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Warbreaker [Dramatized Adaptation] #1, Part 2/3
Warbreaker (2 of 3) [Dramatized Adaptation]
Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago.
Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren's capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people.
By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.
Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren's capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people.
By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.
7 pages, Audio CD
First published November 1, 2009
15 people are currently reading
673 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Sanderson
471 books279k followersI’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
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August 17, 2021
I am addicted to these adaptations! Full review in Part 1!
December 14, 2024
Siri and the God King are still so sweet, knowing the ending makes me sad. So far the only Easter egg I’ve picked up is the origin of the sword.
June 28, 2016
So good!
May 22, 2017
Sanderson continues to weave together 3 narratives in a way that makes me really invested in each one. Well, to be fair, for most of this part of the book I viewed Vivena's sections with resignation. Interestingly, both sisters are naive in their own ways. Vivena is naive through an overly focused education and a position of privilege. Siri is naive from always blowing off her education and those around her having a vested interest in keeping her in the dark. The difference is that Vivena comes off as a stuck up snob for most of her character arc in this part, although things rally near the end when she finally starts to accept her status as a blasphemer and tries to use it for good.
Over with Siri we have her evolving relationship with the God-King. I can't remember if it was part 1 or this part, but her subplot about faking not just orgasms, but the entire sexual act was pure comedy. When the God-King looked at her puzzled, I had a feeling his story was going to revolve around being too cloistered. And it's true - they have cloistered him. They've also cut his tongue in order to control him (in a move that I've seen in other fictional stories). I think this makes his evolution with Siri very interesting because he's got a bit of a Stockholm thing going on and I think he might end up screwing up Siri's plans out of too much trustworthiness with his priests. I've also enjoyed Siri's leveling up on court intrigue and dealing.
Light Song was my favorite from the beginning. I've always enjoyed sardonic characters and he's no exception. That said, it's been fun to see him move from pure comic relief to starting to investigate Vasha's actions. I also positively love the way he rejects Blushweaver. Also poo on Blush Weaver for slut-shaming Siri. I know she thinks Siri is a traitor there to destroy the kingdom, but it just sucks her way of attacking Siri is to attack her sexuality (and with a false claim, at that).
And speaking of comic relief as well as circling back to the beginning, the face-heel turn at the end is awesome for the same reason that Littlefinger's Face-Heel turn is awesome. Both in the book and in the TV show my favorite LF moment is when he tells Ned "I told you not to trust me." There's a certain boldness in an author to tell you not only that a twist is going to happen, but to tell you the twist to your face and then write in a way so that you don't believe him. (or her)
Top priority when I get home is loading part 3 onto my phone.
Oh yeah, and someone I wanted to bring up from my status comments: my favorite Light Song moments are when Laramar (his high priest) exasperatedly reminds him that he can't get drunk or get headaches.
Over with Siri we have her evolving relationship with the God-King. I can't remember if it was part 1 or this part, but her subplot about faking not just orgasms, but the entire sexual act was pure comedy. When the God-King looked at her puzzled, I had a feeling his story was going to revolve around being too cloistered. And it's true - they have cloistered him. They've also cut his tongue in order to control him (in a move that I've seen in other fictional stories). I think this makes his evolution with Siri very interesting because he's got a bit of a Stockholm thing going on and I think he might end up screwing up Siri's plans out of too much trustworthiness with his priests. I've also enjoyed Siri's leveling up on court intrigue and dealing.
Light Song was my favorite from the beginning. I've always enjoyed sardonic characters and he's no exception. That said, it's been fun to see him move from pure comic relief to starting to investigate Vasha's actions. I also positively love the way he rejects Blushweaver. Also poo on Blush Weaver for slut-shaming Siri. I know she thinks Siri is a traitor there to destroy the kingdom, but it just sucks her way of attacking Siri is to attack her sexuality (and with a false claim, at that).
And speaking of comic relief as well as circling back to the beginning, the face-heel turn at the end is awesome for the same reason that Littlefinger's Face-Heel turn is awesome. Both in the book and in the TV show my favorite LF moment is when he tells Ned "I told you not to trust me." There's a certain boldness in an author to tell you not only that a twist is going to happen, but to tell you the twist to your face and then write in a way so that you don't believe him. (or her)
Top priority when I get home is loading part 3 onto my phone.
Oh yeah, and someone I wanted to bring up from my status comments: my favorite Light Song moments are when Laramar (his high priest) exasperatedly reminds him that he can't get drunk or get headaches.
July 31, 2024
I’m hooked. I’ve been converted into a Brandon Sanderson fan. Moving right into part three! I absolutely love the world building, character development, witty dialogue, and how unique the magic system is. Highly engaging plot line and god tier high fantasy.
