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The Legends of the First Empire #4
Age of Legend
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Fantasy (2019)
Each culture has its own myths and legends, but only one is shared, and it is feared by all.
With Age of Myth, Age of Swords, and Age of War, fantasy master Michael J. Sullivan riveted readers with a tale of unlikely heroes locked in a desperate battle to save mankind. After years of warfare, humanity has gained the upper hand and has pushed the Fhrey to the edge of their homeland, but no farther. Now comes the pivotal moment. Persephone’s plan to use the stalemate to seek peace is destroyed by an unexpected betrayal that threatens to hand victory to the Fhrey and leaves a dear friend in peril. Her only hope lies in the legend of a witch, a forgotten song, and a simple garden door.
With Age of Myth, Age of Swords, and Age of War, fantasy master Michael J. Sullivan riveted readers with a tale of unlikely heroes locked in a desperate battle to save mankind. After years of warfare, humanity has gained the upper hand and has pushed the Fhrey to the edge of their homeland, but no farther. Now comes the pivotal moment. Persephone’s plan to use the stalemate to seek peace is destroyed by an unexpected betrayal that threatens to hand victory to the Fhrey and leaves a dear friend in peril. Her only hope lies in the legend of a witch, a forgotten song, and a simple garden door.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2019
About the author
Michael J. Sullivan
112 books94.7k followersThe Unavowed Kickstarter (which includes the first story in my new Cycle series, launched via Kickstarter and funded in less than an hour. Four Days Left to Pledge!
I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author with 9 Goodreads Choice Award Nominations.
I first opened the door to my imagination with typewriter keys while playing hide and seek and finding a black behemoth when I just ten years old. Serious writing started in my twenties, but after more than a decade trying to publish (and getting nowhere), I quit altogether. I returned to writing in 2004, and published my first novel with a small press in 2008. If you had told me that I'd be a New York Times Bestselling author, have 85+ novels translated into 13 languages, and sold more than 2 million copies, I never would have believed you!
I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author with 9 Goodreads Choice Award Nominations.
I first opened the door to my imagination with typewriter keys while playing hide and seek and finding a black behemoth when I just ten years old. Serious writing started in my twenties, but after more than a decade trying to publish (and getting nowhere), I quit altogether. I returned to writing in 2004, and published my first novel with a small press in 2008. If you had told me that I'd be a New York Times Bestselling author, have 85+ novels translated into 13 languages, and sold more than 2 million copies, I never would have believed you!
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August 31, 2020As people may know, I don't write reviews of my own books, but I do use this space to update people on happenings about the books I write...so here I am!
Update August 30, 2020: We have officially sold out the hardcover print run (only 33 left in the warehouse at the present time. There are still some copies with various retailers (Amazon, B&N, Books-a-Million, etc) but we did do a second printing. Those copies will ONLY be available directly from us (and all copies will be signed). Once they are in stock again, I'll update our online store.
Update: March 09, 2020: The audiobooks version of this book (and AGE OF LEGEND), is part of Audible's 2-for-1 Stellar Storyteller Sale
Sale ends March 16th at midnight (PT),
Oct 12, 2019: I'm honored, and more than a bit surprised that Age of Legend made the semi-finals round for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy book. My thanks to everyone who did a "write-in" vote during the first round to get it included.
Aug 30,2019 Did the ending of Age of Legend leave you wanting to read Age of Death as soon as possible? Well, then you are in luck. The Kickstarter is live, fully funded, and backers will get the next installment in October rather than February. It's only been live for 8 days and already it is the 2nd most-backed fiction Kickstarter of all time. Come on over and join us.
Aug 13, 2019: Wow, Age of Legend hit two of the national bestsellers list: New York Times and USA Today. Thanks all for snatching up the books so quickly.
July 21, 2019: It's been a few weeks since the release of this book and it's still selling great. In fact, it made the Top 10 bestselling audiobooks for its debut week, and even now, it's the #1 Bestselling New Epic Fantasy releases! Thanks all for the great support.
June 12, 2019: The hardcover books have arrived! I went to our warehouse and signed a bunch of copies, and Robin added them to our store. So, if you want signed copies of the latest book - and get them signed as well. Come and get them!
May 29, 2019: I can't believe how long it's been since my last update, and I apologize for the lack of communication. Part of the problem is my 97-year-old mom was in decline and passed away in early April. As part of that, my brother has come to live with Robin and I in Virginia and we are going through a lot of issues trying to get through all that comes with both of those events. Still, time marches on and a lot has been happening. Here are some highlights.
1. The Kickstarter was a huge success (2,553 backers pledged $110,865). This makes it one of only 5 fiction projects to ever pass six-figures, and it's the 2nd most backed fiction project of all time.
2. Backers of the Kickstarter read the book starting April 9th.
3. The books have been printed and are in the bindery right now. We expect them to be shipped around 6/4 and we should have copies in our hands around that time.
4. For those who want to get the book a bit before the release date (and have their copies signed), we'll add the book to our bookstore as soon as we have books available.
5. Age of Legend was selected by Goodreads as one of their Hottest Books of the Summer - given the great titles coming out now, and the vast number of books, this is a HUGE honor, and it has a lot to do with people "shelving" the book - so thank you for everyone who has done so and expressed an interest.
6. If you need recaps of the firsts three books, you can find them here.
7. We will be running a Goodreads Giveaway for Age of Legend starting June 1, so keep your eyes open for that.
Well, that's a big update, and I think I hit the major points. It's getting exciting, and I can't wait for the book to be "out there" for everyone to read.
March 18, 2019: Well, just 26 more hours on the Kickstarter and it's gone amazingly well. We broke the $100,000 mark (only 4 other fiction Kickstarters have done that) and we became the 2nd-most backed fiction Kickstarter of all time). We've hit 7 stretch goals, so there are a lot more bonus perks for backers. You can check them all out on the Kickstarter page. And, heck, if you want the book 3 months early, consider backing it!
March 4, 2019: A lot has been going on! (1) We finished the beta test - which went really well, and the changes have been incorporated. (2) We have copy edits back from Laura and Linda is working on her changes, these should be back in sometime around mid to late March. (3) We started a Kickstarter...and it funded in 3 hours and 8 minutes!
People who pre-order the book through the Kickstarter will get the ebook on April 9th -- that's 3 months before the July 9th release date. Plus, you'll see you name in print as it'll be included in the acknowledgments, and there are other Kickstarter perks like a Minna and Suri short story, screensavers, custom bookmarks, and much more. So, drop on over and take a look. We are currently the 17th most funded Kickstarter of all time, and if we raise another $1,197 we'll move up to the 15th spot!
Septempber 27, 2018: I've received the final cover design from Marc Simonetti - and wow, is it amazing. I'm not sharing it just yet...I want to roll it out once the pre-order pages are up. And we are working on that now. But you'll be seeing it soon!
March 19, 2018: And done! I've now turned over the new and revised version of Age of Legend to Robin. Hopefully, she'll like this better than the last round. More than any other book, this had some major restructuring and I now feel its on the right track. It'll probably be a bit before the beta for the book hits. Maybe a month while Robin reviews? Just thinking out loud here.
Jan 6, 2018 Boy, how times flies! I JUST finished up my review of the copyedits for Age of War, and I'm thrilled with how that book turned out. With that out of the way it's time to turn my attention to final edits on this (and the remaining three books in the series). The plan is to get them into beta shortly after Age of War hits the street, so if you are interested in being a beta tester, here is a link where you can sign up. Robin has even more edits for me, and before she turns them over, she wants to go through the other three books one last time. But I should be able to start the editing soon, and I'll post an update when I do.
July 2016: I just finished up edits on this, the fourth book of the new series. It's come in at 113,000 words and required a lot of editing based on alpha reader feedback from Robin. Of all the books, this one needed the most work and I'm really pleased with how it's come out. Part of the restructuring has meant that a lot of what was in this book now fits better in book #5 and I'm starting my edits on it now. That particular book has grown dramatically. Usually, my books tend to be 100,000 - 135,000 words in length but book #5 is currently at a 176,000! In general, I don't concern myself with the length of books. I just write what is needed to tell the story I want to tell and let the chips fall where they may. We'll see what the last book ends up like and whether any of the content added to book #5 ends up coming back to this book. But for now, the book is done and waiting for another read from Robin before going to beta testing.
Update August 30, 2020: We have officially sold out the hardcover print run (only 33 left in the warehouse at the present time. There are still some copies with various retailers (Amazon, B&N, Books-a-Million, etc) but we did do a second printing. Those copies will ONLY be available directly from us (and all copies will be signed). Once they are in stock again, I'll update our online store.
Update: March 09, 2020: The audiobooks version of this book (and AGE OF LEGEND), is part of Audible's 2-for-1 Stellar Storyteller Sale
Sale ends March 16th at midnight (PT),Oct 12, 2019: I'm honored, and more than a bit surprised that Age of Legend made the semi-finals round for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy book. My thanks to everyone who did a "write-in" vote during the first round to get it included.
Aug 30,2019 Did the ending of Age of Legend leave you wanting to read Age of Death as soon as possible? Well, then you are in luck. The Kickstarter is live, fully funded, and backers will get the next installment in October rather than February. It's only been live for 8 days and already it is the 2nd most-backed fiction Kickstarter of all time. Come on over and join us.
Aug 13, 2019: Wow, Age of Legend hit two of the national bestsellers list: New York Times and USA Today. Thanks all for snatching up the books so quickly.
July 21, 2019: It's been a few weeks since the release of this book and it's still selling great. In fact, it made the Top 10 bestselling audiobooks for its debut week, and even now, it's the #1 Bestselling New Epic Fantasy releases! Thanks all for the great support.
June 12, 2019: The hardcover books have arrived! I went to our warehouse and signed a bunch of copies, and Robin added them to our store. So, if you want signed copies of the latest book - and get them signed as well. Come and get them!
May 29, 2019: I can't believe how long it's been since my last update, and I apologize for the lack of communication. Part of the problem is my 97-year-old mom was in decline and passed away in early April. As part of that, my brother has come to live with Robin and I in Virginia and we are going through a lot of issues trying to get through all that comes with both of those events. Still, time marches on and a lot has been happening. Here are some highlights.
1. The Kickstarter was a huge success (2,553 backers pledged $110,865). This makes it one of only 5 fiction projects to ever pass six-figures, and it's the 2nd most backed fiction project of all time.
2. Backers of the Kickstarter read the book starting April 9th.
3. The books have been printed and are in the bindery right now. We expect them to be shipped around 6/4 and we should have copies in our hands around that time.
4. For those who want to get the book a bit before the release date (and have their copies signed), we'll add the book to our bookstore as soon as we have books available.
5. Age of Legend was selected by Goodreads as one of their Hottest Books of the Summer - given the great titles coming out now, and the vast number of books, this is a HUGE honor, and it has a lot to do with people "shelving" the book - so thank you for everyone who has done so and expressed an interest.
6. If you need recaps of the firsts three books, you can find them here.
7. We will be running a Goodreads Giveaway for Age of Legend starting June 1, so keep your eyes open for that.
Well, that's a big update, and I think I hit the major points. It's getting exciting, and I can't wait for the book to be "out there" for everyone to read.
