the light inside all humanity was allowed to shine, elevating it to new heights.
But Elantris fell...ten years ago.
The only thing more glorious than the city itself was its inhabitants, Godlike beings, with silvery skin and hair of the purest, flowing white. Able to create powerful magics with a mere wave of their hands, the Elantrians were able to heal mortal wounds and create any object they desired. To be an Elantrian was to be without sickness, without pain and without want.
And anyone could become a god. Through a process known as the "Shaod",a normal person could go to bed one night and awake the next morning to throw away the shackles of mortality and become a being of incomparable power and grace. With Elantris as their beacon, the light inside all humanity was allowed to shine, elevating it to new heights.
But Elantris fell...ten years ago.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published May 1, 2005
38 people are currently reading
982 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Sanderson
473 books280k followersI’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
February 7, 2017
Just over 10 years ago, a pretty much unknown author published his fantasy debut, sold 400 copies in the first week and panicked thinking it was a failure. Fast forward to early 2016; Brandon Sanderson has published another 17 of his own books and 7 novellas/short stories (garnering an average rating of 4.36 in Goodreads), completed The Wheel of Time, and been repeatedly touted to be one of the most prolific authors of this generation, with worldbuilding ideas that almost defy comprehension at times.
Elantris was Sanderson’s first published novel and it still represented one of the most original works I’ve read to-date. It was not flawless given its uneven pacing, and neither was it grand nor epic. While Sanderson was subsequently known to write amazing action scenes, Elantris was instead a more personal and contemplative story of devotion and dominion. As Cosmere fans will know which Shards exist in the world of Sel, it was thematically very appropriate. There were little in the way of action scenes and of the magic system at work, except during the climax, but this did not stop me from being interested in the story. It is by no means a spoiler, I believe, to say that the fall of Elantris was linked to the failure of the magic pervading the city and it was up to the main protagonist, Prince Raoden, to figure out what, why and how. With this, the very explanation of how the magic of Elantris works served as the mystery component underlying this tale. Humanity and faith, hope and purpose, power and greed - these are relevant key aspects of life (fantasy or otherwise) which Sanderson deftly wove into this book which stands well as a single-volume, which in itself is a rare occurrence in the modern fantasy genre.
The main characters in this book have also been touted to be flat and clichéd, especially Raoden and Sarene. While they definitely do not have the complexities of some of Sanderson’s characters in the Mistborn and Stormlight series, I have no complaints and personally find that Raoden and Sarene carried the story of Elantris well. As far as the main POVs go, Hathren was clearly, and by popular consensus, the more interesting character. The theme of devotion and dominion was most obviously dealt with in his arc.
One point to note is that I completed this reread via 2 mediums – the Graphic Audio supplemented by the paperback version of the Tenth Anniversary Author’s Definitive Edition. The new and improved maps, an expanded Ars Arcanum, a special extra scene of this edition make the additional purchase worthwhile. The addition of a foreword by Dan Wells and postscript by Sanderson was also very much welcomed.
The superb casting of the Graphic Audio ensemble brought out all the characters really well and I believe that went a long way in enlivening the characterisation which was regularly criticised. This then comes to my point of view – if the material is great enough to produce such a wonderfully immersive experience with the right casting and interpretation, is it really the fault of the author that the characterisation failed to shine in the minds of its readers?
Elantris was Sanderson’s first published novel and it still represented one of the most original works I’ve read to-date. It was not flawless given its uneven pacing, and neither was it grand nor epic. While Sanderson was subsequently known to write amazing action scenes, Elantris was instead a more personal and contemplative story of devotion and dominion. As Cosmere fans will know which Shards exist in the world of Sel, it was thematically very appropriate. There were little in the way of action scenes and of the magic system at work, except during the climax, but this did not stop me from being interested in the story. It is by no means a spoiler, I believe, to say that the fall of Elantris was linked to the failure of the magic pervading the city and it was up to the main protagonist, Prince Raoden, to figure out what, why and how. With this, the very explanation of how the magic of Elantris works served as the mystery component underlying this tale. Humanity and faith, hope and purpose, power and greed - these are relevant key aspects of life (fantasy or otherwise) which Sanderson deftly wove into this book which stands well as a single-volume, which in itself is a rare occurrence in the modern fantasy genre.
The main characters in this book have also been touted to be flat and clichéd, especially Raoden and Sarene. While they definitely do not have the complexities of some of Sanderson’s characters in the Mistborn and Stormlight series, I have no complaints and personally find that Raoden and Sarene carried the story of Elantris well. As far as the main POVs go, Hathren was clearly, and by popular consensus, the more interesting character. The theme of devotion and dominion was most obviously dealt with in his arc.
One point to note is that I completed this reread via 2 mediums – the Graphic Audio supplemented by the paperback version of the Tenth Anniversary Author’s Definitive Edition. The new and improved maps, an expanded Ars Arcanum, a special extra scene of this edition make the additional purchase worthwhile. The addition of a foreword by Dan Wells and postscript by Sanderson was also very much welcomed.
The superb casting of the Graphic Audio ensemble brought out all the characters really well and I believe that went a long way in enlivening the characterisation which was regularly criticised. This then comes to my point of view – if the material is great enough to produce such a wonderfully immersive experience with the right casting and interpretation, is it really the fault of the author that the characterisation failed to shine in the minds of its readers?
February 22, 2021
This was my first time listening to a graphic audio novel... It was interesting. I'm not sure I'll fork out the extra cost for one again, but it was a cool experience.
Elantris was a fun novel that moved along at a decent pace. I must admit it never thrilled me. A lot of the twists and turns seemed all too obvious and while the voice actors certainly brought the characters to life, a lot of them felt like early versions of characters from Sanderson's other novels. The guy has a formula and it clearly works because I keep buying his books.
