Riyria Revelations

[Aethling he/him]

This 6 part series is about the adventures of a pair of thieves as they become entangled with kingly and then imperial intrigues all the while trying to track down the true heir of an imperial line that has been supposedly extinct for thousands of years.

The difference that this series has from other fantasy series is that the main characters do not begin the series with even a notion that they are the "good" guys.

Each "book" is short enough to be an easy read as interstial material, but it does not have to be only side material.

One of the side characters is a madame, and a brothel is used as a setting, but none of the normal business is concluded on screen. The language is fairly tame, but you still might want to judge for yourself before you let a preteen read it on their own, but I would say that about almost any book put out these days.

This series is not a YA series, but I would have no qualms letting teens read it.

Like any series, it does have its flaws, but they are not very memorable after you let the series digest. The only major one I can remember is that a character leaves the room twice without reentering to leave the second time. I know that is very minor, but stuff like that tends to annoy me sometimes.

[Tamzin Ashevai she/her]

I only just found out that the Kindle versions I have on my iPad include all six novels in this series. I feel so stupid! I know this series has had it accolades (especially on Goodreads). So, what are it's drawbacks?

Also, a YA series? (I said I felt stupid!)

[Cracknut he/him]

Read 5 out of 6 books and in the end I was hating it. Why? Because main characters are unbelievable and story is repetitive. In each book when Hadrian needs his sword, he has left it somewhere or someone stole it or he had to give it to someone or he lost it somewhere and so on. Not to mention in each book one or both characters get imprisoned in some way. Why they get imprisoned is even more lame: They won't harm soldiers of evil guy because soldiers are innocent and its better to get killed(Book starts with this, and they would've been dead for sure if not for hand of god) than kill innocent men. Most irritating part about that is that Hadrian and Royce are described like good guy villain and bad guy villain. Srsly? Villains? These guys are Asian Good Guy Gregs...

[Aethling he/him]

Hadrian is the one that does not like to kill innocents. Royce wouldn't mind killing anyone at the beginning, but he does mellow out over time.

I do like this series, but it has a few issues with time as portrayed. Still, it isn't like he forgets his characters like some authors I have read.

[Harbinger]

This was a really fun read, and it kept me interested throughout. There were some issues, I'll admit, the story wasn't perfect, but the characters were likable, there was plenty of action, and overall the main character arcs were interesting. There were some elements that were predictable, but for the most part it was a light, fun read which is just what the author intended. There wasn't a ridiculous amount of profanity, and no 13 year old girls were gang raped, so it's already a leg up on most modern "fantasy" being produced nowadays. I wouldn't mind him revisiting that world with a book set 10 or 20 years in the future to see what they made of the situation they were in.

[Shivertongue he/him]

Looks fairly mundane, from the outside. Elves, dwarves, etc, yawn.

But, using Amazon's 'Look Inside', I found myself enjoying the first few pages. I might have to take a look at this next time I go to the store. Good writing can make up for lame worldbuilding.

[Observer]

I enjoyed the first two books, though the prescence of elves and dwarves keeps me form loving it too much. Book three looks promising, but beyond that I have no idea. Hoping this series won't disappoint...

Edited August 31, 2012 by Observer

[Aethling he/him]

He is supposed to be doing one about the early days of Royce and Hadrian. Any followup to the original series will probably involve the two girls more than Royce or Hadrian, at least that is what he is saying so far.

[Observer]

Well, read the third book. I liked it more than the others in terms of characters, and it definately did what it could to distance itself from typical elves and crap, but I still can't love it thanks to the races. Still, worth the read.

 

I have absolutely no idea what 213 was talking about. Could somebody clarify?

[Aethling he/him]

I think he is talking about Hadrian refusing to kill innocent guards and such just to escape.  That just isn't Hadrian's style.  Would you really like a protagonist that murdered anyone and everyone that got in their way?  Hadrian does lose his swords in the second book, but that is a vital part of the plot and is realistic.

 

I am on the final book of my reread, and I am liking it more the second time around.  True, the author could have used a polisher, but then it was originally self-published.

 

He is coming out with a series of prequels involving Royce and Hadrian when they first got together.  The first two are going to be The Crown Tower and the Rose and Thorn.  He has also planned out a pre-prequel involving the first empire that was mentioned in  the series.  Haven't read up much on that one though.

