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Available
Call number
Series
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Publication
Tor (New York, 2009). 1st edition, 1st printing. 592 pages. $27.95.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. After bursting onto the fantasy scene with his acclaimed debut novel, Elantris, and following up with his blockbuster Mistborn trilogy, Brandon Sanderson proves again that he is today's leading master of what Tolkien called "secondary creation," the invention of whole worlds, complete with magics and myths all their own. Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren's capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people. By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.… (more)
Media reviews
After reading Warbreaker, it's readily apparent that Brandon Sanderson is an extremely talented author. The novel was a real page turner and was filled with wonderful characters and thoughtful original ideas.
Deseret News
Sanderson's prose falls into a nice rhythm that helps to move the action forward. Multifaceted characters and action of both the mystical and sword-fighting realms bring added excitement to a complex and creative read.
"Warbreaker" is an improvement on Sanderson's other work. And if he continues
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to follow along this path, fans of the Wheel of Time series will have nothing to worry about. Show Less
But the narrative is richer, spinning together hilarious dialogue, descriptive action sequences, and genuinely sweet romance.
Booklist
The system of magic is also novel ... and demands far more of the characters' ingenuity, which in turn demands developing them--male and female, divine and mortal--to a far higher degree than one expects of much fantasy these days.
Library Journal
Sanderson again demonstrates his capacity for handling large and complex themes while creating believable characters.
Publishers Weekly
Sanderson melds complex, believable characters, a marvelous world and thoughtful, ironic humor into an extraordinary and highly entertaining story.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Velmeran
Having read quite a few of Sanderson's books at this point, I can say that while this was a good book, it was not one of his best. It did include a fascinating new look at magic. It did have his amazing ability to weave a story, or in this case several. It did pleasantly surprise with an enjoyable
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ending. What it did not do well was draw you into the characters in the way he has in other tales. I did not dis-like them, I just didn't really care either. It was still well worth the read. Show Less
LibraryThing member dk_phoenix
This is a solid, well-crafted fantasy novel that will sate your desire for a unique, sensible magic system, and a good, action-driven story. And this review will sate your desire for too many commas in the first sentence and those following. Hmm. Well, nevertheless, I'm not going to edit them, and
Sanderson has a gift for creating unique magic systems that are based around very specific rules -- namely, logic and order -- which is what makes them work within the framework of his story. Things can't just "happen" magically -- they have to make sense and follow the natural laws he created. In Warbreaker, he presents a magic system based around something called BioChromatic Breath. BioChroma relies on 'breaths' to function and are fueled by the use of color (draining it or enhancing it).
None of this tells you about the story itself, I know, but I thought the magic system alone was interesting enough to make me want to read the book. As much as I love older works of epic fantasy, there does come a point when I get tired of magic happening for no reason other than the author wanted it to exist. Without rules, anything can happen, and that becomes unfair to the reader when at the climax of the book, some super-magic power can happen without warning because no rules to the system were previously established. Not so with Sanderson, which is why I really appreciate his writing and attention to detail with his worldbuilding.
Er, all that said, the story itself is pretty good too. Not my favorite of his books, but a good solid fantasy with another couple of strong female characters (I love that Sanderson does this as well... no "rescue me!" princesses in his stories, that's for darn sure) and some great twists and turns along the way.
My only real complaint was that the most interesting character (and object) didn't get enough face time. They didn't appear in a prominent way until more than halfway through the book, and I would have liked to see a lot more development in this area.... but my understanding is that Sanderson has plans to, one day (could be years from now, could be next week) develop this character and object a little bit more in a companion novel, so I can't fault him too much there. He obviously knows that there wasn't enough of him here, so we'll get to see him again someday.
All told, a worthwhile fantasy read!
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I do recommend this book.Sanderson has a gift for creating unique magic systems that are based around very specific rules -- namely, logic and order -- which is what makes them work within the framework of his story. Things can't just "happen" magically -- they have to make sense and follow the natural laws he created. In Warbreaker, he presents a magic system based around something called BioChromatic Breath. BioChroma relies on 'breaths' to function and are fueled by the use of color (draining it or enhancing it).
None of this tells you about the story itself, I know, but I thought the magic system alone was interesting enough to make me want to read the book. As much as I love older works of epic fantasy, there does come a point when I get tired of magic happening for no reason other than the author wanted it to exist. Without rules, anything can happen, and that becomes unfair to the reader when at the climax of the book, some super-magic power can happen without warning because no rules to the system were previously established. Not so with Sanderson, which is why I really appreciate his writing and attention to detail with his worldbuilding.
Er, all that said, the story itself is pretty good too. Not my favorite of his books, but a good solid fantasy with another couple of strong female characters (I love that Sanderson does this as well... no "rescue me!" princesses in his stories, that's for darn sure) and some great twists and turns along the way.
My only real complaint was that the most interesting character (and object) didn't get enough face time. They didn't appear in a prominent way until more than halfway through the book, and I would have liked to see a lot more development in this area.... but my understanding is that Sanderson has plans to, one day (could be years from now, could be next week) develop this character and object a little bit more in a companion novel, so I can't fault him too much there. He obviously knows that there wasn't enough of him here, so we'll get to see him again someday.
All told, a worthwhile fantasy read!
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LibraryThing member alcarinqa
Brandon Sanderson frequently comments that he intended Warbreaker and Elantris to dovetail: examining the same issues but dealing with them differently. I read Warbreaker with his intent in mind, and think it does indeed go well with the story-line of Elantris. It is an earlier work of
Warbreaker follows two Idrian princesses: Siri, who marries Halladren’s God King in order to prevent war between the two kingdoms, and her sister Vivenne, who seeks to rescue Siri from this horrible fate. They are quickly caught up in the schemes of forces that seek to instigate a war between Idris and Halladren, and are both confronted on many fronts on their personal beliefs and prejudices. I like Siri – while Sanderson painted her as impulsive and emotional, I agree that she is a much better choice for the task of marrying the God King than Vivenne, who would not have survived a week in her place. Vivenne, on the other hand, proved difficult to like, mainly because of her adamant refusal to try and understand the people she had come to live amongst. It took some harsh lessons for her to let go of her arrogance and see that all people deserve respect and care. The other characters in the book are just as vivid and interesting, in particular the two Returned Gods Lightsong and Blushweaver, and the shadowy Vasher.
The concept of the Returned is especially intriguing: the idea that certain people are picked, at death, to Return to life and help guide the Hallderan people as their Gods. In Elantris, the so-called Gods had been stripped of their power and suffered from a dilapidating plague, but in this book they shine with glory. The magic system is also commendable – ethereal matter, Breathe, is imbued into an object to give it life, which allows it to act according to Commands. Usually people are born with one breathe, but some individuals can be born with more, or can acquire Breathe from others, creating a power-based hierarchy with the most powerful, the Returned, on top.
In terms of plot, Sanderson’s writing is quite strong. The first big reveal took me by surprise, and although the second didn’t, I still think the book is well paced and plotted and definitely engaging. Sanderson has a tendency to over-explain throughout the novel, however, using Siri and Vivenna’s ignorance as a mask, and this does make the two girls seem less intelligent than they are intended to be, in my opinion. But even without the context of knowing where this novel stands within Sanderson’s impressive works, it is obvious that the talent to write exceptionally is there – it just needs to be polished!
Sanderson has delivered an impressive book in Warbreaker, and I am proud to say that I have now read all his published original works (I haven’t read the Wheel of Time books he has written). Fans of Sanderson are encouraged to pick this book up, but those new to his works are probably best off beginning with the Mistborn trilogy and then working backwards through Elantris and Warbreaker, before moving on to The Alloy of Law and The Way of Kings.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.