March 18, 2019: Well, just 26 more hours on the Kickstarter and it's gone amazingly well. We broke the $100,000 mark (only 4 other fiction Kickstarters have done that) and we became the 2nd-most backed fiction Kickstarter of all time). We've hit 7 stretch goals, so there are a lot more bonus perks for backers. You can check them all out on the Kickstarter page. And, heck, if you want the book 3 months early, consider backing it!
March 4, 2019: A lot has been going on! (1) We finished the beta test - which went really well, and the changes have been incorporated. (2) We have copy edits back from Laura and Linda is working on her changes, these should be back in sometime around mid to late March. (3) We started a Kickstarter...and it funded in 3 hours and 8 minutes!
People who pre-order the book through the Kickstarter will get the ebook on April 9th -- that's 3 months before the July 9th release date. Plus, you'll see you name in print as it'll be included in the acknowledgments, and there are other Kickstarter perks like a Minna and Suri short story, screensavers, custom bookmarks, and much more. So, drop on over and take a look. We are currently the 17th most funded Kickstarter of all time, and if we raise another $1,197 we'll move up to the 15th spot!
Septempber 27, 2018: I've received the final cover design from Marc Simonetti - and wow, is it amazing. I'm not sharing it just yet...I want to roll it out once the pre-order pages are up. And we are working on that now. But you'll be seeing it soon!
March 19, 2018: And done! I've now turned over the new and revised version of Age of Legend to Robin. Hopefully, she'll like this better than the last round. More than any other book, this had some major restructuring and I now feel its on the right track. It'll probably be a bit before the beta for the book hits. Maybe a month while Robin reviews? Just thinking out loud here.
Jan 6, 2018 Boy, how times flies! I JUST finished up my review of the copyedits for Age of War, and I'm thrilled with how that book turned out. With that out of the way it's time to turn my attention to final edits on this (and the remaining three books in the series). The plan is to get them into beta shortly after Age of War hits the street, so if you are interested in being a beta tester, here is a link where you can sign up. Robin has even more edits for me, and before she turns them over, she wants to go through the other three books one last time. But I should be able to start the editing soon, and I'll post an update when I do.
July 2016: I just finished up edits on this, the fourth book of the new series. It's come in at 113,000 words and required a lot of editing based on alpha reader feedback from Robin. Of all the books, this one needed the most work and I'm really pleased with how it's come out. Part of the restructuring has meant that a lot of what was in this book now fits better in book #5 and I'm starting my edits on it now. That particular book has grown dramatically. Usually, my books tend to be 100,000 - 135,000 words in length but book #5 is currently at a 176,000! In general, I don't concern myself with the length of books. I just write what is needed to tell the story I want to tell and let the chips fall where they may. We'll see what the last book ends up like and whether any of the content added to book #5 ends up coming back to this book. But for now, the book is done and waiting for another read from Robin before going to beta testing.
November 28, 2022
4.5/5 stars
Age of Legend starts the second half and the end of The Legends of the First Empire, and I was so engrossed with this fourth installment.
I have mentioned in my Age of War review that I do not think any books in the rest of the series would be able to top Age of War as an installment. And although I still love Age of War more than Age of Legend, I’ll be lying if I said I felt bored reading this book. Age of Legend is the fourth installment in The Legends of the First Empire series, and it follows a different storytelling structure compared to the first three books of the series. Sullivan has warned this at the beginning of the book. The first section, which is the shortest one, dealt with the immediate aftermath of Age of War. The second section dealt with what happened a year after that. And finally, the third and last section, which is also the biggest portion of the novel, takes place five years after the end of the second section. To me, among other reasons, it felt like this storytelling structure was to showcase the deadly stalemate of the war between the human and the Fhrey as effectively as possible. And the majority of it definitely worked for me.
Honestly, it is shocking how captivated I was reading Age of Legend. Due to the storytelling structure, there was, understandably, no satisfying conclusion at the end of Age of Legend. If you expect a satisfying ending here, you won't get one. The last chapter of Age of Legend is a cliffhanger. And thankfully, all the books in the series are out now. Sullivan has mentioned Age of Legend, Age of Death, and Age of Empyre will be one big overarching arc divided into three books. So, in a way, it is also expected that there won't be a substantial plot progression in Age of Legend. I am unsure whether dividing the second half of the series into three novels is the correct decision. Seriously, Age of Legend was about 400 pages long, and it was such a quick read. It felt like the last three books in the series could've easily been compiled into one big novel. But hey, I guess I'll find out eventually. Plus, I can't complain about having more Marc Simonetti artwork gracing more cover art. More importantly, it was (in a good way) ridiculous how addictive and easy to read Age of Legend was. This is not a flaw. To easily immerse me into a book and hold my attention with the narrative is always a good thing. It goes to show, once again, how far Sullivan has improved as a storyteller and writer in his prose.
The themes of sacrifice, self-righteousness, justice, faith, revenge, and redemption are some of the main ones in Age of Legend. I will elaborate more on the theme of redemption soon, but first, let me praise Sullivan's way of handling the theme of sacrifice in this book. The majority of Age of Legend revolves around the characters bickering and deciding the most logical and correct next step for their mission. That’s all I can say without giving away any spoilers. And Sullivan dives DEEP into the cliched plotline of sacrificing for the one you love. How far will you go to achieve your mission? How far will you go to save the one you love? Seriously, how far? These are the questions asked and answered in Age of Legend, and Sullivan succeeded brilliantly. In return, the narrative became so compelling. It helps that most of the POV characters in Age of Legend center around characters I love. Tesh, Brin, Gifford, and Suri, to mention a few. All the character and relationship development were executed magnificently. And I never felt bored. Even when the plot didn’t progress a lot, reading Age of Legend remain an entertaining and emotional experience.
If you’ve read The Riyria Revelations, you will know that redemption is one of the most dominant themes in that series. Then you will also know just how good Sullivan is at writing a story circling this theme. I am delighted to see the deep exploration of redemption being embedded once more into the series, and it is through the character Tressa we see this the most in Age of Legend. It was so good, really. Tressa was one of my most unlikable characters in the series, and with this one book, Sullivan twisted that notion in reverse. I would not say Tressa has become one of my favorite characters. Not yet. But she has become an empathizing character in Age of Legend, and she showed how much of a burden reputation can be. Tressa also exhibited how terrifying someone's determination can be when they don't have anything to lose anymore. And this enhanced my previous paragraph regarding the theme of sacrifice. There is probably no redemption for Mawyndule, though. Mawyndule's spoiled, self-righteous, and selfish personality is beyond saving now. At this stage, only death and torture visiting him will make me satisfied with his character's arc. We'll see how that turns out in the last two books in the series.
Lastly, some scenes, sequences, and revelations here undoubtedly improved because I've read The Riyria Chronicles and The Riyria Revelations first. I know, I know. I know that it is not mandatory to read The Riyria books first before reading The Legends of the First Empire. But speaking from my experience, the Easter Eggs relating to The Riyria books wouldn't have meant a significant power or value over the narrative if I haven't read them first. We get to see more of the truth behind the legendary figures and myths talked about or appearing in The Riyria books having more spotlight here. Even the character Tesh, upon his first appearance in Age of Sword, instantly meant a huge deal to me. And in Age of Legend, I was proven right about who he is. Well, after all, this book is titled Age of Legend. The narrative also displayed the importance of the Book of Brin, and I can't wait to read the next book to unveil what's next in the character's journey of life and death.
I have only two books left in the series to read. At this stage, I've started to love a few characters in the series (especially Tesh, Suri, and Gifford) almost as much as I did the characters of The Riyria books. Age of Death and Age of Empyre will decide how deeply I care about them in the end. And the last two books in the series will also determine whether The Legends of the First Empire will be able to match The Riyria books for me or not. I am excited to find out the result in December. Age of Legend is a compelling foundation and start to the second half of The Legends of the First Empire. I don't think it is beneficial for the second half of the series to be divided into three small books, but I'll come to this point again after I finish reading the entire series.
Picture: Age of Legend by Marc Simonetti
[image error]
You can order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Barbara, Casey, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Ellis, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Lana, Leigh, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Michael, Miracle, Nanette, Neeraja, Nicholas, Radiah, Reno, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
Age of Legend starts the second half and the end of The Legends of the First Empire, and I was so engrossed with this fourth installment.
“What a strange treasure is innocence, a virtue to the old and a curse to the young, so highly prized but eagerly parted with—the riches of beautiful skin traded for the wisdom of calluses. — THE BOOK OF BRIN”
I have mentioned in my Age of War review that I do not think any books in the rest of the series would be able to top Age of War as an installment. And although I still love Age of War more than Age of Legend, I’ll be lying if I said I felt bored reading this book. Age of Legend is the fourth installment in The Legends of the First Empire series, and it follows a different storytelling structure compared to the first three books of the series. Sullivan has warned this at the beginning of the book. The first section, which is the shortest one, dealt with the immediate aftermath of Age of War. The second section dealt with what happened a year after that. And finally, the third and last section, which is also the biggest portion of the novel, takes place five years after the end of the second section. To me, among other reasons, it felt like this storytelling structure was to showcase the deadly stalemate of the war between the human and the Fhrey as effectively as possible. And the majority of it definitely worked for me.
“People always believe their problems are the worst, and the rest of the world has it easier, but that cannot be true. Someone has to be wrong . . . right? — THE BOOK OF BRIN”
Honestly, it is shocking how captivated I was reading Age of Legend. Due to the storytelling structure, there was, understandably, no satisfying conclusion at the end of Age of Legend. If you expect a satisfying ending here, you won't get one. The last chapter of Age of Legend is a cliffhanger. And thankfully, all the books in the series are out now. Sullivan has mentioned Age of Legend, Age of Death, and Age of Empyre will be one big overarching arc divided into three books. So, in a way, it is also expected that there won't be a substantial plot progression in Age of Legend. I am unsure whether dividing the second half of the series into three novels is the correct decision. Seriously, Age of Legend was about 400 pages long, and it was such a quick read. It felt like the last three books in the series could've easily been compiled into one big novel. But hey, I guess I'll find out eventually. Plus, I can't complain about having more Marc Simonetti artwork gracing more cover art. More importantly, it was (in a good way) ridiculous how addictive and easy to read Age of Legend was. This is not a flaw. To easily immerse me into a book and hold my attention with the narrative is always a good thing. It goes to show, once again, how far Sullivan has improved as a storyteller and writer in his prose.
“Brin had never known anyone with a favorite star before, but she’d never known anyone like Tesh. He had his training; she had her writing, but they always found time for each other—usually at night under a sparkling sky.”
The themes of sacrifice, self-righteousness, justice, faith, revenge, and redemption are some of the main ones in Age of Legend. I will elaborate more on the theme of redemption soon, but first, let me praise Sullivan's way of handling the theme of sacrifice in this book. The majority of Age of Legend revolves around the characters bickering and deciding the most logical and correct next step for their mission. That’s all I can say without giving away any spoilers. And Sullivan dives DEEP into the cliched plotline of sacrificing for the one you love. How far will you go to achieve your mission? How far will you go to save the one you love? Seriously, how far? These are the questions asked and answered in Age of Legend, and Sullivan succeeded brilliantly. In return, the narrative became so compelling. It helps that most of the POV characters in Age of Legend center around characters I love. Tesh, Brin, Gifford, and Suri, to mention a few. All the character and relationship development were executed magnificently. And I never felt bored. Even when the plot didn’t progress a lot, reading Age of Legend remain an entertaining and emotional experience.
