The Emperor's Soul

A short story by Sanderson which earned a Hugo award. Much of the feel from this seemed to be the inspiration for the soulcasters in his Stormlight Archives series. Like other worlds, this has a magic element which allows for “forging” – modifying the history of an object to change how it appears today. For instance – rewriting the history of a neglected table to have been cared for in order to make it strong a beautiful today. What about rewriting the past of a person? Would that change their soul?

The emperor's soul

“You can't always write what you know - not exactly what you know. You can, however, write what you see.”

I swear that I picked this up just to see what it was about.
And then, I was swallowed.
It's not the best Brandon Sanderson's, however: what. A. Universe.
And I've became a huge fan of Shai in the end when she truly shows her abilities and everything she is capable of.
I think, maybe I'm the only one but... the end, when the seal is finally attached to the emperor and she admits that she wanted to know him better, really know him, not just about him; and see her most important work result in the end, I had to hold myself to do not make a scene and cry like a baby.

Full review at SFF Book Review.

So this is what everybody is going on about.
My first Brandon Sanderson, chosen because it's a nice and short novella, gave me a glimpse of this writer's talent. After reading this, I can't wait to read his longer novels and series. What an intriguing magic system. What a fantastic little story.

If you're like me and you don't dare start with Sanderson's huge, chunky series, I highly recommend this. You can read it in one sitting - in fact, you'll have to, it's impossible to put down - and it shows just how much talent this author has.

Short stories aren't really my thing, so I've been trying to adjust my rating criteria to be less strict than I would for a full novel. Everything you'd want is there in The Emperor's Soul, and then some. What can be accomplished in 100 pages is accomplished superbly. Would I have loved a full novel? Absolutely. But honestly I felt all the emotions despite only knowing the characters for a short time. I felt stress and urgency, and I really understood the motivations of the main character. Sanderson seriously has an interesting mind and excels at creating magic systems too.

A very thought provoking short fantasy story. A very slow start in a good way, with strong careful, well unfolded character development leading to an explosion of an ending which brought all the threads together. I didn't mean to finish it so fast. When I got my hands on it I just intended to open the file and check the font size etc. I ended up reading the first chapter before I could stop myself. Later I decided to read the next chapter. That was when I read the rest of the book in one sitting in one of those “I don't care if the building is on fire, I'M READING!” moods.

So yes, this was a really good read and to those who have read it, I say: I refuse to throw this book on the fire.

This was a fun read. It was my first foray into Brandon Sanderson, so I had no idea what I was getting into. The magic system was quite detailed and a very cool concept, but because it's a short book with such complex magic, there were points where I felt like describing how the magic worked seemed to take up too much space. That said, it was mixed into the story in a way that didn't make it feel like I was reading a text book on magic. It was a good story that ran at a good pace, and I can't deny I was thoroughly entertained.

Part puzzle, part character study, part adventure, it ticks all the boxes of a solid stand-alone novella. The story mostly centres around a young prisoner. The only thing keeping her alive is her singular ability in the use of Forgery: a very unique type of magic that can rewrite the history of an object. Because the nature of the magic is based essentially in trickery and the changing of history, the protagonist always keeps other characters - and the reader - guessing what is true, what is a lie, and what she's planning. This all builds up into a real page-turner of a climax, all while building a unique relationship between characters.

In the afterward, Sanderson said that he was inspired by Korean history, and it seemed to do justice to that style of rule without being blatant or overstepping and acting like he could write a Korean story. I felt that the emphasis on the power of the ruling clans was a dynamic that was very well played out. I worried that because of Sanderson's prolific nature, the fantasy would be generic or predictable, but on the contrary, it was a very original story.

The only thing that I found odd about his style was his aversion to violence. The climax was very high action, but everyone who got hurt or attacked was hurt or attacked in a way that conveniently reassured the reader that they would be ok, and I actually found the unnecessary detail a bit distracting. Overall though, it was a very fun and fulfilling fantasy story, and I will definitely revisit the Cosmere at some point.

I have been reading Brandon's work ever since he was chosen to finish the Wheel of Time series, and I must admit that he has quickly become one of my favorite story tellers. I find that all of his books are quick to read, and are full of interesting characters and interesting ideas. I always enjoy the way he crafts his worlds and magic systems - there is always something realistic and utilitarian about them, even though they are fantastical and set in completely made-up worlds.

