An incredible story. This was originally available as a pdf online for free (in draft form). A friend recommended it to me, and I liked it so much I read the whole thing on the computer. It's not a short book, and the computer screen was not pleasant, but the story made it worthwhile. Now that it's available in print, I had to pick up a copy so that I can read it again. ( )

I really enjoyed this fantasy novel. The worldbuilding was excellent, although it took me a long time to catch on to the magical system. That could be a problem with my comprehension abilities, not the writing, however. The characters were really great, especially one of the main female characters, Siri, who grows from a rebellious princess into a smart, strong leader. Her sister, Vivenna, wasn't as likable for me, mostly because she made some very stupid choices through most of the book, but by the end she had grown half a brain and I was ashamed to root for her as well. The only thing I didn't like about it's book was its exhausting length at 592 pages. I didn't notice it for the last 100 or 200 pages when the action really picked up, but there were some points in the middle that could have been more tighly edited. Still, this book's a winner and I will definitely be looking to read more of Sanderson's books. If you like your fantasy with strong female (and male!) characters, complex religious and political systems, and zombies (yes, zombies!) this book is for you. Four and a half stars. ( )

Excellent! Intelligent! A must-read! Believe all of the good reviews you read or hear - this book is fantastic! ( )

The latest is Brandon Sanderson's new novel Warbreaker. He has gone to great lengths to create a unique world with its own religions and politics and the result is almost flawless.

Siri is the youngest princess in the kingdom of Idris. She has had an easy life since she is not destined for any particular fate. When the time comes to send her oldest sister Vivenna to marry the God King of neighboring Hallandren, the King decides he can't surrender his favorite daughter and so at the last minute he sends Siri instead. Now Siri must do her best to please an immortal King that she knows nothing about. At the same time, Vivenna sets out to Hallandren in hopes of rescuing Siri from what she believes is certain death. As they both enter a culture that is basically the opposite of their own, they must quickly learn who to trust and how to act in order to survive.

The religions created and deconstructed in this novel are fascinating. In Idris, they worship one god -- Austre, the God of Colors. The people of Idris dress in drab browns and live in modest homes. By contrast, the people of Hallandren wear gaudy clothing and live in bold-colored homes. They worship many gods that are the "Returned" -- people who have died in heroic ways and then returned from the dead. They are kept immortal by draining the colors from regular citizens which they will one day use to heal a single citizen and thus end their immortality. Many of the common questions about faith and religion are addressed in this fictional world in a very intelligent way.

There are many more characters and side plots in the novel and they are all well-written and interesting. There are a few twists and turns that keep the reader on their toes. One premise of the novel seemed a bit "gamer-ish" with certain numbers of "breaths" bestowing powers or heightened senses. It seemed strange that these people would be able to count something as light as a soul. It sounded like a game with "lives" and "hit points" and all of that. But really, this was a very tiny complaint and I accepted it and forgot about it after a while.

http://webereading.com/2009/11/new-re... ( )

This book was a breath of fresh air for a long time fantasy reader. The magic used in this world is different than any that have come before. The main characters, particularly the women, were written well - strong and believable. The plot was engrossing and I was never entirely sure what would happen next. Overall I believe this is one of the best fantasy titles I have read in years - I can't wait to real what the author has done with the Wheel of Time book! ( )