Warbreaker

Although the magic system is a bit less formal and more opened to interpretation than the hard magic system of Mistborn (as in, the quality of breaths, commands…), Warbreaker was a fantastic story and one that presented some very interesting characters dynamics and concepts. I particularly liked the concept of the returned and the Court of Gods, each with their own priests, colors, etc. I would love to see this particular world expand into a follow up novel, as the epilogue clearly sets the bases for a sequel.

Warbreaker, like the other Sanderson novels, continues the tradition of a new setting, a new magic system, and new characters. It begins with a brief setup where we learn about our protagonists, then quickly moves onto the core plot and magical tie-ins. The magic system strikes a balance with earlier Cosmere novels, with (in hindsight) the perfect melding of plot impact, political intrigue, and character development. It's clear Sanderson has hit his stride by Warbreaker, yet at the same time elevates his craft with new surprises, twists, and strong (rotating!) contenders for your favorite character. I also found the annotations EXTREMELY worthwhile to read (skipping spoilers on my first read-through), as they provided even more draw towards the core plot, additional character back-stories, and an exploration of Sanderson's thorough/deliberate writing process. I found this the perfect step from earlier Cosmere novels to the wider Stormlight Archive series.