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Sanderson’s (pre Mistborn), so the writing isn’t what I have come to expect from him, but none the less, Sanderson dishes up an intriguing magic system, well crafted characters, and proves that he is one of the best world builders in modern Fantasy writing.Warbreaker follows two Idrian princesses: Siri, who marries Halladren’s God King in order to prevent war between the two kingdoms, and her sister Vivenne, who seeks to rescue Siri from this horrible fate. They are quickly caught up in the schemes of forces that seek to instigate a war between Idris and Halladren, and are both confronted on many fronts on their personal beliefs and prejudices. I like Siri – while Sanderson painted her as impulsive and emotional, I agree that she is a much better choice for the task of marrying the God King than Vivenne, who would not have survived a week in her place. Vivenne, on the other hand, proved difficult to like, mainly because of her adamant refusal to try and understand the people she had come to live amongst. It took some harsh lessons for her to let go of her arrogance and see that all people deserve respect and care. The other characters in the book are just as vivid and interesting, in particular the two Returned Gods Lightsong and Blushweaver, and the shadowy Vasher.
The concept of the Returned is especially intriguing: the idea that certain people are picked, at death, to Return to life and help guide the Hallderan people as their Gods. In Elantris, the so-called Gods had been stripped of their power and suffered from a dilapidating plague, but in this book they shine with glory. The magic system is also commendable – ethereal matter, Breathe, is imbued into an object to give it life, which allows it to act according to Commands. Usually people are born with one breathe, but some individuals can be born with more, or can acquire Breathe from others, creating a power-based hierarchy with the most powerful, the Returned, on top.
In terms of plot, Sanderson’s writing is quite strong. The first big reveal took me by surprise, and although the second didn’t, I still think the book is well paced and plotted and definitely engaging. Sanderson has a tendency to over-explain throughout the novel, however, using Siri and Vivenna’s ignorance as a mask, and this does make the two girls seem less intelligent than they are intended to be, in my opinion. But even without the context of knowing where this novel stands within Sanderson’s impressive works, it is obvious that the talent to write exceptionally is there – it just needs to be polished!
Sanderson has delivered an impressive book in Warbreaker, and I am proud to say that I have now read all his published original works (I haven’t read the Wheel of Time books he has written). Fans of Sanderson are encouraged to pick this book up, but those new to his works are probably best off beginning with the Mistborn trilogy and then working backwards through Elantris and Warbreaker, before moving on to The Alloy of Law and The Way of Kings.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.
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LibraryThing member readafew
Warbreaker is another excellent offering from Brandon Sanderson. I am constantly impressed with the mans ability to bring such diverse and interesting magical systems into play.
This time the magic is based on the hoarding, buying and selling of 'Breath'. Everyone is born with one and only one,
Overall, a great read and I enjoyed it immensely, lots of puzzles and hints to try to figure out, some were fairly easy and blatant while others were hidden well until actually reveled. Better than Elantris, but not quite up to the Mistborn trilogy. I think there was something weird about the pacing that just couldn't let this book be rated higher, but 4 stars is still pretty good.
This time the magic is based on the hoarding, buying and selling of 'Breath'. Everyone is born with one and only one,
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however they can be bought and sold. It cannot be stolen, only given freely. The Kingdom's of Idris and Hallandren have been on the brink of war for years and things seem to be finally coming to a head. The war will be devastating to both sides and no one really wants it to happen but no one seems to be able to stop it either. Two Princesses from Idris are doing everything they can to prevent this war, but will they be successful or just make matters worse?Overall, a great read and I enjoyed it immensely, lots of puzzles and hints to try to figure out, some were fairly easy and blatant while others were hidden well until actually reveled. Better than Elantris, but not quite up to the Mistborn trilogy. I think there was something weird about the pacing that just couldn't let this book be rated higher, but 4 stars is still pretty good.
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LibraryThing member Bodagirl
Sanderson's world is quite distinctive and colorful (pun intended), and his political intrigue was inspired - I didn't see it at all. But the climax and resolution were so abrupt. It's like he realized that he had under 100 pages to end the book and rushed to fit in as much as he could. There are
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some lingering resolutions especially concerning the Hallandren gods, does Susebron continue to rule or is the other path mentioned in the book (no spoilers here) taken? Also, the ending open to a sequel with Vivenna and Vasher was a little cheesy. Show Less
LibraryThing member readermom
Some people have questioned why I like sci-fi and fantasy so much. Reading Warbreaker made me realize that this book is the epitome of all that I love about the speculative genres.
To begin with, there is an incredible amount of stuff going on. I have always had an inability to be content with only
The best books, the ones I can read and do nothing else; the ones that I read and really do nothing else and my house suffers, have so many different things to think about that various parts of my brain can all be kept busy, even while reading the same book. Fantasy and Science Fiction does this best. There is a new world to explore, new people to meet, a new magic system to learn about and (in the best ones) a great plot to follow.
Most great literary novels are great because of the characterisations. I have read many of them and though Jane Austen is nice, her plots fit in a teacup (nicely enameled with a gold rim). Mystery novels are supposed to be plot driven, but lately they have fallen into a more character driven style, unfortunately leaving behind the twists and turns of the classic puzzle detective story. I am a plot junkie. I want to find out what happens. It seems that the last truly plot based fiction genres are science fiction and fantasy.
That is not to say that I don't like a good character study. A plot is not interesting if you don't care if the people live or die or explosively decompress out the airlock. When you like the people you are reading about the plot takes on an extra urgency. The kind that makes you stay up until 3 am and count it worth it for a restful sleep. You think about the people later and talk about them as if they are real. If all human experience is ultimately what happens in our minds, perhaps they are as real to me as the people I only read about in cyberspace.
The best fiction has all of these elements, blended together in a nice package that you can get for only 27.95 at the nearest bookseller. Which brings me back to the pretty picture at the head of the post: Warbreaker has all of these things, blended together in a style that I am beginning to see as uniquely Brandon Sanderson's and no one else's. Not only did it have a plot that twisted and wound enough for any three mystery novels, it had an ending that had me pausing in amazement for hours after I finished it. Oscar Wilde's dialogue with the action of the Bourne Identity.
I read this book in one day. 592 pages. It is good that Sanderson only puts out a few books a year. I am still amazed by the complexity, intelligence, ending and general awesomeness (I don't use that word lightly) of this book. Warbreaker is why I love fantasy and science fiction.
To begin with, there is an incredible amount of stuff going on. I have always had an inability to be content with only
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a portion of my brain engaged. I read while I listen to music. I used to do homework with music on ( it used to bug roommates and siblings alike). I sew or crochet or fold laundry while I watch movies. Unless the experience is completely immersive, like in the theater, I need something else to do. I also tend to bite my nails when I read so I've recently tried crocheting while reading, with mixed results.The best books, the ones I can read and do nothing else; the ones that I read and really do nothing else and my house suffers, have so many different things to think about that various parts of my brain can all be kept busy, even while reading the same book. Fantasy and Science Fiction does this best. There is a new world to explore, new people to meet, a new magic system to learn about and (in the best ones) a great plot to follow.
Most great literary novels are great because of the characterisations. I have read many of them and though Jane Austen is nice, her plots fit in a teacup (nicely enameled with a gold rim). Mystery novels are supposed to be plot driven, but lately they have fallen into a more character driven style, unfortunately leaving behind the twists and turns of the classic puzzle detective story. I am a plot junkie. I want to find out what happens. It seems that the last truly plot based fiction genres are science fiction and fantasy.
That is not to say that I don't like a good character study. A plot is not interesting if you don't care if the people live or die or explosively decompress out the airlock. When you like the people you are reading about the plot takes on an extra urgency. The kind that makes you stay up until 3 am and count it worth it for a restful sleep. You think about the people later and talk about them as if they are real. If all human experience is ultimately what happens in our minds, perhaps they are as real to me as the people I only read about in cyberspace.
