Age of Empyre

Age of Empyre

  • Downloads:3118
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-04-14 12:51:04
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Michael J. Sullivan
  • ISBN:1944145737
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

A door opens。 An army of dragons advance。 And the fate of the living rests with the dead。

After obtaining the secret to creating dragons, the leader of the Fhrey has turned the tide of war once more—but gaining the advantage has come at a terrible price。 While Imaly plots to overthrow the fane for transgressions against his people, a mystic and a keeper are the only hope for the Rhunes。 Time is short, and the future of both races hangs in the balance。 In this exciting conclusion to the Legends of the First Empire series, the Great War finally comes to a climactic end, and with it dawns a new era in the Age of Empyre。

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Michael J。 Sullivan comes the concluding installment of his six-book epic fantasy。 This series chronicles a pivotal point in Elan’s history when humans and those they once saw as gods warred until a new world order was born。 Set three thousand years before the Riyria tales, Legends is a standalone fantasy series that is independent of the Riyria novels。 But for those who do read both series, Legends will unmask lies and reveal the truth about Elan’s history and the men and women who shaped what the world became。

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Reviews

Joel Rosen

Between 3。5 and 4 stars。 I found the book slow and drawn out。 Overall, the series felt stretched out to me。 Well written but a little to decompressed。

Dave Beckham

Kudos to the writer of this book。 You did an amazing job。 Why don't you try to publish your book in NovelStar? A lot of readers will love your work, judging from the book I just read。 Kudos to the writer of this book。 You did an amazing job。 Why don't you try to publish your book in NovelStar? A lot of readers will love your work, judging from the book I just read。 。。。more

Tosin

Michael J Sullivan is a fantastic author。 The world building, the character development。 It all comes to a head in this book。 I had to force myself to read it as slowly as I could because I wanted to savour every moment。 I have no complaints, I’ve never been disappointed by his books

Pawel Olas

Very disappointing ending and the weakest book in the series。

Charles Dion

Not the best book in the series but a nice ending/setup to the world of Riyria。

Kaitlin

I really enjoyed the conclusion to this series, the wrap up of all the warfare, the mystery of the underworld, the coming together of characters who've long been away from one another。 Loads of great moments of resolution for our main PoVs and I'm happy that the stakes remained high the whole way through。 I think I still love Hadrian and Royce a little more, as the two-character format is easier to get behind than a large pool of characters, but I equally loves Persephone, Suri, Bryn, Moira, Tes I really enjoyed the conclusion to this series, the wrap up of all the warfare, the mystery of the underworld, the coming together of characters who've long been away from one another。 Loads of great moments of resolution for our main PoVs and I'm happy that the stakes remained high the whole way through。 I think I still love Hadrian and Royce a little more, as the two-character format is easier to get behind than a large pool of characters, but I equally loves Persephone, Suri, Bryn, Moira, Tesh, Rowan, Gifford and so many more。 Malcolm was always an enigma until this volume, and seeing the way their stories and legacies play out is great。 I enjoyed the backstory to the gods and the world and its origins, even though one of the middle books was a bit slower, it helps to build on the world as a whole and really explain how things happened。 The ideas of words and reading and books and myths all play a huge role in this series, and I liked that immensely。 In the end, another great series and a solid prequel to the Riyria books which I recommend if you have read them。 Well worth diving back into the past and seeking the truth, and the author's and Robyn's afterwords I always thoroughly enjoy。 4*s from me :) 。。。more

Maria Therese

Great story! You can broaden your audience by publishing your story on NovelStar Mobile App。

Mark

Did not find this book as good as the reviews suggested。 Though I got through it, I often found myself wishing it would finish quicker。In fairness, I have not read any other book in the series, so some of my lack of interest was probably not being "well versed in the verse"。 Did not find this book as good as the reviews suggested。 Though I got through it, I often found myself wishing it would finish quicker。In fairness, I have not read any other book in the series, so some of my lack of interest was probably not being "well versed in the verse"。 。。。more

Michael

What a ride。。。Thank you, Mr。 Sullivan。

Alison Smith

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL

Nick

A great end to the series which portrayed events so differently to the Riyria books。 So many links with the other series though it was great and most things were rounded off nicely。 The end scene with Malcolm was fantastic and i cannot wait for the next series。

Isca Silurum

Bloated, it will take rave reviews to revisit the author!

