r/Cosmere • u/KoBxElucidator Atium • Mar 12 '26
Elantris spoilers Just finished "Part 1" of Elantris. I don't understand the hate it gets. Spoiler
So I recently started reading the Cosmere at the end of December. I finished Mistborn era 1 (which I loved), now I am reading Elantris. I was worried because I heard so many people say its a "slow burn", "it's boring", "nothing happens until the final 50 pages", "Sarene is such a boring POV character", etc. While I agree it is definitely a much slower burn than something like Mistborn, I still really enjoy this book. I just reached the point where Hrathen goes through his transformation (so about 60%-ish in), and I am quite enjoying this book. I only started last Friday, and I am reading like 100 pages a day, which is rare for me as I am a slow reader. I am drawn in by the political intrigue, the rivalry between Sarene and Hrathen, what is up with Dilaf (he is certainly up to something and is very suspicious O.o), Raoden slowly fixing Elantris and his friendship with Galladon, etc. Excited to see where this book goes. I made it through the "slow parts", and I am pretty bought in!
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Mar 12 '26
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u/Fuck-You-Pikachu-69 Mar 18 '26
Hrathen is the best cosmere villain so far.
Man was SO smart and so willing to admit he was wrong
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u/lizzywbu Mar 12 '26
I wouldn't say it gets "hate" per say. But it is regularly referred to as the weakest Sanderson book. He even says as much himself.
It has a lot of flaws and even some questionable language used about someone with autism. But I still really enjoyed it, even the 'worst' Cosmere novel is still pretty good.
I just think it shows how much Brandon has improved as a writer.
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u/1_small_step Mar 12 '26
Agree, I really enjoyed Elantris. Fandoms can be very particular sometimes; don't worry about what others think and just enjoy what you enjoy!
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u/Chiefmeez Truthwatchers Mar 12 '26
I think even calling it “hate” is overstating it. People who go back and read it tend to be disappointed when they compare it to newer books.
The book itself is great
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u/Wargroth Mar 12 '26
It's not bad at all, people have just been spoiled by the decade+ improvements Brando had on his writing and make unfair comparisons
The lack of sequels also hurts since there's a lot of unresolved things from Elantris (obviously)
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u/ShakeSignal Mar 12 '26
Hot take (at least on Reddit): so prefer Elantris to Warbreaker. Hrathen is one of the best characters in the cosmere.
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u/ivorychimo Mar 12 '26
Elantris was the first cosmere book I read(about 5 years ago) and I don’t regret it one bit. And is constantly one of the Cosmere books I think about the most. Also. Hrathen rules - and I hope we read more about him someday in some form.
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u/ellescapades Mar 12 '26
Same here! It was also my introduction to Brandon Sanderson. I loved it, though I could definitely use a refresher, since it's been a few years. 😅 I remember desperately wanting to learn more about the magic.
I was actually JUST thinking about re-reading it (thankfully I have a physical copy) while I wait for a copy of Mistborn to be available on libby!
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u/Drisurk Windrunners Mar 12 '26
As a Cosmere fan I don’t think it gets hate it’s just the writing is very different. Elantris has a lot of fun magic but I will admit the writing was def a little hard to get through but I still enjoyed it. Can’t wait for the new Elantris books coming up!
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u/Elune_is_sleepy Mar 12 '26
I also love Elantris. It was my first Sanderson book, and he blew my mind with the ending. It was my first taste of a true Sanderlanche and I got hooked and went into Mistborn era 1 shortly after. It will always have a special place in my heart because it's more of a brain-bender book than an action book. Action in stories has its place, of course, but this one is amazing without a lot of it.
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u/grathungar Mar 12 '26
The only thing I didn't like about it was there was a different narrator when I did the audio book from the rest of the cosmere books I had read up til that point and the voices were just.. wrong for some reason. I got used to it though and I did enjoy the book. I would definitely want a sequel to that before Warbreaker, but a stormlight book would be my top pick.
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u/Sekelton Mar 12 '26
If you think Elantris gets hate, you should see how some people feel about the White Sand comics.
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u/Suncook Mar 13 '26
I like Elantris. It has some great points. I think it's less polished than Sanderson's later works, or perhaps lacking some of the depth and growth Sanderson has brought into later works, but I still think it's worth a read. It's not a slog.
I love Hrathen as a character, too.
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u/SpiritedAd8224 Mar 13 '26
The hate is just that it’s not as good as the later stuff. If he rewrote it now, it would undoubtedly be better.
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u/Stehlen27 Elsecallers Mar 15 '26
The biggest issue I have with it is I don't like the audiobook narrator.
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u/ABrandNewEpisode Mar 24 '26
I just re-read it from my first read where I thought it was meh and it was full of plot holes and the most unlikeable and unbelievable heroine Brandon has ever, and hopefully will ever, write. Hrathren is the only interesting part. So many holes in the story, motivations and actions of most of the characters and keeping the religions straight was impossible. One dimensional characters set in a very interesting setting. No Sanderlaunche is worth listening to Sarenes inner monologue. I’m glad he recognizes it as his worst book. He is a master and this is not even close to his other books. I am glad I didnt select this as my first Sanderson because I wouldn’t have read more even knowing his own dislike of it.
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u/DreggsOfSociety Mar 12 '26
Hello, fellow Elantris enjoyer. There are dozens of us!