Heir of Novron (The Riyria Revelations, #5-6)

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Heir of Novron (The Riyria Revelations #5-6)

by Michael J. Sullivan (Goodreads Author)

4.48 of 5 stars 4.48 · rating details · 3,265 ratings · 348 reviews

A FORCED WEDDING. A DOUBLE EXECUTION. TWO THIEVES HAVE OTHER PLANS.
The New Empire intends to celebrate its victory over the Nationalists with a day that will never be forgotten. On the high holiday of Wintertide, they plan to execute two traitors (Degan Gaunt and the Witch of Melengar) as well as force the Empress into a marriage of their own design. But they didn’t accoun...more

Paperback, 895 pages

Published January 31st 2012 by Orbit

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Best Fantasy Books 2012

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Jul 17, 2012 Jonathan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: want, personal-favourites, fantasy, fantasy-sci-fi-challenge, favourite-series, humorous

I claim The Way of Kings, Part One and The Way of Kings Part Two as my favourite book read this year. However this novel would certainly have to be up the top as another of my favourite books read in 2012. Isn't it nice to know that when the world ends in December cough I'll at least have read some great books.

In my reviews for Theft of Swords and Rise of Empire I mentioned the fantasy genre and storytelling in general respectively. I want to do something different again and connect the two to...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Ron rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fantasy lovers

Recommended to Ron by: Jon

Shelves: fantasy, maps, signed

Book Five, Wintertide: Much better. A solid four stars. The main and sub-plots relate to each other and move the greater story of the series forward. Excellent story telling.

Book Six: Percepliquis: Outstanding. Like a great symphony, it builds to a crescendo of action and art. Most threads are neatly tied. Yes, this is how you end a series--with a bang. Sacrifice, forgiveness, redemption; oh yes, and lying, cheating and stealing. Some people aren't who they seem (and some of them don't even know...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Shawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just finished this series the other day. What a story!

I was pleasantly surprised by this series as I first read about it on a fantasy writers' forum: http://mythicscribes.com/forums/ - and then saw the hardcover of Theft of Swords at Chapters. Before reading the series, I read the free short story prequel The Viscount and the Witch and was hooked on the characters Royce and Hadrian. I bought Theft of Swords almost immediately.

This series has everything I look for in a good extended fantasy st...more

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Aug 12, 2012 T.L. Gray rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-downloaded

I’ve tried to take a little bit of reprieve before I wrote this review, to allow my emotions time to settle, but after a full two weeks, and reading another spectacular fantasy series in between, I don’t think they’re going anywhere. If anything, they’re solidifying, especially the feelings of sadness. Not only for the heartache at the loss of some of my favorite characters in this last part of the saga, but because the series came to an end. It reminds me a lot of how I felt at the end of Harry...more I’ve tried to take a little bit of reprieve before I wrote this review, to allow my emotions time to settle, but after a full two weeks, and reading another spectacular fantasy series in between, I don’t think they’re going anywhere. If anything, they’re solidifying, especially the feelings of sadness. Not only for the heartache at the loss of some of my favorite characters in this last part of the saga, but because the series came to an end. It reminds me a lot of how I felt at the end of Harry Potter. I cried for two days, but that was after I had invested several years following that particular journey. With Riyria Revelations, I’ve only recently discovered it, revealing how strong of an impact it made in such a short period of time. I hereby induct Michael J. Sullivan into the Evil Author’s Guild – for his love of killing off much beloved characters.

This series has a brilliant mix of riotous comedy, wondrous character development, and heart-breaking resolutions. Sullivan did such an excellent job of keeping the strongest elements of this story in a good balance, not allowing one component to overpower the others. As a fellow writer, I understand the difficulty of such a task. While reading Heir of Novron, knowing a conclusion waited on the horizon, Sullivan was able to keep me in the moment, but most all, able to keep my heart and emotions in the moment in order to break them.