[Tamzin Ashevai she/her]

Hey, hey, hey!  I can't read posts that should be spoilers!  I stated from the outset that I hadn't yet read these books! 

 

I only just found out that the Kindle versions I have on my iPad include all six novels in this series. I feel so stupid! I know this series has had it accolades (especially on Goodreads). So, what are it's drawbacks?

Also, a YA series? (I said I felt stupid!)

 

In all sincerity, should I have started a new topic on this, very much the same?

Edited May 6, 2013 by Tamzin Ashevai

[Yamato]

Hmm. I really, really wanted to like these books, since I want to support all self published authors as much as I can, but this book just grated on me for some reason. Probably that the chracter voices didn't differentiate that much. It felt like the author wasn't shifting his writing style when writing different characters. All plot issues usually go over my head until I read a book the second time, which explains why I don't remember them here.

[Aethling he/him]

I didn't get that feel at all.  Arista and Modina are the top two female characters, and their voices are completely different.  Royce and Hadrian are nothing alike.

 

Is the series a masterwork?  No, but it is a good fantasy series.

 

This is not a coming of age story like much of the fantasy out there today.  Royce is in his 40s, and Hadrian is fairly close to that.  Coming of age stories do have their place, but this is simply not that.

[Cracknut he/him]

 think he is talking about Hadrian refusing to kill innocent guards and such just to escape.  That just isn't Hadrian's style.  Would you really like a protagonist that murdered anyone and everyone that got in their way?  Hadrian does lose his swords in the second book, but that is a vital part of the plot and is realistic.

Survive and save the world vs. get killed by some innocent soldier who wouldn't mind killing you. Yes, I would prefer if a man with a history like that would've been a bit hardened by life. I mean, he would've died thousand times before the story even began for acting like that and there's nothing except author's will that lets him live.

Hadrian NEVER has his sword when he needs it, and its not even funny after first 2 books... It wasn't worst but it had nothing special imo...

[Atilium she/her]

I enjoyed the series. They weren't the best. They have a lot of mistakes. They would certainly never stand up to any of Brandon Sanderson's books. But for me, they were a fun read, introduced to me to the fantasy genre (outside of portal stories such as Narnia and The Secret Country that I read as a child) and I still enjoy re-reading them. You must remember this is only his first series published. I think he has great potential as an author.   

[Galladon he/him]

first off if I remember correctly this is selfpublished so all those little quirks would have been polished away with a proper editor and for the rest it's an enjoyable series. The charcters are very likable and the story gives you enough respites. I'd say it does the same thing for me as Pratchett does, it simply cleans my pallet and makes me ready for heavier books. Worldbuilding is non-essential to this story so don't be scared off by dwarfs (I know I usually am too).

[Shardbearer he/him]

I enjoyed this series a lot. I really do not mind elves and dwarves and all the old fantasy tropes as long as they are handled well, and Sullivan did an excellent job.

 

Also, I would like to point out that the books were initially picked up by an indie press, but then that press went under and Sullivan got the rights back and self published, and then was picked up by Orbit or whoever his publisher is.

[Morevna]

Like any series, it does have its flaws, but they are not very memorable after you let the series digest. The only major one I can remember is that a character leaves the room twice without reentering to leave the second time. I know that is very minor, but stuff like that tends to annoy me sometimes.

just interested, where is that in the books?     (it's not that I think its untrue or anything, just randomly interested)

[PeterAhlstrom he/him]

I read the first half of the Orbit version of Theft of Swords, up to the end of the first book (when it was self-published). I thought the beginning was strong and quite enjoyed it up past the introduction of Myron (I thought he was a great character). Then the stuff after that seemed kind of perfunctory. The trial was very tedious and didn't have fallout at the end of the book. Still, I did enjoy a number of the characters, so I have the book on my shelf to read the second half of after I finish a few books by different authors. But I'm not sure I will get to it.

 

Also, the worldbuilding seemed only right around the level of Forgotten Realms, which doesn't really cut it for me.

Edited January 15, 2014 by PeterAhlstrom

[The Rooster he/him]

Yeah, worldbuilding isn't the thing in this series.  It's just kind of a fantasy romp with standard fantasy races.  If you're looking for that it's a very good time.  nothing deeper tho.