Of Blood And Fire (The Bound and The Broken Book 1)

Joe Rixman

What a way to start a series!!

"Of Blood and Fire is the first book in The Bound and the Broken series by Ryan Cahill. It is a tried and true fantasy series that bends and often breaks the normal fantasy tropes ("There is no prophecy. His coming was not foretold. He bleeds like any man, and bleed he will."). There are elves and dwarves, giants and mages, a Fade or two and yes, a Dragon. Cahill presents each of these uniquely and gives them all character and life through his prose. These characters act like real people. They grieve, they want, they feel guilt and wonder. Cahill is able to inject a sense of awe into his descriptions of dense forests, small villages, vast cities lit by flowers, and dark magic that takes a toll on both body and spirit. There were times I wanted to stop reading, for fear of what was coming top characters I had grown to like. Like most lovers of good fantasy, however, to stop reading is impossible, especially when the writing is this good. Plots twist and turn. There is love and betrayal. There is a lot of blood spilled and the body count is quite high. And yet, what holds this novel and, no doubt the rest of this series, together is the characterization and the emotions they display (or hide) from one another. Calen is a reluctant hero, Dann is his erstwhile best friend and there are many different characters that appear. Cahill is such a talented writer that none of these characters blend together. Each has his or her own distinct personality and most are, quite frankly, unforgettable. Of Blood and Fire is an excellent first novel, which a deep lore and outstanding world-building, numerous complex characters that have REASONS for all the things they say and do (or not say and don't do). they are all flawed, but enjoyable, and I look forward to traveling with them all into book two and beyond. I have no doubts that you will, too! ["

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June 28, 2022 Verified Purchase

Nicole Sergov

A fantastic start to an amazing series!

"While I did enjoy this book this is probably more of a 4 star for me, but I have a feeling the next books are going to continue to go up in rating for me. The main reason why I did not rate this as high is because this feels more of a buildup book. A lot of ground is covered in this book and a lot is going on, but there is no huge battle or fight, although you know one will be coming. The main character here is Calen, while I did like Calen as a main character, I had a hard time with his voice and his age. For some reason, especially in the beginning of the book, Calen felt so young, I was picturing more or a 9-12 year old, but then it was revealed he was 18 and I was shocked. It just seemed like he was a young voice and he was treated by others as young. This got a little better as the book went on, but not completely. Anyways, Calen is the main character and main point of view, but there are a few times where the point of view will switch to other characters—which I liked, it was helpful in knowing how other parts of the story was unfolding. Calen is followed by his two best friends, who are practically brothers to each other, Dann and Rist. I loved the dynamic with these three characters. I loved the friendship feel of the story and these three are so loyal to each other, it is just a refreshing friendship. The book starts off with Calen, Rist and Dann, who are all around the age of 18, and they have to prepare/enter The Proving which is where they go into the woods and essentially try to survive on their own with only a bow and a knife. They are from a small village in the south and are more isolated from other parts of the world. Their truths of the world are treated as myths by their people. Which is why when Calen, Dann and Rist meet three other characters, Erik, Dahlen and Aeson, their world is turned upside down because this is where they learn, Elves, Dwarves, Giants, Mages, and Dragons are not just myths but real. I’m not going to lie this book feels a lot at times, like Eragon. They are both very different, but there are similarities. I am not disappointed by this because I love Eragon and there are enough differences it doesn’t bother me. Yes, there is a dragon in this book, and I love it. It is a beautiful white dragon with purple eyes. Once the dragon was involved, I became hooked with this book. This is also why I believe the following books are going to continue to get better and better. Right now the dragon is still young, so it is not doing anything too crazy, but I know one day it is going to be amazing. I do not want to get into any spoilers, but as I mentioned a little earlier, there are elves, dwarves, giants, mages, and dragons. Pretty much everything in a classic fantasy book, and everything I want. I would recommend this book. I read it pretty quickly and I found it enjoyable. While it is not a 5 star book for me, I do believe the series is going to continue to go up from here. The end of this book showed a lot of potential for the other books, and I am really enjoying all the characters. I cannot wait to see what type of awesome character Calen will become. This just feels like a classic fun fantasy read, and I love that, I enjoy these types of stories and I am glad I picked this one up. ["

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June 26, 2023 Verified Purchase

Christopher Monceaux

A Fantastic Classic Fantasy Adventure!