While Hadrian and Royce has cemented themselves into my heart as strongly as Harry, Ron & Hermione, it’s some of the secondary characters that helped solidify my love for this series: Empress Modina (Thrace Wood), Amilia, Albert Winslow, Mince, Elbright, Brand, Kine, Gwen DeLancey, Princess Arista, the Pickerings – all of them, Myron Lananklin, Magnus, Esrahaddon, Wyatt Deminthal, and Sir Breckton Belstrad. Of course, there are all those bad guys too, but these are the characters that pilfered my heart. With so many fantasy series filling it pages with dozens upon dozens of characters, I find many of the main characters get lost in the melee, but Sullivan did a great job keeping Hadrian and Royce front and center.

Though I figured out early in the series the identity of the Heir of Novron, I still enjoyed experiencing every step, clue and adventure that brought out the revelation. I love the great mixture of all the elements of fantasy like: new worlds, colorful kingdoms, gods & goddesses, elves, dwarves, wizards, magical beasts, and everyday medieval elements like inns, thieves’ guilds and armies (reminding me a lot of the video game Assassin’s Creed). There’s a surprise at the ending, something I thought about in the first book, but then became so absorbed in the other elements of the story, I totally forgot. When it came about in the end, it really made me smile, and it added such a soft, pleasant touch to the story, especially coming after some really heart-breaking moments. That was I think the formula that made this series great – the balance of soft, hard and hilarious moments.

I’m trying to hard not to give away any plot points, it’s difficult, because it’s those particular points I found so exciting about this series. I guess all that I’m left with is this last sentiment: I love Michael J. Sullivan’s imagination. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray(less)

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Feb 18, 2013 Owlcat Mountain added it

I don't use star ratings, so please read the review!

(Description nicked from B&N.com.)

“The New Empire intends to mark its victory over the Nationalists with a bloody celebration. On the high holiday of Wintertide, the Witch of Melengar will be burned and the Heir of Novron executed. On that same day the Empress faces a forced marriage, with a fatal accident soon follow. The New Empire is confident in the totality of its triumph but there's just one problem--Royce and Hadrian have finally fou...more I don't use star ratings, so please read the review!

(Description nicked from B&N.com.)

“The New Empire intends to mark its victory over the Nationalists with a bloody celebration. On the high holiday of Wintertide, the Witch of Melengar will be burned and the Heir of Novron executed. On that same day the Empress faces a forced marriage, with a fatal accident soon follow. The New Empire is confident in the totality of its triumph but there's just one problem--Royce and Hadrian have finally found the true Heir of Novron---and they have their own holiday plans.”

Okay, I’ll just come out and say it: Michael J. Sullivan is officially one of my all-time favorite authors now. Holy cow, this duology was packed with action and surprises and red herrings and jaw-dropping revelations. I blazed through nearly 700 pages without a second thought. In fact, there’s so much that I loved about this book that it’s hard to know where to start.

First, we have the characters. Sullivan has done an excellent job of letting Royce, Hadrian, and the other long-running characters grow and change. We’ve watched Royce becoming slowly more compassionate, Hadrian acquiring a harder edge than we’ve previously seen, and the princess Arista going from pampered noble to tough survivor. In this volume, war comes to the fledgling Empire, and nobody is immune to the chaos and devastation it causes.

Next is the pacing. With the characters split into a couple of different locations, the author has to jump back and forth between storylines. He does so with a deft touch and a great instinct for where to leave the action of one plotline and turn to another. It kept me obsessively reading and even had me tempted to skip ahead chapters to see what happened next… except that the action right in front of me was just as interesting! Although this was evident throughout the entire series, it’s especially noticeable in this last book, as all the various hints and mysteries begin to unravel and come to light.

What I really loved about this book—and this series—is that the author doesn’t try to be edgy or dark or controversial. When he wrote this story, he just wanted to tell a good story, with some good characters. Because of this, you’ll see some themes or elements that are classic to fantasy novels, and you know what?... that’s okay. It’s more than okay. It’s all done so well that an incredible tale came out of these common tropes. There’s no sex, very little cursing, and what violence there is serves the plot and isn’t gratuitous.

