After bursting onto the fantasy scene with his acclaimed debut novel, Elantris, and following up with his blockbuster Mistborn trilogy, Brandon Sanderson proves again that he is today’s leading master of what Tolkien called “secondary creation,” the invention of whole worlds, complete with magics and myths all their own. Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn’t like his job, and the immortal who’s still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren’s capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people. By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.

Evanora Lockett got more than she bargained for when she dreamed of sailing with pirates. Scarred one night by the poison ink of a pirate’s pen, she finds herself as the key to a malevolent curse, an ancient rivalry, a realm of fantasy…and perhaps the heart of one roguish young man. The pirate is untamed, with captivating green eyes and a wild air of adventure. But the mysterious shadow-boy possesses a cheeky smile and an intriguing set of secrets. And it’s hard to keep your distance when the treasure they all seek is tattooed across your skin.