Shmuel

Low 4 stars for me。It's a great ending to the series but in retrospect I can say that with a little different dividing it could have been 5 books series or even less then that (just in terms of combining parts of books not deleting anything) but it's a good series overall and if you enjoyed Elan in the other books then this series will be a good prequel for you Low 4 stars for me。It's a great ending to the series but in retrospect I can say that with a little different dividing it could have been 5 books series or even less then that (just in terms of combining parts of books not deleting anything) but it's a good series overall and if you enjoyed Elan in the other books then this series will be a good prequel for you 。。。more

Louise Bray

This series is easily one of my favourite fantasy series I've ever read, and the reason for that is something that Michael J。 Sullivan actually touches on in the afterword:“The list of individuals who improved the world, but due to the prevalent culture or minority status, have been nearly lost to our collective memory is staggering。 。。。 In Legends, I sought to present truly unlikely heroes, the sort that had no hope of being great and no chance of changing the world [and so] steered away from t This series is easily one of my favourite fantasy series I've ever read, and the reason for that is something that Michael J。 Sullivan actually touches on in the afterword:“The list of individuals who improved the world, but due to the prevalent culture or minority status, have been nearly lost to our collective memory is staggering。 。。。 In Legends, I sought to present truly unlikely heroes, the sort that had no hope of being great and no chance of changing the world [and so] steered away from the tired hero-warrior destined to save the world and moved toward the band of broken misfits who team up to win。”I think with fantasy it's very easy to have a group of strong young men, maybe one or two women thrown in there, who are excellent fighters and the story revolves around them and their war。 But what this series does is show all the other people behind the scenes that don't get nearly as much credit。 Sure, there are thousands of soldiers in the army, but they wouldn't be able to fight if it weren't for this small group of misfits' amazing ideas。The final book in the series was great, but I dropped a star just because the ending seemed quite predictable, and I would have liked to have a better ending for certain characters。 Again, I understand this is because he thought most people would have read his other series before this one, so most people would know the ending anyway。 Of course I'm going to have to read them soon and find out。 。。。more

Greg

4/5 I must start by saying that the cover for this book is dead sexy。 One of the best fantasy covers I’ve seen。 I also am glad that I waited on starting this series and was able to go through all 6 books over the course of the last month and a half。 The only negative thing is since it’s been so long since I’ve read the Riyria Revelation novels I missed out on a lot of the Easter Eggs hidden in these books。 Though this did not detract from my enjoyment in the least and it’s definitely not needed 4/5 I must start by saying that the cover for this book is dead sexy。 One of the best fantasy covers I’ve seen。 I also am glad that I waited on starting this series and was able to go through all 6 books over the course of the last month and a half。 The only negative thing is since it’s been so long since I’ve read the Riyria Revelation novels I missed out on a lot of the Easter Eggs hidden in these books。 Though this did not detract from my enjoyment in the least and it’s definitely not needed to understand this series。In my opinion the second half of the series isn’t as strong as the first and it really does feel more like two separate trilogies。 Overall though it is still an excellent fantasy series。 The characters are all top notch as is Sullivan’s world building。 The world and its history is also tied expertly into the story itself so there are no large info dumps used to explain things which I always appreciate。 The 6th book really comes together fitting all of the puzzle pieces that are the plot together expertly。 This did make the last 2 books a little less enjoyable but as I expected the pay out was worth it。 I’m eagerly looking forward to the next novel by Michael J Sullivan and I’ve even went as far as to help kickstart it。 In the meantime I do desire to reread his other series but since my TBR (to be read) pile is so gargantuan I won’t be doing that as soon as I’d like so instead I’ll be doing some online nerd searching to see all of the connections I missed along the way。 。。。more

