Of Darkness and Light Review
Author: Ryan Cahill
Rating: 9.5 AMAZING
What’s it about? : The hotly anticipated second book in Ryan Cahill''s break out debut series, The Bound and The Broken.
Heroes will rise. Nations will fall.
Behind the towering walls of Belduar, Calen Bryer and his companions stand in defense of the city and its new king. In over a thousand years, Belduar has never fallen. It has stood as a bastion of hope. But the Lorian empire are at its walls once more, and the Dragonguard are coming.
“We honour the dead not by how we mourn their death, but by how we live on despite it.”
Of Darkness and Light by Ryan Cahill is the second installment in The Bound and The Broken series. Being a sequel, there was a part of me that was concerned that this book wouldn’t live up to the high standard that the author provided with the first book in the series. I am elated to say that there is no sophomore slump. Of Darkness and Light is a complete triumph in almost every conceivable category. It builds off of everything that made the original so great. It had me laughing, crying, cheering, and gritting my teeth for the duration. Of Darkness and Light has solidified itself into my top 3 books of 2022.
“There are no such things as heroes, boy. A hero in one person’s eyes is a villain in another’s.”
Of Darkness and Light picks up right where Of Blood and Fire left off. I chose to read a book in-between these two, and was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to connect back to the story and immerse myself the way I was in Of Blood and Fire. I often temper my expectations so that I don’t wind up disappointed. After just one chapter in Of Darkness and Light, I knew that I was in for something truly special. Right from the start I was flipping the pages engrossed into the story and nervous about where it was all headed. In Of Blood and Fire, the author has shown that he can write a tight narrative on a smaller scale, always hinting at a larger and more complex world. Now that Cahill is no longer just hinting at bigger things to come, the branching plots and expansion of the continent are implemented perfectly. At times I was in awe at the amount of detail within the world-building. Cahill doesn’t just expand the continent because he wants a third book. He does it in meaningful ways that flesh out the world and bring added depth to new and exciting settings and characters. Additionally, perspective plays a large role within the book. I love the way the author plays with this in respect to the turmoil and conflict within Epheria. You see multiple viewpoints that are on completely opposite sides of the spectrum. No matter which side of the conflict you are on, Cahill makes every perspective have their merit and validity. He makes time for all sides of the story to have their moment to shine. The ability to balance it all is particularly impressive due to the larger expanding world, characters, and settings. Moreover, the pacing is almost perfect. Although, I did feel like one section towards the beginning dragged on a little too long. It's such a nitpick, but I felt it was worth mentioning. However, you can tell Cahill has complete control over the flow of the story. This is one of the largest compliments I can give, considering the size of the book itself. Finally, I’m thrilled that this book suffers from none of the stale story tropes that I had an issue with in the first book. The storytelling and world-building are on another level, and had me making comparisons with other legendary writers.
“Bloodstains on her robe were the least of her concern. There would be plenty more blood on the path she was walking down.”
Ryan Cahill's ability to attach you to characters is now down to about a paragraph. It's truly incredible. He puts humanity behind even the most minor, seemingly insignificant individuals. It pulled me right into every scene. He can tug on your emotions so quickly that you won't even realize you have a tear running down your cheek. In past reviews, I've talked about death having weight to it. That usually means the main cast, but not for Ryan Cahill. The author takes time to acknowledge every warrior that fights within these pages. What often are referred to as "throwaway characters," or characters that only serve to be killed and discarded, Cahill respects them and makes their deaths have meaning. Just when I thought the character work couldn't get any better, Cahill provides a new revelation that changes the way you see someone and paints them in a completely different light. It kept me on my toes with something new and refreshing on every page. This is done perfectly in stride with the plot and pacing that feels natural. Farda, in particular, fascinated me and provided the most compelling narrative. Though, the same could be said for any number of the characters within this book. Furthermore, many new individuals are introduced throughout the story. Some of them get more page time than others. While I wouldn't say that too many were introduced, there were a few times I had to ask myself, "who is this again?" This is by no means a major issue, as the author is so in-sync with his readers that he provides a "refresher," which falls seamlessly within the scene. It's like Cahill is feeling the same way that you are, and is a step ahead of you. It makes for a more enjoyable reading experience. No matter how many new characters are introduced, there will always be a special place for Calen, Dann, and Rist. Even though the story and scope is expanding, these characters we know and love stay true. I'm so happy that the author is able to continue developing these critical characters with the same consistency as the first book. The dialogue between the characters continues to be amazing. You can tell who is speaking without any context due to how well Cahill has written his characters. The love, respect, and detail is proven through every nod, wink, and quip throughout the book. It is remarkable character work.
“When you heard the stories of war and heroes, you couldn’t smell the death, the scent of crackling flesh, the stench of voided bowels. You couldn’t see the utter devastation, taste the blood on your tongue, feel the fear and horror in your bones.”
I said in the review for Of Blood and Fire that Ryan Cahill's writing seems almost effortless. I'm happy to report that this continues and in almost every conceivable way improves upon it. In Of Darkness and Light, Cahill exudes confidence throughout the book. The author evolves, adapts, and shifts the tone and writing style quickly and efficiently based on the scene. I really like the way the author portrays The Glade in this book. The tone and references completely change when describing The Glade, where the story began. It gives you a feeling of home and a warm familiarity that you hold onto throughout the journey. For example instead of saying "Guna Lindon's house," Cahill chose, "Old Guna Lindon's house." On the surface it doesn't seem like a big deal, but these small details scattered throughout his writing elevate and personalize the story. These word choices and tonal shifts are a perfect way to remind the reader of where they came from. I know it seems like I’m really getting into the weeds a bit, but it’s these small details that make Ryan Cahill’s writing so perfect. Further, I loved the author's portrayal of warfare. Death isn't pretty and glamorous in this book. It's gritty and gross and horrifying. The author ups the gore and horror factor but doesn't glorify it. I thought it was a great way to handle the aftermath of battle. It's a constant reminder that these characters, no matter how fantastical they are, bleed and die like the rest of us. Most of the time, it's a painful, dark, smelly, vomit inducing, slow death. The writing is nothing short of extraordinary from start to finish.
“The sun will set, and it will rise again, and it will do so the next day and the next. The gods are in charge of such things, but it is by our own will that we pick ourselves up when we fall.”
Upon completing Of Darkness and Light, I asked myself why I don't feel the need to switch gears and read something other than fantasy for my next book review. Oftentimes, when reading a book this large, I get a little burned out and long for a change of scenery. However, Ryan Cahill's writing is like drinking a barrel of mead without the hangover. Now, all I long for is the next installment! Of Darkness and Light by Ryan Cahill is an almost perfect book that I highly recommend.