Crown Conspiracy – Excellent

I try to read as much as possible, as should you. As an aspiring author, I’m never one to turn down ideas and inspiration. There’s a common motiff in fantasy to make things epic. Save the world from the evil dark overlord. The hero must rise from humble beginnings, take up his sword, save the princess, and vanquish the darkness.

And it’s all good and fun, don’t get me wrong. But it gets a touch cliche after awhile. After reading “The Lies of Locke Lamora,” I made a decision that that was how my books would go. No noble hero. No epic quest. Just some smart, extraordinary people scraping by under the nose of the law. And occasionally above it.

Now, imagine my surprise, nay, delight, at reading the description of Michael J. Sullivan’s “The Crown Conspiracy.”

They killed the king. They pinned it on two men. They chose poorly.

There’s no ancient evil to defeat, no orphan destined for greatness, just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time. 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 a plot to kill the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out…and so begins this tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend.

And let me tell you, it’s a fun tale and fantastic bit of fantasy. I can’t wait to read book 2.

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• The Crown Conspiracy on Podiobooks.com
• Michael J. Sullivan (Author)
• Nathan Lowell (Narrator)