Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill

Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill

Of Blood and Fire is Ryan Cahill's debut novel and the first full novel in his The Bound and The Broken series. So far it has four novels and three novellas in the series, with another novella set to release in 2026. This is a review of the first book, but if you are looking for a reading order or a summary of the books in the series, please check out our series page here. It also includes a spoiler free study guide. This book deals with animal death and human death, bullying and violence, kidnapping, murder, fire, war, grief, and blood.

Calen Bryer and his friends are focused on The Proving - when all the local villages send their boys of eighteen into the woods to survive on their own. When those boys return, they return as men. This is Calen's year. But there are forces moving in Epheria that Calen is not aware of, forces that he is about to become very familiar with, as he and his two friends are thrust into the middle of a war that has raged quietly for four hundred years. Suddenly, Calen must decide what he is willing to fight for - what he is willing to die for - as his life is turned completely upside down. Because he will fight. And he will bleed.

I've been very excited about this book but tried reading it sometime in the summer and couldn't get into it. I'm glad I gave it a second chance. As a first novel, it seems a little a bit redolent of The Inheritance Cycle, though it's been years since I read Eragon. However, it does not feel as juvenile as that series and I think that it is only going to get better as it continues. The characters were well rounded, dimensional, and likeable. The writing was decent and the story did not drag. The plot is nothing new but I am excited to see where the author takes it. I'll be reading the first novella, The Fall, soon. Overall, I liked it, but I did find the setting to be a bit confusing at times and I hope that the subsequent novels help to clarify a few things.

I'm giving Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill 4.25 stars. I enjoyed it and am excited for the next in the series, though I can understand if you want to read the reviews of some of the other books before jumping in. Don't forget to visit our summary page for The Bound and The Broken series page!

For more from the author, visit www.ryancahillauthor.com/

Pairs well with kiwi salsa and telling someone if you start to hear voices.