Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Warbreaker

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Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

28 reviews

undercoverhorse's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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giulianasbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Creo que ha llegado un punto en mi vida en el que Brandon Sanderson se ha vuelto uno de mis escritores favoritos y es incapaz que me decepcione.
En este libro se nos presenta una magia súper peculiar, y es que la magia viene de los alientos de los dioses por los colores. Menuda imaginación hay que tener para hacer algo así, tan original e inusual.

Sinopsis:
En el reino norteño de Idris su monarca se ha visto obligado a llegar a un acuerdo para garantizar la paz por el que se compromete casar a su hija con el rey-dios de su enemigo ancestral, el reino de Hallandren. Sin embargo en el último momento el rey Dedelin se ve incapaz de enviar a su amada primogénita, Vivenna, y manda en su lugar a su revoltosa e independiente hija menor, Siri. Esto trastocará para siempre la inestable situación entre los dos reinos y convertirá a Siri en la pieza clave para evitar la guerra.

Los personajes me han parecido muy buenos, y me encanta que cada capítulo tenga perspectivas distintas. Creo que el único punto en contra ha sido Vivenna, porque no es hasta el final que me empieza (tampoco mucho) a caer bien. Me ha parecido un personaje un poco insoportable y sus capítulos se me han hecho eternos. La evolución de todos me ha encantado.

Mi opinión sincera es que el libro está muy bien, pero hay partes que se me han hecho un poco pesadas. Elantris, otro libro del Cosmere, me pareció mucho mejor y siento que conecté más con esos personajes que con estos. Como siempre, los libros de Sanderson son bastante densos y con mucham
religión de por medio, pero las 100 últimas páginas siempre son una maravilla (básicamente porque los desenlaces de sus libros son apoteósicos).
Obviamente seguiré leyendo a este señor (porque a este paso me voy a leer hasta su lista de la compra y me va a encantar), y no puedo esperar más a leer todos los libros del Cosmere💫

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renpuspita's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5 stars

PSA: While I read my paperback copy, Brandon Sanderson also post the complete draft of Warbreaker in his website. Complete with his reasons why he published it in the first place and also annotation for each chapter. For me, the highlight of this is not only how generous Sanderson to share his complete work with us reader, but also to know behind his creative process when I read the annotation. You might want to check them in this link: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/warbreaker-prologue/

“My life to yours. My Breath become yours.”

It's start very slow for my liking and continue doing so until 2nd part of the book, then it's finally gain momentum. Reading Warbreaker remind me so much of Elantris and also a reminder that I need to resume Mistborn reading, lol (I stop reading book 2 for many years). Just like Sanderson, it can be too confusing to read at first. The world building and magic system is again, unique. And I have a guts that Sanderson don't want to info dumping but that make me feel frustrated to because of so many things that shrouded in mystery. Plus, some of mysteries are still left unsolved in the end. While Warbreaker is a standalone, Sanderson once said that he intend to write the continuation, but the book will wait after Stormlight Archive book 5, Mistborn era 3 and Elantris's sequel. Talk about torture and I'm worried if Sanderson will write it after all. Man is a wonder, he can write faster than some of fantasy writer I know (cough, GRRM and Rothfuss, cough), but with so many of his ongoing projects it will be a miracle when I finally can read Warbreaker's sequel.

Sanderson start this book with a simple yet intriguing premise. Two kingdoms at a cold war, Idris and Hallandren. Idris must send their princess to become Hallandren's God King wife, because of the treaty. Yet, the King of Idris, Dedelin, hesitate to send his oldest daughter, Vivenna. Because Vivenna is apparently his favorite child. So, he send his youngest, the reckless, unimportant princess, Siri. This event will finally set some things in motion because together with Siri's arrival in T'Telir, suddenly talk of war become louder and louder in the Court of God, the God King's palace. Meanwhile, one of the God in the Court of God, Lightsong didn't believe of his divinity and constantly questioning himself why he become a God. In the other side, Vivenna, no longer bear the burden to become God King's wife, decide to go to Hallandren to rescue her sister while her real reason is, she think she now become unimportant and she want to find her purpose again. All of them, unaware of one single determine force, Vasher with his sentient sword, Nightblood currently have his own agenda in Hallandren.

