Year of Sanderson: “The Emperor’s Soul”

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“Year of Sanderson” is an on-going, monthly series that will post on the last Friday of each month in which I will cover various Brandon Sanderson-related things. This will largely be comprised of book reviews (some from his back catalog and some from the books being released this year), as well as assorted other topics like reviews of the items in the swag boxes that will be coming out as part of Sanderson’s Kickstarted campaign. Frankly, we’ll just have to see what we get from this series, very much like the Kickstarter itself!

Book: “The Emperor’s Soul” by Brandon Sanderson

Publishing Info: Tachyon Publications, October 2012

Where Did I Get this Book: from the library!

Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org| Amazon | IndieBound

Book Description: Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Though her skill as a Forger is considered an abomination by her captors, Shai will attempt to create a new soul for the emperor, who is almost dead.

Probing deeply into his life, she discovers Emperor Ashravan’s truest nature—and the opportunity to exploit it. Her only possible ally is one who is truly loyal to the emperor, but councilor Gaotona must overcome his prejudices to understand that Shai’s forgery is as much artistry as it is deception.

Brimming with magic and political intrigue, this deftly woven fantasy delves into the essence of a living spirit.

Review: Aside from his full length novels (and “full length” includes books that are made up of a page count that would equal several books combined!), Brandon Sanderson has also written a good number of short stories and novellas. I’ve read a few of them but wanted to review one that I hadn’t read before for this series. As there is a second “Elantris” book slated to come out sometime in the next few years, I thought it was a good time to check out this novella that, while not directly connected to that book, takes place in the same world.

I guess it should no longer come as a surprise, but it’s always impressive just how much detail Sanderson can pack into his world-building and magic systems. All the more so in this small book! Further more, while close readers will spot the references to “Elantris,” this book stands fully on its own, meaning that the book can’t rely on previous knowledge and must impart everything that needs to be understood in its slim page count. I was impressed by how well all of this lore worked alongside a fairly compact story that also put in a lot of work in the arc of its main character.

I really enjoyed Shai as a main character. She’s a master thief and forger, relying on a very specific and rare power to pull off her feats. In this story, she is tasked with an impossible mission: to forge the soul of the emperor who teeters on death’s door. Not only was this an interesting exploration of what makes up us as people, but Shai’s story was surprisingly heart-touching as she works to gain the trust and understanding of the man in charge of overseeing her progress. This was a unique relationship, in that it wasn’t a romance, but instead was a sweet exploration of learning to understand those we initially perceive as our enemies, whose beliefs and actions we can’t understand ourselves.

The story also moves at a brisk pace, even if much of the action takes place in a small, confined room. However, as the tension builds, the reader is drawn closer and closer to Shai, attempting to understand just what her plan is. And when it all plays out, it’s a thrilling conclusion, more than making up for the slower action to start with. Overall, this was a very satisfying, short read. It perfectly illustrates many of Sanderson’s strengths as an author while also not requiring a commitment to a massive tome on the reader’s part. For those looking for an introduction to Sanderson’s work, this is a great place to start!

Rating 8: Short but effective, this book is a perfect primer for readers looking to get a small taste of the masterful work Sanderson produces!

Reader’s Advisory:

“The Emperor’s Soul” is on this Goodreads list: Original Stories . . . a Breath of Fresh Air and Best Stand-Alone Fantasy Book.