“Brin still had a reputation to protect; Tressa didn’t. In many ways, she was happy to be rid of it. There was a lot less crap to deal with when no one cared.”
If you’ve read The Riyria Revelations, you will know that redemption is one of the most dominant themes in that series. Then you will also know just how good Sullivan is at writing a story circling this theme. I am delighted to see the deep exploration of redemption being embedded once more into the series, and it is through the character Tressa we see this the most in Age of Legend. It was so good, really. Tressa was one of my most unlikable characters in the series, and with this one book, Sullivan twisted that notion in reverse. I would not say Tressa has become one of my favorite characters. Not yet. But she has become an empathizing character in Age of Legend, and she showed how much of a burden reputation can be. Tressa also exhibited how terrifying someone's determination can be when they don't have anything to lose anymore. And this enhanced my previous paragraph regarding the theme of sacrifice. There is probably no redemption for Mawyndule, though. Mawyndule's spoiled, self-righteous, and selfish personality is beyond saving now. At this stage, only death and torture visiting him will make me satisfied with his character's arc. We'll see how that turns out in the last two books in the series.
“Moya would be laughing, Persephone shaking her head sadly. But then Brin didn’t have their wisdom, their years, their cynicism. For Brin, the world was still a place with empty spaces, blank voids where anything might dwell. Nothing was really impossible. Not yet. Age and experience proved suspicions, hardened rules, deadened imagination. Brin, Tressa felt, was still just young enough to believe the unbelievable.”
Lastly, some scenes, sequences, and revelations here undoubtedly improved because I've read The Riyria Chronicles and The Riyria Revelations first. I know, I know. I know that it is not mandatory to read The Riyria books first before reading The Legends of the First Empire. But speaking from my experience, the Easter Eggs relating to The Riyria books wouldn't have meant a significant power or value over the narrative if I haven't read them first. We get to see more of the truth behind the legendary figures and myths talked about or appearing in The Riyria books having more spotlight here. Even the character Tesh, upon his first appearance in Age of Sword, instantly meant a huge deal to me. And in Age of Legend, I was proven right about who he is. Well, after all, this book is titled Age of Legend. The narrative also displayed the importance of the Book of Brin, and I can't wait to read the next book to unveil what's next in the character's journey of life and death.
“Revenge. That’s what you want, Tesh. And revenge is contagious—evil given for evil received… This justice you’re after—it’s just one more terrible thing someone is doing because something awful was done to them. You aren’t fixing anything. You’re breaking more things and calling it better! And you aren’t freeing the world of a monster, you’re taking its place.”
I have only two books left in the series to read. At this stage, I've started to love a few characters in the series (especially Tesh, Suri, and Gifford) almost as much as I did the characters of The Riyria books. Age of Death and Age of Empyre will decide how deeply I care about them in the end. And the last two books in the series will also determine whether The Legends of the First Empire will be able to match The Riyria books for me or not. I am excited to find out the result in December. Age of Legend is a compelling foundation and start to the second half of The Legends of the First Empire. I don't think it is beneficial for the second half of the series to be divided into three small books, but I'll come to this point again after I finish reading the entire series.
“The truth is that everyone can achieve greatness, but many don’t try because they think of themselves as merely ordinary.”
Picture: Age of Legend by Marc Simonetti
[image error]
You can order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Barbara, Casey, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Ellis, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Lana, Leigh, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Michael, Miracle, Nanette, Neeraja, Nicholas, Radiah, Reno, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
February 21, 2023
Upon rereading and reflection, I will say that the ratings of this and the next two books are representative of the entire 2nd arc of the series.
---------‐---------------
A brilliant sequel which fulfilled my eager anticipation and high expectations, Age of Legend takes the First Empire series to the next level of greatness with the promise of a showstopper by its finale.
Age of Legend is structurally different from the continuous narrative in the preceding three volumes. This book has three sections; the first part is the shortest which deals with the immediate aftermath of the battle at Alon Rhist. The second section takes place one year after that, and there will be another five years' time leap for the third and largest part of the book. Without needing to go into too much detail and dragging the narrative, the three-part story enabled the reader to appreciate how protracted the war was between the Rhunes and the Fhreys, before going into the more portentous events.
Each chapter is once again preceded by an excerpt from the in-world The Book of Brin, and the first being that of innocence lost after the first war between men and elves. These excerpts in the previous books tended to almost give too much away about the probable events in the ensuing chapter. In Age of Legend, however, they were more obscured and provided more of an impression or a feeling of what is to come, and I thought this was masterfully done. Sullivan's writing has also improved so much since Riyria, but that ease of immersion that feels like a welcoming embrace is still ever present. Reading a new book from him is akin to slipping into your favourite cosy sweater. But lo and behold, what is this hidden pocket that you just discovered? You may feel like you know Elan well, but you'll still be surprised by well-crafted revelations about its lore and history that surface at all the right moments.
Sullivan became one of my favourite authors with the Riyria series through his innate skill of creating and writing characters that feel like good, old friends that you would want to revisit time and again. In the First Empire series, such intimate characterisation continues to be the hallmark of Sullivan's writing. There are no shortages of empathetic, three-dimensional characters, be it ones that you loved or despised. One individual which I found so unlikeable in the earlier books became such a sympathetic character that you couldn't help rooting for her. Then there was one whom I thought would be a beacon of honour, due to his legendary name, who turned out to be a viper fuelled by vindictive vengeance. As much as I can understand his motivations, it unnerved and shocked me. And I loved how Sullivan created real heroes from those whom you least expected. Not heroes of might and magic, but of steadfast courage born of compassion and loyalty. Squishy heart moments are aplenty in these books.
As mentioned by the author, this next phase of the series is made up of a single overarching plot over the final three books. As such, the plot did not progress as much as what we had in Age of War, which served as the first climax of the series. However, there was not once throughout the book which I felt bored in the slightest. The character development is so compelling and riveting that every moment and every page felt important. What I enjoyed most about the First Empire series was getting the unvarnished account of the events and true heroes that shaped the legends that were told three thousand years later.
Given that Age of Legend is past the midway point of the series, I prefer not to make any mention about the plot at this stage except that it is working its way to a showstopping finale in a most engaging manner. Please note that this book ends with a cliffhanger of sorts, and I am thankful to know that the next two books are most likely to be released on an accelerated schedule.
I received an early copy of the ebook as a Kickstarter backer.
You can purchase this book from: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)
You can also find this, and my other reviews at Novel Notions.
---------‐---------------
A brilliant sequel which fulfilled my eager anticipation and high expectations, Age of Legend takes the First Empire series to the next level of greatness with the promise of a showstopper by its finale.
Age of Legend is structurally different from the continuous narrative in the preceding three volumes. This book has three sections; the first part is the shortest which deals with the immediate aftermath of the battle at Alon Rhist. The second section takes place one year after that, and there will be another five years' time leap for the third and largest part of the book. Without needing to go into too much detail and dragging the narrative, the three-part story enabled the reader to appreciate how protracted the war was between the Rhunes and the Fhreys, before going into the more portentous events.
What a strange treasure is innocence, a virtue to the old and a curse to the young, so highly prized but eagerly parted with - the riches of beautiful skin traded for the wisdom of calluses.
Each chapter is once again preceded by an excerpt from the in-world The Book of Brin, and the first being that of innocence lost after the first war between men and elves. These excerpts in the previous books tended to almost give too much away about the probable events in the ensuing chapter. In Age of Legend, however, they were more obscured and provided more of an impression or a feeling of what is to come, and I thought this was masterfully done. Sullivan's writing has also improved so much since Riyria, but that ease of immersion that feels like a welcoming embrace is still ever present. Reading a new book from him is akin to slipping into your favourite cosy sweater. But lo and behold, what is this hidden pocket that you just discovered? You may feel like you know Elan well, but you'll still be surprised by well-crafted revelations about its lore and history that surface at all the right moments.
Sullivan became one of my favourite authors with the Riyria series through his innate skill of creating and writing characters that feel like good, old friends that you would want to revisit time and again. In the First Empire series, such intimate characterisation continues to be the hallmark of Sullivan's writing. There are no shortages of empathetic, three-dimensional characters, be it ones that you loved or despised. One individual which I found so unlikeable in the earlier books became such a sympathetic character that you couldn't help rooting for her. Then there was one whom I thought would be a beacon of honour, due to his legendary name, who turned out to be a viper fuelled by vindictive vengeance. As much as I can understand his motivations, it unnerved and shocked me. And I loved how Sullivan created real heroes from those whom you least expected. Not heroes of might and magic, but of steadfast courage born of compassion and loyalty. Squishy heart moments are aplenty in these books.
Things that were obvious in the confines of the heart often failed to translate well when expressed through the inadequate filter of language.
As mentioned by the author, this next phase of the series is made up of a single overarching plot over the final three books. As such, the plot did not progress as much as what we had in Age of War, which served as the first climax of the series. However, there was not once throughout the book which I felt bored in the slightest. The character development is so compelling and riveting that every moment and every page felt important. What I enjoyed most about the First Empire series was getting the unvarnished account of the events and true heroes that shaped the legends that were told three thousand years later.
Given that Age of Legend is past the midway point of the series, I prefer not to make any mention about the plot at this stage except that it is working its way to a showstopping finale in a most engaging manner. Please note that this book ends with a cliffhanger of sorts, and I am thankful to know that the next two books are most likely to be released on an accelerated schedule.
I received an early copy of the ebook as a Kickstarter backer.
You can purchase this book from: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)
You can also find this, and my other reviews at Novel Notions.
![Profile Image for Anna [Bran. San. Stan].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1593184464i/98245866._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
October 25, 2024
2024: Finally continuing my second re-read of this wonderful series. I cannot recommend the GraphicAudio production enough!
2021: Ok, this ending is just outright cruel. Since this book is quite short (300 pages), it seems unfairly cruel. So when you embark on the wonderful journey that is this series, be prepared to KEEP READING. I hope you'll be as in love with these books as I am!
Because of its climactic ending, this book (which includes two time jumps within a six-year frame) seems like a lead-up – don’t get me wrong, enough is happening (though not as much as in Age of War), but it feels like "The Deathly Hallows"/"The Hobbit" movie part 1, when a book’s plot is split into more than one movie. Here, the plot seems split into two (three??) separate books to avoid length. (Also, characters similarly embark on a quest, LotR-style, reminiscent of Age of Swords.)
With that said, Age of Legend is once again amazing story-telling, delving deeper into the legends (hence the title) surrounding Elan and its gods and it’s really fun starting to see things come together, making sense of previously dropped hints; but above all, the book is character-driven and, boy, does Sullivan create some great characters, dominated by remarkable heroines (#girlpower).
One of them is, of course, Suri, our favorite Rhune Artist (human magic wielder), whose fate was particularly hard to bear, but the ending did offer hope. My darling Tesh, having become the exceptional warrior we all knew he would be, sadly shows similarities to Nyphron, leader of the rebel Fhrey (elves), in his own quest for revenge; that too was difficult to see. I sure hope he realizes what really matters – his future with Brin, another kick-ass heroine, – in book 5.
