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The Bound and the Broken #4
Of Empires and Dust
I'ldryr viel asatar. I sanvîr viel baralun.
In fire, we are forged. In blood, we are tempered.
In the Aravell woodland, Calen Bryer grapples with the fallout from the Battle of Aravell. The path forward is littered with choices that will bleed him dry. But he is a Draleid, he is a guardian, and he will always stand when others call. He will be the light they look to.
His sister, Ella, lies fragmented, her mind split between worlds, her fate unknown. But the blood of the wolf is strong.
Hundreds of miles away, in the western villages of Illyanara, Dahlen Virandr leads the defense of Salme and all its inhabitants gathered from across the region. The Uraks are unrelenting, and they know only blood and death. If this is to be his end, he will enter Achyron's Halls as a warrior who would not yield.
Below the mountains of Lodhar, Queen Kira waits in the dark while Hoffnar attempts to seize control of the Freehold and lead the dwarves towards a new dawn of war.
In Valtara, Dayne Ateres hunts those who betrayed his family, while Alina prepares her army to besiege the legendary Achyron's Keep.
At the edges of the Burnt Lands, Rist Havel is offered a new path forward, one that few have ever trodden, one that could forge him into a mage of no equal.
With the news that Ilkya and Jormun have fallen, along with their soulkin, Eltoar finds himself face-to-face with Salara Ithan—a remnant of his past life that he had long thought dead.
As the Blood Moon taints the sky, Kallinvar and the Knights of Achyron battle tirelessly against the Shadow, doing everything within their power to hold back the darkness.
Gods are waking.
The world is burning.
Ashes and dust are all that will remain.
In fire, we are forged. In blood, we are tempered.
In the Aravell woodland, Calen Bryer grapples with the fallout from the Battle of Aravell. The path forward is littered with choices that will bleed him dry. But he is a Draleid, he is a guardian, and he will always stand when others call. He will be the light they look to.
His sister, Ella, lies fragmented, her mind split between worlds, her fate unknown. But the blood of the wolf is strong.
Hundreds of miles away, in the western villages of Illyanara, Dahlen Virandr leads the defense of Salme and all its inhabitants gathered from across the region. The Uraks are unrelenting, and they know only blood and death. If this is to be his end, he will enter Achyron's Halls as a warrior who would not yield.
Below the mountains of Lodhar, Queen Kira waits in the dark while Hoffnar attempts to seize control of the Freehold and lead the dwarves towards a new dawn of war.
In Valtara, Dayne Ateres hunts those who betrayed his family, while Alina prepares her army to besiege the legendary Achyron's Keep.
At the edges of the Burnt Lands, Rist Havel is offered a new path forward, one that few have ever trodden, one that could forge him into a mage of no equal.
With the news that Ilkya and Jormun have fallen, along with their soulkin, Eltoar finds himself face-to-face with Salara Ithan—a remnant of his past life that he had long thought dead.
As the Blood Moon taints the sky, Kallinvar and the Knights of Achyron battle tirelessly against the Shadow, doing everything within their power to hold back the darkness.
Gods are waking.
The world is burning.
Ashes and dust are all that will remain.
Unknown Binding
First published March 31, 2025
1415 people are currently reading
7398 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Cahill
11 books3,565 followersGet your FREE copy of The Fall – a prequel novella from Ryan Cahill's new epic fantasy series, The Bound and The Broken – when you sign up for his mailing list:
www.ryancahillauthor.com
Ryan Cahill is the award-winning author of the bestselling epic fantasy series, The Bound and The Broken.
Born and raised in Ireland, Ryan now resides amongst the rolling hills and hobbit holes of Middle-Earth, New Zealand. He does not own enough swords, would sell his left kidney for a dragon egg, and despises mushrooms in all their eldritch forms.
There are three things Ryan has always told himself about writing. Write the books you want to read. Write the books that your younger self would be proud of you for reading. Make sure they have dragons.
www.ryancahillauthor.com
Ryan Cahill is the award-winning author of the bestselling epic fantasy series, The Bound and The Broken.
Born and raised in Ireland, Ryan now resides amongst the rolling hills and hobbit holes of Middle-Earth, New Zealand. He does not own enough swords, would sell his left kidney for a dragon egg, and despises mushrooms in all their eldritch forms.
There are three things Ryan has always told himself about writing. Write the books you want to read. Write the books that your younger self would be proud of you for reading. Make sure they have dragons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 652 reviews
March 25, 2025
“I’ldryr viel asatar. I sanvîr viel baralun.”
In fire we are forged. In blood we are tempered.❤️🔥
It’s not a secret that I adore The Bound and the Broken series, and any chance to revisit Epheria. But the second I got my hands on this beautiful beast of a book, it became my top priority. And I can promise you… it’s not for the faint of heart.
“This war is greater than all of us. It is a war of gods, and demons, and darkness, and if we do not, each of us, stand and fight for what we love, there will be nothing left.”
Prepare yourself for more dragons. More elves. More devastating battles. A few familiar faces, reunions I’ve been waiting literal years for, and a ridiculous bird, that had me crying with laughter.
“That’s no bird. That’s a demon covered in feathers. Its sole purpose is destruction and terror.”
Just when I thought I knew Epheria pretty well, Cahill takes you on an explorative journey that makes it feel even more vast and epic. And the LORE. So so so much lore. I couldn’t get enough of the history, legends of the gods, druids, 👀 and elven traditions. Some of the paths and threads are beginning to weave together, and allow you to finally see what has been motivating these fascinating characters.
“The wars, the death, the suffering. It was always the common people who paid the heaviest price. Always.”
If you’ve read Of War and Ruin, then you know we’ve been through some epic battles already, like Belduar and The Battle of the Three Sisters… but there are a few battles that were even more gut wrenching. One in particular felt almost like experiencing the battle of Helm’s Deep or Hard Home for the first time again, and if you’re anything like me… you’ve been chasing that high for years! Cahill creates these moments so cinematically, that you feel like you’re joining the shield wall, or swinging the axe, broadsword, or hammer. The world is a pretty dark place right now, and seeing so many of these phenomenal characters fight and be willing to risk their lives for the people they love, or a better future, and defend what they know is right, hits just a little harder.
“The darkness of this world needs nothing more to triumph than good souls looking on and doing nothing.”
The growth and strength of these characters, has been astounding. To watch a couple of “young farm boys”, become these great men with the weight of the world on their shoulders, and make some of the toughest decisions with kindness and respect, has been incredible. Honestly every character has come leaps and bounds from book one (especially Calen, Rist, Ella, Dahlen.) And even though some characters haven’t changed as much like Dann, and Tarmon, you can’t help but recognize just how amazing they’ve been all along.
“Legends aren’t passed down. They’re forged. Nobody is worthy until they are.”
There are a few surprising conversations between main characters, that I didn’t even know I needed, but made me respect them even more. Can we talk about how much love there is in this book?!? Not only fraternal or familial, but romantic love as well. It’s amazing to watch these wonderful characters find some moments of happiness amidst all of the blood, war, and devastation. Drunir has joined Valerys and Faenir in the good boys of Epheria club, and must be protected at all costs. Reading this book during the Blood Moon lunar eclipse, was extra eerie.
“Nur temen vie'ryn valana, ar nur temen vi maklar til valahír. Vir væra anatier aldryr ar ormiyn!" “For those we have lost, and for those we refuse to lose. We will give them fire and fury!"
The gods are awakening, all of Epheria is at war, and the fact that Of Gods and Ashes will be the final installment of this series, already hurts my heart a little bit. The Bound and the Broken series has always felt so familiar, nostalgic and almost like a comfort blanket to me (except chapters 103 & 104, you know what you did Ryan 🫣.) Thankfully he won’t be done writing stories of Epheria, any time soon. And I’m particularly excited for more of Dayne and Belina’s adventures, and maybe even how Epheria was created.
“It is the moon that gives the stars permission to shine.”
“Du haryn myia vrai.” Thank you Ryan Cahill, I am so grateful to be honored with an ARC copy of this incredible book!
In fire we are forged. In blood we are tempered.❤️🔥
It’s not a secret that I adore The Bound and the Broken series, and any chance to revisit Epheria. But the second I got my hands on this beautiful beast of a book, it became my top priority. And I can promise you… it’s not for the faint of heart.
“This war is greater than all of us. It is a war of gods, and demons, and darkness, and if we do not, each of us, stand and fight for what we love, there will be nothing left.”
Prepare yourself for more dragons. More elves. More devastating battles. A few familiar faces, reunions I’ve been waiting literal years for, and a ridiculous bird, that had me crying with laughter.
“That’s no bird. That’s a demon covered in feathers. Its sole purpose is destruction and terror.”
Just when I thought I knew Epheria pretty well, Cahill takes you on an explorative journey that makes it feel even more vast and epic. And the LORE. So so so much lore. I couldn’t get enough of the history, legends of the gods, druids, 👀 and elven traditions. Some of the paths and threads are beginning to weave together, and allow you to finally see what has been motivating these fascinating characters.
“The wars, the death, the suffering. It was always the common people who paid the heaviest price. Always.”
If you’ve read Of War and Ruin, then you know we’ve been through some epic battles already, like Belduar and The Battle of the Three Sisters… but there are a few battles that were even more gut wrenching. One in particular felt almost like experiencing the battle of Helm’s Deep or Hard Home for the first time again, and if you’re anything like me… you’ve been chasing that high for years! Cahill creates these moments so cinematically, that you feel like you’re joining the shield wall, or swinging the axe, broadsword, or hammer. The world is a pretty dark place right now, and seeing so many of these phenomenal characters fight and be willing to risk their lives for the people they love, or a better future, and defend what they know is right, hits just a little harder.
“The darkness of this world needs nothing more to triumph than good souls looking on and doing nothing.”
