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Tag: Michael J. Sullivan

Petrik’s Top 19 Books of the Year! (2023)

Petrik’s Top 19 Books of the Year! (2023)

Click here if you want to see the list of all the books I’ve read so far this year: Petrik’s Year in Books (2023)

Between 1st January 2023 and 31st December 2023, I read 80 books + 177 manga/manhwa volumes (76.8k pages).

Please read this first. There will be three rules I set in this list for me to give appreciation to more authors rather than having only a few authors hoarding this list. These rules allow me to highlight more authors, and at the same time, I’ll also be able to include both new and older books (many of them still need attention) that I read this year.

  • Rereads aren’t included.
  • One book per series.
  • The books listed here are not all exclusively published this year; the list consists of the top books I read for the first time this year. Non-2023 published books on this list will have their first date of publication included.

Do note that although there’s a rank to this list, I HIGHLY recommend every book/series listed below because I loved all of them immensely, and they received a rating of 4.5 or 5 out of 5 stars from me. Honorable mentions are for two best novellas and two short stories I read this year. Without further ado, here are the top 15 (or 19) books I’ve read this year! (All full reviews of the books listed can be found on Novel Notions and my Goodreads page.)

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Book Review: Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3) by Michael J. Sullivan

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by Marc Simonetti

Esrahaddon by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Rise and Fall (Book #3 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 936 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 15th August 2023 by Riyria Enterprises (Self-published)


Esrahaddon is an incredible novel 15 years in the making. Fans of Riyria and Legends of the First Empire will be thrilled to read this.

“With education comes understanding. With understanding, wisdom. With wisdom comes control. With control, peace.”

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Book Review: Farilane (The Rise and Fall, #2) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Farilane (The Rise and Fall, #2) by Michael J. Sullivan

Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by Marc Simonetti

Farilane by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Rise and Fall (Book #2 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 440 pages (Hardcover edition)

Published: 7th June 2022 by Grim Oak Press (Self-published)


Farilane is a great sequel to Nolyn with guaranteed huge emotional ramifications if you’ve read every book in the world of Elan before reading this.

“Virgil… life is a gamble, my friend. The trick is to wager wisely, balancing risk against reward.”

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Book Review: Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3) by Michael J. Sullivan

Read an early copy of the ebook as a Kickstarter backer

Artwork by Marc Simonetti

Esrahaddon by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars.

Series: The Rise and Fall (Book 3 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, high fantasy, classic fantasy

Publication date: 15th August 2023 (ebook) and 5th December 2023 (hardcover) by Riyria Enterprises, LLC.


Esrahaddon was the stunning final piece in the puzzle that masterfully connected all the stories that had been told in the world of Elan.

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Book Review: Age of Empyre (Legends of the First Empire, #6) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Age of Empyre (Legends of the First Empire, #6) by Michael J. Sullivan

Cover art illustrated by Marc Simonetti

Age of Empyre by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Legends of the First Empire (Book #6 of 6)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic fantasy

Pages: 464 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Published: 5th May 2020 by Grim Oak Press (Self-Published)


Age of Empyre provided a relatively satisfying ending to the series, but the series never reached the height of The Riyria books.

“That’s what stories are for, Brin realized. They are magic that aid people in times like this. They provide hope, a light to see by when all others are snuffed out.”

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Petrik’s Top 19 Books of the Year! (2022)

Petrik’s Top 19 Books of the Year! (2022)

Click here if you want to see the list of all the books I’ve read so far this year: Petrik’s Year in Books (2022)

Between 1st January 2021 and 28th December 2022, I’ve read 65 novels + 162 manga/manhwa volumes (69k pages).

Please read this first. There will be three rules I set in this list in order for me to give appreciation to more authors rather than having only a few authors hoarding this list. These rules allow me to highlight more authors, and at the same time, I’ll also be able to include both new and older books (many of them still need attention) that I read within this year.

  • Rereads aren’t included.
  • One book per series.
  • The books listed here are not all exclusively published this year; the list consists of the top books I read for the first time within this year. Non-2022 published books on this list will have their first date of publication included.

Do note that although there’s a rank to this list, I HIGHLY recommend every book/series listed below because I loved all of them immensely, and they received a rating of 4.5 (rounded up on Goodreads) or 5 out of 5 stars from me. Honorable mentions are for books I rated 4.5 stars but I didn’t round up the ratings. And I will also mention my favorite novellas first this year. Without further ado, here are the top 15 (or 19) books I’ve read this year! (All full reviews of the books listed can be found on Novel Notions and my Goodreads page.)

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Book Review: Age of Death (The Legends of the First Empire, #5) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Age of Death (The Legends of the First Empire, #5) by Michael J. Sullivan

Cover art illustrated by Marc Simonetti

Age of Death by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Legends of the First Empire (Book #5 of 6)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic fantasy

Pages: 464 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Published: 4th February 2020 by Grim Oak Press (Self-Published)


With twisted revelations and unpredictable story progression, Age of Death has prepared the big stage for the final book in the series.

“Education is never without cost; all the truly valuable lessons leave a scar.”

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Book Review: Age of Legend (The Legends of the First Empire, #4) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Age of Legend (The Legends of the First Empire, #4) by Michael J. Sullivan

Cover art illustrated by Marc Simonetti

Age of Legend by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Legends of the First Empire (Book #4 of 6)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic fantasy

Pages: 464 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Published: 9th July 2019 by Grim Oak Press (Self-Published)


Age of Legend starts the second half and the end of The Legends of the First Empire, and I was so engrossed with this fourth installment.

“What a strange treasure is innocence, a virtue to the old and a curse to the young, so highly prized but eagerly parted with—the riches of beautiful skin traded for the wisdom of calluses. — THE BOOK OF BRIN”

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Book Review: Age of War (The Legends of the First Empire, #3) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Age of War (The Legends of the First Empire, #3) by Michael J. Sullivan

Cover art illustrated by Marc Simonetti

Age of War by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Legends of the First Empire (Book #3 of 6)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic fantasy

Pages: 464 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Published: 3rd July 2018 by Del Rey


Age of War is the best of the series so far. And it is also among Sullivan’s list of best novels.

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Book Review: Age of Swords (Legends of the First Empire, #2) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Age of Swords (Legends of the First Empire, #2) by Michael J. Sullivan

Cover art illustrated by Marc Simonetti

Age of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Legends of the First Empire (Book #2 of 6)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 528 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Published: 25th July 2017 by Del Rey


Age of Swords is another win (with one issue) from Michael J. Sullivan.

“There always seemed to be a better way, except when it came to people. Once broken, people couldn’t be repaired.”

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