By Brandon Sanderson
Tachyon Publications, 2012. 175 pages. Fantasy
Shai is a master Forger, a person with the ability to create illusions that mimic people or objects. She has been condemned to death for trying to steal the emperor's scepter, but she is given a chance to be released if she performs one final forgery: a recreation of the soul of the emperor who is almost dead. To do this, she will have to find out as much as possible about who he truly is and engage all of her artistic talent and skill, or she could pay with her life.
This is a novella that takes place in the same world as Elantris, although you don't need to have read that book to understand and enjoy this. Shai's character is explored as she pours herself into her work, her motives and desires examined and her abilities as an artist flexed and challenged. It's an interesting character study set within a larger context of political intrigue and the morality of the ruling class. A quick, interesting read.
BHG
1 comment:
I haven’t read Elantris, but I still loved The Emperor’s Soul. Even though it’s a short book it doesn’t sacrifice character depth and development and that was my favorite aspect of it. The plot beautifully explores themes of morality, prejudice, and artistic creation. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, or is looking for a good but short book.
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