All in all I'm giving it three stars. I enjoyed it and it kept me listening, but it certainly never made me go for a walk just to have an excuse to listen to another chapter.
Elantris was a fun novel that moved along at a decent pace. I must admit it never thrilled me. A lot of the twists and turns seemed all too obvious and while the voice actors certainly brought the characters to life, a lot of them felt like early versions of characters from Sanderson's other novels. The guy has a formula and it clearly works because I keep buying his books.
All in all I'm giving it three stars. I enjoyed it and it kept me listening, but it certainly never made me go for a walk just to have an excuse to listen to another chapter.
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December 18, 2020
This dramatized version is so much fun! I feel like a kid again when listening to cassette tapes was all the rage. The voice actors are all doing an amazing job, though, I have to admit, I found Sarene's voice rather annoying - but maybe that's just me. Please don't let that stop you!
The adaptation from print to dramatized audio is also really well done. I read along while listening and only brief, rather unimportant passages were edited out. (Other minor continuity changes to references and phrases were made in the 10th anniversary print edition I read.) Gory details such as descriptions of corpses were also left out, possibly having a younger audience in mind. Even if you'd think something major must have been left out when the audio-narration is about 28 hours long and the dramatized version only about 18 hours - it really isn't. (It saves a lot of time, skipping the "he saids" etc.)
Truly, a movie in your mind!
PS: This is only a review for this medium; for a book review please check here: Elantris
The adaptation from print to dramatized audio is also really well done. I read along while listening and only brief, rather unimportant passages were edited out. (Other minor continuity changes to references and phrases were made in the 10th anniversary print edition I read.) Gory details such as descriptions of corpses were also left out, possibly having a younger audience in mind. Even if you'd think something major must have been left out when the audio-narration is about 28 hours long and the dramatized version only about 18 hours - it really isn't. (It saves a lot of time, skipping the "he saids" etc.)
Truly, a movie in your mind!
PS: This is only a review for this medium; for a book review please check here: Elantris
April 2, 2025
full review tk after i finished parts 2 & 3
obviously this was fantastic, but only a third of the story; it took me a minute to get into the world but phenomenal sanderson as always.
obviously this was fantastic, but only a third of the story; it took me a minute to get into the world but phenomenal sanderson as always.
July 14, 2014
Elantris is one of my favorite books. I've read or listened to Elantris at least 5 times over the years and I have enjoyed it every single time. It's a fantastically entertaining book filled with everything a fantasy fan could ask for. It had great world building, a cool magic system, likable characters, intrigue, humor, action, romance, and an original plot. Sanderson has an engaging writing style that sucked me into the story from the first minute to the last.
I loved the whole concept of Elantris and the Elantrians.
Rating: 5 stars!
Audio Note: Since this was my fifth time with Elantris I decided to go with the Graphic Audio production. It was a good choice and the adaption is very good. The GA version is about 33% shorter in length than the unabridged audiobook, but no crucial elements of the story are missing. This was a full cast production and the narrator and every single voice actor did a good job. It took me a little bit of time to get used to the sound effects and the atmospheric background music, but once I did I felt they really enhanced the audio experience.
I loved the whole concept of Elantris and the Elantrians.
Rating: 5 stars!
Audio Note: Since this was my fifth time with Elantris I decided to go with the Graphic Audio production. It was a good choice and the adaption is very good. The GA version is about 33% shorter in length than the unabridged audiobook, but no crucial elements of the story are missing. This was a full cast production and the narrator and every single voice actor did a good job. It took me a little bit of time to get used to the sound effects and the atmospheric background music, but once I did I felt they really enhanced the audio experience.
December 17, 2020
4 1/2 stars
May 14, 2024
I love the way this is done! The sound effects, voice acting, the whole thing is just fantastic. I noticed that Sarene's voice actor's performance isn't universally liked, but I think she's great- her interpretation of the character seems just right to me.
I read this in hardcover years ago when it first came out but remember very little. This has been a wonderfully entertaining refresher. I will rate and review the entire story itself once I finish Parts 2 and 3 which I'm working on now.
I read this in hardcover years ago when it first came out but remember very little. This has been a wonderfully entertaining refresher. I will rate and review the entire story itself once I finish Parts 2 and 3 which I'm working on now.
October 20, 2025
This was my first Brandon Sanderson book, which I actually listened to in the graphicaudio 10th anniversary version. The first Graphicaudio Version was divided into three parts, whereas this one has only two parts. The first part is quite long, which was nice, as the audiobooks are expensive but for sure the price is worth this book.
This book is no romantasy. I like the heroin, as she is a clever and strong woman in a society where woman should be seen but not heard. She brings a breath of fresh air to this society.
I have trouble to describe the story, as telling to much will just take away from the reading experience. I'm just going to say that I loved the story. And I will read more Brandon Sanderson books in the future.
This book is no romantasy. I like the heroin, as she is a clever and strong woman in a society where woman should be seen but not heard. She brings a breath of fresh air to this society.
I have trouble to describe the story, as telling to much will just take away from the reading experience. I'm just going to say that I loved the story. And I will read more Brandon Sanderson books in the future.
July 4, 2025
Sanderson no tiene ningún libro malo
May 1, 2019
- Quote: Maybe instead of asking why I know these things, you should wonder why you don’t.
- Thoughts: Elantris is, in my opinion, one of the best story from one of the best storytellers of our age.
Truly amazing story.
Also, Graphicaudio version of it was masterfully recorded.
▶◀
These are my personal opinions, you may discord, my final rating of the book is not necessarily linked to this system and may diverge from it.
