Rise of Empire, Volume 2. Riyria Revelations Review

Nyphron Rising 9book 3) and The Emerald Storm (book 4) by Michael J. Sullivan

“The only difference between a hero and a villain is who tells the story.”

Sometimes the middle of a series is where things start to sag, but Rise of Empire doesn’t fall into that trap. Made up of Nyphron Rising and The Emerald Storm, this second volume of the Riyria Revelations continues the saga of Hadrian Blackwater and Royce Melborn with solid momentum, even if it doesn’t quite hit the same highs as the first installment.

Picking up in the aftermath of The Crown Conspiracy and Avempartha, this volume throws us back into a world of shifting power. New kings emerge, fresh villains stir the pot, and Hadrian and Royce once again find themselves caught in the chaos. What I appreciated most this time around was how Sullivan begins to peel back the layers of our two protagonists. We start to see more of their pasts, not just in passing remarks but in moments that actually shape the current story. There are even secrets unfolding that they didn’t realize they were carrying.

“Just because something isn’t a lie doesn’t mean it’s true.”

I’ll admit, I thought this was the final volume. As I got closer to the end, I kept wondering how Sullivan would wrap it all up. Turns out there’s a third volume after this, and that actually worked in the story’s favor. Instead of rushing toward a forced resolution, this book builds patiently, letting the stakes rise without trying to tie everything off too neatly.

I still think I liked the first volume more. It felt more compact and controlled, while Rise of Empire broadens the scope. That shift brings more depth to the world and the politics, but it also means the pacing slows down at times. Even so, the intrigue stays sharp, the character work gets better, and the story keeps moving forward with purpose.

“I’ve never met a problem that couldn’t be solved by hitting it hard enough.”

If you're already invested in the series, Rise of Empire delivers what you're looking for. It deepens the characters, complicates the politics, and makes you want to see how all of this is going to end.