The Riyria Revelation is a multi-book saga that tells one
story in six episodes, rather than a string of sequels based
on the first book. The entire epic was completed
before the first novel went to press allowing for a tale
that unfolds across the whole breadth of the series, with
secrets deliberately hinted at in one book being fulfilled in
later novels and some saved to the very end. Yet despite this,
each book is a full episode, with its own beginning, middle
and end, which can be enjoyed independently.
There's no orphan destined to save
the world, nor ultimate evil to be slain...
just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time
trying to survive.
Set
in an era of knights and kings it is a world dominated by
mankind surrounded by a sea of uncharted wilderness and lost
knowledge. Elves, once slaves, live in squalor shunned by
respectable citizens. Dwarves remain isolated in ghettos,
valued for their skills, but restricted from human
society. A world
of divided kingdoms left in the wake of a once grand empire
now lost to a mythical past. It is a story of swordfights,
castle sieges, mythical creatures, sea battles, magic, romance
and intrigue where not everything is as it seems and shadows
lengthen with each book. What begins as an exciting but simple
turn of events in the first novel, grows into a decidedly
serious and eventually frightening, spiral of lies and murders
whose ultimate purpose remains a mystery.
"Hair-raising
escapes, flashy sword fights, and faithful friendship complete
the formula
for good old-fashioned
escapist fun.
"
-- Publisher's Weekly
The
series is intentionally written with a "light hand" avoiding
long-winded descriptions of unfamiliar names in order to keep
the pace rolling. The result is a story that creates depth
though the plot, characters, action and dialog, rather than
narration.
"This
series has been perhaps the biggest (and most pleasant)
surprise I have stumbled upon
in recent years of
reading fantasy.
"
-- Suite 101
The
series is the story of individuals, of characters readers care
about, and believe in, despite their flaws; of antagonists who
aren't the enemy merely because they are "evil". It is
escapist entertainment that once begun, may be hard to
escape.
"Filled
with adventure and clever dialog and featuring a pair of
not-quite-heroes whose loyalties to
each other provide
them with their greatest strength, this epic fantasy showcases
the arrival of
a master storyteller."
-- Library Journal (starred review)
