The Emperor's Soul (Cosmere Universe)

by Brandon Sanderson

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

As much as I enjoy Brandon Sanderson’s series (his plot twists between installments are unparalleled), he truly shines when he’s writing standalones. The Emperor’s Soul is a masterpiece, fast-paced and tightly written, counting down the days until protagonist Shai is set to die.

In a short space, Sanderson builds readers a world. One with magic and history and a fraught political system. Whereas in his series Sanderson tends to the extremes with details of world-building, here he tells readers what’s necessary—and it works. He focuses on explicating Shai’s Forging, as other characters ask her about her magic and her work, and brings in information about other types of magic or other characters only when pertinent to the plot. The information is amazingly complete without being overwhelming.

The story is also characteristically thoughtful. Sanderson explores human motivations, the origins of prejudice, and the definition of art. As Shai strives to craft a soul, he asks what it is that makes us human and how much we should be allowed to play with other people’s lives. Important issues and fundamental questions lie deeply embedded in this compelling and fast-paced tale.

This is the place to start for anyone looking to begin reading high fantasy. Sanderson is a skilled wordsmith with a breath-taking imagination. But he also looks to the core of human emotions in ways that will remind readers of J.R.R. Tolkien or Chaim Potok.

This review is also posted on Pages Unbound Book Reviews.