The best fiction has all of these elements, blended together in a nice package that you can get for only 27.95 at the nearest bookseller. Which brings me back to the pretty picture at the head of the post: Warbreaker has all of these things, blended together in a style that I am beginning to see as uniquely Brandon Sanderson's and no one else's. Not only did it have a plot that twisted and wound enough for any three mystery novels, it had an ending that had me pausing in amazement for hours after I finished it. Oscar Wilde's dialogue with the action of the Bourne Identity.
I read this book in one day. 592 pages. It is good that Sanderson only puts out a few books a year. I am still amazed by the complexity, intelligence, ending and general awesomeness (I don't use that word lightly) of this book. Warbreaker is why I love fantasy and science fiction.
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LibraryThing member JechtShot
The cities of Idris and Hallendren have been on the brink of war for years. The king of Idris, hoping to stave off the impending conflict, sends his young and unrefined daughter Siri to marry the enigmatic God-King of Hallendren. Hallendren is a world unlike anything Siri has experienced in her
Brandon Sanderson is well known for his complex magic systems and in Warbreaker he delivers once again this time with the concept of Biochromatic breath. What is Biochromatic breath you ask? Every person is born with breath and they have the ability to give their breath to another person. Once someone accumulates enough breath they can combine color and breath to bring the inanimate to life. The rules are complex, but part of the fun of Sanderson novels is learning the ins and outs of the magic system.
Warbreaker delivers on all levels with deep likable characters, a fantastical world unlike any you have read about before and a magic system that will in the very least provide countless hours of confusion. Highly recommended!
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young life. The women wear revealing clothing, colors of all hues abound, men and women deal in breath and returned Gods live on high above all. Siri’s eldest sister, Vivenna, follows Siri in hopes of rescuing her from this blasphemous land and the evil God-King, but she is pulled into a war of her own where she strives to save her fellow Idrians from almost certain slaughter. Brandon Sanderson is well known for his complex magic systems and in Warbreaker he delivers once again this time with the concept of Biochromatic breath. What is Biochromatic breath you ask? Every person is born with breath and they have the ability to give their breath to another person. Once someone accumulates enough breath they can combine color and breath to bring the inanimate to life. The rules are complex, but part of the fun of Sanderson novels is learning the ins and outs of the magic system.
Warbreaker delivers on all levels with deep likable characters, a fantastical world unlike any you have read about before and a magic system that will in the very least provide countless hours of confusion. Highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member MlleEhreen
You know, a good fantasy series is a gift that keeps on giving. You read it, you enjoy it, you get to look forward to more and feel reasonably sure that you'll enjoy it too. I was a little leery of picking up a single-volume all-in-one fantasy, because I'm so used to searching around for the next
The world building is excellent - I could picture everything perfectly. Sanderson managed to set the scene in a way that kept me immersed in the sights, sounds, feel and taste of an alien world without ever detouring into lengthy, hyper-detailed descriptions. He created a magic system that was unique, interesting, and easy to understand. I tend to judge a magic system by how well the author works out checks and balances - what is the cost of magic, what are its limitations? Sanderson's idea of Breath, and of the Returned, is one of the most elegant and poignant examples I have ever run across.
I liked the characters - the sisters, Siri and Vivenna, made an excellent contrast to one another and I rooted for them both. Lightsong was hilarious, and the comic relief welcome. Nobody seemed flat.
There wasn't anything in Warbreaker that bugged or annoyed me. No flaw that I had to overlook. That may not sound like much but really it's a miracle. I'm a nitpicker and I had no nits to pick. OK, I take that back...there's a particular plot device here that Sanderson uses one time too many, and that bugged me. So one nit.
I'd happily recommend it to anyone who's jonesing for a good fantasy story. The book didn't blow me away, make me jump for joy, but it was absolutely satisfying.
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great series. But actually, this was perfect. It was really nice to get a whole story in one book. The world building is excellent - I could picture everything perfectly. Sanderson managed to set the scene in a way that kept me immersed in the sights, sounds, feel and taste of an alien world without ever detouring into lengthy, hyper-detailed descriptions. He created a magic system that was unique, interesting, and easy to understand. I tend to judge a magic system by how well the author works out checks and balances - what is the cost of magic, what are its limitations? Sanderson's idea of Breath, and of the Returned, is one of the most elegant and poignant examples I have ever run across.
I liked the characters - the sisters, Siri and Vivenna, made an excellent contrast to one another and I rooted for them both. Lightsong was hilarious, and the comic relief welcome. Nobody seemed flat.
There wasn't anything in Warbreaker that bugged or annoyed me. No flaw that I had to overlook. That may not sound like much but really it's a miracle. I'm a nitpicker and I had no nits to pick. OK, I take that back...there's a particular plot device here that Sanderson uses one time too many, and that bugged me. So one nit.
I'd happily recommend it to anyone who's jonesing for a good fantasy story. The book didn't blow me away, make me jump for joy, but it was absolutely satisfying.
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: It all starts with a breath... or with Breath, to be more specific. In the world of Warbreaker, each human being is born with a single Breath. Those who are rich enough to buy sufficient quantities of Breath can use it to sense when others approach, to see and hear with a heightened sense
In the tropical seaside city of Hallandren, color is everywhere, powerful Awakeners roam the streets, the city is guarded by armies of Lifeless (Awakened corpses), and the populace is ruled by the Returned - those who die nobly and are sent back to life as ageless, prophetic deities - and they, in turn, are ruled by the mysterious and powerful God King. In the neighboring kingdom of Idris, however, Hallandren is seen as harboring the worst kind of heresy - Idris's god teaches that Breath is part of one's soul, not something to be taken or given away. Idris and Hallandren have been hovering on the brink of war for decades, held at bay only by a treaty, in which the King of Idris must send one of the daughters of the Royal Line to wed the God King.
So, enter our main characters: There's Vivenna, the pious eldest Idrian princess, who has been training since birth to go to Hallandren, marry Susebron the God King, and fulfill the treaty... until her father decides to send Siri, her impetuous younger sister, in her place. There's Lightsong, the Returned god of bravery, who doesn't believe in his own divinity. And then there's the mysterious Vasher, whose sword is more deadly than any regular steel. Each of them is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that their country wins the coming war... a war that seems all-but-inevitable.
Review: As you can tell from my exceptionally lengthy summary, there is a *lot* going on in this book. That should come as no surprise; Sanderson has proved himself excellent at juggling multiple storylines, detailed plot threads, well-developed characters, and viewpoints. Warbreaker is no different; Sanderson shifts through the four main voices with ease, never losing momentum and never losing my attention - I stayed glued to the story from the first few pages. And as good (and complex) as his stories are, his writing is more than matches up; complex, multi-dimensional characters, vivid settings, excellently written action sequences, a good ear for dialogue, and equal facility with both pathos and humor (and sometimes both simultaneously).
Another thing at which Sanderson excels is the Big Surprising Plot Twist that forces you to re-evaluate everything that had come before. At about halfway through Warbreaker, I thought I had figured out one of the pieces of the puzzle that Sanderson was hinting at (who Lightsong was before he was Returned, not that it matters). "Ha," I thought smugly to myself, "got one on you that time, Sanderson! You're so fond of yanking the rug out from under your readers, but I've got your number on this one! Who's clever now, huh?" And, while I was busy gloating about that, Sanderson went and yanked out two more rugs that I didn't even know I was standing on. (Plus, it turns out I was wrong about Lightsong's past, to boot. Hrmph.) It's so great when an author can pull off a surprising twist that you never saw coming but is so obvious in retrospect, and completely changes the direction of the story.
While the story was engaging and the characters were excellent, I didn't love Warbreaker quite as much as I did Mistborn. I am a sucker for an original and well-thought out system of magic, and Sanderson's got the best I've ever seen. The scheme of using Breath and colors to do magic, while cool, just wasn't as meticulously logical as the allomantic metal-based magic of Mistborn, and there were some elements that weren't ever explained to my satisfaction. Still, that's pretty minor, and even though it's a chunkster (almost 600 pages), I never felt it dragging, and as much as I wanted to read faster to know what happened, I was reluctant to get to the end and have to leave his world. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: If you like fantasy novels but haven't read any of Sanderson's books, Warbreaker would definitely be an excellent place to start, especially if you're not yet willing to commit to a trilogy. If you've already read Sanderson's other books, then you probably don't need me to tell you that this one is also great, and that you should hurry out and read it.
