Reviews

I had to stew over this for awhile before I could write this review.

This is a 4/5 for me. Which is good - the book was a solid read, and it was really fun. It was a Michael J. Sullivan book - if you've read his work before, you know what to expect. And, though this is technically a standalone, I HIGHLY recommend reading the Legends of the First Empire series first, as it is a companion/follow up to the First Empire.

This is very much a book that feels like a side story, and that is my biggest problem with it. It felt a bit...empty and unconnected, if that makes sense. It was still fun, still a worthwhile and wonderful read, and - if, like me, you just really enjoy being in the world of Elan - you will enjoy it. But, since it is a pretty short read, it felt slightly underdeveloped. I wish that it had a bit more time to develop the characters further, especially since I do really like them, as well as the chemistry between Nolyn and Sephryn, since I like them as a couple but didn't get much chemistry out of them, since we don't see them together very much. (Maybe some flashbacks or memories to show them being cute together?)

Anyway, book was good, but unfortunately most of the stuff that I loved are spoilery, particularly for Nolyn and the Riyria Revelations (They'll be separated and marked, but I am very serious about the spoilers, as they concern plot twists), so click with caution if you haven't read them. In general, if you've read and enjoyed Michael's work in the past, check it out. You'll know what to expect, and it's a fun and solid read.

Nolyn Spoilers:

Spoiler

First off, I love that Tekchin remained faithful to Moya, even as their marriage began to fall apart, and he never stopped loving her. I love seeing a loyal relationship, and since I just plainly like Tekchin as a character and his relationship with Moya, I loved that he remained loyal to her.

Spoiler

The twist about who Trilos and Torin were hiding as was great. It actually caught me off guard, especially when there was the reveal about Trilos being one of the ones who was manipulating Sephryn. I really enjoy the scheming of the gods in these books, and this one was no different, though I once again wish that the book was longer so that the scheming could be more fleshed out, as well as - like I said - so that the characters could be more defined.

Riyria Spoilers:

Spoiler

Some of my favourite things in this book are the connections to Riyria, particularly the way we see where Royce and Hadrian get a lot of their personalities from. Seeing Amicus as the beginning of what becomes the Teshlor (including how teachers tend to raise their successors), as well as seeing where Royce gets a lot of his personality from as we follow his ancestors is a fun touch. Yeah, I see you Nyphron, drinking pre-Montemorcey wine. And Nolyn, spending some time exiled in a salt mine. I really love these cheeky little parallels, and it felt a bit like an Easter Egg hunt, which I enjoy seeing in a big interconnected series like this. As a Riyria fan, it was really fun.

robdawgreads's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

smurf2416's review

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4.0

I have read all of Mr Sullivan’s previous series. This one seemed like it would be a little difficult unless you had read Legends of the First Empire. There was just so much that related back to that series. Not the best of his books, but still very good. As usual, his story is driven by the characters. And that makes all the difference. Very good start to a new series.

mneiger's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

amybraunauthor's review

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5.0

I've been a fan of Michael J. Sullivan for a very, very long time. I've read all his books and most of his short stories. He's been an inspiration to me and my own writing goals for years. And still, he manages to surprise me.

NOLYN is the first book in THE RISE AND FALL series and takes place 800 years after the events of THE LEGEND OF THE FIRST EMPIRE. It follows Nolyn, son of Nyphron and Persephone, and Sephryn, daughter of Moya and Tekchin. While there are multiple POVs scattered throughout, they are the primary characters and each follow their own journey until their paths collide.

The more I think about this book, the more I love it. The writing is as rock solid as ever, but Sullivan's strength has always been his characters. Nolyn is charming and noble, and Sephryn has so much heart and drive. They both feel trapped by the legacy of their parents, but their drive to change ultimately leads them to become new people and to strive for something better. All the side characters have moments of charm and humor, and the antagonist was someone I never expected but was perfect for the story.

The world building continues to feel fresh and exciting. Even though this takes places in the same world, the expanse of time and way things are structured makes it feel different and new. As much as I enjoyed revisiting the world, almost all of my favourite moments came from the dialogue and memories of Nolyn and Sephryn. They were powerful and inspiring, and left me thinking about them long after I took a break from the book.

And taking breaks was hard. At one point, I woke up at 6am thinking "I'm scared to keep going because of what might happen." I powered through, and it was worth it. Even the moments that broke my heart were so perfect for the story that I couldn't imagine them happening any other way. Everything that happens, happens for a reason, and the ending is everything I needed it to be.

Long time fans will find everything they love here. Charm, action, drama, heart, magic, and inspiring characters, all written in a powerful voice. New fans will have everything they want in an epic fantasy adventure, and I encourage them to pick up more of Sullivan's work so they can experience even more. NOLYN will be on my mind for a long, long time, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

stew32s's review

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5.0

I jumped into this book quickly but set it aside for a bit because I didn't want to come to the end. I finally was ready to finish it today. I look forward to the next book but sad I have to wait until next year for it!

philantrop's review

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adventurous slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I tried really hard to like this but couldn’t. In fact, I’m giving up at 62%... I liked “Legends of the First Empire” and that series’ protagonists. I love Michael’s Hadrian and Royce.

“Nolyn”, though, is a different matter: We’re 800 years after the events of “Legends” and some of the old heroes are still around which is one of the issues: All the human protagonists are, of course, long gone; but the elves are still around. Unreasonable lifespans of several thousand (!) years are poor, unconvincing and annoying storytelling devices.

Yes, that was made clear in “Legends” and I was worried that might create a problem but it never mattered in that series. Now, Nyphron is still around but - before I DNF’ed - he doesn’t appear. He’s talked about but we don’t get to “see” him.

Also, an old nemesis from “Legends” is still around, still conspiring and plotting which is very annoying: Don’t reuse old enemies; they had their time and place and 800 years later, they should simply be gone.

The adult half-elf children of the heroes of old are, of course, still around but what they think, talk about and do ridicules, deconstructs and belittles their parents. It doesn’t help that these children are neither very interesting (Nolyn) nor relatable (Sephryn).

Up to 62% very little of consequence has actually happened: We get lots of info-dumps, much bemoaning, and that’s pretty much it.

I was bored, annoyed, disappointed, and actually avoided reading like the plague in order to not have to deal with this book and not have to write this review.

I’m still going to read Michael’s other books and - just like with all three books in “The Rise and Fall” - have backed them all on Kickstarter and will continue to do so but I’m going to be more lenient with myself about DNF’ing his books…

One sad star out of five.

Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

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