Blurb:

From the author of the connected universe of the Cosmere comes the standalone novel from which spring characters who later play roles in the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive.

In the world of Warbreaker, each person is born endowed with the power of one Breath―which can be sold and collected by others, then used to Awaken objects and even corpses to do their bidding. A few individuals who die in glory return as gods, with the power of thousands of Breath, but no memory of their mortal lives―and are enthroned in the Court of Gods in Hallandren’s capital. To Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris, the abuse of Breath and the claim of the Returned to be gods are repugnant blasphemy. But with one princess wed to the God King of their nation’s enemies in a bid for peace, the other finds she must rely on Breath-using mercenaries to try to rescue her sister from her monstrous husband.

Lightsong the Bold, a lesser god who doubts his own religion, starts investigating mysterious murders in the Court of Gods and uncovers haunting clues to his own forgotten past. He is one of four gods who controls the army of Awakened Lifeless soldiers, and one faction is inciting an invasion of Idris despite the marriage treaty. Vasher―wielder of the sapient sword Nightblood―works behind the scenes against the declaration of war, but Lightsong’s visions of bloodshed prophesy its inevitability. Can the new queen, unaware of her sister’s imminent rescue attempt, persuade Lightsong and also somehow get through to the aloof God King―who she has been forbidden to speak to or even look in the eyes―before her homeland is destroyed?

Review:

“Every man is a hero of his own story.”

Having now gotten through five of Brandon Sanderson’s books, I can confidently say that I will read anything that this man writes. Warbreaker reaffirms that whether it's a series or a standalone novel, he can consistently deliver incredible stories. This book is a testament to his talent, featuring rich, vibrant narratives, complex characters, an intriguing world, and a unique magic system. All fantasy lovers will find something to enjoy in this novel.

For this book, I decided to try something different and listened to the graphic audio version, intrigued by the idea of a full cast of characters. Having only recently started exploring audiobooks, this was my first experience with graphic audio, which offers an almost cinematic feel to your reading journey. I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed hearing the narrative in this format—especially the dialogue, which was elevated by the various voice actors. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend giving it a try.

In this story, we are introduced to a kingdom on the brink of war and two sisters who embark on their own journeys to prevent it. Their contrasting paths begin with a twist on the classic peasant/royalty swap archetype. Siri and Vivenna, princesses of Idris, have their roles swapped when their father, hoping to avert a devastating war, decides to send Siri to marry the God King of Hallandren instead of Vivenna. Vivenna, the eldest, had spent her life preparing to wed the monstrous king, while Siri had accepted her role as unimportant and redundant. With their roles reversed, Siri must quickly learn to navigate the court politics of Hallandren, while Vivenna secretly follows, enlisting the help of mercenaries and criminals to free her younger sister from this horrible fate.

Along with Siri and Vivenna’s perspectives, we also get two additional points of view guiding us through the story. Though less frequent, we have Vasher, a dark and mysterious man introduced in the bloody opening scene, and Lightsong, one of the Returned in the Court of Gods, known as the God of Bravery. It’s worth mentioning that Lightsong is easily my favorite character in this book as he has some of the funniest and most engaging dialogue I’ve ever encountered in a Sanderson novel. From his very first scene, it’s clear that Lightsong doubts his divinity and often mocks his role in the Court of Gods. Tended to by a group of priests, Lightsong first comes across as lazy and apathetic, but is also kind and intelligent. It’s impossible not to like him, and although he has a lot of comedic moments in his scenes, his transformational journey still packs an emotional punch.

Paced a little slower than Sanderson’s other books, Warbreaker places a lot of focus on characterisation. Before this, I read Elantris and felt that the characters lacked distinctive voices and the necessary complexities to fully engage me. However, Warbreaker does not suffer from this issue at all. The characters are unique and distinct, with many standing in stark contrast to others, making their voices even more memorable. The book is rich with dialogue that fully conveys each character's personality and motivations. This is also why the graphic audio version was such a fun way to experience Warbreaker—the different voices assigned to each character made the story even more enjoyable. If you enjoy a character driven story then this is definitely a book you need to check out. 

I won’t go into too much detail when it comes to the complex magic system found in Warbreaker. Sanderson has proven time and time again that he is a master of crafting vibrant and intricate magic systems so it’s no surprise that this fantasy features a particularly unique one. Warbreaker deals with BioChromatic magic, specifically, BioChromatic Breath which allows people to use a combination of colour, intent and breath to animate objects and gain various levels of power from perfect pitch to extended life. It’s an incredibly fascinating feature of the novel and we get to see characters interact with it in very different ways. Vivenna, for example, has a very strong aversion to this magic as her upbringing considers its practices heretical, whereas Siri is more curious and appreciative of its capabilities. 

As always, Sanderson delves into thought-provoking themes that add depth to each character we meet. The burden of responsibility is a recurring motif, with the weight of power driving many characters' actions. Transformation is another key theme, evident in each character's journey, alongside sacrifice, trust, and autonomy. These themes pop up a lot in Sanderson’s works, and I love how he offers a fresh perspective each time. Every character introduces a new angle to familiar motifs, making their journeys even more profound.

One final element I’d like to highlight is romance, which I haven't discussed much in my Sanderson reviews. As a big fan of compelling romantic subplots, I have to commend how Warbreaker handles this aspect. Epic fantasy often fumbles romantic plotlines, either by not allowing them room to evolve or by addressing them superficially. While Sanderson's Mistborn series features some sweet romantic relationships, Warbreaker proves he can craft an endearing romance even within a shorter narrative. For this reason, if you, like me, enjoy romance and are unsure where to start your Cosmere journey, Warbreaker might be a great place to begin.

This is a book I’m certain I’ll reread in the future, as it hits all the fantasy notes I love. It’s rare to get so much out of a standalone novel, but Warbreaker delivers and then some. Having finished Mistborn Era 1, Elantris, and now this book, I’m excited to dive into the Stormlight Archive. Next stop: The Way of Kings!