Nkleyle

4。5

Bonnie

This was a really fantastic series, and a great addition to the Elan universe。 I came to love many of the leading characters, although Suri and Minna were hands down my favorite。 Now I need to go back and re-read Riyria, which will probably make me want to re-read Legends。 Will I be stuck in this loop forever? Maybe so, and I'm kind of ok with it。My only tip if you haven't read any of Michael J。 Sullivan's works is。。。 read the Riyria Revelations first。 I know it's touted that you can start with This was a really fantastic series, and a great addition to the Elan universe。 I came to love many of the leading characters, although Suri and Minna were hands down my favorite。 Now I need to go back and re-read Riyria, which will probably make me want to re-read Legends。 Will I be stuck in this loop forever? Maybe so, and I'm kind of ok with it。My only tip if you haven't read any of Michael J。 Sullivan's works is。。。 read the Riyria Revelations first。 I know it's touted that you can start with any of his series, but this one will cause some major spoilers if you read it first。 Riyria is so good you'll want to read it multiple times anyway, so just do yourself a favor and start there。And Michael, if you read this, thank you for writing and creating a world that feels so complete。 It's at times cruel - I cried "Curse you Michael J。 Sullivan!" a few times - but it is also at times beautiful, and the combination of the two is what makes it so real。 I'll read whatever your pen puts to paper, so just keep on writing。 。。。more

Sarah Snider

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 I love this series and it has been a wild ride。 I had a hard time getting into the last book。 A lot of putting down and picking back up。 Once I started this book it went much faster。 I think at this point you are so invested in the characters。 Which is why I was so disappointed with what I would consider the epilogue like okay Seph died, and Malcom regrets his choices。 But we don't know how any of the other characters are doing what the hell。 And we spend all that time getting invested in Tesh a I love this series and it has been a wild ride。 I had a hard time getting into the last book。 A lot of putting down and picking back up。 Once I started this book it went much faster。 I think at this point you are so invested in the characters。 Which is why I was so disappointed with what I would consider the epilogue like okay Seph died, and Malcom regrets his choices。 But we don't know how any of the other characters are doing what the hell。 And we spend all that time getting invested in Tesh and Brin not get get to find out how they did afterwards? Really? Besides that I liked everything else。 His writing is amazing and I'm excited to see what else he does in the future。 。。。more

DeeAnna

Best Fantasy EVER! The Riyria collection is so attractive, heart warming and perfectly dense with details that I want to/ will revisit again and again。

Ondrea Robb

Great series!I loved these books。 I had a very difficult time putting them down。 I can’t wait to read more by Michal J。 Sullivan。

Ashley

Thank you for expanding this world。 I love love love Royce and Hadrian and now you've made me love many of the characters in this series as well。 I'm very excited to read Nolyn soon :) Thank you for expanding this world。 I love love love Royce and Hadrian and now you've made me love many of the characters in this series as well。 I'm very excited to read Nolyn soon :) 。。。more

Lars Olav Tungesvik

3,5

Beth

I really enjoyed this series。 This view of the world pre-Royce and Hadrian was fascinating。 Many of the names and places are familiar and you think you know where the plot is going and what is going to happen for that reason。 You are wrong。 Lots of twists and turns woven into this storyline。

Charles Brill

Home at last! A favorite author finished series is always bittersweet。 In his case more so as I didn't think the last three books of the 6 book series stood quite as high。 In the authors notes you learn the last three books were intended to be a single volume。 While not agreeing with that, Death especially, seemed like being in stuck in group therapy。 I came into his work through Myth trilogy then Riyria books then Legend。 The Myth family got me hooked so I still loved all of Legend。 If you need Home at last! A favorite author finished series is always bittersweet。 In his case more so as I didn't think the last three books of the 6 book series stood quite as high。 In the authors notes you learn the last three books were intended to be a single volume。 While not agreeing with that, Death especially, seemed like being in stuck in group therapy。 I came into his work through Myth trilogy then Riyria books then Legend。 The Myth family got me hooked so I still loved all of Legend。 If you need to be engrossed in a new world and haven't read any of this one read Riyria。 Gauranteed you will crave more。 Pretty Sure。 。。。more

