Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

Warbreaker is not a simple book to sum up. It's one of those set in a world unlike our own, with a host of characters who aren't simple by any means. There are two princesses, for example, who start out with their natural differences --one austere, one rebellious-- who find themselves thrust into entirely different roles than they thought they would play in life, and in fact, in entirely different environments. And there are gods in this world. Or just awful powerful folk, depending on how you view them. They have their own agendas, particularly one named Lightsong, who doesn't even believe he's a god-- despite what his worshippers say.

Now mix politics into this concoction and you'll soon see a plot that weaves and unweaves, drawing you into the danger and intrigue. To tell you the truth, some authors might not be up to such a creative challenge, but Sanderson does a darn fine job. The world building is top notch. No flaw that I could detect and I'm pretty particular. Sanderson balances the narrative between the characters successfully, you find yourself liking them, even worrying about them, and wanting to know what so-and-so is doing while your reading about another character.

If I have any complaint it would be that the plotting is not tight, but that is a personal opinion. I know the current preference is to have long involved stories that really "flesh out" a world; but at nearly 600 pages this is a whopper for which you have to plan to set aside enough time.

Considerations:::
Sanderson's style is engaging. He's talented and skilled and the book is a very good read. If you like fantasy I highly recommend you check it out.

When considering this book for children you need to know that there are some adult elements. There is violence, but nothing graphic. There is sexual content, but nothing graphic or nasty. There are busty goddesses, sexual innuendo, and yes a married couple has relations, but nothing is described. Generally pretty mild stuff but certainly not appropriate for all ages.

All in all, I give Warbreaker good marks. It's huge, but well written and well plotted. The characters are interesting, and the story presents a fascinating view of another world.