"I can't believe it took me so long to read this book. I've had it on my Kindle for over seven months after picking it up in response to the great reviews I'd already seen about it. Now having read it, I can say that this should have been a TBR-stopping addition to my collection, but at least I won't have a long wait for book two to see what happens next (I already have an ARC of it on my bookshelf 😊). From the very first words, I was sucked completely into this world. Ryan Cahill writes in such a way that everything comes alive and leaps off the page. There was the perfect amount of description and imagery balanced with realistic dialogue and gritty action. The dialogue, in particular, really brought the characters to life and gave each of them a unique voice, and the imagery made me feel like I was right there beside them as they went on their epic journey. The world-building was exquisite and engaging with a fresh look at familiar fantasy races (giants, dwarves, elves, etc.) and an interesting magical system. I particularly loved the weapons that could be summoned by magic even though they played a much smaller role here than they did in The Fall. The plot and tropes of this story were very reminiscent of other epic high fantasy books. For the most part, the story follows the coming-of-age tale of Calen, a nobody born in a small outlying town who gets wrapped up in events of legend and joins the fight against the evil empire to avenge those he lost when he finds out he has special abilities. It reminded me a lot of the work of Tolkien and Jordan, but I honestly think I liked this book better because it doesn't suffer from the pacing problems seen in those other works. I also really liked how Cahill didn't conform to the typical chosen one trope of being foretold by prophecy. It made Calen's role much more impactful because all of the characters had been holding out hope someone like him would return one day even though they had no idea when, or even if, it would happen. The lack of certainty over how it will all turn out also highlighted the importance of Calen's choices and actions in the present, which created a high level of suspense, especially toward the end of the novel. There wasn't a single character I didn't like reading about in this book. No matter how small their part, each one of them felt fully fleshed out as a person. If I had to pick, though, I'd probably choose Rist and Calen as my favorite characters. How could I not love Rist? He was seriously traveling around in the forest carrying a giant book and chose to spend time reading rather than socializing. I'm pretty sure he is my spirit character, and I hope he plays a larger role in the series moving forward. As for Calen, I enjoyed seeing his growth in this novel. He started out as a somewhat naive boy who became shattered by loss before learning about and reluctantly embracing his role in the struggle against the empire. His bond with Valerys was one of my favorite things about the story, and I loved watching it grow along with the characters. I always love a good animal companion. When that companion happens to be a baby dragon? Even better! Overall, I loved everything about this book. It feels familiar due to its reliance on common tropes, but the elements come together in a way that feels fresh and engaging. The characters and world-building were fantastic and engrossing, and the ending definitely left me wanting more. Therefore, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars! ["

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December 19, 2021 Verified Purchase

Boe

We must never dim our light so that others may shine.....

""To not let the fear in the hearts of others stop you from being who you were destined to be. We must never dim our light so that others may shine." My review of Ryan Cahill's "Of Blood and Fire" has been simmering, waiting for words that haven't already been spoken. Yes, it's a classic fantasy at its heart, but Cahill breathes fresh fire into the genre, bridging the gap between the classic and the modern. Don't be intimidated by the page count – it’s pacing will have you devouring it, page after page, craving more with each turn. You'll be at the end before you know it, wondering where we go from here. On the cusp of manhood, Calen and his two best friends, Dann and Rist, embark on a rite of passage known as The Proving. Driven by the age-old desires of male bravado and a dash of youthful flirtation, they're set to outdo each other and, perhaps, capture the hearts of the local ladies. Fate, however, deals their confidence a harsh blow. The Proving, far from being a smooth transition, throws them into a series of events that will force them to grow up fast. The ripples of its chaos will forever alter not only their own destinies but also the lives of those they hold dear. The narrative isn't just confined to just the boy's perspective. We get glimpses into the world through several other eyes, Calen’s sister Ella and his beloved wolfpine companion, Faenir. The usual fantasy suspects make an appearance, from mighty dwarves and towering giants to graceful elves and, yes, even fire-breathing dragons (as the cover undoubtedly hinted!). But the world holds a deeper magic, a system called the Spark. While some are blessed with the natural ability to wield it, not everyone recognizes its true potential, creating fascinating tensions and conflicts throughout the story. While I usually gravitate towards stories driven by compelling characters, Cahill surprised me with a world as captivating as the individuals residing in it. The first half might be considered a slow burn by some, but I found it crucial in laying the groundwork for the explosive second half. "To Calen, a sword was a sword. Even sparring with Gaeleron, he saw little difference. But watching Ellisar, he understood. There was an elegance to the way he moved. If death could be beautiful, this was as close as it could come." Once the story reaches its tipping point, the action explodes with breathtaking momentum. Cahill crafts scenes that send your pulse racing and leave you clinging to the edge of your seat. Each page turn becomes a desperate plea for "just one more," and even as your eyes beg for rest, your mind screams to push on, driven by the insatiable need to witness the next heart-stopping twist. The beauty and brutality of Cahill's writing lies in the precarious tightrope walk he creates. No character is guaranteed a sunrise, raising the stakes every page and fueling both my excitement and apprehension for the series' journey ahead. Ultimately, this book is ideal for classic fantasy fans who relish stories featuring both the "chosen one" trope and thrilling dragon riders. ["

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January 21, 2024 Verified Purchase

Tine R.

Epic fantasy done right

"It's been a long time since I've enjoyed an epic fantasy as much as I did this one. The world is interesting, the characters are believable and engaging, and the storyline is great. If you're into quests and journeys, this is the book for you. You got elves, dwarfs, dragons, and more. I keep getting LOTR vibes but with dragons! The pacing is also fantastic; it moves the plotline along without dragging its feet or glancing over events. I can't wait to read the next book! ["

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May 14, 2026 Verified Purchase