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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
Full review on my blog!
HOW GOOD WAS THIS?! I loved every single page of it.
While The Crown Tower detailed on specific heist the guys pulled (which was mentioned several times throughout the Riyria Revelations), this one was a bit different. In The Rose and the Thorn we get so much backstory on the events happening in Melangar before the Riyria Revelations series takes place. I’m skirting ’round spoilers here but there’s a political conspiracy going on and now we finally learn how far back all of that went. Who was pulling the strings.
It does include events that were referenced in other books but it wasn’t just one specific job Hadrian and Royce did. I really wasn’t expecting the novel to be like this but I loved it. The story was intricate and smart. You can tell how much thought went into this, not a single logic hole in sight!
Gwen also gets a bit more backstory, even though maybe not as prominently featured as in the last book. The dynamic between her and Royce is adorable and I’ll never get tired of reading about them. In this novel, we also learn how my two boys met Albert, who we also know from the later installments. It’s such a little detail that Sullivan makes sure to incorporate this character and give him a proper story as well. this is not a main character or anything like that, and I really appreciate Sullivan for making the effort.
Also, despite the fact that you’ll most likely know how the big events in this one turn out – based on the fact that it wasn’t mentioned several times in the other books – you’ll still be surprised a lot. There are so many intricate plot twists and turns! Honestly, it’s rare that I enjoy a series of novels this much and can’t come up with even a single complaint.
HOW GOOD WAS THIS?! I loved every single page of it.
While The Crown Tower detailed on specific heist the guys pulled (which was mentioned several times throughout the Riyria Revelations), this one was a bit different. In The Rose and the Thorn we get so much backstory on the events happening in Melangar before the Riyria Revelations series takes place. I’m skirting ’round spoilers here but there’s a political conspiracy going on and now we finally learn how far back all of that went. Who was pulling the strings.
It does include events that were referenced in other books but it wasn’t just one specific job Hadrian and Royce did. I really wasn’t expecting the novel to be like this but I loved it. The story was intricate and smart. You can tell how much thought went into this, not a single logic hole in sight!
Gwen also gets a bit more backstory, even though maybe not as prominently featured as in the last book. The dynamic between her and Royce is adorable and I’ll never get tired of reading about them. In this novel, we also learn how my two boys met Albert, who we also know from the later installments. It’s such a little detail that Sullivan makes sure to incorporate this character and give him a proper story as well. this is not a main character or anything like that, and I really appreciate Sullivan for making the effort.
Also, despite the fact that you’ll most likely know how the big events in this one turn out – based on the fact that it wasn’t mentioned several times in the other books – you’ll still be surprised a lot. There are so many intricate plot twists and turns! Honestly, it’s rare that I enjoy a series of novels this much and can’t come up with even a single complaint.
Full review: http://tenaciousreader.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/the-rose-and-the-thorn-by-michael-j-sullivan/
Pretty much really enjoyed it. Every bit as fun to read as Riyria Revelations.
Pretty much really enjoyed it. Every bit as fun to read as Riyria Revelations.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Podobałaby mi się ta seria bardziej gdyby każda postać kobieca głównie nie była loveinterest dla jakiegoś mężczyzny..eh
“No. We’re … business partners.”
“What line?”
“Procurement,” Royce said.
“What kind?”
“Any kind,” Royce answered.
Albert stared at them for a moment; then his eyes widened. “You are thieves.”
“He is.” Hadrian pointed to Royce. “I’m new to this.”
“Really? What did you used to do?”
Hadrian thought a moment. “Kill people.”
“Assassin?”
Albert sounded impressed.
“Soldier.”
This was harder than I imagined, knowing, from the title of the book, where we were in the story. Albert is here, Hadrian and Royce are more cemented as partners, but still working out some kinks between them. Gwen is as amazing as she is on the main book, and so determined that it makes my heart ache. Arista and Alric are just two spoiled kids, ready to have a soul crushing moment for their family. Hilfred's story was the most heartbreaking, especially knowing what happens when he's an adult.
Still, the author had a good balance between serious and funny, making it not just a grim story to tell, but a saga for the ages.
“What line?”
“Procurement,” Royce said.
“What kind?”
“Any kind,” Royce answered.
Albert stared at them for a moment; then his eyes widened. “You are thieves.”
“He is.” Hadrian pointed to Royce. “I’m new to this.”
“Really? What did you used to do?”
Hadrian thought a moment. “Kill people.”
“Assassin?”
Albert sounded impressed.
“Soldier.”
This was harder than I imagined, knowing, from the title of the book, where we were in the story. Albert is here, Hadrian and Royce are more cemented as partners, but still working out some kinks between them. Gwen is as amazing as she is on the main book, and so determined that it makes my heart ache. Arista and Alric are just two spoiled kids, ready to have a soul crushing moment for their family. Hilfred's story was the most heartbreaking, especially knowing what happens when he's an adult.
Still, the author had a good balance between serious and funny, making it not just a grim story to tell, but a saga for the ages.
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
There is a lot of set up for the Riyria series here. Not just early Hadrian and Royce shenanigans. So I somehow didn’t like it quite as much as the first Revelations book but it’s still good. Definitely read run publication order. Don’t read these prequels first.
Gweeeeeeeen!!!!! We get to learn more about the beautiful Gwen and how she met Riyria. So good.
This was a fantastic book.
What impressed me the most was that even though I had a general idea of how everything was going to turn out and even what was going to happen next, it was still a page turner. I still wanted to know what was going to happen and more importantly how it was going to happen.
Royce and Hadrian have been palling around together for a year since pulling the Crown Tower job. Their partnership is still new, but getting there. What really helps Riyria get off the ground is meeting the Viscount. Royce and Hadrian meeting Albert might be my favorite scene in the whole book. It managed to convey who not only Albert was, but also who Hadrian and Royce were and their relationship with each other.
Having already read all of the other Riyria books, I wouldn't have even batted an eyelash at most of Royce and Hadrian's actions and interactions. Which is why the Viscount was probably my favorite character. Albert gets to be the straight man in the group. Having just met Royce and Hadrian and being a relatively normal, level headed person the Viscount provides us readers with a fresh perspective and honest reactions to the two and their antics.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has been enjoying the Riyria series!
What impressed me the most was that even though I had a general idea of how everything was going to turn out and even what was going to happen next, it was still a page turner. I still wanted to know what was going to happen and more importantly how it was going to happen.
Royce and Hadrian have been palling around together for a year since pulling the Crown Tower job. Their partnership is still new, but getting there. What really helps Riyria get off the ground is meeting the Viscount. Royce and Hadrian meeting Albert might be my favorite scene in the whole book. It managed to convey who not only Albert was, but also who Hadrian and Royce were and their relationship with each other.
Having already read all of the other Riyria books, I wouldn't have even batted an eyelash at most of Royce and Hadrian's actions and interactions. Which is why the Viscount was probably my favorite character. Albert gets to be the straight man in the group. Having just met Royce and Hadrian and being a relatively normal, level headed person the Viscount provides us readers with a fresh perspective and honest reactions to the two and their antics.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has been enjoying the Riyria series!