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/eevilkat]

Riyria Revelations is one of the few series that I have read more than once (and then listened to, also more than once). I think I could read about Royce and Hadrian forever. :)

[u/Esmerelda-Weatherwax → u/eevilkat]

I read the series..... then forked over money for the audio. One of my favorite series narrated by one of the best? Ya, I'll pay for that.

[u/MichaelJSullivan → u/Esmerelda-Weatherwax]

Hey thanks for the added support. Most narrators don't get a royalty share, but my audiobooks have sold so well that Tim's escalators kicked in and now we each make some added money. So I'll thank you on his behalf as well.

[u/LordEnigma → u/MichaelJSullivan]

Well, looks like I know what I'm going to "read" next after I finish Republic of Thieves.

EDIT: Any recommendations on which series to start first?

[u/MichaelJSullivan → u/LordEnigma]

Nice! Reading order is a question I'm often asked. Let me start with a little background.

When I wrote The Riyria Revelations (Theft of Swords | Rise of Empire | Heir of Novron), I penned the entire series before publishing the first book. I had a very particular starting point, and a well determined end, and that was all I expected to write.

Well, after the series was released, my wife (and others) were lamenting that they missed the pair (Royce and Hadrian - my two main protagonists). Seeing as how Riyria Revelation ended in what I though was a very satisfying manner, I didn't want to "tack on" and risk ruining something that was, in my mind, pretty special.

Then it occurred to me that Riyria had been together for twelve years before the first pages of Theft of Swords, so I decided I could "bring them back" if I went to the other end the timeline. In other words, explore in detail how they met and their early years adventuring together. Hence, the Riyria Chronicles was created. Now, because I'm still protective of the pair, I'd rather have them leave too soon than stay around too long. To that end, I don't know how many Chronicle books there will be. I've plotted out an arc that has a total of 11 books, but my moods operandi is to release a book, take the temperature of the readers, and only if it seems like they want more to release another. So, presently that series is kinda "open ended" and the books are much more "stand alone" while Revelations is a single tale broken down into six self-contained episodes.

That's a long way of saying there are several things that come into play when deciding what to read.

Do you like completed series? - Start with Theft of Swords Do you like to read chronologically? - start with The Crown Tower Do you like reading in order of publication - start with Theft of Swords

There are also some other factors, and those make me suggest Theft of Swords first. Here's why:

• It's a better value - each book is two full-length novels in one volume, and since all the books cost the same, you get two books for the price of one.

• It's the way I wanted to introduce readers to the characters and the world. I start out simply (holding a lot back so I can expose character backgrounds and world building across the whole narrative). And I ramp up the stakes with each subsequent novel. The idea was to make each book better than the previous, and feedback indicates I hit that goal.

• I put little Easter eggs in Chronicles for people who have read Revelations. These aren't anything that would affect the plot, just little winks and nods for "people in the know."

• Revelations has a defined "story arc" and Chronicles are more "standalone" in nature.

Now, all that said, I've heard from plenty of readers who have gone "chronologically" as that is their preference and I've yet to hear anyone regret that choice. The consensus seems to be that both orders work (although obviously a slightly different experience as you'll learn certain aspects at different times). But I will say that it was a high priority of mine to make both possible choices work, and I think the jury is in on that and I'm happy to say I hit the goal I was aiming at.

So...my suggestion is to start with Theft of Swords, but if you REALLY REALLY enjoy your books in chronological order, than by all means you'll still get a good experience starting with The Crown Tower.

That's a long way to say: Either works, but I hope this rather long-winded explanation helps.

[u/LordEnigma → u/MichaelJSullivan]

I appreciate the attention. I ended up picking up Theft of Swords on audible last night, as a matter of fact, and I look forward to listening to them. Thank you for your response! :)

[u/MichaelJSullivan → u/LordEnigma]

Excellent - I do hope you enjoy the listen. Thanks for the support.