Kenton is an apprentice Sand Master, one of a secretive group with the magical power to manipulate sand. Though Kenton’s magical abilities are extremely weak, he’s determined to show the other Sand Masters that he can make up for his shortcomings with cunning and determination, and thus prove his worth to his father. I enjoy Sanderson’s work, but the graphic novel format doesn’t play to his strengths. He’s had to cut back on his usual introspection, and the story suffers for it. Furthermore, while Sand Mastery has a certain visual flair, the focus on visuals means Sanderson can’t indulge in his usual exposition on the metaphysical underpinnings of this world’s magic. For me, at least, that exposition is a big part of Sanderson’s appeal, and its absence here is glaring. The art is chaotic at the expense of clarity, and the large cast of characters can be difficult to distinguish from each other. I’m still going to read the rest of the series—there are significant lore connections to Sanderson’s other works that I don’t want to miss out on—but I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who’s not already an obsessive fan.
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