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A review by mxcopmy
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
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? N/A
3.5
What if color not only brings beauty, but also power? Warbreaker introduces a world where color and “Breath” give life, gods walk among men and nothing seems what it is. Brandon Sanderson is known for his innovative magic systems and immersive worlds that he also creatively delivers here. Yet this book feels less successful and refined than some of his other works, which is why it was not the absolute top that I had expected.
Warbreaker is also the original work that made me interested in Sanderson, which is why my expectations were high. The synopsis also sounded promising, but when I started reading I already had my first doubts. The magic system and the world-building seemed simpler than the other complex structures that he normally works out. At the beginning it even felt a bit TOO simplistic. I noticed that there were a lot of sloppiness, such as the rich description of characters and fashion as well as the epic battles that were hard to find. A fairly simple example is that we never really get a description of The God King's appearance, which made it harder for me to imagine this world as a realistic whole, which I normally don't have a problem with in his other books. Furthermore, the characters in the book came less to life precisely because of the less detailed construction of the world. In addition, the repetitive storylines also made them quite superficial, which made it difficult for me to really empathize with them.
Another unexpected aspect was the prominent role of romance. He usually pays little attention to this in his other stories, which is something I usually appreciate in his books. In the beginning it felt forced and even a bit uncomfortable, but as the relationships developed it became a better integrated element than I had expected. In addition, the political intrigues and final plot lines provided that extra tension!
What I cannot deny is the addictive effect of this story. The combination of the accessibility and Sanderson's smooth writing style made sure that I kept saying: "One more chapter and then I'm going to sleep!" - and then I continued reading anyway. Lightsong in particular stood out as a more fascinating character, although not much happened in his storyline. By the last 200 pages I felt like I was on a fast train, because he managed to create something great plot by plot!
What can I say in conclusion? Well, that it was certainly an entertaining, but less memorable addition to the Cosmere. It is a nice book for those looking for a lighter fantasy experience or a first introduction to the Cosmere that leans more towards romance.
Warbreaker is also the original work that made me interested in Sanderson, which is why my expectations were high. The synopsis also sounded promising, but when I started reading I already had my first doubts. The magic system and the world-building seemed simpler than the other complex structures that he normally works out. At the beginning it even felt a bit TOO simplistic. I noticed that there were a lot of sloppiness, such as the rich description of characters and fashion as well as the epic battles that were hard to find. A fairly simple example is that we never really get a description of The God King's appearance, which made it harder for me to imagine this world as a realistic whole, which I normally don't have a problem with in his other books. Furthermore, the characters in the book came less to life precisely because of the less detailed construction of the world. In addition, the repetitive storylines also made them quite superficial, which made it difficult for me to really empathize with them.
Another unexpected aspect was the prominent role of romance. He usually pays little attention to this in his other stories, which is something I usually appreciate in his books. In the beginning it felt forced and even a bit uncomfortable, but as the relationships developed it became a better integrated element than I had expected. In addition, the political intrigues and final plot lines provided that extra tension!
What I cannot deny is the addictive effect of this story. The combination of the accessibility and Sanderson's smooth writing style made sure that I kept saying: "One more chapter and then I'm going to sleep!" - and then I continued reading anyway. Lightsong in particular stood out as a more fascinating character, although not much happened in his storyline. By the last 200 pages I felt like I was on a fast train, because he managed to create something great plot by plot!
What can I say in conclusion? Well, that it was certainly an entertaining, but less memorable addition to the Cosmere. It is a nice book for those looking for a lighter fantasy experience or a first introduction to the Cosmere that leans more towards romance.