(spoilers) Just finished reading Warbreaker and loved it!

[Matt O]

So who stabbed the guard who was tied up by Vasher's rope?  And why?

What was so special about Mercy Star's palace?  was she evil?

Anyone else love Lightsong?  His first few scenes left me scratching my head.  "Why is this guy even a main character?"  By the end he was one of my favorites.

Apologies if I misspelled anything, I listened to the book on Audible so I don't know how names are spelled.

 

[Aon Ati he/him]

Really glad you had a good time reading Warbreaker. It's been a while for me so I can't answers your first two questions. But I can say that Lightsong really grew on me, and part of one of the best moments in the book. Unfortunately that was the part where he kicked the bucket, but it was still a great moment. Out of curiosity, what part surprised you the most? Mine was the reveal about Denth in the basement; I had to put the book down and walk around the room to let off the emotions I was feeling.

[Matt O]

9 minutes ago, Aon Ati said:

Really glad you had a good time reading Warbreaker. It's been a while for me so I can't answers your first two questions. But I can say that Lightsong really grew on me, and part of one of the best moments in the book. Unfortunately that was the part where he kicked the bucket, but it was still a great moment. Out of curiosity, what part surprised you the most? Mine was the reveal about Denth in the basement; I had to put the book down and walk around the room to let off the emotions I was feeling.

biggest surprise:

Blue fingers.  I figured out what was about to happen about 1-2 pages before it was revealed.  I was slow, but at least I eventually figured it out before it was revealed hehe.  I thought for sure that Blushweaver was the villain.  When she got killed, I thought maybe she was faking?  Then I thought "Well, the priests must be the villain."  But the priests were never featured much in the story.  So then I thought "Who is someone who is close to the priests that could be the villain?  Ah, of course.  It _must_ be Blue fingers."

To think that Siri's paranoia about the priests was created solely from bluefingers... I never saw that coming.

Second biggest surprise was that the God King was a nice guy.  I thought he would be a brutal rapist (which was obviously what I was supposed to think!).

I realized what Lightsong's sacrifice was going to be a little ahead of when he made it.  The only way for Siri to be saved was for the God King to rescue her and in order to do that, he'd need his tongue back.  The scene was still _awesome_ even though I saw it coming (it was foreshadowed).  Probably the best scene in the book when Lightsong sacrificed to save the God King.

Other awesome scenes:

- Vasher giving Denth his breath

- Lightsong's backstory finally being revealed and him realizing at the end that he actually could see the future, that he actually _had_ died heroically, and that despite his best efforts to be lazy and useless, he couldn't help being a hero in the end.  Love it!

The safehouse cellar scene:

I actually didn't like this scene that much because there is no way that Denth and his crew would be camped out in the safe house, waiting for Vivenna to return there.  They assumed that she had run away from them intentionally.  Therefore, the last place they would expect her to be would be their safe house.  I felt like this was actually a pretty big logical flaw in an otherwise suspenseful and chilling scene.  Denth's crew needed a reason to be in their safe house with the lights off and they didn't have a good one.

With that being said, if you ignore _why_ they were there and assume that they knew she would be coming to the safe house soon and therefore could afford to camp out for her, then the scene was great.

Since I listened to it instead of read it, it kinda moved a little fast for me to follow what was going on.  I could tell that Denth had obviously betrayed her, but was unclear to me why.  After having finished the book, I _think_ the reason was that Denth's job was to help create the war, so he was manipulating Vivenna as much as possible toward that end.

 

 

[kimni]

Glad you loved Warbreaker, it's probably still my favourite in the Cosmere.

A lot of the stuff that's going on behind the scenes (like who stabbed the guy, and what a lot of characters, like Vasher and Denth, are doing while they're off-screen) is actually explained in the Annotations - if you're curious, give them a read. They're on Brandon's website. I'm not completely sure, since I haven't read them in a while, but I think they answer pretty much all the questions you asked in the first post.

If I remember correctly (again, it's been a while since I read the Annotations), Denth went sneaking in after Vasher and he killed the guy because he didn't want anybody alive who'd seen him sneak in. Don't pin me down on that, though. I am pretty sure that there was nothing specifically important about Mercystar's palace - it simply happens to have an access to the tunnels. Mercystar herself had absolutely nothing to do with anything that happened.

[Matt O]

6 hours ago, kimni said:

Glad you loved Warbreaker, it's probably still my favourite in the Cosmere.

A lot of the stuff that's going on behind the scenes (like who stabbed the guy, and what a lot of characters, like Vasher and Denth, are doing while they're off-screen) is actually explained in the Annotations - if you're curious, give them a read. They're on Brandon's website. I'm not completely sure, since I haven't read them in a while, but I think they answer pretty much all the questions you asked in the first post.

