Warbreaker

by Brandon Sanderson · 2009

Warbreaker, a standalone novel set in Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere, follows the political and magical turmoil of the city of Hallandren. In this world every person is born with a single Breath that can be bought, sold, and used to awaken objects or even corpses. The powerful Returned—mortals who die in glory and return as god‑like beings with thousands of Breaths—rule the capital, a fact that horrifies the Idris princesses Vivenna and Siri. When a marriage is arranged between a princess and the God King of Hallandren to secure peace, Vivenna is sent to the foreign court while Siri remains behind. Vivenna must rely on mercenaries who wield Breath to rescue her sister from a dangerous husband, confronting the abuse of divine power and the true nature of the gods. The novel blends high fantasy, political intrigue, and a unique magic system centered on Breath.