Age of Myth (Legends Of The First Empire, #1)

by Michael J. Sullivan

One of fantasy’s finest next-generation storytellers continues to break new ground.

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 Age of Myth inaugurates an original five-book series.

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.

Magic, fantasy, and mythology collide in Michael J. Sullivan’s Legends of the First Empire series:
AGE OF MYTH • AGE OF SWORDS • AGE OF WAR

• ISBN10: 1101965355
• ISBN13: 9781101965351
• Publish Date: 31 January 2017 (first published 28 June 2016)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Del Rey Books
• Format: Paperback (US Tall Rack)
• Pages: 464
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781101965351

Reviews

[inlibrisveritas]

Age of Myth is a high fantasy novel with some impeccable world building and vibrant characters. My first foray into Michael Sullivan’s work has definitely left an impression.

I’ve known about Sullivan for some time as I have Avempartha on my kindle and have had it for quite a long time, but have never read it. So when I saw this on the new releases shelf at my library I knew it was time that I gave him a shot, and I don’t regret it at all. The world in this book is the same in his Riyara Chronicles but takes place far into the past so you can read either without relying on the other for information. In this, we learn about the Fhrey, the incredibly powerful almost godlike people who supposedly hold powers that humanity could only dream of. They can move faster, strike harder, and there are some that can even control the world around them through magic. The tentative peace between these supposed gods and the humans is shattered when Raithe kills a Fhrey in defense, and we are set into an adventure that will change the course of history. I LOVED the whole ‘god-like’ abilities of the Fhrey, but what I loved the most about it the fact that there is a certain level of naivety in their sheltered mindset. It really balances nicely with the human mindset of survival and what it means to persist despite having less. Not to mention the absolutely lyrical nature of the writing that really paints a beautiful world.

In partnership with the wonderful writing are the characters. Raithe surprised me by being someone I didn’t take to immediately, and that was so incredibly refreshing because so often in epic fantasies we get a central character so likable it’s impossible to see how he’ll ever fail. It’s obvious and a bit tired, but Raithe has issues and opinions that are not entirely ‘positive’ and that allows for very real but gradual growth over the course of the story. We are also treated to not one, but three strong female points of views not to mention the numerous side characters that make an impression! Perseophone, Suri, and Arion are absolutely fabulous and so incredibly different from each other.

I can finally see what the hype surrounding Sullivan’s book is all about, and I’m buying into it big time. I’m definitely going to read more from him, though I will probably wait to finish this series before starting the other so I don’t confuse the timelines.

[Beth C.]

Killing a god should be, well, more difficult than simply slitting his throat. In fact, it would be assumed (and had been for centuries) that a god couldn't be killed. And with that, the world changes forever. On the run from revenge for his part in killing a Fhrey (the supposed god), Raithe ends up saving a woman and young girl from murder at the hands of their fellows, only to get caught up in dun politics that would pit the three of them against most of the rest. Then, the gods show up on their doorstep, and war will no longer be avoided.

In the best tradition of epic fantasy, Michael J. Sullivan starts his five-book series with gods, magic, seers, and war. The Age of Myth is a wonderful book, with characters who are not usually quite what they seem, and are extremely well-written. Raithe, cast into the reluctant position of God Killer. Persephone, trying her best to help her people. Suri, young ragtag seer with her companion wolf who sees what is coming but is powerless to stop it. And these are just a few of the characters that really do stand out on the page.

Being the opener in a long fantasy, there is a slow build with history, characters, setting - everything being put into place. But this isn't a boring build-up. There is enough going on to not only explain what needs explaining, but to keep things interesting and moving forward at the same time. And what gives me great hope for this particular series is the Author's Note in the beginning, where he explains that *the whole series is already written*. There are few things more frustrating for a reader than an excellent series-starter that flounders on the second book and then totally loses its way after that. I have high expectations that this will not be the case here.

There are books that I read where, as soon as they are over, they are truly over. Then there are books that have a sort of lingering presence, where events that happen in the book sort of follow me around like a thought-bubble, giving me more to think about. Books that, when I finally read the last page and close the cover, I sort of slowly set it aside, knowing it will be circulating in my thoughts for some time to come. Age of Myth is one of those best of books, where I keep finding bits that I may have glossed over during the reading that pop into my head, where I'm still thinking about the book even days later. Epic fantasy, indeed.