Mawyndulë, prince of the Fhrey, I wanted to throttle. While early in the series I felt there was hope for him to turn out decently yet, he has firmly landed on the side of being an intolerable, arrogant, dangerously ignorant and fact-twisting, hateful pain in the butt. His way of viewing Rhunes (humans) as mindless animals despite ample evidence to the contrary, referring to Suri as “it”, made me outright mad, wanting to tear him a new one.
His character arc’s turn made me remember Trilos’s prophetic assessment of him in Age of Swords – which is also sadly topical:
I’ll leave you with this great quote and now really need to find out what happens next, in Age of Death – whose title somewhat concerns me.
2021: Ok, this ending is just outright cruel. Since this book is quite short (300 pages), it seems unfairly cruel. So when you embark on the wonderful journey that is this series, be prepared to KEEP READING. I hope you'll be as in love with these books as I am!
Because of its climactic ending, this book (which includes two time jumps within a six-year frame) seems like a lead-up – don’t get me wrong, enough is happening (though not as much as in Age of War), but it feels like "The Deathly Hallows"/"The Hobbit" movie part 1, when a book’s plot is split into more than one movie. Here, the plot seems split into two (three??) separate books to avoid length. (Also, characters similarly embark on a quest, LotR-style, reminiscent of Age of Swords.)
With that said, Age of Legend is once again amazing story-telling, delving deeper into the legends (hence the title) surrounding Elan and its gods and it’s really fun starting to see things come together, making sense of previously dropped hints; but above all, the book is character-driven and, boy, does Sullivan create some great characters, dominated by remarkable heroines (#girlpower).
One of them is, of course, Suri, our favorite Rhune Artist (human magic wielder), whose fate was particularly hard to bear, but the ending did offer hope. My darling Tesh, having become the exceptional warrior we all knew he would be, sadly shows similarities to Nyphron, leader of the rebel Fhrey (elves), in his own quest for revenge; that too was difficult to see. I sure hope he realizes what really matters – his future with Brin, another kick-ass heroine, – in book 5.
Mawyndulë, prince of the Fhrey, I wanted to throttle. While early in the series I felt there was hope for him to turn out decently yet, he has firmly landed on the side of being an intolerable, arrogant, dangerously ignorant and fact-twisting, hateful pain in the butt. His way of viewing Rhunes (humans) as mindless animals despite ample evidence to the contrary, referring to Suri as “it”, made me outright mad, wanting to tear him a new one.
His character arc’s turn made me remember Trilos’s prophetic assessment of him in Age of Swords – which is also sadly topical:
“You treat hatred like a fine wine, believing it gets better with age, never expires, doesn’t go bad. But that’s the thing about hatred. It can become rancid, and it’ll turn into poison if you keep it bottled too long. Hatred will eat through any container and seep into the groundwater of a soul. Revenge is never enough to expel it because it keeps. bubbling anew. What you don’t realize – can’t really – is that by that time, it’s all you are. You don’t have the hate in you. The hate is you. When that wine is consumed, you won’t ever be able to rid yourself of it. Can’t vomit it up or spit it out. It’d be as impossible as escaping yourself.”
I’ll leave you with this great quote and now really need to find out what happens next, in Age of Death – whose title somewhat concerns me.
June 2, 2019
The good:
If you have been enjoying the Legends of the First Empire so far, you're probably going to enjoy this and the newish direction it takes. In a very positive way, it is more of the same with many of the same characters, dealing with the aftermath of the big blow-out of the previous book and learning how to move forward. Brin gets a lot of page-time and I, for the most part, enjoyed these parts more than the rest. Writing about writing is fun.
The bad, or rather, the indifferent:
I just couldn't get into this book much. I found my mind wandering a lot, never connecting or caring much about most of the happenings or the characters. It might just be me or perhaps I'm getting slightly burned out on the series.
It's a shame! I did enjoy quite a few parts of the previous tales, and this one has some pretty interesting, if very late, reveals that rallied my attention. I'm just not sure if I feel like it's worth it, tho. ; ;
Who knows? Maybe the rather mythological new direction will appeal to a lot of ya'll.
If you have been enjoying the Legends of the First Empire so far, you're probably going to enjoy this and the newish direction it takes. In a very positive way, it is more of the same with many of the same characters, dealing with the aftermath of the big blow-out of the previous book and learning how to move forward. Brin gets a lot of page-time and I, for the most part, enjoyed these parts more than the rest. Writing about writing is fun.
The bad, or rather, the indifferent:
I just couldn't get into this book much. I found my mind wandering a lot, never connecting or caring much about most of the happenings or the characters. It might just be me or perhaps I'm getting slightly burned out on the series.
It's a shame! I did enjoy quite a few parts of the previous tales, and this one has some pretty interesting, if very late, reveals that rallied my attention. I'm just not sure if I feel like it's worth it, tho. ; ;
Who knows? Maybe the rather mythological new direction will appeal to a lot of ya'll.
June 16, 2024
RELEASE DAY!!!
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Michael J. Sullivan (MJS) is one of my favorite epic fantasy writers. He is dependable, great at tying threads together and always gives his reader something a little unexpected. Age of Legend is the fourth book in the the Legends of the First Empire series. This is technically a prequel set thousands of years before the Riyria Revelations series and shows just how much history gets wrong after a few millennia goes buy if you have read both series. This is the true accounting of the war between the Rhunes (man) and the Fhrey (Elves) that changed everything about the world.
All of MJS’s other books have a clear beginning and ending to that story but the final three books of this series will not follow that format. There will be good stopping points but it is better to think of books 4-6 as one really large book instead of three separate ones.
My heart was left a little broken at the end of Age of War, and with the title I guess that is fitting, war should break your heart. Age of Legend first gives us a glimpse of the repercussions right after Age of War, then jumps forward about a year to give a bit more insight and then another five years. I’m really happy of this since Man is at war with the Fhrey the entire time and I think that tracking all of that time could have gotten tedious. This way the story flows fantastically and you still feel connected to all of the characters and their relationships to each other.
This is another great tale of courage in the face of uncertainty, devotion to the people you love and fighting for what you believe in. I really liked how the connections between people aren’t always easy to see. How one person tied to another, and that person tied to someone else can snowball into the most unlikely group of people working together. Every book delves a little more into the mysteries of Elan. I totally adore how this one opens up the lore of the gods to us a little more and for those of you dying to figure out who/what Malcolm is, well you are in luck because her story is expanded quite a bit.
Persephone, the Rhune leader was always destined to marry Nyphron, leader of the Fhrey warriors. Her story breaks my heart as Nyphron is not a Fhrey in love with woman like all of the legends from the Riyria books have claimed. It is completely political and so sad in a way. Persephone played more of a role in prior books but for this one she will take a bit of a back seat.
There are so many other characters that are just fantastic in this series. Suri is always a favorite of mine, she has been through so much already and I feel so sad for the caterpillar turned butterfly.
I looks like her journey is not done yet and that she will have an even bigger role to play in the upcoming story. I’m really just hoping my summer heart can take it.
Gifford and Roan are absolutely hands down my favorite couple. I absolutely love that MJS has taken two people so broken in different ways and put them together. They are adorable and I think it is wonderful to see that not every marriage moves at the same pace or looks the same. But the reader knows every moment what these two feel for each other.
Tesh, his story is another that has brilliant moments of love with devastating moments of hate. Bent of revenge and doing very well at it I might add, Tesh will have some big choices to make. Become the monster he hates or give up his revenge for the girl he loves. It is hard to know where that will fall, he definitely loves Brin but I’m not sure that he loves her more than he hates Fhrey.
There are so many wonderful characters and plot lines happening that I’m not sure how to tell you how great this series is. MJS writes strong women, some are brilliant, some are wise, others are strong and one is magical but all are three dimensional, brave and fierce in their own ways and I love that about his books. You don’t need to have read the Riyria series at all to read Legends of the First Empire, both are fantastic all on their own, but I love knowing how the tale shifted over the centuries and seeing what it truly looked like. The contrast is amazing.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Everything is so obvious when you look back. It is the first time through the garden-of-fear-and-doubt that messes with your head.
— The Book of Brin
Michael J. Sullivan (MJS) is one of my favorite epic fantasy writers. He is dependable, great at tying threads together and always gives his reader something a little unexpected. Age of Legend is the fourth book in the the Legends of the First Empire series. This is technically a prequel set thousands of years before the Riyria Revelations series and shows just how much history gets wrong after a few millennia goes buy if you have read both series. This is the true accounting of the war between the Rhunes (man) and the Fhrey (Elves) that changed everything about the world.
All of MJS’s other books have a clear beginning and ending to that story but the final three books of this series will not follow that format. There will be good stopping points but it is better to think of books 4-6 as one really large book instead of three separate ones.
My heart was left a little broken at the end of Age of War, and with the title I guess that is fitting, war should break your heart. Age of Legend first gives us a glimpse of the repercussions right after Age of War, then jumps forward about a year to give a bit more insight and then another five years. I’m really happy of this since Man is at war with the Fhrey the entire time and I think that tracking all of that time could have gotten tedious. This way the story flows fantastically and you still feel connected to all of the characters and their relationships to each other.
This is another great tale of courage in the face of uncertainty, devotion to the people you love and fighting for what you believe in. I really liked how the connections between people aren’t always easy to see. How one person tied to another, and that person tied to someone else can snowball into the most unlikely group of people working together. Every book delves a little more into the mysteries of Elan. I totally adore how this one opens up the lore of the gods to us a little more and for those of you dying to figure out who/what Malcolm is, well you are in luck because her story is expanded quite a bit.
Persephone, the Rhune leader was always destined to marry Nyphron, leader of the Fhrey warriors. Her story breaks my heart as Nyphron is not a Fhrey in love with woman like all of the legends from the Riyria books have claimed. It is completely political and so sad in a way. Persephone played more of a role in prior books but for this one she will take a bit of a back seat.
There are so many other characters that are just fantastic in this series. Suri is always a favorite of mine, she has been through so much already and I feel so sad for the caterpillar turned butterfly.
Suri had few illusions about her future, except that the path before her was necessary. She’d always known that becoming a butterfly would come at a cost, but she’d never dreamed there would be so many payments.
I looks like her journey is not done yet and that she will have an even bigger role to play in the upcoming story. I’m really just hoping my summer heart can take it.
Gifford and Roan are absolutely hands down my favorite couple. I absolutely love that MJS has taken two people so broken in different ways and put them together. They are adorable and I think it is wonderful to see that not every marriage moves at the same pace or looks the same. But the reader knows every moment what these two feel for each other.
Tesh, his story is another that has brilliant moments of love with devastating moments of hate. Bent of revenge and doing very well at it I might add, Tesh will have some big choices to make. Become the monster he hates or give up his revenge for the girl he loves. It is hard to know where that will fall, he definitely loves Brin but I’m not sure that he loves her more than he hates Fhrey.
“And that will fix everything, will it?”
With a bitter fold of his lips, Tesh nodded. “It will fix a lot. It will rid the world of a monster.”
Brin shook her head. “No, it won’t. You’ll only be trading one for another.”
Tesh’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“Revenge. That’s what you want, Tesh. And revenge is contagious— evil given for evil received.”
There are so many wonderful characters and plot lines happening that I’m not sure how to tell you how great this series is. MJS writes strong women, some are brilliant, some are wise, others are strong and one is magical but all are three dimensional, brave and fierce in their own ways and I love that about his books. You don’t need to have read the Riyria series at all to read Legends of the First Empire, both are fantastic all on their own, but I love knowing how the tale shifted over the centuries and seeing what it truly looked like. The contrast is amazing.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 18, 2019
The war rages on until it reaches a stalemate. Persephone tries to forge a peace only to see her ambassador betrayed and taken captive. An unlikely group seeks a legend in order to save their friend.