Dookie58

(I haven't read any Riyria, and I'm leaning towards not doing so。 Perhaps First Empire was designed to be read afterwards, but I wasn't warned until now。 Anyway, please note that there are potential spoilers for the first 5 books of this series。)Technically speaking, the series is fine, as it tells an interesting story which is fun and depressing at times。 However, the book is terrible if you slow down and think about what the author is trying to convey。 It's actually a flawed thesis about histo (I haven't read any Riyria, and I'm leaning towards not doing so。 Perhaps First Empire was designed to be read afterwards, but I wasn't warned until now。 Anyway, please note that there are potential spoilers for the first 5 books of this series。)Technically speaking, the series is fine, as it tells an interesting story which is fun and depressing at times。 However, the book is terrible if you slow down and think about what the author is trying to convey。 It's actually a flawed thesis about historicity wrapped up as a romantic tragedy in a fantasy setting。 In my opinion, the history part is too blatant and not very convincing, and that ruined the tragedy the characters went through as well。 It makes the whole story seem pointless and anticlimactic。 I also got the nagging feeling the author is playing with my emotions, which every author does to some degree, but it was too obvious。 It all seems very contrived to me。 Good authors play with your emotions, or at least affect them, but they fool you without making you feel manipulated。 Sullivan tries to convince us that a particular character is the protagonist。 He almost breaks the 4th wall by having other characters say it outright 。 It would have been clever if he pulled it off, but in my opinion, it falls flat due to a fundamental misunderstanding of history。 The idea that victors write history as propaganda is nothing new。 However, our collective recollection of the past isn't individualized like this。 It's impossible to understand historical figures' lives in any great detail, especially as you go further back in time。 For example, we don't really know why Gilgamesh killed the Bull of Heaven, or if he even existed。 Certainly, it's unlikely that any such bull existed。 Just because some ancient Babylonian wrote it down doesn't mean we care, and by the time archaeologists and historians figured out how to read it, they knew Gilgamesh was supposedly a Sumerian who lived in an earlier era and discounted the whole epic as myth。 Likewise, historians argue about Queen Elizabeth I's personal relationships, but that's largely academic。 Of course, it would have been a huge scandal in its day, but hardly anyone in the present cares if we find another note from a secret lover or something like that。The fact that we care about any of the details surrounding historical figures' personal lives is only a cultural artifact。 Therefore, it's really a stretch to say that history itself is more important than the events they describe。 In my opinion, they're both important。 Yes, through the passage of time, people see the impact of events differently, and they fail to recognize why the present is the way it is, but the vast majority of people aren't going to goto a history book to figure that out。 Eventually, the past will be so far removed, nearly everything will be open to interpretation in any case。 We project our ideas about the present into our understanding of those past people and interpret what they wrote through that lens。 (Also, as it is a fictional story, I won't to nitpick the development of writing, but I find it interesting it is also individualized as if a single person can bridge the gap。)There is no chicken and egg problem though: clearly, events themselves dictate history written。 You have to overcome your present challenges first and foremost。 In the present, in the era this book series is describing, many events don't make sense unless you have some external factor, which is totally contrived since it was haphazardly explained, and we were moving along with characters whose lives don't matter to these external factors since they were only using them as tools for some nebulous future purpose。 It's like telling us, the readers, that characters we were made to care about are sacrificing themselves for a future just as uncertain。 It's extremely depressing and nihilistic if you read it this way。 It's okay to have these dark themes, but I'm not sure Sullivan intended it to be read this way, or if he did, then it was done poorly, in my opinion, because the way it happened doesn't give much agency to the characters。It boils down to this particular character's "main quest" being meaningless。 History and its interpretation would change regardless of whether she succeeds or fails。 The accounting would get shifted by those in power and later by the passage of time。 You don't need this set of events to happen in order to forecast whatever state Riyria's understanding of history is。 It's too blatant the plot is working backwards from that predetermined end state, although there's no reason for it。 Besides, we're dealing with prescient immortals here。 