Sullivan has given us lucky readers a story that is exciting, funny, dramatic, and tear-inducing by turns. I honestly cried a couple of times, caught my breath on a few occasions, and nearly screamed out loud near the end. And if that isn’t the sign of a great book, I don’t know what is. I cannot recommend Sullivan’s work highly enough. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, do yourself a huge favor and get them immediately. Trust me, when you get to the thrills and adventure of Heir of Novron, you’ll be glad you listened to me.

This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on January 25, 2013.(less)

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Jul 05, 2012 E. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

4 3/4 stars.
“Heir of Novron” is the third two volume set in the ‘Riyria Revelations’ fantasy series by Michael J. Sullivan. The first volume in this work, “Wintertide”, picks up immediately after the events in “Rise of Empire” as the plans proceed to unify the Empire using Modina (formerly known as Thrace) as a figurehead, manipulated by the vicious Regent Saldur. Hadrian and Royce (the duo which is sometimes called Riyria) have taken on the the virtually impossible task of rescuing Degan Gaunt...more 4 3/4 stars.
“Heir of Novron” is the third two volume set in the ‘Riyria Revelations’ fantasy series by Michael J. Sullivan. The first volume in this work, “Wintertide”, picks up immediately after the events in “Rise of Empire” as the plans proceed to unify the Empire using Modina (formerly known as Thrace) as a figurehead, manipulated by the vicious Regent Saldur. Hadrian and Royce (the duo which is sometimes called Riyria) have taken on the the virtually impossible task of rescuing Degan Gaunt from his imprisonment in the belief that he is the true Heir of Novron, little knowing that Princess Arista is languishing alongside him in horrific captivity. Modina has her own plans for Wintertide but so do all of those around her. The intricate game being played by all of the factions gets even more complicated when Royce’s archenemy Merrick joins the fray and makes his own gambit. The problem is, more forces are at work than ever imagined and the killer who is unleashed may wreak far more destruction than ever anticipated.

“Percepliquis”, the second tale in this volume, is the tale of the quest for the city named for Persephone, reputed to hold the Horn of Gylindora (Rhelacan) which is known by several names and purportedly will give the power to defeat the elves. An unlikely alliance is formed to search for the artifact but the very tenuous relationships threaten to fracture at the slightest provocation, especially since animosity between several of the members could end in bloodshed. The Empress must rally whomever she can to mount a last ditch defense, even as she inherits two young girls (and a raccoon) as wards to care for. The world may never be the same as more is unveiled about Novron and his legacy during a frantic race to prevent goblins or elves from annihilating mankind. Each person must search his or her core to determine what they can contribute to mankind’s defense but not everyone may be selfless enough to make the sacrifices required.

It is important to remember how much this author likes unpredictable developments. The cliffhanging endings to certain scenarios are continued, particularly the final remarkable development in “Wintertide” that I really wasn’t expecting even though I should have been. The ultimate book, “Percepliquis”, combines all of the traditional elements of the fantasy quest but certainly has its share of surprising diversions. The author’s facility for creating imaginative scenarios and entertaining fight scenes is showcased in this wonderful conclusion to the series and a number of loose threads are neatly tied off with quite a few eye-opening revelations. A fun read.

© Night Owl Reviews

Thank you to Goodreads and the author for providing a copy of this excellent tale!(less)

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Jul 08, 2012 Gray rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

In a weird way, I am very upset I get to write this review because that means the series is over, and that is a hard fact to accept. The series gets better and better with each book and culminates in one of the most satisfying endings to any series in any medium. I do not say that lightly as I am a film and TV fanatic.

Michael J Sullivan does a fantastic job drawing out all emotions from the readers. You will find yourself laughing one one page and tearing up on the next, and this is done so flui...more

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May 26, 2012 Bobbi Jo rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm writing a review and I'm not even half done. I believe my frustration is nearing completion, tho.
It has taken 4.5 books and 1644 pages to do it but I have finally experienced a "Gotcha!" moment. I'm elated for the author. There's a little problem, though. The only hints or indications in the book that I can recall (and it took me a couple of minutes to think of ANY) were vague references to geographical/architectural proximity.

