Warbreaker: A Cosmere Novel

While WARBREAKER feels somewhat different from some of Sanderson's other work despite being part of his Cosmere, I found this to be such a deeply satisfying story with fascinating magic, a world rife with political/ideological tension that sits on the edge of war, and vivid characters that will likely live rent-free in my head for a long time to come. PLOT/TONE The story focusses around a princess named Siri who is the youngest of the Idrian royal family whose bloodline is famous for being able to change their hair length and color on command, although it can also change based on their emotional state unless they control it. Siri is a princess of little consequence until her father (in an extremely messed up move, I must say) decides to send her to the looming kingdom of Hallandren to marry their feared and terrible god king and bear him an heir instead of her eldest sister, Vivenna, who has been training for this task her whole life. The arrangement is part of a peace treaty between the two nations and although honoring it does not guarantee that Hallandren will not invade Idris, the king hopes that sending Siri will at least buy his kingdom valuable time. From there, Siri finds herself in a nation with strange foreign customs and deadly court intrigue, but also learns that not all aspects of this nation are as awful as she has been led to believe. This fish-out-of-water motif combined with the delightful dynamic of all the different Returned gods in Hallandren and the machinations of different people made for a dynamic read that kept me constantly anxious to know what would happen next. In typical Sanderson fashion, there is a flurry of high stakes action and stunning reveals at the end of the book, but I actually found the ending to be a bit more open-ended than is typical for him (outside of THE STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE series at least). I certainly wasn't dissatisfied with the conclusion by any means, but I did kind of wish it would continue somehow although I am not aware of any plans for Sanderson to do a sequel for this (which is kind of a shame). I will also say that this story felt like it took on some darker subject matter than I am used to with Sanderson's work, but I enjoyed that there are still certain lines that he does not cross. CHARACTERS As one might expect with a Sanderson novel, there is a diverse and interesting cast of characters from different economic backgrounds and (fictional) nationalities. Tensions run deep with people of different nations as well as social standing, so seeing how these different types of characters interacted with each other was something that I particularly enjoyed. In addition to seeing the rebellious and carefree Siri grow into a woman of regal poise, it was equally fun to see her sister, Vivenna take on a somewhat opposite character arc. The god, Lightsong, struggling to accept his own divinity and the goddess, Blushweaver's, political maneuverings serve as fascinating sub plots that ultimately have profound implications on the story's end. I also ended up really enjoying some of the more antagonistic characters in the story and enjoyed the "everyone is not as they seem" trope that is rather prevalent throughout the cast. Honestly, I feel like this novel deserves a lot more credit for it's colorful roster of heroes and villains since for me, I think I actually felt a lot more attached to them than some of the characters in even Sanderson's STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE (hot take, I know, I just really, really liked these characters). SETTING/WORLD While there is a distinct sense that this is a sprawling world with lots of history, the story mainly just takes place in the contrasting kingdoms of Idris and Hallandren. Idris is a conservative nation that values modesty, restraint, and considers vibrant colors of any kind to be ostentatious even though they worship the god, Austre, who is the Lord of Colors. They view Hallendren as an evil, sinful, and even barbaric place even though the people of Idris originally lived there before an event known as The Many War. Hallendren is starkly opposite of Idris with revealing, colorful clothing being the norm and their religion being based around a small pantheon of so-called gods which are made up of Returned (people who died and came back as a brand new person with no memory of their past). There are some interesting themes around the religion and politics of the world, though Sanderson always handles these topics with a light hand and does not prioritize them above the story itself which I appreciate. I did finish the story wishing that we could have gotten glimpses of other parts of this world, but instead we got a much more focused narrative and that's a tradeoff I will always be happy with. The magic in WARBREAKER might feel quite a bit more mysterious than other magic systems that Sanderson has crafted. Make no mistake, this is still a decidedly "hard" magic system with explicit rules and limitations, it simply feels a bit on the "softer" side for much of the story since the main characters don't fully understand it. I rather liked this balance as I was able to still feel a sense of wonder at what some of the characters could do, but then have it mostly explained near the story's end. I think there are still some open questions that could be answered about the history of the magic and the gods, but I am satisfied with how things all pieced together. THE AUDIOBOOK While I am not well-versed in the world of audiobooks, I can say that the narrator is one of the single most important factors that determines whether I will enjoy the book or not in audio format. Alyssa Bresnahan's performance for this novel was absolutely stunning to me. There were honestly times where I forgot I was only listening to one person because of how dynamic and varied her dramatization for the different characters was. Even her more neutral narration is smooth and soothing in a way that felt apropos for this kind of a fantasy story. I've enjoyed vocal performances by industry legends like Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, but this was truly on another level and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for any other books done by Bresnahan. I will also say that the Audible edition has much nicer cover art than other editions of this book. CONCLUSION While WARBREAKER may tell a different type of story than some of Sanderson's more popular works, all of his hallmarks are still here and I found myself appreciating the tighter storytelling even if some of that came at the expense of fleshing out the world and it's history. (+) Stunning audio performance. (+) A deep and memorable cast. (+) Exciting action scenes toward the story's final act. (+) Lots of political intrigue and fun twists. (+) Fascinating magic (though this is pretty much a given for any Brandon Sanderson novel). (-) The ending doesn't offer as much closure as some people might want. (-) Fans of THE STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE series might find the lighter world building to be jarring (though this was not an issue for me).