The growth and strength of these characters, has been astounding. To watch a couple of “young farm boys”, become these great men with the weight of the world on their shoulders, and make some of the toughest decisions with kindness and respect, has been incredible. Honestly every character has come leaps and bounds from book one (especially Calen, Rist, Ella, Dahlen.) And even though some characters haven’t changed as much like Dann, and Tarmon, you can’t help but recognize just how amazing they’ve been all along.
“Legends aren’t passed down. They’re forged. Nobody is worthy until they are.”
There are a few surprising conversations between main characters, that I didn’t even know I needed, but made me respect them even more. Can we talk about how much love there is in this book?!? Not only fraternal or familial, but romantic love as well. It’s amazing to watch these wonderful characters find some moments of happiness amidst all of the blood, war, and devastation. Drunir has joined Valerys and Faenir in the good boys of Epheria club, and must be protected at all costs. Reading this book during the Blood Moon lunar eclipse, was extra eerie.
“Nur temen vie'ryn valana, ar nur temen vi maklar til valahír. Vir væra anatier aldryr ar ormiyn!" “For those we have lost, and for those we refuse to lose. We will give them fire and fury!"
The gods are awakening, all of Epheria is at war, and the fact that Of Gods and Ashes will be the final installment of this series, already hurts my heart a little bit. The Bound and the Broken series has always felt so familiar, nostalgic and almost like a comfort blanket to me (except chapters 103 & 104, you know what you did Ryan 🫣.) Thankfully he won’t be done writing stories of Epheria, any time soon. And I’m particularly excited for more of Dayne and Belina’s adventures, and maybe even how Epheria was created.
“It is the moon that gives the stars permission to shine.”
“Du haryn myia vrai.” Thank you Ryan Cahill, I am so grateful to be honored with an ARC copy of this incredible book!
May 4, 2025
RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 4⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 3⭐️
Themes: 3⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 3⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 3.5⭐️
I'm a huge fan of the series, but I think this is my least favorite installment overall. Although it contains my favorite battle sequence by far, and one of my favorite character arcs. This was some of Ryan Cahill's strongest writing in some places. Other places lost impact, and a lack of foreshadowing really hurt some developments. There is also some repetition that made the book drag, and ultimately took away from some of the moments that were supposed to pack the biggest emotional punch. I found that 30% of the book was absolutely phenomenal, overshadowed by 70% that could have been a lot tighter.
The setting is the standout! Ryan has built a beautiful world, with complicated and believable political strife, layers of magic, creatures and cultures, history, language, myths, gods, and religion. It makes his storytelling rich and detailed. The scale is magnificent, and I love being in this world so much.
The characters, at least the core cast, are so lovable. I particularly loved Rist's evolution and arc in this book, and it carried this one for me almost single-handedly. Calen and Ella also had satisfying development and action. Dayne's arc was solid until the end, when it felt like he grossly mismanaged a huge advantage, and then everything felt simultaneously too convenient but also blundered. Unfortunately, I felt that Dahlen, Eric, and Aeson were underutilized in this book, and I did not connect with Dahlen's romance at all. Dann was neither great nor awful in this book, but I struggled to feel for him at the end when I was supposed to. (I think we needed more foreshadowing and connection to his longing for home and his parents for the plot developments to really hit.) As for Kallinvar and Arden, I wanted to connect here so bad as the Knights of Acheron had significant page time and meta plot involvement, but I was fatigued by repetitive inner monologue and frustrated with Kallinvar's struggles with Acheron. He felt diminished from previous books. Arden's sacrifice also didn't work like I wanted it to, because he'd already made this sacrifice before.
As for the plot, this book had amazing culminating sequences that felt so earned and satisfying from previous books, like Ella's druid arc, the battle in the mountain with the confrontation between two main characters, and some incredible reveals that were so surprising and fun. What bogged them down was a dwarf plot line that no longer featured any of the core cast, the introduction of a new faction of Elves that seemed to only serve as fodder to make Eltoar unnecessarily more relatable, and the introduction of a whole new faction in the south. I wish the elves and dwarves had featured in the story as sub-plot devices instead of featuring point-of-view chapters.
At this point, the core cast are losing page time and much-needed development to allow for new characters and plot lines to be introduced. This is just too late in the game for me to get invested in new characters, especially when their arcs are so similar to the characters I already care about. It starts to get repetitive when I read three different points of view struggling to temper their need for revenge. Or three or more characters struggling with survivor's guilt. Or two or more characters doubting the gods. If one character represents these things well, that's enough for me.
I have no problem with long books. I love them, actually. But I do like those pages to be earned.
Fans of the series will find a lot to love in this book, but due to length, I do recommend waiting for the audiobook set to release in September 2025. I also have very high hopes for book 5, but Ryan has set himself up for the ultimate challenge by introducing even more complexity in book 4...complexity that may end up hurting the finale if he can't land the arcs for the core cast we've all been invested in since book 1.
Characters: 4⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 3⭐️
Themes: 3⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 3⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 3.5⭐️
I'm a huge fan of the series, but I think this is my least favorite installment overall. Although it contains my favorite battle sequence by far, and one of my favorite character arcs. This was some of Ryan Cahill's strongest writing in some places. Other places lost impact, and a lack of foreshadowing really hurt some developments. There is also some repetition that made the book drag, and ultimately took away from some of the moments that were supposed to pack the biggest emotional punch. I found that 30% of the book was absolutely phenomenal, overshadowed by 70% that could have been a lot tighter.
The setting is the standout! Ryan has built a beautiful world, with complicated and believable political strife, layers of magic, creatures and cultures, history, language, myths, gods, and religion. It makes his storytelling rich and detailed. The scale is magnificent, and I love being in this world so much.
The characters, at least the core cast, are so lovable. I particularly loved Rist's evolution and arc in this book, and it carried this one for me almost single-handedly. Calen and Ella also had satisfying development and action. Dayne's arc was solid until the end, when it felt like he grossly mismanaged a huge advantage, and then everything felt simultaneously too convenient but also blundered. Unfortunately, I felt that Dahlen, Eric, and Aeson were underutilized in this book, and I did not connect with Dahlen's romance at all. Dann was neither great nor awful in this book, but I struggled to feel for him at the end when I was supposed to. (I think we needed more foreshadowing and connection to his longing for home and his parents for the plot developments to really hit.) As for Kallinvar and Arden, I wanted to connect here so bad as the Knights of Acheron had significant page time and meta plot involvement, but I was fatigued by repetitive inner monologue and frustrated with Kallinvar's struggles with Acheron. He felt diminished from previous books. Arden's sacrifice also didn't work like I wanted it to, because he'd already made this sacrifice before.
As for the plot, this book had amazing culminating sequences that felt so earned and satisfying from previous books, like Ella's druid arc, the battle in the mountain with the confrontation between two main characters, and some incredible reveals that were so surprising and fun. What bogged them down was a dwarf plot line that no longer featured any of the core cast, the introduction of a new faction of Elves that seemed to only serve as fodder to make Eltoar unnecessarily more relatable, and the introduction of a whole new faction in the south. I wish the elves and dwarves had featured in the story as sub-plot devices instead of featuring point-of-view chapters.
At this point, the core cast are losing page time and much-needed development to allow for new characters and plot lines to be introduced. This is just too late in the game for me to get invested in new characters, especially when their arcs are so similar to the characters I already care about. It starts to get repetitive when I read three different points of view struggling to temper their need for revenge. Or three or more characters struggling with survivor's guilt. Or two or more characters doubting the gods. If one character represents these things well, that's enough for me.
I have no problem with long books. I love them, actually. But I do like those pages to be earned.
Fans of the series will find a lot to love in this book, but due to length, I do recommend waiting for the audiobook set to release in September 2025. I also have very high hopes for book 5, but Ryan has set himself up for the ultimate challenge by introducing even more complexity in book 4...complexity that may end up hurting the finale if he can't land the arcs for the core cast we've all been invested in since book 1.
March 22, 2025
I am in absolute awe. I truly have no idea how Cahill is doing this, but after reading his largest book yet, The Bound and the Broken is now undisputedly THE BEST fantasy series being written right now.
Of Empires and Dust is the best book in the series so far. Reading the uncut ARC, it was over 1800 pages on my kindle which is easily the longest book I've ever read. I was expecting it to take me well over a month, maybe two. Imagine my surprise when I finished the last page in only two weeks. As long as the book is, I found myself wanting even more. The narrative was utterly addicting and I think I had reading sessions that lasted 4-5 hours straight.
This was the darkest book in the series so far which I really liked. Our characters are put through the ringer like they have never been before. The action and battle scenes have somehow gotten even better, which I didn't think was possible. Cahill is able to write these GIANT cinematic battles without being confusing or repetitive. I thought John Gwynne was the best at writing battle scenes until reading OEAD, but now I think Cahill gives him some real competition.
The character work has also improved. As long as this character list is, there wasn't a single one that I wasn't invested in. They feel like real people with real motivations. I love how a lot of the characters are starting to meet up again after being seperated and spread out around the map in previous installments. Some of the bigger reunions really tugged at my heart strings:)
This was an absolute banger. The best of the best, right up there with A Storm of Swords. I'm convinced Ryan must have sold his soul to the devil or something lol. How else can he write something so powerful and addicting? There is one novella and one main book left in the series, and if they are anywhere near as good as this one, The Bound and The Broken is bound to rise to the rank of the best of modern fantasy alongside other titans of the genre like Martin, Sanderson and Gwynne. Read this now! Long live the King of self-pub Ryan Cahill :)
Of Empires and Dust is the best book in the series so far. Reading the uncut ARC, it was over 1800 pages on my kindle which is easily the longest book I've ever read. I was expecting it to take me well over a month, maybe two. Imagine my surprise when I finished the last page in only two weeks. As long as the book is, I found myself wanting even more. The narrative was utterly addicting and I think I had reading sessions that lasted 4-5 hours straight.