Only qualm with the graphic audio is that the dialogue comes through very clearly, but the narration gets a bit lost and convoluted with the background noise. I think the levels of the audio just needed a little more refinement. I would give the audio a 4⭐️ and the story itself 6⭐️.
Only qualm with the graphic audio is that the dialogue comes through very clearly, but the narration gets a bit lost and convoluted with the background noise. I think the levels of the audio just needed a little more refinement. I would give the audio a 4⭐️ and the story itself 6⭐️.
October 4, 2024
Maybe it’s because this is the first “Dramatized Adaptation” that Ive experienced, but I’m loving Warbreaker. I’m surprised at the nice balance of worldbuilding, action, romance, and politics. Highly recommend this way of consuming the story, it’s free on Spotify right now.
January 6, 2023
Starting the year off right with some Brando Sando!
April 1, 2024
I love the story, but I still think that the graphic audio is just too... much. And I don't like that it skips over some of the exposition and inner monologues from the book.
June 10, 2024
It is criminal when over 50% of the book is over, and you still don't feel invested. I am very close to DNF-ing this book.
June 19, 2025
A full-blown fantasy book about a world/kingdom where colors and souls (also known as "breath," but essentially a component of each being's life force)are used for magic and are more valuable than currency. There are also deities that have returned from the dead who need a "breath" each week to continue living their immortal lives, and "awakeners" who compile breaths and use them to do magic and animate objects - as well as corpses. The book is complex, told from multiple characters' perspectives, including a "returned" deity, two princesses, and a mysterious and haggard warrior.
This is why the book lent itself so well for the graphic audio narration, and the characters' storylines interweave and eventually, fit together as puzzle pieces and wrap up together in a grand finale.
There's a bit of a lull during this portion of the book where it feels like the characters are spinning their wheels a bit and the plot movement feels slow, but Sanderson is laying the groundwork for one flash bang of a climax in part 3. I had to take a few weeks' hiatus and be in the right mindeset to get back to it, with a bunch of driving kids to rehearsals and such to set me up with a good opportunity to listen and get into the rhythm of it again. By the time we neared the end of part 2, things were moving quickly again and I went directly to part 3 and finished listening in 2 days.
I listened to the "graphic audio" adapation version, so I'd like to provide a portion of the review specific to that. I have to say, the background music/effects were a little loud and should have been quieter. With that qualification, it was enjoyable to listen to, and I enjoyed the book/story itself as well (though not quite as much as Sanderson's humorous books I've read.) I did get used to it; it was better via headphones or my car, and not so much on speaker off my phone.
This is why the book lent itself so well for the graphic audio narration, and the characters' storylines interweave and eventually, fit together as puzzle pieces and wrap up together in a grand finale.
There's a bit of a lull during this portion of the book where it feels like the characters are spinning their wheels a bit and the plot movement feels slow, but Sanderson is laying the groundwork for one flash bang of a climax in part 3. I had to take a few weeks' hiatus and be in the right mindeset to get back to it, with a bunch of driving kids to rehearsals and such to set me up with a good opportunity to listen and get into the rhythm of it again. By the time we neared the end of part 2, things were moving quickly again and I went directly to part 3 and finished listening in 2 days.
I listened to the "graphic audio" adapation version, so I'd like to provide a portion of the review specific to that. I have to say, the background music/effects were a little loud and should have been quieter. With that qualification, it was enjoyable to listen to, and I enjoyed the book/story itself as well (though not quite as much as Sanderson's humorous books I've read.) I did get used to it; it was better via headphones or my car, and not so much on speaker off my phone.
January 4, 2023
Audio book adaptation review - The original book is fantastic.
Characters are far too exaggerated
Aside from the excessive interjections (lots of huffing and puffing, mmmhs, and ahhhs), in this part even more exaggerated characters appear.
The general narrator is great, but a lot of character voice actors sounds like Disney villains: very exaggerated and inauthentic.
I also don't like how the sword's voice changed from the friendly naive interpretation (by Michael Kramer) to a comically stereopical "evil".
This book has a lot of potential and I still bought all parts as a fan of Brandon Sanderson, but I doubt I will purchase another production from this graphic audio studio. Their casting shifted a humorous book into slightly ridiculous.
Characters are far too exaggerated
Aside from the excessive interjections (lots of huffing and puffing, mmmhs, and ahhhs), in this part even more exaggerated characters appear.
The general narrator is great, but a lot of character voice actors sounds like Disney villains: very exaggerated and inauthentic.
I also don't like how the sword's voice changed from the friendly naive interpretation (by Michael Kramer) to a comically stereopical "evil".
