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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
This is definitely a "middle book" in the series, it felt like a 3 star read until the last 15%, but Sullivan really nails an ending IMO. So many creative elements
adventurous
fast-paced
This is a well written but very frustrating book that is clearly a stepping stone to the rest of the series.
Spoiler alert!!!
Suri is kidnapped and Tressa leads a band of misfits through a swamp to the underworld. That’s about the only thing that happens in the whole book. The most interesting part is Tesh’s secret revenge plot.
Spoiler alert!!!
Suri is kidnapped and Tressa leads a band of misfits through a swamp to the underworld. That’s about the only thing that happens in the whole book. The most interesting part is Tesh’s secret revenge plot.
To start off, I love this series. I love forward to reading about these characters every year with Michael's wonderful release schedule. [b:Age of War|18052169|Age of War (The Legends of the First Empire, #3)|Michael J. Sullivan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516720471l/18052169._SX50_.jpg|25336191], the previous book in the series, was brilliant in tying up the first arc of this series in a dramatic, yet heartbreaking fashion.
[b:Age of Legend|22819354|Age of Legend (The Legends of the First Empire, #4)|Michael J. Sullivan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562549139l/22819354._SX50_.jpg|42370596] serves as the beginning of the second arc of this six-book series. We get to jump in right after the events of the last book, fast forward a bit for some character progression and realistic time gap, then dive headfirst into the two events that will be resolved through the second arc. While I really liked this book, it definitely feels unresolved at the end with the cliffhanger ending. As someone who is going to read this whole series, it doesn't bother me too much, especially since I know the next book is not far off.
Can't wait for [b:Age of Death|30613608|Age of Death (The Legends of the First Empire, #5)|Michael J. Sullivan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559735560l/30613608._SX50_.jpg|51146016]!
[b:Age of Legend|22819354|Age of Legend (The Legends of the First Empire, #4)|Michael J. Sullivan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562549139l/22819354._SX50_.jpg|42370596] serves as the beginning of the second arc of this six-book series. We get to jump in right after the events of the last book, fast forward a bit for some character progression and realistic time gap, then dive headfirst into the two events that will be resolved through the second arc. While I really liked this book, it definitely feels unresolved at the end with the cliffhanger ending. As someone who is going to read this whole series, it doesn't bother me too much, especially since I know the next book is not far off.
Can't wait for [b:Age of Death|30613608|Age of Death (The Legends of the First Empire, #5)|Michael J. Sullivan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559735560l/30613608._SX50_.jpg|51146016]!
Goddammit, the ebook got me again. It said I still had an hour to go, and then after a big, dramatic event, I turn the page and it's the author's thank you note. 😖 Whyyyy would you do that to me?!
But also, the ending was a lot of drama around the characters being hesitant to do something that I 100% know that they're going to do, because that's the kind of story it is. So most of this book just felt like setup for the next book... hopefully the next book delivers on the setup!
But also, the ending was a lot of drama around the characters being hesitant to do something that I 100% know that they're going to do, because that's the kind of story it is. So most of this book just felt like setup for the next book... hopefully the next book delivers on the setup!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
🔥 GENERAL OPINION
I have less to say about this fourth volume of the series.
If I were to sum it up in one sentence, it'd probably be please stop bullying Suri. Even Raithe is done suffering by now (and I'll never forgive the author for killing him off), so can that poor girl have the peace she deserves?
🌳 THE PLOT AND THE VIBES
Honestly speaking, suffering as a daily occurrence is the reality for most of the characters of the series, at this point. There are some heart-warming moments, but because of the whole conflict things are becoming bleaker and bleaker.
I almost miss not knowing who Malcolm is and just having him act goofy with Raithe. But nope, this was taken from me as well.
As mentioned by the author, the series was meant to finish after 3 books. For this reason you can feel a change of pace, as if a new series was starting. Everything slows down again at the beginning and, after some more intense scenes, ends in a massive cliffhanger. I wasn't really upset about it for two reasons:
1) I had been warned by the author himself
2) I already had the fifth book of the series, ready to be read
My opinion would have probably been very different if both conditions hadn't been met.
And again, this time as well all Fhrey's povs were a torture for me. Which is quite a big problem considering that they represent the other half of the battlefield. I usually enjoy political plots but, as I can't stand any of the characters involved, it becomes a bit tiring and annoying for me to go through those chapters.
🔥 THE CHARACTERS
Character development and redemption remains central in the series. Moreover, not only do we discover a lot more about some characters we considered peripheral, but also we encounter new and surprising ones. Plus, someone's identity will finally be revealed.
🌳 WHAT'S NEXT?
Raithe's absence is definitely having it's consequences, as well as the fact that Persephone is slowly fading back to being a secondary character. I guess I'm starting to feel a bit nostalgic about the old days in the story when everything felt "smaller".
But I'm obviously not gonna stop here, because at this point I need to get to the end of things and see how everythig will turn out. Malcolm, you better behave boy. You've already created enough problems.
I have less to say about this fourth volume of the series.
If I were to sum it up in one sentence, it'd probably be please stop bullying Suri. Even Raithe is done suffering by now (and I'll never forgive the author for killing him off), so can that poor girl have the peace she deserves?