So one of the problems with loving an author and reading everything that he produces after you discover him is that you cannot feasibly help yourself from comparing everything to the original books that got you hooked. In the case of Brandon Sanderson, I am in a particular quandary because I chose one of his latter books with which to begin my Sanderson journey, which probably presents a more polished piece of writing. That said, I tried to give this book the fair shake it deserves with as little comparison to the Mistborn books as I can possibly muster. This book is an absolute joy in the fantasy genre. Since quietly entering the scene with his own novel Elantris, and then bursting into the limelight with his selection to complete the final volumes of the epic Wheel of Time series, Sanderson has built a reputation as a masterful world builder. It is this skill alone that sets Sanderson amongst the elite of modern fantasy writers. The truly unique world that he creates in Warbreaker is almost mind boggling. In this world, people are invested with something call BioChromatic Breath, or BioChroma and/or Breath for short. This substance seems almost like a soul, but may be transferred from person to person to invest power to them. This Breath also seems to be linked in some way to colors of the world, allowing people to use the Breath and colors in conjunction to reanimate, or Awaken inanimate objects, and even dead persons. People can accumulate breaths to reach levels of power called Heightenings that allow them to perceive colors and life forms more acutely, and to give them more abilities to perform Awakenings. Around this power, competing religions have formed. In one religion, Austre, god of colors seems to demand that people be modest and not abuse this powerful BioChroma. On the other hand, there is the Priesthood of the Iridescent Tones, that has come to worship the Returned, persons that have died and reawakened spontaneously and seem like living Gods. However, these Gods must take a breath from a child every week to stay alive (which further antagonizes the followers of Austre). The chief of this pantheon is the mysterious God-King Susebron who leads his kingdom from a seat of mystery and fearsome power. It is in this setting that Sanderson weaves his story of intrigue and war. The novel follows the lives of three main characters. Vivenna is the eldest princess of the Idrian kingdom, groomed her entire life to marry the God-King Susebron in order to avoid a war with the Hallandran empire who threatens the tiny Idrians' kingdom. At the time of her 22nd birthday, she is destined to go to T'Telir to marry the God-King, but instead, her father chooses to send the youngest daughter, Siri, as a gambit to unhinge his enemies in the Hallandran Empire. Siri is the absolute opposite of her sister; she is brash, irreverent, and unaccustomed and unprepared for court life. Finally, there is Lightsong, the Returned God that refuses to believe he is a God. Sanderson shows his skill with these characters by building well-rounded and multidimensional characters. Each of his characters shows great growth, and he does this with minimal telling and maximum showing (though Vivenna in particular is prone to inner dialogues). Siri, I felt, showed the most seamless transitions in the book. When she arrived in T'Telir, she was a scared teenager, prone to outbursts and a petulant attitude. As the book progresses, we see her mature greatly into a woman with great poise and a deep sense of love and empathy as she grows accustomed to her unexpected marriage to the most feared "man" in the world. In addition to the main characters, we are introduced to nearly a dozen further characters with unique and interesting characteristics in themselves. Tonk Fah and Dent, the wiley and conniving mercenaries, are hired to protect Vivenna as she covertly travels to T'Telir to rescue her sister. Bluefingers, the ever-bowing and scraping lead scribe of the Hallandran bureaucracy, plays the part of the only friendly face for Siri in a terrifying new world. Vasher, the brooding and dangerously mysterious Awakener, carries a terrible sentient sword called Nightblood and stalks the outskirts of most of the story. These characters and more are used with great efficiency to advance the storyline and set the reader up for several excellent plot twists. I ended up choosing to give this book either 3.5 or 4 stars because I did feel there were some flaws to the book in general. I wrote in my review of Elantris that the dialogue some sometimes rather forced and clunky, and I feel that his flaw continues in this novel. Sometimes this clunky dialogue is guilty of telling us about things rather than showing us things as well. Also, as strong as Sanderson is at building interesting and engaging characters, he can definitely miss the mark as well. As hard as he tried to inject dark humor with Tonk Fah, I just found it incredibly off-setting. In fact, a lot of the attempts at humor, with Tonk Fah's goofy attitude and Lightsong's "I'm so irreverent" comments, just mostly fell flat for me. Overall, however, this novel was well written, engaging, and entertaining. I was a little surprised at the open-ended ending that seems to beg for a sequel, but as a stand-alone novel, it brings no detriment to the book as a whole. There are great plot twists and unexpected turns that keep the reader engaged, and the world that Sanderson builds alone makes this novel worth your time to read.