I found that, while The Emperor's Soul does demonstrate many of the typical hallmarks of Sanderson's style, it is also somewhat of a departure from his other works. Most of Brandon's works comprise of a group of fun and interesting characters using a fascinating magic system to overcome some long-term problem faced by a society. (This is not always the case, but, in general it is. Of course, that is probably because that is the general structure of most fantasy and sci-fi stories, but, you know, the format works well.) Typically his stories involve the characters running about quite a bit, with many changes of settings and locations. Which is why it is very interesting to note that the majority of this story takes place in a single room. Instead of Brandon using his characters to explore the world that he has created, he uses his magic system to allow for a very introspective look at the characters. While the story may not be as inherently exciting as some of his other works, it was still a compelling read. It allows a reader to see how people become what they are, and it offers the reader an opportunity to examine their own past and question how life events have shaped their own choices and behaviors.

Overall I found The Emperor's Soul to be a quick and interesting read. Like all of Brandon's works I found it to be a fun escape from the real world, even if only for a few hours. It can certainly stand on its own merits, however, I feel that it would be best read in the context of some of Sanderson's other works. I would recommend new readers to Brandon Sanderson start with Elantris, Mistborn, or Warbreaker and then branch into his other works from there. For those who have read any of Sanderson's other stories, I think The Emperor's Soul is a great addition to his collection of other works and I highly recommend it.

Dit was het derde verhaal dat ik las in Brandon Sandersons Cosmere universum en ook het derde verhaal in de wereld van Elantris (Sel).

Alhoewel dit een kort verhaal was, een novelle, was het enorm rijk aan details. De wereld, het magiesysteem, de personages,...
Weerom enorm onder de indruk van Sandersons schrijfkunst en vooral zijn fantasie om zo'n unieke systemen te bedenken. Fenomenaal.

Audiobook - I listened at work thanks to Libby. It was a quick listen. about 4 hours at 1.4x.

The core concept was really interesting idea, and I think I may need to just read it again to flush out my views. After watching some review videos on it, I think I grasped most of it. The existential question about what is a soul was super interesting.


My review skills are poor at best. I will have to think more on this subject and revise.

I think this novella is what happens when Brandon Sanderson tries to write a short story... ;-)

I quite enjoyed this novella. It's a much smaller stage than he usually writes on, a story involving a small handful of people (three main characters, and three minor named characters) and a very limited scope of time. It's an in-depth exploration of a kind of magic that allows the practitioner to re-write the history of a thing and change it's current nature by use of intricately carved stamps. The main character is a master of this magic who gets caught in the midst of the swap of an original item for the forgery she made (though this particular part of the story evolves quite a bit during the telling), and how people who find her magic repugnant discover to their disgust they need her talents. But it's also the story of learning so much about a person that you thoroughly understand them, and how this is the real magic.

It was a short read – it took me a couple of hours – but a compelling one. It would be a great introduction to Sanderson's writing for anyone who isn't already familiar with this epic fantasist. It's also a showcase for something Brandon does amazingly well: the exploration of a thoroughly imaginative magic system. And, of course, if you are already a Sanderson fan, pick this one up to read while you're (patiently) waiting for his next epic tome to be published.

4.50/5.00

Never have I read a story so perfectly written. In just 127 pages, Brandon Sanderson has managed to create two (or three including the Emperor) of the most fascinating characters I have ever read in Fantasy. I don't know if I want more or not, but I got what was perfect. Brandon created a beautiful and concise magic system, that is so well explained and developed in such a short story! This is my favorite story from the Lord Ruler.

This is the first and only book I have thrown a perfect character score.

SPOILERS!!

Story/Plot -> This is a short story, and hence the story is rather simple, but perfectly chosen for the concept. A little reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes in a heist story, but with perfect character flaws.

Worldbuilding-> For a short story the worldbuilding is good, the magic system is very well done, better than Elantris by far, which begs the high score here. If it wasn't for the “skeleton” soldiers, I might have given a higher score.

Character Development -> Shai is wonderfully flawed, and this is story is totally competence porn for this character. I loved the relationship between the Gao and Shai, I actually teared up when she mentioned her “grandfather” idea. It highlighted her loneliness, and how much she connected with him.

Prose/Dialogue -> Great writing, super competent and perfect for this story.

Emotional Impact -> I enjoyed it very much, nearly teared up a point. Great Short story! Except for the skeleton warriors.

Oh, I loved it.
I was immediately transported to an Asian setting by the names, even reading in Kindle and not having the cover to look at all the time, and I'm pretty sure I got the pronunciations right from my Mandarin classes.

