Review: Age of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan

Title: Age of Swords
Author: Michael J. Sullivan
Series: The Legends of the First Empire #2
Genre: Epic Fantasy/Adventure
Publisher: Del Rey
Publication Date: July 25, 2017
Edition: 504 pages, Kindle Edition
Source: Library
Purchase: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Bookshop | Powell's | Thriftbooks

Synopsis:

   Raithe, the God Killer, may have started the rebellion by killing a Fhrey, but long-standing enmities dividing the Rhune make it all but impossible to unite against a common foe. And even if the clans can join forces, how will they defeat an enemy whose magical prowess makes the Fhrey indistinguishable from gods?
   The answer lies across the sea in a faraway land populated by a reclusive and dour race who feels nothing but disdain for both Fhrey and mankind. With time running out, Persephone leads the gifted young seer Suri, the Fhrey sorceress Arion, and a small band of misfits in a desperate search for aid—a quest that will take them into the darkest depths of Elan. There, an ancient adversary waits—an enemy as surprising as it is deadly.
In Age of Myth, fantasy master Michael J. Sullivan launched readers on an epic journey of magic and adventure, heroism and betrayal, love and loss. Now the thrilling saga continues as the human uprising is threatened by powerful enemies from without—and bitter rivalries within.

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   This book had a lot more of the action/adventure that I've grown to love reading in fantasy. Book one, while still having tension and action, had a lot of set-up than anything else. A lot of character introductions, and introducing the world. I know this isn't the first book published in this world, but it's the first chronological in the history of the world (the world of Elan), and with how expansive things get with the other series', and this being Epic Fantasy, a first book that's the start needs that amount of introduction. 

  This book picks up right where book one leaves off, give or take a couple of weeks, and war is on the horizon. The "elves" (Fhrey) have plans to cull the "humans" (Rhune), talking about them like they're a herd of sheep. The resident annoying Prince of the Fhrey, Mawyndulë, continues being insufferable. He is the walking definition of petulant. He makes numerous dumb decisions in this book, and I am curious where his story is headed. While he doesn't have many POV chapters I can tell that he will have a much larger role later in the series. 

  A lot happens with the Rhunes. Between getting attacked by giants, attempting to unite the clans, and heading to across the sea where the reclusive Dherg live to help them contend with an ancient foe in exchange for weapons it's hard not to wonder how they keep managing to not die. They are a people who are early in their civilization, creating the wheel, weaponry, and written words are all new to them. Even the Fhrey don't have written word. They see no use for it when they live so long. They also don't seem to have use for wheels either, but the Dherg do. I have seem some complaint for how quickly this happens, but honestly it feels very organic to me. 

 There are some plot lines that I liked less than others in this book. Raithe is still the least interesting. I dont know if he's supposed to be one of the heroes of this story, but he just comes across as very selfish. He's only helping out at all because he "loves" Persephone, but I don't think it's any kind of real love. Unless this author doesn't know how to write romance, that's the only thing I can think of for why it just seems so flat. Because, Persephone's love for her dead husband also is almost never brought up, no thoughts of missing him and wishing he were there when she's in a dire situation, which happens often in this book. It's not enough for it to lessen my enjoyment of the book, just a little thing that I notice.

Suri is the most interesting character in this book. I am excited for her role in later books. The women in this series are hands down the most well written and seem like they've had the most thought put into than most of the other characters. Moya is a great character too, I like that she's a character that challenges how everybody thinks. People weaponize her beauty against her, and she proves them wrong about who they think she is. I really appreciate that. The other young women in this book are also very well rounded. Roan has a some-what mysterious background, even to herself. She only knows what she was told by her abuser, as a former slave she is still getting used to being her own person. I really hope she realizes her worth soon. 

I am very excited to read more books in this world/series. These are books I would 100% re-read. I feel like this is going to be a series that with each reread you notice more details that tie things together in the other books set in this world.