A compelling fantasy saga begins with Age of Myth
Age of Myth
Book One of The Legends of the First Empire
by Michael J. Sullivan
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Del Rey
Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date 28 Jun 2016
Review
I’ve always loved a good fantasy novel. Since I was a child, my nightstand has been piled high with the classics. But that doesn’t mean I’m not selective. Age of Myth is one of the better works of epic fantasy that I’ve read. The central characters, Raithe, Malcolm, Persephone, Suri and Arion are all richly detailed individuals who vividly bring Sullivan’s world to life. The pace of the tale is slow at the beginning, but once the threads start pulling together the reader is rewarded with a complex and beguiling tale where the actions of just a few set the world into a cascade of change.
Humans (rhunes) worship the Fhrey as gods. By comparison they are immortal, invincible in combat and skilled in magic. To the Fhrey, humans are little better than beast, multiplying rapidly and living in squalor. After a Fhrey kills his father, Raithe attacks him. With the help of the Fhrey’s slave, Malcolm, the impossible is achieved- a fhrey is killed. Meanwhile, the new Fhrey fane is consolidating power in the hands of the magic-users, many of whom see themselves as better than other Fhrey, or even worse as deities themselves.
Michael J Sullivan’s writing reminds me somewhat of J.V. Jones, an author I’ve always enjoyed but felt was under appreciated in the US. I was very pleased to discover that the entire 5 book series was completed prior to the release of Age of Myth. While it is an unusual approach to writing, it means that fans can be secure in the knowledge that the entirety of the series will be available in print - no cliffhangers where the reader is left hanging for years hoping for the next novel.
Age of Myth exceeded my expectations and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
5/5
I received a copy of Age of Myth from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
—Crittermom
Description
Michael J. Sullivan's trailblazing career began with the breakout success of his Riyria series: full-bodied, spellbinding fantasy adventures whose imaginative scope and sympathetic characters won a devoted readership and comparisons to fantasy masters Brandon Sanderson, Scott Lynch, and J.R.R. Tolkien himself. Now Sullivan's stunning hardcover debut, Age of Myth, inaugurates an original five-book series—and one of fantasy's finest next-generation storytellers continues to break new ground.
Since time immemorial, humans have worshipped the gods they call Fhrey, truly a race apart: invincible in battle, masters of magic, and seemingly immortal. But when a god falls to a human blade, the balance of power between humans and those they thought were gods changes forever.
Now only a few stand between humankind and annihilation: Raithe, reluctant to embrace his destiny as the God Killer; Suri, a young seer burdened by signs of impending doom; and Persephone, who must overcome personal tragedy to lead her people. The Age of Myth is over. The time of rebellion has begun.
