Theft of Swords

July 11, 2011
Sullivan succeeds with simplicity in his originally self-published epic fantasy debut. Hadrian Blackwater and Royce Melborn are a pair of thieves and mercenaries. They aren't mentioned in any prophecies or the lost heirs to anything; they're just criminals who happen to have hearts of gold. Going by the inexplicably pretentious shared name of "Riyria," they steal incriminating letters from a blackmailer, kidnap a young king to save his life, and protect a village menaced by a terrible monster. Along the way, they meet a clever princess, an unlucky monk, a 1,000-year-old wizard with no hands, and a naïve but heroic farm girl. There's even the beginning of a series story arc as the powerful Church of Nyphron secretly schemes to control the world. Hair-raising escapes, flashy sword fights, and faithful friendship complete the formula for good old-fashioned escapist fun.

Starred review from September 15, 2011

Together known as Riyria, Mercenary soldier Hadrian Blackwater and his partner, talented thief Royce Melborn, pride themselves on their ability to execute impossible tasks for the right price. When a commission to steal a sword leads to their implication in the murder of the king, the pair must rely on every skill they possess to save their lives--and some they discover along the way. Sullivan's debut, originally self-published as an ebook, became a Kindle best seller. Now this trilogy opener is presented in print, along with its succeeding volumes (Rise of Empire; Heir of Novron), to be published this December and January 2012, respectively. 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. VERDICT Fans of Fritz Leiber's classic "Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser" novels should welcome the adventures of Hadrian and Royce. A winning debut for fantasy lovers.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.