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Book Review of The Emperor's Soul (Cosmere Universe)

The Emperor's Soul (Cosmere Universe)
BaileysBooks avatar reviewed on + 491 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


This is a short novella that takes place on the same world as Elantris, although it occurs in a different region than the original novel. I read it immediately after finishing Elantris, and I was blown away by the growth of Sanderson as a writer from one work to the next.

The Emperor's Soul is a compact, expertly paced, beautifully told story. I read the whole thing in one day because I simply could not put it down. There are a lot of very subtle context clues that tie this book to Elantris, and they are easy to miss if you're not paying close attention.

You can enjoy this book without having read Elantris first, although I consider both works to be required reading for any die-hard Sanderson fan who wants their fill of all things related to the Cosmere.

Note: While all of Brandon Sanderson's books take place on different planets at different points in time, they are all tied together in a fictional universe that he calls the Cosmere. One common thread throughout all of the books is a character that makes a named or cameo appearance in every single book. When named, he is called Hoid. His overall story arc is still a mystery, but he is obviously important. In The Emperor's Soul, he makes a very vague, non-named appearance in the role of the Imperial Fool.

Recommended Sanderson reading order (should you be interested): Elantris > Mistborn 1-3 > The Emperor's Soul > Warbreaker > Stormlight Archives 1-2 > Alloy of Law trilogy (Alloy of Law + Shadows of Self + Bands of Mourning)