mlklein1's review
4.0
The second in a longer series, Avempartha delivered for me. Sullivan is an excellent story teller - he weaves intricate tales and by the end you realize he's given you all the pieces if you were paying attention. Yet he still manages to surprise. Some of the artful pieces stretched across this entire book - others go back into the first book in the series, The Crown Conspiracy.
One thing Michael did in Avempartha that I am really in awe of was creating a new, dispicable villain. I'm not talking about the beast - sure that's scary and well developed, no I'm talking about a human character introduced in this novel who absolutely made my skin crawl every time he appeared. He wasn't overdone like a badly written Hollywood villain; he was just the right mixture of menace, ability, and mystery. I won't say anything more about him b/c I don't want to spoil the book, but I think I may have actually hissed out loud every time his name appeared.
A very enjoyable, quick, and exciting read. I'm looking forward to the next book in the installment - out this Fall as I understand.
One thing Michael did in Avempartha that I am really in awe of was creating a new, dispicable villain. I'm not talking about the beast - sure that's scary and well developed, no I'm talking about a human character introduced in this novel who absolutely made my skin crawl every time he appeared. He wasn't overdone like a badly written Hollywood villain; he was just the right mixture of menace, ability, and mystery. I won't say anything more about him b/c I don't want to spoil the book, but I think I may have actually hissed out loud every time his name appeared.
A very enjoyable, quick, and exciting read. I'm looking forward to the next book in the installment - out this Fall as I understand.
mleetm's review
5.0
Heavy on humor, I almost wanted this particular story to be longer. It is easy to get caught up in this plot, so much so that I may have forgotten to sleep a few times. Ps I want my own Royce please. I got the rest of the series currently out there, and via email with author now have a sneak peak at the next book. So exciting!
furzi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
mferrante83's review
5.0
Avempartha sees our “heroes” from The Crown Conspiracy back in action and in as fine a form as ever. The opening scenes in the novel, the set-up, is a fantastic intro for readers who read the first book and an excellent and highly entertaining way to recap a bit of back story for new readers. It is a quick little conversation between Royce and Hadrian and a third-party and while it manages to encapsulate parts of The Crown Conspiracy it does an even better job at managing to illuminate the moral complexities of the roguish heroes.
Full review
Full review
ariaslibrary's review
You don’t win battles with hate. Anger and hate can make you brave, make you strong, but they also make you stupid.
“Avempartha” is the second book in The Riyria Revelations of the greater Riyria Universe. It is found in the bind up Theft of Swords.
The plot follows Hadrian and Royce as they are hired by a girl called Thrace Wood to help her father kill a beast that is terrorising her village. Contrary to Royce’s policy, Royce himself offers to do the job cheaper than usual, especially when he learns that the wizard Esrahaddon was the one to point Thrace in their direction and is still residing in Dahlgren Village.
Hadrian looked into her eyes and shook his head. “I hate to say it, and I’m very sorry, but we can’t take—”
“Your money,” Royce abruptly interjected as he spun around. “It’s too much. To take the full twenty-five silver for this job … Ten really seems like more than enough.”
Hadrian raised an eyebrow and stared at his partner but said nothing.
We also follow Princess Arista, who has been appointed by her brother to be an Ambassador for Melengar. Her first assignment is to travel to Dahlgren Village where a tournament is being held by the Church of Nyphron.
The world is expanded as we learn more of the Erivan Empire, the legacy of the elves as well as the prophesied heir of Novron. More politics come into play as Arista learns exactly why the church is holding the tournament and secrets are revealed that may change the future of the world. There’s not much I can say in my review as it would be delving into spoiler territory but I just love this world and the humour is especially top-tier.
He returned to the fire, where Thrace was dishing out a thick broth of carrots, potatoes, onions, and salted pork. Royce was sitting with a bowl on his lap and a smile on his face.
“You don’t have to be that happy,” Hadrian told him.
“Look, Hadrian—food.”
shafaqvohra's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
zepp1978's review
4.0
Full Video Review Here: https://youtu.be/RTdxvhGSBvE
I’ve always had an interest in this series because of Michael J. Sullivan’s interaction with his readers. He emails, responds on Reddit, and even grants video interviews to talk about this series. Add to this that he bailed on his publisher to release his books independently with Kickstarter perks to his fans and he’s basically the unicorn of an interactive author. With Theft of Swords, I was able to see why this series has the rampant fan base that it does.
With Avempartha, Sullivan does what I believe to be a light tribute to The Hobbit; impenetrable fortress, a manipulative wizard, a reluctant hero, a talking dragon guarding a treasure, and much much more. But this is meant in a good way, as I am a Tolkien honk.
This one sees Royce and Hadrian taking a job from a young villager named Thrace who needs their help keeping her father from killing himself in going after this dragon creature that killed their whole family. Familiar face from The Crown Conspiracy show up in this town and we have yet another adventure that sees you turning the pages like a seasoned speed reader.
