Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill
Blurb:
Born in fire. Tempered in blood.
Epheria is a land divided by war and mistrust. The High Lords of the South squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North.
In the remote villages of southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving - a test of courage and skill that not all survive.
But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen's world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war that has been raging for centuries.
There is no prophecy. His coming was not foretold.
He bleeds like any man, and bleed he will.
Review:
The story follows Calen, Dann, and Rist as they step into young adulthood, only to have their lives thrown into chaos after aiding strangers from the imperial guard. This act thrusts them headfirst into a centuries-long war, one they never imagined being a part of. With no way to return to their old lives, they must learn to survive and adapt, guided by Aeson, Erik and Dahlen.
I first discovered this series through its worldwide acclaim. Knowing it would be right up my alley, I collected the hardcovers and later began acquiring the TBB Press editions as they were released. However, I’ll admit that the size of Ryan Cahill’s books intimidated me and with so many other reads competing for attention, this series unfortunately slipped further down my TBR pile. That decision, as I’ve since realised, was a mistake.
For those unfamiliar, Ryan has cleverly devised two recommended reading orders for his series: Svidarya, the action-packed path, and Fellensir, a more gradual, world-building route. Readers can begin with either The Fall (Svidarya) or Of Blood and Fire (Fellensir), depending on which experience they want. I started with The Fall last year, but with more than a year having passed since then, I decided to properly revisit the series from the beginning, following the Fellensir path.
Ryan’s approach in Of Blood and Fire is clearly to lay the groundwork for the world and characters, preparing readers for the larger, more ambitious instalments to come. He succeeds brilliantly, not through clunky info-dumps or lengthy backstories, but by weaving worldbuilding naturally into the character’s journey. Alongside this, he steadily develops his cast, giving them space to grow as the story unfolds. Importantly, Ryan also makes it clear early on that no one is safe, ensuring that all attachment readers form with a character carries real weight. I also appreciated the inclusion of the glossary, which proved invaluable for pronunciation and for immersing myself more fully in the old tongue.
What struck me most were the relationships and character dynamics. I was instantly attached to Calen, Dann and Rist as their bond feels authentic, more like brothers than friends, as they joke with one another, protect each other and navigate hardship together. Ryan captures their development wonderfully, showing how they slowly come to understand themselves while still striving to do the right thing. On top of this, Ryan is masterful at maintaining suspense. Each chapter draws you further in, with the antagonists presented as genuinely dangerous figures capable of horrifying acts. Even Fritz, the local bully, becomes a character you love to hate. His constant meddling makes life difficult for Calen, Dann, and Rist, and while I’m curious to see where his story leads, I can’t deny I’d like nothing more than to see him get his long-overdue comeuppance.
If I had one critique, it would be that I wanted more from the other POVs particularly Dann and Rist. Seeing their perspectives on the unfolding events, their fears, and their personal goals would have added an extra layer of depth to the story. That said, I know from other readers and from Ryan’s own interviews that this is something he improves on as the series progresses. He himself has described Of Blood and Fire as his weakest instalment, but that only excites me more, because if this is the starting point, then the best is yet to come.
Overall, Of Blood and Fire is a strong introduction to Ryan Cahill’s world, one that blends heartfelt character moments with high stakes and the promise of even greater things to come. While I would have liked to see more from Dann and Rist’s perspectives, the foundations Ryan sets here are impressive and leave me eager to dive deeper into the series. If this is considered his “weakest” work, then I can only imagine how much more epic and immersive the later books will be. I’m genuinely excited to continue the journey and I can already see why this series has captured the attention of readers across the world.