If I remember correctly (again, it's been a while since I read the Annotations), Denth went sneaking in after Vasher and he killed the guy because he didn't want anybody alive who'd seen him sneak in. Don't pin me down on that, though. I am pretty sure that there was nothing specifically important about Mercystar's palace - it simply happens to have an access to the tunnels. Mercystar herself had absolutely nothing to do with anything that happened.

I started reading the annotations last night.  awesome!  I really am glad these exist

The description in the annotations about how Vivenna went to the safe house while Tonk Fah was there alone and that he doused his lantern to see who it was seems like it kinda makes sense... but I felt like the delivery of that chapter (which Brandon said was risky on his part) could've been modified slightly to achieve a more genuine result.  It was too coincidental for Denth and Jewels to return to the safehouse _right_ when Tonk Fah had surprised Vivenna.  And maybe the book should've mentioned that she smelled something in the air to indicate that a lantern had recently been burning.  Or maybe it did and I missed it! hehehe

 

The way I read it, Vivenna walked down to the cellar, and Tonk Fah, Denth, and Jewels were all expecting her and had been camped out in the safe house the whole time she was gone, hiding in the dark, waiting for her return (even though they had no reason to expect her to return).

 

[The One Who Connects he/him]

On 12/26/2017 at 1:28 PM, Matt O said:

What was so special about Mercy Star's palace?  was she evil?

Her palace? Nothing really. Most of the Returned have tunnels under their palaces. Mercystar herself was special though, since she had one of the Lifeless Codes.

Brandon needed to get the tunnels involved in the narrative early on, and Blushweaver/Lightsong needed to get the Lifeless codes. Vasher attacked to investigate the tunnels, and Blushweaver used Vasher's attack as an excuse to visit Mercystar and persuade her to give over her codes.

It's a case of Vasher's "random" choice really being made by Brandon so other parts of the story could advance. To justify it a bit more, we got Lightsong's scene counting priests with pebbles. That scene made it clear that Mercystar's priests using the tunnels would be deducible by anyone who watched and knew they existed. Vasher sneaks around quite a bit, so he could easily observe the same details Lightsong did. He wanted to investigate the tunnels, so he clearly knew they existed.

This way, it's believable that Vasher chose her palace because her palace definitely had tunnels, while the others might have them.

[StormingTexan he/him]

Glad you liked it! I feel like it is Brandon's most underrated book. I think most people only read it because of Stormlight. Lightsong is a great character by the end of the book. 

[Sandra she/her]

I liked Warbreaker a lot too. I can't wait for the sequel! I loved Lightsong and his background story. Also Siri and the God King's love/friendship story is just really sweet.

[Song she/her]

Just finished it 15 minutes ago! So great. I think I was a bit put off reading it because it bugged me that there were all these 'in-jokes' in SA I didn't understand. Glad I got over that

Seriously, how does Brandon keep tricking me with twists. The only plot points I saw coming was Life-song giving his life for the God King.

Great book. Looking forward to the next one one day (though I will miss Siri of she isn't in it).

[Kaneesha16 she/her]

On 1/16/2018 at 11:25 AM, StormingTexan said:

Glad you liked it! I feel like it is Brandon's most underrated book. I think most people only read it because of Stormlight. Lightsong is a great character by the end of the book. 

I love it so much too! I love how the whole books is based on reversals in character, and I especially loved Lightsong too, and my heart broke when he gave up his life. I really hope Siri and Susebron are in Nightblood since I loved their dynamic. But it sadly doesn't look like he's going to write it anytime soon. 

[kaladin windrunner]

NIGHTBLOOD IS IN ROSHAR

[Landis963 he/him]

Spoiler

On 2/1/2018 at 11:38 AM, kaladin windrunner said:

NIGHTBLOOD IS IN ROSHAR

 

That is a spoiler for a different series entirely.  

[Devout Pathian]

I just finished the book as well tonight and it was great.  

Oathbringer spolier:

Spoiler

I already loved Nightblood from Oathbringer, so I knew I had to read it next.

I think I like Warbreaker better than Stormlight.  I still think Mistborn is my favorite of Sanderson’s work that I’ve read.  I still need to read the other books.  Elantris is the next book I plan to read, or maybe the White Sand comic.  

Anyway back to Warbreaker.  I’ll be honest I didn’t the twists coming, execpt I did guess that the God King didn’t know what he was suppose to do with Siri those first nights.  It seemed that the priests don’t tell him much, so it make sense.

Denth’s betrayal makes so much senese, but I liked him so much that it took me by surpise. He might just be my favorite villian Sanderson has written.  I wasn’t a huge fan of Viviania (sorry if that’s spelled wrong), but Denth made her chapters worth reading until of course he showed his true colors, but then thankfully she became a better character.

Also with the reveal of who Vasher really is.  Well he and Viviania are talking about what to do and Nightblood butts in, I was like oh my he’s Peacemaker, then no he’s Claude.  Or I guess just both.   It was great.

