Wintertide is the fifth and penultimate book in Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations series. Again, the story picks up right where the last one left off. The Wintertide festival is almost here and events set in motion in the second book finally come to a head.

Each character goes on an arc. It's amazing how much growth they all have in just over 300 pages. I loved the nod to A Knight's Tale in Hadrian's story thread. My heart is breaking for Royce and I'm a little worried about what that's going to do to his mental state. The horrible situation Arista was in has taught her to be humble and I think she's going to bounce back fantastically. Now if only she'd experiment with the Art more! Thankfully Modina finds her way through her own personal darkness and is back in the game as an active participant. Between her and Nimbus the Empire is in good hands. With all the hubbub over the real heir Degan Gaunt is a let down. And a bit of an ass. I hope there's another twist in store and he's not really the heir though that doesn't seem likely at this point. Best of all, it was satisfying for Saldur to finally get his comeuppance.

While I don't think anything will match the pure fun of meeting Royce and Hadrian for the first time, this book came close and is a tie for my favorite in the series. I can't wait to see how it all ends in Percepliquis. ( )

I wish I could give it more, but for every thing I like about it, it's countered with something I dislike that knocks points off. Marginally better than the last book because at least our cast converged. I suspect, beyond knit-picking the plot (hey, it's the author's plot, he can do what he likes with it) I just don't find that the characters behave in a real, human way. To a large extent, despite the author's apparent facility for creating memorable characters, settings, and situations, it seems to have been written by a teenager with a limited imagination for how grown-ups would deal with and/or react to events that are beyond the author's life experience. A good author should be able to show us characters doing all sorts of things the author has never experienced, and we should buy it, whether it's trying to throw a deadly ring in a volcano, or turning down the proposal of the wealthy Englishman you've been sparring with all novel long ... but in this book, in particular, from what I know of (a) the characters, and (b) actual humans, most of the time this is not the reaction I would expect.

It's a bit like when they recast a beloved part on a show, and the new actor, no matter how otherwise talented, never quite embodies the character to satisfaction. As this series progresses, it feels more and more like the characters in the first book or two have been replaced with actors who cost less.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve! ( )

May2012: Read it again in preparation for the final book of the series & really enjoyed it, even though I knew what was coming. Great!

Sep2010: Again, I had the privilege of reading an ARC & enjoyed the experience tremendously. Sullivan took me for another great ride. I'd highly suggest reading the previous four books first. While he's again done a great job of filling in the background, there are a lot of details & emotional investment that you'll miss out on.

The next book is supposed to wind up the series. While I'm eagerly awaiting it, I'm kind of sad, too. I hate to think of it ending. ( )

Weer een heerlijk boek van Michael J. Sullivan. Leest lekker makkelijk en zit vol met intriges en avonturen. Een dikke 8. ( )

Better than emerald storm. but it is time to wrap it up. ( )