17
Sep202010
GUEST REVIEW: ‘The Crown Conspiracy’ by Michael J. Sullivan
by Guest Reviewer • Posted in 1.5 Star Reviews
Title: The Crown Conspiracy (The Riyria Revelation #1)
Author: Michael J. Sullivan
Publisher: Aspirations Media Inc
Publication Date: October 1, 2008
Paperback: 296 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Review Copy
Guest Review by TJ
RATING: 3/10 – Wish I Hadn’t Bothered
BACK COVER SYNOPSIS:
Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in the murder of the king. Trapped in a conspiracy to overthrow the monarchy and sentenced to death, they have only one way out…
REVIEW:
I’m sorry to say that, all around, ‘The Crown Conspiracy’ didn’t work for me. However, it seems that I’m in the minority, because the book has been nominated and given several awards. Plus, just a quick glance at ‘The Crown Conspiracy’ on Amazon shows a wealth of five and four star ratings. But I just can’t really see why. Now, I figure my job as a reviewer is to explain why, in specific detail, a book didn’t work for me so that others can read that and better decide if the book is something they might like or not.
Where to start? Well, the first scene would a point as good as any to begin with, I think. To put it bluntly, if I had picked this novel up in a bookstore and read the first chapter, there is no way it would have left the store with me. The first chapter, although in third person like the rest of the book, gives a limited perspective of Archibald Ballentyne who is a flashy, overly-ambitious, and obnoxious character that seems more caricature than actual character. (Actually, I continued to have this problem with every other character in the book, but I’ll get to that in a bit.) Because of the character, the whole chapter–despite some interesting plot set up–was equally obnoxious. Sure, there’s an awesome theft, but I had to put up with pages of Archibald whining.
So, from the first chapter, I wasn’t off on the right foot with ‘The Crown Conspiracy’. As I began the second chapter I was incredibly relieved to see that the focus shifted to Alenda, a character I expected to like. Unfortunately, that was taken from me swiftly. Within minutes my hope was squashed with awkward dialogue I know I’ve heard out of dozens of characters: “People like us simply shouldn’t do business with people like them.” [p19] And, a little later, “You already know me better than any woman should, more than is safe for either of us.” [p42]
For me, the characters never evolved from simple, ordinary constructions found in any fantasy novel to somebody with life, reasoning skills, or emotion. They were as dead as paper. Honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to care about a single one. I just didn’t want to bother since I could practically see where there ends would be, because constructions dance along plots and I find when that’s the plots, too, become more predictable.
I had some issues with plot that went far beyond predictability. Even if predictability is annoying, the far worse crime is to have a gap or break in the plot that leaves the reader reeling wondering what sort of logic one has to use to understand the story movement. There were several times where I wondered exactly how idiotic a character would have to be to make a certain decision, the worst came fairly early. The two rogues have been captured and framed for the assassination of the king. They’re put in the dungeons and await death. So, of course, the princess (because women are the bearers of compassion) comes, believes their story, and decides the best route for them to take is to kidnap her brother the king to keep him out of harm’s way. What? Really now? There’s not a soul in the world she trusts more than two guys who just say they weren’t the ones who killed the king? And then they just carry the Prince-King along until a beautiful friendship (or at least an obligatory relationship without much in the way of negative feelings) forms. I don’t know, it’s completely debatable, but I couldn’t quite roll with it.
In the plus category for ‘The Crown Conspiracy’ I can only say that it was a quick read and might have been much more entertaining if only I could have let go of my issues against the novel.
VERDICT:
I hate to say it, but I can’t bring myself to recommend ‘The Crown Conspiracy’. With so many sure-to-be-great fantasy novels on the horizon, I wish I wouldn’t have bothered with this one and spent my reading time elsewhere.
17 Comments
Thank you for having me for the guest review, Carolyn! I'm only sorry that I couldn't enjoy The Crown Conspiracy–especially since I know it has so many fans.
Reply
Oh dear, sounds like one to avoid then? It's always interesting how some people love a book & others dislike it.
Reply
Laura, it really is strange! This one I didn't like at all, but I think that I'm in the minority because I've heard most people raving…
Reply
I really liked this one and the follow up book. I have yet to post my reviews because I wanted to post the first three books as a group of reviews and then life happened and I have yet to finish the third.
Sorry you didn't enjoy it.
Reply
thanks for the honest review, its very helpful, a lot of the problems you had with the book I know i would have too
Reply
This is the first negative review I've read of this book though all of the criticisms TJ makes sound like valid ones, which would probably irritate me as well. I might hold off on this one. Thanks for the review.
Reply
I've had this book on my tbr list forever, just never felt the need to pick it up. Maybe I'll just skip it.
