Theft of Swords

Riyria Revelations, Volume 1

By: Michael J. Sullivan

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

Length: 22 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Fantasy, 2013

Acclaimed author Michael J. Sullivan created instant best sellers with his spellbinding Riyria Revelations series. This first volume introduces Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater, two enterprising thieves who end up running for their lives when they’re framed for the death of the king. Trapped in a conspiracy bigger than they can imagine, their only hope is unraveling an ancient mystery - before it’s too late.

Theft of Swords contains The Crown Conspiracy and Avempartha, books 1 and 2 of Riyria Revelations.

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

A GOOD START TO A SERIES

I got this book as an on sale item, and sometimes these are disappointing. This was a easy to listen , fun book.This book follows Royce and Hadrian as they mistakenly enter an epic adventure. Royce and Hadrian are Michael Sullivans reoccurring characters. This is the first of three books in this tale.

Great Reader, good story

Where does Theft of Swords rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Its in my all time favorite list which includes: Wheel of Time Series, Shadow Prowler Series and Warded Man Series.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Theft of Swords?

The part when we see exactly how good Hadrian is with his swords.

What about Tim Gerard Reynolds’s performance did you like?

the way he reads the story makes it feel like it was a part of history and not fantasy. Very well done.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I don't listen to books in one sitting. However I could not wait to get on the train to listen to this book. I even volunteer to do the dishes more so i can listen to the book. :)

Any additional comments?

This book develops the characters in a way I'm not used to. This approach to character development felt wierd even flawed in the beginning however you get to know the characters well as the story progresses.

Its refreshing and fun. I love the characters and can't wait for the next book to become available on audio.

Just the Good Parts

Riyira Revelations was undoubtedly my favorite Fantasy series from 2012. Sullivan clearly has a firm grasp on the series and where everyone's headed from the first pages of the novel. The result is a deeply engrossing tale with fleshed-out characters, a rich, imaginative setting, and plenty of swashbuckling roguery. It's a satisfying story from beginning to end.

I'm reminded of a notion from The Princess Bride by William Goldman. The frame of the Princess Bride is that it's actually an abridgment of a much longer, much more boring story. Goldman later discovered that his grandpa cut out a lot of this boring stuff when reading it to him as a kid. The version he heard was just the action, adventure, and fun stuff. You know, "the good parts". Well, Theft of Swords is very much a "just the good parts" novel.

Tremendous Work of Fiction. Fascinating and Clever

I'm not sure how I found this, but it's one of the most fun stories I've ever experienced. With clever and humorous banter, two thieves (in the tradition of Dumas' Musketeers) take on a job that quickly goes horribly wrong. A King is dead. Treachery is everywhere.

This is a great fantasy, but the book (and hopefully the trilogy), is is a rare gem for any genre. If you've ever read or listened to The Three Musketeers, youve experienced the timeless humor of Porthos, which is simply priceless. Sullivan's duo are every bit as resourceful and fun as any of Dumas' characters.

There are elves, dwarfs, a impaired wizard, evil priests and political intrigue. 20 hours simply flew by. The narration is good, never getting in the way of the story.

For me, it's a solid 5 star listen.

Amazing!

I've listened to this book more times than I care to admit. It is well written and the characters are so well developed. Michael J Sullivan has become one of my favorite authors.

great book

Would you listen to Theft of Swords again? Why?

There are some parts that are a bit slow but the funny parts are great, was laughing while driving down the road. Hope the rest of the series turns out the same.

great Book.

Easy to listening very interested tale of two young thieves getting up to a bunch of missed you and good times well worth the listen

Best protagonist I have read about.

I really love all of the Riyria books. They are very well narrated and I enjoy the main characters more than any other book. I am not saying that they do not have faults, because they do, but they just feel very real to me. They have good banter and are fun to read about.

The actual story can be grim at times, but overall it was a feel good series for me. Horrible things happen at times, but it doesn't take away from the story. This is just a truly great fantasy series.

Great book!

I really enjoy this book. About to start on the next and I can't hardly wait!!

You don't get much better than this in fantasy.

Where does Theft of Swords rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is probably my second favorite book i've ever listened to. It has everything you ask from a fantasy world. Deep history, an exciting mythos, tension and prejudice between the races, and a sprinkle of devilish monsters. This book constantly made me smile, due to it's overwhelming logic and awareness. Characters in this book, actually use emphatic reason. There are some awkward decisions here and there, but nothing too head-scrathing; there are far too many books that possess only 'mythic' adaptations of us, with no common-logic, or understanding. These characters actually feel alive, and by the end of it, you could probably guess each member of Riyria's decision before they voice it; which is a good thing in this case. Splendid!

What other book might you compare Theft of Swords to and why?

This book is a combination of many wonderful ideas, from many wonderful authors. Lord of the Rings, The Song of Fire and Ice, and many other fantasy books come to mind while reading this, but honestly, Theft of Swords is its own book.

Which character – as performed by Tim Gerard Reynolds – was your favorite?

Most every character in this book is fantastically performed, but I would have to say Esrahaddon's early dialogue sticks-out above all the supportive cast, as the best; it even over-shadows Royce and Hadrian's dialogue in some cases.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Like many books, the ending is where all the ideas come to a head, or get escalated into a cliff-hanger. This book's ending is quite memorable, and Esrahaddon's dialogue made me grin from it's masterfulness.

Any additional comments?

Great read/listen. Highly recommend!!! I'm moving on to the next in the series.