It’s also discussed fairly early on, so it’s a little hard to get into the book at first. The drawings help, but the theory of Rithmatics discussed in the book is very heavy and complex and could be too complicated for some readers to handle. Random: “Rithmatics” is a combination of arithmetic and mathematics. The coins have gears in them! There are horses made out of gears! It’s steampunk!

Also, I love Melody and Joel’s banter about unicorns. I’m wondering if that means that the next book will take place in Nebrask, considering the ramifications of winning that tournament. The ending “battle” scene was so incredibly cool to read. One of the many explanatory illustrations found in the book “The unicorn is a very noble and majestic animal!” Fortunately, these chalklings were harmless. Joel cringed, imagining them stripping off his flesh. They rushed forward eagerly, surrounding Joel, then running about in circles. The creatures finally tested Joel’s defenses-which, of course, didn’t stop them. Joel doubted that Herman had been forced to face down unicorns though. For a moment, he felt a stab of fear-similar to what he assumed Herman Libel must have felt while sitting defenseless against an attacking group of chalk monsters. The chalklings reached his defenses and hesitated. “Yes,” Melody said, “a convenient excuse.”

“And finally,” she said, “you followed me to Fitch’s office. “I’ve had that job since the beginning of the term!” “After that,” she continued, speaking as if she hadn’t heard his protest, “you got a job at the campus office-the same place that I, unfortunately, have to do service.” “We get assigned our classes by the campus office!” Joel said. “Well, you did take the same math class that I did.” “Tell me honestly,” Melody said, whispering to Joel, “are you following me?” Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery, one that will change Rithmatics-and their world-forever.” Then students start disappearing-kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the wild chalklings now threaten all the American Isles.Īs the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students learn the magical art that he would do anything to practice.

Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the wild chalklings-merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as chalklings. “More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk, Young Adult, Mystery The Rithmatist is written by Brandon Sanderson.

Brandon sanderson the rithmatist book 2