***Spoiler*** Saying that Saldur's office is on the fourth floo...more I'm writing a review and I'm not even half done. I believe my frustration is nearing completion, tho.
It has taken 4.5 books and 1644 pages to do it but I have finally experienced a "Gotcha!" moment. I'm elated for the author. There's a little problem, though. The only hints or indications in the book that I can recall (and it took me a couple of minutes to think of ANY) were vague references to geographical/architectural proximity.

***Spoiler*** Saying that Saldur's office is on the fourth floor and Modina's room is on the fifth really isn't specific enough to have me draw a connection between the two.
***Further Spoiler/Criticism*** It's great to finally have Modina start showing some indications of an actual character rather than acting as a placeholder. She REALLY slammed him. My problem lies in the fact that it's so hard to believe she could deliver this performance right now. We have so little from her POV this whole series after she becomes "Modina" except that she's being catatonic. We only see her when other people are with her with very few exceptions. She hears discussion in a courtyard--I mean seriously, why would they be talking about THAT in such an open, obviously public, place?! Though, in retrospect, they were probably talking in his office. Still, these are supposed to be "very smart", very devious men who are discussing treasonous activity. They're not likely to yell their plans out a window.
This leads me to Yet Another Problem. I have to assume this building/fortress/castle is built of stone. You simply do not hear conversations through stone floors and walls. Ask people who live in apartments made of concrete if they hear their neighbors partying. The answer will be 'no' unless the windows or doors are open. Same concept.
Bringing me to: UGH. So many 'modern' concepts. I mean I know this isn't the planet Earth. Social norms did not have to develop the way they did here. But a "trash can" in his office? Why not a rubbish bin or something? Trash can is so this world and time. And many other anachronisms. It's all very jarring and throws you right out of this concept of a midieval world.
More to come, I'm sure.
EDIT: when they're in Ratibor in the final book, the cook says, "anywho"........ Seriously. And wtf? If we're trying to have her sound uneducated and frivolous show it in some way that fits the setting.
Also, why is Arista deferring to Alric? You're telling me that, with the fate off mankind on her shoulders, she is going to step back and let someone who's judgement she has repeatedly questioned "lead"? And why would any of the guys go along with it for that matter? None of them consider him smart enough to boil water unsupervised but they'll let him call the shots? I'm sorry, no one's ego is that precious.
I'm done. Nothing else surprised me but that I finished this series. Clearly there was something to it that drew me back but my conscious kind can't discern it.
This series is a shame. If Orbit would have had a professional editor even touch these books it would have helped. I'm not laying it all on the author. The publishing house has a responsibility to both the author and the readers of their books to actual proof and edit said books.(less)

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Feb 23, 2013 Clinton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: awesometastic

I dont know what to say besides..

I freakin love these books. This whole series was refreshing for me. It took me awhile, but I finally found a series where the characters aren't annoying, or retarded. The characters and the problems seem very realistic (Well as realistic as you can get in a land filled with magic and Elves).

There isnt a character in this series that got on my nerves and just made me feel like pushing them off a cliff (Edit: I just remembered Guant, he was the only one who I wish got struck with a laser beam from hell). I really liked most of the characters, ill miss Royce, Harieden, Artisa, Thrace and the rest.

I felt FEELS in this book/series and i really dont do that often, if at all. I felt a few man tears come down my face (Which is a lie because you can only have one tear come down your face for it to qualify as a man tear. So what may have looked like a few tears was really just one in disguise.)

Near the end (view spoiler) I really felt those feels.

I like the fact that this book kept me guessing for the most part about how things would turn out and who was who. I guessed correctly who Nimbus was but that was about it (I only figured it out in this book). I kinda guessed who Sith Lord Patriarch ended up being.

I have no complaints about pacing or detail or anything of that sort, there was alot of characters to keep track of though throughout the series.

You can tell this series was wrote together at once, because of how cohesive it is and how well everything works out. Everything comes together in this final novel and I have to say I was not disappointed in the end like I tend to be with alot of series. Michael also didnt follow The trademarked Snyder-Mead Bullshit Method™, which made me very happy.

