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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn’t love this one as much as Of Blood and Fire and The Fall. I still love the world and the broader strokes of the story, but I felt like something wasn’t clicking.
What I liked:
Everything really. There is nothing missing from this book. It’s fast-paced epic fantasy at its finest and I enjoyed the big picture story. The world-building is fantastic. I feel like I really got a good picture of all the different politics at play. There are creatures galore - dragons, Uraks, spiders, plenty of different types of shadowspawn, and more. I do love a lot of the characters and didn’t find myself dreading anyone’s voice. And the action scenes are incredible. I love every single fight scene he writes.
So what was the problem?
It came down to a structural problem for me. There were too many POVs that switch too often. Normally I don’t mind a change in perspective, but in this case, they made it difficult to feel immersed in the story as I had to keep reorienting to a new voice every few pages. There were also several shifts that felt unnecessary and a few even undermined the tension of the plot. For me, this dampened the suspense and muted the emotional impact, so I was left with an objectively interesting but sadly flat experience.
What I liked:
Everything really. There is nothing missing from this book. It’s fast-paced epic fantasy at its finest and I enjoyed the big picture story. The world-building is fantastic. I feel like I really got a good picture of all the different politics at play. There are creatures galore - dragons, Uraks, spiders, plenty of different types of shadowspawn, and more. I do love a lot of the characters and didn’t find myself dreading anyone’s voice. And the action scenes are incredible. I love every single fight scene he writes.
So what was the problem?
It came down to a structural problem for me. There were too many POVs that switch too often. Normally I don’t mind a change in perspective, but in this case, they made it difficult to feel immersed in the story as I had to keep reorienting to a new voice every few pages. There were also several shifts that felt unnecessary and a few even undermined the tension of the plot. For me, this dampened the suspense and muted the emotional impact, so I was left with an objectively interesting but sadly flat experience.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
| 4.25 stars. This was a step up from Of Blood and Fire. We see some good character relationships develop. As always, I find the action scenes to be the strongest, and there were a lot in here! I would still like to see more from Ella, especially given she's really our only female POV.
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
WOW. What a leap in writing from the first book! While Of Blood and Fire was enjoyable, this sequel truly showcases Ryan Cahill’s growth as an author. The plot, characters, and writing have all matured significantly, making this a compelling read. Let’s dive into the details.
Characters
The expanded cast of characters is both a strength and a challenge. While I occasionally felt overwhelmed trying to keep track of who was who and where they were fighting, I appreciated the complexity. Each character feels integral to the story, and I found myself especially invested in the arcs of Calen, Ella, Rist, and Dahlen.
- Rist: His storyline fascinates me. He’s a deeply layered character grappling with internal conflict, and I hope he doesn’t take a villainous turn. While his arc didn’t shock me, it left me eager to see where it goes next.
- Ella: Her storyline finally became intriguing, particularly her connection to the Wolfpine. I’m excited to see how her role develops and what her bond to the rebellion in the North entails.
- Dahlen: I didn’t connect with him for much of the book, mostly because his jealousy and desire to reunite with his father, Aeson, seemed likely to lead him to make reckless decisions. However, his arc became much more compelling in the second half.
- Calen: His growth and relationships are captivating, and his connection with his dragon makes his story the most engaging for me.
Plot
This book is packed with action, mystery, and intrigue. The numerous battles and shifting allegiances keep the story moving, and while it’s clear everything is building toward a massive climax, there’s still so much we don’t fully understand yet.
- Mysteries: The Urukai’s evolution, Calen’s purple eyes—these seemingly small details have me hooked. I can’t wait to see how these threads tie into the larger story.
- Villains: If I have one critique, it’s that the series lacks a fully fleshed-out central villain. While there are plenty of smaller antagonists, they often receive limited page time before being killed off. The Fade feels like an ominous presence, but its development is still fairly surface-level.
- Action: The battle scenes are vivid and immersive. Cahill’s action writing has truly leveled up, and I’m eager for the moment when all the plotlines converge and the characters come together.
Final Thoughts
This is a rich and complex high fantasy full of magic, intrigue, and a sprawling cast of characters. While it may take some effort to keep track of everything, the payoff is well worth it. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy with intricate world-building and layered storytelling, I highly recommend picking up this series.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No