“What I’m trying to say is that you don’t understand a man until you understand what makes him do what he does. Every man is a hero in his own story, Princess. Murderers don’t believe that they’re to blame for what they do. Thieves, they think they deserve the money they take. Dictators, they believe they have the right—for the safety of their people and the good of the nation—to do whatever they wish.””

Warbreaker are told from 4 major Point of View. Siri's, Vivenna's, Lightsong's and Vasher's. All of their PoV told separately while some party will interact with each other especially Siri and Lightsong, and then Vivenna with Vasher . With Siri, we get to know she who once a carefree person now being confined in the palace in order to bear the God King, Susebron's heir. With Lightsong, we will amused to read his thought and ramblings that constantly challenge his own godhood while his priest, Llarimar support him patiently. We also got his interaction with a fellow god, a goddess called Blushweaver that seems ambitious and believe that war with Idris is for the good of Hallandren. With Vivenna, we will get a glimpse into her and Idrians religion, Austrim that worship Austre, God of Colors. Austrim seems like a boring and prude religion because they condemn brightful color and they must dress properly with all of their body closed. Why, remind me of some of religion in real life, lel. Vivenna is so gung-ho to save Siri, and she hate Hallandren passionately. A hate that soon will be encourage by a mercenary named Denth with his crews, Tonk Fah, Jewel and a Lifeless named Clod. While Vasher is...Vasher is a mysterious dude and apparently have some unresolved past with Denth.

From all PoV, I liked Lightsong's PoV the most. He kind of remind me to Kelsier but I liked Lightsong more. His jovial manner, sarcasm, constant question about godhood and religions in particular are pretty interesting to read. In the end, he become a god like what he supposed to be and I found I almost shed a tear reading his part. A true God and heroic to the end. The idea of Lightsong, the Returned (those who died and them comeback to live) is come from how if God and Goddesses really live among human, rather than ambiguous concept like monotheism in which their believer can't see their appearance with their own eyes. A pretty interesting premise, I can said! This god and goddesses actually just like an immortal, yet they constantly worshiped under the religion, Iridescent Tones and they live lavishly with a perfect body and free from disease, just like God in the usual mythology. No wonder Lightsong didn't believe his own divinity. As for his fellow Goddess, Blushweaver the Beautiful, I think like this is how Sanderson want to write a femme fatale character. She's interesting, yes, and become contrast to innocent Siri and uptight Vivenna. Blushweaver also ambitious to the core, despite her flirtatious nature to Lightsong, but I just feel her to be so so, sadly.

Siri's PoV I found it endearing. I think Sanderson was awkward and clumsy when writing Vin and Elend's sudden romance in Mistborn book 1, but surprisely he do better with Siri's. The God King is not what he seems to be. I really love reading the God King aka Susebron and Siri's interaction despite Susebron's priest manipulation and intrigue behind them. At least I can feel Siri's fear when she must kneeling naked in the front of Susebron while Susebron doing nothing, fear that he might rape her. I'm dreading that time to come, but nope, nope and nope. Susebron is a cinnamon roll, Siri is obviously a better match for him and I understand now why Sanderson choose that option. I can said the romance is pretty well written and this is come from as an avid romance reader. There's also a scene when they finally consummated their marriage, but don't worry it's mostly fade to black. The charm of their relationship is the witty banter between Siri and Susebron and how they come to love for each other

What about Vivenna? I think Vivenna is the character with most development. She's start as a stern and very devout Austre worshipper, constantly condemn the use of Breath (like Awakening) and see with disdain to the colorful clothing of Hallandren citizen and its building. So full of herself despite also doubt of her own usefulness after she doesn't become Susebron's wife. It's easy to hate Vivenna, but Sanderson prove that people can change. Vivenna change because of her circumstances, but she change to be a better version of themselves. With Vivenna, I feel like Sanderson want to challenge his reader, what good of religion if you see people outside your religion with disdain and judge them so? Sanderson give Vivenna (and me as a reader) a shock event to change her perspective. That, not everything is what they seems and people should not that quick to judge others. He also write that while Austrims take their religion seriously, in the end they are quickly to accuse people to be blasphemer while forget their original coda, to be humble.

