Michael J. Sullivan found success with his Riyria Revelations series–Theft of Swords (2011), Rise of Empire (2011), and Heir of Novron (2012)–and made the surprising decision to write prequels to his series.
The Crown Tower (2013), The Rose and the Thorn (2013) and The Death of Dulgath (2015) tell the story of how Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his former soldier partner, Hadrian Blackwater, became partners. The Riyria Chronicles reveals the backstory of the two heroes of the Riyria Revelations.
Royce Melborn is a shadowy figure, quick and silent as a master thief should be. Hadrian Blackwater, whose blacksmith father trained him to be a fighter, has an opposite personality.
Initially, both men disliked and distrusted each other. But, when forced to work together, Royce and Hadrian found the benefits of each others skill set.
The Crown Tower (2013), the name of a formidable fortress, holds a book Royce and Hadian must steal. Along with this mission, there are treacherous nobles who seek to assassinate the King. Royce and Hadian get involved in that plot, too. GRADE: B
The Rose and the Thorn (2013) starts with Gwen DeLancy, a woman who saves Royce and Hadrian from certain death. We learn about Royce’s relationship with Black Diamond, a sinister criminal organization. And, of course, there’s murder, betrayal, and intrigue among the nobles. GRADE: B-
The Death of Dulgath (2015) begins with Royce and Hadrian hired by a Church leader and a nobleman to advise them on how to assassinate the last member of the oldest noble family in Avryn. Two assassination attempts have failed so Royce and Hadrian provide assassination schemes sure to succeed. But both men are troubled by the situation. And Royce learns a secret about his Past. GRADE: B+
Sword fights, romance, conspiracies, and narrow escapes make this series escapist fun!
Good to know…I’ve mostly enjoyed my epic fantasy and sword & soecery in shorter forms…Fritz Leiber and Ursula K. Le Guin, Jack Vance and Avram Davison, Italo Calvino and Grania Davis, and not a few others. Thus I’ve missed most of the novelists who have dominated the fields over the last forty years or so.
Karl Edward Wagner and Jane Yolen, and my old friend A. A. Attansio come to mind as well. Among many others. And, of course, Jorge Luis Borges would write epis that spanned one to ten pages. And watching DOOM PATROL of course reminds me of my late acquaintance Rachel Pollack. Ray Nelson’s contributions thus are too easy to miss, but shouldn’t be.
Todd, Ray Nelson is an underrated writer!
Todd, Micheal J. Sullivan is not in Fritz Leiber’s class, but these adventure novels are entertaining escapist reading if you set the bar low.
How long are they?
Never heard of him or the books.
Jeff, they’re between 300-400 pages long. Fast, quick reads!