I didn’t want to put it down at any point because I was so addicted to the story. Rise of Empire just kept getting better and better. I won’t spoil anything for those who haven’t read it but my jaw dropped a little when I read who it was. Along the way there are many twists in the story, including more on Hadrian’s backstory and who the heir of Novron is. Princess Arista takes matters into her own hands in order to stop them and enlists Royce and Hadrian into helping her meet up with Degan Gaunt, the leader of the Nationalist army, to try and stop the Empire. The Empire has its empress and is now growing in power as more kingdoms fall under its influence. Ok, so maybe I should actually review the plot. I love their friendship so much and how they’d follow each other into almost certain death because they’re just that close. I love how their different personalities complement each other perfectly. This entire post could just be one long rave about how much I love Royce and Hadrian. I thought Theft of Swords was an amazing read but Rise of Empire takes that book and raises the stakes even higher with an action packed plot, lots of twists and turns and some of the best characters I have read in a long time. It was excellent, it was addictive, c’était magnifique (see, I had to go into French). I don’t think there are enough superlatives in the world for me to use in this review. What he discovers leads the thieves to the ends of the world on a journey amid treachery and betrayals, forcing Hadrian to face a past he hoped never to see again. To find the truth, he must unravel the secret of Hadrian’s past.

As the power of the Nyphron Empire grows, so does Royce’s suspicion that the wizard Esrahaddon is using the thieves as pawns in his own shadowy struggle for power.

To save her kingdom, Princess Arista runs a desperate gamble when she defies her brother and hires Royce and Hadrian to perform a dangerous mission behind the enemy’s lines. Summary: The birth of the Nyphron Empire has brought war to Melengar. Oh, you want a review? Isn’t I love it enough? No? I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it!

Rise of empire sullivan