Age of Legend is an enjoyable book, but I just don't see how they could end it where they did. Worst of all it caught me completely off guard because I was only 86% of the way through the book according to my Kindle. I can't believe I have to wait another year at minimum to learn what happens next. That just kills me.
Age of Legend has all the usual style and substance of Michael J. Sullivan. Excellent world building and thrilling plot points. I also love so many of the characters. They just complement one another so well. Persephone takes a major back seat as this book is largely carried by Brin and Tesh among others. The devotion between characters is truly touching as well.
Age of Legend is a great book even if I'm disappointed with the cliffhanger ending.
Age of Legend is an enjoyable book, but I just don't see how they could end it where they did. Worst of all it caught me completely off guard because I was only 86% of the way through the book according to my Kindle. I can't believe I have to wait another year at minimum to learn what happens next. That just kills me.
Age of Legend has all the usual style and substance of Michael J. Sullivan. Excellent world building and thrilling plot points. I also love so many of the characters. They just complement one another so well. Persephone takes a major back seat as this book is largely carried by Brin and Tesh among others. The devotion between characters is truly touching as well.
Age of Legend is a great book even if I'm disappointed with the cliffhanger ending.
July 10, 2020
*** 4.44 ***
"...“Pain, fear, drudgery, boredom, lots of boredom—these are the things that build character. And you need to experience loss and remorse because falling down gives you the opportunity to rise once more. Overcoming challenges turns a self-centered infant into a caring adult. Empathy—the ability to understand and appreciate the feelings of others—is the cornerstone of civilization and the foundation of our relationships. Lack of it . . . well, lack of empathy is as close to a definition of evil that I can come up with.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Legend..."
This is the forth book in the six book series of The Legends of the First Empire. if you have gotten that far, you are already in love with the characters that populate this world and are burning with impatience to learn what happens to all of them. From the second book on, none of us were left with the impression that there are going to be many happily ever afters... We know that this world is a hard place to be a human, a hard life of drudgery to keep yourself and those you love alive. But it is Life and as such, it is worth living! Our gang of beleaguered villagers who found themselves on the path of rebellion against the rule of the Fhrey, the name of the Elfin folk who have been perceived as gods by the humans for their long, seemingly endless lifespans, and in league with several Fhrey who also want change and revenge against the current ruler, are at an impasse on the border with the forces of the powerful Elves. When a letter arrives for negotiations, the group lead by Persephone agrees, despite the condition for Suri, the only human able to weave the art of Magic, to come alone in good faith to the tower in order to come to an agreement for peace. Suri, being Suri, jumps on the chance to do something good for all people and end the death and misery. But things are never this easy and only more pain follows...
"...“heroes aren’t born, they’re made, grown from ordinary stock and fertilized by crisis.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Legend ..."
This is a transition book and it end in a cliffhanger. THis is not surprising, since the author has taken what should have been book 4 and split it into three parts in order for it not to be a cumbersome tome, but also to give us more time with our beloved characters. It was not a light book, but at least it didn't make me cry like the previous two did. It is good to see that some of our couples are doing well, and sad to see others struggling with isolation and loneliness. I felt particularly sad for Persephone and Tessa, but I hold out hope that things will work out for them somehow. I am very frustrated with Tesh, for he can have everything he needs for happiness on the palm of his hand if only he would forget the anger and hate growing stronger roots into his soul... I also hope for his redemption... The rest, they have love, so nothing can truly harm them, at least the way I see it. So I am looking foreword to jumping straight into the next book, since a cliffy like this one leaves you with no other choice. At least I was smart enough to wait until the whole series was published and I don't have to suffer waiting and wondering! MJS, I trust you will not let me down!!! 🤨🧐🐉
"...“We have but the roads that lie before our feet, and all too often our choices are limited to walking or standing still. And standing still gets us nowhere.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Legend ..."
"...“Pain, fear, drudgery, boredom, lots of boredom—these are the things that build character. And you need to experience loss and remorse because falling down gives you the opportunity to rise once more. Overcoming challenges turns a self-centered infant into a caring adult. Empathy—the ability to understand and appreciate the feelings of others—is the cornerstone of civilization and the foundation of our relationships. Lack of it . . . well, lack of empathy is as close to a definition of evil that I can come up with.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Legend..."
This is the forth book in the six book series of The Legends of the First Empire. if you have gotten that far, you are already in love with the characters that populate this world and are burning with impatience to learn what happens to all of them. From the second book on, none of us were left with the impression that there are going to be many happily ever afters... We know that this world is a hard place to be a human, a hard life of drudgery to keep yourself and those you love alive. But it is Life and as such, it is worth living! Our gang of beleaguered villagers who found themselves on the path of rebellion against the rule of the Fhrey, the name of the Elfin folk who have been perceived as gods by the humans for their long, seemingly endless lifespans, and in league with several Fhrey who also want change and revenge against the current ruler, are at an impasse on the border with the forces of the powerful Elves. When a letter arrives for negotiations, the group lead by Persephone agrees, despite the condition for Suri, the only human able to weave the art of Magic, to come alone in good faith to the tower in order to come to an agreement for peace. Suri, being Suri, jumps on the chance to do something good for all people and end the death and misery. But things are never this easy and only more pain follows...
"...“heroes aren’t born, they’re made, grown from ordinary stock and fertilized by crisis.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Legend ..."
This is a transition book and it end in a cliffhanger. THis is not surprising, since the author has taken what should have been book 4 and split it into three parts in order for it not to be a cumbersome tome, but also to give us more time with our beloved characters. It was not a light book, but at least it didn't make me cry like the previous two did. It is good to see that some of our couples are doing well, and sad to see others struggling with isolation and loneliness. I felt particularly sad for Persephone and Tessa, but I hold out hope that things will work out for them somehow. I am very frustrated with Tesh, for he can have everything he needs for happiness on the palm of his hand if only he would forget the anger and hate growing stronger roots into his soul... I also hope for his redemption... The rest, they have love, so nothing can truly harm them, at least the way I see it. So I am looking foreword to jumping straight into the next book, since a cliffy like this one leaves you with no other choice. At least I was smart enough to wait until the whole series was published and I don't have to suffer waiting and wondering! MJS, I trust you will not let me down!!! 🤨🧐🐉
"...“We have but the roads that lie before our feet, and all too often our choices are limited to walking or standing still. And standing still gets us nowhere.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Age of Legend ..."
January 5, 2020
3.5 stars. A bleak story of ongoing war and betrayal, brightened by love, loyalty and redemption arcs. It’s got middle-book syndrome (it tells only part of a story and relies heavily on what came before and what will come after) and a killer of a cliffhanger ending. Luckily the next book comes out soon!
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
May 12, 2021
“The truth is that everyone can achieve greatness, but many don’t try because they think of themselves as merely ordinary.”
Age of Legend is in three parts, the first part is immediately after the war, the second part is a year after the war and the third part which is like 50% of the book took place five years after the war. In the forward to this book, Mr Sullivan explained that he wanted to do a five year time jump but his wife convinced him to do it this way, I’m glad he listened to her.
This book has all the things that I love in the previous ones, friendship, romance, well depicted fight scenes, magic and well developed characters. It still has the one flaw that I disliked in the other one, it was kind of slow in plot pace even though it’s a fast read.
“What a strange treasure is innocence, a virtue to the old and a curse to the young, so highly prized but eagerly parted with—the riches of beautiful skin traded for the wisdom of calluses. — The Book of Brin”
The writing is out of this world, it’s so easy to get through, despite the different locations and character POV, the POV switch was nicely done, I can always tell who is narrating. This book like all the others is written in third person POV.
“Language is one of mankind’s greatest virtues, but also one of its biggest tragedies; it almost lets us understand each other. — The Book of Brin”
The characters have indeed changed, developed and grown into their different roles. Brin and Siri are my biggest and favourite characters, they went from naive teenagers to this. Tesh could have been better but he is walking a terrible road. Persephone was barely in this but the few places she was I like her. Moya didn’t change much, Roan and Gifford have made great changes and I’m glad for them. I don’t know what to make of Imaly and Mawyndule is still a spoilt and selfish bastard.
“Comedy exists when truths and lies masquerade as each other.”
After the victory in Age of War for the humans, they moved their camp further into Fhrey territory, when they got to Harwood things got difficult, they can’t cross the forest and Avempartha is also close to that place, so the Miralyth are helping their people. The war is on standstill for fight years with no sides having the upper hand.
Age of Legend is in three parts, the first part is immediately after the war, the second part is a year after the war and the third part which is like 50% of the book took place five years after the war. In the forward to this book, Mr Sullivan explained that he wanted to do a five year time jump but his wife convinced him to do it this way, I’m glad he listened to her.
This book has all the things that I love in the previous ones, friendship, romance, well depicted fight scenes, magic and well developed characters. It still has the one flaw that I disliked in the other one, it was kind of slow in plot pace even though it’s a fast read.
“What a strange treasure is innocence, a virtue to the old and a curse to the young, so highly prized but eagerly parted with—the riches of beautiful skin traded for the wisdom of calluses. — The Book of Brin”
The writing is out of this world, it’s so easy to get through, despite the different locations and character POV, the POV switch was nicely done, I can always tell who is narrating. This book like all the others is written in third person POV.
“Language is one of mankind’s greatest virtues, but also one of its biggest tragedies; it almost lets us understand each other. — The Book of Brin”
The characters have indeed changed, developed and grown into their different roles. Brin and Siri are my biggest and favourite characters, they went from naive teenagers to this. Tesh could have been better but he is walking a terrible road. Persephone was barely in this but the few places she was I like her. Moya didn’t change much, Roan and Gifford have made great changes and I’m glad for them. I don’t know what to make of Imaly and Mawyndule is still a spoilt and selfish bastard.
“Comedy exists when truths and lies masquerade as each other.”
After the victory in Age of War for the humans, they moved their camp further into Fhrey territory, when they got to Harwood things got difficult, they can’t cross the forest and Avempartha is also close to that place, so the Miralyth are helping their people. The war is on standstill for fight years with no sides having the upper hand.
April 20, 2019
My first time to the author’s Kickstarter project and I must say I’ll be a regular one from now on because I got to read this book three months before its official publication. Yey!
Sullivan’s books are like a cozy nook for me: comfortable, relaxing and mood improving, with extra bonuses such as joy, laugh and a great feeling overall.
This fourth installment makes no exception; I missed this universe and I’m thrilled two more books are following.
Unlike the previous volumes, this one ends with a cliffhanger and there are more questions raised than answers, but that makes the fifth installment even more anticipated.
Can’t detail more without giving spoilers for the others, so I’ll just say we get a fellowship-of-the-ring sort of quest, Malcolm’s identity is almost (!) revealed, a god from Riyria makes an appearance, Tressa becomes an important piece of the puzzle and Suri gets challenged as never before. Oh, and I am certain Fane Lothian name comes from ‘loathe’; his brat's too!
Intrigued? Don’t miss this one.
And if you need recaps for the first three books, here they are:
https://firstempireseries.com/book-re...