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of awareness, and, when Breath is combined with colors drained from everyday objects, to temporarily Awaken inanimate objects.In the tropical seaside city of Hallandren, color is everywhere, powerful Awakeners roam the streets, the city is guarded by armies of Lifeless (Awakened corpses), and the populace is ruled by the Returned - those who die nobly and are sent back to life as ageless, prophetic deities - and they, in turn, are ruled by the mysterious and powerful God King. In the neighboring kingdom of Idris, however, Hallandren is seen as harboring the worst kind of heresy - Idris's god teaches that Breath is part of one's soul, not something to be taken or given away. Idris and Hallandren have been hovering on the brink of war for decades, held at bay only by a treaty, in which the King of Idris must send one of the daughters of the Royal Line to wed the God King.
So, enter our main characters: There's Vivenna, the pious eldest Idrian princess, who has been training since birth to go to Hallandren, marry Susebron the God King, and fulfill the treaty... until her father decides to send Siri, her impetuous younger sister, in her place. There's Lightsong, the Returned god of bravery, who doesn't believe in his own divinity. And then there's the mysterious Vasher, whose sword is more deadly than any regular steel. Each of them is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that their country wins the coming war... a war that seems all-but-inevitable.
Review: As you can tell from my exceptionally lengthy summary, there is a *lot* going on in this book. That should come as no surprise; Sanderson has proved himself excellent at juggling multiple storylines, detailed plot threads, well-developed characters, and viewpoints. Warbreaker is no different; Sanderson shifts through the four main voices with ease, never losing momentum and never losing my attention - I stayed glued to the story from the first few pages. And as good (and complex) as his stories are, his writing is more than matches up; complex, multi-dimensional characters, vivid settings, excellently written action sequences, a good ear for dialogue, and equal facility with both pathos and humor (and sometimes both simultaneously).
Another thing at which Sanderson excels is the Big Surprising Plot Twist that forces you to re-evaluate everything that had come before. At about halfway through Warbreaker, I thought I had figured out one of the pieces of the puzzle that Sanderson was hinting at (who Lightsong was before he was Returned, not that it matters). "Ha," I thought smugly to myself, "got one on you that time, Sanderson! You're so fond of yanking the rug out from under your readers, but I've got your number on this one! Who's clever now, huh?" And, while I was busy gloating about that, Sanderson went and yanked out two more rugs that I didn't even know I was standing on. (Plus, it turns out I was wrong about Lightsong's past, to boot. Hrmph.) It's so great when an author can pull off a surprising twist that you never saw coming but is so obvious in retrospect, and completely changes the direction of the story.
While the story was engaging and the characters were excellent, I didn't love Warbreaker quite as much as I did Mistborn. I am a sucker for an original and well-thought out system of magic, and Sanderson's got the best I've ever seen. The scheme of using Breath and colors to do magic, while cool, just wasn't as meticulously logical as the allomantic metal-based magic of Mistborn, and there were some elements that weren't ever explained to my satisfaction. Still, that's pretty minor, and even though it's a chunkster (almost 600 pages), I never felt it dragging, and as much as I wanted to read faster to know what happened, I was reluctant to get to the end and have to leave his world. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: If you like fantasy novels but haven't read any of Sanderson's books, Warbreaker would definitely be an excellent place to start, especially if you're not yet willing to commit to a trilogy. If you've already read Sanderson's other books, then you probably don't need me to tell you that this one is also great, and that you should hurry out and read it.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I got this book through Amazon vine and when I received it in the mail I was intimidated; it is quite the brick of a book. All I can say is that I was really, really, really impressed with this book. It is the most amazing book I have read in a long time. Previously Sanderson has written the
A quick side note, I am a bit Wheel of Time fan and when Robert Jordan died I was devastated. Well, it looks like Sanderson has been chosen to conclude the Wheel of Time series; he is going to conclude it in three final books. After reading Warbreaker I think this is an awesome choice. Sanderson's writing style echoes much of Jordan's style but it is much more approachable.
In Warbreaker Halladran and Idris are at the brink of war. Idris sends one of their princesses, Siri, to wed the God King of Halladran in an effort to stall the war. Initially Siri, was not supposed to be the one sent; her sister, the eldest princess, Vivenna had been trained since birth to wed the God King. But in a last minute decision the King of Idris sends Siri instead. Siri is thrown into a dangerous city of court intrigue and the mysterious magic of BioChromatic Breath and is left to fend on her own as her country totters on the brink of war. Vivenna is bereft when Siri is sent in her place and decides to journey to Halladran to rescue her sister; when she arrives she finds herself quickly thrown into dangerous city politics. The set is completed with Vasher a deadly man with a darkly humorous sword who has an agenda of his own and Lightsong one of the Halladran's gods; Lightsong is a Returned who can't understand why he was returned to godhood. It all makes for an intricate, exciting, and very enjoyable book.
I can't say "Wow" enough times. This book was executed with brilliance. I really mean it. With epic fantasies such as this book sometimes you run into plots that are too complicated, having too many names thrown at you at once, or having systems of magic that are too complicated to grasp; not to mention epics that need to run 12 books to make a good story. This book did everything right. All of the characters are intriguing and engaging; they are introduced in such a way that you are never confused about who is who or who is on whose side. The system of BioChromatic Breath magic is unbelievably creative, entertaining, and very complex; yet somehow Sanderson introduces this system of magic with an ease that does not confuse the reader and yet delivers great complexity. The plot is immense and complicated yet it is nicely resolved in one book; very satisfyingly resolved...nothing seems rushed.
I really can't believe how good this book is. Sanderson did everything right; I couldn't find a single thing to dislike about this book. It is an immense book but I breezed through it; it was sooo hard to put down. The book propels you forward, the action and suspense is non-stop. It is also so creative, the magic system is like nothing I have ever dreamed up or heard of before. I have put all his previous books on my "to read list" and I am keeping this book safe on my bookshelf so that I can read it again soon. I am also so glad that this is the author chose to finish the Wheel of Time series. Just wow!!
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Mistborne Trilogy and a stand alone novel called Elantris. I haven't read any of those books but I wanted too; so getting this book from Vine gave me a chance to check out his work.A quick side note, I am a bit Wheel of Time fan and when Robert Jordan died I was devastated. Well, it looks like Sanderson has been chosen to conclude the Wheel of Time series; he is going to conclude it in three final books. After reading Warbreaker I think this is an awesome choice. Sanderson's writing style echoes much of Jordan's style but it is much more approachable.
In Warbreaker Halladran and Idris are at the brink of war. Idris sends one of their princesses, Siri, to wed the God King of Halladran in an effort to stall the war. Initially Siri, was not supposed to be the one sent; her sister, the eldest princess, Vivenna had been trained since birth to wed the God King. But in a last minute decision the King of Idris sends Siri instead. Siri is thrown into a dangerous city of court intrigue and the mysterious magic of BioChromatic Breath and is left to fend on her own as her country totters on the brink of war. Vivenna is bereft when Siri is sent in her place and decides to journey to Halladran to rescue her sister; when she arrives she finds herself quickly thrown into dangerous city politics. The set is completed with Vasher a deadly man with a darkly humorous sword who has an agenda of his own and Lightsong one of the Halladran's gods; Lightsong is a Returned who can't understand why he was returned to godhood. It all makes for an intricate, exciting, and very enjoyable book.
