This review is Spoiler Free.
WarBreaker is not only my favorite Brandon Sanderson book, it’s easily one of my all time favorite books. I’ve only finished reading it two nights ago, but I’ve already recommended it widely.
One of the big issues I have with multi-viewpoint written books is that I often dislike a character or two, and make a little inward sigh when I see that the next chapter is about them. (I’m looking at you, WoT.) With Warbreaker, I was subject to the twist of emotions that came from being disappointed that character A’s chapter was over, but also exhilarated that I was finally going to see what was going on with Character B. I never felt myself making that little sigh.
There seems to always be a character that at some point (very prevalent in Scifi/Fantasty) that barfs up the history-of-the-world-to-date/how-magic-works/social-ettiqute-of-the-realm/etc. Sanderson is the kung-fu master of controlled Barfing. While the Alcatraz books, to me, are the superlative version of controlled Barfing, Warbreaker’s barfing is also quite excellent because the Barfing actually illuminates the character of the Barfer at the same time it’s illuminating us, the Barfee. Sanderson is brilliant at conveying the complexities of his magic system in his prose, and never resorts to horrible analogies or metaphors to get the point across, like using the word Barf.
Warbreaker, after a short but gentle curve to get you settled in to this new world, doesn’t let up. One event after the next steadily builds the drama, excitement and mystery of the world. Even if every single primary character (and almost all the non-POV characters) weren’t incredibly engaging on their own, you would still read just because you had to know *why*. He hooks you that good.
If you’ve only read the online version, the book is worth the cost just for the fantastic cover art.