Under their continued influence, it makes no sense to single out one person as a sacrificial prophet and have hers be the only account and give up if she fails。 Despite what Sullivan says, I think Persephone is actually the protagonist, or possibly Nyphron; although we never did get many POV segments of his ideas, and I found his character development lacking。 The primary conflict of the series is the war, and these two characters are crucial for it to be resolved。 Moreover, their agendas would directly influence the previous plot device I mentioned, even if they don't recognize its importance yet。 And so, for a conclusion so focused on the future, there is surprisingly little discussion between the two about what happens next。 It happens mostly off-page。 This brings me to the second part that fell flat: this romantic tragedy which took up a large section of the story and actually matters to those in the present。 In the end, it made me dislike all three characters。 My dislike for Nyphron changed from distrust to hate, and by the end, I was convinced he was the antagonist for the whole series。 However, these love triangles tend to work better if you sympathize with at least one person's motivations。 Sullivan portrays Persephone like a medieval princess being married off to a foreign monarch as part of a political alliance, but if you think about it, that's not the case at all。 Nyphron only has a few warriors and his tribe is greatly diminished。 Therefore, before the situation leading up the final confrontation, her power as Keenig should have been more substantial than his。 It was ridiculous for her to just accept the conditions for his type of marriage。 She could have maneuvered him out of power or at least limited it over her and her people, even if she felt the marriage was necessary。 Perhaps it's hard for me to imagine what a chieftain's widow would do since I'm a man living in the 21st century, but I could say the same for the author。 It would be one thing if Nyphron became tolerable, went through some positive change, and was only lying about his past。 For all the preachy dialogue about letting go of the past and becoming a better person, Nyphron hardly changes at all。 My opinion of him only worsened throughout the series, and I got that mostly from the perspective of Persephone, which was incredibly frustrating。 Don't tell me he's better because he hugged her after sharing a drink。 That chapter was disgusting to read, and their interactions didn't get better。 It isn't your typical unhealthy/abusive relationship from olden times on Earth, because of the aforementioned relative political power; and so I eventually started disliking Persephone for enabling him, not for being an especially abusive husband, since it was mostly subtle implicit subjugation; but instead, I started disliking her for her lack of insight in planning for him to rule。 Like she thought to herself, there's no telling whether their son would outlive Nyphron。 It's like a malformed Greek tragedy: in those, typically the characters lack information and that leads them to make the regrettable choices。 In this case, we don't need Nyphron's secret to know he's a bad husband and most likely will be a bad ruler for humans。 There isn't any indication otherwise。Maybe the moral of the story is that you're supposed to follow your heart and not your brain, but in that case, they might have lost the war earlier。 That's how it was explained and accepted。 It never should have been a binary choice between the two, now that I consider her options。 Just like Fhrey only making temporary "associations" rather than marriages, it made no sense for them to stay together after the child was born。 And, I'm still not convinced a child was necessary in the first place。 The whole thing about meeting Raithe later in the afterlife is sweet, but it's also absurd。 All three of them should have disassociated from each other。 The justifications for their actions seem natural during the story, but if you slow down and think, it's actually rather arbitrary。 You can have a dark fantasy story where the heroes end up losing or only win a Pyrrhic victory, but there should be a meaningful story in there somewhere。 Also, the tone and overall mood usually gives you an idea that forces beyond their control are impacting their lives。 Here, Sullivan tells us the characters don't have real agency without fully exploring that idea, and it's just given axiomatically。 Maybe Emypre's saying leaders have no free will when making difficult choices? I'm really grasping at straws here。 I suspect there is no reason or overarching theme to this aspect of the story, and it was all just contrived to make us feel some type of way。I get it, not all characters get a happy ending, but the sheer pointlessness of these characters' sacrifices diminishes the events and plot points which I enjoyed at times。 I'd be exaggerating to say it's the most unsatisfying conclusion to a book series I've ever read, but it's pretty close。 So, I'm giving the book 2 stars because it kept me at least partially engaged until the very end。 。。。more