In my continual effort to read every Sanderson work, I picked up Warbreaker knowing more or less these two things about the story: it involves color magic, and it’s a prequel of sorts to the Stormlight Archive. Those statements are both true and false at the same time. I believe Sanderson himself said that Warbreaker is a prequel to The Way of Kings because it gives the backstory about a certain character in that series. Although, I’ve talked to a couple people who have read both books and they told me that you don’t need to read one before the other for either to make sense, that neither spoils the other, and that it’s less the character that’s important but a certain object that shows up in both books that’s important. I’m planning to read the Stormlight Archive next year (I’m putting it off until the end because I’m truly intimidated by it), so I wanted to read Warbreaker first. Second, although colors are involved in the magic, I wouldn’t say this book has a color-based magic system. (See Brent Weeks’s Lightbringer series for a true color-based magic system!) Instead, the magic here is based on Breaths. Each person is born with one Breath, and you can give your breath away at any point if you choose. You need a certain number of Breaths to be able to do different commands and essentially gain abilities because you’ve reached a certain heightening that allows for such things. Some of the abilities allow you to see colors more distinctly and see auras, so I think that is where the book gets partially mislabeled as having color magic. I enjoyed Warbreaker quite a bit, although it reminds me a lot of Elantris. I think the politics and the gods and the voice of the writing are all similar while still maintaining different plotlines. I also think this is a natural comparison to make because Brandon himself even said that Warbreaker was inspired by Elantris and that “both take the same concept, then run different directions with it.” In Elantris, people become gods but we don’t get to see what happens to them after that. In Warbreaker, we get to see what happens to them after they become gods, and we also see a god who doesn’t even believe in his own religion. Siri reminded me a lot of Sarene in the beginning of this story, and they are similar because both are required to marry someone they don’t know and don’t want to marry, but there are very different outcomes for them. I liked the plot of Warbreaker better, but I liked the overall story in Elantris better, if that makes any sense, but both were excellent books from Sanderson. Warbreaker reads like a standalone, yet Sanderson has said he’s planning to write a sequel eventually. I am curious if the sequel ever comes to fruition if it will take place before or after the Stormlight Archive since Warbreaker takes place before that series. I’m wondering if he’s going to finish TSA first and then write Warbreaker’s sequel after as a way to come full circle with the story. I don’t know. Regardless, I would love to read more about these characters and the magic of Breaths, so I’ll read any future books set in this world. I loved the political intrigue mixed with the religions of the world and the underlying mystery all wrapped up in this well-crafted colorful fantasy world. I’m surprised at how many unexpected directions this book went in; I didn’t see many events coming, and I love being shocked and surprised in my books. I also thought this book had so many great characters. Siri was probably my favorite, and I can’t believe how much Susebron grew on me by the end. Though if we’re being honest, the actual best character is the magical talking sword. Yep. I wish this book had a map because I’d love to see all the land and regions and cities mentioned in the story. That’s my biggest complaint (which really is such a minor thing) because I think all fantasy books need maps! Lastly, I was happy to see Hoid in this book. It wouldn’t be a Cosmere story if we didn’t get an appearance from Hoid somewhere. Hoid said that he learned to tell stories “in a distant place where two lands meet and gods have died.” I’m trying to figure out if I should know where he’s referring to, but I don’t think we know yet, seeing as we still haven’t gotten Hoid’s origin story. I love how Sanderson includes so many connections between his books and worlds in the Cosmere. Warbreaker was another great addition to my list of amazing fantasy books, and I would definitely recommend it to my fantasy friends out there. Even though it had many noticeable similarities to another of Sanderson’s works, Elantris, it was still a unique story in itself. I listened to this book on audio and I would love to reread it in physical form someday because it’s definitely worth a reread and I want to soak in all the details with my eyes. I’ll probably do that in ten years when the sequel comes out. Or sooner, because I’m going to miss these characters.