This was the darkest book in the series so far which I really liked. Our characters are put through the ringer like they have never been before. The action and battle scenes have somehow gotten even better, which I didn't think was possible. Cahill is able to write these GIANT cinematic battles without being confusing or repetitive. I thought John Gwynne was the best at writing battle scenes until reading OEAD, but now I think Cahill gives him some real competition.
The character work has also improved. As long as this character list is, there wasn't a single one that I wasn't invested in. They feel like real people with real motivations. I love how a lot of the characters are starting to meet up again after being seperated and spread out around the map in previous installments. Some of the bigger reunions really tugged at my heart strings:)
This was an absolute banger. The best of the best, right up there with A Storm of Swords. I'm convinced Ryan must have sold his soul to the devil or something lol. How else can he write something so powerful and addicting? There is one novella and one main book left in the series, and if they are anywhere near as good as this one, The Bound and The Broken is bound to rise to the rank of the best of modern fantasy alongside other titans of the genre like Martin, Sanderson and Gwynne. Read this now! Long live the King of self-pub Ryan Cahill :)
December 20, 2025
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For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
————————————————————————————————
MY ⭐️ RATING: 6/5
FORMAT: Advanced Review Copy
Yes, I gave Of Empires and Dust 6 stars on a 5-star rating scale. How is that even possible, you might ask? Well, once you get to put your eyes on it, on March 31st, you’ll completely understand how it’s possible that 5 just isn’t enough. This is undeniably Cahill’s best work yet and quite easily going to be my top read of 2025, it might even claim the top read of the decade, which may be a bit premature since the unwritten finale, Of Gods and Ashes lurks in the shadows.
I’ve been praising Cahill since 2021 when Of Blood and Fire dragged me into Heraya’s embrace, I’ve called his books “a soul-punching masterpiece”, and “Cahill has gold flowing through his fingertips”, “Cahill has solidified himself as one of the top authors in all of fantasy” and even said that “Cahill must have sold his soul to be able to drop masterpiece after masterpiece”… each and every one of these things is 100% true, so what’s left to say when he drops yet another masterpiece? What words are there left to say about a book that doesn’t just raise the bar, but shatters it, proving that Cahill & The Bound and the Broken stand atop the fantasy pantheon.
There are many things I admire about what Cahill does with his stories, but his mastery of long-form storytelling is what shines brightest in Of Empires and Dust, John Gwynne would be proud. All the threads that Cahill has spun from the start, with minor characters being more than what was led to believe. Each novella enriches the tapestry, shining a light on characters giving them a much deeper arc while introducing new characters and new parts of the world. All the unseen subtle threads a part of the grand overarching design, finally begin to reveal their final destination in this penultimate entry to The Bound and the Broken saga. Of Empires and Dust proves that Cahill is a master architect, and he’s putting the final touches on his magnum opus.
I absolutely love seeing Cahill’s evolution as a writer. Each entry into the world of Epheria takes everything to the next level, and with Of Empires and Dust, Cahill went for the kill and decided it was time to BREAK EVERYONE! It’s a brutal, visceral gut-punch, yet beautiful and heartwarming too. It’s a story of redemption, sacrifice, love, and pain—so much pain, but Cahill also does an incredible job of splitting that pain with so much love. He can break you woefully and blissfully and you’ll thank him for it.
“This path was never what he had dreamt of, but it was his now, and he would not shy away from it. Gods and demons warred over the world he loved, and he would burn them all to save it.”
I teared up multiple times and ugly-cried hard enough to produce a snot bubble, maybe (probably). But let’s be perfectly honest, while this is going to break you like it did me, in typical Cahill form, his sharp banter had me belly-laughing throughout. This was easily everything I had hoped for and far more, and I can’t wait to see and hear others’ reactions on its release. With that said, I’m itching to hear Derek Perkins breathe life into it later this year.
The action in this story is unforgettable, there were times where it was just so vividly crafted it felt straight out of an action blockbuster or as if you were right there in the fray yourself. It’s not just a single moment either, it was a relentless cavalcade of clashes. It was a visceral visualization as dragons and wyverns ripped each other to shreds in mid-air and the beings of Epheria going toe to toe in all-out battles to tense alvadrû duels to the death, while bringing up new and old dwarven creatures form the depths of your nightmares.
Cahill masterfully crafts a multitude of unforgettable characters and making each one matter—even the minor cameos of some loved individuals within the fantasy community. I loved seeing all of my favorite characters and seeing their evolution from book 1 until the end of book 4. As much as I love Calen and Valerys and how much they have grown into such an incredible man and wonderous dragon, to Dahlen’s evolution as a character, the incredible Ella & Faenir, my undeniable favorites, Dayne and Belina, who shine every moment they get and the multitude of other characters in the world. Yet, I couldn’t help but think about Dann the most, I’ve always enjoyed him, but Of Empires and Dust made it clear that he’s not just comedic relief, he is the glue binding them all together.
The relationships he forges with each character, the love and trauma that they go through that helps peel back layers to expose their true-self, it makes you feel that much more intensely, it makes you want to root for or against them harder. Cahill also excels at showing POV’s from both sides of the battle blurring the lines between good and bad. The “bad guys” believe themselves in the right thing, even when the other side sees them the opposite. It starts to make you ask different questions about who’s actually loyal to whom. As questions are answered, new ones arise, and as the threads converge, one thing is for certain, Of Gods and Ashes promises a climax that’ll rip Epheria to its core.
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For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
————————————————————————————————
MY ⭐️ RATING: 6/5
FORMAT: Advanced Review Copy
Yes, I gave Of Empires and Dust 6 stars on a 5-star rating scale. How is that even possible, you might ask? Well, once you get to put your eyes on it, on March 31st, you’ll completely understand how it’s possible that 5 just isn’t enough. This is undeniably Cahill’s best work yet and quite easily going to be my top read of 2025, it might even claim the top read of the decade, which may be a bit premature since the unwritten finale, Of Gods and Ashes lurks in the shadows.
I’ve been praising Cahill since 2021 when Of Blood and Fire dragged me into Heraya’s embrace, I’ve called his books “a soul-punching masterpiece”, and “Cahill has gold flowing through his fingertips”, “Cahill has solidified himself as one of the top authors in all of fantasy” and even said that “Cahill must have sold his soul to be able to drop masterpiece after masterpiece”… each and every one of these things is 100% true, so what’s left to say when he drops yet another masterpiece? What words are there left to say about a book that doesn’t just raise the bar, but shatters it, proving that Cahill & The Bound and the Broken stand atop the fantasy pantheon.
There are many things I admire about what Cahill does with his stories, but his mastery of long-form storytelling is what shines brightest in Of Empires and Dust, John Gwynne would be proud. All the threads that Cahill has spun from the start, with minor characters being more than what was led to believe. Each novella enriches the tapestry, shining a light on characters giving them a much deeper arc while introducing new characters and new parts of the world. All the unseen subtle threads a part of the grand overarching design, finally begin to reveal their final destination in this penultimate entry to The Bound and the Broken saga. Of Empires and Dust proves that Cahill is a master architect, and he’s putting the final touches on his magnum opus.
I absolutely love seeing Cahill’s evolution as a writer. Each entry into the world of Epheria takes everything to the next level, and with Of Empires and Dust, Cahill went for the kill and decided it was time to BREAK EVERYONE! It’s a brutal, visceral gut-punch, yet beautiful and heartwarming too. It’s a story of redemption, sacrifice, love, and pain—so much pain, but Cahill also does an incredible job of splitting that pain with so much love. He can break you woefully and blissfully and you’ll thank him for it.
“This path was never what he had dreamt of, but it was his now, and he would not shy away from it. Gods and demons warred over the world he loved, and he would burn them all to save it.”
I teared up multiple times and ugly-cried hard enough to produce a snot bubble, maybe (probably). But let’s be perfectly honest, while this is going to break you like it did me, in typical Cahill form, his sharp banter had me belly-laughing throughout. This was easily everything I had hoped for and far more, and I can’t wait to see and hear others’ reactions on its release. With that said, I’m itching to hear Derek Perkins breathe life into it later this year.
The action in this story is unforgettable, there were times where it was just so vividly crafted it felt straight out of an action blockbuster or as if you were right there in the fray yourself. It’s not just a single moment either, it was a relentless cavalcade of clashes. It was a visceral visualization as dragons and wyverns ripped each other to shreds in mid-air and the beings of Epheria going toe to toe in all-out battles to tense alvadrû duels to the death, while bringing up new and old dwarven creatures form the depths of your nightmares.
Cahill masterfully crafts a multitude of unforgettable characters and making each one matter—even the minor cameos of some loved individuals within the fantasy community. I loved seeing all of my favorite characters and seeing their evolution from book 1 until the end of book 4. As much as I love Calen and Valerys and how much they have grown into such an incredible man and wonderous dragon, to Dahlen’s evolution as a character, the incredible Ella & Faenir, my undeniable favorites, Dayne and Belina, who shine every moment they get and the multitude of other characters in the world. Yet, I couldn’t help but think about Dann the most, I’ve always enjoyed him, but Of Empires and Dust made it clear that he’s not just comedic relief, he is the glue binding them all together.
The relationships he forges with each character, the love and trauma that they go through that helps peel back layers to expose their true-self, it makes you feel that much more intensely, it makes you want to root for or against them harder. Cahill also excels at showing POV’s from both sides of the battle blurring the lines between good and bad. The “bad guys” believe themselves in the right thing, even when the other side sees them the opposite. It starts to make you ask different questions about who’s actually loyal to whom. As questions are answered, new ones arise, and as the threads converge, one thing is for certain, Of Gods and Ashes promises a climax that’ll rip Epheria to its core.
