Rise of Empire

Riyria Revelations, Volume 2

By: Michael J. Sullivan

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

Length: 26 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Michael J. Sullivan’s mesmerizing Riyria Revelations series has found a welcome home with fans of magic, clashing swords, and daring heroes. This second volume finds Royce and Hadrian on a quest to enlist the southern Nationalists to aid the ever-weakening kingdom of Melengar. Royce suspects an ancient wizard is manipulating them all, but to find the truth he’ll have to decipher Hadrian’s past—a past Hadrian wants to keep secret.

Rise of Empire contains Nyphron Rising and The Emerald Storm, books 3 and 4 of Riyria Revelations.

©2011 Michael J. Sullivan (P)2012 Recorded Books

Engaging Tale

Would you listen to Rise of Empire again? Why?

I gave the first book in this trilogy a second listen before I listened to the second, Rise of Empire, and the third, and found it just as absorbing and entertaining as I had the first time. From the start of the first to the end of third I just hated to turn my player off, and when I did come to the end I longed for more! The wit and banter keep this story on it's toes. The characters are full fleshed and believable, very well developed. The reader is excellent, which is so important to me. I highly recommend!

Amazing Narrator!

I've enjoyed listening to the first two books in the Riyria Revelations series. The characters are engaging and there are twists and turns all over the place. But the best thing about them is the narrator, who is absolutely the best!

Once again I'm impressed.

Nothing negative to say about this book. Perfect continuance of the first book and equally well written and suspenseful.

Think Riyria Can't Get any Better? Think Again!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this to a friend in an instant! The team of Sullivan and Reynolds are their own Riyria, making this the best Author/Performer mix!

What did you like best about this story?

The story is intense and the characters are ones you either love or love to hate. The humor throughout is perfectly balanced with lots of wit, and I often find myself cheering out loud for some of the characters.

What does Tim Gerard Reynolds bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings EVERY. SINGLE. CHARACTER. to LIFE!!! It's just a great experience and I really can't imagine being introduced to this series without his portrayal of these characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Wow . . . tough question . . . I'm sure there are a lot of great ideas, but this pathetic offering is the only thing I could come up with right now:
Love, Betrayal, Loss, Friendship, Family, Magic, Beasts - Battles come in all shapes and sizes, but the outcomes have only two alternatives: Win or Lose.

Any additional comments?

It wasn't until this set that I realized just how much research Sullivan has done! Most of my graduate work was in the Age of Sail and the nautical terminology, the feel for life on board ship, and the way ranks worked were worthy of O'Brian and Forester.

Better than Volume 1, more character developement

I just found that I liked volume 2 better than the first volume. The narrator did a really good job. The characters were fleshed out more to where you actually care what happens to them....well most of them anyway. I just purchased the last volume. For me, this will not keep you away as you just have to keep reading but the story is enjoyable and I looked forward to listening.

yup

yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yes uh huh oh yea read it.

sensational

I loved this book. I struggle with new books and authors not meeting my expectations, but these books are great. The characters are witty, and humorous, while the story gripping. Fantastic listen

I can listen over and over

I love this story. This is not my first time through and I can listen again and again. It's always entertaining. Royce and Haydrian are some of my all time favorite characters and I love anything they are in.

More of all the good stuff

This book leads into my favorite parts of the story. Masterfully woven with crucial story lines littered throughout. My third time through the series and it still leaves me wanting more.

Great book

At the beginning and middle I would have to say I was slightly disappointed by the lack of action compared to the first book. There was Alot of talking and not much happening but by the end it turned out to be good