Oathbringer spolier:

Spoiler

The real question I want to know now is why is Viviania looking for Nightblood and Vashar as criminals.  What did they do?  I don’t blame Nightblood.  I’m not sure I will ever hate him, even if he kills my favorite characters, which he very well might.

 

[Matt O]

1 hour ago, Aurora the Rioter said:

I just finished the book as well tonight and it was great.  

Oathbringer spolier:

  Hide contents

I already loved Nightblood from Oathbringer, so I knew I had to read it next.

I think I like Warbreaker better than Stormlight.  I still think Mistborn is my favorite of Sanderson’s work that I’ve read.  I still need to read the other books.  Elantris is the next book I plan to read, or maybe the White Sand comic.  

Anyway back to Warbreaker.  I’ll be honest I didn’t the twists coming, execpt I did guess that the God King didn’t know what he was suppose to do with Siri those first nights.  It seemed that the priests don’t tell him much, so it make sense.

Denth’s betrayal makes so much senese, but I liked him so much that it took me by surpise. He might just be my favorite villian Sanderson has written.  I wasn’t a huge fan of Viviania (sorry if that’s spelled wrong), but Denth made her chapters worth reading until of course he showed his true colors, but then thankfully she became a better character.

Also with the reveal of who Vasher really is.  Well he and Viviania are talking about what to do and Nightblood butts in, I was like oh my he’s Peacemaker, then no he’s Claude.  Or I guess just both.   It was great.

Oathbringer spolier:

  Hide contents

The real question I want to know now is why is Viviania looking for Nightblood and Vashar as criminals.  What did they do?  I don’t blame Nightblood.  I’m not sure I will ever hate him, even if he kills my favorite characters, which he very well might.

 

I think Stormlight is my favorite Sanderson series.

However, I think my all-time favorite Sanderson character is Megan from Reckoners.

[Totally_Not_A_Worldhopper she/her]

Warbreaker is awesome, especially Lightsong (yas!). The reveal with Denth - assuming I'm remembering correctly - made me replay the audiobook like ten times, which I do with big plot twists... 

On 2/5/2018 at 0:25 AM, Matt O said:

I think Stormlight is my favorite Sanderson series.

However, I think my all-time favorite Sanderson character is Megan from Reckoners.

I agree with this, but I have to say Missy (?) and Cody beat Megan for best character.  And Obliteration is cool. 

[Matt O]

1 hour ago, Totally_Not_A_Worldhopper said:

Warbreaker is awesome, especially Lightsong (yas!). The reveal with Denth - assuming I'm remembering correctly - made me replay the audiobook like ten times, which I do with big plot twists... 

I agree with this, but I have to say Missy (?) and Cody beat Megan for best character.  And Obliteration is cool. 

Cody better than Megan?  Lad, even the Queen of Scotland would disagree with you there.

[Totally_Not_A_Worldhopper she/her]

2 hours ago, Matt O said:

Cody better than Megan?  Lad, even the Queen of Scotland would disagree with you there.

Um... sure. I'm happy disagreeing with a person who doesn't exist (Edit: Not anymore, at least).

Also, lad? 

Edited February 9, 2018 by Totally_Not_A_Worldhopper

[Palindrome]

Just finished it, which is good because I was finding it hard to concentrate on work without finishing the book. I loved the book. It was beautifully written with some great messages. I still wish it has been longer. So many questions left open that we may never see answered since it's a stand alone novel.

[Devout Pathian]

27 minutes ago, Palindrome said:

Just finished it, which is good because I was finding it hard to concentrate on work without finishing the book. I loved the book. It was beautifully written with some great messages. I still wish it has been longer. So many questions left open that we may never see answered since it's a stand alone novel.

It is right now a stand alone novel, but Sanderson is planning at some point (who really knows when) to write a sequel, called Nightblood.  Also some of the characters from Warbreaker appear in other cosmere books.  I won’t give more detials in case people don’t want to know.

https://coppermind.net/wiki/Nightblood_(book)

[Palindrome]

13 minutes ago, Aurora the Rioter said:

It is right now a stand alone novel, but Sanderson is planning at some point (who really knows when) to write a sequel, called Nightblood.  Also some of the characters from Warbreaker appear in other cosmere books.  I won’t give more detials in case people don’t want to know.

https://coppermind.net/wiki/Nightblood_(book)

Yes, seeing several of these characters in the series that started me reading Brandon Sanderson books is what made me read Warbreaker. I asked which books to start with and 17thsharders told me to read Warbreaker first (since it is most related to the series) then read Mistborn. I think i will digest Warbreaker a few days before reading mistborn.

[Matt O]

On 2/9/2018 at 3:17 PM, Totally_Not_A_Worldhopper said:

Um... sure. I'm happy disagreeing with a person who doesn't exist (Edit: Not anymore, at least).

