Of Blood and Fire is the first in The Bound and the Broken series and author Ryan Cahill’s first novel. I walked away impressed with Cahill’s storytelling ability, world building proficiency, skill in developing characters, and detailed descriptions. I liked this book a lot and see a lot of potential for the rest of the series.
Epic Fantasy
Review: The Bone Shard Emperor (The Drowning Empire #2) by Andrea Stewart
The Bone Shard Emperor is the 2nd installment in Andrea Stewart’s The Drowning Empire series. This is one of the most unique fantasy stories I have read; in fact, the first book in the series, The Bone Shard Daughter, was one of my (and many others’) favorite books of 2020 (read that review here). With all of the great elements at play in this book and the way the story progresses, I am not surprised to see The Bone Shard Emperor receiving similar accolades.
Review: Shackled Fates (The Hanged God Trilogy #2) by Thilde Kold Holdt
Shackled Fates is the follow-up to author Thilde Kold Holdt’s 2020 debut novel Northern Wrath (which I absolutely loved. You can read my review here.) Northern Wrath was one of my favorite books of 2020, and I honestly did not think there was any way I could like book 2 more. But something happened on my way to Niflheim…
A Drowned Kingdom (The Drowned Kingdom #1) by P.L. Stuart
Synopsis Once Second Prince of the mightiest kingdom in the known world, Othrun now leads the last survivors of his exiled people into an uncertain future far across the Shimmering Sea from their ancestral home, now lost beneath the waves. With his Single God binding his knights to chivalric oaths, intent on wiping out idolatry […]
Review: Of Blood and Fire (The Bound and the Broken #1) by Ryan Cahill
Of Fire and Blood is a nostalgic and warm read, plucking on the lute strings of themes I enjoy around a warm fire of favourite tropes, gathered for the tale. It’s certainly not a fantasy trying to be an edgelord, it’s a book offering warmth and safety. A great, old timely tale wearing new clothing.
Review: The Fall (The Bound and the Broken #0.5) by Ryan Cahill
Visceral. Vivid. Action-packed.
Review: Of Blood and Fire (The Bound and the Broken #1) by Ryan Cahill
Cahill’s prose, which glides between brutally epic and elegant, has a playful tone that at times reads like a sassy John Gwynne. It is a series being crafted by someone who loves the fantasy genre and is fully adept at making it sing.
Review: Master Artificer (The Silent Gods #2) by Justin T Call
“The world ofThe Silent Gods is so immersive and the characters so compelling, drawing you in immediately and demanding your attention until the final page is turned.”
Review: Map’s Edge (The Tethered Citadel #1) by David Hair
Map’s Edge isn’t far from your classic fantasy comfort read; it’s a book for the winter, a book that’s warm and ready to take you on an adventure you might be familiar with, but it’s far from anything you’ve read before. There’s a modern voice, a twist on what you’ve read before. From the tale of Vashtariel the last God-King of the Aldar, the quality of Gravis’ alcohol, to the clientele is his tavern, the details are all here.
Review: The Splinter King (The God-King Chronicles #2) by Mike Brooks
The Splinter King is the second book in Mike Brooks’ God-King Chronicles series, and the author really goes to great lengths to expand the world and the characters. While I did not think it quite lived up to the expectations set by the first book, I did still enjoy it.
Review: Dreams of the Dying (Enderal #1) by Nicolas Lietzau
As you can probably tell by now, my feelings on Dreams of the Dying are really mixed. It seems like everything I liked about it also happened to be its greatest flaws. Take the worldbuilding, for instance. I loved how deep Lietzau went with the worldbuilding, giving us two unique cultures and fantastical creatures galore.
Review: The Black Coast (The God-King Chronicles #1) by Mike Brooks
The Black Coast is the first book in Mike Brooks’ epic fantasy series The God-King Chronicles. It is a great start in what appears to be a promising story.