Initial Impressions 7/26/16: I think this is my least favorite full-length novel that I've read from Sanderson so far but that's not really saying much since I thoroughly enjoy them all. I'd really say that even though I was warned that ELANTRIS was slow to set up, I think I felt that more in WARBREAKER. It wasn't that the book was slow but the majority of the real action is in the last like literally 10% is when everything HAPPENS. I knew things were coming since it's Sanderson (although this is his... second(?) novel (gosh, I don't know the order... it's an earlier one)) but I was preparing for some typical twists and surprises that were really right under our noses all along. I still LOVE how there's a twist and you're like "Oh, the twist! I'm surprised!" and then SOMETHING ELSE happens that you just totally didn't see coming because you were so focused on the twist coming. 
 The character development is quite gradual as well. I think Siri grows the fastest since she's the freest spirit and allows herself to change but I'd say my favorite transformation is Vivenna. I didn't really expect a journey from her when the book started (I truly had no idea what the book was even about when I started. I go in blind or mostly blind on a lot of my books for a true experience) so I was surprised to see how big of a role she had in the book and how she really came to start figuring herself out by the end. 
 I love the bad guys and the good guys and in typical Sanderson fashion, the question of WHICH IS WHICH? 
 I would have loved for a bit more knowledge on the magic system, how Breaths work, and the history of Idris and Hallendren more throughout the book. It's not an infodump, not at all, but there is a lot of explanation of everything towards the end and I think I would have loved more historical info throughout the book. 
 I was totally unsure whether or not this was a series or not before I started and it's DEFINITELY a series.... and now I totally want more. Is there even anything in the works? I've been gorging myself on Mistborn books that I didn't even know I was missing something here and frankly, I'm even MORE excited having read the books that have come after this because I think Sanderson's writing growth over the years will make the rest of this series phenomenal. 
 I also noticed something funny about Brandon Sanderson's books that happens in like literally every one of them that I wanted to share on social media but I realized I couldn't because it's a spoiler for nearly every book SO if you're a huge Sanderson fan and you've read almost every book, see here: (view spoiler)[Isn't it funny how every single Sanderson book can be summed up by something like "Gods are living among us" or "The gods are real". I somehow never noticed until I finished this book (maybe since it carried a lot more religious tones) but it's truly an overall concept in nearly every book! (hide spoiler)] 
 Full review originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 9/7/16: I've been on a Brandon Sanderson kick for... well, I guess for a few years ever since I read MISTBORN! I've slowly but surely been making my way through his entire collection and I picked up WARBREAKER when I was in the mood for some more delicious fantasy! By now, I've read a LOT of his books (almost all of them except for The Stormlight Archives) and I actually think this is my least favorite full-length novel that I've read from Sanderson so far... but that's not really saying much since I thoroughly enjoy them all! It's like saying you have a least favorite Harry Potter book (*cough Chamber of Secrets cough*) even though you rate them all highly. 
 Even though I was warned that ELANTRIS was slow to set up, I think I felt that more in WARBREAKER. It wasn't that the book was slow but the majority of the real action is in the last literally 10% is when everything HAPPENS. I knew things were coming since it's Sanderson (although this is one of his earlier novels... I read them all out of "order") but I was preparing for some typical twists and surprises that were really right under our noses all along. I still LOVE how there's a twist and you're like "Oh, the twist! I'm surprised!" and then SOMETHING ELSE happens that you just totally didn't see coming because you were so focused on looking for the first twist. I just love when surprises like that and authors keep readers on their toes! 
 The character development is quite gradual as well. I think Siri grows the fastest since she's the freest spirit and allows herself to change, but I'd say my favorite transformation is Vivenna. I didn't really expect a journey from her when the book started (I truly had no idea what the book was even about when I started. I go in blind or mostly blind on a lot of my books for a true experience), so I was surprised to see how big of a role she had in the book and how she really started to figure herself out by the end and discover what she truly wanted and not what everyone else expected of her. I think Vivenna went through the most lows in this book and so many unexpected turns and I really enjoyed getting to know her! 
 I love the bad guys and the good guys and in typical Sanderson fashion, the question of WHICH IS WHICH had me guessing all throughout the book. Some of the characters are quite naive which leads them to believe the bad guys are one group, and then the book leads you to believe the bad guys are the good guys, and then other things lead you to question everything. I really appreciate how well-crafted WARBREAKER was in this sense! There was some serious plotting to set everything up for so many twists and reveals in the end! 
 Truthfully, I would have loved for a bit more knowledge on the magic system, how Breaths work, and the history of Idris and Hallendren more throughout the book. It's not an infodump, not at all, but there is a lot of explanation of everything towards the end and I think I would have loved more historical info throughout the book. I just always appreciate world-building that's scattered throughout a novel so I really get to know the world as we go. I know some things need to be kept until the ending because it would ruin a twist but my biggest wish is that we had more historical knowledge and more about the magic system. I didn't realize this was a series when I started it since this book came out over a decade ago, but it looks like Sanderson has plans for more books so I hope that this is something that will be touched upon in future books! 
 AUDIOBOOK IMPRESSIONS 
 Source: Purchased from Audible 
 Narrator: Alyssa Bresnahan 
 Performance: Very good 
 I don't listen to a lot of female narrators outside of my favorites but this one went okay! I don't know what it is but I just prefer male voices for audiobook narrators. I think the deepness and strength is just more pleasant to listen to than a soft voice or a high-pitched one so I've passed on a lot of female narrators. Alyssa Bresnahan did a really good job with this one, though! I was unsure at first but after I while, like any good narrator, I barely noticed her voice because I was so into the character voices and the book itself. I'm not going to actively seek out anything narrated by her but if I happen upon one and it's a book I want to read, I know I'll be in good hands!