THEFT OF SWORDS, Riyria Revelations 1

Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds

Contemporary Epic Fantasy

This is a contemporary Epic Fantasy with two lead characters that are talented and always in the center of the action. By that I mean that the language is standard 21^st century English with few archaisms, and what genre story worth its salt would fail to make its protagonists top flight practitioners of their craft? The book is full of murder, political intrigue, religious corruption, conniving Dwarves, genocidal Elves, brave damsels, and a satisfying plot that drives the action. By the end of this first volume Sullivan takes the listener to see hidden prisons, Elven towers and hideous magical monsters. We are told that the future of mankind is at stake. Most importantly this novel tells an interesting story. The author has stated that this first volume starts slow and that the series really starts to take off in the next. I am anticipating learning what the whole thing is really about when I listen to volume two.

One piece of philosophical wisdom that struck me was this: “A Shark doesn’t eat fish because he likes seafood. He eats them because chickens don’t swim.”

Tim Gerard Reynolds narrates with a pleasant English accent. His various character voicings are easy to distinguish and sometimes brilliant, especially when he is delivering a bit of sarcasm, which the author has served up in plenty.