The Rithmatist

by Brandon Sanderson

Ben McSweeney (Illustrator)

A killer is on the loose...Joel is fascinated by the art of Rithmatics - with its lines of power and ability to bring chalk drawings to life - but only a few have the gift and he is not one of them. When Rithmatic students from Joel's school start disappearing, he is keen to investigate. Since he's not a Rithmatist, Joel seems to be safe - but others are dying. Can he find the killer before the killer realizes just what a threat Joel really is?

• ISBN10: 1250242711
• ISBN13: 9781250242716
• Publish Date: 12 November 2019 (first published 14 May 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Tor Teen
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 448
• Language: English

Reviews

[anne]

Ok story, but diagram idea complicated

[Mercy]

No le doy las 5 estrellas porque los personajes son muy típicos de este tipo de libros, me recordaba mucho a Harry Potter y Percy Jackson, no es que parezcan copias sino que elementos de su personalidad o situaciones que les sucedían me recordaba a esos libros, de igual forma, Joel me gustó muchísimo.

Y adoré el sistema de magia, creo que es de los mejores que he leído por lo exacto que es y Sanderson tiene muy definidas sus reglas. Y madre mía, EL FINAL. NECESITO QUE LLEGUE PRONTO EL AÑO EN QUE SANDERSON VA A PUBLICAR LA SEGUNDA PARTE T_____T EN SERIO.

[Stephanie]

This was a very fun audiobook to listen to! I loved the narrator, he did amazing with all the characters voices. I really liked Melody, some of her comments had me laughing out loud and she was just a fun character to have around while kids were disappearing. The mystery part was great. I did not know who the Scribbler was until it was revealed. This was a very fun book overall!

I also checked the book out from the library because the book has illustrations that I wanted to see. It was hard for me to imagine what all the lines looked like, so it was nice to have the book as a reference for it all. I suggest if you listen to the audiobook, to find a way to look at the book also, because the illustrations really add to the story.

[ross91]

I want the sequel NOW.

[wyvernfriend]

Interesting story of a boy who wants to be a Rithmatist, those people who fight against creatures who appear to be determined to kill humans. He knows all the theory, he just can't do the magic. He gets caught up in trying to discover what is going on as his classmates start disappearing, what he learns will change the world.

I found it interesting and fun.

[charlton]

Living chalk?
12:03 am 18 October 2015
The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson
I finished The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson tonight.
I thought this book was good,not just good but really good.Yes it is a YA,that being said,there was no sex scenes which I'm fine with.
I thought the character development was good as well as the creativity of the steampunkish world.
But the magic system is the most different I've ever seen.It's basically like a wizard with an enhanced piece of chalk drawing symbols
on the ground.
It was all very new to me,but so interesting.And it takes place the majority of the time in a school.

[adamfortuna]

Very much a young adult book, but still a lot of fun. This one reminded me of a cross between Elantris and Steelheart in a Harry Potter setting. The magic mechanic for this one focuses around a world where "Rithmatists" (think wizards) fight the worlds battles against a vague evil. Rithmatists fight by drawing figures in chalk that are effectively wards against evil, or offensive. The somewhat short story was entertaining all the way through, with great characters, a good magic system and just overall fun. Not the amazing, tell everyone you know fun, but an entertaining story. I'll surely read the next one in the series when it comes out.

[Chelsea]

Quick thoughts:
1. The first thing this book reminds me of is Harry Potter. I'm not even sure why but it has some similar aspects.
2. I lived the characters. They were different, funny and entertaining all the time.
3. I loved how the bad guy wasn't who you expected but was at the same time. If you read it you know what I'm talking about.
4. The set up for the next book was excellent. I can't wait to see what happens next.
5. The world created in this book was really unique. I liked all the little drawings and details the author have you about chalk drawing. It made it that much more fun to read.

[dokie80]

Read 4 hours straight (from around 40-50%) to finished the book. A kind of book that will make you sleep-deprived.
Highly recommended.

[jnikkir]

I really enjoyed this book. It's geared toward a younger audience than Brandon Sanderson's other epic fantasy novels, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment at all. First, the world in The Rithmatist runs on "springworks". I mean, really: Gorgeous gear-driven gadgets and creepy chalk creatures, what more do you want? Brandon's characters are all vibrant; the setting, an alternate version of the US, has been built with careful detail; and the chalk-based magic system is complex and (literally) alive. Wonderfully done.

The characters are always some of the best things about Brandon's books, at least for me, and we definitely have some great ones in The Rithmatist: Joel, Melody, and Professor Fitch are the main three. The story is told from Joel's perspective, and while he is very likeable and fun, he does have his share of issues. Joel's journey throughout the book—moving from focusing on himself and being hung up on his non-Rithmatist status, to learning how to play to his strengths and reach out to others—was one of my favorite things about his story.

Melody is a character whom I thought I wouldn't like at first, but she grew on me thanks to her and Joel's banter; they have the classic we're-totally-annoyed-with-each-other-until-we-somehow-become-friends storyline, but it's well done here.

And then there's Professor Fitch, who is tutoring the two students, while heading up the investigation of the disappearances at Armedius. Fitch is wonderful; he comes across as fairly meek and subdued, but he's incredibly intelligent and fiercely loyal—a great mentor for Joel and Melody.

The plot is great. Rithmatist students are disappearing, and Fitch and Joel (and eventually Melody) aid the official investigation. There's plenty of suspense and mystery; nothing is as obvious as it might seem, and I was thrown for more than a few loops as things were revealed. Brandon keeps you guessing and theorizing over "whodunnit" until the very end.

I was skeptical at first about how chalk drawings could possibly be scary... But Brandon manages to pull it off. At first, the Chalklings are properly mysterious, but they're also vague enough that I wasn't terribly bothered by them. After having finished the book, and thanks to everything that happens in the last few chapters, I'm thoroughly converted—these things are creepy and terrifying. But... also pretty fascinating. The new information Brandon deals out at the end will lead into great opportunities for further exploration of Rithmatics and Chalklings in Book 2... (whenever that one comes out...). I can't wait to learn more about them.

With all the excitement and new info about Rithmatics, the last few chapters are what made the book, for me. Suddenly so many doors are opened up, and it's clear that there is so much more to things than meets the eye. We're left with just enough answers for a resolution, but even more questions about what will happen next...


Bring on Book 2!




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EDIT 1/29/13: Just finished reading my ARC and I have such a stupid grin on my face. Review to come, soon!

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EDIT 1/26/13: I just snagged an ARC of this at the ALA Midwinter conference. AHHHH. Will be reading it ASAP!!

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MORE SANDERSON YES PLEASE.

Put that man's name on a book and it's pretty much guaranteed I'll read it.