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A review by robinbridgefour
The Rose and the Thorn by Michael J. Sullivan
4.0
Another fantastic prequel of one of my favorite bromantic couples with Buddies Books and Baubles
Prequels, I’m usually not really interested in them. I mean once you know where the story goes do you really care about the origins of it? For most of the books I’ve read I’d say that it a big fat NO. But for Riyria and Michael J Sullivan the is a huge and resounding YES!!!!
Not only do we get to see how Royce and Hadrian finally solidified into a team and found their front man, we also get to see the beginnings of Royce and Gwen as a possible couple and a young Hilfred in the castle before the fire.
Since I read the Riyria Revelations first I know what a great team Hadrian and Royce are. But it is good to see some of the moments in the beginning. I thought that Royce was maybe a little tame for the dangerous killing assassin he was supposed to be. But after reading through this I can see where he got the reputation AND I can see how far Hadrian pushed him into being kinder later that is.
There are some great scenes in this book with just how cruel and bloodthirsty Royce can be when he realizes the people he cares for are in trouble.
Hadrian on the other had is pretty naïve when it comes to people and he is always looking for the best in them. I love watching how each man tries to convince the other that people are generally all good or all bad. Neither is quite right but together they probably make a semi well-adjusted person….almost. We all know that Gwen has always only had eyes for Royce and why but it was cute to see that maybe Hadrian would have liked to have met her under different conditions, but there is no way that he will betray his bro.
This is so true and against Hadrian’s character anyway. I’m glad that he is happy for the small comfort Royce feels when around Gwen.
Other than that I was really excited to see Hilfred’s origins. They were so different than I expected them to be and a blend of sad and heroic all the same time. A young Hilfred just becoming a guard and stumbling on a secret he wasn’t supposed to find. A plot in the castle to kill the Royal family and seeing Arista, Oreck and the Pickering Boys as children was a lot of fun.
Even the plots in the palace turned out different than expected and bravo to MJS for taking a story that has been told in the Riyria Revelations and make it just as intriguing as if you didn’t know already what the end result was going to be. There were still enough surprises that I was entertained and engaged the entire story.
Prequels, I’m usually not really interested in them. I mean once you know where the story goes do you really care about the origins of it? For most of the books I’ve read I’d say that it a big fat NO. But for Riyria and Michael J Sullivan the is a huge and resounding YES!!!!
Not only do we get to see how Royce and Hadrian finally solidified into a team and found their front man, we also get to see the beginnings of Royce and Gwen as a possible couple and a young Hilfred in the castle before the fire.
Since I read the Riyria Revelations first I know what a great team Hadrian and Royce are. But it is good to see some of the moments in the beginning. I thought that Royce was maybe a little tame for the dangerous killing assassin he was supposed to be. But after reading through this I can see where he got the reputation AND I can see how far Hadrian pushed him into being kinder later that is.
“So why are you helping her?”
“Because that’s what people do. They help each other. If you saw a man lying in the road with an arrow in him, you’d stop, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course,” Royce replied, “anyone would. A wounded man is easy pickings, unless you could see from your saddle that someone else has already taken his purse.”
“What? No! No one would rob a wounded man and leave him to die.”
Royce nodded. “Well, no. You’re right. If he has a purse and you take it, it’s best to slit his throat afterward. Too many people live through arrow wounds. You taught me that. No sense risking that he might come after you.”
There are some great scenes in this book with just how cruel and bloodthirsty Royce can be when he realizes the people he cares for are in trouble.
Hadrian on the other had is pretty naïve when it comes to people and he is always looking for the best in them. I love watching how each man tries to convince the other that people are generally all good or all bad. Neither is quite right but together they probably make a semi well-adjusted person….almost. We all know that Gwen has always only had eyes for Royce and why but it was cute to see that maybe Hadrian would have liked to have met her under different conditions, but there is no way that he will betray his bro.
“Anything you want to tell me?”
For one awful, selfish instant he imagined her saying something like, Hadrian, I’ve wanted to confess this to you ever since we first met, but it isn’t Royce I’m in love with… And what would he say? He knew what he’d like to say. He was just as smitten with her as Royce was, but he also knew that betraying Royce wouldn’t just be wrong or cruel—it would be fatal
This is so true and against Hadrian’s character anyway. I’m glad that he is happy for the small comfort Royce feels when around Gwen.
Other than that I was really excited to see Hilfred’s origins. They were so different than I expected them to be and a blend of sad and heroic all the same time. A young Hilfred just becoming a guard and stumbling on a secret he wasn’t supposed to find. A plot in the castle to kill the Royal family and seeing Arista, Oreck and the Pickering Boys as children was a lot of fun.
Even the plots in the palace turned out different than expected and bravo to MJS for taking a story that has been told in the Riyria Revelations and make it just as intriguing as if you didn’t know already what the end result was going to be. There were still enough surprises that I was entertained and engaged the entire story.