gayusbooks's review
3.0
With 'Wintertide', the story is back on track. Lots of characters whom we knew only by name got their time to shine in the spotlight. Loved how several of them came together in the end and found their way out of situations that rendered them helpless. Sir Breckton's chivalry and his budding friendship with Hadrian and Arista finally being out of that dungeon were some of my favourite parts of the story.
Though the book definitely had its moments, I felt that when the payoffs came, they were sort of underwhelming. For example, Merrick was set up to be a rival to Royce in every way, even outsmarting him in the previous book. It seemed like his target was Royce all along, not courtly intrigue. But when they finally met, they just shared a drink and parted ways!! From the way he begged in front of Royce, it seemed like he was interested only in politics now. When did that change happen? So much happens behind the scenes. Like how easily the new Empire's architects collapsed. In the first book it was hinted that the road map to the new Empire and the events were the results of centuries of planning by the Church. It took generations to bring forth their plan into fruition. But now things are handled as if Saldur is the sole brain behind the whole operation. He made Thrace the empress, that is his brainchild sure. But one Saldur, one Luis Guy and one Ethelred doesn't make an empire. Where is the all powerful church? I know Modina has the power of the people behind her. But her final coup, although exciting to read, was not believable because we mostly see her in a catatonic state, staring out the window. So, when she managed the impossible armed only with the information she learned by listening to Saldur's machinations and the help of one guard, it felt ... I don't know, it didn't feel satisfactory. It needed more. More of the common people's discontent towards the new regime, more of Modina, more of a gradual breakdown of the new regime and more of the powerful threat that is seemingly coming towards them.
This series has immense scope. If turned into a TV show, fleshed out with the details that are missing in the book, then it would be epic.
Though the book definitely had its moments, I felt that when the payoffs came, they were sort of underwhelming. For example, Merrick was set up to be a rival to Royce in every way, even outsmarting him in the previous book. It seemed like his target was Royce all along, not courtly intrigue. But when they finally met, they just shared a drink and parted ways!! From the way he begged in front of Royce, it seemed like he was interested only in politics now. When did that change happen? So much happens behind the scenes. Like how easily the new Empire's architects collapsed. In the first book it was hinted that the road map to the new Empire and the events were the results of centuries of planning by the Church. It took generations to bring forth their plan into fruition. But now things are handled as if Saldur is the sole brain behind the whole operation. He made Thrace the empress, that is his brainchild sure. But one Saldur, one Luis Guy and one Ethelred doesn't make an empire. Where is the all powerful church? I know Modina has the power of the people behind her. But her final coup, although exciting to read, was not believable because we mostly see her in a catatonic state, staring out the window. So, when she managed the impossible armed only with the information she learned by listening to Saldur's machinations and the help of one guard, it felt ... I don't know, it didn't feel satisfactory. It needed more. More of the common people's discontent towards the new regime, more of Modina, more of a gradual breakdown of the new regime and more of the powerful threat that is seemingly coming towards them.
This series has immense scope. If turned into a TV show, fleshed out with the details that are missing in the book, then it would be epic.
shafaqvohra's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
iam_griff's review
5.0
Holy crap!! What an awesome cliffhanger! If you haven’t read this series or anything by Michael J. Sullivan then what are you waiting for!!??
jarichan's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, wir nähern uns in ganz grossen Schritten dem Ende zu und das merkt man diesem Buch auch an. Es ist düsterer und trister als als die Vorgänger, die Handlung wird rasant vorangetrieben und beim Lesen flogen die Seiten nur so dahin.
Nichts mehr von gemütlich und Spass haben mit Brillie und Haddie, sondern Gefahr und Verlust. Die Figuren entwickeln sich stark weiter; wichtige und grundlegende Dinge geschehen. Ja, dieser Band spurt einen breiten Weg für das Finale.
Ich bin enorm gespannt und will nun unbedingt wissen, wie sich der Höhepunkt dieser Reihe gestalten wird.
Nichts mehr von gemütlich und Spass haben mit Brillie und Haddie, sondern Gefahr und Verlust. Die Figuren entwickeln sich stark weiter; wichtige und grundlegende Dinge geschehen. Ja, dieser Band spurt einen breiten Weg für das Finale.
