Fantasy · Adventure · Romance
Warbreaker
Two sisters from a mountain kingdom find their lives pulled in different directions when one is sent to marry the god-king of a rival city. There, colour and breath are the basis of magic, and war is on the horizon.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2009
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 593
- Format
- Book 1 of 1 in Warbreaker
Read this if you want a standalone fantasy with court intrigue, odd magic and a sarcastic cast.
Skip this if you want romance at the centre, or a very fast plot since the first half takes time to set the pieces.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about Warbreaker
- What is Warbreaker about?
- Two sisters from a mountain kingdom find their lives pulled in different directions when one is sent to marry the god-king of a rival city. There, colour and breath are the basis of magic, and war is on the horizon.
- Who should read Warbreaker?
- Read it if you want a standalone fantasy with court intrigue, odd magic and a sarcastic cast. Skip it if you want romance at the centre, or a very fast plot since the first half takes time to set the pieces.
- How long and how fast is Warbreaker?
- It is a medium-paced, long read of about 593 pages, first published in 2009.
- Does Warbreaker have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death.
- Can I borrow Warbreaker for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Warbreaker; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Warbreaker?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Tigana, Mistborn: The Final Empire, Spinning Silver.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved Warbreaker
-
Tigana
A single-volume fantasy of occupied kingdoms and political scheming, with more lyrical sorrow.
-
Mistborn: The Final Empire
Same author, with a similar mix of unusual magic and heists, but a more propulsive tale of rebellion.
-
Spinning Silver Another standalone with cleverly drawn women navigating courts and bargains, in a wintry fairy-tale style.
Fantasy
