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

The wow factor continues

It was another leap into a world where you are listening to each sentence and each twist and turn! As good a journey as Brooks or McCaffery in the words and the action! Thank you for on the wow factor and Clifthangers too. Thank you

A Great Listen

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

Yes it is a highly entertaining listen and the narrator does a fantastic job. This is book 3 and 4 in the series and you really get to see the characters grow and you come to love them more. I will not give a description as you can read that for yourself. But I will say the 2 main Characters Royce and Hadrian are now two of my favorite fantasy heroes. The other characters in the book really are good also: Princess Arista and Amelia in book 3. This Author has done a great job and I sent him an email and he actually replied twice!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think it would have to be Hadrian for a male character and Princess Arista for female. I just love Hadrian's sense of humor and even though he is a thief he has a very good heart. With Princess Arista you get to see her grow form a spoiled princess to a true heroine who is just learning her abilities as one of the gifted (magic wielder).

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

It is too hard to say as he does such a good job. He makes different voices for all the characters and even does a great job for the females so you can truly imagine the characters talking.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes definately, I do not want to give away any spoilers but a few tears where shed and many laughs.

Any additional comments?

I really suggest you give this series a chance as I am sure you will add it to your all time favorites. I listen at work sometimes and the story is so good hours will pass and I will not even realize it. When I leave work I will plug my phone into my car stereo and find myself driving slower to get home so I can listen longer!

Just keeps getting better!

The Riyria Revelations are fast becoming one of my favorite series. Michael J Sullivan might not be the equal of Tolkien as some have written, but one Tolkien is enough for me. I enjoy Sullivan as he is. The continuing story of Hadrian, Royce, Arista, Thrace, et al, is fast-paced, with enough humor to keep the pathos from becoming overwhelming. Elves, dwarves, and goblins interweave through like threads of gold through silk - not taking away from the main story, but adding sparkle to the tale. I am looking forward to the last of the omnibus series - The Heir of Navron.

The best thing to say is "A-"

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

middle

What other book might you compare Rise of Empire to and why?

tough to say

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

he does a great job with everything, doesn't over do the voices

Any additional comments?

I think after listening to 3 of the books I would say that this is A-. It's definitely good, in fact it's really good. Creative, well written, compelling characters. For whatever reason it doesn't have that driveway quality to it where you want to sit in your car and let it play. I enjoy listening to Ryira but find I stray away from it for podcasts or another book. I'll probably finish the series but very slowly as I'll be constantly interrupted by other things.

Still On Track

Would you listen to Rise of Empire again? Why?

Yes..... I have had a great time thus far listening to this series.

What other book might you compare Rise of Empire to and why?

I think the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, and the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. I like the way that the story draws you in with the characters. There is also a good flow to the stories. Good mixture of real life, action, and the fantastical.

Have you listened to any of Tim Gerard Reynolds’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. His performance is excellent in this series.

Exiting and hilarious

This series has me on my seat with excitement one minute and laughing out loud the next. I love it.

Gotta get Volume 3

Oh wow, it's over and left me hanging. After all those hours of listening, there are giant twists and turns in the end that will propel you right on to the conclusion in volume 3. Royce and Hadrian are on a quest to find Merek, which will lead them to the emperor. Arista is on her own quest to find the abducted emperor. What they do find is full of surprises, deceit, death and heartbreak. This is an excellent series, will recommend it to all those that love epic fantasy.

I've read them but hearing them is such a treat!

I think this man could write terms and conditions and I would read it. Such a great story, it's been years since I read them so hearing it was like getting the story again for the first time. The narrator is great you can tell by his inflections who is talking in the story.

The story itself is about a former mercenary and seasoned thief for hire and their many many jobs and encounters that are woven into on bit mission with unlikely allies. The friendship and brotherhood of this story is what stole my heart in my initial reading and I've never forgotten it. These books were my first introduction into the Fantasy genre but nothing I've read since can come close.

Great narration

He makes the characters come alive and has many subtle ways when telling this story, that truly bring it to life. Highly recommended this audible book... AFTER reading book one (:

Great Easy listening entertainment

Great story line easy listening good character development often had me laughing... A great book to listen to during your workouts