The Emperor's Soul

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Angela Lin

Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

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 counselor, 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...

©2012 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2012 Recorded Books

A Keeper

This story was so well written. So imaginatively brilliant. Both the writer and the narrator are awesome story tellers. Angela Lin brought the story to life. This one is a keeper, one to re-read and listen to again.

Beautiful

I just loved this book. It's the first Sanderson book I've read and it did not disappoint. The magic presented was beautiful. The way this heroine works, and changes the world is masterful. Amazing audiobook, the performance was really good too.

I great book Lil short though

excellent story, we'll thought out magic system, strong characters, bit shorter than I would light but it made for a very pleasant read. one of Brandon's better books

Enjoyed

I would not normally choose one of these books. But it was for an excellent price. I am glad I took a chance. The story held my attention and I really enjoyed it.

Brandon Sanderson is...in a word...Astonishing!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Emperor's Soul to be better than the print version?

The audio edition or the printed word...it makes no difference....this man should be read and read again in whatever form he can be found.

What other book might you compare The Emperor's Soul to and why?

This book, this author they are simply incomparable. He has no peers. He is peerless. Everything he writes is so extraordinarily creative, so singular that there are just not enough adjectives. There are other writers in other genres that are brilliant and extraordinary and that I love reading...but Sanderson...well, he is Sanderson. That's it.

Any additional comments?

It is impossible to describe Brandon Sanderson's stories...they must be experienced. The Emperor's Soul, as with all of this man's work, takes prosaic, everyday objects and concepts and transforms them. His characters are real and possessed of depth and breadth that makes them live. This short gem is perfect. It could be no longer, nor could it be any shorter. It is common -- someone gets caught at something and imprisoned, there's a seed of nobility that the observer who must deal with the prisoner begins to recognize and an ending you want to see, but are not sure if you will. Then Sanderson transforms the elements into a story that is utterly unique. I say again, it is just perfect. Brandon Sanderson's audio books must have only the best narrators...I hope that Audible never ever gives his work anything but the best. I'm not a huge fan of short stories as a rule...prior to this it would have been only Guy de Maupassant and Shirley Jackson. But with Sanderson, all rules are broken...anything he writes...anything of his...for me is a must read. I wish him a long life full of the challenges and triumphs that feed his extraordinary mind and I hope that he keeps writing and publishing until his last day.OK...sorry about all the gushing - I guess I just lost it...but still it is all true!

short but detailed

this book may only be a few hours long but it creates a detailed world.

an intricate and well put together story.

once again Brian Sanderson has done a magnificent job of building the story in another universe that is utterly believable to the listing. This is one of my all-time favorite stories. it is a story that is built around understanding of people, cultures and of passion. So many times this is brought down to base emotions, but in this story it is elevated to wonderful Heights!

Awsome except for the narrator

I love this book, the story is a favorite to both my family and myself. Mabey because I read the book first and have my own idea of how the main character is portrayed but I didn't care for the style of the narration. That aside though the story amazing and I'm still enjoying it despite the narrator's style.

How does he do it?

I declare myself a Sandersonholic. Each world he builds is so astonishingly wonderfully and yet thoroughly believable. His caracteres are profound, multidimensional and charismatic. In just a few hours he creates a very interesting magic system that affects the world where it presents itself, even at a philosophical standpoint. I am so glad I got to know this author and his amazing stories!

The narrator, Angela Lin, did a really good job. Her male voices need a lot of work (most of the time I had to remind myself that they were in fact masculine), but the rest of her performance was enjoyable and memorable. It definitely added to the whole of the story.

Leave you wanting more

I'm not one for short stories typically. However, this one I did very much enjoy. I was upset when it ended and wanted so much more. It's written in a way where you are left wondering what happens next.