Jonathan Hayes

Michael always has really good characters in his books。 The stories themselves are fun, though I found that I was more drawn to the characters themselves than what they were trying to accomplish。 Sad to finish this one~

Mary

There would be no aid。 They’d reached the end, their eternal resting place。 This was the Abyss。This sixth and final volume of The Legends of the First Empire series, was published in 2020。 Continuing from the previous volume are four main storylines。 Brin, Roan, Gifford, Tesh, and Tressa are try to escape from the Abyss in Nifrel, the land of the dead。 The others in Nifrel who did not fall into the Abyss, Moya, Tekchin, and Rain are conflicted about how to proceed without the key。 Persephone There would be no aid。 They’d reached the end, their eternal resting place。 This was the Abyss。This sixth and final volume of The Legends of the First Empire series, was published in 2020。 Continuing from the previous volume are four main storylines。 Brin, Roan, Gifford, Tesh, and Tressa are try to escape from the Abyss in Nifrel, the land of the dead。 The others in Nifrel who did not fall into the Abyss, Moya, Tekchin, and Rain are conflicted about how to proceed without the key。 Persephone, Nyphron, Malcolm, and the others at the Dragon camp are moving in response to the gilarabrywn at Avempartha that the Fhrey have created。 Also, Suri is involved with a plot in Estramnadon to overthrow Lothian, the fane of the Fhrey, and acquire the Horn of Gylindora。 “Every word I tell you has repercussions。 Pebbles tossed into a pond send out ripples。 You don’t see them, but I do。 Many of them are needed, others are counterproductive, and some are downright disastrous。 You’re asking me to walk across a frozen lake of thin ice for no reason。”The prose is casual and easy to read。 The pacing is quick enough to be engaging and entertaining。 I have the impression that Brin and her storyline was given the most attention compared to the others。 On the other hand, there's really no question that the Moya/Tekchin/Rain storyline received very little attention。 In this volume, we hear more from several characters such as Trilos, Muriel, Malcolm, whose POVs give us a perspective we wouldn't otherwise know about。 Unfortunately I felt that there were too many inconsequential characters and tedious expositions and I would have preferred a tighter, more controlled, focused narrative。 I personally feel that this series was too long and rambling, although some of that is just Sullivan's style。The most important story arcs are wrapped up in an acceptable fashion but could have used more emotional weight and structure。 I didn't experience the satisfactory catharsis that I expect from a great climax。 While this is a likeable book and series, it's not as well executed as Riyria Revelations which is one of my favorites。(view spoiler)[Afterthought: How do you feel about the Raithe/Persephone and Brin/Tesh relationships being reunited only in the afterlife?(Nifrel, Alysin)(hide spoiler)][Note: The kindle ebook ends at the 89% point, followed by a lengthy afterword and Kickstarter roll call。] 。。。more

Ina

The whole series has been in my 'to read list' for some time and I'm ashamed it might have died there as many to-read books have over time。 I love Fantasy, I grew up reading fantasy, but goring up the genre has become a bit foreign to me。 Too many authors who write in the same way, too childish, trying their best not to copy other famous writers and failing miserly at that。 Not the experience here at all and I'm pleasantly hooked。 Story was not what I expected, the main characters were not who I The whole series has been in my 'to read list' for some time and I'm ashamed it might have died there as many to-read books have over time。 I love Fantasy, I grew up reading fantasy, but goring up the genre has become a bit foreign to me。 Too many authors who write in the same way, too childish, trying their best not to copy other famous writers and failing miserly at that。 Not the experience here at all and I'm pleasantly hooked。 Story was not what I expected, the main characters were not who I expected。 Writing is smooth and engaging it does not let you linger too much on unnecessary details, but provides good ground for philosophy debate。 Truly brought me back to the days when I just loved sinking into a new world, learning the ins and outs of the gods and races, the intrigues and everything else。 Grateful that this book didn't just sit on my to red shelf。 The only thing that truly disappointed me (and that is no criticism at all, but personal preference), I wish there was more time to explore the Galantians。 I did read where the author started the story and part of me wished there was more to Nyphron's gang of flawed misfits。 Maybe one day I can hope for prequel。 。。。more

Nurolhudah Kelly Liclican

Now, I wanna re-read Riyria :'( Now, I wanna re-read Riyria :'( 。。。more

Michael

A great conclusion to what it has become one of my favorite series。