political intrigue, trickery, treachery, betrayal, religion, war, magic, romance & slime; who could ask for anything more?

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson is an epic fantasy wrapped up in a nice little 615 page package. Now i'm not a big fan of fantasy but i did enjoy this one:

"Elantris was beautiful once. It was called the city of the gods: a place of power, radiance, and magic. Visitors say that the very stones glowed with an inner light, and that the city contained wondrous arcane marvels. At night, Elantris shone like a great silvery fire, visible even from a great distance.

Yet, as magnificent as Elantris was, its inhabitants were more so . Their hair a brilliant white, their skin an almost metallic silver, the Elantrians seemed to shine like the city itself. Legends claim that they were immortal, or at least nearly so. Their bodies healed quickly, and they were blessed with great strength, insight, and speed. They could perform miracles with a bare wave of the hand; men visited Elantris from all across Opelon to receive Elantrian healings, food, or wisdom. They were divinities.

And anyone could become one.

The Shaod, it was called. The Transformation. It struck randomly--usually at night, during the mysterious hours when life slowed to rest. The Shaod could take beggar, craftsman, nobleman, or warrior. When it came, the fortunate person's life ended and began anew; he would discard his old mundane existence, and move to Elantris.
Elantris, where he could live in bliss, rule in wisdom, and be worshiped for Eternity.

Eternity ended ten years ago."

~prologue.

I pasted the prologue here because i believe, besides being so well written, that it is all you really need to get you interested in reading this novel (if you are to be interested). Many of the rave reviews on Amazon say that Elantris avoid many of the cliches of the genre--not being a fantasy aficionado i wouldn't know--but i do know that it doesn't drag; has very strong characterizations and keeps track of its plot line--good enough for me!