Sullivan’s books are like a cozy nook for me: comfortable, relaxing and mood improving, with extra bonuses such as joy, laugh and a great feeling overall.
This fourth installment makes no exception; I missed this universe and I’m thrilled two more books are following.
Unlike the previous volumes, this one ends with a cliffhanger and there are more questions raised than answers, but that makes the fifth installment even more anticipated.
Can’t detail more without giving spoilers for the others, so I’ll just say we get a fellowship-of-the-ring sort of quest, Malcolm’s identity is almost (!) revealed, a god from Riyria makes an appearance, Tressa becomes an important piece of the puzzle and Suri gets challenged as never before. Oh, and I am certain Fane Lothian name comes from ‘loathe’; his brat's too!
Intrigued? Don’t miss this one.
And if you need recaps for the first three books, here they are:
https://firstempireseries.com/book-re...
July 10, 2019
4,5 stars
I. NEED. AGE. OF. DEATH. NOW!
- - -
No spoilers, just short rant, because that's what I do best.
Okay, so it's been some hours since i finished the book and I've been trying to, and failing, to gather my thoughts. It was a solid 4 through most of it, but the ending had me in pieces so bumped it up 0,5 stars and rounded up to a 5. It will likely remain at 5 because I'm still all over the place about it. It's not my favourite of the books, on the third place actually but it still deserves to remain with the other 5 star-rated ones (Myth and War).
The book starts where Age of War ended and you all know had that ended and it tore up old wounds and I was hurting A LOT. there's also bit of time jumps. Though it was handled in a good way I still wasn't too fond of it, mostly because I don't like time jumps.
Plot is solid and I love the characters and the world Michael has created here. Suri will forever remain my fave, I adore her so, so much (also Suri and Auri from KKC would be the best friends and nothing can convince me otherwise). I also adore Brin, Roan and Gifford a lot. Then, HUGE cliffhanger. I don't deal with cliffhangers well and this one still has me seething every time I think about the stuff we got left on. Did I know it would end with a cliffhanger? YES! Michael even put a warning in the Author's Note. I WAS STILL NOT PREPARED. But you have been warned. Big cliffhanger that will ruin you.
I took part in the Kickstarter. Official release date is July 7th.
There will be Kickstarters for Age of Death and Empyre too! If you want to take part in those Michael is good at keeping updates on his website/newsletter as well as here on GR :)
I. NEED. AGE. OF. DEATH. NOW!
- - -
No spoilers, just short rant, because that's what I do best.
Okay, so it's been some hours since i finished the book and I've been trying to, and failing, to gather my thoughts. It was a solid 4 through most of it, but the ending had me in pieces so bumped it up 0,5 stars and rounded up to a 5. It will likely remain at 5 because I'm still all over the place about it. It's not my favourite of the books, on the third place actually but it still deserves to remain with the other 5 star-rated ones (Myth and War).
The book starts where Age of War ended and you all know had that ended and it tore up old wounds and I was hurting A LOT. there's also bit of time jumps. Though it was handled in a good way I still wasn't too fond of it, mostly because I don't like time jumps.
Plot is solid and I love the characters and the world Michael has created here. Suri will forever remain my fave, I adore her so, so much (also Suri and Auri from KKC would be the best friends and nothing can convince me otherwise). I also adore Brin, Roan and Gifford a lot. Then, HUGE cliffhanger. I don't deal with cliffhangers well and this one still has me seething every time I think about the stuff we got left on. Did I know it would end with a cliffhanger? YES! Michael even put a warning in the Author's Note. I WAS STILL NOT PREPARED. But you have been warned. Big cliffhanger that will ruin you.
I took part in the Kickstarter. Official release date is July 7th.
There will be Kickstarters for Age of Death and Empyre too! If you want to take part in those Michael is good at keeping updates on his website/newsletter as well as here on GR :)
July 22, 2019
Book 1: 5*
Book 2: 3.5*
Book 3: 4.5*
Book 4: 3*
I'm being kind with my 3*'s. I thought about giving it 2.5. The good news is this sets us up for an epic book 5. The bad news is much like book 2 nothing really happens. This series could have been better had it been a trilogy where book 2 was condensed into a long prologue for book 3 and ditto with this book for book 5.
MJS does his usual good job with the characters but we've known them for a long time now so it becomes a bit tedious. He also metaphors us to death in this one and I felt like a lot of them were forced.
Looking forward to book 5 and the conclusion where I'm hoping there is epic adventure like the last book of Revelations.
Book 2: 3.5*
Book 3: 4.5*
Book 4: 3*
I'm being kind with my 3*'s. I thought about giving it 2.5. The good news is this sets us up for an epic book 5. The bad news is much like book 2 nothing really happens. This series could have been better had it been a trilogy where book 2 was condensed into a long prologue for book 3 and ditto with this book for book 5.
MJS does his usual good job with the characters but we've known them for a long time now so it becomes a bit tedious. He also metaphors us to death in this one and I felt like a lot of them were forced.
Looking forward to book 5 and the conclusion where I'm hoping there is epic adventure like the last book of Revelations.
March 20, 2021
As ever with Sullivan, this was great. It's so much fun to return to the world origins and see the Fhrey and Dwarves and Elves at their origins. Although the war of their peoples has raged on, many of our favourite characters remain involved.
In this book, I felt that the pacing was a little slower to start, but it was easy to get back into after quite a break between this and the previous, and by the end I was loving the mystery and the adventures our characters were on. There's dragons, witches, death pools to the underworld and more. The magic Art allows so many types of magic and the Fhrey now have their own wielder.
The pursuit of peace is a large part of the plot for this one with Persephone sending some of her best to try and work something out. I think this is none of the more Fhrey-centric books in the series and so the Elves took a bit of a backseat to allow the Fhrey to shine. I expect more from the Elves soon in the next book though as the climax for this one is pretty epic!
4*s and I've dived straight into the fifth one :)
In this book, I felt that the pacing was a little slower to start, but it was easy to get back into after quite a break between this and the previous, and by the end I was loving the mystery and the adventures our characters were on. There's dragons, witches, death pools to the underworld and more. The magic Art allows so many types of magic and the Fhrey now have their own wielder.
The pursuit of peace is a large part of the plot for this one with Persephone sending some of her best to try and work something out. I think this is none of the more Fhrey-centric books in the series and so the Elves took a bit of a backseat to allow the Fhrey to shine. I expect more from the Elves soon in the next book though as the climax for this one is pretty epic!
4*s and I've dived straight into the fifth one :)
October 19, 2024
The first two books in this series were SO GOOD I thought I'd enjoy Legends of the First Empire more than I did Riyria. Spoiler alert: I was wrong.
You could quite possibly say I sort of fangirled about the characterslike a maniac as I was reading books 1 and 2 in the series. Then Sullivan started having most some of them act like bloody shrimping idiots and doing all sorts of infuriating, stupid crap. And don't get me started on what he put Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler (not the character's real name, in case you were wondering) through over and over again 🙄🙄🙄. So by the end of book 3, I was feeling a little bit like...
Never one to give up hope on humanity , I thought there was a chance things would get better in this installment. Hahahahahaha. Spoiler alert #2: I was wrong. Again.
First of all, this book is a yawn-worthy filler. Very little happens until the very end and then, BAM! Cliffhanger mid-scene! Catch you next time and stuff! Oh, and to make things worse, Sullivan does the 85% mark thingie again! As is the case with several Riyria books, the story stops well before you get to the actual end of the book 🤬. Then we've got a sample chapter from Riyria Revelations, the unavoidable afterword by Robin Sullivan (no comment because no comment), a list of Kickstarter backers, a glossary of terms and names...
Second of all, the characters. Those characters I once lurved! 😭
I'd already struck Persephone off my fangirling list after reading the last installment (the way she treated Raithe throughout the book made me feel somewhat homicidal) and she acts like such a clueless idiot in this one I wonder what I ever saw in her. Pretty sure Gifford's horse would make a much better Keenig than her at this point.
Moya is a judgemental idiot who thinks she knows better than everyone else, Nyphron is a cold bastard and an ass (I believe this is a scientifically proven fact), Tesh acts like a 5-year-old, and Tekchin has as much personality as my favorite ironing board. The villains had potential at the beginning of the series but have become so one-dimensional it hurts 🙄.
I do still like Brin, Roan, and Gifford quite a lot and absolutely 💕LOVE💕 Suri, but Sullivan has turned her character into a perpetual sacrificial lamb and I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
I'll probably end up reading the next book in the series, not because I'm dying to know what happens next (I don't care much at this point) but to make sure Sullivan starts treating Suri better. A LOT BETTER. And I'll unleash the crustaceans on him if he doesn't 😬.
➽ Nefarious Last Words (NLW™): I can't wait for Drumindor to be published. I desperately need more Royce & Hadrian in my life right now.
· Book 1: Age of Myth ★★★★★
· Book 2: Age of Swords ★★★★★
· Book 3: Age of War ★★
· Book 5: Age of Death ★★★
· Book 6: Age of Empyre ★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
To continue or not to continue with this series, that is the question.
➽ Review to come and stuff.
You could quite possibly say I sort of fangirled about the characters
Never one to give up hope on humanity , I thought there was a chance things would get better in this installment. Hahahahahaha. Spoiler alert #2: I was wrong. Again.
First of all, this book is a yawn-worthy filler. Very little happens until the very end and then, BAM! Cliffhanger mid-scene! Catch you next time and stuff! Oh, and to make things worse, Sullivan does the 85% mark thingie again! As is the case with several Riyria books, the story stops well before you get to the actual end of the book 🤬. Then we've got a sample chapter from Riyria Revelations, the unavoidable afterword by Robin Sullivan (no comment because no comment), a list of Kickstarter backers, a glossary of terms and names...
Second of all, the characters. Those characters I once lurved! 😭
I'd already struck Persephone off my fangirling list after reading the last installment (the way she treated Raithe throughout the book made me feel somewhat homicidal) and she acts like such a clueless idiot in this one I wonder what I ever saw in her. Pretty sure Gifford's horse would make a much better Keenig than her at this point.
Moya is a judgemental idiot who thinks she knows better than everyone else, Nyphron is a cold bastard and an ass (I believe this is a scientifically proven fact), Tesh acts like a 5-year-old, and Tekchin has as much personality as my favorite ironing board. The villains had potential at the beginning of the series but have become so one-dimensional it hurts 🙄.
I do still like Brin, Roan, and Gifford quite a lot and absolutely 💕LOVE💕 Suri, but Sullivan has turned her character into a perpetual sacrificial lamb and I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
I'll probably end up reading the next book in the series, not because I'm dying to know what happens next (I don't care much at this point) but to make sure Sullivan starts treating Suri better. A LOT BETTER. And I'll unleash the crustaceans on him if he doesn't 😬.
➽ Nefarious Last Words (NLW™): I can't wait for Drumindor to be published. I desperately need more Royce & Hadrian in my life right now.
· Book 1: Age of Myth ★★★★★
· Book 2: Age of Swords ★★★★★
· Book 3: Age of War ★★
· Book 5: Age of Death ★★★
· Book 6: Age of Empyre ★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
To continue or not to continue with this series, that is the question.
➽ Review to come and stuff.
