Riyria Revelations Series by Michael J. Sullivan
Riyria Revelations #1
Theft of Swords
Michael J. Sullivan
From the AuthorI've always enjoyed television series that had a continuing story arc told through individual episodes. My favorites were Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Babylon 5. Having mysteries unfold a bit at a time kept me engrossed and I couldn't wait to see where the creators were going to take me. This was a major goal of mine when writing The Riyria Revelations and I hope you will enjoy your journey.The tale had actually banged around in my head for over fifteen years in one form or another. I kept adding characters and plot lines until I had, at least to me, a compelling story with likeable characters. Because of the complexity of the plot in the overarching story, it was imperative that I wrote all of the books before releasing the first one. While I don't recommend this technique to other writers, it allowed me the opportunity to weave threads in previous books as I fully developed later ones. While I'm on that subject, one of the most rewarding aspects of this series is the numerous "Easter eggs" that I've hidden along the way. There are small things that, upon first reading, you'll not consider as having any significance. For those that re-read the series, where all the pieces have been put into place, hopefully you'll see incidents or dialog in a whole new light. In retrospect, these clues should appear obvious, and if I've done my job properly they will remain buried until the proper time. In this respect, I hope the book will be a lot like the movie The Sixth Sense. The Riyria Revelations, especially in the beginning, is little more than fast-paced light fantasy. As the series progresses, I think you'll see more depth both in the world of Elan and the characters. This was a purposeful decision and a dangerous one. It means that by design the first book is the weakest of the set, but enables me to end it with a resounding bang. This technique may mean that some will stop after reading the first book, assuming I have little talent. They may not feel "connected" to the characters because there was not enough for them to latch onto. All I can say is that I feel the reward of incremental discovery outweighed my alternatives. If after completing the entire story, you feel I lack ability, at least I'll know you came to the conclusion having all the facts on which to judge me.The last thing I'd like to say about this series is that I wrote it for pure enjoyment--both for you and myself. First and foremost it was meant to entertain. My goal was to write a book that I would like to read, to be with friends that I wanted to spend time with and go on an adventure filled with surprises and some heartfelt moments. While I wrote the books for adults, I kept it free of foul language, sex, and graphic violence so that it could be enjoyed by people of all ages.This series is reminiscent of the fantasies I read as a youth and wasn't meant as any kind of commentary on current trends in modern fantasy. Yes, it incorporates archetypes and familiar themes, but hopefully they are used in a way that will make them feel fresh. What I was striving for was to create a series that felt as familiar and comfortable as your favorite pair of shoes. Hopefully there are people out there with similar tastes, and if you are one of them, I predict you'll enjoy the journey very much.Michael
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Riyria Revelations #1
Crown Conspiracy
Michael J. Sullivan
SUMMARY:
They killed the king. They pinned it on two men. They chose poorly.#13;#13;There's no ancient evil to defeat, no orphan destined for greatness, just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time...Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in a plot to murder the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out--and so begins this epic tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend.
AWARDS: 2009 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist; 2008 ReaderViews Literary Award Finalist; 2007 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist; Named One of the 2008 Notable Indie Books by Fantasy Book Critic; Named Top Five Fantasy of Books of 2009 by Dark Wolf's Fantasy Reviews
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Crown Conspiracy is book one of the multi-book saga: The Riyria Revelations. Instead of a string of sequels, this six-book fantasy series was conceived as a single epic tale divided into individual novels. While one book may hint at building mysteries and thickening plots, these threads are not essential to reach a satisfying conclusion to the current episode--which has its own beginning, middle, and end. It should be noted that all six were written before the first was released to ensure continuity across a complex plot filled with twists, turns, and page-turning mysteries. Characterization occur across the whole series allowing readers to build friendships with likeable characters that are shaped as events unfold. The Riyria Revelations is written for adults but has no sex and limited violence centered on swordplay and is therefore, appropriate for younger audiences and a movie version based on the novels would garnish a PG-13 rating.
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Riyria Revelations #2
Avempartha
Michael J. Sullivan
SUMMARY:
She hired them to save her father...the wizard had other plans.When a destitute young woman hires Royce and Hadrian to help save her remote village from nocturnal attacks, they are once more drawn into the schemes of the wizard Esrahaddon. While Royce struggles to breech the secrets of an ancient elven tower, Hadrian attempts to rally the villagers to defend themselves against the unseen killer. Once more, what begins with the simple theft of a sword places the two thieves at the center of a firestorm but this time the outcome could change the future of Elan.