🌳 THE PLOT AND THE VIBES
Honestly speaking, suffering as a daily occurrence is the reality for most of the characters of the series, at this point. There are some heart-warming moments, but because of the whole conflict things are becoming bleaker and bleaker.
I almost miss not knowing who Malcolm is and just having him act goofy with Raithe. But nope, this was taken from me as well.
As mentioned by the author, the series was meant to finish after 3 books. For this reason you can feel a change of pace, as if a new series was starting. Everything slows down again at the beginning and, after some more intense scenes, ends in a massive cliffhanger. I wasn't really upset about it for two reasons:
1) I had been warned by the author himself
2) I already had the fifth book of the series, ready to be read
My opinion would have probably been very different if both conditions hadn't been met.
And again, this time as well all Fhrey's povs were a torture for me. Which is quite a big problem considering that they represent the other half of the battlefield. I usually enjoy political plots but, as I can't stand any of the characters involved, it becomes a bit tiring and annoying for me to go through those chapters.
🔥 THE CHARACTERS
Character development and redemption remains central in the series. Moreover, not only do we discover a lot more about some characters we considered peripheral, but also we encounter new and surprising ones. Plus, someone's identity will finally be revealed.
🌳 WHAT'S NEXT?
Raithe's absence is definitely having it's consequences, as well as the fact that Persephone is slowly fading back to being a secondary character. I guess I'm starting to feel a bit nostalgic about the old days in the story when everything felt "smaller".
But I'm obviously not gonna stop here, because at this point I need to get to the end of things and see how everythig will turn out. Malcolm, you better behave boy. You've already created enough problems.
Well that was a little disappointing after the first three books. Plot wise, nothing much really happens in this book. It was full of soapy drama and a lot of mistakes. It appears that Brin and Persephone have started sipping on the same cocktail Tyrion was drunk on in seasons 7 & 8.
I'm still not sure what Persephone gains out of a marital alliance with Nyphron, politically speaking. Because it's been literally nothing so far. His fate was already bound the the Rhune's at the end of the last book. All the marriage does is legitimize him in the eyes of the people doing the actual fighting, killing and dying. So, she's gained absolutely nothing, instead she has to share some of her considerable authority. Gratz girl, you've just played yourself. Next up, we've got the letter for peace she decided to ignore, even though she claims that she absolutely hates this warfare. Then she thinks that it's a idea to reopen the peace talks after losing all of the leverage she'd possessed 5 years ago, when it was first offered. Yeah, no way that was gonna end badly right? I mean, there is absolutely nothing sinister about the Fhrey asking to meet with the Ruhne's lone spellcaster.... all alone... and on their turf. Yeah sure, sounds like a completely reasonable request. Any good leader would've agreed to that without a second thought or even a backup plan in case of treachery.
Moya was pretty much wrong, and annoying, every time she opened her mouth. But hey, her Hawkeye abilities are still on point. So there's that.
Tressa and Suri essentially carried the gang on their backs this book. Tbf, Brin helped as well, until she went cuckoo at the end.
I expected better, tbh.
Spoiler
What Brin said to Tesh at the end is one of the cruelest and illogical things I've ever read. What does she expect Tesh to do? Is he suppose to just chill back and let Nyphron rule in peace for the next thousand years after what he's done?I'm still not sure what Persephone gains out of a marital alliance with Nyphron, politically speaking. Because it's been literally nothing so far. His fate was already bound the the Rhune's at the end of the last book. All the marriage does is legitimize him in the eyes of the people doing the actual fighting, killing and dying. So, she's gained absolutely nothing, instead she has to share some of her considerable authority. Gratz girl, you've just played yourself. Next up, we've got the letter for peace she decided to ignore, even though she claims that she absolutely hates this warfare. Then she thinks that it's a idea to reopen the peace talks after losing all of the leverage she'd possessed 5 years ago, when it was first offered. Yeah, no way that was gonna end badly right? I mean, there is absolutely nothing sinister about the Fhrey asking to meet with the Ruhne's lone spellcaster.... all alone... and on their turf. Yeah sure, sounds like a completely reasonable request. Any good leader would've agreed to that without a second thought or even a backup plan in case of treachery.
Moya was pretty much wrong, and annoying, every time she opened her mouth. But hey, her Hawkeye abilities are still on point. So there's that.
Tressa and Suri essentially carried the gang on their backs this book. Tbf, Brin helped as well, until she went cuckoo at the end.
I expected better, tbh.
#1 book read for the 2025 r/Fantasy bingo - Down With the System (HM)
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
As soon as I began this, I thought I may have rated the final Licanius Trilogy book too high. The characters here feel like real people, and we have gradually uncovered more and more layers to the world; enough that I’m thinking I’ll have to read Sullivan’s other series once I wrap this one up.
There are still aspects that do not quite ring out like I think the author intended, but in the grand scheme, I don’t think they detract from the tale—just sometimes make it feel naïve, which actually adds to the feel of the story since so much of the tale is people growing into themselves.
There are still aspects that do not quite ring out like I think the author intended, but in the grand scheme, I don’t think they detract from the tale—just sometimes make it feel naïve, which actually adds to the feel of the story since so much of the tale is people growing into themselves.