March 2, 2025
I DEVOURED this book. I laughed, was massively anxious, and bawled my eyes out on numerous occasions.
Book four is my favorite of the series so far. It is so hard to write a review without giving possible spoilers, so i will say this; you will be on the edge of your seat, you’ll be so excited for where characters end up, and the. You’ll be sad about the same exact thing. The battle scenes, I felt like I was in them myself.
Ryan is a master at character growth and world building and he proves it with this book.
Im so excited for everyone to read it.
Book four is my favorite of the series so far. It is so hard to write a review without giving possible spoilers, so i will say this; you will be on the edge of your seat, you’ll be so excited for where characters end up, and the. You’ll be sad about the same exact thing. The battle scenes, I felt like I was in them myself.
Ryan is a master at character growth and world building and he proves it with this book.
Im so excited for everyone to read it.
March 15, 2025
So, this was my most anticipated read of 2025, and boy, did it deliver and then some. It truly exceeded my expectations.
The first book was amazing and as the series has progressed, the rest of the books have only gotten better and better.
This had everything that I've come to expect from Ryan's books. Flawed, but amazing characters. Friendships and family that mean everything. The characters are so well written, that you end up taking a real interest in all of them, even the ones you'd consider "villians".
The action/fighting scenes are brilliantly written, leaving you holding your breath and feeling like you're actually right there with the characters.
Then, there's the emotional aspect. There are some authors who just have a knack for writing incredibly emotional scenes that pull at your heartstrings, and Ryan is definitely up there with the best of them.
There were so many scenes that tugged at my heart, and in a few instances, reduced me to tears (Damn you, Ryan!).
Joking aside, thank you so much for writing this series and sharing it with us, Ryan. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader. It has been an honour and privilege to have been able to read this book before its official release date.
It has been amazing to see things slowly come together and I can't wait to see how it all ends in the finale.
If you haven't read this series yet, I would definitely urge you to give it a go. I honestly can't recommend it highly enough.
The first book was amazing and as the series has progressed, the rest of the books have only gotten better and better.
This had everything that I've come to expect from Ryan's books. Flawed, but amazing characters. Friendships and family that mean everything. The characters are so well written, that you end up taking a real interest in all of them, even the ones you'd consider "villians".
The action/fighting scenes are brilliantly written, leaving you holding your breath and feeling like you're actually right there with the characters.
Then, there's the emotional aspect. There are some authors who just have a knack for writing incredibly emotional scenes that pull at your heartstrings, and Ryan is definitely up there with the best of them.
There were so many scenes that tugged at my heart, and in a few instances, reduced me to tears (Damn you, Ryan!).
Joking aside, thank you so much for writing this series and sharing it with us, Ryan. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader. It has been an honour and privilege to have been able to read this book before its official release date.
It has been amazing to see things slowly come together and I can't wait to see how it all ends in the finale.
If you haven't read this series yet, I would definitely urge you to give it a go. I honestly can't recommend it highly enough.
March 31, 2025
I don't even know where to start. It's been a few day since I finished Of Empires and Dust and I'm still reeling. I feel like it's gonna take me a while to truly process everything.
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC of what has been my most anticipated release of the year and I couldn't be more grateful!! From the minute I got my hands on it, all I wanted to do was devour this book as fast as possible - yet, at the same time, savor every word, linger with every moment, just to stay in this world and with these characters for as long as possible.
My expectations going in were so insanely high and I am happy to say that they have all been met and then some. It is hard to talk about a book this deep into a series without spoilers, but I will say: Ryan has, again, done the impossible and stepped everything up a notch!!
Of Empires and Dust continues right where Of War and Ruin left off. We see characters trying to navigate situations they never asked for but were thrust into, trying to do the best with what they've been given, being confronted with impossible decisions and having to choose, knowing full well that there is always a price to pay. Sacrifices have to be made, but there is always a sense of hope that permeates through it all: hope to persevere, hope to make a difference, hope it will all have been worth it in the end.
There are some fantastic revelations and jaw-dropping twists that I did not see coming at all, and quite a few flashbacks and callbacks that I appreciated all the more having just reread the previous books. A lot of the threads, that have been there from the very beginning, are starting to come together, and intriguing new POVs and elements are being introduced that deepen the world & characters even further.
This book also continues to build up some incredible redemption arcs. The different POVs from varying sides, once again, add so much nuance & depth to the characters & dynamics at play here. There are 2 characters I was determined to hate, but Ryan, of course, made it impossible, and instead managed to make me feel sorry for them. One has now officially joined my list of favorite characters! And other new favorites have emerged as well, like Tivar and Kira. And Dann - who is a top-tier character for me now!!
I've always liked Dann, but his journey & impact in this book have made me appreciate him in a whole new way. He is such a precious character with his heart in the right place. I love how his scenes can lighten the mood and how he delivers the perfect bit of humor in between some of the heavier scenes. Which is not to say that he can’t be serious as well - there were some very touching moments that made my eyes sting (and more), some of my favorite and most memorable parts.
Experiencing this book was like going through a whirlwind of emotions. Some of the most gut-wrenching moments were sometimes intertwined with moments of overwhelming joy. And while I loved it, when a character got their big & satisfying moment, it was often the small & quieter ones that truly got to me. No author has ever made me shed these many tears - and I’m not usually one to cry while reading. But there were so many emotional moments in this book specifically that it was hard to hold back, and while I managed to somewhat recover myself most of the times, there was a chapter towards the end that finally broke me - and made me full on sob.
There’s something about Ryan’s writing that goes straight to my heart…and my tear ducts apparently. It evokes so much emotion, no matter how big or small the scene. The way he writes just works so well for me, I can see everything happening before my eyes, the action sequences in particular are so vivid and play like movie scenes in my mind. Ryan is a fantastic storyteller and the way he weaves plot and character moments together is masterful.
Of Empires and Dust exceeds even Of War and Ruin in its chonkyness, but I was so engrossed in everything the pages just flew by, and I can honestly say that there is not one chapter, not one scene I would wanna miss. It's the sum of all the big & little pieces in this book that make it such an impactful & gripping experience. All the epic, outstanding sequences, and the devastating ones, the little breather chapters, and the ones adding depth to characters. With every read and reread, I always want more, never less, from these books.
This series just speaks to my soul and has brought my love for books to another level!!
I can't wait for everyone to experience this beautiful, touching, thrilling, and heart-wrenching continuation of a story that feels like a classic already.
Thank you so much to Ryan Cahill for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC of what has been my most anticipated release of the year and I couldn't be more grateful!! From the minute I got my hands on it, all I wanted to do was devour this book as fast as possible - yet, at the same time, savor every word, linger with every moment, just to stay in this world and with these characters for as long as possible.
My expectations going in were so insanely high and I am happy to say that they have all been met and then some. It is hard to talk about a book this deep into a series without spoilers, but I will say: Ryan has, again, done the impossible and stepped everything up a notch!!
Of Empires and Dust continues right where Of War and Ruin left off. We see characters trying to navigate situations they never asked for but were thrust into, trying to do the best with what they've been given, being confronted with impossible decisions and having to choose, knowing full well that there is always a price to pay. Sacrifices have to be made, but there is always a sense of hope that permeates through it all: hope to persevere, hope to make a difference, hope it will all have been worth it in the end.
There are some fantastic revelations and jaw-dropping twists that I did not see coming at all, and quite a few flashbacks and callbacks that I appreciated all the more having just reread the previous books. A lot of the threads, that have been there from the very beginning, are starting to come together, and intriguing new POVs and elements are being introduced that deepen the world & characters even further.
This book also continues to build up some incredible redemption arcs. The different POVs from varying sides, once again, add so much nuance & depth to the characters & dynamics at play here. There are 2 characters I was determined to hate, but Ryan, of course, made it impossible, and instead managed to make me feel sorry for them. One has now officially joined my list of favorite characters! And other new favorites have emerged as well, like Tivar and Kira. And Dann - who is a top-tier character for me now!!
I've always liked Dann, but his journey & impact in this book have made me appreciate him in a whole new way. He is such a precious character with his heart in the right place. I love how his scenes can lighten the mood and how he delivers the perfect bit of humor in between some of the heavier scenes. Which is not to say that he can’t be serious as well - there were some very touching moments that made my eyes sting (and more), some of my favorite and most memorable parts.
Experiencing this book was like going through a whirlwind of emotions. Some of the most gut-wrenching moments were sometimes intertwined with moments of overwhelming joy. And while I loved it, when a character got their big & satisfying moment, it was often the small & quieter ones that truly got to me. No author has ever made me shed these many tears - and I’m not usually one to cry while reading. But there were so many emotional moments in this book specifically that it was hard to hold back, and while I managed to somewhat recover myself most of the times, there was a chapter towards the end that finally broke me - and made me full on sob.
There’s something about Ryan’s writing that goes straight to my heart…and my tear ducts apparently. It evokes so much emotion, no matter how big or small the scene. The way he writes just works so well for me, I can see everything happening before my eyes, the action sequences in particular are so vivid and play like movie scenes in my mind. Ryan is a fantastic storyteller and the way he weaves plot and character moments together is masterful.
Of Empires and Dust exceeds even Of War and Ruin in its chonkyness, but I was so engrossed in everything the pages just flew by, and I can honestly say that there is not one chapter, not one scene I would wanna miss. It's the sum of all the big & little pieces in this book that make it such an impactful & gripping experience. All the epic, outstanding sequences, and the devastating ones, the little breather chapters, and the ones adding depth to characters. With every read and reread, I always want more, never less, from these books.
This series just speaks to my soul and has brought my love for books to another level!!
I can't wait for everyone to experience this beautiful, touching, thrilling, and heart-wrenching continuation of a story that feels like a classic already.
Thank you so much to Ryan Cahill for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 26, 2025
I am in absolute awe. I truly have no idea how Cahill is doing this, but after reading his largest book yet, The Bound and the Broken is now undisputedly THE BEST fantasy series being written right now.
