The Emperor's Soul - Brandon Sanderson

The Emperor's Soul

By Brandon Sanderson

  • Release Date: 2012-11-05
  • Genre: Fantasy
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 520 Ratings

Description

WINNER, 2013 Hugo Award for Best Novella!
Nominee, 2013 World Fantasy Award for Novella!

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor's Soul showcases a fascinating magic system as the clock ticks down for a condemned criminal.
When Shai is caught replacing the Moon Scepter with her nearly flawless forgery, she must bargain for her life. An assassin has left the Emperor Ashravan without consciousness, a circumstance concealed only by the death of his wife. If the emperor does not emerge after his hundred-day mourning period, the rule of the Heritage Faction will be forfeit and the empire will fall into chaos.
Shai is given an impossible task: to create—to Forge—a new soul for the emperor in less than one hundred days. But her soul-Forgery is considered an abomination by her captors. She is confined to a tiny, dirty chamber, guarded by a man who hates her, spied upon by politicians, and trapped behind a door sealed in her own blood. Shai's only possible ally is the emperor's most loyal councillor, Gaotona, who struggles to understand her true talent.
Time is running out for Shai. Forging, while deducing the motivations of her captors, she needs a perfect plan to escape…
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"Sanderson proves to be an exceptionally talented writer in the pages of this book. ... His characters are fascinating and fully realized. ... The Emperor's Soul is one of those rare high fantasies that feels fresh and is filled with a sense of wonder." —Charles de Lint, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Reviews

  • Short and Sweet

    5
    By HisMajestyClay
    Wonderful story that manages to wrap up plenty of neat ideas and an interesting plot in a short time!
  • Wonderful read

    5
    By lpzsam100
    Mesmerizing, Sanderson has done it again. One of the best short stories I've read in a very long time. Highly recommend!
  • Must read

    5
    By WndyByrb
    I loved this book! A must read if you like historical fantasy
  • Fantastic

    5
    By jymalpha
    I didn't want to like this book. Short stories always seem to be insufficient in scope, or worse, perfectly good reads that leave you aching for more. This was so well written and complete, that it will be my standard for short stories moving forward.
  • Could easily be an amazing series!!!

    5
    By Match132416736
    Awesome concept!
  • Fantasy at its finest!

    5
    By JB Tank
    Sanderson does it again with a true page turner. Imaginative, emotional, and intriguing, this story is everything I could want and more.
  • Wow!!

    5
    By Jlwright2
    The talent and skill demonstrated in this writing is amazing! I find myself excited for future projects. Thank you Brandon for such entertaining and wholesome writing.

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