The characters grew over the 6 books and the only thing I can complain about is i wont know what happens next because there wont be any more books after this one!(Besides the prequels coming soon!) Im glad I picked up these books and will be looking forward to Micheal's next books.(less)

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Apr 24, 2012 Phoebe ~Music Is My Life~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think that the Heir of Novron is one of the best books i've read so far! But, like all good series, it has to end. Micheal J. Sullivan gives the book unexpected twists and interesting turns, keeping the reader on the end of their seats, right up 'til the very end. I highly recomend this to anyone who likes humour mixed up with a bit of swordfighting, adventure, and moving mounds of 'stuff'.
It is a delightfully entertaining read, and I have never liked a book series as much as i liked this one!...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Bruna Bellini rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

WOW! For me it was like: forget the two previews books and pay attention to this one! That was the BEST book from The Riyria Revelations! I really enjoyed! A great quest, a good development of the characters, bounds created between them and a good surprise in the end!
The highest point for me, in this books, are the female characters. They are all very strong and powerful!
Royce and Hadrian's friendship is really good! It's always a great fun to read their parts on the story. Royce is such a bad...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, fantasy

I've had these books on my to read book shelf for years and finally got around to reading them. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed these books tremendously. After some of the books I've read in the past I loved the pace of the books and was delighted with the storyline. Things flowed smoothly and I liked most of the characters and found myself teary-eyed at one point of the book. So a good sign that I'm invested and I love being invested in a book and its characters. What I kept on thinking...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Karlt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic-fantasy

Having read Under Heaven a couple of months ago, I thought it was clearly the best fiction book I'd read all year. That's high praise knowing that I had read (listened to, on Audible) Frank Herbert's Dune earlier this year. And then, this series comes along and screws up my 2012 Book Ranking leaderboard. I read the entire trilogy in the space of a month, that's ~2300 pages total. I found myself looking forward to sitting down and reading the books every chance I got. Towards the end of the last...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Benjamin Love rated it 5 of 5 stars

Heir of Novron was amazing. So much so that I waited a full month before writing my review just to make sure its effects wouldn't wear off. They haven't.

If you haven't read the first two (Theft of Swords, Rise of Empire), do it now so you can feel that same sense of epic completion at the end of this one that I felt. This series attains something you don't see much in Epic Fantasy: the characters feel very personal while the plot revolves around a changing world. I was actually a little sad at t...more Heir of Novron was amazing. So much so that I waited a full month before writing my review just to make sure its effects wouldn't wear off. They haven't.

If you haven't read the first two (Theft of Swords, Rise of Empire), do it now so you can feel that same sense of epic completion at the end of this one that I felt. This series attains something you don't see much in Epic Fantasy: the characters feel very personal while the plot revolves around a changing world. I was actually a little sad at the end. Don't get me wrong: I rushed through the story, hardly putting it down. But, at the end, I just wished there were another three books waiting for me, or something. This is not a bad thing, it's something else the series accomplishes wonderfully: a sense of closure with just a hint at the fact that the story is still being told.

I recommend this for anybody who likes Fantasy, character-driven stories, humorous dialogue, or just a well-developed, epic plot. I just about cried at the end, it was so satisfying.

You can really tell that the whole story was thought out (or fully written) before ink went to paper. I love when stories do this (see: Avatar: the Last Airbender), and the world was fleshed out and interesting enough to make me want to visit (I wonder if writing fan fiction would help?). I think Michael J. Sullivan is the master of developing characters I might be scared to meet in person, or would brush me off without a second glance at the beginning, but I would want to hang out with at the end. His characters progress and change so fluidly that you only really notice it when the character themselves think about how much they've changed. I'd also like to point out that the female characters are just simply amazing! It's refreshing that none of them are scantily clad warrior/rogues that, deep down, just need a man to hold them. They're strong and independent, and the male characters are just as vulnerable.

As far as setting and magic: It's mostly basic secondary world fantasy. The big difference being in the races and the politics between them. I love that elves and dwarfs are treated like animals by the humans, only to be nearly destroyed and then saved by a few members of these races. The magic was a bit lacking: no explanation of how it works, it just does (which isn't a bad thing; it keeps it mysterious).

