The Riyria Revelations is a series of high fantasy novels written by Michael J. Sullivan and published by Orbit Books in 2011 and 2012.
[2] After a successful raid, Royce and Hadrian (together known as Riyria) are approached by a man offering much gold to steal a sword owned by Count Pickering, from the royal palace in Medford, the capital of the kingdom of Melengar.
At the prison, Alric frees Esrahaddon, who reveals that he was falsely imprisoned for murdering the emperor and destroying the empire nearly a thousand years ago.
While eating and planning their next move at a local inn a group of soldiers arrive and make trouble for the owner and patrons.
After killing the mercenaries (whom Myron recognizes as the men who burned down the abbey), the group then attempts to return to Medford, but soon realize that Braga has seized power there.
Alric goes to Drondil Fields, where he enlists the Pickerings (loyal family friends) to help raise an army to defeat Percy.
Riyria infiltrates the city and asks Royce's lover, Gwen DeLancy, to incite a riot to distract the guards from the army marches toward Medford.
Almost a year after the events of the previous book, Royce and Hadrian have tracked down the man who enlisted their help to steal Count Pickering's sword and framed them for the king's murder.
Confronting him in the merchant city of Colnora, they discover that he is a simple sailor named Wyatt, who took the job as a way to care for his adopted daughter, Allie.
Although she is unable to pay their standard fee, Royce agrees when she mentions a man who matches Esrahaddon's description staying at the village.
Esrahaddon reveals himself and explains the monster is actually an ancient elven magical construct, that the elves used in a war against humans thousands of years ago, called a Gilarabrywn.
He explains that only a sword with the creature's true name carved into the blade can kill it, which is located in an elven tower at the edge of a waterfall.
Having countless people witness her kill the beast, the bishops have no choice but to name her Empress, but Thrace is left in a catatonic state after her father's death.
Saldur decides to rule the newly minted Empire through her and annexes every kingdom except Melengar, as his plan to implant a leader there loyal to him failed in the last book.
The Empress Modina, formerly the young farm girl Thrace, has been kept out of sight of the populace, being treated as little more than a prisoner in her catatonic state.
It is her kindness and compassion toward the young Empress that eventually helps Modina break through her numbness and start to become a person again.
[4] Critical reception for the series has been positive,[5] with the Library Journal giving Theft of Swords praise and making it one of their 2011 "Best Books for Fantasy/Sci-Fi".
[6][7] SFFWorld also extended praise for the series, writing that Rise of Empire was "very appealing" while stating that the book did have some plot holes.