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

Fantastic

If you could sum up Theft of Swords in three words, what would they be?

Recommend to all

Who was your favorite character and why?

Both main characters. Never laughed so much at the interactions between two characters.

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

After the first hour of listening I forgot all about the reader, and just enjoyed the book. Great job

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

Might be a bit long but other than that yes I would.

Any additional comments?

This is a story woven of fantasy and adventure!

This story is entertaining and amusing. The heroes are reluctant however they are credible . The story is realistic in terms of human behavior but it does not employ an overload of violence. This helps to make The Theft of Swords and enjoyable read..
I found the story quite delightful and it was given voice in a way that added even more to the experience. The descriptions of the country side, the overwhelming odds against which are heroes stood, and the irony and humor all come to life in a splendid way in the voice of Tim Gerard Reynolds!

I am off now to the next episode! Enjoy!

Wow! This book has everything!

I am astounded. This book turned out to be so enjoyable, so epic, with such intrigue and action and humor. As good as any book I have read. The reader takes the great dialogue and performs it to perfection. A single word can be read a myriad of ways but the way he chooses to read it almost always seems absolutely perfect! I'm not reading anything else until I exhaust every last book in this series!

What a great find!

I've been searching for some exciting new blood in the fantasy genre, and I feel like I may have just found it in Michael J. Sullivan. Having just finished the massively epic Wheel of Time series and waiting endlessly for the next G.R.R. Martin novel, I was getting desperate for something to slake my insatiable appetite for this genre, Theft of Swords really filled the void. It is a completely different style from either of the aforementioned series, but completely engrossing in its own right. Hadrian and Royce are a roguish pair in the tradition of Butch and Sundance, Holmes and Watson, Nate and Hayes and many another dynamic duo. The plot seems deceptively shallow at first but quickly develops into a complex conspiracy with more layers than initially meets the eye. The magic and mythology of this world are subdued and only hinted at until we are confronted with it in sparing doses. This aspect puts me in mind of Martin's Ice and Fire series which handles the supernatural in much the same way. I have already added the remaining books of the trilogy to my library and have just started on book two with high hopes for another exciting series to satisfy my fantasy itch.

My new favorite author

What made the experience of listening to Theft of Swords the most enjoyable?

It has just the right amount of action, character building and humor to make you never want to stop listening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Miron the monk. (I don't know if I am spelling his name correctly. When I listen to, instead of read, a book I am often surprised when I see the names of characters in print.) He has such a great personality. He reminds me of my father.

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

Everything. I am searching for other books he has done. He made the characters come to life without over doing it like so many performers do. Very well done. I hope he does the next series coming out in August. I am usually very disappointed when a new reader takes over a series.

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

Yes, but the length of it made that an impossibility. I love long books. The author gets to fully define his characters. These three books in the series are actually six books combined into three volumes.

Any additional comments?

As my headline says: this is my new favorite author. I still love Brandon Sanderson and Brent Weeks, but until they come out with more, Michael is on top.

Zaaang, that was great!

What did you love best about Theft of Swords?

I loved that I was captivated from about 30 seconds into the book instead of a couple of hours like most books are for me. Additionally, this was one of the few books that I did not want to miss even a second of. Many books, if I am interrupted for just a few seconds. I will just continue on. In this book, it didn't matter how short the interruption was, I would hit the 30secondsback button.

I love all of the characters. Royce and Hadrian are compliment each other well, but they still have their own individuality and distinct personalities. I would have been able to know who said many of the line without being told by the narrative or by knowing the voice. The other characters have important roles and are easy to follow as well.

I love that I basically received a 2nd book for free. I'm not sure if they put 2 books together in each of these volumes just to have the length that many other epic fantasy books seem to have, but they did't have to that. Most of the other books in my library are about 11 hours and that's about how long these would be if they weren't bundled together.

I love that the greater story is only just unfolding. I can't wait to get the next volume.

What did you like best about this story?

