“But time burns away behind us, leaving only ash and memory. That memory passes from mind to mind, then finally to my lips.”
After finishing The Way of Kings, someone recommended that I read Brandon Sanderson’s standalone Cosmere novel, Warbreaker (Tor 2009), before proceeding any further with The Stormlight Archives. Color me intrigued (do you see what I did there?!?) so I ordered the book and added it to my Sanderson stack. Two Sanderson’s a month might be a little ambitious, but Warbreaker isn’t nearly the behemoth of the Stormlight epics. I would have made quick work of it, but for some general blahness (me not the book), and then when I was fully hooked, cross-legged on the bed, hungrily devouring each word, I reached the end. Huh, I thought. Everything stopped abruptly, and I was thoroughly confused. Then I realized I WAS MISSING THE LAST 30 OR SO PAGES. Annoyance quickly replaced confusion. Colors! What’s a girl to do? This girl promptly ordered a new copy and waited, nose pressed to the glass, for it to arrive. (Yes, I know the full text is available for free on his website, but I need to hold books, smell books, feel books. It’s a me thing.)
Warbreaker is another example of excellent world and character building where the plot never dwindles while the world is built up around us. It opens with a jail break and murder and colors, magical and fantastical powers. And a sentient sword named Nightblood. (Two books in, and I’ve a lot to say about Sanderson’s powerful prologues!) What follows is the tale of two princesses, one who has spent her entire life training to be sent to marry the God King as per the treaty between her homeland Idris and Hallandren, the land she is a true heir to. And the younger sister, often disregarded as insignificant, is ultimately sent in her place. The decision by their father baffles and hurts them both.
Siri marries the God King, and her sister, Vivenna, steals away from Idris to save her sister but also to find a new purpose. There are stunning lesser gods with witty banter and bumbling mercenaries with secrets. There are colors, powerful and magical. There’s an army of Lifeless awaiting their commands. There are secrets. There is political upheaval and secret passages and “awakened” disruptive rodents. And then there’s Nightblood and the man who carries it. There’s romance. There’s power. And there’s Hoid, a character from The Way of Kings that I suggested (and still believe) is Sanderson putting himself in the text.
My only complaint was with Siri and Vivenna’s father. I felt like he deserved a bit more – his treatment of his daughters was a bit unrealistic, especially after the reader was given a little glimpse into his head.
All in all, solid read.
Read this book!
A Girl Named Tommi 