Of Empires and Dust is the best book in the series so far. Reading the uncut ARC, it was over 1800 pages on my kindle which is easily the longest book I've ever read. I was expecting it to take me well over a month, maybe two. Imagine my surprise when I finished the last page in only two weeks. As long as the book is, I found myself wanting even more. The narrative was utterly addicting and I think I had reading sessions that lasted 4-5 hours straight.
This was the darkest book in the series so far which I really liked. Our characters are put through the ringer like they have never been before. The action and battle scenes have somehow gotten even better, which I didn't think was possible. Cahill is able to write these GIANT cinematic battles without being confusing or repetitive. I thought John Gwynne was the best at writing battle scenes until reading OEAD, but now I think Cahill gives him some real competition.
The character work has also improved. As long as this character list is, there wasn't a single one that I wasn't invested in. They feel like real people with real motivations. I love how a lot of the characters are starting to meet up again after being seperated and spread out around the map in previous installments. Some of the bigger reunions really tugged at my heart strings:)
This was an absolute banger. The best of the best, right up there with A Storm of Swords. I'm convinced Ryan must have sold his soul to the devil or something lol. How else can he write something so powerful and addicting? There is one novella and one main book left in the series, and if they are anywhere near as good as this one, The Bound and The Broken is bound to rise to the rank of the best of modern fantasy alongside other titans of the genre like Martin, Sanderson and Gwynne. Read this now! Long live the King of self-pub Ryan Cahill :)
Of Empires and Dust is the best book in the series so far. Reading the uncut ARC, it was over 1800 pages on my kindle which is easily the longest book I've ever read. I was expecting it to take me well over a month, maybe two. Imagine my surprise when I finished the last page in only two weeks. As long as the book is, I found myself wanting even more. The narrative was utterly addicting and I think I had reading sessions that lasted 4-5 hours straight.
This was the darkest book in the series so far which I really liked. Our characters are put through the ringer like they have never been before. The action and battle scenes have somehow gotten even better, which I didn't think was possible. Cahill is able to write these GIANT cinematic battles without being confusing or repetitive. I thought John Gwynne was the best at writing battle scenes until reading OEAD, but now I think Cahill gives him some real competition.
The character work has also improved. As long as this character list is, there wasn't a single one that I wasn't invested in. They feel like real people with real motivations. I love how a lot of the characters are starting to meet up again after being seperated and spread out around the map in previous installments. Some of the bigger reunions really tugged at my heart strings:)
This was an absolute banger. The best of the best, right up there with A Storm of Swords. I'm convinced Ryan must have sold his soul to the devil or something lol. How else can he write something so powerful and addicting? There is one novella and one main book left in the series, and if they are anywhere near as good as this one, The Bound and The Broken is bound to rise to the rank of the best of modern fantasy alongside other titans of the genre like Martin, Sanderson and Gwynne. Read this now! Long live the King of self-pub Ryan Cahill :)
March 31, 2025
First, I want to thank Ryan Cahill for granting me the to read this ARC. I didn’t have a lot of hope, but here we are. And this is a good word to start with; HOPE.
The start of this newest novel in the Bound And The Broken series was seamless. I felt as if no time had passed between the last sentence in Of War And Ruin, to Of Empires And Dust. I was brought right back into Epheria, and the people who were trying to save it.
One of the things I enjoyed was how each day of the month of the Blood Moon was given weight. The locations, and the people, the inner struggles and the battles which were brutally visceral, that make up the days as the month ticks by, made my heart pound and my eyes stream tears. I found myself gasping involuntarily, chuckling over Dann’s irritation over a certain bird, and sobbing over loss.
The myriad characters we have grown to love and hate in equal measure are given life in the words that Ryan has so beautifully wrought. Not one of them is a flat plane, is comprised of only one aspect. They are each multifaceted, and that gets broadened a thousandfold. One in particular that comes to mind is Farda, the coin flipping, death dealing justicar of the Empire. There hasn’t been a day that has gone by where I didn’t want to throttle him. And yet…
The weaving of the threads that have, up to this point, been loose, has created a tapestry rich in its details. The way that each novel and novella that came before is now enriching, and growing into what will become a beautiful whole.
As brutal as some scenes were, and as devastated as I felt at times, ultimately, the overarching theme throughout, is HOPE. Terrible things are endured, tragedy and grief are never far, but the one thing that has kept each character going, is HOPE. And that is what I will close with. Because HOPE will always be a beacon of light.
The start of this newest novel in the Bound And The Broken series was seamless. I felt as if no time had passed between the last sentence in Of War And Ruin, to Of Empires And Dust. I was brought right back into Epheria, and the people who were trying to save it.
One of the things I enjoyed was how each day of the month of the Blood Moon was given weight. The locations, and the people, the inner struggles and the battles which were brutally visceral, that make up the days as the month ticks by, made my heart pound and my eyes stream tears. I found myself gasping involuntarily, chuckling over Dann’s irritation over a certain bird, and sobbing over loss.
The myriad characters we have grown to love and hate in equal measure are given life in the words that Ryan has so beautifully wrought. Not one of them is a flat plane, is comprised of only one aspect. They are each multifaceted, and that gets broadened a thousandfold. One in particular that comes to mind is Farda, the coin flipping, death dealing justicar of the Empire. There hasn’t been a day that has gone by where I didn’t want to throttle him. And yet…
The weaving of the threads that have, up to this point, been loose, has created a tapestry rich in its details. The way that each novel and novella that came before is now enriching, and growing into what will become a beautiful whole.
As brutal as some scenes were, and as devastated as I felt at times, ultimately, the overarching theme throughout, is HOPE. Terrible things are endured, tragedy and grief are never far, but the one thing that has kept each character going, is HOPE. And that is what I will close with. Because HOPE will always be a beacon of light.
March 19, 2025
Where do I even start writing a review for this book?
I was so privileged to be given an ARC copy of this book by Ryan, so my first word must be a thank you for allowing me to be amongst the first to read it.
The Bound and The Broken is a series that wove its way into my heart from the moment I picked up Of Blood and Fire. I found parts of myself between those pages. The story is one of love, hope, and sacrifice, coupled with despair, loss, grief and everything in between.
Waiting for book 4 has been HARD!
But we finally got it, and my word...as I sit here, having just finished, I cannot begin to tell you how much this story has impacted me. The sheer breadth of it, the different POVs, the threads woven from book 1, that we start to see pulling together are breathtaking.
I have sobbed, laughed, and held my breath so many times, I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster.
The overarching theme is one of family, of self, of love and the lengths we would go to for those we care deeply about. I feel so much love for this world and the people in it. There are many aspects that resonate with me, making me feel seen and holding me in its warmth.
I don't write many reviews, but I had to, for this, because it is a piece of art and deserves so many more eloquent words than I have for it.
We now begin the torturous wait for book 5....
Thank you Ryan, Bralgír.
Du haryn myia vrai.
I was so privileged to be given an ARC copy of this book by Ryan, so my first word must be a thank you for allowing me to be amongst the first to read it.
The Bound and The Broken is a series that wove its way into my heart from the moment I picked up Of Blood and Fire. I found parts of myself between those pages. The story is one of love, hope, and sacrifice, coupled with despair, loss, grief and everything in between.
Waiting for book 4 has been HARD!
But we finally got it, and my word...as I sit here, having just finished, I cannot begin to tell you how much this story has impacted me. The sheer breadth of it, the different POVs, the threads woven from book 1, that we start to see pulling together are breathtaking.
I have sobbed, laughed, and held my breath so many times, I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster.
The overarching theme is one of family, of self, of love and the lengths we would go to for those we care deeply about. I feel so much love for this world and the people in it. There are many aspects that resonate with me, making me feel seen and holding me in its warmth.
I don't write many reviews, but I had to, for this, because it is a piece of art and deserves so many more eloquent words than I have for it.
We now begin the torturous wait for book 5....
Thank you Ryan, Bralgír.
Du haryn myia vrai.
April 2, 2025
The development in terms of author skills, plot, characters and prose is incredible from book one to here.
This is a chonky book - 1,627 pages. This rivals Sanderson and this isn’t even the finale.
It felt like a mix between Wheel of Time and John Gwynne.
“It’s a funny thing about legends,” Tarmon said as he ran his finger along the silver pommel. “They’re only legends after the fact. At the time, they’re nothing more than people.”
I was highlighting constantly. So many poignant quotes that made me go oh WOW. Considering my main complaint of book one was it being so cookie cutter and simplistic - just WOW.
Cahill knows how to write characters with depth. I felt every emotion. Yes, sometimes it felt repetitive as characters experienced similar emotions and grievances, however there was always something new with each scene.
Knowing that Cahill’s newly born daughter is called Ella revealed so much to me.
”But you will never truly be free until you allow yourself to be. Even now, you allow your every thought to be consumed by them. Every dream, every nightmare, every waking moment belongs to them. Your mind and your heart are theirs. They hold you in chains still.”
I stand by what I said of the last book - there are too many characters and perspectives. I know this is meant to be epic fantasy, however there were some character chapters I was bored at and skimming as there was no attachment. They felt like a device to show you what is happening in another faction.
I am sure the payoff will be great (reminiscent of John Gwynne), yet I would have preferred a closer focus on fewer characters.
Therin leaned closer to Dann. “I know we don’t always see eye to eye.”
“That’s because you’re taller than I am,” Dann whispered back.
“Dann, please, shut up for just a second.”
“Harsh, but continue.”
I admit, the ending was incredible… but there was a plot device used that I hate. I won’t go into it due to spoilers, but it is one of my pet peeves in fantasy.
Overall, this is impressive. I am glad that I continued on after book two because Cahill is a tremendous writer and plotter. Plus, he is the type of author to write extreeeemly detailed summaries on his website.