I can't say "Wow" enough times. This book was executed with brilliance. I really mean it. With epic fantasies such as this book sometimes you run into plots that are too complicated, having too many names thrown at you at once, or having systems of magic that are too complicated to grasp; not to mention epics that need to run 12 books to make a good story. This book did everything right. All of the characters are intriguing and engaging; they are introduced in such a way that you are never confused about who is who or who is on whose side. The system of BioChromatic Breath magic is unbelievably creative, entertaining, and very complex; yet somehow Sanderson introduces this system of magic with an ease that does not confuse the reader and yet delivers great complexity. The plot is immense and complicated yet it is nicely resolved in one book; very satisfyingly resolved...nothing seems rushed.
I really can't believe how good this book is. Sanderson did everything right; I couldn't find a single thing to dislike about this book. It is an immense book but I breezed through it; it was sooo hard to put down. The book propels you forward, the action and suspense is non-stop. It is also so creative, the magic system is like nothing I have ever dreamed up or heard of before. I have put all his previous books on my "to read list" and I am keeping this book safe on my bookshelf so that I can read it again soon. I am also so glad that this is the author chose to finish the Wheel of Time series. Just wow!!
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LibraryThing member KristaCarmen
This is easily Sanderson's best work to date. If you haven't read any of Sanderson's work, then you may not know that he's known for his well thought out, thought provoking, and unique magic systems. There is no exception to that fact in Warbreaker - a world where Color and Breath is magic. In
Warbreaker is definitely a book to put on the top of any ones reading list. Likable and superb characters, comic relief that's on-key, unique religions, awesome magic system, and plot twists that won't leave you disappointed in any way. This is a tale that will leave you absolutely flabbergasted, and hoping Sanderson won't just leave this book in standalone form! Sanderon is a master storyteller, no doubt about it.
Also, the cover is absolutely spell-binding, and one of My all time Favorites
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Warbreaker the magic system plays a big part and is absolutely breathtaking, but what really stands out is his spiraling plot twists and his Three dimensional characters. The plot literally takes you on a roller coaster, and once you think you've figured out whats going to happen next, you'll only soon realize you were highly mistaken. The Characters all grow and mature in a way that's authentic, intriguing, and there are absolutely no one dimensional characters. He gives each character their own time in the spot light, and their development you can see from beginning to end. His writing style is simple yet affective. Some authors, even Sanderson, claim that humor is the hardest part to write, but Sanderson has found a way to pass humor off remarkably well in this tale. His religions are also something to marvel at, they're all well thought out, indeed.Warbreaker is definitely a book to put on the top of any ones reading list. Likable and superb characters, comic relief that's on-key, unique religions, awesome magic system, and plot twists that won't leave you disappointed in any way. This is a tale that will leave you absolutely flabbergasted, and hoping Sanderson won't just leave this book in standalone form! Sanderon is a master storyteller, no doubt about it.
Also, the cover is absolutely spell-binding, and one of My all time Favorites
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LibraryThing member drachenbraut23
“I try to avoid having thoughts. They lead to other thoughts, and—if you're not careful—those lead to actions. Actions make you tired. I have this on rather good authority from someone who once read it in a book.”
“Unknowing ignorance is preferable to informed stupidity.”
“It was
And again Brandon Sanderson was able to convince through absolutely stunning and vivid storytelling. The story is full of political intrigue, again he managed to present us with wonderful and fascinating magic, characters to care about and a good portion of laughter.
In this standalone novel (I mean seriously, there is actually still room for a follow up) we meet two very different sisters, Vivenna and Siri. Two princesses who come from a small and rustic highland kingdom. Vivenna the older of the siblings was raised to become the wife of the god king of the neighbouring kingdom, in order to prevent war between the two rival kingdoms. She is composed, knowledgeable and very much aware about her duties to her kingdom. Siri, on the other hand, as the youngest child was allowed to run wild, with a scetchy education and a very emotional temper.
When the day of the arranged wedding arrives, Vivenna's father decides that he loves her too much to sacrifice her to the god king and sends his wild daughter Siri in her stead. Vivenna, being trained all her life for this role feels bereft, deceived by her father and purposeless, then decides to follow her sister and rescue her from her unknown fate. Thus both sister end up in this vast city under very different circumstances and different pathways ahead. Whilst Vivenna's inital aim was to rescue her sister from the clutches of the despised god king, she very quickly finds herself at the outskirsts of the city, trying to raise a rebellion against the Hallondren's in order to prevent the looming war. Well, and Siri finds out that the god king and the court of god's isn't at all that what she was made to believe.
“Unknowing ignorance is preferable to informed stupidity.”
“It was
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strange, how easily and quickly protection could cause destruction. Sometimes, Vasher wondered if the two weren't really the same thing. Protect a flower, destroy pests who wanted to feed on it. Protect a building, destroy the plants that could have grown in the soil. Protect a man. Live with the destruction he creates.” And again Brandon Sanderson was able to convince through absolutely stunning and vivid storytelling. The story is full of political intrigue, again he managed to present us with wonderful and fascinating magic, characters to care about and a good portion of laughter.
In this standalone novel (I mean seriously, there is actually still room for a follow up) we meet two very different sisters, Vivenna and Siri. Two princesses who come from a small and rustic highland kingdom. Vivenna the older of the siblings was raised to become the wife of the god king of the neighbouring kingdom, in order to prevent war between the two rival kingdoms. She is composed, knowledgeable and very much aware about her duties to her kingdom. Siri, on the other hand, as the youngest child was allowed to run wild, with a scetchy education and a very emotional temper.
When the day of the arranged wedding arrives, Vivenna's father decides that he loves her too much to sacrifice her to the god king and sends his wild daughter Siri in her stead. Vivenna, being trained all her life for this role feels bereft, deceived by her father and purposeless, then decides to follow her sister and rescue her from her unknown fate. Thus both sister end up in this vast city under very different circumstances and different pathways ahead. Whilst Vivenna's inital aim was to rescue her sister from the clutches of the despised god king, she very quickly finds herself at the outskirsts of the city, trying to raise a rebellion against the Hallondren's in order to prevent the looming war. Well, and Siri finds out that the god king and the court of god's isn't at all that what she was made to believe.
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LibraryThing member NPJacobsen
This was the first book by Brandon Sanderson that I have read, and now I wonder what took me so long. There are not enough superlatives in the English language to describe this book. I absolutely loved it! The world Mr. Sanderson created was familiar enough for me to relate to, and yet different
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enough to seem foreign and exotic. The plot twists kept me off balance as time and again those perceived as enemies became friends and those perceived as friends became enemies. This was one of those rare books that I did not want to see end and at the same time could not seem to put down. I will definitely be putting Brandon Sanderson on my list of favorite authors. Show Less
LibraryThing member humouress
Two cities, the capital of their nations: Idris, a mountain town, where the people live simply and the royal family mingle with their people; and Hallandren, the city that same royal family escaped from centuries ago where now the gods dwell in a city within a city, set apart from their
Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, the eldest and youngest children of the Idrian king. Vivenna, the eldest, has been promised as a bride to the God King of Hallandren, as an effort to stave off the war that has been threatening the unstable peace for generations. Siri, the youngest, is unimportant, carefree and rebellious. Until, on the cusp of the promised marriage, the two sisters' places are exchanged.
Both sisters are essentially innocents, thrust into situations which, they find, are not what they had been raised to believe. Siri, who loves her freedom in her mountain home, finds she is forbidden to leave the God King's temple. Vivenna, raised all her life for one purpose, now has none; and so she determines to rescue her sister from the clutches of the monster that she had accepted would be her own husband. She follows Siri into tropical Hallandren, full of frivolous colour, where people use the abomination of Breath to control other people's lives. Both girls grow into their new roles, finding that they are stronger people than they had realised. We watch them develop as they struggle within the limits of their new circumstances to avert the now impending war threatening Idris that has crystallised with their presence in Hallandren.
