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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
I really liked the interplay between Hadrion and Royce. The professor seems to have something up his sleeve so I'll reserve judgement on him for the time being. Great characters and a good story.
The characters are fun and interesting. Suspense and mystery keep the plot moving forward. I am looking forward to Book 2.
I was in a bit of a reading slump and wanted to pick up something I knew I would enjoy. I was right.
When I originally read the Riyria Revelations, I was a little disappointed that the world itself is fairly basic. There's very little magic, there's a lot of misogyny, and it's pretty much just old fashioned Medieval inspired fantasy, which normally isn't my thing. However, Riyria Revelations is different from most standard fantasy like this because of Hadrian and Royce, and they are the main reason I picked this book up. I missed them.
It was so great to be in this world, with Hadrian and Royce again. It's so nice to see how they met (and they hate each other! Even better!). They're such interesting characters, with such good banter. Sullivan is very good at dialogue and relationship dynamics, and being surprisingly funny. Most of this comes from dialogue, which I do think is his strongest point. His dialogue feels like real conversations between real people. It never feels forced. Sullivan is also a very good writer; I normally can't stand when chapters are longer than ten pages, but it's so easy to fly through his writing that I hardly noticed how long his chapters are.
The other thing I want to mention is Gwen. I'm so glad to see Gwen getting some limelight. The Riyria Revelations did a similar thing where Hadrian and Royce weren't the only POV/story going on. There was also a woman's story as well (sometimes multiple). I'm so glad to see Gwen's backstory and see her be a total badass with her business. It's already established in Revelations, so it's nice to see how it got there. We also get to see more of her fortune telling, which I really appreciate. It felt a bit like a gimmick in Revelations, so it's nice to see it as more of a thing here.
I can't wait to read the rest of this series and get to see Hadrian and Royce's friendship blossom and the adventures they will go on.
When I originally read the Riyria Revelations, I was a little disappointed that the world itself is fairly basic. There's very little magic, there's a lot of misogyny, and it's pretty much just old fashioned Medieval inspired fantasy, which normally isn't my thing. However, Riyria Revelations is different from most standard fantasy like this because of Hadrian and Royce, and they are the main reason I picked this book up. I missed them.
It was so great to be in this world, with Hadrian and Royce again. It's so nice to see how they met (and they hate each other! Even better!). They're such interesting characters, with such good banter. Sullivan is very good at dialogue and relationship dynamics, and being surprisingly funny. Most of this comes from dialogue, which I do think is his strongest point. His dialogue feels like real conversations between real people. It never feels forced. Sullivan is also a very good writer; I normally can't stand when chapters are longer than ten pages, but it's so easy to fly through his writing that I hardly noticed how long his chapters are.
The other thing I want to mention is Gwen. I'm so glad to see Gwen getting some limelight. The Riyria Revelations did a similar thing where Hadrian and Royce weren't the only POV/story going on. There was also a woman's story as well (sometimes multiple). I'm so glad to see Gwen's backstory and see her be a total badass with her business. It's already established in Revelations, so it's nice to see how it got there. We also get to see more of her fortune telling, which I really appreciate. It felt a bit like a gimmick in Revelations, so it's nice to see it as more of a thing here.
Spoiler
I'm also glad she's getting a bit of agency, knowing what happens to her in Revelations.I can't wait to read the rest of this series and get to see Hadrian and Royce's friendship blossom and the adventures they will go on.
Aaah like soaking in a hot bath. Loved it, wanted it to never end. To be honest I could just keep reading about these characters until lifes end.
I loved this book!
I actually read this a while ago and then again recently, but I have not reviewed it because I don't typically do reviews. But here it goes.
The good: Despite what some of my non-Riyria-loving friends say, the book has lots of parts that put me at the edge of my seat- so to speak. It's not the most action-filled book ever. But I love a well-paced book more than an action filled one. And this one was just that.
What's better: I can actually find a small smidgen of fandom artwork for Riyria. I wish I could draw because I would love to add to it. I love to read a book and then see people's reimagined characters. You just don't see that with books a ton.
The best: It's Royce and Hadrian's relationship. You just don't see a lot of characters that both work together (as characters and as fighters) so well while also being so different. The clash is hilarious. I admit that I am biased, having loved this book before I even started reading it. I did then fall in love over and over again as I turned the pages. But what drew me in in the first place was the fact that it was on a best "bromance" good reads list. Royce and Hadrian are what I was originally looking for, but I'm afraid I will never find anything quite as good ever again.