Book Storyline
- Originality: 5/5 stars
- Development: 5/5 stars
- Enjoyment: 5/5 stars
- Writing stile: 5/5 stars
- Funnyness: 3/5 stars
- Epicness: 3/5 stars
- Scaryness: 2/5 stars
- Smartness: 5/5 stars
- Addictiveness: 5/5 stars
- Plot twists: 4/5 stars
- Pace: 5/5 stars
- Storyline planning: 5/5 stars OR /5 negative stars
- Ending: 4/5 stars OR /5 negative stars
- Holes: -/5 negative stars
- Self contained (Y/N): ✓
- Cliffhanger (Y/N): ×
- Adult (Y/N): ×
- Mystery (Y/N): ×
- Treasure Hunting (Y/N): ×
- Violence level: There's torture, killing and burning people
- Tech level: No firearms, but shipmounted cannons, swords.
- Religion level: High, fictional
- Main genre: Fantasy
- Subgenre: dystopia, dark fantasy
- Point of view: 3 different points of view, each inside it's main character's mind
- Best of it: A really different and rich setting
- Worst of it: ---
- Aftertaste: More! I want more!
Cover
- Quality: 3/5 stars
- Traces: 3/5 stars
- Colors: 4/5 stars
- Style: 3/5 stars
- In a few words: Tenth anniversary author's definitive edifion: By using most of the space for the wall, the artist failed to offer a reference for grandeur and thus failed to impress the supposed size and magnificent if Elantris. Bad choice of scenary.
World
- Originality: 5/5 stars
- Variety: 4/5 stars
- Consistency: 5/5 stars
- Impact on the story: 5/5 stars
- Maps: 5/5 stars
- Real world (Y/N): ×
- Fantasy based on real world (Y/N): ×
- Journey (Y/N): ×
- Main scenario: Elantris and it's neighbor city
Characters
- Total amount: ~30
- Points of view: 3
- Main characters: The prince, the princess and the inquisitor, all three very intelligent and resourceful.
- Secondary: Well crafted and noticeable characters, with very refined personas.
- Overall quality: 5/5 stars
- Main: 5/5 stars
- Secondary: 5/5 stars
- Consistency: 5/5 stars
- Connection: 4/5 stars
- Dialogs: 5/5 Stars
- Interactions: 5/5 Stars
- Underworld Crew (✓/×): ×
- Training (✓/×): ×
- Romance: It starts with and wedding.
- Notable best characters: Almost all of then
- Notable worse characters: --
Setting
- Historical importance: 5/5 Stars
- Historical deep: 5/5 Stars
- Historical score: 5/5 Stars
- Geopolitical importance: 5/5 Stars
- Geopolitical variety: 5/5 Stars
- Geopolitical score: 5/5 Stars
- Setting overall score: 5/5 Stars
- Tension: 5/5 Stars
- Atmosphere: 5/5 Stars
- Classic Supernatural (✓/×): ×
- Superpowers (✓/×): ✓
- Non-human races (Y/N): ✓
- Virtual Reality (Y/N): ×
- Monsters (Y/N): ✓
- About the setting: Very unique, very rich and detailed, also very daring.
Rules
- System: 4/5 stars
- Complexity: 3/5 stars
- System explanation: 4/5 stars
- Impact on storyline: 5/5 stars
- Rulebreaker (Y/N): ×
- Type of Rule: Dor, that stuff that makes the water "want" to flow.
- Thoughts: Elantris is, in my opinion, one of the best story from one of the best storytellers of our age.
Truly amazing story.
Also, Graphicaudio version of it was masterfully recorded.
▶◀
These are my personal opinions, you may discord, my final rating of the book is not necessarily linked to this system and may diverge from it.
Book Storyline
- Originality: 5/5 stars
- Development: 5/5 stars
- Enjoyment: 5/5 stars
- Writing stile: 5/5 stars
- Funnyness: 3/5 stars
- Epicness: 3/5 stars
- Scaryness: 2/5 stars
- Smartness: 5/5 stars
- Addictiveness: 5/5 stars
- Plot twists: 4/5 stars
- Pace: 5/5 stars
- Storyline planning: 5/5 stars OR /5 negative stars
- Ending: 4/5 stars OR /5 negative stars
- Holes: -/5 negative stars
- Self contained (Y/N): ✓
- Cliffhanger (Y/N): ×
- Adult (Y/N): ×
- Mystery (Y/N): ×
- Treasure Hunting (Y/N): ×
- Violence level: There's torture, killing and burning people
- Tech level: No firearms, but shipmounted cannons, swords.
- Religion level: High, fictional
- Main genre: Fantasy
- Subgenre: dystopia, dark fantasy
- Point of view: 3 different points of view, each inside it's main character's mind
- Best of it: A really different and rich setting
- Worst of it: ---
- Aftertaste: More! I want more!
Cover
- Quality: 3/5 stars
- Traces: 3/5 stars
- Colors: 4/5 stars
- Style: 3/5 stars
- In a few words: Tenth anniversary author's definitive edifion: By using most of the space for the wall, the artist failed to offer a reference for grandeur and thus failed to impress the supposed size and magnificent if Elantris. Bad choice of scenary.
World
- Originality: 5/5 stars
- Variety: 4/5 stars
- Consistency: 5/5 stars
- Impact on the story: 5/5 stars
- Maps: 5/5 stars
- Real world (Y/N): ×
- Fantasy based on real world (Y/N): ×
- Journey (Y/N): ×
- Main scenario: Elantris and it's neighbor city
Characters
- Total amount: ~30
- Points of view: 3
- Main characters: The prince, the princess and the inquisitor, all three very intelligent and resourceful.
