Age of War: Review

There is only one terrible problem with Michael Sullivan’s books — once you finish one you go into a state of withdrawal to which there is no cure for a solid calendar year.

I absolutely love the Legends of the First Empire series and Age of War is truly the jewel in its crown — I have no trouble saying that this is easily one of the best modern fantasy series around.

I first discovered Mr. Sullivan’s writing through Age of Myth - the first book in this series. I did go back after Age of Myth and dive deep into the Riyria Revelations (Sullivan’s first published fantasy series, set in the same world as Legends of the First Empire), but despite those books also being wonderful fantasy epics, my heart remained with ‘Legends.’

One of the things I admire most about Mr. Sullivan’s writing is that he faced defeat at the hands of the publishing industry many times before becoming successful. Indeed, after being originally turned-down by many publishing companies, it took him a decade to return to writing at all. When he finally did, he opted for the self-publishing route, from there shifting to a small press. It was only then, after a massive outpouring of fan appreciation, that his work was recognized by a major publisher.

I think that many of us new writers feel a sense of trepidation about launching into the world of modern publishing — it can be intimidating and, frankly, overwhelming. But, seeing the successes of authors like Mr. Sullivan provide a source of hope and inspiration that can help keep us motivated when the going seems tough — or impossible.

Having read most of the books set in this universe, I feel secure in saying that in The Legends of the First Empire the writing is at its best. The characters are deep, relatable, and easy to emotionally attach to — even those characters who appear for a short duration, or who are primarily antagonists, are given a wonderful sense of personhood — that is, I have no trouble believing in their actions or the motivations that drive them.

The story moves with layered grace across the landscape of my imagination, leaving me utterly spellbound from start to finish.

In the earlier works, The Riyria Revelations, the plotlines sometimes ran a little thin; there were places where I felt as if the writer was tipping his hand a little too openly. Even then, though, due to the brilliant narrative intensity and the emotional characters, any concerns about plot fazed me but little.

However, in The Legends of the First Empire, Age of War in particular, it feels as if Mr. Sullivan has hit a completely new stride. The story moves with layered grace across the landscape of my imagination, leaving me utterly spellbound from start to finish. What’s more, these stories, by their very nature, solidify the plots of the chronologically-later Riyria Revelations, bringing a sense of powerful immersion to the whole universe.

If you enjoy fantasy series and have yet to explore the work of Michael Sullivan, I strongly recommend jumping directly into the first book in this series, Age of Myth. Michael himself recommends beginning with the Riyria series but I feel that reading them in an in-world chronological order actually gives the reader a better foundation to explore the series as a whole.

Either way, I can safely say that this is the series you need to read next. It’s certainly one that I return to and continue to enjoy well past my first reading. And, as a writer who one day hopes to publish his own fiction, I find myself looking at the trials Mr. Sullivan faced with hope — if he can make his dreams come true producing such wonderful stories, perhaps I can too.