"Warbreaker" is a standalone fantasy adventure from author Brandon Sanderson. This Kindle e-book that was a 1587 Kb download and was priced at $7.99. SPOILERS Two neighboring nations (Idris and Hallandren) have been on the brink of war for years and only an old treaty continues to keep them from each others throats. This Treaty includes a clause stating that Idris must send a daughter to marry the Hallandren God-King. And after much trepidation and hand-wringing the Idrian king dutifully sends one of his daughters to fulfill this obligation. But fate has a way of surprising the best laid plans and Princess Siri turns out to be more than the Hallandrens and their God-King were expecting...and so this tale begins. END SPOILERS The Pros: 1.) well written with many devious, twists and turns...just when you start to get comfortable with a certain scenario the rug is pulled out from under you. 2.) interesting character development, in particular the Idrian sisters, Princesses Siri and Vivenna. Also well done are two main male figures, the roguish Vasher and Returned God, Lightsong. There were several of the supporting cast as well that received appropriate attention throughout this tale . 3.) as you might expect with any fantasy story there were several clashes between opposing groups but the real strength in this book came from Sanderson's ability to incorporate an effective detective novel attitude to the main body of the tale. As each new piece of the puzzle exposes a little more of the Hallandren political goings-on, the reader was given another small snippet of information to ponder. 4.a) realism...the possiblity for important characters to suffer injury or die. To me, an important factor within any fantasy adventure setting. 4.b) believability...Sanderson is able to tie up all the loose fragments by books end making for not only an overall believable story but also for the use of the magic system within the tale. On reflectiion, it was more that just competent, it was brilliant. There were so many thinks going on in this tale, that anyone of them could have caught the author out...but they didn't. 5.) an annotation system...each chapter is accompanied by a detailed note by the author in an attempt to give the reader a glimpse of what he (Sanderson) was trying to accomplish in this section of the book. A great deal of extra effort to give the 'involved' reader more bang for his fantasy buck...much appreciated. 6.) map (Kindle edition)...a map of the Hallandren capital of T'Telir, with a numbered index of important locales. Some minor, minor Cons: 1.) the only area of the book that seemed a little long was related to the two Princesses growing-up once away from home. Having lived a very sheltered and privileged life-style up to this point, it required several chapters for both of them to make the painstaking adjustment needed for them to get up to the reality of life within T'Telir. The time involved was understandable, it's just that it slowed other segments of the book significantly. 2.) map...the only thing missing was a larger global map of the landmass involved, which would have given some perspective to distances and directions not only between the two main nations but a few of the other near by countries that had some bearing on the matters at hand. Conclusion: Simple one of the finest fantasy adventures I've had the privilege to read in ages. Well written, intriguing plot with some varied and interesting characters all made for an exceptional read. As it is 5 Stars. Ray Nicholson

