Fedi

That absolutely makes sense! Maybe in the beginning the effects are not permanent, and that's why it's possible to learn the magic over a certain time span without suffering permanently from the initial inexperience. Please let me know how you develop further your world and story, I'm very curious now!

@Yuoaman phew, it was my first time answering on a forum and I have to say I was a bit anxious over it. I'm happy you find my thoughts interesting. I myself am a big fan of physiological costs - the bloodier, messier and thougher, the better. At the same time, though, a not physical thing can be equally interesting, if well managed by the writer. So, I was thinking, what if using up one's will would lead to apathy and depression? It can get really nasty, with older Dynatheurgists becoming unable to get out of bed, or to take care of themselves properly, and maybe even suicidal. Of course it's a difficult road to take: easy to fall into a lot of telling without showing, easy to fall into the bad teenage drama sort of thing - as a reader, though, I would be intrigued! It also gives you rather a lot of freedom with deciding how intense the effects are.

I understand what you mean, being distant from your loved ones is the toughest thing. I've driven through Poland on my way to Finland, but I didn't even stop there so I can't say I've seen much; I'm looking forward to visit it this summer! And to try the food, considering what you said By the way, for the best fish at affordable prices, in Europe, I suggest Croatia. There's a sushi place in Split with the best fresh fish ever tasted. Really worth going if you happen to be around there.

Starting with Elantris sounds like a good plan! And I would love to discuss the story afterwards - so that also could work as good motivation for reading. Which one of his novels would you consider his best so far? To have an idea of that improvement curve you mentioned. Thank you for your suggestion!

I'm from Italy, but currently live in Switzerland and will probably soon move to the Netherlands - so a bit from all over the place! I guess maybe I could look up Brandon's books in Italian, though I usually read everything in English and have no problem. I wouldn't know if Brandon has a big following in Italy, but short of one or two people he is not read by people I know. It's better in Switzerland. Was it your first time in Europe? Did you like it?

Thank you @Shadows4Silence! It's very nice to be welcomed here :3 @Lightning, you're right. Every author (especially one as prolific as Brandon) has very different titles to offer. I know for a fact that fantasy is my thing, but it's such a broad category that I am bound to dislike something. I actually read the first lines of the first Mistborn book, once! It's a sad and funny story at the same time; you see, I'm not an English mothertongue speaker, and somehow I read "Ash" as if it would be a name. So this poor guy Ash is falling from the sky and Lord Tresting simply frowns? I was very confused... and then I felt like an idiot

Hi Yuoaman! The system looks nice to me, but I have to admit I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to magic systems. I was wondering if maybe your idea could benefit from giving the magic a bit of a higher cost. You say that a Dynatheurgist has to use his own energy and will to practice the magic; energy though can be regained over time, so it's a relatively small cost. As for will, I like the idea that you have just a certain amount of it when you're born and you use it over time - but it's a cost that is heavy for people around you, and not for yourself. If you lack empathy, you don't put yourself in others' shoes, and therefore you don't care anbout your own lack of empathy; you may destroy your romantic relationship, but you don't suffer from the fact that it is destroyed. It seems a cost that you can be scared about in theory, but of which you don't really feel the impact. In a way, it's like smoking - most people have problems quitting, until it really makes them sick (and sometimes not even then). If I'd be a Dynatheurgist, I am not sure knowing I may lose my empathy over time would really keep me from exploiting my abilities whenever I feel like it. I hope what I wrote is understandable! And most of all I hope it helps

Hi everyone! I'm Fedi, a 26 yo from Europe. I love Brandon Sanderson - but I haven't read any of his books yet. I'm a big fan of Writing Excuses, and I love following Brandon's lectures when they get posted on YouTube - but I am an extremely picky reader, and it's difficult for me to just read for fun, closing an eye about what I dislike. I studied to become an editor and that perspective is difficult to shrug off, even when reading is not work-related. Most people I know rave about Brandon's novels, and I am afraid I'll be disappointed. I am also an aspiring writer, and I joined this forum out of curiosity. It seems pretty cool, so let's see which awesome things I will find here