Fantasy has always been one of those genres I keep returning to, especially when I want to read something fascinating with dragons, magic and old kingdoms in it. So I got a recommendation from a friend to pick up The Fall by Ryan Cahill, a prequel in The Bound and The Broken series. This is my first book by the author and I see that this series has an impressive rating on Goodreads, so clearly I was stepping into a fantasy that has won over a lot of readers.
The Fall takes place 400 years before the main events of The Bound and The Broken series and gives readers a look at a very different Epheria from that written about in the main books. The Order, a body of warriors responsible for governing the kingdom of Epheria, has stood for thousands of years, protecting the continent and maintaining its power but cracks are beginning to show. After all, nothing lasts forever, and kingdoms rise and fall.
There are people who believe the Order has become corrupt and has abandoned the principles it was created to protect. This growing distrust among the people sets the stage for something much worse. Everything begins to fall apart in IInaen as the city comes under attack putting the Archon, leader of the Order, Alvira in danger. Someone close to her wants her throne and control of the city.
The story quickly turns from political tension to complete chaos as dragons fill the skies in their varying sizes and colours spraying fire on IInaen. The city is thrown into destruction and the people who once stood together are turning against each other. Who will save the city from extinction?
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Action, Adventure Publication: November 2020 Pages: 95
My Review And Rating
A plot revolving around dragons, magic and battles always gets my attention and so did this prequel novella. Though short, it's an action-packed, even-paced and well-written story that readers can finish within two hours. The author doesn't dawdle but delves into the story of a world that is on the edge of collapse. The main books focus on the world of Epheria but until you read this prequel, you might not understand the events that led to the collapse. I was on the edge of my seat all through the ninety-five pages.
Unlike some prequels that I have read, this one manages to stand on its own highlighting the world and themes to expect in the main books while reshaping the story that is to follow. This book draws on familiar fantasy themes like fallen kingdoms, betrayals, magic, the weight of history and big, fire-breathing dragons.
I was impressed with the way Ryan Cahill throws his readers into the chaos and disaster. The conflict is already moving and we have to keep up. We are introduced to different characters caught in the chaos with on backstories but as you read along, their roles become clear very fast. The larger mystery of what is happening slowly becomes clear. Betrayal and questions about loyalty, and power are at the centre of the story.
Ryan Cahill's writing style was another pleasant surprise for me. It is easy to read and follow which helped because there is quite a bit of worldbuilding packed into a very short book. He doesn't spend pages trying to explain or make every sentence sound poetic. The action scenes are fantastic and almost cinematic. I could picture the destruction without having to work through complicated descriptions.
My one issue is that the story moves so quickly that I wanted more time with the characters, to get to know them. The short length works in its favour when it comes to pacing but it also means some emotional moments don't have as much room to settle. Still, I think that is partly the point of the novella. This isn't a slow introduction to Epheria but a glimpse into the catastrophe that shaped the world that comes later.
After reading this prequel, I'm curious about the main books in the series. For a novella of roughly 90 pages, Cahill manages to give the story enough history, conflict and spectacle to make Epheria feel much larger than the book itself.
Rating this book, I’d give it 8 out of 10 stars. It is fast, dark, easy to read and packed with dragons, betrayal and destruction. It left me wanting to know what happens four hundred years later.
Images generated with Chatgpt using the e-book cover
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Rating: 80/100
Originally posted through scrobble.life/books.
