The Emperor's Soul (Hugo Award Winner - Best Novella) - Tapa blanda

"The forgery was a masterpiece, an almost perfect replica of a priceless work of art. The minor inconsistencies were all but impossible for even an expert to detect. However, Shai had been betrayed. Now awaiting execution, Shai would be reprieved if she could do the impossible. As a Forger, Shai is a skillful artist who can apply complex magical glyphs to rewrite the history of the item to change it completely. Although Forgers are despised, the Empire needs Shai to accomplish the unthinkable: to Forge a new soul for the Emperor. Verdict: Sanderson, the best-selling author of the Mistborn Trilogy and The Way of Kings, has set this novella in the same world as Elantris, one of his earlier novels, but it is totally independent. Fantasy fans will love both the compelling story and the creative magical setting."
--Library Journal

"Sanderson proves to be an exceptionally talented writer in the pages of this book.... 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

"The Emperor's Soul is a worthy addition to Sanderson's bibliography: a new magic system with some interesting implications, a couple of fascinating characters, a focused plot, and a subtle link to the much larger picture he's been painting for years."
--Tor.com

"With a fascinating study of clashing beliefs, another inventive magic system, and highly entertaining action sequence, The Emperor's Soul is the book I would recommend to anyone who wants to find out for the first time what Sanderson is all about."
--Fantasy Book Review

"This story had such a wonderful balance with the world, characters, and magic building, that I truly hope the author will explore it more...."
--Open Book Society, five-star review

"The Emperor's Soul is fast-paced, clever, and fun...."
--Fantasy Book Critic

"This is a fantastic novella set in the Elantris world. Despite it's short length this story was complex, intriguing, and just absolutely magical and engaging."
--Hidden in Pages

"An excellent fast read, highly recommended for readers looking for unique story worlds and magic systems. It won the 2013 Hugo Award for a Novella, and that really says it all."
--Flight of the Dragon

"It truly is a work of art."
--Pendemon

2013 Hugo Winner

From the best-selling author of the Mistborn Trilogy and the co-author of the final three books of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series comes the tale of a heretic thief who is the only hope for the survival of an empire.

Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Although condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Despite the fact that her skill as a Forger is considered an abomination by her captors, Shai will attempt to create a new soul for the emperor, who is almost dead from the attack of assassins.

Delving deeply into his life, she discovers Emperor Ashravan’s truest nature and the opportunity to exploit it. Her only possible ally is one who is truly loyal to the emperor, but councilor Gaotona must overcome his prejudices to understand that her forgery is as much artistry as it is deception.

Skillfully deducing the machinations of her captors, Shai needs a perfect plan to escape. The fate of the kingdom lies in one impossible task. Is it possible to create a forgery of a soul so convincing that it is better than the soul itself?