The Rithmatist (2013)

The Rithmatist is a non-cosmere, young adult fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson and released in 2013. It's to be followed by a sequel at some point, The Aztlanian. The story follows Joel a teenaged boy living on the Amedius Academy Campus, learning about the Rithmatists.

Background
The world in which The Rithmatist is set is similar to the recent past of our own. At 8 years old, children undergo a religious ceremony known as Inception, during which the child's fate is decided: fewer than 1 in 1000 are chosen to become Rithmatists.

Rithmatists are warriors. They use geometric patterns of chalk (Lines) to perform magic with physical effects. Lines may shield a user, attack an opponent or animate a creature known as a Chalkling which will do the Rithmatist's bidding.

Rithmatists are humanity's primary defence against the mysterious Wild Chalklings. After graduating, a Rithmatist is expected to spend time in Nebrask actively using their gift and training to wage war, protecting the United American Isles from the threat of Wild Chalklings escaping The Tower.

The story mainly takes place at Armedius Academy, one of 8 schools that trains and teaches Rithmatists, alongside non-Rithmatists with rich or important families.

Synopsis
More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.

As 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. Then students start disappearing—kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. 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.

Plot
The Rithmatist takes place on an alternate Earth in which North America is composed entirely of islands. The islands were empty of human life when Europeans arrived, but they encountered dangerous "wild chalklings," two-dimensional creatures made of chalk. King Gregory III discovered the magic of Rithmatics, performed by drawing specific shapes with chalk, and with this magic the colonists learned to defend themselves. Several hundred years later, the continued prosperity of the United Isles of America is bought with the efforts of Rithmatists who fight an ongoing battle to contain the chalklings (and other, more mysterious creatures) on the island of Nebrask.

Joel Saxon is a student at the prestigious Armedius Academy in Jamestown, New Britannia. Though not a Rithmatist himself, he is obsessed with Rithmatics and studies the magic as much as he can. The poor son of the campus cleaning lady, Joel doesn’t fit in with the other students who are all either Rithmatists or children of privilege. Joel’s father Trent was the chalk maker for the academy, and shared Joel’s obsession with Rithmatics. Joel believes his father died in a rail accident, but it is implied that there is more to the story than he has been told.

Joel obtains permission to tutor under Professor Fitch during the summer holidays. Professor Fitch is also tutoring Melody Muns, a Rithmatic student struggling in her magical studies. When one of the school’s Rithmatics students disappears and evidence points to foul play by a Rithmatist, Fitch is assigned to help with the investigation. As more students disappear, first Joel then Melody are admitted into Fitch’s confidence to help track down the suspected kidnapper.

Leading the investigation is Inspector Harding, a non-Rithmatist formerly of the military police in Nebrask. He pushes for all Rithmatic students to be kept on campus for protection, and eventually all of the parents agree. Several odd symbols are found drawn in chalk at the crime scenes. Over the course of the investigation, Joel is able to confirm that these symbols are in fact new Rithmatic lines. Previously, only four types of lines were known in the magic of Rithmatics (See article on Rithmatics).

Joel’s own suspicions center on Professor Nalizar, a self-important and condescending man recently arrived from Nebrask. Joel has a particular dislike of the professor, and discovers that he is researching new Rithmatic lines. When Joel shares his suspicions, however, the others each argue against him. They say that while Nalizar is not a likable person, he is an acclaimed war hero from Nebrask who has saved many lives.

Eventually, Joel himself becomes a target. Chalklings chase him towards a trap of Rithmatic lines, but he manages to evade them and alert the police guarding the campus. With evidence from that attack, Inspector Harding arrests an academy clerk for the kidnappings, though Joel remains unconvinced.

Soon Joel uncovers the true perpetrator: Inspector Harding. Harding has been possessed by a mysterious entity called a Forgotten, which is somehow able to control wild chalklings. It is revealed that while regular people are killed by chalklings, Rithmatists can themselves be turned into chalklings. Harding sends his chalklings to attack and transform all of the Armedius Rithmatist students, who he has successfully contained on campus "for protection." Together Joel, Melody, and Fitch defeat the Forgotten (with token help from Nalizar), and the wild chalklings revert to human form.

Joel later confronts Nalizar, who he suspects was the mastermind behind the Forgotten’s actions. Nalizar confirms that he was behind the plot and that he is not entirely human. But Joel knows that nobody will believe him if he tries to expose Nalizar--having publicly helped to save the students, Nalizar's hero status is publicly confirmed. (summary from The Coppermind Wiki)

Characters

 * Joel Saxon, who dreams of being a Rithmatist, yet contains no Rithmatist abiliteis.
 * Melody Muns, a Rithmatist friend of Joel.
 * Professor Fitch, a teacher at Amedius Academy, who is looking into the mysterious disappearance of several students.
 * Andrew Nalizar, A professor at Amedius Academy, who took over Professor Fitch's class.
 * Principal York, The Principal at Amedius Academy, and a good friend of Joel's dad before he died.
 * Inspector Harding,a fedaral investegator, trying to figure out waht happened the disappearing students.

Sequel
Brandon Sanderson has announced an upcoming sequel currently named The Aztlanian . Sanderson is not planning on releasing the book anytime soon for a number of reasons. First, being that he didn't want to start working on it until the last Alcatraz book came out. The second being the book would deal with Native American culture, and wanted to be careful to treat the subject with respect. The book will probably come out 2022-2023.

Reception
In 2013 the New York Times named The Rithmatist as one of the "Notable Children's Books of 2013". Patrick Ness wrote on the New York Times that the book felt "fleshed out" although "there [was] almost no action until the climax".

Awards and Nominations

 * Best Fiction for Young Adults (BFYA)- Nominated
 * Audie Award (fantasy categorie) - Nominated

Honorable mentions

 * New York Times Book review: Notable Children's Books of the Year
 * Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

Magic System
Rithmatics uses chalk circles, lines, and drawings known as chalklings, otherwise known as lines of making, to do a variety of actions, including, but not limited to, attacking other duelists, creating defenses & structures, as well as creatures.