Reply
Thanks for reviewing this one TJ – sorry it wasn't to your liking, but we can't like every book can we. Here's hoping the next couple I send you are better!
Reply
Thanks for commenting, everyone!
Carolyn, I hope so too. I feel like such a downer between this review and the Daniells.
Reply
Aw man, nothing sucks more than disliking a book on another person's site. It makes me feel like the party guest who gets really hammered and takes my top off while everyone else is just tipsy.
You know your bad reviews work the opposite on me, TJ. Given our track record lately I'm thinking I should try this because I'll probably like it.
I thought of you today because I read a great PNR YA and it reminds me so strongly of SHIVER that I'm betting $10 that you won't like it. Do you have plans to read FIRELIGHT, by any chance? : )
Reply
Rebecca, I always love your analogies.
Chances are, no, I wouldn't like anything even resembling SHIVER. I'm pretty scared. However, I haven't even heard of FIRELIGHT. What is that one about?
Reply
I am sorry to hear that TJ didn't like the book much. I've read it and all the ones out that follow. I have really enjoyed the books. But as mentioned, it is wild how some like books and others don't. It's okay.
We all have those that we don't care for that others do. Glad you gave an honest review. 
Reply
I'm really sorry to hear you didn't like this book – Personally I LOVED IT!! In fact it is my favorite new fantasy series. I've read every one that has come out and I'm riveted waiting on the fifth book that is coming out next month. I really loved the characters of Hadrian and Royce and my favorite is Myron.
Reply
I posted this over at TJ's site but thought I should also repeat it here as this is where the bulk of the review was…..
Really sorry you did not like this book. But, I can understand as I hated “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy and it seems everytone else in the world loves it. So to each their own. I have to say that I’m one of the people who LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it and the whole series.
As for the first scene…I thought this was a great red-herring misdirection. Almost every book I can think of starts with the main characters so I thought it was great that the first chapter doesn’t even have Royce and Hadrian in it.
As to Arista letting them out of prison, I think you may have overlooked something there. It is not that she believes their story that she left them out. It is because Esrahaddon told her that her father would be killed and if that did indeed happen the only ones she should trust are those accused of the murder as they are certainly the only ones not involved.
While I doubt you will read further in the series, Sullivan will twist the real culprits in the original regicide a few more times in that the person who is “revealed” as the murdr in book 1 is really not the one responsible. I’ll not spoil it by saying who is but there is much more behind that is discovered as the series progresses.
In any case, as I said, I’m sorry you did not like this one – I’m soooooo on pins and needles for book 5 which is about to come out (I hope, I hope) and will be first in line when it hits the street.
Hmmm… It wouldn't let me use my google account so I posted anonymously but I can be reached at: samanathajohnson2@gmail.com
Reply
Samantha, I've answered you both places as well, for your convenience.
As I said in the review, I seem to be very much in the minority about this book. It has many dedicated fans and I seem to be one of the few who didn't enjoy it. It's a shame, but the entire thing just didn't work for me.
The part of the review you're referring to I was trying to get across why I was having such a difficult time getting into the characters–when the decisions they made seemed so horrible. Sure, some of them are explained later, but I couldn't let it go and it's not fleshed out for quite awhile as I remember. At the time, it merely felt like a plot device for me.
You're right, too, that I will unfortunately not be continuing the series. I'm sure they get better as they go along, but I think I'll leave it to the fans.
Thank you for the long comment!
Reply
I only have one comment, seeing as you didn't like the book (though having a whole paragraph about disliking Ballantyne seemed a bit excessive as the guy is only in the beginning and then end and you aren't supposed to like him….
that's not my comment though. My comment is Princess Arista's motivation to get the Riyria duo to kidnap Alric and head out to clear their own names. She doesn't do it for compassion, she frees them because she's fully aware that they didn't do it…and as we find out in book two is coached and cohersed by the wizard Esrahaddon, not to mention she knows of their prowess and skills and decides who better to trundle the Prince out of the castle unmolested.
I loved the book, and it's sequels, and I really think it's a case of to each their own….that said, if you try to tell me you didn't care about Myron the young monk I won't believe you, cause that character is DEEPLY realized.
Reply
Scott, the paragraph on Ballantyne was trying to demonstrate that I was off on the wrong foot with The Crown Conspiracy–so I may not have been open to the rest of the book as I might have been otherwise.
I have heard that characterizations are developed quite well later, but I just don't have the will to find out. It's unfortunate Sullivan's writing didn't work for me. I wish it had. Still, I completely respect anyone who does love the series–after all, I'm the one who's left out of the fun.
Thanks for commenting and your thoughts.
Reply