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Drumindor

Riyria Chronicles, Book 5

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Drumindor

By: Michael J. Sullivan
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
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Summary

HE PLANNED TO OBLITERATE AN ENTIRE CITY. HE THOUGHT NO ONE COULD STAND IN HIS WAY. BUT HE HADN'T HEARD OF RIYRIA.

When a master-craftsmen dwarf is fired, he threatens retaliation. The rogues-for-hire known as Riyria are commissioned to find and stop him. Traveling to the paradise resort of Tur Del Fur, the two are granted a lavish allowance that, along with the easy job, promises to turn the trip into a vacation.

Everything would have been perfect except that the disgruntled employee’s last name is Berling and the target of his wrath is the legendary towers of Drumindor.

It's been more than five years since the last adventure with Royce Melborn (a cynical ex-assassin) and Hadrian Blackwater (an idealistic ex-mercenary), a pair whose bonds of friendship are bound with blood. This is the 20th novel based in the world of Elan and the fifth in the Riyria Chronicle series.

©2024 Michael J. Sullivan (P)2024 Recorded Books Epic Fantasy Historical
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All stars
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Loved being back with Hadrian & Royce again.
Made me laugh out loud and smile many times.
Great to get to know some of the other characters better too. Superbly read by Tim Gerard Reynolds as always. Love anything by this author.

Great light hearted adventure

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It is always so much fun to visit Ryira. There was a time when I believed their adventures were over, so it has been GREAT to visit their past

Royce and Hadrian Rule!!

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Listening to Drumindor felt like reuniting with old friends you hadn't seen in years. The chemistry between Royce and Hadrian was nothing short of brilliant, with dialogue that was both fun and refreshingly genuine. Their witty banter and heartfelt moments brought the characters to life, making every exchange feel natural and engaging.

While the story is a bit slower-paced, with fewer high-action scenes than some might expect, it more than makes up for it by delving into a rich tapestry of background history and world-building. The slower moments allow the narrative to breathe, offering fascinating insights into the lore, characters, and setting. This depth adds a layer of immersion, making you feel like you're truly exploring a living, breathing world alongside the characters.

The narrator did an excellent job (as always) of capturing the distinct personalities of Royce and Hadrian, adding depth to their interactions and enhancing the overall experience. Whether it was a humorous quip or a serious discussion, the delivery made it feel like you were right there with them.

The balance of humor, heartfelt moments, and intriguing lore makes Drumindor a rewarding experience for listeners who appreciate character-driven storytelling and immersive world-building. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy adventure and strong character dynamics!

heartfelt banter between good friends

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A perfectly fitting conclusion, tying the threads of the different eras, without ruining the magic! How does he do it?!

Perfectly fitting

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The latest installment in the prequel series to Riyria weighs in a good 60-70 pages chunkier (or several hours Audible longer) than the prior two novels.
Our heroes, Royce and Hadrian, are hired to go to the city of Tur Del Fur, which sits on the steep coast next to Drumindor, an ancient fort that acts to keep a lid on volcanic emissions. A disgruntled dwarf is threatening sabotage and Riyria are to track him down and stop him. Along for the ride come three of the supporting characters, Gwen, Albert, and (bizarrely) Arcadius.
What we get is a fun plot that shifts between priorities, and subplots, and character arcs against the backdrop of this fantasy world's Mediterranean-style luxury resort town (Sullivan conveys a Monaco/South-of-France/ Italian Riviera feeling). The dialogue and banter is sharp and, of course, you're only reading this 10th book with Royce and Hadrian in because you love them!
Yet it felt to me at times that Michael has tried to cram too much in. We get story arcs for Royce, for Hadrian, but also for Gwen, and for Royce and Gwen. Then we have Arcadius and Albert soaking up space, plus some old characters popping up, plus several chapters of the dwarf Gravis Berling as a POV character. Add to this Michael's penchant for lore and world-building, especially here for dwarf history, lots of comments about technology, culture, general world trivia, nostalgia, references to prior novels, perhaps nods to his other series set in this world's past... and it chokes the pace. Even as we head into the finale quarter we get (useful but slow) lore dumps that kill the escalation. To use a TTRPG comparison there's lots of shopping episode here, or padding as TV series would call it.
Of course, ultimately there's pay off. The conclusion is great. We love Royce and Hadrian all the more, and get more depth for them both. But perhaps for the first time in a Riyira book I felt it dragged.
Four stars nonetheless, and I hope we will visit them again in a couple of years

Solid installment, if over long

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