…Warbreaker
My first impression of Brandon Sanderson’s Warbreaker? I must admit that my initial thoughts were not promising. Even before I had the chance to read a single word, the cover had disappointed me. Dan Dos Santos crafted a decent, if not exceptional, painting, but the layout felt awkward. The title and author’s name square in the center of the page bother me. I’m not sure what arrangement would have satisfied me, perhaps because I’m employed as an engineer and not a graphic designer; all I know for certain is that this novel sat on my bookshelf for almost two months, even though Brandon Sanderson’s earlier works impressed me. Not an encouraging start.
With that out of the way, reading the first few chapters inspired me to contemplate the delicate balance between introducing characters and creating a memorable setting. In Warbreaker’s prologue, the narrative rushes to establish the magic of Awakening, and I felt the action took a back seat to the world-building. Sanderson is renowned for the elaborate and elegant system of magic he created for the Mistborn trilogy, but The Final Empire’s opening focused on the characters, especially Vin’s rough upbringing on the streets and the mystery of Kelsier’s mission. Even when the setting and history were being explored, they served to further draw in the reader: what could explain this blasted world, this fractured society? Warbeaker’s prose is solid and the magic is promising, although a little less intriguing than the mysteries of metallurgy. Hopefully, the protagonists seize the narrative’s reins, as I know Sanderson is capable of incredible characterization.
I can already tell that Warbreaker won’t take me long to finish, so expect a review this weekend. Until then, enjoy the video below, which features a time lapse of the artist at work, or follow the link for a higher definition version.