I'll definitely listen to Age of Myth.
That's how I'm
reading it as well.
I'm somewhere around halfway point right now, and there are good things and bad things I've noticed so far.
THE BAD
The pace is really slow, but I guess that goes with epic fantasy genre. There are action scenes early on, but the plot moves in a sluggish way.
The world building is nothing to brag about, it's the point I would contest the most. It's quite derivative and nothing new. Sullivan basically lifted whole human/elf dynamics from traditional fantasy and went with it. The names of the elves are very much reminiscent of LotR as well is their general character.
The Elves themselves are divided into different subspecies where the basically High Elves rule supreme, because they have magic abilities. There is an equivalent of wood elves and some others elves species, which are lower on the social scale. This is very reminiscent of RPG games to me, and I don't like it when books just lift preconceived concepts from RPG games. It's lazy writing.
He also names one character Arya. It's a dumb decision imo. That name became iconic with GRRM. Sullivan is not going to make it his, especially since it's just a character that is mentioned in relation to one of the MCs, but it was jarring enough to take me out of his story. But maybe that's just me.
There is an overall "The End is Nigh" plot and while that is not bad as the "evil overlord wants everyone dead", it's still a cliche and I don't care for it.
THE GOOD
The characters are quite diverse in age, sex and social standing, and there is enough of them to like at least one.
There is a sense of mystery concerning the wood nearby and one very angry bear. This part of the story hovers on the edge of the main plot, and to me that part is more interesting.
Humor is present, especially in the scenes with Malcolm.
I CANT DECIDE IF IT'S GOOD OR BAD
Sullivan's writing style. It's easy to read and it flows, but it's not very evocative or special in any way like Erikson's style is for example. It doesn't pull me into the story completely like Gaiman or Erikson do for example.
But it is easy to read so there's that.
A small note that is no fault of Sullivan.
The narrator is pretty good, except with one main character. Raithe is a warrior in his mid twenties, that has all the characteristics of that class. Yet his voice is like that of a 16 yo kid. That takes me out of the story.
Anyway, half way through I would give this book a 7/10. It's enjoyable but quite derivative and unoriginal.