Although the sisters are the focus of the story, we also meet other people around them. Amongst them are Lightsong, one of the lesser god in the Hallandrenan pantheon who doesn't believe in his own godhood, and Denth and Vasher, two old adversaries, one a mercenary and one an adventurer, who are adept at using Breath to help them achieve their ends.
Each person is born with one BioChromatic Breath, but it can be transferred to another person. One person can collect many Breaths, and use it to Awaken objects with the power. There is a cost, though; using Breath is powered by colour, which leaches from the Awakener's surroundings. Unfortunately, giving up one's Breath means becoming a Drab and losing much of the joy in life.
I didn't fully comprehend the scope and the mechanics of the power, though Vasher does explain it quite nicely at one point; but he also points out that even the people who know how to unlock and use the power understand it very little, too, and research is ongoing.
This is (at the moment) a stand-alone work, though there is an indication at the end that there could be further adventures to come.
Though the writing is lighter and less intense in style than, say, Robert Jordan, there are so many twists and turns in this story as we watch the sisters meet their challenges, and my attention was completely engaged. It is a long book, at close to 700 pages, but the pages just fly by. It was fun to read, with occasional banter, from Lightsong, that was reminiscent of David Edding's Belgariad series.
I looked for this book based on the enthusiastic recommendations of several LTers. I've been reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, but I've been a bit wary of picking up the last few books where he collaborated with Sanderson. I thought this would be a good introduction to Sanderson's adult writing (I read his YA book Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians a few months ago - recommended by other LTers), and now I'm quite happy to go back to continue the Wheel of Time. I will also be looking out for Sanderson's other books.
Four stars
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people.Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, the eldest and youngest children of the Idrian king. Vivenna, the eldest, has been promised as a bride to the God King of Hallandren, as an effort to stave off the war that has been threatening the unstable peace for generations. Siri, the youngest, is unimportant, carefree and rebellious. Until, on the cusp of the promised marriage, the two sisters' places are exchanged.
Both sisters are essentially innocents, thrust into situations which, they find, are not what they had been raised to believe. Siri, who loves her freedom in her mountain home, finds she is forbidden to leave the God King's temple. Vivenna, raised all her life for one purpose, now has none; and so she determines to rescue her sister from the clutches of the monster that she had accepted would be her own husband. She follows Siri into tropical Hallandren, full of frivolous colour, where people use the abomination of Breath to control other people's lives. Both girls grow into their new roles, finding that they are stronger people than they had realised. We watch them develop as they struggle within the limits of their new circumstances to avert the now impending war threatening Idris that has crystallised with their presence in Hallandren.
Although the sisters are the focus of the story, we also meet other people around them. Amongst them are Lightsong, one of the lesser god in the Hallandrenan pantheon who doesn't believe in his own godhood, and Denth and Vasher, two old adversaries, one a mercenary and one an adventurer, who are adept at using Breath to help them achieve their ends.
Each person is born with one BioChromatic Breath, but it can be transferred to another person. One person can collect many Breaths, and use it to Awaken objects with the power. There is a cost, though; using Breath is powered by colour, which leaches from the Awakener's surroundings. Unfortunately, giving up one's Breath means becoming a Drab and losing much of the joy in life.
I didn't fully comprehend the scope and the mechanics of the power, though Vasher does explain it quite nicely at one point; but he also points out that even the people who know how to unlock and use the power understand it very little, too, and research is ongoing.
This is (at the moment) a stand-alone work, though there is an indication at the end that there could be further adventures to come.
Though the writing is lighter and less intense in style than, say, Robert Jordan, there are so many twists and turns in this story as we watch the sisters meet their challenges, and my attention was completely engaged. It is a long book, at close to 700 pages, but the pages just fly by. It was fun to read, with occasional banter, from Lightsong, that was reminiscent of David Edding's Belgariad series.
I looked for this book based on the enthusiastic recommendations of several LTers. I've been reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, but I've been a bit wary of picking up the last few books where he collaborated with Sanderson. I thought this would be a good introduction to Sanderson's adult writing (I read his YA book Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians a few months ago - recommended by other LTers), and now I'm quite happy to go back to continue the Wheel of Time. I will also be looking out for Sanderson's other books.
Four stars
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LibraryThing member guy-montag
If you haven't read it and you're a fan of his work, Get This Book! Possibly his best so far, this one elevates Sanderson from really good to great.
If curious systems of magic, unstoppable armies, nefarious villains, swords with a mind and agenda of their own and heroes returned from the dead
If curious systems of magic, unstoppable armies, nefarious villains, swords with a mind and agenda of their own and heroes returned from the dead
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interest you, this is a must read! Show Less
LibraryThing member amf0001
A good fantasy needs 4 things in order to work – great plot, great characters, great world building and finally, it needs to be well written. It’s a rare beast that satisfies all four. Warbreaker has an interesting enough plot, and a really complex interesting universe that Sanderson has
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created. So he gets it half right. The idea of collecting breaths, sustaining gods, creating drabs, the power of breaths, that you would have the life force of 50 people inside of you – these were all new and interesting ideas and I was happy to spend time in a world exploring them. The characters weren’t even too bad, both princesses having to learn everything anew, the strange Godking and his priests, the two mysterious not quite mercenaries - but they didn’t spring to life for me. The problem was that the writing wasn’t up to telling the tale. So while the ideas were interesting, they weren’t gripping, and while the plot moved along, nothing really surprised me, and the two princesses had too similar dilemmas, the first one telegraphing the second. It was never really shown how the evil plotters were succeeding in their plots, nor how Hallendren would survive sans army.. It was the beginning of a series, I can see other tales coming out of this world, but I wished the writing had more depth to it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Natorade
Warbreaker was a light, fun fantasy read. One I don't hesitate to recommend. That said, perhaps I went in with too high of expectations, as this one felt a little phoned in. But a weak effort from Brandon Sanderson is still a good read.
The good: I loved Lightsong. His conflict with the position
The not so good: Siri and Vivenna just seemed cliché. Now, there's a reason I don't classify these as 'bad'. It's the prim and proper vs the rebellious, spirited sibling; each learning the benefits of the other's outlook. However their growth, especially Vivenna's evolution, is enjoyable, if not predictable.
The bad: While there were a couple surprises, I had predicted much of the revelations well before the end. I also found the magic system to be my least favorite from Sanderson. Especially coming off the stellar system of metals from his Mistborn series.
All-in-all a very enjoyable read. Were another book written in the same universe I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up. I'm glad to see the success Sanderson is enjoying, and look forward to what's next.
The good: I loved Lightsong. His conflict with the position
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thrust upon him, and how he reacted to that was great. It was a character that could have come across as unsympathetic, given his position of abject luxury. Nightblood and Vasher's story was also well done, if rather slow to progress.The not so good: Siri and Vivenna just seemed cliché. Now, there's a reason I don't classify these as 'bad'. It's the prim and proper vs the rebellious, spirited sibling; each learning the benefits of the other's outlook. However their growth, especially Vivenna's evolution, is enjoyable, if not predictable.
The bad: While there were a couple surprises, I had predicted much of the revelations well before the end. I also found the magic system to be my least favorite from Sanderson. Especially coming off the stellar system of metals from his Mistborn series.
All-in-all a very enjoyable read. Were another book written in the same universe I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up. I'm glad to see the success Sanderson is enjoying, and look forward to what's next.
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LibraryThing member bluesalamanders
Vivenna, eldest princess of Idris, has been trained from birth to become the wife of the God King of the neighboring Hallandren. Her youngest sister Siri has spent her seventeen years avoiding her royal lessons. So neither is prepared when their father bends the treaty and sends Siri to Hallandren
But that's only one of several threads that weave through Warbreaker, and only two of half a dozen main characters, all of who are distinct enough to make switching between threads easily followed and fascinating to read.