- Secondary: Well crafted and noticeable characters, with very refined personas.
- Overall quality: 5/5 stars
- Main: 5/5 stars
- Secondary: 5/5 stars
- Consistency: 5/5 stars
- Connection: 4/5 stars
- Dialogs: 5/5 Stars
- Interactions: 5/5 Stars
- Underworld Crew (✓/×): ×
- Training (✓/×): ×
- Romance: It starts with and wedding.
- Notable best characters: Almost all of then
- Notable worse characters: --
Setting
- Historical importance: 5/5 Stars
- Historical deep: 5/5 Stars
- Historical score: 5/5 Stars
- Geopolitical importance: 5/5 Stars
- Geopolitical variety: 5/5 Stars
- Geopolitical score: 5/5 Stars
- Setting overall score: 5/5 Stars
- Tension: 5/5 Stars
- Atmosphere: 5/5 Stars
- Classic Supernatural (✓/×): ×
- Superpowers (✓/×): ✓
- Non-human races (Y/N): ✓
- Virtual Reality (Y/N): ×
- Monsters (Y/N): ✓
- About the setting: Very unique, very rich and detailed, also very daring.
Rules
- System: 4/5 stars
- Complexity: 3/5 stars
- System explanation: 4/5 stars
- Impact on storyline: 5/5 stars
- Rulebreaker (Y/N): ×
- Type of Rule: Dor, that stuff that makes the water "want" to flow.
April 9, 2021
Well 3rd re-read of Elentris and it is still my favorite Sanderson magic system, plus Raoden is just the best. At this point I have run out of superlatives for this series. However I have to say that listening to it on GA really elevated the whole experience. Very good production values. not stormlight level, but still very decent! Highly recommend this!
June 23, 2024
2nd read: 5 stars!
The GraphicAudio audiobooks made this an even better reading experience the second time around!!
1st read: 4,5 stars!
The GraphicAudio audiobooks made this an even better reading experience the second time around!!
1st read: 4,5 stars!
July 4, 2020
As good as any Brandon Sanderson work
It remind me of mistborn's poltics and the gloomy them over the city
But do not misunderstand me it is not boring or anything of that sort
It remind me of mistborn's poltics and the gloomy them over the city
But do not misunderstand me it is not boring or anything of that sort
June 12, 2017
This is one of Sanderson's earlier books and it's exploring similar themes as Warbreaker, so while I'm enjoying it, it's definitely not as good to me so far. What does it share with Warbreaker? The idea of divinity on Earth vs a god you can't see, humans becoming divine, and an arranged marriage between royals who haven't met. What's weaker from Sanderson's lack of experience - The Prince seems to be a bit of a Marty Stu so far - a little too perfect in every way.
But there are lots of things I like so far:
Sanderson writes some pretty able women - or at least has in these two books. In this book (contrasted to Warbeaker) the marriage is the princess' idea. Her father's actually initially against it, but realizes it would be good politically. While in the new court she uses her brain to manipulate others into giving her what she wants or needs. (Manipulate has a bad connotation, but she's not malicious) She gets into a metaphorical chess game against the priest in which they're each trying to outdo the other. And the princess gets herself accepted into a group of nobles to formulate a plan to save her new city.
I like the idea of the AIs that allow a fantasy skype in this world. As in the later Discworld books, I think there's something interesting that comes from modern tech in a medieval or Renaissance world. So while most fantasy stories can count on a slow movement of information as a plot device, a world with these AIs allows for faster communications. It also serves as an information retrieval device.
So far, across these two novels, Sanderson has also proven adept at starting off with a cartoonishly evil antagonist who then becomes more of a person with complicated morals. I'm enjoying the information we're learning about the high priest and how he's trying to make this city's conversion as bloodless as possible. It makes his fanatical acolyte all the more dangerous.
It's fun to have the 3 chapter structure where you see the same event or aspects of the same time period through each of the three viewpoints.
Finally, I really like the inclusion of the princess' uncle's family. I like the comic relief of his kids. I like how it shows just how much her uncle has grown and changed. And I am enjoying the fact that it's a modern blended family which doesn't happen too much in fantasy (at least the way it's been depicted in this first book). He has step children with whom he has a regular relationship (not some fantasy hatred of step-children). Also, the uncle is a great chef from having traveled the world and so he does the cooking. Overall, it's a continuation of the refreshing modernity in a fantasy novel that isn't urban fantasy.
So much can go so wrong with three different people planning independently and with their goals seemingly at odds. We also have the 3 month timer before an invasion or destruction or something. I'm looking forward to it and perhaps parts 2 and/or 3 will get a higher rating.
But there are lots of things I like so far:
Sanderson writes some pretty able women - or at least has in these two books. In this book (contrasted to Warbeaker) the marriage is the princess' idea. Her father's actually initially against it, but realizes it would be good politically. While in the new court she uses her brain to manipulate others into giving her what she wants or needs. (Manipulate has a bad connotation, but she's not malicious) She gets into a metaphorical chess game against the priest in which they're each trying to outdo the other. And the princess gets herself accepted into a group of nobles to formulate a plan to save her new city.
I like the idea of the AIs that allow a fantasy skype in this world. As in the later Discworld books, I think there's something interesting that comes from modern tech in a medieval or Renaissance world. So while most fantasy stories can count on a slow movement of information as a plot device, a world with these AIs allows for faster communications. It also serves as an information retrieval device.
So far, across these two novels, Sanderson has also proven adept at starting off with a cartoonishly evil antagonist who then becomes more of a person with complicated morals. I'm enjoying the information we're learning about the high priest and how he's trying to make this city's conversion as bloodless as possible. It makes his fanatical acolyte all the more dangerous.
