Brandon Sanderson’s Elantris (2005) is an epic fantasy but also, unlike much in this vein, a standalone. I’d be lying if it weren’t the major appeal in choosing this over the commitment of multiple book sagas. It follows the story of three characters: Prince Raodon, heir to Arelon’s throne; Sarene, Princess of Teod and, by political arrangement, his bride-to-be; and Hrathen, a religious emissary mandated to convert the people of Arelon.

The city of Elantris is a once magical place where the citizens practised magic and were seen as gods. However following an incident – the Reod – it fell ten years before and is now used as an open prison to new Elantrians. The twist: anyone can be an Elantrian. A magical conversion dubbed the Shaod doesn’t discriminate in its random afflictions, which effectively renders people as a conscious zombie, a true living dead.

Ahead of his wedding Raodon suffers the Shaod and is secretly exiled to Elantris. By dint of contract, Sarene’s wedding is still valid and she takes her place in Arelon society, or rather she rebels against it, bringing sensitivities from a more liberal society where women are less oppressed. And Hrathen skulks around in the shadows, pursuing religious imperialism, something he already has form in following the recent conversion of another fallen land.

For all its plotting: political manoeuvrings, holy skullduggery, and the hint of magic on the horizon, I don’t remember when I last read a book experiencing both genuine intrigue and cosmic indifference. Its world and presentation and mysteries kept me turning pages, but my complete lack of interest in the characters meant I wasn’t turning them all that fast.

For me it’s the prose, which is effectively a catalogue of actions with details of what so-and-so thought. And maybe that’s the problem, too much telling what people think over letting them think. But it’s also the people who are somewhat stock. Our fated couple are perfect in almost every way (he’s ever benevolent; she’s feisty and better than all) with only Hrathen being somewhat interesting. The wider story is decent, with plenty of twists and turns, and though it builds to be magical, it wasn’t magic.