I actually read this a while ago and then again recently, but I have not reviewed it because I don't typically do reviews. But here it goes.
The good: Despite what some of my non-Riyria-loving friends say, the book has lots of parts that put me at the edge of my seat- so to speak. It's not the most action-filled book ever. But I love a well-paced book more than an action filled one. And this one was just that.
What's better: I can actually find a small smidgen of fandom artwork for Riyria. I wish I could draw because I would love to add to it. I love to read a book and then see people's reimagined characters. You just don't see that with books a ton.
The best: It's Royce and Hadrian's relationship. You just don't see a lot of characters that both work together (as characters and as fighters) so well while also being so different. The clash is hilarious. I admit that I am biased, having loved this book before I even started reading it. I did then fall in love over and over again as I turned the pages. But what drew me in in the first place was the fact that it was on a best "bromance" good reads list. Royce and Hadrian are what I was originally looking for, but I'm afraid I will never find anything quite as good ever again.
I love Michael J. Sullivan and this book's no exception. Before The Crown Tower was released, I'd read that Michael was wary going into a prequel series, because let's face it, they rarely go well, but that he would only do it if there was something good there to write about. I.e., he didn't want to beat a dead horse.
I'm so glad he went for it. The Crown Tower ranks up there with the best of the original series (that I've read, still two more if you can believe it!). Michael writes fun fantasy that's hard to put down. What more could you ask for. There's always room for more of his work.
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
I'm so glad he went for it. The Crown Tower ranks up there with the best of the original series (that I've read, still two more if you can believe it!). Michael writes fun fantasy that's hard to put down. What more could you ask for. There's always room for more of his work.
4 out of 5 Stars (highly recommended)
Please note; my star rating on any book is completely subjective and limited to the label for each star.
1 Star I didn’t like it
2 Stars It was okay
3 Stars I liked it
4 Stars I really liked it
5 Stars It was amazing!
If I do actually have something to say about a book other than what my enjoyment factor was, I will write a review and share my thoughts. If I say I didn’t like a book but there wasn’t anything about it that I thought needed to be shared, then that’s it, I just didn’t like it.
If you’d like to start a discussion about a book or you’d like an actual review, ask any question you like and I’ll be happy to try and comply/respond.
Additional note; I do not feed the trolls. If you don’t have something constructive to say, or if you can’t say it in a respectful way, you won’t get a response from me. Ever.
1 Star I didn’t like it
2 Stars It was okay
3 Stars I liked it
4 Stars I really liked it
5 Stars It was amazing!
If I do actually have something to say about a book other than what my enjoyment factor was, I will write a review and share my thoughts. If I say I didn’t like a book but there wasn’t anything about it that I thought needed to be shared, then that’s it, I just didn’t like it.
If you’d like to start a discussion about a book or you’d like an actual review, ask any question you like and I’ll be happy to try and comply/respond.
Additional note; I do not feed the trolls. If you don’t have something constructive to say, or if you can’t say it in a respectful way, you won’t get a response from me. Ever.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Such disappointment.
Gave bonus start because of having a series heartbreak and missing Elan and Riyria.
I mean, of course it was. The plot suffered the prequel curse - the ending was known and all the characters were safe, so there was no mystery, no multilayered storyline and the characters lacked their personalities.
If the story was supposed to be about becoming best of friends, around 1/3 of it was Hadrian just traveling and being naive. The heist plot that should have been the selling point of this novel, was rushed and rather boring. Then, of course, the worst part - switch from hatred and mistrust to partnership was abrupt and lacked plausibility.
This could have been so much more. (Continue to explore how legends are formed, clever heist action, character development that makes sense, no need to backtrack on previous’ series plot structure etc.)
It ended being rather lazy attempt to keep fan favorite characters in rotation for $$$.
Gave bonus start because of having a series heartbreak and missing Elan and Riyria.
I mean, of course it was. The plot suffered the prequel curse - the ending was known and all the characters were safe, so there was no mystery, no multilayered storyline and the characters lacked their personalities.
If the story was supposed to be about becoming best of friends, around 1/3 of it was Hadrian just traveling and being naive. The heist plot that should have been the selling point of this novel, was rushed and rather boring. Then, of course, the worst part - switch from hatred and mistrust to partnership was abrupt and lacked plausibility.
This could have been so much more. (Continue to explore how legends are formed, clever heist action, character development that makes sense, no need to backtrack on previous’ series plot structure etc.)
It ended being rather lazy attempt to keep fan favorite characters in rotation for $$$.
I really enjoy this world and its characters. I loved the extras by the other after the book finished