Warbreaker

In a world where magic is a tangible force, sold and collected as Breaths, the very essence of life can be wielded to awaken objects and even the dead. Those who die in glory may return as gods, powerful yet devoid of memory, ruling from the Court of Gods.

This is the reality for Princesses Vivenna and Siri of Idris, who view the manipulation of Breaths and the divine claims of the Returned as blasphemy. When one princess is married to the God King of their nation's enemies to secure peace, the other must seek aid from mercenaries skilled in Breath to attempt a rescue.

Meanwhile, Lightsong the Bold, a god questioning his own faith, investigates mysterious murders within the Court of Gods, uncovering clues to his own forgotten past. He commands an army of Awakened soldiers, and a faction within the court pushes for war against Idris, threatening to shatter the peace treaty. Vasher, a wielder of the sentient sword Nightblood, works to prevent this conflict, but visions of bloodshed suggest its inevitability. The new queen, unaware of her sister's impending rescue, faces the daunting task of influencing Lightsong and reaching the aloof God King before her homeland is destroyed.

Warbreaker is a standalone novel from the connected universe of the Cosmere, by the author of the New York Times Best Sellers The Stormlight Archive. It is also recognized as one of the Midwest Indie Bestsellers.