My only complaints: Like I said, how magic works was never explained, and is just a little too powerful, making it almost Deus ex Machina. Also, one of my great joys in reading a book (especially now with a Kindle that let's me simply hi-light) is finding typos. I had to read through three entire books before finding the one typo in the whole series! And all it was was just a little "She noded" instead of "nodded". C'mon!

Overall; 5/5. I am still kind of new to Fantasy fiction, but I still maintain that this is one of the best new series in Fantasy. It's a good read whether you're into this sort of thing, or not. do yourself a favor and read it.(less)

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Feb 12, 2012 Marcela (BookaholicCat) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4 ½ Stars

Heir of Novron is the third omnibus in The Riyria Revelations series by Michael J. Sullivan, this installment contains the fifth and sixth and last books in the series: Wintertide and Percepliquis.

Usually writing a review for a book you love is an easy task, but when the book you are reviewing is the last and final installment of one of your favorite series writing its review can be heartbreaking. This is the case with this one, I want to write so many great things about Heir of Novron...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Anthony DiCostanzo rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I read a book i want to care for the characters. I want to care whether they live or die. I want to care what happens to them in the end. Percepliquis is so full of emotion I had chills multiple times. This series was fantastic. After I read Wintertide I thought it couldn't possible get any better. And then comes Percepliquis and absolutely sweeps u away. There was really only one thing that I saw coming but it was so great I didn't mind it at all. Percepliquis is definitely one of the best...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am eager to start this series. I read The Viscount and The Witch which was fantastic!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just finished this book and I am sad this was the last book. YES it was THAT GOOD! I couldn't put it down. It held my interest the whole time. My only "complaint" if you can really call it that (which you can't) is I wish there would have been more revealed about Royce's background. You get a pretty clear sense of Hadrian's past but I felt there were a few loose ends regarding...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Seb rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-physical

"Heir of Novron", and by extension The Riyria Revelations quickly became my favourite book series, and the first books I'll be re-reading this year. Some have said that it isn't an unique story, and I would have to disagree - maybe the basic elements aren't unique (but then again, Fantasy is a hard genre to bring unique elements to) but the way they were written and mixed together brought forth a unique and loveable story that is so easy to read and follow. With an engaging plot, amazing charact...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Ed Napiorkowski rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm enjoying the final book and anticipate I will be at a bit of a loss when the last words have been read and the tale draws to a close. Sure there are other books waiting on my "to be read" list but have sincerely enjoyed the unfolding of this tale and getting to know the characters along the way.

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Aug 17, 2012 Jax rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, fantasy

Absolutely Brilliant!!

I am confounded as to words that could adequately express how much I enjoyed this Series!
I found myself holding my breath in certain places, quite literally bouncing around my lounge in glee, cackling like a mad scientist and of course grinning like an idiot to absolutely no-one!
I simply could not put it down!

A Fantastic conclusion to an absolutely spellbinding saga!
I'm sad to have finished the tale of Royce, Hadrian, Arista, Alric and so many many more awesome characters,...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Maddie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the best books I have ever read! I love the entire series, but Mr. Sullivan outdid himself this time! The dialogue was witty, the quest was desperate, the twists where totally unexpected, and the character development was spot on! My only complaint was that it ended. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good well written action story with a good measure of hilarity and just a dash of romance, plus the lack of bad langue of inappropriate scenes makes it perfect for eve...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Bryan Ewert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic! From the first page of book #1 (The Crown Conspiracy) to the last page in book #6 (Percepliquis), this entire series never let me down.

It's a rare treat when I find a series that sucks me in so completely that when I lift my eyes from the page I realize that an hour has passed and my coffee has gone cold. The Riyria Revelations is indeed a rare treat. I loved it.

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Jan 15, 2012 Tyson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Heir of Novron is a combination of the fifth and sixth book in the series. The final books. I have had the pleasure of reading the fifth book, but like all of Sullivan's fans, I am eager to finally see the amazing series come to a close.

