Hey, readers!
I love cats and books, so I have decided that I will share one of each of these things with you. Today’s cat is an adorable little silver tabby. Look at that little belly! Look at that fuzzy kitten fur!
Kittens are the spice of life. As such, I feel we should all get to look at kittens (and maybe other baby animals) while also talking about books.
On the book front, I have selected Elantris by Brandon Sanderson as my first feature. This is one of my favorite books, to the point I went to a convention so I could get a copy signed. I brought my old, tattered copy, but to my delight, I found a pristine copy at one of the venders, so I bought a new copy for my collection.
This is also one of my favorite covers, but don’t ask me why. It just is.
I now have an ebook copy so I stop murdering trees rereading this book.
What do I love about this book? Honestly, everything. This is one of my go-to reads when I want something a little darker. There are trigger warnings for this one, which include character deaths and other sensitive material, but it’s just a delightful read.
Here’s what the book is about:
Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person until touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod. Ten years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, leper-like, powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling.
Arelon’s new capital, Kae, crouches in the shadow of Elantris. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives for a marriage of state with Crown Prince Raoden, hoping—based on their correspondence—to also find love. She finds instead that Raoden has died and she is considered his widow. Both Teod and Arelon are under threat as the last remaining holdouts against the imperial ambitions of the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. So Sarene decides to use her new status to counter the machinations of Hrathen, a Fjordell high priest who has come to Kae to convert Arelon and claim it for his emperor and his god.
But neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspect the truth about Prince Raoden. Stricken by the same curse that ruined Elantris, Raoden was secretly exiled by his father to the dark city. His struggle to help the wretches trapped there begins a series of events that will bring hope to Arelon, and perhaps reveal the secret of Elantris itself.
Elantris is available at all major book retailers. (Check your local libraries, too!)
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