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Theft of Swords Audiobook
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(4.00) - 5,861 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
Theft of Swords was selected as one of the Library Journal's and Barnes and Noble's Best Fantasy and Science Fiction Books in 2011. The first installment in the best selling and mesmerizing Riyria Revelation series, Theft of Swords is divided into two books--The Crown Conspiracy and Avemparth--and introduces protagonists Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater.
Royce and Hadrian are two resourceful thieves unwittingly set on an adventure in order to escape being framed for the death of a king. Caught in a mammoth conspiracy, they soon realize that their only way out is by unravelling an ancient mystery, before it's too late.
Moving at a light but rapid pace at the beginning, this fantasy saga gains depth and complexity with each successive part. Both like-able and realistic, the personalities of Royce--a young man with cocky swagger and mean sword fighting skills--and Hadrian--his counterpart with a more straight laced, wise demeanor--play well off of one another throughout the series and have become beloved heroes to fans worldwide.
Michael J. Sullivan is both an artist and an author. He is best known for his epic fantasy, the Riyria cycle, which has been translated into fourteen languages. The Riyria Revelations is a six book series and The Riyria Chronicles is an ongoing collection of fiction. The latter focuses on the early mischief and mayhem of the two main protagonists Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater. In 2012, io9 named Sullivan one of the most successful self-published sci-fi and fantasy authors.
"I found this novel very enjoyable. Before I get into the story, I would point out that this audiobook includes 2, discrete, novels. Calling this "volume 1" is not a marketing ploy as standing in for "Book 1." Both are excellent.The first novel really draws you in while introducing you to the world. While there is a place for the kind of fantasy that just throws you into the world and waiting for you to catch up, that's not what this is. The world itself is understandable and relatable at the start, with hints of something much bigger. As an example, the magic is, at least while you are getting acclimated, but a glimmer in your peripheral vision.As you would expect in this genre, as things develop, especially as we move to the second novel, things start to become more complex. You are introduced to what might be going on behind the curtains. Unlike some other fantasy novels, I found this to develop naturally and the "world-building" doesn't feel like it is being forced as a method for the story to keep on going.As for the narration, I found it engaging and a great fit for this material. For some reason, fantasy narration is often done in a monotone, kind of high-brow style (I sometimes think publishers hear "fantasy," think "wizard," and pick someone who sounds like one). Thankfully, that is not the case here. The characters are disguisable, and the mood is right for the story."
— Billy (5 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
Acclaimed author Michael J. Sullivan created instant best-sellers with his spellbinding Riyria Revelations series. This first volume introduces Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater, two enterprising thieves who end up running for their lives when they're framed for the death of the king. Trapped in a conspiracy bigger than they can imagine, their only hope is unraveling an ancient mystery-before it's too late.
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Quotes
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“Mr. Sullivan continues to impress. In Royce and Hadrian he has created some of the best characters the genre has seen in some time, and in Avempartha he shows that he knows what to do with them. These books should be in every bookstore and I really hope that they are someday.”
— Speculative Fiction Junkie -
“A whirlwind of twists, earth-shattering surprises and deadly betrayal.”
— Literary Magic -
“Sullivan succeeds with simplicity in his originally self-published epic fantasy debut ... Hair-raising escapes, flashy sword fights, and faithful friendship complete the formula for good old-fashioned escapist fun.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“This epic fantasy showcases the arrival of a master storyteller.”