I loved how simple and yet full of detail and emotion the story was. It all happens in the course of a hundred days, in only one or two settings, with as few as half a dozen characters, and yet it feels complete.
I like how by now I can pick up on the similarities and differences between world settings and characters by Sanderson, how Shai strongly reminds me of both Vin and Shallan, as she's constantly impersonating a character, how many of his characters revolve around lying, faking, pretending, to make them stronger, but later find that they really have it all in them somewhere, somehow.
The magic system was another very pleasing element. It does remind me of the one of Stormlight Archive, but manages to be different enough. All being from the same universe, I'm guessing the similarities may come in handy and be explained as all being part of how the universe works.

I very much liked Shai and how she set about to both perform her task, plan her escape, make her life more comfortable and study and manipulate the people around her. It was delightful to learn her story and see her passion for the Emperor grow as she worked. The ending was also very satisfying.
I wonder if Hoid figures here...

Brandon's end note made me smile when he described the history and culture of stamps in Asia, as not a month ago my Mandarin teacher taught us the exact same thing. How the artist would place his stamp, then the buyer would place his, and then his child, and their children, and how you can trace back the origin, lineage and heritage of a piece by those stamps.

Terminé Elantris hace escasos días, y no quería esperar más para leer este relato corto ambientado en el mismo planeta.

Pues bien, el relato consta de unas 170 páginas. Una obra muy corta si lo comparamos a la media de páginas de cada libro de Sanderson. Aun así, en menos de 200 páginas, me he encontrado con una historia que me ha embaucado casi como la que más lo ha hecho de todo el Cosmere que he leído hasta ahora (Mistborn Era 1 y Elantris).
El Alma del Emperador presenta la historia del encarcelamiento y la condena a pena de muerte de Wan ShaiLu, la mejor Falsificadora de todo el Imperio Rosa.

Para empezar, he de decir que las historias que empiezan con un protagonista fuera de la ley que ha sido capturado me encantan en lo personal, y en este caso no fue para menos, desde el primer momento ya me enganchó la idea. Ni corto ni perezoso, Sanderson nos suelta en este relato el cuarto sistema de magia de Sel, que dista mucho de lo que yo había visto previamente en el Cosmere. El sistema de magia no me impresiona tanto por la forma como por el concepto de cambiar la historia detrás de cada ser u objeto, alterando así su pasado y llevándolo por otro camino de “lo que podría haber sido”. Este punto es el que, en lo personal, más me ha gustado y llamado la atención de la historia, pero la cosa no se queda ahí.

Habiéndonos presentado este sistema de magia, una historia muy original se desarrolla, casi en su mayoría, en un único y reducido espacio que va cambiando a medida que la protagonista va avanzando en su gran proyecto. Hablando de la cual, Shai es un personaje que ha casado bastante conmigo y con mi manera de ver las cosas, a pesar de no haberme gustado ni transmitido tanta profundidad como Gaotona. No sé muy bien a que se debe, si a su forma de dubitar y escuchar a alguien, al principio tan contrario a él como pudiera ser Shai, o que simplemente es un arquetipo de personaje que está hecho para que el lector o lectora simpatice con él. Por h o por b, Gaotona se lleva la palma como mi personaje favorito de esta historia.

El cierre de la historia también me parece perfectamente conveniente, en el que podemos ver los poderes de Shai en acción, el Alma del Emperador restaurada de la mejor manera posible y a Gaotona deshaciéndose del cuaderno de apuntes sobre el Alma después de emocionarse contemplando la mayor obra de arte jamás presenciada, cambiando así de opinión sobre la labor a la que se dedica Shai y cerrando la historia en un círculo muy cercano a ser perfecto.

After reading The Lost Metal, I had to dive back into The Emperor's Soul, for reasons. And also I just really enjoy rereading Sanderson.

Rereading a book in the Cosmere universe is something of a wonder, especially a novella in one of my favorite worlds, Sel, Home of Elantris. Shai is one of the greatest female protagonists I've ever read. She's absolutely versatile and holds the talent of gold in her hands. A perfect representation of what female leads should be.

The second time around, I found I enjoyed The Emperor's Soul more than my initial read. It was one of the first stories I read in Arcanum Unbounded, and now it's one of the best in that collection. Now it's my final read of 2022.

Now it's time for Secret Project #1!

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1st Read: Physical / Arcanum Unbounded (2019)Re-read: Kindle (2022)