Publication
Ridan Publishing (2010), 380 pages
Original publication date
2010-10
Collection
Description
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 account for Royce and Hadrian finally locating the Heir of Novron-or the pair's desire to wreak havoc on the New Empire's carefully crafted scheme.
User reviews
LibraryThing member MelHay
Royce and Hadrian ride in to Aquesta ragged and cold from the journey. Many people are coming to Aquesta for the upcoming Wintertide Celebration, one month away. The news has spread that Modina is to be married and the Nationalist leader Degan Gaunt will be executed, all as part of the
Not only do we meet new characters, but all the old ones are back in this installment. I got a chuckle at the beginning of this book with the small group of young thieves we meet. But, by now we are all well acquainted with the characters and ready for Michael to bring them back to life for us, seeing as its been six months since I was diverse into Emerald Storm Michael does a wonderful job of quick, detailed and eventful reintroductions to refresh our memories and draw us into their dilemmas again. I was excited to be back into this world ~ its comfortable to me and I want to see where we are going with the situations the characters were left in, in Emerald Storm. As it turned out I was through this book within three days. As soon as I started, I couldn't put it down. I just had to know what would happen to these characters left in a little bit of a tight spot.
Michael did a great job of setting up for this book with the previous ones and using what he had available in all aspects of the world. There is nothing new pulled out of thin air or make you wonder 'where did that come from', everything we need and know have been laid out for us, but now tied together to answer questions for us. Many of the smaller unknowns and lose ends are tied up here. All this done within a captivating story in which Michael brings all the characters together and to a demise, good or bad. As we get answers to some of the questions left open we are prepared with some thoughts and cues we may have forgotten or set aside in our minds, to be ready to dive into the conclusion of the series.
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celebrations. Melengar has fallen to the Imperial Empire. With this many worries come to mind... How's Gwen? Arista? Alric? So much to happen and worry about and questions to answer.Not only do we meet new characters, but all the old ones are back in this installment. I got a chuckle at the beginning of this book with the small group of young thieves we meet. But, by now we are all well acquainted with the characters and ready for Michael to bring them back to life for us, seeing as its been six months since I was diverse into Emerald Storm Michael does a wonderful job of quick, detailed and eventful reintroductions to refresh our memories and draw us into their dilemmas again. I was excited to be back into this world ~ its comfortable to me and I want to see where we are going with the situations the characters were left in, in Emerald Storm. As it turned out I was through this book within three days. As soon as I started, I couldn't put it down. I just had to know what would happen to these characters left in a little bit of a tight spot.
Michael did a great job of setting up for this book with the previous ones and using what he had available in all aspects of the world. There is nothing new pulled out of thin air or make you wonder 'where did that come from', everything we need and know have been laid out for us, but now tied together to answer questions for us. Many of the smaller unknowns and lose ends are tied up here. All this done within a captivating story in which Michael brings all the characters together and to a demise, good or bad. As we get answers to some of the questions left open we are prepared with some thoughts and cues we may have forgotten or set aside in our minds, to be ready to dive into the conclusion of the series.
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LibraryThing member amreidy
This book really showcases Sullivan's ability to write strong, interesting female characters. It's refreshing to find characters like that in high fantasy novels. Highly recommended.
LibraryThing member creighley
YEA! Another great saga of Hadrian and Royce! It was the fastest read yet. Can't wait to have things finalized in the last volume. This one was much better in pulling loose ends together and following a more logical plot.
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Definetly the best in the series so far.
LibraryThing member jimmaclachlan
May2012: Read it again in preparation for the final book of the series & really enjoyed it, even though I knew what was coming. Great!
Sep2010: Again, I had the privilege of reading an ARC & enjoyed the experience tremendously. Sullivan took me for another great ride. I'd highly suggest reading the
The next book is supposed to wind up the series. While I'm eagerly awaiting it, I'm kind of sad, too. I hate to think of it ending.
Sep2010: Again, I had the privilege of reading an ARC & enjoyed the experience tremendously. Sullivan took me for another great ride. I'd highly suggest reading the
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previous four books first. While he's again done a great job of filling in the background, there are a lot of details & emotional investment that you'll miss out on.The next book is supposed to wind up the series. While I'm eagerly awaiting it, I'm kind of sad, too. I hate to think of it ending.
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LibraryThing member ashleytylerjohn
I wish I could give it more, but for every thing I like about it, it's countered with something I dislike that knocks points off. Marginally better than the last book because at least our cast converged. I suspect, beyond knit-picking the plot (hey, it's the author's plot, he can do what he likes
It's a bit like when they recast a beloved part on a show, and the new actor, no matter how otherwise talented, never quite embodies the character to satisfaction. As this series progresses, it feels more and more like the characters in the first book or two have been replaced with actors who cost less.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
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with it) I just don't find that the characters behave in a real, human way. To a large extent, despite the author's apparent facility for creating memorable characters, settings, and situations, it seems to have been written by a teenager with a limited imagination for how grown-ups would deal with and/or react to events that are beyond the author's life experience. A good author should be able to show us characters doing all sorts of things the author has never experienced, and we should buy it, whether it's trying to throw a deadly ring in a volcano, or turning down the proposal of the wealthy Englishman you've been sparring with all novel long ... but in this book, in particular, from what I know of (a) the characters, and (b) actual humans, most of the time this is not the reaction I would expect.It's a bit like when they recast a beloved part on a show, and the new actor, no matter how otherwise talented, never quite embodies the character to satisfaction. As this series progresses, it feels more and more like the characters in the first book or two have been replaced with actors who cost less.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
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LibraryThing member Narilka
Wintertide is the fifth and penultimate book in Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations series. Again, the story picks up right where the last one left off. The Wintertide festival is almost here and events set in motion in the second book finally come to a head.
Each character goes on an arc.Degan Gaunt is a let down. And a bit of an ass. I hope there's another twist in store and he's not really the heir though that doesn't seem likely at this point. Best of all, it was satisfying for Saldur to finally get his comeuppance.
While I don't think anything will match the pure fun of meeting Royce and Hadrian for the first time, this book came close and is a tie for my favorite in the series. I can't wait to see how it all ends in Percepliquis.
Each character goes on an arc.
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It's amazing how much growth they all have in just over 300 pages. I loved the nod to A Knight's Tale in Hadrian's story thread. My heart is breaking for Royce and I'm a little worried about what that's going to do to his mental state. The horrible situation Arista was in has taught her to be humble and I think she's going to bounce back fantastically. Now if only she'd experiment with the Art more! Thankfully Modina finds her way through her own personal darkness and is back in the game as an active participant. Between her and Nimbus the Empire is in good hands. With all the hubbub over the real heir While I don't think anything will match the pure fun of meeting Royce and Hadrian for the first time, this book came close and is a tie for my favorite in the series. I can't wait to see how it all ends in Percepliquis.
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Original language
English
ISBN
0982514581 / 9780982514580