Brandon Sanderson has a real knack for creating high fantasy worlds from the ground up, including magic systems. This, the tale of two sisters, the God-King one of them must marry, a lesser god, and an immortal trying to atone for his sins, is set primarily in the kingdom of Hallandren, ruled by the God-King and a set of Returned (lesser gods) and filled with Awakeners. Every person is born with one Breath, and Awakeners collect Breath to reach different levels of power (Heightenings) and can create certain feats of magic. Breath cannot be taken by force, it can only be given voluntarily, and the more Breath a person has, the greater the feats they can carry out. The Returned, or the Hallandren pantheon of gods, are similar – having died heroically, they Return as gods, invested with only one mighty Breath granting them powers comparable to an Awakener of the Fifth Heightening. The catch: because a Returned only has one Breath, he cannot Awaken. His Returned nature means the giving of his one Breath would mean his death. And so the Returned await that moment only they will recognise – that moment when they should make the ultimate sacrifice and use their Breath for another. And so our cast of characters – the sisters Siri and Vivenna, from a kingdom holding Awakening abhorrent, one doomed to marry the Hallandren God-King, the other hell-bent to rescue her. The God-King himself, Returned, mighty, unknowable, and all-powerful. Vasher; who does he play for, and in whose interest? And Lighthope, a Returned who does not even believe in his own religion. The idea of a god who doesn’t believe in his own godhood or his own religion is one of the themes Brandon Sanderson set out to explore in this book, and I must say I easily connected with Lighthope very early in the book. His flippant nature and refusal to take his own godhood seriously conceals the fact that he, of all the gods, actually takes his duties with some importance. He says he is unreliable and a hopeless god, while at the same time actually trying to be a good one; his flippancy reflects his own dissatisfaction with what he perceives as a flawed government and religion. Why should he be trusted with power to govern? He has no clue what he is doing and believes this should be evident to everyone who sees him, but instead they stubbornly insist in trusting his divinity. His earnest uncertainty draws me to him. The sisters, Siri and Vivenna, are completely different characters with their own distinct voices. One, promised in marriage to the God-King, must offer herself to bear his child in silence, lest her words offend this majestic immortal, while the other, adrift in a barbarian city must decide who to trust to free her sister. But nothing is as it seems for either sister, and in the background looms the very real threat of war against their homeland – a war their kingdom cannot win. Each sister must battle in her own way, against the odds, to prevent that war and rescue all they hold dear, with neither knowing who they can trust and who plots against them. Warbreaker is a compelling story of love and a spider web of intrigue. It’s been a while since I tore through a book in less than a few weeks, but Warbreaker I read in three days – and that’s my pre-marriage, pre-child rate of reading! I crammed that in around a family. If I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about reading it. Every chapter ends with a hook, driving you on to know what happens next, and I assure you, what happens next is never what you think it will be. I often enjoy a book where I make the connections to guess what happens, but in Warbreaker I guessed but rarely and the surprise was a pleasure all of its own. As always, the near-perfection of the writing is impressive, although I found the prose less-polished than The Way of Kings (bearing in mind this was written first). However, the occasional ‘saidism’ or telling sentence was not sufficient to spoil my pleasure in the read, and the foreshadowing is so masterful it’s enough to make any aspiring writer fall to the floor in worship.

This is book is imaginative, and written in a simple straightforward way that makes it easy to stay emmersed in the story. The characterizations and plot are simplistic, but not quite as over-simplistic as Mistborn. The characters are likeable enough (ish) and Sanderson's simple prose moves the story along nicely. So why do I say its not as good as Mistborn & Way of Kings? Lets start with the magic system. Mistborn had a lot of flaws, but it was FUN because the magic system allowed for some high octane battles while still making sense. The magic system was also concrete, giving an element of realism despite the super-charged nature of the battles. Some think its the best magic system in any fantasy book. Way of Kings' magic system wasnt quite as tight perhaps, but also allowed for action packed battles. Sure, the key folks in both stories seemed to border on god-mode at times, but they had weaknesses and limits that prevented it from being too over the top. Most of all, it was FUN, and there was a lot of action layered around an imaginative story. The magic system here is creative (as is the story) but it either does not lend itself to larger than life battles, or Sanderson didnt try hard enough, because there isnt a lot of action here. Here, the magic system is imaginative and well done and shapes the story, but it doesnt fuel action. There is less action here, and more politics/scheming. The heroes here are, generally speaking, not going to face down massive odds in an epic battle -- they are (mostly) very human, and feel rather ordinary, and that is -- although it sounds very odd -- true even if some of them are 7 feet tall and back from the dead! Yes, you can be seven feet tall and considered a god and still be somewhat ordinary...you'll see. Now one might think that a less super-charged magic system and less over-powered heroes makes for a better book, but you have to remember that Sanderson's characters can be fairly superficial at times, and, despite the depth of his imagination (which is as powerful as any), his plotting can sometimes be a tad on the simplistic side. So I dont know that a lower key book is a perfect fit for his writing style and strengths. There is a lot of imagination here, and a good story. The book is fun and engaging, the characters fairly likable. It does work well, just not a complete homerun for folks looking for the same high octane feel of Mistborn and Way of Kings. That said, this is the first Sanderson book I've read that has a good amount of witty/funny dialogue, so that is a nice addition. Enjoy!

