#125 in Fantasy
The Rithmatist
- 448
- Pages
- about 8 h
- Reading time
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Our view
“The Rithmatist” is Sanderson in a lighter, younger register, and its best invention is a magic fought with chalk lines and geometry. The hero cannot use that power himself, only understand it, which gives the school mystery a likeable underdog angle. It is plainly aimed at young readers, and adults who accept that will have a good time.
The view of the BookRank editors, written from readers’ ratings and comments. It does not affect the score or the book’s place in a ranking.
About the book
A fast-paced fantasy adventure for readers of all ages by Brandon Sanderson, bestselling author of the Mistborn series and the Stormlight Archives. Here, in a school for the magically gifted, your talent could cost you your life . . . Joel is fascinated by the magic of Rithmatics, but few have the gift and he is not one of them. Undaunted, he persuades Professor Fitch to teach him magical theory. Joel can't infuse his protective lines and circles with power, or bring his chalk-drawn creatures to life, but he's quick to master the underlying geometric principles. His unique skills will soon face an extraordinary test when top Rithmatist students are kidnapped from his Academy. Since he's not a magic user, Joel appears to be safe – but he's desperate to investigate and prove himself. Then people start dying, but can Joel really stop a killer alone? As even more students disappear, he realizes he'll need the help of Rithmatist apprentice Melody. Together, they must race to find clues before the killer notices them – and takes them out too. The Rithmatist is a New York Times bestseller, enjoyed by adult and young adult readers alike. The book features illustrations by Ben McSweeney, which depict the magical elements of the novel with elegance and insight. 'He's brilliant and has an imagination I've only seen in the likes of Stephen King and J.K. Rowling' – James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner
Reading order · Rithmatist series
Full order & progress →- The RithmatistThis book
8.48.4 / 10
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.6 across 528 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 78% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Fantasy average of 8.0. That is how 8.4 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 8.4 | 18 | 3% |
| Hardcover | 8.6 | 510 | 97% |
Frequently asked
How long is The Rithmatist?
It has 448 pages — shorter than 65% of the ranked books in Fantasy.
In this book
Themes this book shares with others — each leads to the best books on it.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Fantasy — and a score of 8.4, the closest to this book.
