[Palfrey]

...and I'm feeling rather humbled. It was original, captivating and darn near flawless. Great characters, even better world building. It was my first time reading Sanderson, and I can't believe it was his first book. My writing seems like that of a seven-year-old by comparison. (Today's contribution to my novel was particularly torturous). When I read books like this, it makes me want to hide my writing away forever because it just doesn't compare.

But I digress. I know this book is old news for most of you now, but I was wondering what you thought of it.... and which Sanderson book I should read next!

[TheImp]

i honestly don't think his writing is that good. the prose is very simple and straight forward and thus makes for easy reading, so i do like it. but i'm never wowed by his sentences compared to writers like say...guy gavriel kay. you shouldn't feel so bad :P. his dialogue, magic system (LOVE his magic systems), setting, story and characters (vin and kelsier are among my favourite fantasy characters, although they're in mistborn obviously) are all brilliant though.

but i dunno, i wasn't the biggest fan of elantris, can't quite put my finger on it. perhaps because i actually read it after mistborn and warbreaker my opinion on it is a bit jaded compared to yours. those books are much better.

keep reading his stuff, you won't be disappointed. can't go wrong with any of his books really.

[Donteb84]

I loved Mistborn. I should give Elantris a try. The only thing I don't like, more of an annoyance is that he says "he said" "she said" a lot after someone talks, even when its just two ppl!! I can see when its a group(which Mistborn has lots of group talking) but when it was only two ppl, it got on my nerves for some reason. Reading it my head, it doesn't bother me so much, it wasn't until I read it out loud to my fiancee, did I notice all the said said said all the time.

[DailyRich]

Elantris is what got me on the Sanderson train. Grabbed Mistborn sight unseen after I read Elantris.

[Mark_P]

If it makes you feel any better, please keep in mind that "Elantris" may have been his first published book, but it was certainly not the first novel he actually wrote. I believe it was the seventh or eighth (I read this somewhere on website once). So don't hide your writing away, keep at it!

[Palfrey]

Oh, I'm keeping at it. I write because my story wants to be written.. Whether or not anyone else likes it is immaterial.

[Elatha]

Well, if you enjoyed Elantris that much, I've got some good news for you. Sanderson's books really only improve from there. I did like Elantris, but the Mistborn books are definitely a big step up. Warbreaker was quite enjoyable as well, as was his continuation of the Wheel of Time. Sanderson does have some weaknesses in his writing in my opinion, particularly with his dialogue and characterization, but these are really minor quibbles. He may not be the world's best stylist, but he can write a cracking good plot, and he's improved with every book I've read.

[BrightStar]

I'm reading Elantris at the moment, too.

The writing is simple, but I'm finding it a really rewarding read (haven't finished it yet). I love the world building, magic system, characters and plot. I did think it slowed down a bit around the middle, but now I've reached the last two hundred pages, it's really picking up again and I'm finding it a real page turner.

This is my first time reading a book by Sanderson, but after I'm done with Elantris I am definitely going to check out some of his other works.

[Viti]

Wow. I've been plodding through Elantris since March and I think I just passed the halfway point. I seem to be in the minority here and even on some blogs I've read recently.

I don't read much immersive long-form fantasy lately (come to think of it I never read much of it - just a handful here and there) but I love finding those rare ones that just draw you in. I wanted to try a recent author this time and I chose Elantris because it's a single volume and Sanderson has generated a lot of buzz. I have to say I'm very disappointed. Readable but thoroughly pedestrian prose and characters and situations I don't care one whit about make this a chore. I'm committed to it now though and hoping that the talked about ending is as great as I've heard it to be.

[Stromkern]

I found the middle part of the book quite slow as well, to be honest, and dragged it on for weeks. After 300-400 pages it really got me hooked though, and the last third was quite enjoyable 2 day read.

Since I haven't really read much classic fantasy, it left me with a nice overall impression. Some things still felt way too generic and plain even to me.