It's fun to have the 3 chapter structure where you see the same event or aspects of the same time period through each of the three viewpoints.
Finally, I really like the inclusion of the princess' uncle's family. I like the comic relief of his kids. I like how it shows just how much her uncle has grown and changed. And I am enjoying the fact that it's a modern blended family which doesn't happen too much in fantasy (at least the way it's been depicted in this first book). He has step children with whom he has a regular relationship (not some fantasy hatred of step-children). Also, the uncle is a great chef from having traveled the world and so he does the cooking. Overall, it's a continuation of the refreshing modernity in a fantasy novel that isn't urban fantasy.
So much can go so wrong with three different people planning independently and with their goals seemingly at odds. We also have the 3 month timer before an invasion or destruction or something. I'm looking forward to it and perhaps parts 2 and/or 3 will get a higher rating.
April 24, 2025
I loved this dramatized version. I had originally tried to read Elantris in 2013 and I guess I couldn't get into it because I rated it 1* and had it as a DNF. Now, I am totally into it. I can't wait to get to the next two installments!
April 3, 2018
all these religion stuff is sooooo.... tiring. Hope it gets better soon cause I like the whole elantris idea
March 12, 2024
I feel nothing 😕 about this part
Read
July 18, 2024Very happy with the production. I don't like Sanderson's writing much, his characters seem shallow even for genre fiction, resembling sitcom US teens. Their intriguing always feels like nothing that could ever work. But then I listen to this, imagine it in old B-production, Xena/Hercules style and have some pretty good time.
October 25, 2024
Love Brando - this one took me a bit to get into, but I’m pumped about where it’s going now!
September 27, 2024
UPDATED REVIEW: I went online and spent a couple hours reading all of the chapter summaries because I refused to believe that Sanderson wrote a "bad" story, even if it was his first published work. And my thoughts are more concrete now.
- While Elantris isn't a fantastic book, it is absolutely not a bad one like I felt it was after my graphic audio experience. It's good enough that I would definitely read an Elantris sequel.
- That being said, the graphic audio experience was painful. The voice actors were fantastic but the direction, audio mix and choices of when to play music and what kind - paired with being barraged by SO many similar sounding character names made it a very unpleasant and confusing experience. Maybe that was just me though.
- In reading the chapter summaries I found that I missed out on quite a number of details that were given earlier on simply because of the similar sounding pronunciations of words and names. (Ie. Our mysterious Cosmere character of "Hoid" is pronounced [Hoe-eed], which is the SAME way that the "Hoed" is pronounced - which is a name given to people who have degraded so much from the Shaod.
- I became so confused. When they talk about "Dor" as in the magic system, I was constantly thinking about a physical "door" and my brain just couldn't compute.
- It's for these reasons that I will now always start future Sanderson stories by reading the first hundred or so pages to fully understand who is who, and then let myself get into an audiobook - but NEVER a graphic audio experience. That was brutal.
INITIAL REVIEW:
I wish I read the book instead. Way too distracting with the countless similar sounding names, never mind to add in often poorly mixed background audio.
(And I only swapped to this version because of how badly I wasn’t able to get into the OG audiobook’s narrator).
Maybe down the line I’ll read the book itself if he ever releases a second book for Elantris, but it also didn’t help that I read this after the wonderful Mistborn trilogy.
- While Elantris isn't a fantastic book, it is absolutely not a bad one like I felt it was after my graphic audio experience. It's good enough that I would definitely read an Elantris sequel.
- That being said, the graphic audio experience was painful. The voice actors were fantastic but the direction, audio mix and choices of when to play music and what kind - paired with being barraged by SO many similar sounding character names made it a very unpleasant and confusing experience. Maybe that was just me though.
- In reading the chapter summaries I found that I missed out on quite a number of details that were given earlier on simply because of the similar sounding pronunciations of words and names. (Ie. Our mysterious Cosmere character of "Hoid" is pronounced [Hoe-eed], which is the SAME way that the "Hoed" is pronounced - which is a name given to people who have degraded so much from the Shaod.
- I became so confused. When they talk about "Dor" as in the magic system, I was constantly thinking about a physical "door" and my brain just couldn't compute.
- It's for these reasons that I will now always start future Sanderson stories by reading the first hundred or so pages to fully understand who is who, and then let myself get into an audiobook - but NEVER a graphic audio experience. That was brutal.
INITIAL REVIEW:
I wish I read the book instead. Way too distracting with the countless similar sounding names, never mind to add in often poorly mixed background audio.
(And I only swapped to this version because of how badly I wasn’t able to get into the OG audiobook’s narrator).
Maybe down the line I’ll read the book itself if he ever releases a second book for Elantris, but it also didn’t help that I read this after the wonderful Mistborn trilogy.
August 16, 2017
5 star book, 5 star performance, 1 star presentation of both. Below is less of a review and more of a rant.
While the performance was quite good, I was annoyed at the 6-minute ad for a title that didn't interest me in the slightest at the beginning of the first track. The only warning that there was an ad was a very brief "Coming Soon", with no indication of WHAT was coming soon, or how long the ad would be, and it went on long enough that I began to wonder if I even had the correct title. Finally I started skipping ahead until I found where the story began.
I acquired this Elantris set as part of a Humble Bundle. The goal of the company, presumably, is to induce people who bought the bundle to buy more of their titles. The ridiculosity of the ads pretty much convinced me not to. Certainly not at full price, if I'm going to be bombarded with ads embedded in the book tracks.
I'm hoping that parts 2 and 3 will have less of this. A 30-60 second ad at the beginning would be fine. Better would be a title and brief description, with an indication that there would be a longer preview at the end. I have no idea what the preview at the end was even for (though they've been pushing an R.A. Salvatore title pretty hard), because the ad at the beginning annoyed me enough that I refused to listen to it.
