Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations #1) (Paperback)
Staff Reviews
Fantasy, political intrigue, magic and adventure collide in this, the first book of "The Riyria Revelations" Trilogy. Hadrian Blackwater -a gifted swordsman with a conscience, and Royce Melborn -a talented thief with a hidden past- are mecenaries for hire, willing to take on the most dangerous assignments for clients ranging from pauper to prince....for the right price. When they are contracted for the seemingly easy task of stealing a famous sword, they suddenly find themselves at the heart of a dark conspiracy where murder, treachery, and a possible coup d'etat within the kingdom are the least of their worries.Originally self-published as an ebook in 2011, Sullivan's books have gone on to massive acclaim, selling thousands of copies all over the world and being translated into six different languages. This comes a little surprise to me, considering the excellent blend of humor and suspense that comes with each page. The characters are well sketched out and the story is reminicent of Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," while capturing the political maneuvering of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels. I would definitely recommend this series to fans of Terry Goodkind and George R.R. Martin, or anyone just looking for a grand adventure off the beaten path.
— RobertCan 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.
"Mr. Sullivan continues to impress. In Royce and Hadrian he has created some of the best characters the genre has seen in some time, and in Avempartha he shows that he knows what to do with them. These books should be in every bookstore and I really hope that they are someday." --- Speculative Fiction Junkie
"A whirlwind of twists, earth-shattering surprises and deadly betrayal." --- Literary Magic
"Hair-raising escapes, flashy sword fights, and faithful friendship complete the formula for good old-fashioned escapist fun."
—Publishers Weekly
"This epic fantasy showcases the arrival of a master storyteller."—Library Journal