Ich bin enorm gespannt und will nun unbedingt wissen, wie sich der Höhepunkt dieser Reihe gestalten wird.
zackgraff's review against another edition
4.0
Sullivan really narrowed the scope of of perspective in this book, allowing us to understand and see the growth of our core characters. Especially now that some of these players are 5 books into their story it came across as a great barometer for how they have learned from their mistakes or held onto their spiteful grudges over the years - and we get a nicely set table for an epic finish that I expect to be packed with a lot of action and intrigue in the next (last) book of the series.
mferrante83's review against another edition
5.0
Wintertide is the penultimate volume of Michael J. Sullivan’s The Riyria Revelations, out of print as a single volume (thankfully provided to me for review by Robin Sullivan) it will be available alongside Percepliquis as The Heir of Novron next month. The events of Wintertide spawn directly out of The Emerald Storm with Royce and Hadrian having finally tracked down Degan Gaunt, the supposed Heir of Novron (I remain a sceptic) to the capital city of the Novron Empire where he has been captured and is awaiting trial. Also in the city, the damaged Empress is awaiting her marriage and the Princess of Melengar, Arista is also awaiting execution. To make matters worse it turns out that Melengar is under seige by the Imperial army and isn’t doing so well. It is this revelation that prompts one of the greatest mistakes any group of heroes can make: they split the party. Royce heads back to Melengar to check on his lover Gwen leaving Hadrian to extract Gaunt on his own.
As far as I know Wintertide marks the first time that Royce and Hadrian are really separated for any length of time (at least while “on screen”). It is a curious thing to see them operate in absence of one another. It was a refreshing change to see the often calculating and reserved Royce display some emotion and his near reckless decision to hare off after Gwen was directly in line with how his character has changed over the course of these five novels. It was also fun seeing Hadrian get to play the role of “mastermind” in the prison break of Gaunt; a venture that has predictably awful results.
Wintertide offers a more complete glimpse at noble society. Seeing Hadrian forced to rub shoulders with knights is an excellent way to highlight his rough nobility, humility, and subtle confidence (or sometimes not-so subtle as when he calmly informs an entire room that he knows how to kill them all) when he his contrasted so starkly against the arrogance and entitlement of the Imperial Knights. I absolutely loved the way Hadrian, by just being Hadrian, earned the respect not only of some of those same knights but of the working class servants as well. Hadrian’s conflict with the betrayal he has been forced into making comes closer to the surface the more people seem to adore him and yet with stakes so high I still found myself wondering if he would go through with it.
Royce as at his most human in Wintertide. Over the course of four novels we have watched as he slowly admitted his need for other people in his life and watch how doing what’s right (and only occasionally benefiting from it) has helped him become, if not a better person at least a more complete one. Gwen is no small part of that fact and his concern for her, over and above the potentially dire threat to Heir of Novron, speaks to that fact. Of course there is a moment towards the novel’s end where the old Royce, the pre-Hadrian Royce, reappears and well he isn’t someone you’d want to know.
Wintertide constantly offers scene after scene that have magic and memorable touches. From Royce and Merrick’s tete-a-tete (surprisingly more civil than one might expect given their past), to Hadrian taking on knights with only a towel, even Modina gets a moment to shine, and the novel’s climax is so full of awesome I can barely describe it. Wintertide moves at lightning pace and does with an air of portent and doom that never quite dissipates even after the book is over and done. At Wintertide’s end there are still a number of big looming questions that I don’t know how Sullivan will wrap them up in one more book.
The Riyria Revelations is decidedly old school sword and sorcery fantasy done right. It is a refreshing change of pace, or rather perhaps a nice accompaniment to, the grim and gritty fantasy that is so in vogue these days. Wintertide is the first book in a while that had me up and reading up far later that I should have been. Wintertide is a major turning point for many characters both big and small, shaking the status quot to its foundations. How Percepliquis will follow the changes initiated here is anybody’s guess but I absolutely cannot wait to find out. Wintertide will be available as part of The Heir of Novron late in January.
