I borrowed a copy of Michael J. Sullivan‘s The Rose and Thorn from my local library.

Description:

TWO THIEVES WANT ANSWERS. RIYRIA IS BORN.

For more than a year Royce Melborn has tried to forget Gwen DeLancy, the woman who saved him and his partner Hadrian Blackwater from certain death. Unable to get her out of his mind, the two thieves return to Medford but receive a very different reception — Gwen refuses to see them. The victim of abuse by a powerful noble, she suspects that Royce will ignore any danger in his desire for revenge. By turning the thieves away, Gwen hopes to once more protect them. What she doesn’t realize is what the two are capable of — but she’s about to find out.

Review:

I didn’t love it quite as much as The Crown Tower, which I gave a full 5 stars. But it is still a truly enjoyable book. We didn’t see as much of Royce and Hadrian as I’d have liked (and expected), and I felt like some important events were skipped between the end of book one and beginning of book two. (I wanted to see those relationships develop, damn it!) But I enjoyed the characters we did spend time with and I liked the foreshadowing for the future plot. I can’t wait to read more of it.

I borrowed Michael J. Sullivan‘s The Crown Tower from my local library.

Description:
TWO MEN WHO HATE EACH OTHER. ONE IMPOSSIBLE MISSION. A LEGEND IN THE MAKING.

A warrior with nothing to fight for is paired with a thieving assassin with nothing to lose. Together they must steal a treasure that no one can reach. The Crown Tower is the impregnable remains of the grandest fortress ever built and home to the realm’s most valuable possessions. But it isn’t gold or jewels the old wizard is after, and this prize can only be obtained by the combined talents of two remarkable men. Now if Arcadius can just keep Hadrian and Royce from killing each other, they just might succeed.

Review:
Well, to my complete surprise I really enjoyed this. I thought it well written and funny, especially toward the end. I did find it hard to read the sections about Gwen while she was still under another’s thumb. But all in all I can’t wait to read the next one.

On a side note, I was annoyed at having to decide on reading the series in chronological or publication order. Once I decide to read something, I just want to get on with it, not make extra decisions. Luckily, my decision was made for me when the library had the first ones in and not the latter ones.

On to book two, The Rose and the Thorn.