My review for the fifth book can be found here:

Wintertide

And book six here:

Percepliquis

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Apr 13, 2013 Kiriri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Even though the plot in the previous 4 books was already quite transparent, the plot in this book is obvious from the very beginning. The author actually repeats relevant information so many times, that the reader can't help but notice that they must be important for the plot, even if they are put into the context of stories or rumors. This in and of itself would not be too bad, I mean classic tragedy does the same thing and lots of people love it, but the difference between tragedy and this typ...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Kyle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Heir of Novron is an omnibus that contains book five, Wintertide, and book six, Percepliquis, in the “Riyria Revelations” series. Both of these books redeemed the series for me, and I found them a good, satisfying conclusion to the story. These two books focus a lot more on political intrigue and there is a fun archeological type journey in the last book as the story finds it way to the lost city of Percepliquis.

I especially enjoyed the author’s view of what it means to be a knight, as personifi...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-to-reread-again

Hadrian and Royce are back and just in time for some major events including a Wintertide execution. The Church of Nyphron has seemingly taken hold of all the cards and are willing to get rid of anyone who stands in way of their fledgling empire. But behind all of this is the threat of the return of elves.
Wow. Wow. I almost felt like crying or laughing as I read the final chapters. I just couldn’t believe it was over. This was an amazing series. Possibly just because it was good to read somethin...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This series really won me over. After reading the first two-book volume, I admitted to myself that I liked it, and that I was going to order and read the rest of the series. But I thought to myself, "Guilty pleasure material, nothing more." Yes, it's cliche. Yes, the dwarves are great craftsmen, the elves mysterious and superior to men, the wizards wise and inscrutable and not far removed from the gods. Yes, many scenes read as if snatched from Dungeons and Dragons (R) (TM) (C) scenarios, probab...more This series really won me over. After reading the first two-book volume, I admitted to myself that I liked it, and that I was going to order and read the rest of the series. But I thought to myself, "Guilty pleasure material, nothing more." Yes, it's cliche. Yes, the dwarves are great craftsmen, the elves mysterious and superior to men, the wizards wise and inscrutable and not far removed from the gods. Yes, many scenes read as if snatched from Dungeons and Dragons (R) (TM) (C) scenarios, probably played (if not Dungeonmaster'd (R) (TM) (C)) by the author himself. True, the plot bears no small degree of Campbell-ian resemblance to Star Wars (and every other work of epic fiction, ever). True, the author leans on the reader's knowledge -- gleaned from Tolkien et al. -- of how these characters and these races, these player classes and NPCs, are "meant" to behave.

But to my ear, the politics of it all rings true. Not as dark as George R. R. R. R. R. Tolkien-I-mean-Martin's political intrigues, Sullivan's twists and turns are nonetheless satisfying. The bad guys get their comeupance, the good guys win in the end, as you know they will, but not quite how. The religious plotlines are obvious and yet somehow uplifting all the same.

I just couldn't stop reading. I wasted two days, reading books 3-6 nonstop and getting no work done. Do I feel bad at the obligations I neglected? Sure. Was it a waste of time? Definitely. Do I regret it? No.

Discovering and reading this series was a breath of fresh air. Unlike the Game of Throne series, it was all wrapped up in a neat little package, essentially every loose thread tied up by the end. That is immensely satisfying for the reader, and something I don't really believe Martin will be able to accomplish in the end. Unlike Tolkien, Sullivan never bored me. Much like those of Rothfuss -- whose books I admire more than almost any other works of fantasy -- the Riyria books exhibit an awareness of moral complexity and subtlety. Sullivan's Vader (Bishop Saldur) is an evil sadistic alcoholic nutjob, but he has in mind a vision of a better world. Sullivan's Darth Sidious (Thranic) is motivated by Hitleresque tendencies towards unspeakable acts of ethnic elf-cleansing, and yet there is more to the story because Sullivan's Emporer (the Patriarch) is -- SPOILERS -- a fucked up insane elf lord wizard. Sullivan's Boba Fett (Marius Merrick) is just awesome, even if the chess metaphors are tiresome.