I very much liked it. There is a slew of interesting characters, some of who are not quite what they seem, and all of who are interesting to read about. The settings are a bit askew from the typical fantasy world, and the magical system is another unique Sanderson one. He has a knack for coming up with unusual forms of magic. The breath-magic in Warbreaker is very interesting in how it's generated and how it can be used. However, the color aspect of it, which was supposed to also be important somehow, never quite made sense. Almost...but not really.
Definitely recommended, especially if you like Sanderson's other books.
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instead of Vivenna.But that's only one of several threads that weave through Warbreaker, and only two of half a dozen main characters, all of who are distinct enough to make switching between threads easily followed and fascinating to read.
I very much liked it. There is a slew of interesting characters, some of who are not quite what they seem, and all of who are interesting to read about. The settings are a bit askew from the typical fantasy world, and the magical system is another unique Sanderson one. He has a knack for coming up with unusual forms of magic. The breath-magic in Warbreaker is very interesting in how it's generated and how it can be used. However, the color aspect of it, which was supposed to also be important somehow, never quite made sense. Almost...but not really.
Definitely recommended, especially if you like Sanderson's other books.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Not as good as it could be, lacking some connection and empathy with the characters, but as always with Brandon's work, set in a superbly imaginative world.
In the depths of history when the details of past events become a bit blurred, a kingdom splinted in the 'manywar'. The vibrant port and
This magic system is the highlight of the book - the transfer of souls into objects, awakening them and turning them into useful objects. It is never explained in full detail, although we do get quite a few details through Vivenna, as she explores her talents. It is much less impressive than the metals in Mistborn though - less is done using magic and many of the details remain unexplained. The more powerful levels - obtained by accruing lots of Breaths - seem to do strangely little, such as bringing Perfect Pitch. Those who do have even greater powers don't use them. It's really quite a clever concept especially the way it's tied into colours, it's just a shame more isn't made of it.
The narrative jumps around between various characters - Siri, Vivenna and some highly imbued Returned. The rapid nature of the POV shifts means that we hardly get to empathise with the characters, and their rapid conversions of view don't help either. Maybe Vivenna garners a little sympathy, but her heavy-handed social commentary doesn't help matters.
There are, as one might expect from BS a lot of twists in the plot, some of which are obvious, and others less so. Perhaps most disappointing is the complete lack of response from Idris. It's not as frenetic Sanderson Avalanche as some of his work, but the originally slow explanatory pace does pick up towards the slightly rushed but satisfying conclusion, and explains the ambiguity of the history and many of the other plot points that jar in the opening chapters.
Readable, and enjoyable in places, but ultimately far from being his best work.
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In the depths of history when the details of past events become a bit blurred, a kingdom splinted in the 'manywar'. The vibrant port and
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trading city of T'Telir worshipped the Returned God Kings, while the exiled Royal line in the mountain pastures of Idris worshipped the original and incorporeal god of Austre. As tensions rise between the two kingdoms the old treaty specifies that at the 20th birthday of the eldest daughter, a bride must be sent to the GodKing. In surprise decision the youngest daughter, the unpredictable and irreligiously ostentations Siri is sent in place of the more restrained and expected Vivenna. However Vivenna isn't happy at having her lifetimes training supplanted and heads incognito into the depraved and colourful city to redeem her birthright and rescue her sister from the terrors of the Lifeless GodKing. Before she can do so she will have to come to terms with the Cities profligate use of Breaths and BioChromatic aura, Awakening inanimate objects around her.This magic system is the highlight of the book - the transfer of souls into objects, awakening them and turning them into useful objects. It is never explained in full detail, although we do get quite a few details through Vivenna, as she explores her talents. It is much less impressive than the metals in Mistborn though - less is done using magic and many of the details remain unexplained. The more powerful levels - obtained by accruing lots of Breaths - seem to do strangely little, such as bringing Perfect Pitch. Those who do have even greater powers don't use them. It's really quite a clever concept especially the way it's tied into colours, it's just a shame more isn't made of it.
The narrative jumps around between various characters - Siri, Vivenna and some highly imbued Returned. The rapid nature of the POV shifts means that we hardly get to empathise with the characters, and their rapid conversions of view don't help either. Maybe Vivenna garners a little sympathy, but her heavy-handed social commentary doesn't help matters.
There are, as one might expect from BS a lot of twists in the plot, some of which are obvious, and others less so. Perhaps most disappointing is the complete lack of response from Idris. It's not as frenetic Sanderson Avalanche as some of his work, but the originally slow explanatory pace does pick up towards the slightly rushed but satisfying conclusion, and explains the ambiguity of the history and many of the other plot points that jar in the opening chapters.
Readable, and enjoyable in places, but ultimately far from being his best work.
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LibraryThing member dragonb
Took a little bit longer than usual for me to get into this one, but eventually did, and enjoyed it. I love the cover. The world is new and imaginative. I find it amazing that Sanderson does a slightly different style with each work. This one was a quite a bit funnier and wittier than the others.
Would recommend to anyone.
(and love the cover)
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(except Alcatraz)Would recommend to anyone.
(and love the cover)
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LibraryThing member willowsmom
I LOVED this book. The plot was fast-paced and complex, but I didn't need a set of notes to follow it...and the concept of BioChromatic breath was very fascinating, and definitely one that I'd love to see him explore again. Sanderson's characters were well developed, believable (and likable)
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characters that really kept my attention. There was just enough sly humor to keep me giggling...especially those mercenaries. Oh, lord, there could have been an entire book written just on the Laurel-and-Hardyesque routine between Denth and Tonk Fah (if Laurel and Hardy had been evil mercenaries, that is) and I would have read it in one sitting. As it was, I read the book in two :). This was my first introduction to Brandon Sanderson's writing, and I can't wait to head back to the library to see what else they have by him. Highly recommended! Show Less
LibraryThing member etimme
Great book, awful title. Sanderson is a fresh new voice in the fantasy genre, and has quickly become one of my favorite authors. In Warbreaker he creates a new magic system that is, in the traditional of Mistborn, defined by clear rules and principles which he articulates to the reader. I love both
Sanderson created a unique set of characters for the book, and had just the right number of view points, I think. He also snubs his nose at the reader a bit by filling his world with one dimensional archetypes only to flip things on their head and leave the audience knowing that they underestimated him. This book continues an ongoing theme of shades of grey and nothing being as simple as it seems, and makes for a great read in the spirit of Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy.
My one regret is that he sets up a sequel so perfectly and then states on his blog that it is years out, at best, since he's committed to both The Wheel of Time and his other properties - frustrating, but reading Warbreaker makes me anxious for The Gathering Storm, if not for the overwhelming and unnecessary number of viewpoints Jordan left as his legacy.
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this aspect of his writing and how prolific he is an author, if not how ADD he is with his writing, skipping from world to world as freely as he does. This latter aspect reminds me a lot of King, and while it frustrates the reader, it allows him to refine and improve his style, so each book is clearly better than the last, instead of only incrementally.Sanderson created a unique set of characters for the book, and had just the right number of view points, I think. He also snubs his nose at the reader a bit by filling his world with one dimensional archetypes only to flip things on their head and leave the audience knowing that they underestimated him. This book continues an ongoing theme of shades of grey and nothing being as simple as it seems, and makes for a great read in the spirit of Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy.
My one regret is that he sets up a sequel so perfectly and then states on his blog that it is years out, at best, since he's committed to both The Wheel of Time and his other properties - frustrating, but reading Warbreaker makes me anxious for The Gathering Storm, if not for the overwhelming and unnecessary number of viewpoints Jordan left as his legacy.
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LibraryThing member librisissimo
Substance: Another well-thought out theory of magic, approaching technology, with logical foundations and reasonable extrapolations. Heroic heroes, and some repentant ones; villainous villains, and some surprises; lots of believable character development and political shenanigans. Sanderson
Style: Sanderson does not indulge in artificial suspense-makers to tell his story: no flashbacks (memories, yes); no back-stitches (the story proceeds chronologically); no forebodings (but an interesting use of foreseeing).