As far as I know Wintertide marks the first time that Royce and Hadrian are really separated for any length of time (at least while “on screen”). It is a curious thing to see them operate in absence of one another. It was a refreshing change to see the often calculating and reserved Royce display some emotion and his near reckless decision to hare off after Gwen was directly in line with how his character has changed over the course of these five novels. It was also fun seeing Hadrian get to play the role of “mastermind” in the prison break of Gaunt; a venture that has predictably awful results.
Wintertide offers a more complete glimpse at noble society. Seeing Hadrian forced to rub shoulders with knights is an excellent way to highlight his rough nobility, humility, and subtle confidence (or sometimes not-so subtle as when he calmly informs an entire room that he knows how to kill them all) when he his contrasted so starkly against the arrogance and entitlement of the Imperial Knights. I absolutely loved the way Hadrian, by just being Hadrian, earned the respect not only of some of those same knights but of the working class servants as well. Hadrian’s conflict with the betrayal he has been forced into making comes closer to the surface the more people seem to adore him and yet with stakes so high I still found myself wondering if he would go through with it.
Royce as at his most human in Wintertide. Over the course of four novels we have watched as he slowly admitted his need for other people in his life and watch how doing what’s right (and only occasionally benefiting from it) has helped him become, if not a better person at least a more complete one. Gwen is no small part of that fact and his concern for her, over and above the potentially dire threat to Heir of Novron, speaks to that fact. Of course there is a moment towards the novel’s end where the old Royce, the pre-Hadrian Royce, reappears and well he isn’t someone you’d want to know.
Wintertide constantly offers scene after scene that have magic and memorable touches. From Royce and Merrick’s tete-a-tete (surprisingly more civil than one might expect given their past), to Hadrian taking on knights with only a towel, even Modina gets a moment to shine, and the novel’s climax is so full of awesome I can barely describe it. Wintertide moves at lightning pace and does with an air of portent and doom that never quite dissipates even after the book is over and done. At Wintertide’s end there are still a number of big looming questions that I don’t know how Sullivan will wrap them up in one more book.
The Riyria Revelations is decidedly old school sword and sorcery fantasy done right. It is a refreshing change of pace, or rather perhaps a nice accompaniment to, the grim and gritty fantasy that is so in vogue these days. Wintertide is the first book in a while that had me up and reading up far later that I should have been. Wintertide is a major turning point for many characters both big and small, shaking the status quot to its foundations. How Percepliquis will follow the changes initiated here is anybody’s guess but I absolutely cannot wait to find out. Wintertide will be available as part of The Heir of Novron late in January.
thegreekie's review against another edition
1.0
Plot (Story / Pacing / Ending): 1/5
Characters (Characters / Development): 2/5
Writing (Prose / Dialogue / Style): 2/5
Other (Enjoyment / Read Pace / Worldbuilding / Etc): 1/5
Characters (Characters / Development): 2/5
Writing (Prose / Dialogue / Style): 2/5
Other (Enjoyment / Read Pace / Worldbuilding / Etc): 1/5
ariaslibrary's review against another edition
“Faith is not simply a belief in the tenets of the church but a belief in virtue itself. A knight does not find fault. A knight believes in the good of all men, including himself. He trusts in this belief. A knight is confident in the word of others, in the merits of his lord, the worth of his commands, and in his own worth.”
“Wintertide” is the fifth book in The Riyria Revelations of the greater Riyria Universe. It is found in the bind up Heir of Novron.
I’m too excited to start Percepliquis so…Book good. Arista and Modina are queens! Amilia still annoys me. Royce is Always Suffering™. Hadrian is A Cinnamon Roll.
xling15's review against another edition
5.0
I am screaming inside. This has not happened in a long long time.
When everything goes right and wrong at the same time... It's brilliant.
Literally never expected that plot twist. Literally hate and love this book - why did everything have to happen like this.
Let's just say I hope Locke doesn't end up similarly, though it is a foreseeable future for him as well.
When everything goes right and wrong at the same time... It's brilliant.
Literally never expected that plot twist. Literally hate and love this book - why did everything have to happen like this.
Let's just say I hope Locke doesn't end up similarly, though it is a foreseeable future for him as well.