Once in a while, there comes a book series that makes a big impact in the book industry. And other times, a book series doesn’t get the attention it deserves. The Riyria Revelations falls under the latter category and this is why you should read the epic fantasy series next!
The Riyria Revelations Summary
The novel by Michael J. Sullivan is about two friends, Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater. Royce is the smart, agile, and deadly with a knife while Hadrian is a gifted swordsman. They use their talents to steal from the wealthy and make a living. But their lives get upended one day when they are dragged into an assassination and framed.
Royce and Hadrian believed they were stealing a sword from a resident staying in the king’s castle. Instead, they are framed for killing the king and arrested. They escape with the help of the new king’s sister but only if they promise to protect the new king. This is the start of a journey that will not only change their lives, but everyone in the kingdom.
The Riyria Revelations take Royce and Hadrian all over the kingdom and they meet many interesting characters such as a wizard with his hands cut off. The characters in this series have a lot of depth and the plot is much more intricate than it seems in the beginning of the novel.
Commentary
Like most fantasy novels, you can obviously tell the influence the Lord of the Rings has on this novel. I felt like Sullivan’s writing proves he is a fan and does a fantastic job creating his own fantasy world. And just like Tolkien’s novel, Sullivan also writes a prequel novel that takes place thousands of years before the events in this book.
What I loved the most about this novel was that it felt like I was along for an epic adventure. Unlike a lot of fantasy novels, it was easy to follow even when it introduced complex ideas. Many authors put off readers by introducing too much things and overloading the reader’s brain but this book successfully navigates those waters.
Conclusion
As someone who is always looking for new fantasy novels to read, I was glad to come across of Sullivan’s books. They are unique and a page-turner. I enjoyed this series so much that I had to read his prequel series which I will cover sometime soon but also recommend.
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