June 18, 2023
Age of Myth ★★★ 1/2
Age of Swords ★★★★
Age of War ★★★★ 1/4
Age of Legend ★★★★
Age of Swords ★★★★
Age of War ★★★★ 1/4
Age of Legend ★★★★
August 1, 2019
As other reviewers have mentioned, nothing really happens in this installment. Just as the plot finally starts moving, it just abruptly ends. It is not a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end. It felt like an overlong prologue to the next book. It shouldn’t have been sold as a separate novel. As far as the story goes, characters make some frustrating decisions just to further the plot. I don’t really care about many of the characters at this point. This series is disappointing me more the further it goes. Here's hoping the next two books can save this series.
March 14, 2022
”Things that were obvious in the confines of the heart often failed to translate well when expressed through the inadequate filter of language.“
April 15, 2019
OK I am definitely weak, yes I was a Kickstarter backer and I thought I could wait for the actual physical release of Age of Legend. But I guess not as I just went through the book this weekend. I mean what else was I going to do after a blizzard rolled through and dumped nearly 2 feet of snow and stranding us in...
********* WARNING THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS OF THE PRIOR BOOKS AHEAD ***********
[and I will try to keep other spoilers to a minimum since well this is still nearly 3 months prior to official publication, and those who have read the original Riyria books some of these "spoilers" won't come as a surprise]
Now this book definitely has a different feel than the other books in the Legends of the First Empire series. Where as the first 3 books happened in relatively short time, this comes away with multiple time jumps but Michael does explain that in the Author's Note in the beginning of the book and some of the reasons behind it.
But as with the prior books the War between the Rhunes and the Fhrey is in full swing. The Battle of Granford is over and Fane Lothian has suffered a crushing defeat after the Raithe sacrificed himself to Suri in order to summon him back as a Gilarabrywn to bring destruction on the elven forces and force their retreat.
Now it is time for Nyphron to lead the forces of the west in an offensive against the retreating elves. But as with all wars nothing ever goes according to plans. Engagements that often plan on taking days or weeks then turn into months and years.
Relationships further bloom and those who you least expect to make a difference or even notice become those that will eventually hold the fate of all in their hands.
And as with all wars scarifies are always to be found but they may not come in the form one suspects or sees coming. And when gods meddle in the affairs of the worlds all bets are off.
Now I have to wait for Age of Death later this year, because the cliffhanger at the end makes me want to just scream why...
********* WARNING THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS OF THE PRIOR BOOKS AHEAD ***********
[and I will try to keep other spoilers to a minimum since well this is still nearly 3 months prior to official publication, and those who have read the original Riyria books some of these "spoilers" won't come as a surprise]
Now this book definitely has a different feel than the other books in the Legends of the First Empire series. Where as the first 3 books happened in relatively short time, this comes away with multiple time jumps but Michael does explain that in the Author's Note in the beginning of the book and some of the reasons behind it.
But as with the prior books the War between the Rhunes and the Fhrey is in full swing. The Battle of Granford is over and Fane Lothian has suffered a crushing defeat after the Raithe sacrificed himself to Suri in order to summon him back as a Gilarabrywn to bring destruction on the elven forces and force their retreat.
Now it is time for Nyphron to lead the forces of the west in an offensive against the retreating elves. But as with all wars nothing ever goes according to plans. Engagements that often plan on taking days or weeks then turn into months and years.
Relationships further bloom and those who you least expect to make a difference or even notice become those that will eventually hold the fate of all in their hands.
And as with all wars scarifies are always to be found but they may not come in the form one suspects or sees coming. And when gods meddle in the affairs of the worlds all bets are off.
Now I have to wait for Age of Death later this year, because the cliffhanger at the end makes me want to just scream why...
July 19, 2019
2.5 stars
I've loved the series leading up to this book. It took me a while to purchase it because I've been avoiding the more traditional fantasy books (elves,dwarves, etc). Once I started this series I realized how massive of a mistake that was, this series has delivered moments that have completely crushed me and moments of triumph. I wanted to say this to kind of give insight to the series as a whole so far, instead of just this one book.
THIS BOOK THOUGH. Might be the biggest filler book I've read in my recent reading binge. There were no moments of triumph, no moments that messed with my emotions, overall it just felt like everyone was being set up and sent to places to continue the story in the next book. It also ends VERY ABRUPTLY. Like my kindle said there was 10% left so I'm reading and looking forward to something happening and it just STOPS. If you've read the series up to this point the writing is still good, I never wanted to put the book down. I just wished more things would've happened instead of just setting everything up for the next book.
If you're a huge fan of this series you'll still like this book and should purchase it. If you haven't read the series, ignore my rating of this single book because the rest of the series so far has been amazing. On the bright side of all this, everything is in place for the next book to have some really good story and progression.
I've loved the series leading up to this book. It took me a while to purchase it because I've been avoiding the more traditional fantasy books (elves,dwarves, etc). Once I started this series I realized how massive of a mistake that was, this series has delivered moments that have completely crushed me and moments of triumph. I wanted to say this to kind of give insight to the series as a whole so far, instead of just this one book.
THIS BOOK THOUGH. Might be the biggest filler book I've read in my recent reading binge. There were no moments of triumph, no moments that messed with my emotions, overall it just felt like everyone was being set up and sent to places to continue the story in the next book. It also ends VERY ABRUPTLY. Like my kindle said there was 10% left so I'm reading and looking forward to something happening and it just STOPS. If you've read the series up to this point the writing is still good, I never wanted to put the book down. I just wished more things would've happened instead of just setting everything up for the next book.
If you're a huge fan of this series you'll still like this book and should purchase it. If you haven't read the series, ignore my rating of this single book because the rest of the series so far has been amazing. On the bright side of all this, everything is in place for the next book to have some really good story and progression.
December 10, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.75 ***
July 31, 2019
Right. So, the Riyria books were pretty light-hearted and fun. But this series has been a constant kick between the legs. Or at least Age of War and Age of Legend have been. And of course it's topped of with a massive cliffhanger that I'll have to wait months for to be resolved. Thanks. Really, thanks a lot.
4.5/5 stars
4.5/5 stars
December 7, 2019
I have been thoroughly enjoying the series as a whole, and HIGHLY recommend picking it up.
This book did feel a bit slow to me though. I am glad Michael Sullivan does not rush the reader from one revelation to another, and the slow burn of this book was entirely worth the time I put into it, but I can't help but feel like there was not much advancement in the plot.
Only reason I gave it four instead of five. Thoroughly enjoyed it, ad I enjoy all of Sullivan's books.
This book did feel a bit slow to me though. I am glad Michael Sullivan does not rush the reader from one revelation to another, and the slow burn of this book was entirely worth the time I put into it, but I can't help but feel like there was not much advancement in the plot.
Only reason I gave it four instead of five. Thoroughly enjoyed it, ad I enjoy all of Sullivan's books.
June 27, 2020
The book that marks the middle of our history. After the staggering third part that offers a lot of excitement to the reader, the fourth part is rather subdued, more like an introduction to the last two books than something autonomous. Not much is happening as the great conflict we are witnessing has evolved into a war of attrition dominated by many minor skirmishes, as long as our heroes' relationships remain stable following this stagnation.
Of course, this does not mean that there is no interest in this book. At some point, the author jumps in time and continues his narrative five years later and is very interesting the abrupt passage of most of our heroes into adulthood or into a more mature stage. Shortly after, things start to go wrong, and then the action begins, taking the form of an adventure with few protagonists in a difficult mission dominated by many revelations. So the author prepares us in an ideal way for the sequel, although it's certainly not the best book in the series. But it has all these features that make the author stand out, the humour and the clever dialogues, the small or big doses of emotion where needed and in general his way of creating something very entertaining without trying forcefully to make it epic or to pass on important messages, beyond those arising from the story itself.
So this is a good third book, but the bad thing is that it is making me anxiously looking forward to the sequel and ending that will come next year.
Το βιβλίο που σηματοδοτεί τη μέση της ιστορίας μας. Μετά το συγκλονιστικό τρίτο μέρος που προσφέρει πολλές συγκινήσεις στον αναγνώστη, το τέταρτο μέρος είναι μάλλον υποτονικό, λειτουργώντας περισσότερο ως μία εισαγωγή για τα τελευταία δύο βιβλία παρά ως κάτι το αυτόνομο. Δεν γίνονται πάρα πολλά πράγματα καθώς η μεγάλη διαμάχη που παρακολουθούμε έχει εξελιχθεί σε έναν πόλεμο φθοράς που κυριαρχείται από πολλές μικρές αψιμαχίες, την ώρα που οι σχέσεις των ηρώων μας παραμένουν σταθερές, ακολουθώντας αυτή τη στασιμότητα.
Φυσικά αυτό δεν σημαίνει ότι δεν υπάρχει ενδιαφέρον σε αυτό το βιβλίο. Κάποια στιγμή ο συγγραφέας κάνει ένα άλμα στο χρόνο και συνεχίζει την αφήγησή του πέντε χρόνια μετά και έχει πολύ ενδιαφέρον αυτό το απότομο πέρασμα των περισσότερων ηρώων μας στην ενηλικίωση ή σε ένα στάδιο μεγαλύτερης ωρίμανσης. Λίγο μετά τα πράγματα αρχίζουν να πηγαίνουν στραβά και τότε ξεκινάει η δράση που σε πρώτη φάση έχει τη μορφή μιας περιπέτειας με λίγους πρωταγωνιστές σε μία δύσκολη αποστολή που κυριαρχείται από πολλές αποκαλύψεις. Έτσι ο συγγραφέας μας προετοιμάζει με τον ιδανικό τρόπο για τη συνέχεια αν και σίγο��ρα δεν πρόκειται για το καλύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς. Έχει, όμως, όλα αυτά τα χαρακτηριστικά που κάνουν τον συγγραφέα να ξεχωρίσει, το χιούμορ και τους έξυπνους διαλόγους, τις μικρές ή μεγάλες δόσεις συγκίνησης όπου χρειάζεται και γενικότερα τον τρόπο του να δημιουργεί κάτι ιδιαίτερα διασκεδαστικό, χωρίς να προσπαθεί με το ζόρι να γίνει επικός ή να περάσει σημαντικά μηνύματα, πέρα από αυτά που προκύπτουν από την ίδια την ιστορία.
Οπότε καλό είναι και αυτό το τρίτο βιβλίο αλλά το κακό είναι ότι δημιουργεί μεγάλη ανυπομονησία για τη συνέχεια και το τέλος που θα έρθουν τον επόμενο χρόνο.
Of course, this does not mean that there is no interest in this book. At some point, the author jumps in time and continues his narrative five years later and is very interesting the abrupt passage of most of our heroes into adulthood or into a more mature stage. Shortly after, things start to go wrong, and then the action begins, taking the form of an adventure with few protagonists in a difficult mission dominated by many revelations. So the author prepares us in an ideal way for the sequel, although it's certainly not the best book in the series. But it has all these features that make the author stand out, the humour and the clever dialogues, the small or big doses of emotion where needed and in general his way of creating something very entertaining without trying forcefully to make it epic or to pass on important messages, beyond those arising from the story itself.
So this is a good third book, but the bad thing is that it is making me anxiously looking forward to the sequel and ending that will come next year.