Bookstagram
This is a chonky book - 1,627 pages. This rivals Sanderson and this isn’t even the finale.
It felt like a mix between Wheel of Time and John Gwynne.
“It’s a funny thing about legends,” Tarmon said as he ran his finger along the silver pommel. “They’re only legends after the fact. At the time, they’re nothing more than people.”
I was highlighting constantly. So many poignant quotes that made me go oh WOW. Considering my main complaint of book one was it being so cookie cutter and simplistic - just WOW.
Cahill knows how to write characters with depth. I felt every emotion. Yes, sometimes it felt repetitive as characters experienced similar emotions and grievances, however there was always something new with each scene.
Knowing that Cahill’s newly born daughter is called Ella revealed so much to me.
”But you will never truly be free until you allow yourself to be. Even now, you allow your every thought to be consumed by them. Every dream, every nightmare, every waking moment belongs to them. Your mind and your heart are theirs. They hold you in chains still.”
I stand by what I said of the last book - there are too many characters and perspectives. I know this is meant to be epic fantasy, however there were some character chapters I was bored at and skimming as there was no attachment. They felt like a device to show you what is happening in another faction.
I am sure the payoff will be great (reminiscent of John Gwynne), yet I would have preferred a closer focus on fewer characters.
Therin leaned closer to Dann. “I know we don’t always see eye to eye.”
“That’s because you’re taller than I am,” Dann whispered back.
“Dann, please, shut up for just a second.”
“Harsh, but continue.”
I admit, the ending was incredible… but there was a plot device used that I hate. I won’t go into it due to spoilers, but it is one of my pet peeves in fantasy.
Overall, this is impressive. I am glad that I continued on after book two because Cahill is a tremendous writer and plotter. Plus, he is the type of author to write extreeeemly detailed summaries on his website.
Bookstagram
May 2, 2025
This installment features some incredible character moments and thrilling battle scenes, and there were stretches I genuinely enjoyed—but ultimately, it was much longer than it needed to be, which pulled me out of the story.
March 24, 2025
Cahill’s ability to make me cry nearly every chapter of this book is nothing short of masterful. He’s truly grown so much as an author, and I feel like it was so evident in every page of this book. I’ve grown to care so deeply about all of these characters, and I’m so unprepared to see the ending of their journeys in the next book. Of Empires and Dust could have been double in length, and I still would’ve wanted more time with all of these characters going about their separate missions in the world. I have many questions and theories about things that were introduced or revealed here, and I’m sure Cahill will be throwing more curveballs in the next installment in the series.
March 26, 2025
Wow. I've no idea where to begin. So much to process and so much to recover from!
This was my most anticipated book of the year and my expectations were sky high given the quality and depth of the series so far.
I'm pleased to say Ryan Cahill has delivered in every possible way, with Of Empires and Dust being something so very special.
This is epic fantasy of the highest order and I really can't see how it can get better. The Bound and The Broken has consistently hooked me, and this addition carries on where things left off, with so many twists and turns and a cast of characters that blows my mind. Despite the many POVs, events unfold beautifully / bloodily, and the pacing is so well balanced. Battle scenes of epic proportion are interspersed with moments of softness before chaos reigns all over again. Rinse, repeat and weep.
What really makes this series so engaging is the incredible evolution of the characters, even those you might deem minor. This does mean it's hard not to get emotionally invested and the themes of loss, grief, friendship and hope make for some soul-destroying moments.
This is one long book but it is one of those that you just can't leave alone and wish would go on forever.
A stunning book that has left me reeling and desperate for more.
A massive thank you to Ryan for an eARC of what will probably be THE book of 2025 for me.
This was my most anticipated book of the year and my expectations were sky high given the quality and depth of the series so far.
I'm pleased to say Ryan Cahill has delivered in every possible way, with Of Empires and Dust being something so very special.
This is epic fantasy of the highest order and I really can't see how it can get better. The Bound and The Broken has consistently hooked me, and this addition carries on where things left off, with so many twists and turns and a cast of characters that blows my mind. Despite the many POVs, events unfold beautifully / bloodily, and the pacing is so well balanced. Battle scenes of epic proportion are interspersed with moments of softness before chaos reigns all over again. Rinse, repeat and weep.
What really makes this series so engaging is the incredible evolution of the characters, even those you might deem minor. This does mean it's hard not to get emotionally invested and the themes of loss, grief, friendship and hope make for some soul-destroying moments.
This is one long book but it is one of those that you just can't leave alone and wish would go on forever.
A stunning book that has left me reeling and desperate for more.
A massive thank you to Ryan for an eARC of what will probably be THE book of 2025 for me.
May 18, 2025
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders
As I sit down to write this review, I feel as if I am almost treading upon holy ground. Of Empires and Dust by Ryan Cahill is special. At this point, this series means so much to me. It is SO good. It is hard for me to express myself in anything more than complete adoration for what Cahill has done so far with The Bound and the Broken. I honestly was concerned when I started this book that there was no way Cahill was going to be able to top Of War and Ruin because it was just that good. Of Empires and Dust elevates this series even higher in my soul, nailing it easily within my top three series of all time. Of Empires and Dust did everything that I was hoping for, exceeding all of my expectations.
This is going to be a spoiler filled review because at this point, we’re 4 books and 3 novellas deep and there’s no way to come close to doing this book justice without talking about spoilers.
So be warned, spoilers ahead.
Of Empires and Dust (OEAD) starts directly after the devastating battle at Aravell in Of War and Ruin. The world has been thrown into chaos; the Blood Moon has risen. OEAD takes place over the month of the Blood Moon, a countdown of which day after the Blood Moon rising marks the beginning of each chapter. Amazingly, Cahill does a fantastic job of keeping a solid pace throughout this monstrously long book, not allowing for the confines of the month-long literary construct to introduce periods of slogging through the story. I felt this way with Of War and Ruin and I will reiterate it again with OEAD. Cahill does not waste a single page of this book. But how can that be when the book is 1000+ pages depending on how you read it? Close to 500,000 words. Because Cahill is telling us the story he freaking wants to be telling us. I respect Cahill so much for gifting us with the story that is resonating within his heart. What do I mean by that? I’m sure Cahill is getting at least some pressure to trim and cut the fat, get the word count down. Jump from battle scene to battle scene, quit dwelling in a character’s thoughts and get to the action. Keep the story streamlined. But instead, he takes his time with this story. We get to truly marinate with the characters and their thoughts, we experience the world building and spend time with major and minor characters. This is epic fantasy at its best and most epic. Will there be some people who say he could have cut this or that scene? Sure. But if he did, it wouldn’t be the same story with the same emotional impact. I LOVE his dedication to telling this story with so much detail and care.
One of Cahill’s strengths continues to be in his expert ability to switch up POVs with enough skill that I’ll be rooting for Calen and the rebellion in one chapter and the next chapter, without thinking of it, I’m cheering while Rist and Garramon slaughter members of the rebellion because how could they destroy that Lorian tower? And then I take a second to think about it, and I remember that the rebellion are the “good guys” and I’m not supposed to be supporting the Lorians, but I can’t handle Magnus or Neera getting hurt! It is just so well done. I think one of the best examples in this book is Eltoar. I mean, Eltoar is a bad dude who did terrible things. He is one of the main forces behind The Fall. He betrayed The Order but more importantly, he betrayed his brother and sister Draleid. He slaughtered countless dragons. Yet, throughout this story, as we get more Eltoar POVs, I became so entrenched in his story. He is one of my favorite characters. His relationship with Helios. His fractured, passionate relationship with Alvira and the heartbreak that killing her caused him. It would be so easy to make Eltoar an unforgiveable, unrelatable baddie that leaves fiery destruction in his path. But Cahill makes him a complex, flawed character that is so interesting to learn about. His tragic story is fascinating, and I cannot wait to read more about him.
“Every soul has a thousand lives not lived, born a thousand choices not made and a thousand paths not walked, Eltoar. We must not dwell on those other lives. They are ghosts, and if we let them, they will haunt us. Look forward. There are more choices to make, more paths to walk, more life to live.”
“Speak again, and I will bury you so deep your own mother would give up digging.”
In a book with blood dripping from every page, Cahill has managed to insert some of my new favorite descriptions of love (both quotes below). I mean good enough that I stopped both times and just shook my head, eyes misting as I marveled about the beauty and simplicity in these quotes.
“No matter how long the day was or how quiet he’d been, my dad would always smile when he saw my mam…When he sees her, it’s like everything melts away, and all the words he hadn’t said throughout the day come pouring out from his mouth. He laughs and smiles and becomes almost a different person. It’s like he only becomes himself around her. And I think that’s love, because if that’s not love I’m really not sure what is. And that’s what you do to me. So I think I love you, but that’s all dependent on the definition of the word. So if my dad loves my mam, then I love you.”
“One Heart. It is a word for when you realize you have found a soul whose heart is cracked in all the right ways that fit yours. They fill the gaps in you and you in them. They are the light that stops the world from going dark. Simply by being, they make you whole.”
But Cahill doesn’t just describe a killer battle scene and write swoon-worthy soliloquies of love, he made me laugh. I don’t know what it was, but Dann’s eternal conflict with the weka bird was perfection. I’m someone who often cringes when people talk about humorous books. Book humor often falls flat for me. I don’t know why but it’s tough for me to get behind book humor. But this was just top notch. Honestly, every time Dann appeared on the pages, I was hoping the weka was lurking just off stage with one of his socks in his mouth so we could have a moment of comedic reprieve with Dann’s struggle against the kleptomaniacal bird.
It is well known at this point that Cahill has mastered the action scene, the brutal war montage that forces you into the front lines and doesn’t let up as the blood and gore smatters over your shirt and face. But a true epic fantasy master juxtaposes those moments of brutality with moments of heroism and inspiration and heartrending grief. Cahill has the emotional range that allows him to move from bloody horror to tender moments that prick the heart.
