Heir of Novron

The Riyria Revelations #5-6

by Michael J. Sullivan

The New Empire intends to mark its victory over the Nationalists with a bloody celebration. On the high holiday of Wintertide, the Witch of Melengar will be burned and the Heir of Novron executed. On that same day the Empress faces a forced marriage, with a fatal accident soon follow. The New Empire is confident in the totality of its triumph but there's just one problem-Royce and Hadrian have finally found the true Heir of Novron---and they have their own holiday plans.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Adventure, High Fantasy, Magic

946 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2012

About the author

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I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author with 9 Goodreads Choice Award Nominations and 6 Amazon Editor's Picks.

My current released books:

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The copyediting for Out of the Ashes has begun! Recording of the audiobook is scheduled for June 2026.
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New short stories by: Brandon Sanderson • J.A. Andrews • Bradley P. Beaulieu • Carol Berg • Peter V. Brett • Terry Brooks • Jim Butcher • Delilah S. Dawson • Matt Dinniman • Kate Elliott • Kevin Hearne • Jessica Day George • Lev Grossman • Nancy Kress • Mark Lawrence • Scott Lynch • Jonathan Maberry •Seanan McQuire • Brandon Mull • Peter Orullian • Christopher Paolini • Kat Richardson • Christopher Ruocchio • Anthony Ryan • R.A. Salvatore • Scott Sigler • Shawn Speakman • Michael J. Sullivan • Carrie Vaughn • Brent Weeks • Tad Williams • Janny Wurts
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It features myself, Andy Wier, Will Wight, Travis Baldree, and many more.
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I first opened the door to my imagination with typewriter keys while playing hide and seek and finding a black behemoth when I just ten years old. Serious writing started in my twenties, but after more than a decade trying to publish (and getting nowhere), I quit altogether. I returned to writing in 2004, and published my first novel with a small press in 2008. If you had told me that I'd be a New York Times Bestselling author, have 85+ novels translated into 13 languages, and sold more than 2 million copies, I never would have believed you!

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Utterly amazing. Heir of Novron is one of the best and most satisfying conclusions to a series that I’ve ever read.

There are times where the principle to not DNF a book/series must be upheld, and The Riyria Revelations is one of those times. I truly believe that sometimes, stories need a few volumes to reach their maximum potential. The Riyria Revelations is a perfect example of this situation; it’s a series that proves that sticking to this principle can bring marvelous results. If I haven’t stuck with this series after finishing the first omnibus, which in my opinion were underwhelming, I would be missing one heck of a fantastic series. The Riyria Revelations is not a flawless series, but overall, the positive elements of the series definitely outweigh the negatives by far for me.

It’s not a surprise that many readers recommend The Riyria Revelations as an excellent series to those who feel intimidated or looking to get into adult fantasy. It’s an accessible and entertaining series, and it would be appropriate to say that The Riyria Revelations comes with a step-by-step storytelling structure. Michael J. Sullivan wrote this series to help his daughter cope with dyslexia, and his writing motivation resulted in a high fantasy series that can be enjoyed by every fantasy reader of all age.

The story in The Riyria Revelations begins light-heartedly, and there were times I was indeed worried that the series wouldn’t click with me. Fortunately, Sullivan did a wonderful job in increasing the tension of the plot throughout the series. More vital things were at stake with each passing volume, and at the same time, this also made the quality of the narrative better for me. I like to think of the level of accessibility in Sullivan’s storytelling structure in this series to be similar to the way a parent or a friend accompanies you to your adulthood.

Once again, if you’re new to adult fantasy, there’s no need to worry here; Sullivan guides his reader step-by-step into adult high fantasy literature. Let’s look at it this way; think of Theft of Swords as your kindergarten-middle school life, then Rise of Empire as your high-school to college/university, and finally Heir of Novron as your adulthood. In Theft of Swords, the plot was simple, a lot of friends are willing to help you with your problems. During this period, you also start making friends, and these friends might be together with you or not in your high school, which brings us to Rise of Empire. In Rise of Empire, you start to learn about the meaning of real friendship, and if you’re lucky, you might make friends that last a lifetime; you tell each other your past, interests, or in the case of this series, it’s where Royce and Hadrian’s past was revealed gradually. But you’ve come to recognize that life isn’t as easy as your childhood, maybe not instantly but there’s this gnawing feeling that life is not a smooth road. You’re guaranteed to make mistakes you’ll regret, experience loss; some of your friends will either stick by your side or—unfortunately—leave/betray you. Eventually, we arrived Heir of Novron, the moment of adulthood; these are moments where everything from your past plays a role in your personality and life. You can’t go back, and mistakes from your past will catch up to you; you have to face them.

The Heir of Novron is the final omnibus in The Riyria Revelations series; this omnibus consists of the two best books in the entire series: Wintertide and Percepliquis. Seriously, rating-wise, I’m giving a rating of 4.5/5 stars to Wintertide, and a full 5/5 stars rating to Percepliquis. Following the tradition of my reviews for the series, this review wouldn’t be completed without me including a painting of Percepliquis illustrated by Marc Simonetti. If you haven't checked Simonetti’s work yet, do yourself a favor and do it. Marc Simonetti is one of my favorite artists, and if you check his portfolio, you'll see that he has bestowed his gifts to a lot of highly-acclaimed fantasy series such as A Song of Ice & Fire by George R.R. Martin, Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss, and more. I truly hope that the US/UK edition of The Riyria Revelations and the first two books in The Riyria Chronicles will receive a cover art done by him one day; the one that they have right now doesn’t do the series justice.

Picture: Percepliquis by Marc Simonetti



I absolutely loved both Wintertide and Percepliquis. So many pivotal events and developments occurred within these two books, and The Heir of Novron worked superbly as the culmination of everything that began since The Crown Conspiracy. The series is deliberately written/structured with the purpose that the reader can receive the most rewarding reading experience in the final omnibus, and Sullivan has succeeded terrifically on this. The storyline was thoroughly engaging; the twists and turns were both surprising and believable, and the character’s background was well-realized. The legends were intriguing, and whether you were able to see the tales being weaved and foreshadowed since the beginning of the series or not, I do have faith that the revelations in the last one hundred pages of this series will guarantee its readers powerful fulfillment for reading the series to its completion.

At the beginning of the series, I used to think that friendship would be the only main theme of the series. But as I read through the series to the end, I’ve come to realize that it’s not that simple. Yes, friendship is still one of the main themes, but it’s definitely not the only one; there’s more to it than that. There’s love, justice, legacy, virtue, and most importantly, I think The Riyria Revelations is a story about seeking redemption no matter what kind of past you have.

“And I wish to thank you as well, Royce."
He was puzzled. "For what?"
"For reminding me that anyone, no matter what they've done, can find redemption if they seek it.”

It’s also about having your loyalty and bond of friendship tested to its limit.

“I need your help.”
…………………………….
“Is it dangerous?”
“Very.”
“Is there a good chance I’ll get killed?”
“Odds are definitely in favor of that.”
Royce nodded, looked down at the scarf in his lap, and replied, “Okay.”

And to always have hope, not only during the good times but more importantly, to have hope during the bad times.

“A beautiful day might bring disaster, while a day that begins trapped inside an ancient tomb, might be the best one of your life. If you don´t abandon hope on pleasant days, why do so on those that begin poorly?”

I’ve mentioned in my review of Theft of Swords that I initially found Royce and Hadrian’s characterizations to be flat there, but as I make my way through the series, I’ve become so attached to them now that they felt like real friends to me. Their friendship and loyalty towards each other were wholesome, inspiring, and incredible to read, and the action sequences involving the duo in the last books were magnificently executed. This was especially evident during the climax sequences of both Wintertide and Percepliquis. One thing of note, though, although it’s often recommended to start reading Royce and Hadrian’s journey by reading The Riyria Revelation first, I have a feeling I will love Royce and Hadrian even more—and get attached to them much faster—if I’ve read The Riyria Chronicles before. A lot of events mentioned in this series that shaped their friendship have transpired in the past, and I assume we will get to see them in the prequels. I’m confident that if I’ve started with reading The Riyria Chronciles, I will end up loving this duo more than I already did. Royce and Hadrian displayed friendship that will stand the test of time, and once I’ve read The Riyria Chronicles in the future, I’m sure I can attest to this notion even further.

Picture: Royce Melborn by nuriko-kun



And the extraordinary characters aren’t exclusive to Royce and Hadrian; Myron and the female characters in the series were characters I highly adored. I’m serious; Arista and Thrace/Modina are some of my favorite female characters in the entire fantasy genre. Their development during the course of the series was staggering, and if you look back to their first appearances in the first omnibus, then you will comprehend just how outstanding their growth throughout the series is. Additionally, it’s heartwarming, really, to know the trivia that Sullivan wrote the compelling female characters based on his wife.

“This book is entirely dedicated to my wife, Robin Sullivan.
Some have asked how it is I write such strong women without resorting to putting swords in their hands. It is because of her.
She is Arista.
She is Thrace.
She is Modina.
She is Amilia.
And she is my Gwen.
This series has been a tribute to her.

This is your book, Robin.

I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world.
--ELTON JOHN, BERNIE TAUPIN”

― Michael J. Sullivan, Heir of Novron

Finally, time to answer the crucial question that I’ve been asked repeatedly in my previous reviews of this series: Will I recommend this series?

Undoubtedly. However, please make sure that your expectations are set accordingly. It will do you a favor to remember that The Riyria Revelations is an enormously well-loved series, but one thing that the fans often neglect to mention is that this is a series that keeps on getting better with each book; you’ll find the true greatness of the series by the final omnibus. When I first started reading the series, I approached it with the wrong mindset because the fans constantly told me two things. First, The Riyria Revelations contains the best duo in fantasy. To be fair, they weren’t exactly mistaken on this; I did end up praising Royce and Hadrian as one of the best bromances in fantasy, but I wish I had known that I would agree with them only after I’ve read the final omnibus. Remember, it did take me three books in the series for me to feel fully immersed and invested with the characters. As I said, I have a feeling I should’ve read The Riyria Chronicles first. Second, The Riyria Revelations is one of THE MOST EPIC fantasy series out there, and for this one, I have to disagree. Although high fantasy and epic fantasy are often categorized as the same sub-genre, I personally think of epic fantasy as a fantasy series with huge scope and massive-scale battles; this was what I expected to appear in The Riyria Revelations, but there were none.

As a series, The Riyria Revelations is definitely a brilliantly-plotted high-fantasy series with friendship and character developments that will charm its readers forever. If you’re looking for a fantasy series that feels familiar and also modern at the same time, accompanied with grand adventure and an immensely satisfying ending, you couldn’t go wrong with choosing The Riyria Revelations to binge-read. As a concluding volume to a series, Heir of Novron is close to perfection. I did find one character’s major revelation behind his actions in the last book to be highly illogical, but that’s quite likely the intention. And even though some of the revelations were predictable, they were still, nevertheless, thrilling and delightful to read. Trust me on this. If you ended up loving the series from the first omnibus, you’re in the presence of your new favorite series. But if you find yourself in the same situation as I did—meaning that you ended up disliking the first book, don’t let it discourage you yet. There’s a huge possibility it won’t stay that way by the end of the series.

My journey with The Riyria Revelations can be summed up as tremendously worthwhile; it was honestly one of the most rewarding reading experiences I’ve ever had. Respectfully speaking, I hope there won’t be a sequel series to it. This isn’t because I don’t want more stories in Elan; I will be reading all the prequel series to this after all. But it’s more because the ending written in Heir of Novron was already so beautifully wrapped and utterly satisfying as it is; I don’t think a better conclusion for these characters could ever be achieved. Thank you so much to Michael J. Sullivan for writing this exceptional series. Although it feels bittersweet that I must part ways with Royce, Hadrian, and all the characters, I have no doubt that I will be revisiting them again in the future. And in my next visit, I will be starting my journey from the beginning of Royce and Hadrian’s encounter in The Riyria Chronicles.

Series review:
Theft of Swords: 8/10 stars
Rise of Empire: 8.5/10 stars
Heir of Novron: 10/10 stars

The Riyria Revelations: 23/30 stars on my first read. 26.5/30 stars on my second read.

You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping) | Bookshop (Support Local Bookstores!)

You can find the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions

Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!

My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Amanda, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Ellis, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Mike, Miracle, Neeraja, Nicholas, Oliver, Reno, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawna, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.

[Adina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will keep my rating and comments after the re-read. I don’t usually re-read, but I love this duo too much. People either read the Revelations or the Chronicles first. I think I found the perfect order. Revelations, Chronicles and then Revelations again, the Graphic Audio version. Now, on to The Legends of the First Empire. Oh, also Drumindor.

*****
4.5* but I am generous this year.

"Life is like a bully that gets laughs by seeing how much humiliation you’ll put up with. It threatens to kill you if you don’t eat mud. It takes everything you care about—not because it wants what you have, or needs it. It does it just to see if you’ll take it"

Finally! Sullivan finally rises up to the hype. I enjoyed the first two volumes, they were easy fun, but I wasn't as impressed as the many GR fans of the author. I still not believe the 3rd and final volume to be a masterpiece but it was so much better, from all points of view. The author grew and the writing got better with each book, the character became more nuanced, everything came together in the end and there were no boring bits like in the other two. Myron is back which is great. Arista got so much better and I finally fell for Hadrian and Royce (mostly Royce). On the downside, Sullivan can't do romance well. It's ok since it is more of a female author skill but still...

I am going to miss those two but no worries because I still have Riyria Chronicles to read.

“What is the advantage of fear, or the benefit of regret, or the bonus of granting misery a foothold even if death is embracing you? My old abbot used to say, ‘Life is only precious if you wish it to be.’ I look at it like the last bite of a wonderful meal—do you enjoy it, or does the knowledge that there is no more to follow make it so bitter that you would ruin the experience?”

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I freaking cried at that ending. Okay, so I cried earlier in the book about a death. And then I cried a little more here and there. And then I was doing so much happy crying at the end!



When he. . . and then she. . . and then Mercedes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My feels, my feels......

This book was so freaking good. I laughed and I cried. I loved the journey the group all took together. They had me cracking up so much of the time but then some deaths. That happens, we just move on. I hated crying but that's what I do and I feel so much and Michael J. Sullivan you're just the best.



Hadrian and Royce I will love you forever. Arista, Gwen, Sir Breckton, Amilia, Alric - gah, there are so many. This book were such a great adventure, I don't see how anyone could not love them. And one of my friends mentioned this was the best book so far and they are right. It was so good! I'm repeating myself.

I knew who the Heir of Novron was at one point. I'm sure everyone did, I just knew it and YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

So listen people, if you have been putting off these three volumes (two books in one) because of the size, just don't. It's freaking good you need to read them. If you don't love the boys then there is something wrong with you. Lol, just kidding. I know, we can't all like the same things. But, just give it a chance because it's amaze balls. This is one for the shelves and for re-reads baby!

MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List

[Katerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking at my computer screen for a while, trying to find the proper words to describe Heir of Novron, but as it turns out I can't form coherent thoughts. Epic? Too cliché. Mind-blowing? Obviously. Extraordinary? Duh. Magnificent? Of course. Outstanding? Sure.
I will ask you to allow me to be extravagant for once. Yes I am the girl who gets overly excited with almost everything she reads, who loves 90% of the books she so proudly admires in her bookselves, but this one, it's...different. It's sacred. It's a fantasy mastepiece, and a Horcrux. It holds a part of me. It contains my soul, my dreams, my tears, my happiness and my sorrow.

“Ancient stones upon the Lee
Dusts of memories gone we see
Once the center, once the all
Lost forever, fall the wall”

From the enchanted cells of the Imperial Capital to the ancient, ruined city of Percepliquis and the tomb of Novron himself, Royce and Hadrian and Arista and the rest of our heroes discovered truths that turned their world upside down, fought for their lives and lost loved ones, while Modina tried to save mankind from a superior enemy and the Church struggled until the end to keep power, spreading the Great Lie. And the fate of them all was in the hands of two common thieves.

“Sometimes the price of dreams is achieving them.”

The circulation of Riyria Revelations is astonishing. Every character had something to offer, every hint and prophecy came true in one of the greatest (perhaps the greatest) finale in a series.
Everything you expect to find in a work of fantasy is here.
Mythical creatures (also known as thingy things-courtesy of Royce Melborn). Sieges. Battles. Murders. Betrayals. Elves. Dwarves. Goblins. Ancient cities full of mystery and danger. Shocking revelations (shocking is a mild description, more likely I'm-having-a-heart-attack revelations). Sacrifices. Honor. Love.
Love in it's purest and most genuine forms. I couldn't be more wrong when I thought that there is no romance in these novels. It's not in the spotlight, but it's devastating, in a way that makes your insides burn but also in a way that leaves you puffy-eyed, your face stained with tears and ragged breath. And it's not just the romance. There are also the bonds of family and friendship and forgiveness even in the face of your greatest enemy.

"I wish to thank you as well, Royce."
"For what?"
"For reminding me that anyone, no matter what they've done, can find redemption if they seek it."

The characters are flawed, weak, strong, stubborn, meek, ambitious, deathly, cunning, noble, real . Evil is made, and so is good. Their decisions can either atone for their sins or doom them into eternal darkness.

“Happiness comes from moving toward something. When you run away, ofttimes you bring your misery with you.”

I became emotional, I felt like my guts were stabbed, I gaped in shock, I laughed, I bawled like a baby and I loved, with all my heart. They say it's the simple things in life that are the most precious, like the summer breeze or a flower or a child's laughter. Or the words of a single man. The words of Michael J. Sullivan are branded on my soul.
Thank you.

[Luna. ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

“Revenge is a bittersweet fruit that leaves the foul aftertaste of regret.”

THIS BOOK WAS IMPECCABLE. Like how dare it be so perfect! Seriously it gave me all the FEELS possible. Like I need a feel doctor, up in here to fix this shit, this book made me melt into a pile of goo, I HATE ROMANCE WITH A PASSION. I'm like the love grinch, I'm a dedicated, pure and total romance hater. I hate all soppy shit & secretly hate all things cute. However this book was so terribly cute that i need to grow my nails long and rake them down my own face. I loved everything (especially the romance). I loved Royces changes. I loved how Hadrian stayed the same. I loved Arista's development. I loved Myron from the beginning. Favourite Quote and of course it came from Myron "Life is only precious if you wish it to be.’ I look at it like the last bite of a wonderful meal—do you enjoy it, or does the knowledge that there is no more to follow make it so bitter that you would ruin the experience?”
But most of all I loved the bromance, yep folks I finally get it and am currently the driver of the hype train because this series is amazing. I genuinely love a slow burn fantasy and this series is exactly that. First book imo was pretty average, second book was pretty good it was slow and I felt something was missing, book three was exceptional. It had the missing thing and that was emotion, I was finally emotionally attached to the characters, I immediately saw the bromance and I was gobsmacked at how much I loved it's HEA ending. Even the romance gave me the sniffles, because it was so annoyingly adorable. Oh and did I mention the romance? (Yep 3 times already). So it's confirmed folks I'm not a weirdo and I finally discovered what a gem this series actually is. Each book gets better and better.

The writing is sensational and I think Michael J Sullivan is extremely talented. One thing I really loved in this book was the things that happened in the characters past was all a big build up to the end, I'm so glad Michael managed to tie everything together and I thought he did a fantastic job of keeping me entertained throughout the series. Looking forward to reading the authors other books. A satisfying end to a wonderful and FUN series.

Recommended to all fantasy lovers, I also think this would be a great introduction for someone wanting to read epic fantasy.

One last thing.. The dedication page destroyed me;

“This book is entirely dedicated to my wife, Robin Sullivan.

Some have asked how it is I write such strong women without resorting to putting swords in their hands. It is because of her.

She is Arista.
She is Thrace.
She is Modina.
She is Amilia.
And she is my Gwen.

This series has been a tribute to her.

This is your book, Robin.

I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world.
--ELTON JOHN, BERNIE TAUPIN”

Whole series rating;
Theft of Swords - 3.5/5
Rise of Empire - 4/5
Heir of Novron - 5/5

Total rating - 12.5/15

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many of you have read a series and loved everything about it only to get to the last book and be completely disappointed?

*raises hand*

So many times that has happened to me, especially when I’ve read books back to back and I get to the end an stuff from the last book doesn’t even fit in with stuff from the first book…I mean it does fit if you’ve had a drink or three and look at it while standing on your head trying to balance a set of plates with you feet. But, not on a normal Tuesday.

Well have no fear….this is exactly the opposite of that.

First, lets just say that the revelations at the end of book 6 totally fall in line with all the revelations made along the way.

How did Michael J. Sullivan accomplish this you might ask?

Well I’ll tell you young grasshopper. He didn’t publish any of the books until the entire thing was complete.



That’s right! He had the luxury of editing stuff throughout to make it perfect and it was.

There were so many great characters and moment throughout the entire series that I don’t think I can pick just one.

I loved the bromance: Hadrian and Royce make the perfect bromantic couple ever. They are totally in my top 3 of all time for sure.

“You can’t kill Myron, Royce,” Hadrian said, rapidly pulling the monk away as if he had found a child playing with a wild bear. “It would be like killing a puppy.”

Best philosophical monk ever: Myron had some amazing words of wisdom for our heroes in their most desperate hours.

“A beautiful day might bring disaster, while a day that begins trapped inside an ancient toom, might be the best one of your life. If you don´t abandon hope on pleasent days, why do so on those that begin poorly?”

Strong female characters There isn’t a single girl just waiting for prince charming to come along. They are all strong independant flawed and beautiful.

Awe begot respect; respect begot confidence; confidence begot courage, and she needed her people to be brave. She needed them to cast aside their doubts even in the face of a terrible growing shadow. She needed them to believe in the wisdom of a young woman even when faced with annihilation.

There is a god walking among men seeking redemption - we find out who he is and I was a bit surprised….but I shouldn’t have been looking back on everything.

And there is just enough romance that my shippy heart was happy - if you know me at all you know I love to find a couple to root for and I found a few in this series. Enough to keep all the girl parts of my satisfied.

Finally the Author had me with his dedication

“This book is entirely dedicated to my wife, Robin Sullivan.

Some have asked how it is I write such strong women without resorting to putting swords in their hands. It is because of her.

She is Arista.
She is Thrace.
She is Modina.
She is Amilia.
And she is my Gwen.

This series has been a tribute to her.

This is your book, Robin.

I don’t want to say much more because I loved how this all turned out. There were all the moments I look for in a book I love.

-moments to make you laugh
-moments that squeeze your heart
-moments that you cheer
-moments that you dred
-and finally that moment when you see it all to the end and feel like you want to jump back to page 1 of book 1 and start all over again.

This is one of the most underrated fantasy series I’ve read. If you like any of the things I list above you should read this as soon as possible.


Pre-Read:

Let’s find the true Heir, stop a wedding and maybe even save a witch. Reading with my fantasy fanatics at Buddies Books and Baubles

[Samir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved ''Theft Of Swords'' and ''Rise of Empire'' and I expected the ''Heir of Novron'' to be truly epic but it wasn't...It was something more, it was something greater, it was mind-blowingly good!

Stories like these are the reason I love fantasy. I won't share any details or spoilers because I wouldn't dare to deprive you from fantastic experience of going through it yourself.

Some parts reminded me of ''The Fellowship of the Ring'' and I loved it because that was the book that made me fall in love with fantasy. ''The Lord of the Rings'', for me, is one the best stories ever written and no other book came close to evoke the way I felt reading it until this one.

This book has everything, story has a great flow, the best fantasy duo ever written, great supporting characters that sometimes made me feel like they are the main ones, great villains, great world building that made me feel like I was traveling through Elan and beyond epic story with the best ending I have ever read, the last few sentences left me staring at the book with my mouth open and my mind blown.

This whole series was such a grand journey, and when I was finished I had mixed feelings, I was sad that it was over but I was happy that I had this amazing experience and I can't wait to read the prequels.

This is one of the best books I've ever read and this series took the number one spot as my favorite.

Heir of Novron represents the pure essence of fantasy, it is a book with a heart and soul so if you like fantasy and you haven't started this series yet, I implore you to do so because this is an experience you don't want to miss out!

[Luffy Sempai · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know, I would be fine with adding books 3 and 4 to this voluminous duet of pleasures. It's a single story, though I hated books 3 and 4. Combined together, they form a spectrum. Reading this, you hate the author and want the book to fail.

Then slowly, when book 5 kicks in, you're taken unawares and revise your opinion of the writer. You get beset by twists, red herrings, and a prose that's artificially original, but is derivative in the best meaning of the word. There's a lot of good hard work in here.

What I'm struggling to tell you is that I have gained a lot of respect for not only the author, but the genre. Wriggle as I might, it's undeniable that most of the books in my top 10 list are Fantasy. Why is that. Partly this is due to the website Goodreads, which weeds out the quirky, psychedelic and experimental dead ends from the 70's.

Riyria was so nice to read. The bits of boredom are not necessarily good, but most readers won't begrudge the writer for that. I'm not fortunate enough to find the entire series great. But what I'll leave you with is that if while reading the book you find that you're zipping through the pages, odds are you'll become a fan of the genre, the series and its creator.

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023: Happy place, here I come again!

2022: Third read already because this series is my happy place!

2021: Wintertide
Another intensely paced installment – this series is like a boulder, picking up speed as it rolls down an increasingly steep hill. Thankfully this novel picks up right where we left off and we learn about our characters’ fates:

Arista, Princess of Melengar and frequent companion to our two heroes, Hadrian and Royce, is in the worst predicament of all our characters and I don’t think it can get any worse for her.

As for Hadrian, idealistic ex-mercenary, and Royce, skilled ex-thief/assassin, their path sadly splits early on and each goes on their own quest; they aren’t reunited until the end. (Since their team is named "Riyria" – Elvish for "two" – this book should really be named whatever the name for "one" is.) Why am I sad about that? Because that dynamic duo is at its best and the most fun when they are together – but that’s just my personal preference. I get that it makes sense from a narrative perspective – they both need to grow and go through their hardships on their own. Hadrian learns the hard way not to be so trusting (naive?) and that he has probably relied on Royce‘s intellect and instincts too much in the past. Royce‘s own character arc involves something truly heartbreaking at the end of the book and I’m not sure how he will move on in the final installment of the series.

A character I also enjoyed following was Modina, former farm girl and now unlikely Empress, who arguably experiences the most character growth. Seeing her take charge of her own destiny was extremely satisfying; that and seeing some of our villains get theirs.

The budding romance between the frankly too-good-to-be-true (almost annoyingly so) Sir Breckton and former scullery maid, now secretary to the Empress, Amilia was lovely.

Questions: What is Arcadius up to? Who is manipulating Royce? And Merrick Marius for that matter?


Percepliquis

What a brilliant conclusion to an amazing series; a series that has lodged itself firmly into my heart and will be a favorite for years to come. The GraphicAudio production made this even better and held me in a fierce emotional grip. I really hope they will also adapt the Riyria Chronicles!

In this final installment of the Riyria Revelations, the whole picture is finally unveiled - be prepared for a veritable avalanche of both revelations and emotions at the end. (Only one question remains: Is there more to the raccoon Mr. Rings???) I won’t say more because at this point, it would involve too many spoilers.

I honestly can’t say which series – the prequel Legends of the First Empire or Riyria Revelations – is my favorite. They are each better for the other!

And I maintain my initial observation that you should start with the series that appeals to you more; I know the author recommends reading in publication order (which means starting with Revelations), but for me, having started with Legends was the better order.

I can’t wait to continue with the Chronicles (sadly without GraphicAudio as of now) – a prequel series to Revelations – and to re-read and experience Legends (with GraphicAudio).

Random thought: I love how whacking a seemingly all-powerful magic user in the head with a rock takes them out of commission and how that’s become a theme in both series. It‘s just brilliant in its simplicity.

Riyria Revelations
1. The Crown Conspiracy – updated to 4.25 stars
2. Avempartha – 4.5 stars
3. Nyphron Rising – 5 stars
4. The Emerald Storm – 4.5 stars
5. Wintertide – 5 stars
6. Percepliquis – 5 stars

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The Riyria Revelations was a beautiful journey with a set of characters I grew to love and care and about. Unlike many of its genre, it has a satisfying ending. Nowadays, I avoid series that I know will have disappointing endings. So no worries here. Sullivan wraps things up rather nicely.

This book was brilliant. That very last scene? Wow. It showed how Sullivan weaved a solid plot from book 1, everything at the end turns out to be connected, like a big puzzle.

After I finished Wintertide, it took me around 3 weeks to pick up this book again. Percepliquis, in my opinion, was better than the first book in this omnibus. I probably appreciated it more because of the elves and some events I know of because I have read about them previously in the Legends.

I was very happy with the ending, it was satisfying. No rushed wrap-ups, it showed how much Sullivan had everything planned from the start. I hate abrupt conclusions. The Revelations ended on a high note for me.


Other than Gwen and Royce, I don't think I have any "ship" in this series. I don't think Sullivan created enough chemistry between the characters that had feelings for each other.. Amelia and (you know who) okay, I guess because we weren't much in his head -but I couldn't feel the spark anyway. But the other two? Nope. I would've even be satisfied if we had zero romance in the whole series. I always love a brush of romance in my novels, but in this case.. I just didn't feel it.

I also hated a particular death even though I long saw it coming I thought Gwen getting killed is useless and deprives Royce of the only happiness he had. Another complaint is why suddenly now we have lots of background on how Royce and Hadrian met? And about their early expeditions? I think that's because Sullivan was making us interested in the Chronicles but.. these could've been introduced in the first two books and not in the last.


I must say I was rather indifferent about the characters in the first 2 installments, I enjoyed the story but as an outsider watching events unfold from a screen. Michael's growth as an author shows in this book as I was able to feel/relate more with our characters and it certainly got some reactions from me. I grew to love our characters and care for them. Modina, in particular, truly shined in this book.


It saddens me that Legends of the First Empire wasn't nearly as good as his debut series.. I'm certain in fact, I would've appreciated it more if I read all of the Riyria Revelations first. I was happy with Persephone's references since I liked her but I don't think I will be continuing it even now (I have read the first 2 books). In fact, I doubt I'll be reading the Riyria Chronicles, I rarely appreciate stories of the past. I will, however, read any sequels for sure.

I finished this series in less than a year which says something about it. It's light, fun, and easy to pick up again (for those who have a problem with reading sequels after a while like me). I definitely recommend it if you’re looking just for this sort of thing.

[Eon Windrunner · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020- Still got it.

2016 reread verdict:
I have now officially decided that I will reread this series once a year due to it's excessive kickassyness. Yep. If too much of a good thing is bad for you, then this book is POISON. As Alice Cooper meant to say - "I wanna read you, but I want it too much"


Original review:
What a great series. Michael J. Sullivan has captured the essence of fantasy and spoiled us with a well written story that ticked all the boxes and more.

[Orient · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great books read: 2
Hours spent cheering for the goodies:endless....
Hours spent cheering for the baddies:2462621
Temples for Hadrian: O
Temples for Royce: O
Temples for Royce and Fluffster: 378715 and then I just lost the count <3
Monster count: a lot of adorable goblins, one amazing Fluffster with a couple of friends (fangirling mode - on)



Though I gave the first installment only three stars, I knew that Mr. Sullivan will have more up in his sleeve, so it was obvious that further books will lead to greater things and more stars, hence my four stars to the second installment. It is 100 % true as I just loved this third and last installment. This installment is epic! “Heir of Novron" delivered the thrilling and exciting story of Royce and Hadrian to an end with the final adventure that blew my mind.

Mr. Sullivans writing is quite simple, there are no big scheming, confusing twists or complex characters and the beauty of the series lies there. It doesn’t matter now that I didn’t love some of the characters in the first installment and felt annoyed with them. I learned to love them as the story went on. Comparing the series to some hard core Epic Fantasy, Riyria may not look the most unique story, but it made me admire the characters, their progress and of course their adventures caught my imagination. There is more magic in this installment and to my great pleasure I got more of my fave girl, Ms. Whirlwind.

Like in previous two installments, “ Heir of Novron” is divided into two parts-books.

Wintertide

I felt that this book is similar to the earlier ones, it’s good and bad at the same time as the final showdown is only in the second part of the installment, but I had fun observing all the revelations, twists, more troubles, battles, gripping character progress and their backstories. Mr. Sullivan does it with skill, but carefully not to tire the reader with long waiting.

Percepliquis

The book I waited reading the most. This is a quest story, with lots of action, a bit of digging, fantastic revelations, fabulous humor and of course amazing character development. I felt the sadness of loss, the meaning of sacrifice, the price of courage and the importance of friendship as I followed the characters as they faced terrible situations, tried to survive in attempt to solve the great mysteries.

I’m in love at last, but no Hadrian temples will emerge, I fell in love (sort of) with Royce, it happened when I was almost in the middle of the second book :) The scene, that did the work for me <3

“I think it got all of them,” Hadrian announced. “Ghazel always take their dead if they can.”
“I wish I had a sugar cube or something to give him,” Royce said, looking at the Gilarabrywn with a sympathetic expression. “He’s been such a good boy”

The world is on the brink of destruction and Mr. Sullivan offers even more twists or revelations to feed the reading greed. Well, I must confess that some of them were a bit predictable (the true identity of the Heir, the real parents of one lovely girl) but it’s still a great read.

All in all I enjoyed the installment a lot as it was an adventurous playdate and I don’t want to leave the world and characters of Riyria. It’s sad a bit that Mr. Sullivan has no plans to continue the story of Riyria further, but I’m glad that I still have Riyria Chronicles to feast my eyes on :)

[Choko · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 5 ***

A buddy read with the buddies, who joined together on a Fantasy quest to save the world, at BB&B!

Wow!!! Just wow!!! I am not sure I have words! I just finished this series and I am glad that despite some very painful moments, which almost led me to depression and left me with the need to step away and take a break, I stuck with it to the end! This five star rating is not only for the last installment, which I found to be the strongest in its balance of prose and action, but for the feeling the series gave me over all!!! Michael Sullivan has realy created a beautiful, accessible, and very memorable peace of Fantasy! But its true strength is in its deep humanity and the ever present themes of guilt, self realization and forgiveness.... Forgiveness for all thoughts, weaknesses, actions and inactions.... About gaining the strength and being brave enough to choose to live life to the fullest, as well as deal with the questions of faith, destiny, and acceptance of all stops on the wheel of our lives...

“What's the advantage of fear or the benefit of regret or the bonus of granting misery a foothold even if death is embracing you? My old abbot used to say, "Life is only precious if you wish it to be." I look at it like the last bite of a wonderful meal. Do you enjoy it, or does the knowledge that there is no more to follow make it so bitter that you would ruin the experience? - Myron on facing death”

Although the plot might be considered to be a typical adventure/quest Fantasy, this is very much of a character driven and vastly entertaining, as D. Hume would say, treatise on human nature... I can see the series being a wonderful tool in teaching a combination of classes on philosophy, creative writing, race relations, and even Jungian Analytical Psychology on archetypes and their variations... But the ones who would truly benefit are the young fantasy readers, for whom the ambiguity of the concepts for Honor, Bravery and Gallantry could get a shot of honesty and a spectrum of human experiences which install in us the desire to be better, do better and live better not by preaching, but just by allowing us to walk in the characters' shoes.

I slowly fell in love with every one of our main characters, but I have to say that I was very partial to the two ladies Thrace-Modina and Arista, and the most amazingly endearing and scene stealing monk, Myron. I absolutely adore him!!! And yes, I also love Hadrian, Royce, Nimbus, Amilia, the dwarf and many others, but Myron was the soul of the series and I think almost everything that came out of his mouth in this book was quotation worthy!!!

“A beautiful day might bring disaster, while a day that begins trapped inside an ancient toom, might be the best one of your life. If you don´t abandon hope on pleasent days, why do so on those that begin poorly?”

I hope that I can express what a feeling of awe this book left me with, but I know I am not so verbally inclined... I am a consumer of the beauty others put to paper and I feel privileged to read books and series like this one, the ones that start by engaging our minds, go straight to the heart and eventually bypass the brain all together to communicate with our human essence.

I recommend this to all who love to read, despite the genre, young and old.!!! If you love stories of self discovery via adventure and fantasy, this one is for you!!! You will not be disappointed!!!

Now I wish all of you Happy reading and may every book you read bring you joy and touch your soul!!!

[Emelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be an odd review ;) And why can we not give more than 5 stars?

So happy I didn't have to send Michael J. Sullivan hate mail because of......Royce;)
Just put him in my top 10 authors and that is saying a lot.
This series was one of the best I have read.
Yes, that's what I said ;)
It has everything a reader could want and if you respect my opinions as far as books go, you will read this series and anything else Michael writes, if you have not already.

Now for the review;

"A white feather drifted downward. It swirled, blowing on a gentle breeze until it was close enough that the tall spindly man in the white powdered wig reached up and caught it between his fingers. He kissed it gently, then slipped it into his leather pouch. He pulled the bag closed and continued on his way, whistling a merry tune, until he passed behind a hill and was gone."

And all was right with the world........


Thank you Michael J Sullivan, for writing.
It is good to know that Bards still exist, you are an amazing Wordsinger.

I just love happy endings.

[TS Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

March 2022: Even after so many reads, this series conclusion never failed to make me emotional. Still one of the best and most satisfying endings I've ever read. ❤️❤️❤️
------------------------------------

May 2016: **All The Stars**

Sometimes the price of dreams is achieving them.
The price of reading an amazing series is finishing it and feeling lost.
And the reward of rereading them is feeling that you've come home.

-------------------------------------
Jan 2016 (audio):

Oh my goodness.. THE FEELS!!! 5-stars just don't seem enough to convey how much I love this series and its characters. Although a reread, I am again suffering from a hangover at the end of it. Definitely going to be rereading this series over and over again.

"And I wish to thank you as well."
"For what?"
"For reminding me that anyone, no matter what they've done, can find redemption if they seek it."
-------------------------

Update
So I received from the author a copy of the afterword which is only available in the paperback version of Percepliquis. Is it even possible for me to love this series even more after reading the afterword? In any case, I did! I've already mentioned that this is one of my favourite series now, but Michael J.Sullivan's afterword reinforced and elevated what I loved so much about The Riyria Revelations. Among all the contemporary fantasy reads out there today, Riyria stands out because of what it isn't. It isn't complex, detailed, epic, edgy or dark, nor does it try to be, except to simply tell an empathetic story which is thoroughly a joy to read. And I agree with the author that stories like these are rare.

I'll leave an extract of Michael's afterword here as I think it speaks for itself.

I wrote these books, because in our jaded, embittered world that is so eager to denounce happiness and happily-ever-after as a myth, such tales are rare, and yet are exactly the type of stories that I think are worth telling..

Thank you Michael, for sharing these wonderful stories with us.

----------------------------
May 2015 (e-book):
I am approaching this review a bit differently to the other 2 earlier omnibus sets. This will be a review of the entire series, while my reviews of Wintertide and Percepliquis are posted for the individual books.

I learnt that Michael J. Sullivan wrote all 6 books of Riyria Revelations before it was published, and it shows. The progression of the series was very well conceptualised–the growth of the story was one of the best I’ve read. I liked how it started on a much lighter note, drawing the reader into the world and introducing the wonderful Riyria pair. With each and every book, the back-stories of Hadrian and Royce were drawn out further, the stakes, tension and danger increased, and the scope of the story expanded. While not grimdark in any sense of the word, the author did not shy away from tragic and sometimes brutal deaths of some of the characters that we grew to love. The world-building was quite simple but solid and the story did not get mired in too many details that may detract from the characters and the plot.

Speaking of characters, this is where the series truly shone and made it so difficult for me to leave this world. Words cannot express how much I love the relationship and dynamics between the Riyria pair, Hadrian and Royce - two characters of polar opposite personalities. Infatuated with the noble and idealistic Hadrian, and fascinated with the complex personality of dangerous and cynical Royce Melborn, I am so happy that we are getting more books on this pair via the Riyria Chronicles which will form the back stories of Riyria. Myron, the monk (the truest one to ever don such humble robes), and Nimbus, the courtier, are another two of my favourite characters. Every scene when either one of them appears in was a joy to read.

Michael did something rare; he created female leads that I admire and love! Arista and Modina especially are truly amazing and strong women-not overly aggressive, condescending or bitchy like how some other stories tend to portray their female leads-and tinged with the right amount of vulnerability. And on this note, I need to mention that Michael’s dedication to his wife at the beginning of this book was absolutely beautiful.

The finale as the mystery unravelled was amazing and while some may find it a bit clichéd, I for one positively loved it and it stayed in my mind for a long, long while. A lot of great fantasy books out there may have awesome and epic climaxes but it's how one handles the very end of the book after the climax when things wind down, which truly makes an impact. On that note, the very last paragraph of this last book was possibly the best ending of a series that I’ve ever read.

I have mentioned in an earlier review, well-written fantasy tropes can be just plain fun. In the case of Riyria Revelations, the tropes are not overly formulated such that while it has elements of classic fantasy, I can’t really pigeon-hole the series into anything I’ve read thus far. It is simply a captivating story with wonderful characters that you do not want to leave.

All I can say is that I have found myself another favourite author, and a new favourite series.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

TW: death of a loved one; suicidal thoughts; mentions of rape; fat phobic descriptions

I really enjoyed how this series wrapped up. This last book had so many loose ends finally come together, and so many pieces from the earlier books were brought back in. I really enjoy the main characters in this series but the side characters do sometimes fall a little flat for me. They aren’t completely two dimensional but I’m not as attached to them as I could be. I had some concerns about the possible fridging of a female character but overall it was handled well and I do think Sullivan does well with his female characters. He also makes some of his male characters THE WORST so it evens out. I would also like a tad more complexity to his villains but overall I really loved this series, I think it would us able to be pretty widely recommended for any fantasy fan, and I do plan to read more by him.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, and series for that matter, are going down as one of my favorites of all time. I absolutely loved it! Everything that has been building up in Theft of Swords and Rise of Empire comes to a head in this final installment. MJS left no stone unturned and left me completely satisfied, but still wanting more. Wanting more you say?.....DAMN RIGHT! I could read another 900+ pages of Royce, Hadrian, Arista, and the whole crew right now.

This book is another omnibus of books 5 and 6. Just like the previous two books.

Book 5 - Wintertide

Appropriately named after the Wintertide event in Aquesta where all of the action is taking place. In this installment we have Royce and Hadrian on a mission to rescue the Heir of Novron. Of course, when things don’t go according to plan they have to improvise.

This story is both comical and sad with a twist that had me going WTF just happened. I felt Mr. Sullivan could have ended the story here if he wanted to, but he had a much bigger and better idea in mind which we see in book 6.

Book 6 – Percepliquis

Royce, Hadrian, Arista, and a selected few others journey in search of the ancient city of Percepliquis to find an artifact that has been missing for 3,000 years. Their success or failure will determine the future of their world.

This book had a darker feel to it than the previous books. More intensity and seriousness that matched the situation pressed upon our characters. It felt appropriate that all of our main characters from the first book are together on this final journey, and what a journey it was. We get all of our questions answered and legends finally revealed. A brilliant wrap up to this series!

This is one colossal book of awesomeness. I cannot give this series enough praise. I have enjoyed every book, chapter, and page along the way. I am sad that it is over, but I do look forward to the Riyria Chronicles and Legends of The First Empire. I would recommend this series to everyone. I only hope you enjoy it half as much as I have.

5 stars *****

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

At some point more detailed review might come but so far I will say WOW, just WOW.

This series starts as fun little adventure with witty dialogues .In second book we get more worldbuilding, characters get more layers and plot thickens but it's all setting stage for what happens in this book.By far longest of the 3 it's culmination of everything that happens in previous books and I was astonished to see how some small details and side characters had impact later in story.I am also glad Sullivan didn't writer any sequels since this books has very satisfying conclusion and I hate when authors ruin good ending with unnecessary sequels.

[edge of bubble · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow!!!!! just want to say this was awesome. wondrous. marvelous. just wow! review later I hope.





okay I need to get this rant off my chest. major spoilers!
Arcadius. Killing Gwen does not make sense! I know we are supposed to buy oohh scary emperor Royce part and that he did this to keep Mercy because he thought Royce was some special brand of sociopath. I don't. One, you are a fucking old man who keeps this shit secret from everybody but one woman in a time of war and you just put up a sign on your forehead that you have a secret in front of psychopathic church sentinel whose only mission in his life is to kill the heir and his line, who has only you and said woman to protect her and give her the knowledge that she is the daughter of the heir. even if you don't take the dangers and every other shit that is going on into consideration, you don't have a guarantee that the kid won't be lost in some fucked up way and grow up just like her father and turn into another sociopath. so what does this genius of a man do? he goes and kills the only person the said sociopath loves, taking a gamble with a shit hand that requires years of maybes to come to fruition. when he could make sure Gwen ,on whose request Royce would roll over and die, is safe and sound to be the softening influence in him.

you want to raise the heir with your knowledge? all you have to do is to ask royce because he sees you as a supplement father. but nooooo he has to be one to DO shit. because only he can decide the best, impart the necessary knowledge and raise a better person. well, fuck you old man. rot in whatever literary hell you are in. burn burn burn.

[Haïfa · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.

Wow, Heir of Novron is without a doubt one of the most emotional and rewarding re-reads I’ve ever had the chance to experience. But most of all, it’s a book that put together all the things I love about Fantasy and about reading in general: Magic, legends and myths, unforgettable characters, duel scenes, chivalrous and heroic moments and emotions. Lots of emotions.

Just take a moment to look at the book’s dedication…

This book is entirely dedicated to my wife, Robin Sullivan. Some have asked how it is I write such strong women without resorting to putting swords in their hands. It is because of her.

She is Arista
She is Thrace
She is Modina
She is Amilia
And she is my Gwen.

This series has been a tribute to her.

I won’t lie, I read through tears on several occasions. MJS knows how to strike a chord! Despite waving a simple, rather classic Fantasy tale, somewhere along the road, he made you care and ache for his amazing characters so much so every slight, every setback, every failure, every wound and every death felt raw and personal to me.

Riyria Revelations’ characters will always be the most memorable element of this series for me. I have a fondness for them I rarely felt for other fictional characters. All of them felt real. Strong and vulnerable at the same time. Inspiring, too.

‘More valuable than gold, more precious than life, is mercy bestowed upon he who hast not known its soft kiss.’

Hadrian is still one of my absolute favorite male characters of all times, my humble, kindhearted, fiercely loyal, idealistic and oblivious knight! Or rather what a knight is supposed to be. And let’s not forget “badass” when the situation demands it! Royce, on the other hand, grew slower on me. Probably because I couldn’t understand the way he thought or why he acted the way he did at first. But Michael gave him so much more depth and his friendship with Hadrian made him into something more than just the brooding, ruthless and broken assassin he was when they first met.

I might have said that the leading duo was the highlight of the series in terms of characterization had I only read the first omnibus. However the female characters and the secondary characters would have soon proved me wrong. If they shone in Rise of Empire, they simply transcended their early development in Heir of Novron! From the kind and gruff palace cook, to the haughty and bratty noble, to the exuberant lady Rochelle, to the famished orphan boys…, every character had room to grow (and did) and every one had something to contribute. I can’t praise MJS enough for his spotless characterization and great, often intense or hilarious character interactions.

When you expect nothing from the world— not the light of the sun, the wet of water, nor the air to breathe— everything is a wonder and every moment a gift.’

MJS teaches us that no matter where you start, whether you are a street urchin, a mercenary, a thief, a servant, a farmer, a spoiled noble or a mighty, honorable knight, you can always get a second chance and you can always make a difference. And that's something I will always cherish in Michael's stories: the positivity, hope, levity and morality he infuses his tales with despite the few dark themes (death, despair, regret, prejudice, genocide…) he handled. I guess it’s in great part due to the presence of Myron who might be one of the most adorable and kind characters I’ve had the pleasure to meet! Every time Myron spoke, or merely appeared, he trailed light and warmth in his wake! <3

“What is the advantage of fear, or the benefit of regret, or the bonus of granting misery a foothold even if death is embracing you? My old abbot used to say, ‘Life is only precious if you wish it to be.’ I look at it like the last bite of a wonderful meal— do you enjoy it, or does the knowledge that there is no more to follow make it so bitter that you would ruin the experience?” […] I’ve learned that the last bite is often the sweetest.”

Before I conclude this already long review, I think it’s important to mention that Heir of Novron’s awesomeness isn’t only tied to its characters. The plot in both Wintertide and Percepliquis was engaging, fast-paced and filled with inspired and inspiring speeches, court intrigues, dangerous creatures and magic, cleverly woven myths, history and a few wondrous places (the starry cavern, the underground water, a forgotten city…). Some of my friends even described Percepliquis as being evocative of the Fellowship of the Ring and I think the analogy is totally fitting!

“Happiness comes from moving toward something. When you run away, ofttimes you bring your misery with you."

I could drone on and on about how amazing this book is but I'll just tell you that perseverance is so worth the effort with this series. If you weren’t impressed with Theft of Swords, then please don’t let that deter you from finishing the series! Give Rise of Empire a try and you won’t regret it. Every book is so exquisitely better than its predecessor. True, Riyria is a pretty simple and classic Fantasy tale and all fantasy elements are small variations of classical ones. And yet, it’s a delight to read because MJS claimed them and gave them a modern tone, and lots of humor and heart.

Reviews of the previous books:
Theft of Swords
Rise of Empire

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review now posted!

Original review can be found at Booknest.

Wow. I thought that Theft of Swords was fantastic, but Rise of Empire improved upon it greatly. Then along comes Heir of Novron, which blew away everything that proceeded it.

This series started out as a fun romp of a fantasy, fairly lighthearted and and fast-paced. Some of my friends didn’t enjoy the first book because they found it to be too shallow, both in plot and character. I honestly don’t think anyone could possibly feel that way about this final installment. Sullivan took the foundation he had laid in the first book, which was heavily influenced by classic fantasy, and ended up with something that felt deep and original and new by the last book.

The mythos was beautifully rendered and was presented with a deft hand, never laden on too thick or thin. The characters were wonderfully developed, and watching them grow throughout the series was a joy. The settings were varied and, while not always unique, were very well crafted and were lovely to behold. The plot took twists and turns that were surprising and heartbreaking and gratifying, often within the same chapter. The entire series was fun, but this book felt like something special.

While there were so many fantastic aspects to this series, what really made it for me was the characters and how they grew over the course of the series. My very favorite character is Myron, the little monk with the photographic memory who sees the good in literally everything. He wasn’t present in Rise of Empire, which was really disappointing, but he was an incredibly important character in Heir of Novron! His view of the world is the view I aspire to maintain, and he’s quite possibly one of the sweetest fictional characters I’ve ever come across.

Then there’s Arista, the princess that seemed like a fairly interesting secondary character in the first book, but who has since become one of the central characters of the story, with more depth and spirit and courage than I would have imagined when she was first introduced. She’s a strong, powerful woman who never picks up a sword or becomes some kind of supernaturally gifted warrior, which is actually rare to find in a fantasy setting. She worked hard to become the woman she is, and I really appreciate finding such a strong woman in a fantasy. And Sullivan didn’t just craft one strong female. In this series, we also have Gwen, Modina, Amilia, Lenare, and more. Sullivan did a wonderful job of creating remarkably strong women, and I applaud him for it.

And what can I say about this series’ dynamic duo, Hadrian and Royce, that hasn’t already been said? Both the individuals and the duo go through tremendous adversity and character growth. They are still a fun bromance, but one that’s been tempered by hardship and sorrow. Seeing how each man handles the difficulties that life throws his way, as well as how those hardships affect their friendship, was always enthralling to watch. Not always comfortable or fun to witness, but always enthralling.

One last thing that I would really like to applaud Sullivan for: his approach to romance. There is no insta-love here. There is no use of romance as a plot substitute. But there is romance, and it’s some of the most satisfying romance I’ve ever come across in any genre, not just fantasy. The romance here grows over the course of the story. It’s not always comfortable or even reciprocated, but that’s how love is in real life. And that realism is what made any romance that came to fruition within the series mean so much more to me as a reader. There was struggle, as there should be for anything that matters.

I won’t say anything more because I don’t want to inadvertently spoil anything, but I really appreciated the writing choices Sullivan made with this series. I’m incredibly glad that I was exposed to Riyria through my wonderful Goodreads friends and decided to pick it up for myself, because it’s now among my favorite series, and it’s one I look forward to revisiting. Also, I’d like to thank Petrik, TS, and Haïfa for patiently listening to my crazy theories without spoiling anything for me, and for gushing with me as I read the series. Bookish friends are the best friends!

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When you expect nothing from the world—not the light of the sun, the wet of water, nor the air to breathe—everything is a wonder and every moment a gift.”

A Full Five Stars: ✰✰✰✰✰

What a journey this has been. In spite of my frustrations with the beginning of this series, this story and these characters have truly won me over in the best way possible. This was, without a doubt, one of the most satisfying conclusions I've ever read.

If you've been following my reviews for awhile, you'll know that I actually DNFed the first book about two years ago. After incessantly hearing people rave about them though, I felt like I needed to give it another shot, so I made my way through book one for a second time and continued all the way through the trilogy as well. Never have I been so pleasantly surprised.

People who have read these books will know exactly what I mean when I say that this is not a series that you read with your mind. These are books that you read with your heart. Intellectually, these are certainly not the best books I've ever read. It was relatively unoriginal worldbuilding, the story appeared to be simple and straightforward during the first several books, and the prose was not especially flowery or poetic. And yet, in spite of that, these books progressively became more and more meaningful to me. This last book, especially, went beyond just being a good book and turned into something truly special. And it's not something you experience because you're intellectually entertained or intrigued. It's something you experience because it touches on many of the things that define us as human beings. Things that can't be conjured by thought, but are felt in the heart.

“More valuable than gold, more precious than life, is mercy bestowed upon he who hast not known its soft kiss”

The themes in this book blew me away. It didn't avoid negative themes in it's attempt to emphasize the good. Rather, it perfectly balanced themes of justice and even revenge, with mercy. Themes of regret, with redemption. Themes of tragedy, with hope. Themes of misery and fear, with the discovery of true happiness in the midst of adverse circumstances. Even themes of identity, as many characters wrestled with who they were becoming and who they were supposed to be.

“A beautiful day might bring disaster, while a day that begins trapped inside an ancient tomb, might be the best one of your life. If you don´t abandon hope on pleasant days, why do so on those that begin poorly?"

And those characters make the backbone of this entire series. You'll get tired of hearing it, but seriously, the characters in this book are some of the most dynamic, likeable, and well developed people that you'll ever read. It is one of the most character-driven fantasy series I've come across as a result, and for good reason. When I say that these characters are dynamic, I mean that many of the characters you read about in the first several books are not the same people by the time you finish the series, and this isn't forced at all . A pet peeve of mine is authors who write "dramatic transformations" or "changes of heart" into their stories to help move things along, but it is rarely believable. Not so in these books. Sullivan takes his times, and as the reader, we get to walk alongside each of these characters as they are molded by all manner of circumstances.

I can't think of a single character that wasn't done excellently well, and I'm a stickler about characters because it's the most important thing to me in a book. Even Magnus, the dwarf, who you spend most of the series hating is so well written. The villains of the story, too, get plenty of air time - and there are some awesome (awful? awesomely awful? *shrugs*) villains in this book. Sullivan writes both male and female characters who are convincing and believable. Royce and Hadrian, the primary duo of this entire series, are such a perfect combination. If I even tried to make a list of favorite characters, I don't think I'd know where to begin and where to stop.

“Happiness comes from moving toward something. When you run away, ofttimes you bring your misery with you."

Conclusions are important to me. A five star book or series can turn into a two star rating across the board if the ending is bad (Hunger Games. The level of hate and dissatisfaction I had with that final book left a bad taste on my tongue for the entire series as a whole). Good endings are so hard to come by, because many authors just meander their way to a conclusion in a way that slaps everything together in an almost careless manner. It's so easy to lose traction once you near the end.

With that being said, I made it to the second half of Percepliquis (book six) and couldn't even believe what I was reading. So many different layers ranging from elements of the story, worldbuilding, and characters came together in way that was absolutely brilliant, plain and simple. I can't even talk about it for fear of spoilers, but I was blown away when I realized the amount of foreshadowing that was done, going all the way back to book one. This all reached it's peak at the climax of the story, and we were given a conclusion that wrapped everything up and left no loose ends untied.

It was seriously good.

“What's the advantage of fear or the benefit of regret or the bonus of granting misery a foothold even if death is embracing you? My old abbot used to say, 'Life is only precious if you wish it to be.' I look at it like the last bite of a wonderful meal. Do you enjoy it, or does the knowledge that there is no more to follow make it so bitter that you would ruin the experience?"

In conclusion, I could say A LOT more about this book, but I won't. Seriously, if you were like me, and you put these books down after the first volume, pick it up again. It is worth the time it takes to get through the first book, and I'm sure you won't regret it. This series introduced me to characters that I learned to genuinely love, a story that touched me, and themes that I'm going to remember for a very, very long time. Michael Sullivan has officially made a fan out of me.

“And I wish to thank you as well, Royce."

He was puzzled. "For what?"

"For reminding me that anyone, no matter what they've done, can find redemption if they seek it.”

[Conor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humour, tragedy, action, drama, adventure. This one had it all. After a patchy start in book 1 this omnibus has fully realized the development of this series into one of my all-time favourites. Heir of Novron featured an awesome cast of diverse, likeable characters with the protagonists from the previous books returning along with many of the great supporting characters. While the plot was in many ways a typical fantasy epic it was written masterfully and the tension remained high due to Sullivan’s ability to make standard fantasy scenarios seem fresh and unique and his willingness to brutally kill off even the most beloved and important of characters quicker than you can say ‘Red Wedding’.

Wintertide - 4.5 Stars

After the grim ending of the last book the start of ‘Wintertide’ is understandably tense. As the plot progresses the story picks up pace with all of the main characters who were previously scattered around the world now together in one place all snared in different ways in a complex web of danger and intrigue and locked in a battle against time.

All of the main character from previous books returned in this one and put in some interesting turns. Amilia’s budding romance with Breckton was sweet and enjoyable (although I found Breckton himself to be a disappointingly boring and clichéd ‘white knight’ after the deft portrayal of his brother in the previous book) and the depths of her friendship and loyalty to Modina were moving. Arista’s brief interludes were brutal, towards the end even rivalling Modina’s earlier sections for being depressing and like Modina’s sections they were made all the more jarring for how they contrasted with the otherwise light-hearted tone and for me at times broke up the flow of the story. On the other hand while the premise of Hadrian’s plot was ridiculous for a load of reasons it also made for some extremely entertaining reading, with some great fish-out-of-water scenes, an interesting view into life at court (that didn’t become obsessed with chronicling every minor detail like other fantasy books) and the awesomeness of Hadrian’s pwning everyone at jousting. Royce’s rescue plan was also interesting, especially his confrontation with his arch-enemy Merrick. However this book ultimately belonged to Modina. After 2 books of being a mindless puppet the empress finally arrives. Her powerplay at the end of the books was awesome and it was especially cool that for once Royce and Hadrian didn’t save the day.

The ending scenario to this had a clichéd, forced set up but that was quickly forgotten amidst the action, drama and tragedy of the final scenes as a trap was sprung and important characters were suddenly and unexpectedly killed off. The truth about these events, when they were finally revealed at the end of the last book, brilliantly drove home the tragedy and futility of this scene especially Royce’s killing of Merrick, his oldest friend and despite his status as a villain one of the series best and most interesting characters .

Percepliquis - 4.5 Stars

This was another action packed instalment and a great end to the series. This story resolved around a clichéd set up: With an unstoppable, evil empire tearing through kingdom after kingdom a band of heroes was dispatched on a quest to find an ancient relic and save the world. However Sullivan wrote this story brilliantly and the journey was filled with intriguing mysteries, epic trials and the constant threat of sudden, brutal death, even for main characters, a threat Sullivan was merciless in following through with. I mean 2 members of the party (and really likeable members at that) were eaten by goblins off-screen FFS. GRRM wouldn’t write that shit .

A feature I really enjoyed about this book was the return of so many great secondary characters from earlier in the series. The appearances of Alric, Magnus and Lenare Pickering (who was a disappointingly underused character, delivering one of the most badass scenes in the entire series early on then remaining quietly in the background for the rest of the book. I thought she would have made an awesome addition to the quest but anyway….) all added greatly to the story, however the character that really came to the fore was Myron. I’m not normally a fan of preachy religious characters, either in fantasy or real life, however I found Myron to be easily one of my favourite elements of this book. He showed immense courage, determination and loyalty and while ‘badass’ might be a misnomer for the compassionate, obsessively bookish monk I can’t think of a better term. I really appreciated the way he showed courage (His ‘Shut Up Hannibal’, delivered to the millienia old god-sorceror towards the end being the most obvious example) without ever sacrificing his principals or feeling out of character. It’s a common trope that in order to show peaceful, religious characters are ‘badass’ they get angry and ditch their pacifist ideals to opens a proverbial can of whoopass (my favourite biblical proverb tbh), but I was glad Myron didn’t as I think it would have cheapened his character.

Overall I found the ending to be extremely satisfying. It had elements of tragedy and sadness and avoided the fantasy series pitfall of having a naïve (and thus unbelievable and meaningless) happily ever after on the horizon, while still retaining an optimistic outlook for the future and, at the least, a well-earned happy ending for the heroes. I was somewhat disappointed with Royce’s ending. The ‘reveal’ at the end was cheesy and badly worked. ‘btw Royce you have a 7 year old daughter who the woman you were in love with for the last 15 years and had been planning to marry decided not to tell you about, thus ensuring that you missed out on most of her childhood and a chance to develop a relationship with her because.. er… the plot.’ While it might sounds morbid I thought that Royce sacrificing himself would have been the best ending for him, especially as it would have made Gwen’s seemingly avoidable death mean something. I was also kind of pissed that Degan Gaunt, a cowardly, selfish possible rapist survived when so many awesome characters didn’t and was then rewarded by the heroes. On the Brightside I thought the ending for pretty much everyone else was perfect. After 6 books of will-they-won’t-they Arista and Hadrian ended up together, I was initially disappointed that Arista gave up her right as queen of Melengar but I was then really psyched about the revival of the Orders with Arista and Hadrian in charge (although I’m not exactly sure how Arista is going to teach magic. Wasn’t the ‘secret’ to her power that you just kind of… do it? Or am I mis-remembering?) I also thought the way the future of the empire was handled in this one was great. Modina was non-stop awesome since unleashing the kraken at the end of the previous book and I thought her plans for the Empire were perfect. I really appreciated her realistic planning for wars and political instability in the future, things most fantasy dismiss to try and force a ‘happy ending’. I was also really psyched at how she found the perfect place for all of the gang; Hadrian, Arista, Myron , Magnus… even Gaunt (unfortunately).

After a disappointing and patchy start in book 1 this series has gone from strength to strength. Each instalment has added something; another layer of depth to the main characters, more brilliantly drawn secondary characters, intriguing new facets to the world building. As another reviewer noted this series can be extremely hard to define within the genre and with each book that definition became harder. It combines warm humour with sudden, shocking tragedy, heroism and adventure with the unexpected and unchangeable consequences of violence. This series has been a great read and I look forward to seeing what Sullivan will do in the future.

[Eli24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ساعت ۲ شب تونستم تمامش کنم و چون اولین ریویوم برا سال میلادی جدید میشد و میخواستم با ذهن ازاد راجبش بنویسم ترجیح دادم بخوابم و الان امدم تا بنویسم و بگم و غر بزنم و هیجانم خالی کنم😁
این مجموعه محشر بود عاشقش شدم اصلا یه چیز عجیبی خوب بود. عاشق شخصیتا شدم عاشق خط داستانی شدم عاشق همه چیزش شدم🤭
اما اینا حرفام راجب کل مجموعه ۳ جلدی riyria revelations بود راجب خود Heir of Novron باید بگم اولش جدا خوندنش سختم بود. تا حدود ۳۰ الا ۳۵ درصد کتاب اتفاقات به کندی پیش میرفت، شخصیتای الکی و اضافه یهو وارد داستان میشدن، قهرمانا اصلی بدبیاری پشت بدبیاری میاوردن و بازم اشتباهات احمقانه قبلیشون هی تکرار میکردن! همش اینجور بودم که "چرا این پست‌فطرت باید بازم موفق بشه؟" "چرا یکی این عوضیو نمیکشه" یا " چرا این شخصیت اینقدر بی تاثیره و هیچ کار خاصی انجام نمیده؟" یا "چرا این دوتا خنگ نمیفهمن عاشق همن؟" و ....
خلاصه جوری اعصابم خورد شده بود که اگه جلد اخر مجموعم نبود دراپش میکردم🤫👀
اما اما اما امان از وقتی که داستان پیشرفت کرد...
کم کم هرچیزی سرجای درستش قرار گرفت از شخصیتای اضافه ای که حرص میخوردم چرا الکی تو جلداخر یهو وارد داستان کرد تا اونی که هی میگفتم هیچ غلطی نکرده و به هیچ دردی نمیخوره هرکدوم جوری نقش خودشونو تو داستان ایفا کردن که اصلا ادم لذت میبرد. انگار نویسنده میخواست نشون بده که شخصیتای فرعی و کمرنگ هر داستان چقدر میتونن مهم باشن🫠
و از اینجا بود کم کم اتفاقات روند هیجان انگیزشون شروع شد... از مبارزه هیجان انگیز تا سفر پرخطر و معماهایی که باید حل میشد.... هر کدوم به نوبه خودش نفس گیر و جذاب و گیرا پیش میرفت جوری که دیگه ۴۰ درصد اخر کتابو یه نفس پشت سرهم خوندم(چشمام و دستم دیگه فحشم میدادن😬😅) اخر داستان هم... براش غرغر دخترونه و فن گرل‌رانه دارم اما نمیتونم منکر بشم که پایان منطقی و خوبی بود👀

پ.ن: این مجموعه تمام شد و هنوز که هنوزه نتونستم انتخاب کنم که کی بیشتر کراشه؟ هیدرین یا رویس؟😍😁😍

[Mayim de Vries · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes the price of dreams is achieving them."

This is an omnibus edition which means that it contains two books, Wintertide and Percepliquis. Two books in a dense series mean a whole lot of action, plot-twists, turning points and (un)expected developments revelations. As this is essentially a story-driven tale, there is no point in even trying to give you a teaser what awaits or the essence of what is coming as it would only result in spoilers.

Suffice to say that centuries of planning are finally coalescing into a shape and the conspiracies from the previous book took root and bore fruit. The first part deals with the challenges posed by the New Empire, whereas the second is a classic quest trope where the main protagonists need to go to the Distant&Dangerous place in order to get the Magic Thing necessary to fulfil the quest.

It screams “cliché” but in fact, it is a well-written story. Even I have to admit that there were no corners cut in this book. I have read repeatedly (and usually falsely) in reviews of many recent epic fantasies that even though they base on the standard set of protagonists and motives, they rework them in a fresh way. Mr Sullivan achieved this feature: the arcs and tropes are both standard and not. Some things are as comfy as old pyjamas, but just when you think nothing will surprise you, a unique alteration of the known changes expected into an unpredictable. I got caught this way once or twice and it is a nice feeling, especially for a seasoned fantasy reader like myself.

I can see that Mr Sullivan definitely grew as a writer and his writing gains depth. There is more substance to characters, both primary and secondary, they become more nuanced, multidimensional. And while I think some of Hadrian’s and Royce backstories could have been introduced in earlier books without any loss for the suspense, I still appreciate this development. The tale is balanced and all the characters are given their chance to shine without Arista one person dominating the events. Undoubtedly readers rooting for the Empress or her Secretary or those with a soft spot for Myron or Nimbus (that would be me, yes) will be happy to hear that.

What I appreciated the most is that there are really no loose ends. No hastily sketched explanations. Every single sentence, every bizarre occurrence from previous books finds its place in the overall picture. Mr Sullivan, quite smugly, shows how the clues were all there for those smart enough to see them and understand. This happens rarely in the genre that far too often veers towards banal plots full of convenient magical fix-ups.

If you wonder why the book does not merit the full mark for me, the reason is very simple. It did not manage to touch me emotionally even once. As I read, I often found myself drifting away and needed to go back a couple of paragraphs, especially of those were the personal backstories and reflections or romance scenes (Mr Sullivan, you really write quite atrocious romances). I still remain indifferent towards all the major characters (save Nimbus, naturally).

It is a light and funny vanilla fantasy but the vanilla flavour intensifies and becomes a clockwork vanilla at times. While I can recommend the series and the writer, I cannot say I share the ubiquitous enthusiasm of numerous fans. To discover Riyria was fun but not that revelational.

Note on the rating: 3,5 rounded up because of the deftness of the overall plot design.

___
Other Riyria Revelations:

* Theft of Swords: The Crown of Conspiracy & Avempartha (#1-2) ★★★★☆
* Rise of Empire: Nyphron Rising & The Emerald Storm (#3-4) ★★★☆☆

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heir of Novron is the omnibus containing Wintertide and Percepliquis, books 5 and 6 of Riyria Revelations.

Wintertide

This was a surprisingly short book. Not that its short length stopped Wintertide being one of the best books in the series. I loved this book. It was fast paced and exciting from start to finish and was filled with action, humor, intrigue, and adventure. Despite the fun feel to the book it was still full of plenty of dark and shocking moments. Especially towards the end!

I loved Hadrian's time spent as a "false" knight. It was hilarious. I enjoyed how this installment of the series did a great job of further developing characters like Nimbus, Royce, and Modina.

This was probably the peak time in the series for cool villains as Sauly, Archie, and Merrick were well developed and interesting characters.

Rating: 5 stars.

Percepliquis

This suffered from a slightly slow start. I like quest plot arcs in general and the team Modina put together to seek the Horn of Novron and the lost city of Percepliquis was a good one. Unfortunately the early stages of the journey were not all that exciting.

The second half of the book was a lot more intense, both in pacing and in actual happenings. A lot of Sullivan's long running mysteries came to exciting fruition's. Some in quite surprising fashion!

Myron and Magnus were the star picks from the secondary characters. I loved how both were developed over the course of the story. Royce, Hadrian, and Arista were as great as ever and I was happy Modina continued to progress in the right direction.

I was not happy with everything. I was pretty disappointed with some Gwen related revelations and the source of the mysterious threat Esrahadden had long warned people about.

I did enjoy this a lot and was mostly happy with the ending.

Rating: 4 stars.

Audio Note: Tim Gerard Reynolds narrated the whole Riyria Revelations series and did a good job. He has a talent for voice acting. It is just a pity he sometimes chooses awful accents for major characters!

[Mimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Still Searching for Red Herrings" could be a subtitle for this last set of the series.

If you've followed the journey this far, chances are you're gonna like this last installment. It's like the previous books, except faster paced and more dramatic. The other minor difference is there's less character development. Since all the main players have already been introduced, the narrative is more plot driven, which is kind of the point since we all (or maybe just me by this time) want to get to the end (finally) and solve the heir of Novron mystery (once and for all).


I liked the journey up until the end of Percepliquis, aka the mad-dashes of explanations spewing forth to quickly wrap up loose ends. Whether they do wrap them up or not...is a matter of opinion, which I think depends on the kind of fantasy you like and the storytelling elements that you enjoy reading about.

So the mad-dashes try to tie up: the Horn of Gylindora, Novron's true lineage, how Gaunt and Modina play into the conspiracies, and the set-up leading to the final confrontation. Oh, and also the all-seeing, all-knowing Patriarch's true identity and how he plays into the conspiracy. Everything is all tangled up in a huge interconnecting wad of conspiracy.

The true heir of Novron is finally revealed to be Royce and we find out that Novron himself was elvish. It turns out the heir and the heir's protector, Hadrian, have been together all this time, working odd jobs to prepare themselves for the final clash to save humanity. So this whole time, while everybody is running around trying to find him, the heir has been right in front of them. Well played? Gaunt, as it turns out, is just a Nationalist diversion, Modina an Imperialist pawn. And Mercy? Arcadius' ridiculous backup plan. And the Patriarch hears all and knows everything because he himself is omnipotent.

Although the story lines tie up fairly well in the end, there are a few things that still bother me.

Things that still don't make much sense:
 1. Why Royce's origin story is not explored, even after we learn he is the true heir. No explanation of parentage? Is he really the twin who lived? (Yes, I'm aware there's a prequel series that might or might not answer these questions, but I won't get to them any time soon.)
 2. Sending Royce on all those errands that almost got him killed seem pointless and unnecessary in retrospect, doesn't it? Sure, he needs the practice, but those missions came awfully close to killing him. Cutting it a little too close, no? He is after all humanity's last hope.
 3. The purpose of Gwen's death and how it played out. This seems too contrived. More needless diversion? Probably, seeing as how this series is full of them. What I still don't understand is why she had to be assassinated? So Royce would kill Marius? He would have done that anyway, eventually.
 4. Arcadius bringing the Imperialists' attention to Mercy, even though he'd been hiding her all these years. Of course they'd be suspicious of this seemingly peculiar random nomination. Why wouldn't they be? It would be uncharacteristic of them to not be suspicious.
 5. Alric died for nothing, didn't he? Sacrificial lamb.
 6. How humanity and the elves will go back to living "peacefully" on their respective sides of the river. The elves came close to decimating humanity, so I can't see how both races will maintain a peace treaty. Go back to the way things used to be? I don't buy it. Retribution for war crimes would make more sense.
 7. Marius's involvement in previous books. It all seems pointless in the end. The only purpose I see is plot expansion.


Too many red herrings, which drag out the plot(s) too much. I got fed up right around book #4, some time during the "great" sea adventures, and then things didn't improve much once the story took a detour into the jungle. This series and story could be a lot shorter and a whole lot better if it were shorter. What got to me were all the red herrings. Once I can see the author's hand at work, much of the fun of reading is gone.

Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...

[Jonathan Terrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I claim The Way of Kings, Part One and The Way of Kings Part Two as my favourite book read this year. However this novel would certainly have to be up the top as another of my favourite books read in 2012. Isn't it nice to know that when the world ends in December cough I'll at least have read some great books.

In my reviews for Theft of Swords and Rise of Empire I mentioned the fantasy genre and storytelling in general respectively. I want to do something different again and connect the two to mention why I enjoyed this series so much. As such I will provide five main reasons.

1. The characters

Personally the first thing that must attract me in any book is the characters. The second thing I look at generally is the quality of the writing, story and plot but that comes secondary to characters. For a novel to really grab me I have to believe in the characters and feel emotions for and with them. And in this series I certainly found all the heroic characters highly memorable. I felt for the dilemmas Hadrian was caught in. I sympathised with the anger and pain of sullen Royce. I admired Arista's bravado and the mental strength of Modina. Who could forget Myron (I was so glad he was brought back for the third book - he was such an awesome scholarly character). And then there was Alric, Mauvin and Magnus. I even liked the really minor characters like Nimbus. I felt that Michael J. Sulivan could place a lot of depth into his characters throughout the series and particularly in this last book. No character really felt forced or artificial. They felt as close to fluid and organic as any created character can.

This third volume was grand in how it could evoke all those emotions I had felt for the characters. It drew upon all the thoughts and ideas I had previously experienced and reminded me of why I liked them all so very much. And also of why I had disliked the villainous characters. That moment when Gwen died in particular was so emotionally poignant and moving. I don't think I've read a more moving character death for a while.

2. The world

I also loved this series for the world which Michael J. Sulivan created. He may not have been creating a world of deep description like your Tolkien, Rothfuss or Sanderson but he did create a world that was uniquely his own. Although the ideas of the elf and dwarf have become a type of fantasy cliché I felt he made those ideas his own and turned them into a metaphor for how human beings treat anyone different to themselves. There was almost a sense that those fantasy races were representative of how humans have treated other 'races' (race being a mythical idea biologically) in the past. Either way while it may not have the detail of other fantasy authors this world still contained depth.

3. The intrigue

Many of the surprises could be picked up before they occurred. I was happy that Arista and Hadrian ended up together for instance and that was observable by the start of book 2. However I would not say that they were easily observable but that rather they were well balanced between total 'WOW what just happened' moments and 'predictable'. As such I found the suspense, intrigue and twists in the story neat and clever. While the Patriarch being elven and Novron also being elven were semi-predictable they were still delivered clever. Royce being the emperor was brilliant and made sense of a lot of various things (like who killed Gwen for instance). I should have picked it up better than I did. But I ended up getting stuck on the fact that Gaunt was not the heir and that maybe the girl was somehow.

4. The writing

I rather enjoyed the writing style of the entire series. It was unpretentious and uncluttered with unnecessary words. It was a style that worked for what the author was creating. It didn't need to be a literary masterpiece but rather a piece of fiction that anyone could enjoy. And I believe that good writing is in being able to tailor your writing style to your audience and genre. I believe Michael J. Sullivan did that in his Riyria Revelations novels (I say this because I read one of his works in progress where he was experimenting with a more literary style which was different). That's not to say the writing is bad. In fact I personally liked the style as someone rather eclectic in my tastes.

5. A combination of elements

What worked about the entire series was that everything combined nicely. It had the fantasy elements which was nice but it boiled everything together to create more importantly a plotted story. It had pace and skipped the need to excessively dull the reader with explanation after explanation (that simplicity was part of the strength of its writing - you came to see, rather than need to be told, what was occurring). It had romance, it had humour, it had characters, it had fantasy and action, it had fun and fancy, it had dire circumstances and twists, it had magic and mystery. Of themselves those elements would have fallen flat but together they created a wonderful sequence of books that demand to be read and re-read.

And I must say that I have rarely read a stronger or more poetic final few lines to any trilogy or series. Yes I do love Sam declaring that he's home in The Lord of the Rings and I like how the Mistborn Trilogy ends but there was a great poetic rightness about how this story ended. It was a brilliant move and one I wholly enjoyed. And I fully urge anyone who has not to get reading Theft of Swords andRise of Empire.

I have one final thing to say and that is that anyone who complains about it being unoriginal as a series I believe is missing the point. But then that's their opinion. I merely want to quote John Frow an Australian literary critic who wrote that 'No text is unique; we would not recognise it if it were.' And I think in terms of this series that the way in which it uses fantasy ideas makes it recognisable and allows the reader to engage with it better.

[Bookwraiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent ending to a fine fantasy series.

[Phee · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Spoiler free***

Such a fantastic ending to what has become one of my favourite series.

It took me ages to get to a point where I could sit down and read this last book. As usual once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Sullivan’s writing has come on so much during this series, it keeps you reading and it really does get better with each book.

I’m going to keep this review brief. Well, I’ll try to.
Something that surprised me was how emotional these books can be. Sullivan is not afraid to give the reader a bit of heartache. I’m not going to lie, so many of my favourite characters died during the course of this series. Whilst character deaths are certainly not a new plot device, I feel that in a lot of books nowadays the author is too scared to kill characters off. Especially important secondary characters. I love it when characters die and make a meaningful sacrifice. Too often I see authors kill off a character for a ‘sacrifice’ only to magically bring them back to life in the next chapter. It takes the meaning out of the sacrifice! That doesn’t happen here however. Off the top of my head I can count at least five characters who’s deaths meant something major to the plot and ended up devastating me. I got so attached to the characters in this series. Another surprise given the POV style, which is quite impersonal. Somehow, even though the reader is never fully in any one characters mind, the characters grow so much. Not only Royce and Hadrian but most of the secondary cast as well. I love character driven story’s and I feel that character development can often make or break a series for me. Sullivan far exceeded my expectations.

This book was probably my favourite out of the three. It was so well constructed and high octane. The stakes were so very high and all the way through I was uncertain as to how the story was going to unfold. A few of the twists took me by surprise and changed my perception of previous events. Some other twists were a little predictable but the impact they made was so satisfying to read.

I feel like this series is one that you should go into with the intention of reading in its entirety. The whole overarching plot and story is marvellous, and terribly clever. You can only really appreciate it once everything is revealed and you’ve read the books in their entirety.

The ending was perfect, I’m so happy at how it left off. I love it when the author leaves a little up to the reader to decide how things go from there. Don’t get me wrong, there is resolution. But the future isn’t set in stone.
I’m very excited to start the prequel series soon. I’m sure that it’s going to shed some light on many legendary heists that have been mentioned throughout the books. Also anymore time I can spend with Hadrian and my love Royce will be thoroughly enjoyed.

My overall ranking for the series would be:

1) Heir of Novron
2)Theft of Swords
3)Rise of Empire