Rating: 🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉 (5/5) Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson is a unique standalone fantasy that has all the elements you'd expect from his work: intricate worldbuilding, a compelling magic system, and characters that feel real. The story weaves politics, gods, and a kingdom on the brink of war into a colorful and intricate narrative. Key Details: - Genre: Epic Fantasy, Political Intrigue, Romance - Length: 688 pages (a decent-sized read, but not overwhelming) - Pace: Slow to moderate – it takes its time setting up the world and characters but picks up speed in the second half. - Vibe: Complex, thoughtful, a bit mysterious, with moments of humor to break the tension. - Tropes: - Reluctant royalty (Vivenna and Siri) - Gods who are not what they seem - Intriguing magic system (Breaths and BioChromatic magic) - Fish out of water (Siri navigating the royal court) Short Summary: The novel centers around two sisters, Vivenna and Siri, from a minor kingdom. Vivenna has been groomed her whole life to marry the God King of Hallandren, but instead, Siri is sent in her place, unprepared for the cutthroat politics she faces. Meanwhile, Vivenna, now freed from her expected destiny, heads to Hallandren to rescue her sister. At the same time, Lightsong, a self-deprecating god, starts questioning his purpose in a city where the gods seem less divine and more human. The story is loaded with mystery, political maneuvering, and exploration of the magical Breath system, where individuals can use magic based on the number of Breaths they possess. Pros: - Innovative Magic System: The Breath-based magic and BioChromatic system add layers of creativity. It's very different from typical fantasy magic systems. - Character Development: Characters like Lightsong, who blend humor with existential musings, and the growth of both sisters, make for a compelling read. - Twists and Turns: There are several plot twists that keep you guessing, especially towards the end. - Standalone Novel: It's rare to find a rich, detailed fantasy that isn't part of a series. You can dive in without committing to multiple books. Cons: - Pacing Issues: The first half can feel a little slow, especially when it focuses heavily on political maneuvering. - Not the Most Action-Packed: If you're looking for constant battles or sword fights, this one leans more on intrigue and character moments. Who Would Like This Book: - Fans of complex worldbuilding and original magic systems. - Readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with a focus on politics and intrigue. - Those who appreciate witty, thoughtful gods and morally grey characters. - Anyone looking for a fantasy novel that explores themes of identity, power, and personal agency. Favorite Characters: - Lightsong: The god who doesn't believe in his own divinity. He’s sarcastic, charming, and refreshingly questions the entire system. - Siri: She grows from an impulsive young woman into someone who can navigate political treachery and hold her own, all while maintaining her sense of self. Quote: “Expectation. That is the true soul of art. If you can give a man more than he expects, then he will be impressed.” --- If you’re a Sanderson fan, Warbreaker offers something a little different from his larger epics but with all the familiar strengths he’s known for!

The Bottom Line A truly unique and compelling read. With excellent pacing and outstanding character development, this book will keep you interested and wanting more. Far from being predictable or formulaic, this story has many surprising twists and turns, and characters with secrets and depths that provide for some very satisfying revelations. The Review Immediately the vivid visual nature of the magic grabs you. Magic affecting colors is brilliant. Although the magic of this world is fantastical, the characters are believable and real. The world is interesting and vibrant. Sanderson gives you enough information to understand what's going on without bogging down the pace with extraneous descriptions, while at the same time leaving enough mystery to pique the reader's curiosity. The revelations are both unexpected and inevitable. The flow and pacing are excellent. It never gets slow or boring. I felt like I could chew through this book in hours, but I wanted it to last much longer because it's so good. As the story progresses, it builds momentum, as a few rocks rolling down a mountainside quickly become an avalanche. Once I got about halfway in, I found it almost impossible to put down. There are some very surprising reversals and plot twists. This is the kind of book where I want to read it again now that I know what's really going on behind the scenes. The book has a very well-rounded cast of characters. Each character is unique and interesting. Siri, Vivenna, Lightsong, Vasher... each character has a crucial part to play in the story, and each has an arc that pulls you in. I found myself rooting for each character, even when their goals were in opposition. Also, this story has not one, but two strong female leads. These characters aren't Mary Sues or the tiresome "beautiful yet deadly martial artists" that are so popular these days. Rather, they're complex and competent women. If there's one thing I think Sanderson should be known for besides developing interesting, unique and coherent magic systems, it would be his excellent female leading characters. I would really like to see other writers in this and other genres follow his lead. Some of the character arcs are especially engaging. Vivenna as she comes to terms with an alien culture and her own prejudices and preconceptions. Her character is in a constant state of growth and change as her new experiences evolve her perceptions and understanding of her own culture and the alien culture she's been thrust into. As she grows and learns, she must forge a new reality and identity for herself that is influenced by both cultures, yet is wholly her own. None of the characters are what they initially seem. Sanderson realizes that each person is the hero of his or her own story and that morality is based upon belief and perception as opposed to universal truths. No true, believable villain sees himself as a villain. Unlike some fantasy books, the gods in this world are active and participate in the story. As the story unfolds, we learn more about the gods and get to know them. I find this very appealing. I also find the originality of this book highly appealing. This is a truly unique addition to the fantasy genre. The book has a very satisfying conclusion. Mysteries are solved, secrets are revealed, and the various plot threads converge in a climactic resolution. If Sanderson ever writes a sequel, I'm sure anyone who's read this book will be eager to read it.

