Book rec: Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

[dangermousie]

I am fast discovering my love for Sanderson's fantasy novels. I adored Elantris and now, in the middle of Warbreaker, I love that book even better!

Warbreaker is a stand-alone (yesss!) novel about Vivenna and Siri, two very different sisters who, in a way, switch fates.

Hallandren is a powerful kingdom based on colors (even the alphabet is color-based) and the powers these colors can bestow. It is awash in people who can use colors to take other people's essence or manifest other powers, and even bring people back from the dead (even if that will result in pretty much a zombie). It is ruled by the 'Returned' - people who somehow came back from the dead and are treated as Gods and, above them all, is Susebron, the God King, someone who was never alive - who 'returned' from being a stillborn. And Hallandren has its eye on Idris, a poor, small neighbor kingdom.

From childhood, the King of Idris' oldest daughter, Vivenna, was promised in marriage to the fearsome God King of a powerful neighboring kingdom as a way to avoid war. Vivenna is dutiful, poised, ladylike. She has been brought up to know the ins and outs of her future husband's kingdom. Siri, the youngest, is the polar opposite - never meant to be anyone of particular importance, Siri is bad at obedience, defies her father regularly, and loves flaunting colors - the ultimate sin in Idris, where it is believed that colors can invite people who will steal one's 'Breath' (a sort of hybrid soul and power concept). So when push comes to shove, and the King has to send his daughter to marriage and almost certain death (even if the reputedly monstrous God King will leave her alive, war is coming and then the princess becomes a hostage and eventually dead), he cannot bear to send his favorite Vivenna. He sends Siri instead.

And then, the proper, prim Vivenna does something unthinkable - she disguises herself and sets off to the faraway Hallandren to rescue her sister.

The novel follows multiple characters - Vivenna and her adventure quest plus her interactions with a bunch of rebels and a mysterious man who may or may not be the key in stopping the war. Meanwhile, Siri is navigating the dangerous waters of the court and coming to terms with the fact that she is married to a person whom she is not supposed to speak to or touch (well, touch to the minimum necessary to get an heir). Oh, and there is Lightsong, a resurrected God who questions just how divine he really is.

I LOVE IT!!!! The worldbuilding is great, I adore both Vivenna and Siri (though confess to liking Siri just a smidge more), the plot is complicated and things are not always as they seem (let's just say that God King and the priests are not really what/how you think they are).

And if you need an OTP, Siri/Susibron hit all my kinks, in a very very unexpected way. Let's just say that between the two of them, the princess in distress is not who you think it is.

So yes, super super addicted!

Comments

[timescout.livejournal.com]

Isn't Warbreaker great? I ordered bunch of Sanderson's books after your post about Elantris and read both it and Warbreaker within few days of getting them. Loved them! Next in line is the 1st book of Mistborn.

I may end up getting more of his books in the near future. When I get my budget balanced again that is. ;P I've been a bit of a spendrift of late and there's the Philly trip coming up too...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I have Mistborn too and am saving it for my trip to Scotland as that's a long flight. I was going to save Warbreaker too, but it looked too tempting.

[rockharlequin.livejournal.com]

Oooh lordie, I can't believe you're reccing Warbreaker. Not only is the book really good, the man behind it is amazing too~ Well... at least to a poor college student like me who has pangs of guilt every time she err.. acquires something. I adore that he posted his book online for free, and that he has enough trust in his writing and his audience that he knows that they'll buy it when they can. And I'm a sucker for AUs and magic and it's-not-what-it-seems shenanigans, so this was a no-brainer :3

P.S. To those who want to download the book, go here http://brandonsanderson.com/book/Warbreaker/ and then on the sidebar to the right, under the image to the book there'll be a link to Warbreaker Rights and Downloads. I could link that page directly, but everyone should read what he wrote. He's nice ^u^

[celestialdescent]

Thanks for the link. I can't wait to check this book out for myself! =D

[wayfares.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link! It's rare enough, and so inspiring that he puts it out for free? You don't get that often.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That is super nice of him!

But yes, I am about 1/3 of the way through and so addicted!

[once-a-weaver.livejournal.com]

This sounds very interesting. I think I've only read his Mistborn, which didn't excite me. But this description kind of makes me want to pick up reading again after a drought.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[linfer.livejournal.com]

I loved the first part of Mistborn and hope I can finish the trilogy this year.
And I burrowed "Elantris" from a friend of mine and am very much looking forward to it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I loved Elantris to bits, enjoy!

[laleia.livejournal.com]

I absolutely love Warbreaker! Even if the mercenaries break my heart ... :( I also liked Siri more than Vivenna for most of the book, but Vivenna started to grow on me after her huge mistake/realization, when she finally started ... maturing? Growing? Realizing how stupid she'd been.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Siri is easier to like - she is less rule-bound and yet smart and brave. I liked her from the start, but I think I started to adore her when she basically decided 'fuck it' and blew up at God King. Also, I am now at the part where she is teaching him to read/write and I automatically go for spreading literacy. So yes, big Siri fan.

Vivenna is very dutybound and wouldn't be the life of the party but I like how quietly strong she is. In some ways, she is a lot scarier than Siri (and I get the sense that while it's still untapped, Siri can be plenty scary).

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

I remember him as the author who tried to get into poses that feamle fantasy characters did on book covers and subsequently injured himself in the back. :D

The book sounds pretty interesting, thanks for the rec!

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

*female

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOLOLOL I need to see this!

[kilerkki.livejournal.com]

That was Jim Hines you're thinking of, I think! His blog post is here.

[akatsukichii.livejournal.com]

I just got Elantris on my eReader and it's on my to read list. I suppose I should read it then..and Warbreaker sounds amazing...now I need to read that too..oh where's the time?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay! They are both really good!

[kilerkki.livejournal.com]

I really need to read Warbreaker one of these days. I read Elantris years ago--I actually bought a signed copy from him at BYU Bookstore back when it first came out, because no one else was coming to the signing and he looked a little lonely. Then his career really took off, but after being rather disappointed by the first Mistborn (too much cool magic system, not enough interesting characters) I haven't picked up anything more of his. Even though I did take his Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy class at BYU, five or so years ago, which was a positive experience on the whole. I am still astonished at how prolific this man is. He's basically published a Fat Fantasy Novel a year since 2005, and sometimes two.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Awwww, that's a cute story.

I think, from what I've seen (haven't read it myself), Mistborn is the most polarizing of his books.

[christysg.livejournal.com]

Thanks for introducing another obsession XD I'm inhaling it as we speak, it's such a delight! I'm only 1/4 into the book, but…Lightsong!! :D

Was reading it on the bus home just now, and I did a half LOL/spit when I got to the [spoiler]Siri-fake-moaning part. HAHAHAHHA XD This is such an unexpected book and for someone who doesn't really read fantasy, it has captured my attention like no other. It totally NEEDS a movie, because I want to see Hallandren in real life!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ahahahahaha I loved that scene. Siri is totally my fave character in this.