Michael J. Sullivan

Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles-until they are hired to pilfer a famed sword. What appears to be just a simple job finds them framed for the murder of the king and trapped in a conspiracy that uncovers a plot far greater than the mere overthrow of a tiny kingdom. Can a self-serving thief and an idealistic swordsman survive long enough to unravel the first part of an ancient mystery that has toppled kings and destroyed empires? And so begins the first tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend. When author Michael J. Sullivan self-published the first books of his Riyria Revelations, they rapidly became ebook bestsellers. Now, Orbit is pleased to present the complete series for the first time in bookstores everywhere.

Theft of Swords

Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles-until they are hired to pilfer a famed sword. What appears to be just a simple job finds them framed for the murder of the king and trapped in a conspiracy that uncovers a plot far greater than the mere overthrow of a tiny kingdom. Can a self-serving thief and an idealistic swordsman survive long enough to unravel the first part of an ancient mystery that has toppled kings and destroyed empires? And so begins the first tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend. When author Michael J. Sullivan self-published the first books of his Riyria Revelations, they rapidly became ebook bestsellers. Now, Orbit is pleased to present the complete series for the first time in bookstores everywhere. Theft of Swords was originally published as: The Crown Conspiracy and Avempartha. BOOKS IN THE RIYRIA REVELATIONS Theft of Swords (The Crown Conspiracy & Avempartha) Rise of Empire (Nyphron Rising & The Emerald Storm) Heir of Novron (Wintertide & Percepliquis)

Predictable, but enjoyable. Doesn't feel particularly unique or noteworthy yet, but the bind-up of multiple shorter books functions well as it feels like episodes of an enjoyable show you can turn on in the background that doesn't require much attention.

Brianna

Crown Conspiracy: 3 stars

Avempartha: 3.5 stars

Predictable, but enjoyable. Doesn't feel particularly unique or noteworthy yet, but the bind-up of multiple shorter books functions well as it feels like episodes of an enjoyable show you can turn on in the background that doesn't require much attention.

Hunter Loftis

Based on the reviews here, I thought maybe the book would get better. By the time I realized it wouldn't, I had already committed so many hours to reading it that I convinced myself to push through. Man, that was painful.

If forced, rambling, incoherent, repetitive, grammatically incorrect prose bothers you, steer clear of this book.

However, I clearly hold a minority opinion, which leaves me wondering - how can it be that so many people love this book? Are they the same readers who salivate over other under-edited caricatures like Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey?

Ashley Janssen

DNF at 25%. The writing was too juvenile for me. Couldn't get into it. Also, clearly written by a man who can't write female characters or do anything but make comments on their appearance.

Celeste Richardson

Full review now posted!

When I first read The Name of the Wind a few years ago, I just knew that Patrick Rothfuss would be my favorite fantasy author for the rest of my life. I’m a loyalist; once I hitch my little fan wagon onto a fandom train, I’m there until the end of the line. Even if the quality goes down, even if plot twists in a way that I hate, even if I have to wait years and years between installments, my mama didn’t raise no quitter. And I’m definitely not quitting the Kingkiller Chronicles. But I have to confess that Rothfuss has been usurped as king of my fantasy-loving heart by Brandon Sanderson, whose creativity and work ethic knows no bounds. Once the throne was taken from him, I felt sure that Rothfuss would at least remain the prince regent, but alas. Now that I’ve found Michael J. Sullivan, my former favorite may have been relegated to the wings.

Did Sullivan use words as paint on the canvas of his pages to craft sentences so lovely they made me want to weep? No, he is not Rothfuss. Did he build a world and a magic system so real I suspect I could step inside the book, followed by plot twists that stop my heart and make me scream in shock? No, he is not Sanderson. But that’s what is so refreshing about Sullivan; he’s not trying to be anyone but himself. He’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. If anything, he tries to pack as many fantasy tropes as he can into his novels. He’s not trying to do anything new for the genre. What he is trying to do, and what he is succeeding at, is put out something fun and lighthearted in the midst of an overabundance of grim-dark entries into the genre, and he manages to do so without coming across as cheesy in any way.