Also, lad? 

er.. lass?

[Totally_Not_A_Worldhopper she/her]

6 hours ago, Matt O said:

er.. lass?

I like the way you care more about the correct "Scottish" word to use than the fact you referenced an imaginary person... But yes, lass. Or you know, don't use either. 

[Matt O]

1 hour ago, Totally_Not_A_Worldhopper said:

I like the way you care more about the correct "Scottish" word to use than the fact you referenced an imaginary person... But yes, lass. Or you know, don't use either. 

I think you may have missed my joke.  I was trying to talk in Cody's voice.  He was always making stuff up about his connection to Scotland and calling people lad/lass.

[Totally_Not_A_Worldhopper she/her]

On 2/15/2018 at 8:28 PM, Matt O said:

I think you may have missed my joke.  I was trying to talk in Cody's voice.  He was always making stuff up about his connection to Scotland and calling people lad/lass.

I got it. Jokes that don't quite make sense bug me (even though the point was that it didn't make sense...). Sorry for being pedantic........

[kaduzy she/her]

I was not thrilled with it in the end.  I got into it art first, but then the ending was a mess and I never really liked the characters or the magic system. 

Character problems: Vivenna's woes were repetitive and boring to read about; I never cared what happened to her and it was obvious that she was just going to have to be rescued repeatedly until she got her sh!t together.   Siri was such a typical manic pixie dream girl that there was nothing much to like or dislike about her; she just fulfilled a function of falling in love with the king and being dewey-eyed and innocent up till the end, and really served no other purpose.  Bluefingers was given no agency as a villain beyond his 11th hour reveal.  "Oh he's the bad guy," was my only thought, and he spent all his page time after the reveal monologuing.  Denth's anger at Vasher was explained only very briefly and then their fight was stupid, though I liked the way Vasher ended it.  The Denth character was never given enough time for us to get to know him as he really was, so it made little sense that he'd hold this grudge for 300 years and spend three hundred years trying to catch the guy who killed his sister.  I mean, that's just plain inefficient.  Lightsong might as well have been named Wayne.  All of Sanderson's "clever" or "witty" or "funny" characters sound the same to me now.  I honestly think that's one of his weaker points as a writer.  None of that banter is ever as funny as he apparently thinks it is.  Blushweaver was boring too, and all the God names annoyed me.

It was also too predictable.  I knew Vasher would turn out to be the Peacekeeper dude (though admittedly he wound up having so many different identities that I guess it wasn't hard to guess at least one of them -- way too many secret identities, actually) and I knew the statues in the city would turn out to be his mythical army.  I predicted that the God King would get his tongue back somehow by the end of the story, that he and Siri would fall in love, that his priests would probably turn out to be good since they were played up to be so evil, that the mercenaries would betray the princess, and that Vasher would turn out to be a good guy and end up with Vivenna.  The only thing I wasn't sure about was who was ultimately behind the push for war and what Lightsong's part in all of it would turn out to be, and those reveals just turned out to be boring.

The magic system was just weird.  Apparently it's supposed to be impressive when the God King rescues Siri by attacking everyone with carpets and rugs or whatever, but the image was incredibly silly, not remotely heroic.  And he changed the colors of some stones.  So what?  The thing about him bending light was interesting, and the idea of people essentially giving up their souls had possibilities, but it never got explored enough.  And it seemed evident that the invisible god Austre or whatever he's called must be real, otherwise what's making all the Returned come back and where's their giant Divine Breath coming from?  Their whole religion made no sense.  (Not that other religions necessarily do.)  What difference does it make if the gods know who they were before the return?  Why wasn't the creepy sexual side of it explored more?  (Probably because BS is a prude who goes to absurd lengths to avoid writing sex scenes.  Another major weakness of his; a good writer should be able to convincingly write anything.)  Anyway I wasn't impressed by any aspect of the whole breath thing, except for Nightsong.  We should have spent more time just on that.  I guess the ability to see colors more clearly and gain perfect pitch just doesn't seem worth the effort of stealing someone's soul.

Finally, I was annoyed by the ending.  There was no resolution reassuring us that one army would defeat the other, no scene letting us see the healed God King to actually do something kingly like go send his armies into battle, no scenes showing the breaking of war in a book called Warbreaker, a bunch of rushed murders and sloppy fight scenes, Vivenna serving no purpose except as sword delivery girl (don't forget to tip!) and Siri serving no purpose except to suddenly realize who the bad guy was.

Soooo, yeah.  Not my favorite.  Guess I'll still check out Elantris though.  I'm desperate for something between waiting for the next Wax & Wayne and the next ASOIF.  I tried First Law and that turned out to be awful too, so I'm not bothering with the second or third books in that trilogy.  I think it's time to roll the dice on some new authors.