The Emperor’s Soul

Brandon Sanderson

Shai is a forger. She is able to make copies of things that are almost as good as the originals. In fact, she is able to make two copies of the original in a fraction of the time it would take a normal person to do it. But everyone sees her as a fraud, and a danger to society because she can only copy. Soon though, they find themselves depending on her.

Shai is a kick-ass heroine. Guts, glory, planning… in the most subtle way possible. Everything Shai does is subtle. She is determined not to be used, and at the same time, she is happy that she gets to do something so unique. Her master forgery is making a soul that will then rule the kingdom. And in fact, she is doing something that no-one else has ever done.

It’s interesting to learn that there are fragments of a life, and then there are specific fragments actually make up the person’s soul. It is the least noticiable things that make a person who he is. That’s what this novella is trying to suggest.

This novella is worth reading more than once, so I would strongly suggest purchasing a copy you can take with you. I think that many of Sanderson’s novels are filled with subtleties that only become apparent after reading more than once.

I have seen other reviewers complaining that Sanderson has an ulterior motive, and writes too much of himself into his novels. For me, that’s the drawcard that makes me want to keep reading. I don’t care where the material came from, just that it is there, and awesome.

I read this novella directly after ‘Legion’, because I have them in the same physical copy. I found that this one overwhelmed my memory of the first, because it was just soooooo good. I only wish it was longer.