The Crown Tower

The Riyria Chronicles, Book 1

By: Michael J. Sullivan

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Michael J. Sullivan garnered critical raves and a massive readership for his Riyria Revelations series. The first book in his highly anticipated Riyria Chronicles series of prequels, The Crown Tower brings together warrior Hadrian Blackwater with thieving assassin Royce Melborn. The two form a less-than-friendly pairing, but the quest before them has a rare prize indeed, and if they can breach the supposedly impregnable walls of the Crown Tower, their names will be legend.

©2013 Michael J. Sullivan (P)2013 Recorded Books

Excellent book!

Extraordinary writing and narration that immerses you into the story line from the very beginning! It leaves you wanting to spend more time with the characters.

Fast and Fun

Can’t wait to read the next book! Great narration with fun plot twists. It’s a page turner.

Wonderfully Written & Narated

Excellent story. One where there is obviously fighting and blood, but it doesn’t seem real because it isn’t. For people like me who like the action, but not necessarily the violence, this is a great choice.
Can’t wait to RE-read the next one. This is my second time through and with several years as a buffer, it’s even better this time around.

Cannot get enough of Hadrian and Royce

This was a fantastic start to a sequel. Just finished the first book. On to The Rose and Thorn next.

Fell in love with these characters all over again

This was so much fun hearing the front story to Hadrian and Royce's relationship as well as gaining a better understanding of Gwen. After the next book, I'm going to go back and listen to the Riyria Revelations again (something I never do with audio books) just to hear it all in one neat package.

Some have said don't start here, but I don't think it would hurt anything. I do think understanding the characters before you hear this book might be useful and give you a better appreciation of it, but you would still understand the story with no problem.

If you're on the fence about reading any of these books, don't be. I have over 500 books in my audible collection and this is one of my favorite series of all of them. The only bad thing about the series is it eventually ends and you have to leave all these guys behind. Do yourself a favor and add Royce and Hadrian to your collection of fictional friends.

Great Prequel to an Equally Great Series

If you've read the Riyira Chronicles, this is the story of how our two Muskateers, Royce and Hadrian become partners. The author suggests you read the trilogy first, and I heartily agree.

I love this entire series because I love the two main characters. In fact, the author's wife fell so hard for Hadrian she inspired her husband to write this prequel. Their banter and swashbuckling are fun, funny and exciting.

And this is exactly why it's important to listen to the Chronicles first. This story is about the forming of a partnership that precedes the truly great adventure of the Ryira.

While this story has little in the way of elves, trolls, magic, warlocks and witches, it is a terrific adventure that captured my imagination.

From the "Start Here" perspective

The foreword offers different ways to begin the Riyria collection - either chronologically, beginning with the Riyria Chronicles and concluding with the Riyria Revelation series or the Revelation series (published first) and then the prequel (newly published) Chronicles. I began here at the Crown Tower, with no prior knowledge of the series and only going by the high ratings by thousands of other readers.
First, the writing itself is entertaining. Michael Sullivan is quite inventive in his descriptions and dialogue and the contrasts between Hadrian and Royce should set up enjoyable dialogues over the course of the next volumes. A big personal thanks to Mr. Sullivan for keeping the scene descriptions and dialogue respectfully clean. (When a brothel is a major component of the story, it would have been easy for things to get tawdry.)
Second, the story prompted some disturbing questions, Some examples: why does the professor take such a personal interest in Royce, knowing what a murderer he is? It has to be more than believing "there is a human being in there." He knows that letting him run loose is going to lead to the deaths of the innocent as well as guilty. Another: Could people such as the "ladies" of the brothel and the boy Royce really not survive outside the city? And how did someone as naïve and gullible as Hadrian appears to be survive war and other challenges? Talent with a sword will only get you so far.
Third, the narrator is good, particularly with the voice of Royce, but his voice for Hadrian, lost some credibility for me. He sounded timid and childish at times, stretching Hadrian's reluctance too far. Also at times the narrator sounded like Edward Everett Horton doing "Fracture Fairy Tales," which was personally amusing but drew a little too much attention to himself.
In conclusion, Sullivan laid a solid foundation for a series, which promises to offer hours and hours of listening pleasure ahead.

The Legend Begins!

I wasn't sure I would find this as compelling as the "Revelations" series because I would know "how it came out". But I was grabbed from the first sentence! Some great new characters and settings, and it was so much fun to see how our unlikely duo happened to work together. Knowing the other stories gives us some of the power of Gwen, the seer, as we have some glimpses of the future but not exactly how the characters will get there.

I enjoyed Sullivan's introduction. It's great to have an author who wants to be connected with his readers and cares about them, and who really loves to write about his world. My only complaint is that I wish this book had been longer and that Audible will soon have the pre-order for the next one (The Rose and Crown).

Thank goodness Tim Reynolds still narrated, I wouldn't be able to imagine any other voices for our heroes!

Although you can certainly start here, if you haven't listened to any, I'd recommend starting with Theft of Swords and going through that trilogy first.

Royce & Hadrian together for the first time

I chose to listen to Michael J Sullivan’s books in published order, The Riyria Revelations prior to The Riyria Chronicles. Either way will work, but I’ll say The Riyria Chronicles are the more polished stories. Like any good author MJS has honed his craft over time and it is noticeable.

The Crown Tower brings the unlikely pair of Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater together for the first time. Ride along as the duo is sent on their first mission by Professor Arcadius. Although you will recognize Royce and Hadrian, they are not yet the friends they will come to be. Not only do we get to watch as Hadrian and Royce come to learn about each other, but we also get Gwen origin story. If you enjoyed The Riyria Revelations you will be more than pleased with this first story in The Riyria Chronicles. If you have not listened to Revelations feel free to try The Crown Tower. You won't be disappointed.

I love this series

I love this series. Both Royce and Hadrian are characters that are so real. I laugh and cry as they come forge their friendship. Royce's dry wit keeps me howling even upon my third reading. The development of the minor characters' personalities is so well done that you left feeling that each fully fletched out. Please give us more of Royce & Hadrian.