The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson
THE EMPEROR'S SOUL
- Brandon Sanderson
I've always wondered how people reviewed books without retelling the entire plot. As my first ever written book review, consider this a humble attempt on my part to review this masterpiece of a book without basically re-writing the entire plot. Blame my boredom, not me, if this humble attempt does not succeed.
I tumbled into this book through an Instagram reel while desperately scouting for a quick one-day read. I read the digital version which was around 120 pages, and I LOVED IT! The genre would be fantasy novella for adults/ young adults (says Google, not me).
Here comes the challenging part, the plot summary. No promises, but I'll give it my best. The protagonist, like every other fantasy fiction book ever, ends up in prison and brokers a deal with the big shots of the empire, which surprise, surprise she doesn't like very much. In exchange for her freedom, she is tasked with forging a soul for the emperor using her special abilities (magic, yay!). As she plans her escape while meeting her end of the bargain, she befriends an unexpected somebody along the way leading to a surprisingly poignant and emotional journey.
What I really liked about this book was its plot. It's simple yet surprisingly touching. Incorporating the amount of character detail and development within 120 pages seemed close to implausible to me, but the author did a good enough job. I wouldn't say the book keeps you guessing or that it leaves you wanting more, but it certainly keeps you engrossed. The best part? I've spent my entire childhood obsessed being with magic and fantasy fiction, and this has to be by far the most unique magical ability I've come across in a character. It's a really easy-to-read book, especially great for beginners.
All in all, this is a great book to escape into if you have an English exam tomorrow and need to waste time while still being somewhat productive. It’s short and won’t take too much of your time!