Rant done, I am otherwise enjoying this presentation. The company just needs to not drive away potential customers.
While the performance was quite good, I was annoyed at the 6-minute ad for a title that didn't interest me in the slightest at the beginning of the first track. The only warning that there was an ad was a very brief "Coming Soon", with no indication of WHAT was coming soon, or how long the ad would be, and it went on long enough that I began to wonder if I even had the correct title. Finally I started skipping ahead until I found where the story began.
I acquired this Elantris set as part of a Humble Bundle. The goal of the company, presumably, is to induce people who bought the bundle to buy more of their titles. The ridiculosity of the ads pretty much convinced me not to. Certainly not at full price, if I'm going to be bombarded with ads embedded in the book tracks.
I'm hoping that parts 2 and 3 will have less of this. A 30-60 second ad at the beginning would be fine. Better would be a title and brief description, with an indication that there would be a longer preview at the end. I have no idea what the preview at the end was even for (though they've been pushing an R.A. Salvatore title pretty hard), because the ad at the beginning annoyed me enough that I refused to listen to it.
Rant done, I am otherwise enjoying this presentation. The company just needs to not drive away potential customers.
February 23, 2022
Holy wow! This book! My husband and I listened to the Graphic audio recording on audible on our road trip to and from Vermont and it just had us clinging to the edge of our seats the whole time! I was fully and 100% addicted to every sentence. I just have never heard a story quite like this! Over the years plot lines have a tendency to bleed together and repeat other famous works, but this one (for me) definitely stands alone and is so unique. I fully enjoyed listening to this book and I'm certain the "graphic audio recording" helped make it that much more enjoyable!
There were some parts where I had to rewind and listen again, some names were super close to each other so I had to really pay close attention to who was who and what they were doing,
**Potential spoiler**
especially when people started to die and the battle begun at the end but all together I would surely recommend this read to anyone who asked. I cannot wait to read my next Sanderson novel!
There were some parts where I had to rewind and listen again, some names were super close to each other so I had to really pay close attention to who was who and what they were doing,
**Potential spoiler**
especially when people started to die and the battle begun at the end but all together I would surely recommend this read to anyone who asked. I cannot wait to read my next Sanderson novel!
July 23, 2020
Fantastic book!
March 12, 2023
It wouldn’t be a Brandon Sanderson book if I wasn’t fully weeping at some point.
October 30, 2024
I loved the print version of this book and I loved the dramatized adaptation of this audiobook as well. It was amazing.
May 3, 2025
Releitura dessa obra fantástica do Brandon Sanderson, mas dessa vez resolvi encarar a versão em inglês na edição especial de 10 anos de Elantris.
Devo começar a dizer que foi uma releitura com cara de lendo pela primeira vez. É surreal quantos detalhes deixamos passar quando lemos pela primeira vez as obras de Brandon Sanderson, notei isso ao reler Warbreaker, e se repetiu com Elantris, que foi a primeira obra do autor.
Outra forma de ler os livros do Brandon e que é muito bom, é ler em leituras coletivas, com outras pessoas, tendo discussões a cada capítulo. Nessa releitura de Elantris, por exemplo, estou lendo dessa forma e tem sido extremamente útil, sempre compartilhamos nossas teorias, tiramos dúvidas uns com outros, e assim um vai auxiliando o próximo, o que torna a leitura muito mais dinâmica e divertida.
Dessa vez também resolvi encarar as versões do Graphic Audio, e achei interessantíssimo, muito divertido as vozes dos personagens, realmente pareceu que estava dentro de um filme ou uma série. Achava que esses tipos de audiobooks contavam muitas partes dos livros, mas realmente me surpreendeu positivamente, achei uma delícia acompanhar o texto e poder ouvir o áudio na versão dramatizada.
Quando li pela primeira vez, os capítulos do Hrathen me irritaram bastante, agradecia que eram os menores capítulos do livro, mas nessa releitura isso mudou, dessa vez, os capítulos da Sarene conseguiram me deixar um pouco entediada no início e no final, os capítulos do Hrathen e todo seu desenvolvimento foi o que mais me agradou. Já os do Raoden, continuei com a mesma opinião da primeira vez que li, é um dos meus personagens favoritos.
Lembro que cheguei a dizer na minha primeira resenha do livro, que a escrita, mesmo sabendo era o primeiro livro do autor, tinha me incomodado bastante, mas aí reler com a versão em inglês, não senti isso em nenhum momento, logicamente é nítido que temos um autor iniciante mas nada que me irritasse como me irritou na versão em português, acredito então, que a culpa se deu pela tradução e não pelo autor, então, me retifico nessa crítica que realizei anteriormente.
Foi um leitura que assim como a primeira vez, não perdeu seu brilho, cada vez mais interessante, intrigante, com temas políticos e religiosos, uma contrução insana de universo, de magia e principalmente de personagens, um verdadeiro prato cheio para quem é fã de uma fantasia épica e/ou alta fantasia.
Como disse, decidi ler em inglês dessa vez, e escolhi a versão especial de 10 anos. Nessa versão, Sanderson colocou alguns capítulos extras e, ao final, explicou o motivo de terem sido retirados da versão final. São capítulos curtos, bem interessantes.
Enfim, "Elantris" continua sendo um dos meus favoritos do Sanderson, continua tendo um lugar muito especial no meu coração, por ser a primeira leitura que realizei do autor, minha porta de entrada nesse universo que é uma verdadeira obra de arte. E continuo indicando e recomendo para aqueles que querem iniciar nessa série de livros do universo da Cosmere ou do Brandon Sanderson no geral.