— Library Journal
Awards
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A 2013 Audie Award Finalist for Fantasy
Theft of Swords Listener Reviews
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Micah gorbey, 1/21/2024
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Scott Ouderkirk, 11/19/2022
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DocTuck, 8/11/2022
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goharper, 9/12/2020
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adriana sandu, 7/30/2020
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" I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy. Love the characters, the plot is always unpredictable and the humor makes it very enjoyable. Also, well read (acted) by Tim Reynolds. "
— Stephen, 5/3/2019 -
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Thomas, 3/14/2018
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" Hat's off to the members of audiobookstore.com! I was just finishing a Diana Galbadon book from the Outlander series and noticed the "readers who enjoyed this book might like" section and it said "Theft of Swords". it got great write-ups so I said to myself, why not. I abosultely loved it! I can't wait to get to the next in the series. "
— Chap, 10/26/2016 -
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Mike Chow, 10/1/2016
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William Stockwell, 10/1/2014
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Dani Rossean, 7/1/2014
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" Fun story, light hearted read. "
— Bookwirm, 2/18/2014 -
" very fun dialogue between the two thieves. They are chivalrous, bodacious, courageous, and very committed to their word. This is the first book in a trilogy. am looking forward to the next 2 "
— Cnelsonquilt, 2/5/2014 -
" OK, probably a 4.5 to be truthful. Good adventure story, with excellent lead characters, who are portrayed as mercenaries, even though they are of high morales: Hadrian Blackwater, a top caliber swordsman, and Royce Melborn, a thief from a fabled sect. First they are hired to recover a sword and become patsies for regicide in the first of two stories; however, they rescue the prince and go off to seek the truth. Then, in the second story, they work for next-to-nothing to save a heart-broken father and their village from a conjured demon. "
— Skip, 2/4/2014 -
" Loved this book. Having seen the amount of good feedback on good reads, I thought I better give it a try. The characters are brilliant and you find yourself dying to turn the next page to keep up with their epic adventure! The storyline is great with just enough magic and sorcery as to not take over the characters. Please give this book a try and I know you won't be disappointed. I'm already in the process of downloading the next instalment. "
— Stephen, 1/20/2014 -
" This one was pretty good. I mean from page one it was pretty good. Royce and Hadrian are memorable characters that the reader will instantly identify with. Now I must admit, by the end of the book, you really see what's coming a long way off. Even so, it didn't make the story any less enjoyable! This is a series I'll definitely be getting the next book as soon as I'm able to. My only compaint is that we don't see a lot of detail when fighting comes up. It's mostly block, parry, riposte in that order. I would have liked to have see a little more in the details about how magic works in this world. But besides that, It was a great read and an excellent start to the series. Really looking forward to the second volume! "
— Ben, 1/18/2014 -
" 5 stars. This was a great book. I loved the world the author created. It wasn't overly complicated but still interesting. And I loved the thiefs! Can't wait to learn more about them. "
— Maralee, 1/9/2014 -
" very good book. i really like the story. the characters were not too in-depth, but the good story really made up for that fault. the fact that the cover art is actually from a scene in the book is nice too. overall a really good solid book to read. "
— Sa'id, 12/20/2013 -
" I got sucked in, great story! "
— Emily, 11/25/2013 -
" Super fun fantastical read. So masterfully written I wanted to cry. Michael J. Sullivan draws the reader in to the world he's created and makes them wish they didn't have to leave. I miss reading a book with good dialogue and Michael J. Sullivan is a pro. "
— Hamilton, 9/10/2013 -
" Started reading series as $1 e-book. Was pleasantly surprised by the likeable characters, great story and humor. Turned into a great series and highly recommend if you enjoy fantasy books. "
— John, 5/25/2013 -
" OK start, we'll see how it develops... "
— Thomas, 4/1/2013 -
" Just finished reading The Crown Conspiracy and I loved it!!! It was funny and adventurous. I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!!!! "
— dksport03, 1/16/2013 -
" This is a volume that contains the first two books of the series. I enjoyed it, or them, and I will read the next one. The characters are interesting, the story is good, even though certain parts are predictable. The writing is clumsy at times, but the pace is good. "
— Bobbi, 1/14/2013 -
" This series is AMAZING! Even my husband loved it and he barley reads and definitely is not usually a fantasy series fan. Great character development, humor, action and just the right touch of romance. HIGHLY recommend "
— Natty, 11/14/2012 -
" Sullivan's mix of humor, mythology, religion, and action, along with great characters and story made this series a great read! "
— Rick, 10/2/2012 -
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PW, 7/2/2012
About Michael J. Sullivan
Michael J. Sullivan is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. His debut series, the Riyria Revelations, has sold more than 265,000 copies. The series has also been translated to thirteen foreign languages. His success led him into mainstream publishing where he was awarded the 2010 Iceberg Ink Review’s Best Fantasy Novel Award, among others.
About Tim Gerard Reynolds
Tim Gerard Reynolds is an established audiobook narrator who has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards and was a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for Best Fantasy Narration. He trained for the stage at the Samuel Beckett Center at Trinity College in Dublin and the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in New London, Connecticut.