There's not much point saying anything other than: if you're already reading the Cosmere books, you should definitely ready this (especially if you've read Wait of Kings already since you get a glimpse of a couple of characters here). If you're not reading the Cosmere books yet, you should give them a chance, you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who has read them and not liked them I think.

Libro perfecto para comenzar a leer a Brandon Sanderson, así como dar los primeros pasos para conocer el gran y maravilloso universo que ha creado: el Cosmere. Cualquier fan de la literatura fantástica debería darse el lujo de leer cualquiera de las obras de este autor.

The book was damaged in the side and in the corners. The shipping was on time.

Ive yet to find a book of this authors that ive been able to put down. Brandon Sanderson has a knack for creating fascinating worlds, magic systems and characters. Since reading Elantris a few years ago Ive been repeatedly astonished by this mans craft. He has been the cause of several very late nights. Tomboyish Siri and Cultured Vivienna are two princesses. Vivienna is destine to marry the Godking SuseBron as part of a treaty between two nations. Her sister Siri is sent to marry the godking instead and is totally unprepared and unsuited for the role. Vivienna normally the calmest of the pair sets off to rescue her sister in an act of uncharacteristic role reversal. Lightsong is a recently Reawakened immortal reincarnated as a god, he has however no memory of his life prior to his awakening and feels his life as a 'god' in the court of the Godking is empty and shallow. As Siri gets to know Susebron and Vivienna tries to rescue her sister it becomes obvious there is a conspiracy afoot. But whose ant to what end. No Sanderson book would be complete without a new and interesting magic system. He has produces another diverting offering in the form of Biochromatics and 'breaths'. Those imbued with magic own a number of 'breaths' these breaths allow then to perform magic. The use of magic gives off an aura of enhanced color. Those who have been drained of magic seem grey - or drab. Part of the entertainment is understanding how the magic system works, its integral to the books plot - a common point in all of Brandons books. so im not going to go into it in any detail. Warbreaker -like Elantris is a stand alone novel. Its slower paced than many of his other works - with much of the activity centering around the political machinations of the court of the god-king. Its a book about challenging assumptions , with the actuality often being the reverse of first appearances. It features poweless gods full of magic they fear to use ,and short lived immortals with no memory or purpose save to die again. Its also a literary opposite of the Mistborn series. Where the mistborn series is action based , this is political, where the emperor is ruthless, here he is childlike. While somewhat slow paced, it is excellent in its encapulation of its premise and story in a single volume. Its an excellent book, probably not his best to date but still a five star effort. Given the prodigious recent output we have seen from him, its not suprising that some books are more action oriented than others. This is an excellent novel worth picking up even if you are not a dedicated fan. If you havent read anything by Brandon - id probably recommend Elantris instead - or if you want a series with plenty of action - id recommend his excellent Mistborn series - starting with The Final Empire: Mistborn Book One

Great story, beautifully crafted ways of magic using colours of all things as a source. Doesn't seem farfetched at all. And yes, this book's story does bleed into the more popular Stormlight Archive, so if you haven't read that series, you should read this first. Some scenes and dialogues makes more sense in the Stormlight books. But since the characters in Stormlight have no idea of the world in Warbreaker, we are kind of in the same soup as them too, so it doesn't matter in the end. But certain dialogues are way more cooler in the Stormlight archives, if you know this world. Coming to Warbreaker, story is quite gripping and oozing with fantasy world plots and descriptions. Will keep busy till the end. For those who have read Stormlight, Hoid is here as well...doing what he does best...telling stories.