ABOUT THE SERIES Although part of a multi-book saga, Avempartha is a stand-alone story and can be read independently of the series. Instead of a string of sequels, The Riyria Revelations is a six-book series conceived as a single epic tale divided into individual episodes. All were written before the first was released. The books are being released one every 6 months. The first The Crown Conspiracy was released October 2008.
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Riyria Revelations #3
Heir of Novron
Michael J. Sullivan
From the AuthorI've always enjoyed television series that had a continuing story arc told through individual episodes. My favorites were Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Babylon 5. Having mysteries unfold a bit at a time kept me engrossed and I couldn't wait to see where the creators were going to take me. This was a major goal of mine when writing The Riyria Revelations and I hope you will enjoy your journey.The tale had actually banged around in my head for over fifteen years in one form or another. I kept adding characters and plot lines until I had, at least to me, a compelling story with likeable characters. Because of the complexity of the plot in the overarching story, it was imperative that I wrote all of the books before releasing the first one. While I don't recommend this technique to other writers, it allowed me the opportunity to weave threads in previous books as I fully developed later ones. While I'm on that subject, one of the most rewarding aspects of this series is the numerous "Easter eggs" that I've hidden along the way. There are small things that, upon first reading, you'll not consider as having any significance. For those that re-read the series, where all the pieces have been put into place, hopefully you'll see incidents or dialog in a whole new light. In retrospect, these clues should appear obvious, and if I've done my job properly they will remain buried until the proper time. In this respect, I hope the book will be a lot like the movie The Sixth Sense. The Riyria Revelations, especially in the beginning, is little more than fast-paced light fantasy. As the series progresses, I think you'll see more depth both in the world of Elan and the characters. This was a purposeful decision and a dangerous one. It means that by design the first book is the weakest of the set, but enables me to end it with a resounding bang. This technique may mean that some will stop after reading the first book, assuming I have little talent. They may not feel "connected" to the characters because there was not enough for them to latch onto. All I can say is that I feel the reward of incremental discovery outweighed my alternatives. If after completing the entire story, you feel I lack ability, at least I'll know you came to the conclusion having all the facts on which to judge me.The last thing I'd like to say about this series is that I wrote it for pure enjoyment--both for you and myself. First and foremost it was meant to entertain. My goal was to write a book that I would like to read, to be with friends that I wanted to spend time with and go on an adventure filled with surprises and some heartfelt moments. While I wrote the books for adults, I kept it free of foul language, sex, and graphic violence so that it could be enjoyed by people of all ages.This series is reminiscent of the fantasies I read as a youth and wasn't meant as any kind of commentary on current trends in modern fantasy. Yes, it incorporates archetypes and familiar themes, but hopefully they are used in a way that will make them feel fresh. What I was striving for was to create a series that felt as familiar and comfortable as your favorite pair of shoes. Hopefully there are people out there with similar tastes, and if you are one of them, I predict you'll enjoy the journey very much.MichaelAbout the AuthorAfter finding a manual typewriter in the basement of a friend's house, Michael J. Sullivan inserted a blank piece of paper and typed: It was a dark and stormy night, and a shot rang out. He was just eight. Still, the desire to fill the blank page and see where the keys would take him next wouldn't let go. For ten years Michael developed his writing craft by studying authors such as Stephen King, Ayn Rand, and John Steinbeck, to name a few. He wrote thirteen novels, and after finding no traction in publishing he quit, vowing to never write creatively again.His hiatus from writing lasted nearly ten years. The itch returned when he decided to write books for his then thirteen-year-old daughter, who was struggling because of dyslexia. Intrigued by the idea of a series with an overarching story line told through individual, self-contained episodes, he created the Riyria Revelations. He wrote the series with no intention of publishing it, but upon presenting his book in manuscript form to his daughter, she declared that it had to be a "real" book, bound and formatted, in order for her to be able to read it.So began his second adventure on the road to publication