“Wars were not won, they were ended.”
“Anataier aldryr ar orimyn. Give them fire and fury.”
It is so rare for a book to make me cry. OEAD made me cry multiple times. Therin’s reunion with his daughter Faelen. The heartache of the father who has failed his daughter while trying to do what he felt was best. Lyrin’s death and the weight that slung around Haem’s neck. The masterful depiction of brotherly pain and anger and grief when Calen confronts Dann after Calen’s absence led to the death of Dann’s mother. And of course, one of the concluding chapters in this masterpiece, Haem’s sacrifice for Calen as Calen pleaded with Varyn to not accept his big brother’s sacrifice to save him. These scenes are so freaking hard to write with the emotional impact they deserve, but Cahill swings for the bleachers and delivers beautifully on these important scenes. All I can think is that he has done these characters proud; their sacrifices and heartbreak are known and felt by the reader.
I can still feel my throat close up and tears prick the corners of my mind as I reread this quote from Calen: “He carried me all my life. I can carry him a little further.” Cahill has made me care about and love these characters. Their sacrifices feel so meaningful and real.
I mentioned earlier that Cahill’s ability to inject inspirational, powerful speeches into The Bound and the Broken is unparalleled. Below are a few of my favorite quotes that I had to include because no review of mine would be complete without salivating over these masterpieces of literary motivation.
“Rise so that others rise with you.”
“He would watch the world burn if it meant the empire lay in the ashes. He cares about tearing down what stands, and you care about what will be left when it’s done…. This army isn’t marching to die in your name, Calen. It’s marching because someone finally showed them they can stand and fight, because someone finally showed them that there is something greater to fight for.”
“There’s no point in living if we don’t fight for what we love. We’re meant to be Draleid. We’re meant to be guardians, not survivors.”
“This war is greater than all of us. It is a war of gods, and demons, and darkness, and if we do not, each of us, stand and fight for what we love, there will be nothing left. I promise you one thing – I will fight until my last breath, until I have given all the blood I have to give. And if we fail – if the sky falls, I will stand beneath it and hold it up for as long as I can.”
And before I move on from quotes that I absolutely love but can’t find a way to weave into this review, I have to include my new book-loving anthem:
“He loved books. And no, love was not an exaggeration. Books were a thing of insurmountable beauty and power. Be they immense repositories of knowledge, transcendent works of philosophical quandaries, or transportational tales, they were a thing to be cherished and adored. But there were some that were a waste of the precious paper on which they were printed. Some that would have been better off as trees. And a common factor amongst those particular books, he found, was a lack of passion and a lack of purpose. Sometimes one, often both.”
Of Empires and Dust is the penultimate novel in The Bound and the Broken and it has solidified this series as one of my favorite fantasy epics I have ever read. Ryan Cahill has created a series that is special. It has ignited a love and passion for Epheria that will last throughout my life. The Bound and the Broken is THE fantasy hill that I will die on. The world is sprawling and complex with lore that Cahill has continued to expertly unweave as we delve deeper and deeper into this masterpiece. I’ve been saying it for over a year now, and I will continue to shout it from the rooftops, The Bound and the Broken is going to be a generational series with Draleids a household name for dragonriders for years to come. We are at the very beginning, the precipice, of the success that this series is destined for. Varyn told Calen in the final chapters of this book that his and Valerys’ potential was unlimited; similarly, I truly believe that the potential of this series to inspire a new generation of epic fantasy readers and lovers of dragons and gritty, heroic sacrifice is unlimited. If you haven’t started this series, please, please pick it up. Dive into the mesmerizing world of The Bound and the Broken.
“Draleid N’aldryr.”
As I sit down to write this review, I feel as if I am almost treading upon holy ground. Of Empires and Dust by Ryan Cahill is special. At this point, this series means so much to me. It is SO good. It is hard for me to express myself in anything more than complete adoration for what Cahill has done so far with The Bound and the Broken. I honestly was concerned when I started this book that there was no way Cahill was going to be able to top Of War and Ruin because it was just that good. Of Empires and Dust elevates this series even higher in my soul, nailing it easily within my top three series of all time. Of Empires and Dust did everything that I was hoping for, exceeding all of my expectations.
This is going to be a spoiler filled review because at this point, we’re 4 books and 3 novellas deep and there’s no way to come close to doing this book justice without talking about spoilers.
So be warned, spoilers ahead.
Of Empires and Dust (OEAD) starts directly after the devastating battle at Aravell in Of War and Ruin. The world has been thrown into chaos; the Blood Moon has risen. OEAD takes place over the month of the Blood Moon, a countdown of which day after the Blood Moon rising marks the beginning of each chapter. Amazingly, Cahill does a fantastic job of keeping a solid pace throughout this monstrously long book, not allowing for the confines of the month-long literary construct to introduce periods of slogging through the story. I felt this way with Of War and Ruin and I will reiterate it again with OEAD. Cahill does not waste a single page of this book. But how can that be when the book is 1000+ pages depending on how you read it? Close to 500,000 words. Because Cahill is telling us the story he freaking wants to be telling us. I respect Cahill so much for gifting us with the story that is resonating within his heart. What do I mean by that? I’m sure Cahill is getting at least some pressure to trim and cut the fat, get the word count down. Jump from battle scene to battle scene, quit dwelling in a character’s thoughts and get to the action. Keep the story streamlined. But instead, he takes his time with this story. We get to truly marinate with the characters and their thoughts, we experience the world building and spend time with major and minor characters. This is epic fantasy at its best and most epic. Will there be some people who say he could have cut this or that scene? Sure. But if he did, it wouldn’t be the same story with the same emotional impact. I LOVE his dedication to telling this story with so much detail and care.
One of Cahill’s strengths continues to be in his expert ability to switch up POVs with enough skill that I’ll be rooting for Calen and the rebellion in one chapter and the next chapter, without thinking of it, I’m cheering while Rist and Garramon slaughter members of the rebellion because how could they destroy that Lorian tower? And then I take a second to think about it, and I remember that the rebellion are the “good guys” and I’m not supposed to be supporting the Lorians, but I can’t handle Magnus or Neera getting hurt! It is just so well done. I think one of the best examples in this book is Eltoar. I mean, Eltoar is a bad dude who did terrible things. He is one of the main forces behind The Fall. He betrayed The Order but more importantly, he betrayed his brother and sister Draleid. He slaughtered countless dragons. Yet, throughout this story, as we get more Eltoar POVs, I became so entrenched in his story. He is one of my favorite characters. His relationship with Helios. His fractured, passionate relationship with Alvira and the heartbreak that killing her caused him. It would be so easy to make Eltoar an unforgiveable, unrelatable baddie that leaves fiery destruction in his path. But Cahill makes him a complex, flawed character that is so interesting to learn about. His tragic story is fascinating, and I cannot wait to read more about him.
“Every soul has a thousand lives not lived, born a thousand choices not made and a thousand paths not walked, Eltoar. We must not dwell on those other lives. They are ghosts, and if we let them, they will haunt us. Look forward. There are more choices to make, more paths to walk, more life to live.”
“Speak again, and I will bury you so deep your own mother would give up digging.”
In a book with blood dripping from every page, Cahill has managed to insert some of my new favorite descriptions of love (both quotes below). I mean good enough that I stopped both times and just shook my head, eyes misting as I marveled about the beauty and simplicity in these quotes.
“No matter how long the day was or how quiet he’d been, my dad would always smile when he saw my mam…When he sees her, it’s like everything melts away, and all the words he hadn’t said throughout the day come pouring out from his mouth. He laughs and smiles and becomes almost a different person. It’s like he only becomes himself around her. And I think that’s love, because if that’s not love I’m really not sure what is. And that’s what you do to me. So I think I love you, but that’s all dependent on the definition of the word. So if my dad loves my mam, then I love you.”
“One Heart. It is a word for when you realize you have found a soul whose heart is cracked in all the right ways that fit yours. They fill the gaps in you and you in them. They are the light that stops the world from going dark. Simply by being, they make you whole.”
But Cahill doesn’t just describe a killer battle scene and write swoon-worthy soliloquies of love, he made me laugh. I don’t know what it was, but Dann’s eternal conflict with the weka bird was perfection. I’m someone who often cringes when people talk about humorous books. Book humor often falls flat for me. I don’t know why but it’s tough for me to get behind book humor. But this was just top notch. Honestly, every time Dann appeared on the pages, I was hoping the weka was lurking just off stage with one of his socks in his mouth so we could have a moment of comedic reprieve with Dann’s struggle against the kleptomaniacal bird.
It is well known at this point that Cahill has mastered the action scene, the brutal war montage that forces you into the front lines and doesn’t let up as the blood and gore smatters over your shirt and face. But a true epic fantasy master juxtaposes those moments of brutality with moments of heroism and inspiration and heartrending grief. Cahill has the emotional range that allows him to move from bloody horror to tender moments that prick the heart.
“Wars were not won, they were ended.”
“Anataier aldryr ar orimyn. Give them fire and fury.”
It is so rare for a book to make me cry. OEAD made me cry multiple times. Therin’s reunion with his daughter Faelen. The heartache of the father who has failed his daughter while trying to do what he felt was best. Lyrin’s death and the weight that slung around Haem’s neck. The masterful depiction of brotherly pain and anger and grief when Calen confronts Dann after Calen’s absence led to the death of Dann’s mother. And of course, one of the concluding chapters in this masterpiece, Haem’s sacrifice for Calen as Calen pleaded with Varyn to not accept his big brother’s sacrifice to save him. These scenes are so freaking hard to write with the emotional impact they deserve, but Cahill swings for the bleachers and delivers beautifully on these important scenes. All I can think is that he has done these characters proud; their sacrifices and heartbreak are known and felt by the reader.