Caveats: Some infelicities of phrasing and foolish typos indicate an inordinate reliance on spell-checkers instead of copy editors.
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understands people and lets them display their character rather than telling us about it. Major Moral of the Story - look inside the cover; or, as a particularly astute politician once said: Trust, but verify.Style: Sanderson does not indulge in artificial suspense-makers to tell his story: no flashbacks (memories, yes); no back-stitches (the story proceeds chronologically); no forebodings (but an interesting use of foreseeing).
Caveats: Some infelicities of phrasing and foolish typos indicate an inordinate reliance on spell-checkers instead of copy editors.
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LibraryThing member xenchu
This was a good fantasy. The magic system was well worked out. There were twists and turns and surprises aplenty. There is also politics and a great deal of action.
The story is well written and has a lot of fast action. I recommend this book.
The story is well written and has a lot of fast action. I recommend this book.
LibraryThing member Herenya
Warbreaker takes several ideas found in Sanderson's first novel Elantris - arranged marriage, a religion in which the gods are physically present (and furthermore, were once mere mortals) - and explores them in quite a different way.
The treaty between Hallandren and Idris, the remnants of
Lightsong is one of the Returned, and the god of bravery. (Returned have supposedly died with honour and are returned to life as immortals with a powerful BioChromatic breath - more on that later; they're treated as gods). He is much more interested in picking holes in his religion's theology and being generally lazy than involving himself in politics. But as the political climate intensifies and Lightsong begins to piece together more clues as to his former, mortal life, he finds his disinterest hard to maintain
Imminent and disastrous war threatens between Hallandren and Idris, and the enigmatic and powerful Vasher and his sentient sword are on the prowl.
Sanderson does original epic fantasy really, really well - the characters are convincing and enjoyable, the magic system is original and complex, the plot captivating with unexpected twists and interesting mysteries to unravel, and a nice balance between humour, reflection (thought-provoking-ness) and suspense. I could remember most of the main plot points, a few details and not much more, yet I still found it very difficult to put down!
The magic system may be complicated, but it is vividly explained - if you are in the dark, it is because certain characters are as well and you are sharing in their confusion. It is also remarkably very different to anything else I've encountered, especially its link to colour. (Each person is born with one BioChromatic breath and it is possible to give it away, or gain more. Breath can be used to Awaken inanimate objects and give them Commands - the more breath someone has, the greater power they have as an Awakener. Awakening also requires something to drain colour from. Increased breath grants other abilities, amongst them perfect pitch and perfect colour recognition. It's all called the Iridescent Tones and I'm not an expert on it all.) The world-building, too, is really well handled and well-written - there is something colourful and vivid to it. The changes in points of view are equally well managed.
Characters are strong and delightful, with convincing flaws and shades of grey. They have complex motivations and are generally not who they first appear to be. First time of reading, I was drawn in by Siri's, and then Vivenna's stories - both of which are emotional and involve a lot of tension and growing up. The second time I read this, I found myself really enjoying reading about Lightsong. There are other humorous moments, but Lightsong is constantly making jokes. He's sarcastic and witty, and keeps trying to challenge everything. The result is a likable, funny character who doesn't feel at all stereotypical.
Still, I have to say, I have a strange attachment to Vasher's sentient sword. Nightblood gets less time than anyone else and likes killing people a lot, but has an amusing, child-like character. And Vasher is really intriguing...
Warbreaker raises a lot of interesting thoughts, about religion and faith, morals and ethics, responsibility and action versus inaction, humility and hypocrisy. And it raises questions for discussion in a thought-provoking manner, rather than throwing its own conclusions down your throat. I like that the story - and more specifically, the characters - stop and ask questions.
I was left feeling a couple of things had been a little anti-climatic, but upon reflection, I realise there is a good reason for why things play out the way they do. My only real criticism is that I would have liked to see more interaction between Siri and Vivenna - but I guess you can't have everything.
Ultimately, Warbreaker does not disappoint. It resolves the main conflicts without tying up every little thread, and it is nice to have the space to puzzle over some of those unanswered questions. There is definitely room for a sequel, and as much as I am curious and would love to read one, I don't feel it needs it.
The treaty between Hallandren and Idris, the remnants of
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Hallandren's former royal family, demands a marriage between Hallandren's Returned God King and the King of Idris' daughter. Vivenna has been training for this marriage all her life, but at the last minute her father decides to send her rebellious younger sister, Siri, instead. As Siri is forced into an unwelcome marriage, Vivenna finds herself suddenly purposeless. She runs away to Hallandren's capital to make contact with her father's spies, hoping for a chance to rescue her sister - and prevent a war. If she can. Lightsong is one of the Returned, and the god of bravery. (Returned have supposedly died with honour and are returned to life as immortals with a powerful BioChromatic breath - more on that later; they're treated as gods). He is much more interested in picking holes in his religion's theology and being generally lazy than involving himself in politics. But as the political climate intensifies and Lightsong begins to piece together more clues as to his former, mortal life, he finds his disinterest hard to maintain
Imminent and disastrous war threatens between Hallandren and Idris, and the enigmatic and powerful Vasher and his sentient sword are on the prowl.
Sanderson does original epic fantasy really, really well - the characters are convincing and enjoyable, the magic system is original and complex, the plot captivating with unexpected twists and interesting mysteries to unravel, and a nice balance between humour, reflection (thought-provoking-ness) and suspense. I could remember most of the main plot points, a few details and not much more, yet I still found it very difficult to put down!
The magic system may be complicated, but it is vividly explained - if you are in the dark, it is because certain characters are as well and you are sharing in their confusion. It is also remarkably very different to anything else I've encountered, especially its link to colour. (Each person is born with one BioChromatic breath and it is possible to give it away, or gain more. Breath can be used to Awaken inanimate objects and give them Commands - the more breath someone has, the greater power they have as an Awakener. Awakening also requires something to drain colour from. Increased breath grants other abilities, amongst them perfect pitch and perfect colour recognition. It's all called the Iridescent Tones and I'm not an expert on it all.) The world-building, too, is really well handled and well-written - there is something colourful and vivid to it. The changes in points of view are equally well managed.
Characters are strong and delightful, with convincing flaws and shades of grey. They have complex motivations and are generally not who they first appear to be. First time of reading, I was drawn in by Siri's, and then Vivenna's stories - both of which are emotional and involve a lot of tension and growing up. The second time I read this, I found myself really enjoying reading about Lightsong. There are other humorous moments, but Lightsong is constantly making jokes. He's sarcastic and witty, and keeps trying to challenge everything. The result is a likable, funny character who doesn't feel at all stereotypical.
Still, I have to say, I have a strange attachment to Vasher's sentient sword. Nightblood gets less time than anyone else and likes killing people a lot, but has an amusing, child-like character. And Vasher is really intriguing...
Warbreaker raises a lot of interesting thoughts, about religion and faith, morals and ethics, responsibility and action versus inaction, humility and hypocrisy. And it raises questions for discussion in a thought-provoking manner, rather than throwing its own conclusions down your throat. I like that the story - and more specifically, the characters - stop and ask questions.
I was left feeling a couple of things had been a little anti-climatic, but upon reflection, I realise there is a good reason for why things play out the way they do. My only real criticism is that I would have liked to see more interaction between Siri and Vivenna - but I guess you can't have everything.
Ultimately, Warbreaker does not disappoint. It resolves the main conflicts without tying up every little thread, and it is nice to have the space to puzzle over some of those unanswered questions. There is definitely room for a sequel, and as much as I am curious and would love to read one, I don't feel it needs it.
Show Less
Awards
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Fantasy — 2010)
David Gemmell Legend Award (Shortlist — 2010)
Whitney Award (Finalist — Speculative Fiction — 2009)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-06-09
Physical description
592 p.; 6.46 inches
ISBN
0765320304 / 9780765320308
Local notes
Signed (San Francisco, February 2013).