I like that even though they are thieves, they are still good guys. Another of my favorite books is "the Lies of Locke Lamora". In that book, the thieves are good guys too, but they do steal from people who don't really deserve it and people get hurt through their misdeeds. In "Theft of Swords" it is implied that they have done some unsavory things, but we never actually journey along with them on anything but good deeds. It makes it easier for me to resolve liking and caring about them.

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

Nope, Great job on this one though. Spot on

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

Umm, can't think of anything at the moment. Maybe thats's the one negative I have so far. There were many parts that were somewhat moving, but none that stand out as particularly moving.

Wait, I just realized one part that did move me, but it might be a spoiler.

Any additional comments?

So, I have given "Theft of Swords" a glowing review. But, while it is already among my list of favorites, I'm not exactly ready to put it in my top 5 just yet. I stated that the larger story will unfold in the next 2 volumes and I'm hoping that will put this series in my top 5. I read somewhere (maybe another reviewer) that Sullivan intentionally (and at some risk) wrote this series so that it could build how he wanted to and end with the best part and have a satisfying conclusion despite the fact the 1st book would be the weakest.

One more thing. Each book in this 1st volume had a decent conclusion. While they did hint at the larger story and leave room to grow, the "smaller" story contained within each book did finish and didn't leave me annoyed that I HAVE to get the next book. I appreciate not being strung along like that.

Royce & Hadrian = Gray Mouser & Fafhrd?

We all know that characters and storylines are all in the telling. Volume One has a two solid stories told so well that they will keep you listen on well after you should have gone to bed. Many avid fantasy readers will recognize that the characters, Royce and Hadrian, are similar to (close clones?) Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser characters - however, you know that many superhero and sidekick duo adventures are purely archetypal, and honest fun - Despite the cliche pairing, the two characters become more than your typical duo for they are interesting, troubled, fun and attractive. The telling of the story matters: Volume one is rich in detail, plot setup (the first story is a whooper! And the second monstrous!) and character development. The stories are wonderful and fast paced making them a perfect escape from the lame bickering reality of our current world. Fantasy fans will enjoy the archetypal familiars (elves, dwarves and enchantments oh my) as well as fresh new storylines Sullivan weaves his thieving duo into. I will be reading more of the adventures of Royce and Hadrian because it's a great escape.

Entertaining story with excellent narration

Any additional comments?

The plot and actions of the characters can be rather cliche at times, but overall this was a very entertaining listen. The main characters have a lot of personality which is brought to life in full by Tim Gerard Reynold's narrative portrayal. The plot can be predictable at times, but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the novel. Sullivan does a great job of directing the focus of the series to keep the story moving and tying up loose ends before it all ends.

Great characters!

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the characters of Royce and Hadrian. Their relationship is buddy movie material. They are so well written that you can start to predict their reactions to situations because you feel as if you know them.

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

I like the way Tim Gerard Reynolds thoroughly captures the sarcastic banter between the characters. I liked his voice from previous Audible purchases (the Red Rising trilogy by Pierce Brown), but he made me laugh out loud the way he handled the wordplay between the characters.

Any additional comments?

This book is just plain fun! The characters are well written, the dialogue is excellent and the action keeps you on the edge of your seat at times. It's a nice escape from the books I have to read for school.

Finished Series - Day after Xmas Feeling

What did you love best about Theft of Swords?

Do you remember that"day after Xmas feeling" you got as a kid? That's the feeling I can't seem to shake since I finished this book series last week. I found myself charging through this wonderful series always anxious to get to the next line, next paragraph, next chapter, next book and the moment the last word on the last page of the last book left the narrators mouth I felt that "day after Xmas feeling" flowing in. All the build up, the excitement, the momentous conclusion and then... it was done.

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

Tim Gerard Reynolds brings such depth and texture to this series. I honestly don't know how he created such different voices for so many characters. When he began to speak I could tell which character was talking. I can't imagine these books being narrated by anyone else.

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

Not a single flaw in the narrator's performance... Brilliant.