• SPOILERS | Quotes, Notes & Highlights •
"Elantris was beautiful, once. It was called the city of the gods: a place of power, radiance, and magic."
“This is Elantris, sule. There’s no such thing as help. Pain, insanity, and a whole lot of slime are the only things you’ll find here.”
"(...) You will find that hate can unify people more quickly and more fervently than devotion ever could."
"(...) it is human nature to believe that other places and other times are better than the here and now."
"As was often the case, the most outspoken man was the least discerning."
“People do a better job when they assume they’re important.”
“(...) I don’t want to ‘lord over’ Elantris. But I do want to help it. I see a city full of people feeling sorry for themselves, a people resigned to viewing themselves as the rest of the world views them. Elantris doesn’t have to be the pit that it is.”
“You made it sound as if we wanted to be in here. Like it was a privilege.”
“And that is exactly the way we should feel. After all, if we’re going to be confined to Elantris, we might as well act as if it were the grandest place in the entire world.”
”This dream you have, this crazy idea of an Elantris where we grow food and we ignore our pain… I want to see you try to create it. I don’t think you can, but I think you will make something better of us in the process.”
“We’re not dead, Galladon, and we’re not damned. We’re just unfinished.”
"Truth is the one thing you can never intimidate."
“A man can force himself to hate if he wishes, especially if he convinces himself that it is for a higher good.”
"Those people gave in to their pain because they couldn’t find purpose — their torture was meaningless, and when you can’t find reason in life, you tend to give up on it."
"All things must progress, and progression is not always a steady incline. Sometimes we must fall, sometimes we will rise — some must be hurt while others have fortune, for that is the only way we can learn to rely on one another."
“Elantris will change,” Raoden said. “If not, then those who come here after us will plant the next season.”
“Remember, the past need not become our future as well.”
“Revenge is always a foolish motivation (...)”
Devo começar a dizer que foi uma releitura com cara de lendo pela primeira vez. É surreal quantos detalhes deixamos passar quando lemos pela primeira vez as obras de Brandon Sanderson, notei isso ao reler Warbreaker, e se repetiu com Elantris, que foi a primeira obra do autor.
Outra forma de ler os livros do Brandon e que é muito bom, é ler em leituras coletivas, com outras pessoas, tendo discussões a cada capítulo. Nessa releitura de Elantris, por exemplo, estou lendo dessa forma e tem sido extremamente útil, sempre compartilhamos nossas teorias, tiramos dúvidas uns com outros, e assim um vai auxiliando o próximo, o que torna a leitura muito mais dinâmica e divertida.
Dessa vez também resolvi encarar as versões do Graphic Audio, e achei interessantíssimo, muito divertido as vozes dos personagens, realmente pareceu que estava dentro de um filme ou uma série. Achava que esses tipos de audiobooks contavam muitas partes dos livros, mas realmente me surpreendeu positivamente, achei uma delícia acompanhar o texto e poder ouvir o áudio na versão dramatizada.
Quando li pela primeira vez, os capítulos do Hrathen me irritaram bastante, agradecia que eram os menores capítulos do livro, mas nessa releitura isso mudou, dessa vez, os capítulos da Sarene conseguiram me deixar um pouco entediada no início e no final, os capítulos do Hrathen e todo seu desenvolvimento foi o que mais me agradou. Já os do Raoden, continuei com a mesma opinião da primeira vez que li, é um dos meus personagens favoritos.
Lembro que cheguei a dizer na minha primeira resenha do livro, que a escrita, mesmo sabendo era o primeiro livro do autor, tinha me incomodado bastante, mas aí reler com a versão em inglês, não senti isso em nenhum momento, logicamente é nítido que temos um autor iniciante mas nada que me irritasse como me irritou na versão em português, acredito então, que a culpa se deu pela tradução e não pelo autor, então, me retifico nessa crítica que realizei anteriormente.
Foi um leitura que assim como a primeira vez, não perdeu seu brilho, cada vez mais interessante, intrigante, com temas políticos e religiosos, uma contrução insana de universo, de magia e principalmente de personagens, um verdadeiro prato cheio para quem é fã de uma fantasia épica e/ou alta fantasia.
Como disse, decidi ler em inglês dessa vez, e escolhi a versão especial de 10 anos. Nessa versão, Sanderson colocou alguns capítulos extras e, ao final, explicou o motivo de terem sido retirados da versão final. São capítulos curtos, bem interessantes.
Enfim, "Elantris" continua sendo um dos meus favoritos do Sanderson, continua tendo um lugar muito especial no meu coração, por ser a primeira leitura que realizei do autor, minha porta de entrada nesse universo que é uma verdadeira obra de arte. E continuo indicando e recomendo para aqueles que querem iniciar nessa série de livros do universo da Cosmere ou do Brandon Sanderson no geral.
• SPOILERS | Quotes, Notes & Highlights •
"Elantris was beautiful, once. It was called the city of the gods: a place of power, radiance, and magic."
“This is Elantris, sule. There’s no such thing as help. Pain, insanity, and a whole lot of slime are the only things you’ll find here.”
"(...) You will find that hate can unify people more quickly and more fervently than devotion ever could."
"(...) it is human nature to believe that other places and other times are better than the here and now."
"As was often the case, the most outspoken man was the least discerning."
“People do a better job when they assume they’re important.”
“(...) I don’t want to ‘lord over’ Elantris. But I do want to help it. I see a city full of people feeling sorry for themselves, a people resigned to viewing themselves as the rest of the world views them. Elantris doesn’t have to be the pit that it is.”
“You made it sound as if we wanted to be in here. Like it was a privilege.”
