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A review by esmayrosalyne
Age of Empyre by Michael J. Sullivan
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.0
First read 2021: 4.5 stars
Second read 2025: 4 stars
Even if I enjoyed this finale slightly less than I remembered from my first read, I still stand by almost everything I said in my original review and I 100% consider Legends of the First Empire to be one of my all-time favourite series.
Sullivan just writes fantasy exactly how I like it, and coming back to this series honestly felt like coming home. I do feel like my reading tastes have changed a bit since my first read, which I especially noticed in moments where the resolution of internal/external conflicts felt a bit unrealistic and too heavy-handed on the moralizing. Like, some bits of dialogue almost felt like 'therapy talk', for lack of a better term, which made me roll my eyes more than a few times.
However, comma, all that saidddd, I still had an absolute blast with this re-read, and ultimately I think this has to be one of the most satisfying finales I have ever read. In my original review upon my first read, I mentioned feeling like the ending was a bit anti-climactic, but I did not feel that way at all this time around. Just perfectly executed personal arcs and overarching story arc, such masterful storytelling!
Needless to say, just go read this series if you haven't already, it's a true gem. And now I am even more excited to continue the World of Elan adventure with my (long overdue) first read of The Rise and Fall series and eventually reunite with my boys Royce and Hadrian. My heart is so full!
********************************
4.5 stars
Oh man, when I first started reading this series I did not expect to become this invested in these characters and now I am not ready to leave them all behind.
I can't even begin to describe how much I care() for everyone in this story, and some scenes really got me in the feels. Were I to rate this book purely on the characterwork and the level of investment, this would be a full 5 stars.
However, there were some things about the plot that made me knock off half a star. Somehow the ending to this series felt a bit anticlimactic? I am not sure why I feel that way, but ever since Age of War there has been this build-up to something, and I don't feel 100% satisfied with the pay-off. That being said, there are multiple storylines and most of them did end very beautifully in my opinion.
This world is so intricate and I loved how we got to explore basically the conception and history of all these different races, such as the Belgriclungreians, the different types of Fhrey and the Rhunes.
I am a sucker for stories with gods walking among the mortals and that is definitely present in this series. Sullivan adds some flavour to that trope by keeping it a mystery which characters might be more than they seem to be, so it is all quite mysterious and fun to see unravel.
Since this is basically a prequel series to the Riyria books, there are some cool connections you can find if you keep an eye out for them. Believe it or not, there are even some character cross-overs (which I will not spoil), despite the millenia that divide these different series. Reading this series has also made me want to reread The Riyria Revelations/Chronicles, because I just can't get enough of Sullivan's writing. Luckily, Sullivan is releasing a brand new series (a bridge series between this one and the Riyria books) and I cannot wait to read the first book later this year. Just based on the title of that book (Nolyn), I am expecting that I will love it.
Michael said in his afterword: "The stories I write might be fantasy, but the depiction of the feelings people share for each other is real." And that is exactly what makes these books so memorable; the characters, with all their flaws, pains, loves and losses, feel real and genuine, and they can live rent-free in my heart until eternity.
I highly recommend this series to all those who loves their fantasy with a truly epic scope but an intimate focus on character development and the interpersonal relationships, be that familial, platonic or romantic. I loved it and I am sure that I will come back to this series time and time again over the years!
Second read 2025: 4 stars
Even if I enjoyed this finale slightly less than I remembered from my first read, I still stand by almost everything I said in my original review and I 100% consider Legends of the First Empire to be one of my all-time favourite series.
Sullivan just writes fantasy exactly how I like it, and coming back to this series honestly felt like coming home. I do feel like my reading tastes have changed a bit since my first read, which I especially noticed in moments where the resolution of internal/external conflicts felt a bit unrealistic and too heavy-handed on the moralizing. Like, some bits of dialogue almost felt like 'therapy talk', for lack of a better term, which made me roll my eyes more than a few times.
However, comma, all that saidddd, I still had an absolute blast with this re-read, and ultimately I think this has to be one of the most satisfying finales I have ever read. In my original review upon my first read, I mentioned feeling like the ending was a bit anti-climactic, but I did not feel that way at all this time around. Just perfectly executed personal arcs and overarching story arc, such masterful storytelling!
Needless to say, just go read this series if you haven't already, it's a true gem. And now I am even more excited to continue the World of Elan adventure with my (long overdue) first read of The Rise and Fall series and eventually reunite with my boys Royce and Hadrian. My heart is so full!
********************************
4.5 stars
Oh man, when I first started reading this series I did not expect to become this invested in these characters and now I am not ready to leave them all behind.
I can't even begin to describe how much I care() for everyone in this story, and some scenes really got me in the feels. Were I to rate this book purely on the characterwork and the level of investment, this would be a full 5 stars.
However, there were some things about the plot that made me knock off half a star. Somehow the ending to this series felt a bit anticlimactic? I am not sure why I feel that way, but ever since Age of War there has been this build-up to something, and I don't feel 100% satisfied with the pay-off. That being said, there are multiple storylines and most of them did end very beautifully in my opinion.
This world is so intricate and I loved how we got to explore basically the conception and history of all these different races, such as the Belgriclungreians, the different types of Fhrey and the Rhunes.
I am a sucker for stories with gods walking among the mortals and that is definitely present in this series. Sullivan adds some flavour to that trope by keeping it a mystery which characters might be more than they seem to be, so it is all quite mysterious and fun to see unravel.
Since this is basically a prequel series to the Riyria books, there are some cool connections you can find if you keep an eye out for them. Believe it or not, there are even some character cross-overs (which I will not spoil), despite the millenia that divide these different series. Reading this series has also made me want to reread The Riyria Revelations/Chronicles, because I just can't get enough of Sullivan's writing. Luckily, Sullivan is releasing a brand new series (a bridge series between this one and the Riyria books) and I cannot wait to read the first book later this year. Just based on the title of that book (Nolyn), I am expecting that I will love it.
Michael said in his afterword: "The stories I write might be fantasy, but the depiction of the feelings people share for each other is real." And that is exactly what makes these books so memorable; the characters, with all their flaws, pains, loves and losses, feel real and genuine, and they can live rent-free in my heart until eternity.
I highly recommend this series to all those who loves their fantasy with a truly epic scope but an intimate focus on character development and the interpersonal relationships, be that familial, platonic or romantic. I loved it and I am sure that I will come back to this series time and time again over the years!