that included drafting his wife to be his business manager, signing with a small independent press, and creating his own publishing company. He sold more than sixty thousand books as a self-published author and leveraged this success to achieve mainstream publication though Orbit (the fantasy imprint of Hachette Book Group) as well as foreign translation rights for France, Germany, Spain, Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic.Born in Detroit, Michigan, Michael presently lives in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife and three children and continues to fill the blank pages with three projects under development: a modern fantasy novel, a literary fiction piece, and a prequel to his best-selling Riyria Revelations.michaelsullivan-author.com | riyria.blogspot.com | Twitter: @author_sullivan
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Riyria Revelations #3
Nyphron Rising
Michael J. Sullivan
SUMMARY:
A puppet is crowned. The true heir remains hidden. A rogue's secret could change everything. War has come to Melengar. To save her kingdom, Princess Arista runs a desperate gamble when she defies her brother and hires Royce and Hadrian for a dangerous mission. As the power of the Nyphron Empire grows, so does Royce's suspicion that the wizard Esrahaddon is using the thieves as pawns in his own game. To find the truth, he must unravel the secret of Hadrian's past-what he discovers could change the future for all of Elan. "The Riyria Revelations is shaping up to be one of the most original and entertaining fantasy series I've seen in years." King of the Nerds Fantasy Reviews "Another absolutely riveting installment in The Riyria Revelations series! Once again, Michael J. Sullivan did not disappoint. There was suspense, humor, action, treachery, and even a tiny bit of love thrown in." Ramblings & More "Mr. Sullivan continues to impress. In Royce and Hadrian he has created some of the best characters the genre has seen in some time, and in Avempartha he shows that he knows what to do with them." Speculative Fiction Junkie
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Riyria Revelations #4
Emerald Storm
Michael J. Sullivan
SUMMARY:
A message is intercepted. A sinister plan launched. Two thieves stand in the way. Ex-mercenary Hadrian Blackwater sets course on a high seas adventure to find the lost Heir of Novron. His only hope lies in confronting the ruthless and cunning Merrick Marius. Fearing his friend is not up to the challenge, Royce Melborn joins his old partner for one last mission. Their journey finds them adrift amid treachery and betrayals forcing Hadrian to face a past he hoped never to see again.
REVIEWS FOR RIYRIA REVELATIONS: "The Riyria Revelations is shaping up to be one of the most original and entertaining fantasy series I ve seen in years." -- King of the Nerds Fantasy Reviews "Mr. Sullivan continues to impress. In Royce and Hadrian he has created some of the best characters the genre has seen in some time." --Speculative Fiction Junkie"A whirlwind of twists, earth-shattering surprises and deadly betrayal." -- Literary Magic "Michael J. Sullivan doesn't waste time and throws the reader into action from the first pages of his novel and keeps him there until the final page is turned." --Dark Wolf Fantasy Review"The Crown Conspiracy is right up my alley, traditional fantasy, good bad guys, a large dose of humor, lots of character development and plenty of surprises. -- Fantasy DebutThe story begins with a wonderful first line...It continues to develop at a good pace, and the plot is layered and intriguing, really engaging...Sullivan's real talents lie in character development and dialogue, the latter of which was really delightful. Royce and Hadrian have a great repartee, and the monk, Myron, has some memorable lines of his own." -- SciFiGuy.ca
ABOUT THE SERIES The Crown Conspiracy is the first book in the captivating Riyria Revelations. Instead of a string of sequels this six-book fantasy series was conceived as a single epic tale divided into individual episodes. All were written before the first was released so that plot elements are intertwined, yet each book has its only story and conclusion. Books of the Riyria Revelations: The Crown Conspiracy (October 2008) Avempartha (April 2009) Nyphron Rising (October 2009) The Emerald Storm (April 2010) Wintertide (October 2010) Percepliquis (April 2011)
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES: 2009 Top 10 Book: Dark Wolf Fantasy Reviews 2009 Top 5 Close Contender: Speculative Fiction Junkie 2009 National Indie Book Award Finalist 2008 ReaderViews Annual Literary Award Finalist 2007 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist Review Sites Distinction Avempartha: A/A+ Book of 2009 for Fantasy Book Critic The Emerald Storm: Named a 2010 Anticipated Release By Fantasy Book Critic Nyphron Rising: Named a Noteworthy Release by Fantasy Book Critic Avempartha: Named a Notable Book of 2009 by Fantasy Book Critic
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