“And that is exactly the way we should feel. After all, if we’re going to be confined to Elantris, we might as well act as if it were the grandest place in the entire world.”
”This dream you have, this crazy idea of an Elantris where we grow food and we ignore our pain… I want to see you try to create it. I don’t think you can, but I think you will make something better of us in the process.”
“We’re not dead, Galladon, and we’re not damned. We’re just unfinished.”
"Truth is the one thing you can never intimidate."
“A man can force himself to hate if he wishes, especially if he convinces himself that it is for a higher good.”
"Those people gave in to their pain because they couldn’t find purpose — their torture was meaningless, and when you can’t find reason in life, you tend to give up on it."
"All things must progress, and progression is not always a steady incline. Sometimes we must fall, sometimes we will rise — some must be hurt while others have fortune, for that is the only way we can learn to rely on one another."
“Elantris will change,” Raoden said. “If not, then those who come here after us will plant the next season.”
“Remember, the past need not become our future as well.”
“Revenge is always a foolish motivation (...)”
October 8, 2019
I've been eyeing the "Graphic Audio" presentations of Brandon Sanderson's books for some time now. The novels are adapted slightly for a dramatic presentation: different readers for each character, background music, sound effects, etc. It's like a radio show. From what I can tell, the only real changes to the text are the omissions of "he said & she said" after quotations. There is still a narrator who reads explanatory prose. The tagline for this publisher is "A movie in your mind." A little hokey, sure, but it gets the point across.
The productions aren't available through Audible, so I bought the CDs on eBay. Elantris is split into three parts, and this was just the first. I've started on the second already.
Before listening, I wasn't quite sure whether the extra effects would be distracting or helpful. Sometimes it makes the story worse, as happened with the full cast adaption of Ender's Game. This time, though, I like it. I liked Elantris the first time I read it, but with some reservations. I found it pretty slow. The pacing is better this time, though I honestly couldn't tell you if that's mostly due to the presentation, or because I read it (slowly) in German last time.
The productions aren't available through Audible, so I bought the CDs on eBay. Elantris is split into three parts, and this was just the first. I've started on the second already.
Before listening, I wasn't quite sure whether the extra effects would be distracting or helpful. Sometimes it makes the story worse, as happened with the full cast adaption of Ender's Game. This time, though, I like it. I liked Elantris the first time I read it, but with some reservations. I found it pretty slow. The pacing is better this time, though I honestly couldn't tell you if that's mostly due to the presentation, or because I read it (slowly) in German last time.
January 24, 2022
(Review for the 3-part series as a whole)
It's been a good number of years since I originally read Elantris, and it was nice to revisit in graphic audio form. A large driver of this story is the mystery surrounding the magic, and remembering at least the major reveals from my initial read made discovery feel a bit slow this time around. The characters felt simpler this time too, though it's nice to see them as prototypes for stronger characters to come (seeing echoes of Raoden's defiant optimism in Mistborn's Kelsier, or the scheming nobles evolve into the tangled web of Stormlight Archive factions).
I still enjoyed it a good bit, and knowing some of what's coming helps appreciate some hints that I missed during a first pass.
I remembered having mixed feelings about the book's pronunciation guide - it was great to _have_ a guide, and a neat move to make a language sound so consistent and predictable (a marked departure from English, which Kory Stamper aptly describes in Word by Word as "that vibrant whore of a language"). But it always felt a bit awkward. Reading English but pronouncing "Ashe" as "AY-shee" never felt right. In a purely audio form, it was much easier to ignore that disconnect.
It's been a good number of years since I originally read Elantris, and it was nice to revisit in graphic audio form. A large driver of this story is the mystery surrounding the magic, and remembering at least the major reveals from my initial read made discovery feel a bit slow this time around. The characters felt simpler this time too, though it's nice to see them as prototypes for stronger characters to come (seeing echoes of Raoden's defiant optimism in Mistborn's Kelsier, or the scheming nobles evolve into the tangled web of Stormlight Archive factions).
I still enjoyed it a good bit, and knowing some of what's coming helps appreciate some hints that I missed during a first pass.
I remembered having mixed feelings about the book's pronunciation guide - it was great to _have_ a guide, and a neat move to make a language sound so consistent and predictable (a marked departure from English, which Kory Stamper aptly describes in Word by Word as "that vibrant whore of a language"). But it always felt a bit awkward. Reading English but pronouncing "Ashe" as "AY-shee" never felt right. In a purely audio form, it was much easier to ignore that disconnect.
November 19, 2022
Nothing more to say about this that I haven't already covered in my review of Elantris, except that it's a joy to experience the story again. What I really want to discuss is the format: the Graphic Audio 'movie in your mind'. I've wanted to experience it since I was a teenager and it hasn't disappointed. It is a bit disconcerting at times, especially if you favour more traditional audiobooks. But it works and, for a talented dialogue writer like Brandon Sanderson, having a full cast to read through it is much, much more interesting. And the actors are all very well chosen.
The only issue I have with it is that, as many have said in reviews of Graphic Audio, the scenes that involve flights, and fights, parties or even a busy city center, the sound mix is too loud and the narrator's voice can get drowned out. It isn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it's still very, very distracting. But, besides that issue, Graphic Audio has succeeded in what they wanted to do: Elantris really does feel like a movie playing inside my mind.
The only issue I have with it is that, as many have said in reviews of Graphic Audio, the scenes that involve flights, and fights, parties or even a busy city center, the sound mix is too loud and the narrator's voice can get drowned out. It isn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it's still very, very distracting. But, besides that issue, Graphic Audio has succeeded in what they wanted to do: Elantris really does feel like a movie playing inside my mind.
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