Theft of Swords was so much fun! Hadrian and Royce had great chemistry. The partners were thieves for hire, with Hadrian serving as the muscle and Royce as the sticky fingers. Usually when partners are the main characters of a story, I have a favorite. But I couldn’t choose between Hadrian and Royce. They’re both snarky and sassy and good men against their better judgment. There are host of fun side characters as well, my favorites of whom are Ersahaddon, Magnus, and especially Myron; none of whom I want to say much about because I don’t want to give anything away. Besides the wonderful characters and sassy dialogue, Sullivan also managed to add a lot of mystery into a fun romp of a fantasy, which I thought was pretty different. He managed to write a really engrossing fantasy in easy to read, everyday English. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, and especially to those who sometimes have a hard time focusing on a book. Lack of focus won’t be a problem here, for sure. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series, and everything else Sullivan puts out!

Laura Kehoe

Still just as great the third time around.

Michael J Sullivan

THEY KILLED THE KING. THEY PINNED IT ON TWO MEN. THEY MADE A BAD DECISION . . . Royce Melborn is a superb thief; his partner, Hadrian Blackwater is a skilled mercenary. Together they make a profitable living as agents-for-hire to wealthy nobles until someone sets them up to take the blame for the murder of the king. Captured and sentenced to death the two are saved by an unlikely woman with a simple demand that will change the lives of the thieves, the course of a kingdom and the foundation of an empire. 'This epic fantasy showcases the arrival of a master storyteller' Library Journal The Riyria Revelations THEFT OF SWORDS RISE OF EMPIRE HEIR OF NOVRON The Riyria Chronicles THE CROWN TOWER THE ROSE AND THE THORN

The Riyria Revelations

Theft Of Swords

Amanda Oakley

This book is very fun and has a lighthearted style that’ll make you forget you’re reading a high fantasy novel so when something crazy happens that fits the Game-of-Throne style intensity it totally takes you by surprise. With a very well planed plot and fantastic characters, this book plays like a TV show in your head and makes you want to keep reading the next one. 

Allison Francis

Rose Stanley

Me, reading this after two lacklustre romances: Finally, some good f***ing book

Great stuff; more please.

Jenna Kathleen

High-spirited, good fun. Hadrian and Royce are quickly becoming my favourite literary duo. They are completely opposite of each other, but somehow, they just click perfectly together. They balance each other out perfectly when working, and whenever they talk, you can't help but laugh out loud.

In addition to Hadrian and Royce, the other supporting characters were also fantastic. Alric has such great character development - he was the most typically annoying spoiled prince at the beginning of The Crown Conspiracy, but by the end, (view spoiler)[ he changed for the better and seems to be on the right track to becoming a great leader (hide spoiler)]. Myron was also a favourite of mine and I'm glad (view spoiler)[ it seems like he will finally be happy with his life, rebuilding the monastery, and I hope to see him again. Though, Hadrian and Royce bring trouble wherever they go, so maybe it is best if they steer clear of him. We shall see! (hide spoiler)]. 

In Avempartha, I enjoyed seeing Arista's POV as she (view spoiler)[struggled to find out what happened to her father and what will happen in the future for the monarchy (hide spoiler)].

I can't wait to see what Esrahaddon will be up to in the next books. And the reveal at the end: (view spoiler)[Well, as soon as Esra said something about amulets being passed down, I knew Hadrian and/or Royce would have something to do with it. It seems only fitting that Hadrian is a part of it with his mysterious father and superior training (hide spoiler)].

Looking forward to reading the rest of the series and going back to the prequel series!

Cori McCarthy

I don't even know where to begin! First, I just want to thank my friend Isabella and my English teacher for recommending this book! I owe them one because this book was amazing, at least one of my top favorites of all time!

I don't even know where to begin! I absolutely loved Hadrian and Royce and their slight jibes and jokes they had with each other and other. I also loved seeing characters from the first half of the book appear in the second half and found myself loving them more and more(Mauvin and Myron being a personal favorites). This book is truly amazing and I highly highly recommend it to anyone and everyone! I even read while driving in the car, and I only do with when I am truly addicted to the book and can't put it down! I cannot wait to continue on with this series and see where all the characters end up! 

“Aren’t you going to say, I told you so?” Hadrian whispered.
“What would be the point in that?”
“Oh, so you’re saying that you’re going to hang on to this and throw it at me at some future, more personally beneficial moment?”
“I don’t see the point in wasting it now, do you?”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Theft of Swords

Les Reynolds

Entertaining, but the dialogue a bit distracting/irritating, could have been better written.

Theft of Swords

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