As for Vasher, he appear sporadic so we don't get his character development that much. His past and his connection to Denth also just reveal barely in the end. Contrary to Denth that Sanderson once explain that Denth is like a Kelsier, Vasher is anything but. He's grumpy, ragged, but his feelings are genuine. He's one of example in where appearance didn't matter, what matter the most is what he will do to prevent the upcoming war. From Vasher, we will finally get explanation about the magic system in the Warbreaker world, especially about BioChromatic Breath, the concept behind the Returned and how Awakening magic can work. It can be too confusing at first, although the concept itself are pretty simple at the first glance but it become complicated afterward. Because of course try to animating an inorganic object that didn't have soul in the first place will always not easy.

Warbreaker is one of title that make me glad I always recommend Sanderson's title when people ask for a good fantasy title. Yes, Warbreaker is very slow in the beginning to the middle, but gaining momentum through the end and finally some things make sense while some thread is still loose. Reading Warbreaker (and its wiki) feel like I need to read Stormlight Archive sooner since Warbreaker is part of Cosmere series and apparently Vasher (and Vivenna) will play important role to in the Stormlight Archive.

You are a god. To me, at least. It doesn’t matter how easily you can be killed, how much Breath you have, or how you look. It has to do with who you are and what you mean

NOTE: I don't know why there's rape as minor content warning, because there's no actual rape happen (not implied nor descriptive, to any characters). The "rape" part is just what Siri feel that she fear she will be raped by the God King, but that's not happening.

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bujo_bellel's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I really enjoyed this book, with all the character development arcs and the twists and turns. I really enjoyed reading the annotations by the author as the story progresses, it really made my reading experience much better. I liked learning about why the author decided to put a certain scene in the book, or why a character decided to do a certain thing. Although, sometimes I accidentally spoil myself by glancing at the 'spoilers' section, but most of the time, it helped me to understand the characters more. There were parts where I was uncertain about what was happening, but in the annotations, the author would explain why something was happening and if the characters were also confused. In the start, I was not very interested because I was not hooked into the story, which was what the author mentioned he was worried about, however, I was really hooked in after. Reading this book took me so long because I was in a reading slump and could not find time to read, as I had exams and a lot of homework, but I am glad that I am finally finished! Really looking forward to the sequel as the author mentioned it a couple of times in the annotations :)

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imbored_soillread's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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amiegold's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Vivenna has trained all of her life to marry the God King, ruler of a rival kingdom. When her untrained sister, Siri, is sent in her place, they both are forced to reacess their roles in the conflict between the two kingdoms. Things are not what either sister expects. This book has a lot of world building and a very fun magic system in which each person is born with a 'breath' that, when given away or collected, can awaken inanimate objects.

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cookiecat73's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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iono's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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jswecu's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

slayed

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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was my first book I have read from Brandon Sanderson, but I have been wanting to read a book from him for a few years. I heard him speak a few years ago at a book conference, and was immediately intrigued by his popular writing. It may have been an ambitious undertaking for someone that does not typically read high fantasy, but I had a really great time reading this! I initially heard about this book from someone I follow online, and I thought I would give it a shot. I was very pleased to find that this book has a "graphic audiobook" to accompany it, and I had such a wonderful time listening to "Warbreaker"! I did not know this was a type of audiobook offered, but I hope to find more like it in the future!
This story follows a few different points of view, but the main points of interest are two sisters who are princesses. One of them is to marry the God King, and the other sister sets off on an adventure to save her sister from a predestined fate. The God King is a silent and misunderstood man who is harboring his country's secrets. Will the sisters be reunited and will they be able to stop a seemingly inevitable war?
I did not know what to expect when I started this book, but from the first chapter I was sucked into this story. I 100% recommend the graphic audiobook, if you want to pick this up. The graphic audiobook is full cast, offers dramatic character readings, and has sound effects to accompany the story. I was a little worried that this fantasy book would be a little too political for my taste because it highlights two countries that are on the brink of a war, but I think the conflict was written in an entertaining way, and there was not too much discussion about politics that I would have been bored by. As this story is centralized around a forced marriage, there is a little romance weaved into the violence and betrayal. I think the romance offered a nice balance of "niceness" in a story that could have been much more bloody.
I think this book has a little bit for everyone: love, betrayal, war, politics, violence, friendship, and a huge adventure. I definitely look forward to reading more from Brandon Sanderson in the future!

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