This book has a lot of potential and I still bought all parts as a fan of Brandon Sanderson, but I doubt I will purchase another production from this graphic audio studio. Their casting shifted a humorous book into slightly ridiculous.
July 14, 2025
Continuation of part 1 review.
This story just continues to unfold; the world gets more intriguing, the alliances and mythos are beginning to look a bit sketchy. The God King is turning out not to be what he is believed to be, and the princess is beginning to see this...
This is so exciting! What's the deal with Lightsong the Bold? Why doesn't he accept that he is a returned god of bravery? I hope that his story is revealed in the third installment. I think that it will tie up a few loose ends. I'm, however, enjoying his humor and the banter between him and Blushweaver; their sexual tension on paper makes for entertaining reading.
This story just continues to unfold; the world gets more intriguing, the alliances and mythos are beginning to look a bit sketchy. The God King is turning out not to be what he is believed to be, and the princess is beginning to see this...
This is so exciting! What's the deal with Lightsong the Bold? Why doesn't he accept that he is a returned god of bravery? I hope that his story is revealed in the third installment. I think that it will tie up a few loose ends. I'm, however, enjoying his humor and the banter between him and Blushweaver; their sexual tension on paper makes for entertaining reading.
April 30, 2023
The sound effects were better in this part than in Warbreaker, Part 1 of 3—at least, for most of it. In the last hour of the book, they became quite annoying again. I'm hoping that Warbreaker, Part 3 of 3 isn't as bad!
July 19, 2017
Both Vivena and Siri begin to piece together the secrets of Helondron and people in their independent investigations, Vivena through her mercenaries and Siri through her god-king husband. Meanwhile, Lightsong begins to remember bits of his past life and conducts investigations of his own.
An interesting book with lots of intriguing characters and many smiles, mostly from the interplay between Lightsong and the other gods.
An interesting book with lots of intriguing characters and many smiles, mostly from the interplay between Lightsong and the other gods.
September 9, 2021
(Again I am just rating the audio mostly, not the book itself). "Disgraphic" audio, but better then in the first part - I settled in. Just got angry when I saw then there is full book on Audible not cut to three parts now, so I could had it for 1 credit instead of 3... I hope then Brandon got more money for that at least. As I saw in other titles, Graphic Audio does this with all of its titles initially before putting out the whole book.
January 9, 2024
I love the depth Blushweaver's VA brings to a seemingly shallow and egoistical character. Siri's VA acting out "seductive" Siri has to be one of my favourite parts of this book.
Warbreaker is one of Sanderson's best books in my opinion, second only to Words of Radiance. This part of the Graphic Audio does complete justice to it.
Warbreaker is one of Sanderson's best books in my opinion, second only to Words of Radiance. This part of the Graphic Audio does complete justice to it.
March 20, 2025
Again, this is a well written book. But this series, so far, leaves a lot to be desired for me. After book 1, I found myself hoping that books 2 and 3 would actually include some real plot development, some real “substance.” I’ve just read two books of a three book series and feel as if I am still waiting on something to actually happen.
May 10, 2018
A solid second part to the story. I grow to love Siribron more and everyone else less as time goes on, though. I am still waffling on Lightsong tbh (Larimar is good, though).
A nice plot twist to end part 2 as well. Satisfyingly upsetting.
A nice plot twist to end part 2 as well. Satisfyingly upsetting.
June 17, 2021
Interesting story still. I had too much time between the first and second part, so took me a few times to get back into the gist of it. I'm curious as to where it's going for sure. I really want to know what is going on as it's like a mystery trying to sort all these things out.
July 3, 2025
This has a very sweet slow burn romance which it focuses on more in this book. I enjoyed this as much as the first book, the action in Bivennas POV and the political intrigue and slow burn romance in Elena's.
August 30, 2025
An entertaining fantasy novel done with GraphiAudio's cast. Really glad I listened to this one. I really enjoyed the characters and was happy to immerse myself in this world for a while. I had no idea where this one would go, and I am glad I got to listen to this journey.
November 3, 2017
Ah, mercenaries.
I am now addicted.
Vashir and Night good are fascinating
I am now addicted.
Vashir and Night good are fascinating
January 22, 2019
Another great installment of work from Sanderson. Looking forward to part three.
December 6, 2020
See my review for Warbreaker No 1 Graphic Audio Drama. This is a shockingly amazing way to enjoy “reading”.
June 4, 2021
This audio is very cool! It creates an amazing atmosphere and really heightens the experience.
February 23, 2023
More interesting than part2. Maybe because I have finally got used to the princesses' accent.
March 25, 2024
Excellent read, for a fantasy novel.
April 11, 2024
Still don't like the background music.
July 18, 2024
Just as good as book 1 - now on to the third and see it pan out
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews