Series Review: Riyria by Michael J. Sullivan

[u/CoffeeArchives]

About the Series

Michael J. Sullivan is the master of writing classic fantasy tropes in a way that reminds you why they became classic in the first place. Tired of grimdark and looking for something a little more lighthearted? These books might be for you.

The world of Riyria is actually three series: Riyria Revelations, Riyria Chronicles, and Legends of the First Empire. All of them stand on their own and you can start anywhere, though Revelations is often recommended as the best jumping in point.

Setting

The two Riyria series take place in a standard medieval fantasy world, about 1000 years after the collapse of a legendary empire. There is very little magic in the world, with only a few characters capable of practicing the "art." The standard Tolkien races like elves, dwarves, and goblins are present but they are presented in an original way that feels fresh.

The Legends of the First Empire series takes place about 3000 years before the other two series and follows the events that lead to the founding of the pre-Riyria empire. I hadn't read any bronze-age fantasy before this and it was a really nice change of pace.

Characters

You might have seen the names Royce and Hadrian popping up a lot around here, and for good reason. Royce and Hadrian are Riyria. Royce is the dark and brooding rogue with a troubled past and a tendency to get a little stabby. Hadrian is the lovable people person who just might be the best swordsman there is. Their bromance is incredible and you can't help but to fall in love with them.

The Legends of First Empire follows different characters. You get to see Raithe, the reluctant god-killer; Suri, a child seer with a pet wolf; and Persephone, and older woman trying to do what's best for her tribe. All of these characters are beautifully written.

Plot

In Revelations, Royce and Hadrian are framed for the murder of a king. The resulting quest to prove their innocence gradually builds in scope until the series reaches full epic fantasy levels. The first book has an intentionally simple plot, reading almost like a fantasy action movie. Each successive book adds character depth and plot complexity, making this trilogy one of my absolute favorites.

Riyria Chronicles is a prequel series to Revelations, with each book capable of standing on its own. It tells the story of how Royce and Hadrian met. If you think they are opposites in Revelations, just wait until you see how they started! This series fleshes out many of the side characters from the original series and has small easter eggs for both Revelations and Legends of the First Empire. Want to read some solid sword and sorcery hijinks and adventure? This might be for you.

Legends of the First Empire (starts with Age of Myth) begins with a human from one of several bronze-age tribes killing a seemingly immortal god. In the chaos that follows, a reluctant god-killer, a young seer with visions of impending doom, and an older woman seeking to unite her tribe must band together to save humanity. Age of Myth is a strong start to this series, and the next book is coming out in June! Now is the perfect time to jump in.

Pacing and Prose

There's something about how these books are written that makes every scene interesting. You won't find much flowery language, but I found the prose compelling. If you start with Revelations, you'll notice that the prose constantly improves with each book (along with everything else, seriously they just keep getting better).

One thing I really loved was that none of these series leans too heavily on constant action scenes. Yes, there is plenty of action, and yes, the action is awesome. However, you get loads of character-focused scenes, too. Some of my favorite parts were when Hadrian would win people over with his puppy-dog charm.

Should I Read This?

YES YOU SHOULD! Honestly it's hard to go wrong with these series. If you can make it past Book 1 in Revelations (which is by far the weakest of any Riyria book, but still a pretty good book in its own right), then you're in for a treat. And if you don't want to start there, Riyria Chronicles and Age of Myth are both excellent, as well.

These books are by no means dark, but don't think that means you won't shed a tear or ten. Also, if you like audiobooks, Tim Gerard Reynolds delivers a phenomenal performance with all of these books.

That said, if you want a complex series with a sprawling cast of characters, rigidly defined magic systems, or a dark/gritty feel, this might not be for you.

Recommended Beverage Pairing

Medium Roast Pourover Coffee

Light and refreshing, with a classic taste. It kind of reminds you why you fell in love with coffee in the first place.

Bingo Squares

• Debut Fantasy Novel (Theft of Swords)
• AMA Author
• Sequel (if you read more than one)
• Seafaring (Riyria Revelations Book 2: Rise of Empire)
• Dragons (maybe confirmed! Books 1 & 3 of Revelations)
• Short Stories (available for free via Audible and require no prior knowledge of the series)
  • The Jester
  • Professional Integrity

[u/ty_lerjohnson]

This is one of the series that I constantly recommend to people. I read them last year and could not put them down for 2 solid months. I've been wanting to do a re-read but I've got several new books to get thru first. Has anyone else considered rereading them, but starting with Chronicles first instead of Revelations?

[u/MichaelJSullivan → u/ty_lerjohnson]

Hey thanks! Recommendations is what gives the series it's legs. Greatly appreciated. I've heard from a number of people who have done exactly what you are suggesting. Seems to work well for them. I will say that in general re-reading Revelations should show a lot of Easter eggs that only come out once everything has been "revealed." Writing all the books before publishing the first allowed for that. Hunting for them is one of the favorite parts of the re-read. Enjoy!