But Princess Arista/Leia, Hadrian/Hand Solo, Royce/Luke Skywalker, Arcadius-Esrahaddon-Myron/Yoda, Magnus/Chewbacca, Wyatt/Lando Calrisian, and all the rest are a joy. If you can't lose yourself in these books then you're probably not human. When they make them into a TV series, the adaptation will be easier than and the results probably superior to HBO's Game of Thrones.(less)

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Jul 27, 2012 Sham27 rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is it.

Every beginning has an ending and this series ends with Heir of Novron.

This was how I felt when I finished this book.

description

I can only say this-WOW,WOW & WOW!!!!

This book has it all. This is my favorite book in the series. I really loved the writing style of this whole series. It's like I am standing right next to them and witnessing all those stuff-totally wicked!
As for the characters, Royce & Hadrian will always be one of my favorite protagonist and Myron was awesome! The female c...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Jojo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite

I chose to wait until summer before reading this big boy and it was a good thing I did. The minute I started, there was no stopping me. It's quite an ending to the series and worth a few sleepless nights. Many questions were answered so nice and neatly!

The characters are stunning, as always. In some ways, I'd say Sullivan did even better than before. I found it fascinating, watching (I guess I mean reading, haha) some of the characters struggle between who they were and who they want to be. It...more I chose to wait until summer before reading this big boy and it was a good thing I did. The minute I started, there was no stopping me. It's quite an ending to the series and worth a few sleepless nights. Many questions were answered so nice and neatly!

The characters are stunning, as always. In some ways, I'd say Sullivan did even better than before. I found it fascinating, watching (I guess I mean reading, haha) some of the characters struggle between who they were and who they want to be. It says a lot that I end up loving all the characters (well, except for a select few). Even the antagonists. They were trying so hard to do what they thought was right that I couldn't seriously hate them. I still think Luis Guy is a jerk though. Also, every single loss is heartfelt. And believe me, there WILL be losses. This was the only author, aside from Mercedes Lackey, that made me feel absolutely miserable...but in a good way!

I really appreciated how there was no wasted character. Everyone had a part to play in the story. I wracked my brain to think of anything even the most nitpicky reader might dislike and ,short of making stuff up, I got nothing. I can only say that you have to be absolutely bonkers to hate on this book. However, there are a few points that I was curious about. Perhaps I missed it but what happened to the boys in the end?

Pros: Great characters growth, plenty of twists and surprises, action-packed and has a good pace.
Con:...Uhhh, whatever I read next is going to be compared to a very high standard.

Overall, a strong end to the best series I've read in a long while. This book was much more serious compared to the other two but there are still plenty of chuckle-worthy dialogue. I'm glad I was lucky enough to come upon this series (definitely need more love from the world, by the way). The journey was a blast and I really will miss Hadrian, Royce, Arista, Gwen, Myron, and the rest of the characters. Let's all cross our fingers and hope for more, eh? ;)(less)

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May 07, 2012 Mitchell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-fantasy

This review is really for the last two books of this series, as I cruised through them so fast, and they are not that long, so it was more like one longer book. Obviously, I really enjoyed this series. On Amazon, the reviews often mention how Sullivan bucks the trend of darker, grittier fantasy in the vein of GRRM, and that's true. That's not to say that everyone survives, or that everything works out perfectly at the end, but overall the story is uplifting and often humorous. The great thing ab...more

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About Michael J. Sullivan

After finding a manual typewriter in the basement of a friend's house, Michael inserted a blank piece of paper and typed: It was a dark and stormy night and a shot rang out. He was just eight years old at the time. But the desire to fill the blank page and see what doors the typewriter keys would unlock wouldn't let him go. For ten years Michael developed his craft by studying authors such as Step...more

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Books by Michael J. Sullivan

Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2)

Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)

The Crown Conspiracy (The Riyria Revelations, #1)

Nyphron Rising (The Riyria Revelations, #3)

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Quotes from Heir of Novron

“Happiness comes from moving toward something. When you run away, ofttimes you bring your misery with you.” — 21 people liked it

“See, that’s the difference,” Mauvin said. “I suffer a loss and people console me. Royce suffers a loss and whole towns evacuate.” — 20 people liked it

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Heir of Novron (The Riyria Revelations #5-6)

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