Unlike The Crown Conspiracy that felt like a closed-ended story, this one plants some seeds and answers some questions leaving you with a ton more and an undying thirst to pick up book 3.
In the end, I loved these two stories. Royce and Hadrian are the type of main characters I want to see on endless adventures and I’m very much looking forward to reading what comes next.
I’ve always had an interest in this series because of Michael J. Sullivan’s interaction with his readers. He emails, responds on Reddit, and even grants video interviews to talk about this series. Add to this that he bailed on his publisher to release his books independently with Kickstarter perks to his fans and he’s basically the unicorn of an interactive author. With Theft of Swords, I was able to see why this series has the rampant fan base that it does.
With Avempartha, Sullivan does what I believe to be a light tribute to The Hobbit; impenetrable fortress, a manipulative wizard, a reluctant hero, a talking dragon guarding a treasure, and much much more. But this is meant in a good way, as I am a Tolkien honk.
This one sees Royce and Hadrian taking a job from a young villager named Thrace who needs their help keeping her father from killing himself in going after this dragon creature that killed their whole family. Familiar face from The Crown Conspiracy show up in this town and we have yet another adventure that sees you turning the pages like a seasoned speed reader.
Unlike The Crown Conspiracy that felt like a closed-ended story, this one plants some seeds and answers some questions leaving you with a ton more and an undying thirst to pick up book 3.
In the end, I loved these two stories. Royce and Hadrian are the type of main characters I want to see on endless adventures and I’m very much looking forward to reading what comes next.
xling15's review
5.0
- still exciting
- sees return of some characters
- very tightly woven story
- some revelations; however, easily predictable, but makes logical sense
- sees return of some characters
- very tightly woven story
- some revelations; however, easily predictable, but makes logical sense
mcquaden's review
4.0
So first off, I have a problem with this book. This is kind of for most fantasy books, so authors, pay attention.
TW for sexual assault - our first encounter with Thrace (a small town girl living in a looooonely world cause a monster came and ate her familyyyyyy) is her waking up to a man stealing her money, and then proceeding to try and assult her. I have said this before and I will say it again: I am sick to DEATH of women in books being needlessly assulted like this. This entire scene adds NOTHING to the rest of the plot of the book. In fact, Thrace herself barely addresses it. After Royce and Hadrian save her from her aggresser, she does pass out (combo of lack of sleep, food, and fear) but after that she never says anything about it or shows that it affected her. The only reason why it is there is for 'authenticity', because this a fantasy novel set back in the times where women were seen as lesser than (which is another problem that I have - you have magic, you have a flying serpent, why is it so hard to imagine a world where women were not oppressed? I'm done with this shit guys, I really am). You can have an amazing story with female characters who's main obstacle isn't sexism. Or, if you do have it, show how the characters grow despite of it, or grow out of it. A lot of the time you see characters who either never unlearn their prejudices, or characters who have never had that prejudice in the first place. Both are unbelievable, as people do change over the course of events. If you are going to have a sexist regime, show the characters fighting back, and succeeding. Show me growth, revolution, evolution of the society.
Okay rant over. Besides that fact, I did really like this book. It's really starting to remind me of the fellowship from Lord of the Rings (mmm you see it right?). I will say a lot of the plot was predictable, though very enjoyable to the last. Also I am HERE for Mangus's and Royce's tentative friendship. I know it'll be a lil awkward seeing as Mangus did kill Ulrich's father, but like eh what's a little stabby daddy among friends?
TW for sexual assault - our first encounter with Thrace (a small town girl living in a looooonely world cause a monster came and ate her familyyyyyy) is her waking up to a man stealing her money, and then proceeding to try and assult her. I have said this before and I will say it again: I am sick to DEATH of women in books being needlessly assulted like this. This entire scene adds NOTHING to the rest of the plot of the book. In fact, Thrace herself barely addresses it. After Royce and Hadrian save her from her aggresser, she does pass out (combo of lack of sleep, food, and fear) but after that she never says anything about it or shows that it affected her. The only reason why it is there is for 'authenticity', because this a fantasy novel set back in the times where women were seen as lesser than (which is another problem that I have - you have magic, you have a flying serpent, why is it so hard to imagine a world where women were not oppressed? I'm done with this shit guys, I really am). You can have an amazing story with female characters who's main obstacle isn't sexism. Or, if you do have it, show how the characters grow despite of it, or grow out of it. A lot of the time you see characters who either never unlearn their prejudices, or characters who have never had that prejudice in the first place. Both are unbelievable, as people do change over the course of events. If you are going to have a sexist regime, show the characters fighting back, and succeeding. Show me growth, revolution, evolution of the society.
Okay rant over. Besides that fact, I did really like this book. It's really starting to remind me of the fellowship from Lord of the Rings (mmm you see it right?). I will say a lot of the plot was predictable, though very enjoyable to the last. Also I am HERE for Mangus's and Royce's tentative friendship. I know it'll be a lil awkward seeing as Mangus did kill Ulrich's father, but like eh what's a little stabby daddy among friends?