Το βιβλίο που σηματοδοτεί τη μέση της ιστορίας μας. Μετά το συγκλονιστικό τρίτο μέρος που προσφέρει πολλές συγκινήσεις στον αναγνώστη, το τέταρτο μέρος είναι μάλλον υποτονικό, λειτουργώντας περισσότερο ως μία εισαγωγή για τα τελευταία δύο βιβλία παρά ως κάτι το αυτόνομο. Δεν γίνονται πάρα πολλά πράγματα καθώς η μεγάλη διαμάχη που παρακολουθούμε έχει εξελιχθεί σε έναν πόλεμο φθοράς που κυριαρχείται από πολλές μικρές αψιμαχίες, την ώρα που οι σχέσεις των ηρώων μας παραμένουν σταθερές, ακολουθώντας αυτή τη στασιμότητα.
Φυσικά αυτό δεν σημαίνει ότι δεν υπάρχει ενδιαφέρον σε αυτό το βιβλίο. Κάποια στιγμή ο συγγραφέας κάνει ένα άλμα στο χρόνο και συνεχίζει την αφήγησή του πέντε χρόνια μετά και έχει πολύ ενδιαφέρον αυτό το απότομο πέρασμα των περισσότερων ηρώων μας στην ενηλικίωση ή σε ένα στάδιο μεγαλύτερης ωρίμανσης. Λίγο μετά τα πράγματα αρχίζουν να πηγαίνουν στραβά και τότε ξεκινάει η δράση που σε πρώτη φάση έχει τη μορφή μιας περιπέτειας με λίγους πρωταγωνιστές σε μία δύσκολη αποστολή που κυριαρχείται από πολλές αποκαλύψεις. Έτσι ο συγγραφέας μας προετοιμάζει με τον ιδανικό τρόπο για τη συνέχεια αν και σίγο��ρα δεν πρόκειται για το καλύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς. Έχει, όμως, όλα αυτά τα χαρακτηριστικά που κάνουν τον συγγραφέα να ξεχωρίσει, το χιούμορ και τους έξυπνους διαλόγους, τις μικρές ή μεγάλες δόσεις συγκίνησης όπου χρειάζεται και γενικότερα τον τρόπο του να δημιουργεί κάτι ιδιαίτερα διασκεδαστικό, χωρίς να προσπαθεί με το ζόρι να γίνει επικός ή να περάσει σημαντικά μηνύματα, πέρα από αυτά που προκύπτουν από την ίδια την ιστορία.
Οπότε καλό είναι και αυτό το τρίτο βιβλίο αλλά το κακό είναι ότι δημιουργεί μεγάλη ανυπομονησία για τη συνέχεια και το τέλος που θα έρθουν τον επόμενο χρόνο.
November 15, 2020
Arrgh!! I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars on this one. First, I love MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN!! Really. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Most everything I have read by him has been 5 stars or dang close to that. So I am a little tortured here because I didn't love this. That kills me a little on the inside.
This still had the same great characters, who were probably as tortured as I feel writing this. They were the characters I've come to love, and the relationships were developed. The wit/humor was there. However, the story line was not what I'm used to from this author. I kept asking myself, "When is the plot going to elevate?" And it never did. It was about the one thing and one thing only. It took the whole book to make one tiny step. So 3 stars.
This still had the same great characters, who were probably as tortured as I feel writing this. They were the characters I've come to love, and the relationships were developed. The wit/humor was there. However, the story line was not what I'm used to from this author. I kept asking myself, "When is the plot going to elevate?" And it never did. It was about the one thing and one thing only. It took the whole book to make one tiny step. So 3 stars.
July 3, 2019
“Suri sat alone with a sword across her lap, staring at what most would call a dragon, but which the onetime mystic of Dahl Rhen saw as a fragment of her broken heart.”
The opening of a monumental work. As Sullivan explains in his Author’s Note, this book opens a trilogy similar to the three volumes of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The comparison is both apt and misleading. Apt because the struggle described is both intimate and cosmic, and misleading because Elan is a very different world than Middle Earth, reflecting the difference between Tolkien’s nineteenth century worldview and Sullivan’s twenty-first century. Legend lacks the cosmic clash of good versus evil but has more depth of many characters.
“Crazy was only crazy … until it happened.”
To draw the reader deep into the inner conflicts and manifest the misunderstandings, Sullivan tells the story from inside the consciousness of a dozen different characters. It’s confusing, but worth the effort. He manages to give different voices--certainly inner dialogue--to many of them. Still, the reader must work to stay engaged and clear on whose head is the current viewpoint.
“Things that were obvious in the confines of the heart often failed to translate well when expressed through the inadequate filter of language.”
Read and heed the Author's Note. Potential readers should not start this volume without having previously read Age of Myth, Age of Swords, and Age of War. He also explains why this book ends so abruptly and promises the subsequent volumes will become available soon. Hope so.
“Sometimes our need to believe blinds us to reality, and sometimes seeing reality blinds us to what we need to believe.”
(Appreciate the link to the high-resolution online map. Maps, especially in e-reader versions, are often unreadable.)
“Now that I knew where the legend came from and the truth behind the tales, I can see why we were taught what we were. But we had it wrong. So very wrong. Truth, I learned, is so much more terrifying than myth.”
The opening of a monumental work. As Sullivan explains in his Author’s Note, this book opens a trilogy similar to the three volumes of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The comparison is both apt and misleading. Apt because the struggle described is both intimate and cosmic, and misleading because Elan is a very different world than Middle Earth, reflecting the difference between Tolkien’s nineteenth century worldview and Sullivan’s twenty-first century. Legend lacks the cosmic clash of good versus evil but has more depth of many characters.
“Crazy was only crazy … until it happened.”
To draw the reader deep into the inner conflicts and manifest the misunderstandings, Sullivan tells the story from inside the consciousness of a dozen different characters. It’s confusing, but worth the effort. He manages to give different voices--certainly inner dialogue--to many of them. Still, the reader must work to stay engaged and clear on whose head is the current viewpoint.
“Things that were obvious in the confines of the heart often failed to translate well when expressed through the inadequate filter of language.”
Read and heed the Author's Note. Potential readers should not start this volume without having previously read Age of Myth, Age of Swords, and Age of War. He also explains why this book ends so abruptly and promises the subsequent volumes will become available soon. Hope so.
“Sometimes our need to believe blinds us to reality, and sometimes seeing reality blinds us to what we need to believe.”
(Appreciate the link to the high-resolution online map. Maps, especially in e-reader versions, are often unreadable.)
“Now that I knew where the legend came from and the truth behind the tales, I can see why we were taught what we were. But we had it wrong. So very wrong. Truth, I learned, is so much more terrifying than myth.”
July 1, 2024
This is book 4 of the series, though it probably should be seen as the start of the second trilogy. These last three books are one story that was originally one book, so books 4 and 5 end on cliffhangers.
After a brief opening, the book jumps in time about five years. War is ongoing with neither side gaining a definitive advantage. Some of the group begins a side quest from Malcolm. Characterization is great. Even though there are quite a few characters, I never forgot names or got confused with who was who.
I participated in the beta and gamma reads for the book. After re-reading the final version, no major changes stand out. A number of chapters have different titles, and a few things were made clearer. My original review disappeared when Goodreads merged duplicate versions in the database.
==========
Pain, fear, drudgery, boredom, lots of boredom—these are the things that build character. And you need to experience loss and remorse because falling down gives you the opportunity to rise once more. Overcoming challenges turns a self-centered infant into a caring adult. Empathy—the ability to understand and appreciate the feelings of others—is the cornerstone of civilization and the foundation of our relationships. Lack of it … well, lack of empathy is as close to a definition of evil that I can come up with.
The truth is that everyone can achieve greatness, but many don’t try because they think of themselves as merely ordinary.
Heroes aren’t born, they’re made, grown from ordinary stock and fertilized by crisis.
===========
Language: Mild
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: war violence; not very graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
After a brief opening, the book jumps in time about five years. War is ongoing with neither side gaining a definitive advantage. Some of the group begins a side quest from Malcolm. Characterization is great. Even though there are quite a few characters, I never forgot names or got confused with who was who.
I participated in the beta and gamma reads for the book. After re-reading the final version, no major changes stand out. A number of chapters have different titles, and a few things were made clearer. My original review disappeared when Goodreads merged duplicate versions in the database.
==========
Pain, fear, drudgery, boredom, lots of boredom—these are the things that build character. And you need to experience loss and remorse because falling down gives you the opportunity to rise once more. Overcoming challenges turns a self-centered infant into a caring adult. Empathy—the ability to understand and appreciate the feelings of others—is the cornerstone of civilization and the foundation of our relationships. Lack of it … well, lack of empathy is as close to a definition of evil that I can come up with.
The truth is that everyone can achieve greatness, but many don’t try because they think of themselves as merely ordinary.
Heroes aren’t born, they’re made, grown from ordinary stock and fertilized by crisis.
===========
Language: Mild
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: war violence; not very graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
November 19, 2019
Rating 3.5 stars
I loved the Riyria series and added it to my favorite list. The first two books in this prequel series were pretty good. It was interesting to see where the legends and myths started. The third book in this series wasn't as good, mainly because I started to not like any of the characters. This book continued that trend. Nyphron is an ass. I don't like anything about him. I used to like Persephone but after she treated Raithe the way she did in the last book at the end, I was over her too. You would think it would be a good thing that Persephone and Nyphron weren't in this story that much then, right? Unfortunately, I have found that I don't care that much for the rest of the characters anymore either. Their stories have already been told and I don't need point by point details. This story felt like a filler. There wasn't a lot of important things that happened, and the first 1/3 of the book was downright boring.
The story did pick up a little at the end, but it ended kind of suddenly without anything being resolved. I think this author is trying to squeeze just a little too much out of this particular story and it is diluting the product. He is still a great writer and is very easy to read, but I am no longer riveted to my seat. There was one point in this book where I considered putting it down. Not something I would have expected from this author and this story. One more thing. I was reading this book through kindle and the story ended at the 85% mark. Everything after that was previews and definitions. Not sure If I will continue the series. It did end on a pretty big cliffhanger and I am interested to find out the specifics of what happened - that could be interesting, but at this point I am still unsure.
I loved the Riyria series and added it to my favorite list. The first two books in this prequel series were pretty good. It was interesting to see where the legends and myths started. The third book in this series wasn't as good, mainly because I started to not like any of the characters. This book continued that trend. Nyphron is an ass. I don't like anything about him. I used to like Persephone but after she treated Raithe the way she did in the last book at the end, I was over her too. You would think it would be a good thing that Persephone and Nyphron weren't in this story that much then, right? Unfortunately, I have found that I don't care that much for the rest of the characters anymore either. Their stories have already been told and I don't need point by point details. This story felt like a filler. There wasn't a lot of important things that happened, and the first 1/3 of the book was downright boring.
The story did pick up a little at the end, but it ended kind of suddenly without anything being resolved. I think this author is trying to squeeze just a little too much out of this particular story and it is diluting the product. He is still a great writer and is very easy to read, but I am no longer riveted to my seat. There was one point in this book where I considered putting it down. Not something I would have expected from this author and this story. One more thing. I was reading this book through kindle and the story ended at the 85% mark. Everything after that was previews and definitions. Not sure If I will continue the series. It did end on a pretty big cliffhanger and I am interested to find out the specifics of what happened - that could be interesting, but at this point I am still unsure.
August 12, 2019
Another fantastic installment! Super cliffhanger at the end, not a big fan of those... looking forward to the next one!!
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