I can still feel my throat close up and tears prick the corners of my mind as I reread this quote from Calen: “He carried me all my life. I can carry him a little further.” Cahill has made me care about and love these characters. Their sacrifices feel so meaningful and real.
I mentioned earlier that Cahill’s ability to inject inspirational, powerful speeches into The Bound and the Broken is unparalleled. Below are a few of my favorite quotes that I had to include because no review of mine would be complete without salivating over these masterpieces of literary motivation.
“Rise so that others rise with you.”
“He would watch the world burn if it meant the empire lay in the ashes. He cares about tearing down what stands, and you care about what will be left when it’s done…. This army isn’t marching to die in your name, Calen. It’s marching because someone finally showed them they can stand and fight, because someone finally showed them that there is something greater to fight for.”
“There’s no point in living if we don’t fight for what we love. We’re meant to be Draleid. We’re meant to be guardians, not survivors.”
“This war is greater than all of us. It is a war of gods, and demons, and darkness, and if we do not, each of us, stand and fight for what we love, there will be nothing left. I promise you one thing – I will fight until my last breath, until I have given all the blood I have to give. And if we fail – if the sky falls, I will stand beneath it and hold it up for as long as I can.”
And before I move on from quotes that I absolutely love but can’t find a way to weave into this review, I have to include my new book-loving anthem:
“He loved books. And no, love was not an exaggeration. Books were a thing of insurmountable beauty and power. Be they immense repositories of knowledge, transcendent works of philosophical quandaries, or transportational tales, they were a thing to be cherished and adored. But there were some that were a waste of the precious paper on which they were printed. Some that would have been better off as trees. And a common factor amongst those particular books, he found, was a lack of passion and a lack of purpose. Sometimes one, often both.”
Of Empires and Dust is the penultimate novel in The Bound and the Broken and it has solidified this series as one of my favorite fantasy epics I have ever read. Ryan Cahill has created a series that is special. It has ignited a love and passion for Epheria that will last throughout my life. The Bound and the Broken is THE fantasy hill that I will die on. The world is sprawling and complex with lore that Cahill has continued to expertly unweave as we delve deeper and deeper into this masterpiece. I’ve been saying it for over a year now, and I will continue to shout it from the rooftops, The Bound and the Broken is going to be a generational series with Draleids a household name for dragonriders for years to come. We are at the very beginning, the precipice, of the success that this series is destined for. Varyn told Calen in the final chapters of this book that his and Valerys’ potential was unlimited; similarly, I truly believe that the potential of this series to inspire a new generation of epic fantasy readers and lovers of dragons and gritty, heroic sacrifice is unlimited. If you haven’t started this series, please, please pick it up. Dive into the mesmerizing world of The Bound and the Broken.
“Draleid N’aldryr.”
May 31, 2025
Thank you Ryan Cahill for an eARC of this enormous beast of a book! I believe when I started it said I had about 30 hours of reading to go, so it took me quite a while to finish. I did read a few books in between since I have trouble staying on task when it comes to big books (I enjoy the satisfaction of finishing books), so I did take some breaks. But I did not take the breaks because of lack of interest or the book was boring. No, I loved this book, I just have trouble with large books and I had a few other books I was reading at the same time. (for reference, I dnfed Stormlight book 5—but for more reasons than just its size)
Since this book is so huge, you are probably thinking there has to be some things that could have been cut—well I am telling you now, there was nothing I would have cut. All the little moments and scenes felt important; whether it was for the movement of the story or for the character growth, it felt important.
I do have trouble at times remembering everyone’s names, but I did jump into this without rereading the other books. Cahill does have a super helpful summarization of each of the prior books on his website that I highly recommend checking out! After a while I was able to remember everyone better and with each POV change, Cahill does a great job of reorienting you to remembering the character and where they are located.
Calen is not the main focus in this book. He is still extremely important, obviously, but we get a lot of POV from a multitude of characters. I enjoyed these various POVs and there was never a POV that I dreaded or was disappointed to get to (except maybe the dwarves storyline—I am not as interested in that storyline yet, but I feel like it will progress more in the next book)
I will say there is not much movement in this book until maybe the last 70% of the book (which is till like 10 hours of reading). But this book is mainly following three main battles and a few other plotlines that are being developed.
There is the preparation for the battle to free Valtara with Dayne and Alina. The battle of the Lorians against the rebels (plus dragons fighting!), and the battle for Salme with Dahlen. There are also the overall issues regarding the Knights trying to stop Efialtir’s entry into the mortal plane, Salara and the elves fighting, and Eltoar trying to know what to do and the civil war with the dwarves. There is a lot going on.
Some things do get wrapped up in this book, but for the most part, this book is another stepping stone to the next book. There is a lot that still needs to be resolved and I have a feeling the next book can be just as big as this one if not bigger!
I honestly am loving this series and Cahill’s writing. My only complaint (but it is also a strength) is that sometimes I get tired of all the sentimentality between characters, the vows of loyalty, words of wisdom and ‘you are the best’ type moments. But I also like it in the sense that I appreciate the loyalty in this series. It is nice to not have to worry for once about friends betraying friends or begrudging each other. It is actually quite refreshing. So like I said, it can be a little much at times, but it is also a strength.
Also, not to compare to Sanderson, but it was nice to have not have a ‘sanderlanche’. There was no ‘look at me’ or ‘all of a sudden I have these super magic powers’ or ‘forget all the magic rules I made in the past because I have defied them all for this moment’ type ending. This was also refreshing. Cahill’s writing is not forced, he is allowing the story and characters to move based on their own actions, not because he wants to have a specific ending. I am not sure if I am describing this the way I want, but the point is, it was nice to not have an ending that felt like a deus ex machina moment.
If you haven’t tried this series out yet, I am highly recommending that you do, I absolutely love this series and I fully believe at the end of the series, this will be a top epic fantasy series.
Since this book is so huge, you are probably thinking there has to be some things that could have been cut—well I am telling you now, there was nothing I would have cut. All the little moments and scenes felt important; whether it was for the movement of the story or for the character growth, it felt important.
I do have trouble at times remembering everyone’s names, but I did jump into this without rereading the other books. Cahill does have a super helpful summarization of each of the prior books on his website that I highly recommend checking out! After a while I was able to remember everyone better and with each POV change, Cahill does a great job of reorienting you to remembering the character and where they are located.
Calen is not the main focus in this book. He is still extremely important, obviously, but we get a lot of POV from a multitude of characters. I enjoyed these various POVs and there was never a POV that I dreaded or was disappointed to get to (except maybe the dwarves storyline—I am not as interested in that storyline yet, but I feel like it will progress more in the next book)
I will say there is not much movement in this book until maybe the last 70% of the book (which is till like 10 hours of reading). But this book is mainly following three main battles and a few other plotlines that are being developed.
There is the preparation for the battle to free Valtara with Dayne and Alina. The battle of the Lorians against the rebels (plus dragons fighting!), and the battle for Salme with Dahlen. There are also the overall issues regarding the Knights trying to stop Efialtir’s entry into the mortal plane, Salara and the elves fighting, and Eltoar trying to know what to do and the civil war with the dwarves. There is a lot going on.
Some things do get wrapped up in this book, but for the most part, this book is another stepping stone to the next book. There is a lot that still needs to be resolved and I have a feeling the next book can be just as big as this one if not bigger!
I honestly am loving this series and Cahill’s writing. My only complaint (but it is also a strength) is that sometimes I get tired of all the sentimentality between characters, the vows of loyalty, words of wisdom and ‘you are the best’ type moments. But I also like it in the sense that I appreciate the loyalty in this series. It is nice to not have to worry for once about friends betraying friends or begrudging each other. It is actually quite refreshing. So like I said, it can be a little much at times, but it is also a strength.
Also, not to compare to Sanderson, but it was nice to have not have a ‘sanderlanche’. There was no ‘look at me’ or ‘all of a sudden I have these super magic powers’ or ‘forget all the magic rules I made in the past because I have defied them all for this moment’ type ending. This was also refreshing. Cahill’s writing is not forced, he is allowing the story and characters to move based on their own actions, not because he wants to have a specific ending. I am not sure if I am describing this the way I want, but the point is, it was nice to not have an ending that felt like a deus ex machina moment.
If you haven’t tried this series out yet, I am highly recommending that you do, I absolutely love this series and I fully believe at the end of the series, this will be a top epic fantasy series.
March 25, 2025
**I was provided a E-ARC copy of this beautiful monster “Of Empires And Dust” book 4 in “The Bound And The Broken” by the author Ryan Cahill for my honest review**
Oh by the Gods…I am still in a haze of emotional euphoria, both unbelievably great and soul scaring. Wow Ryan, whatever it was that has brought your creativity and penmanship to these levels, please continue because you have entered another level of amazing! 🤯
The biggest book of the series so far (weighing in at over 1800 pages on Kindle) this book seemed to lean into the darker/grim side of our journey through Epheria and the state of our beloved character arcs…and it's quotes like these that set that tone well, 😈
“The screams of the dying are my lullaby. The cries of the damned are my morning song “
“Show them they matter to you, and you will matter to them. Show them you will bleed for them, and they will bleed for you.”
Emotions, strength, loyalty and pride (again, see above quotes) are tested over and over to the extreme for every PoV in this chonker along with the reader's sheer emotional and mental capabilities. (Ryan, you sir were both praised and hated at multiple occasions throughout this read…well done my good man!) 😋 To bring the masses constantly coming back for more of this emotional toil is a true testament to your saga and ability to weave these stories with unmatched skill. 🍻
Massive isn't enough to describe the size of this entry and the same goes for the scaling of the world and character depths. Darkness, shadow and destruction are reaching every boarder and gate on the map. Our huge list of characters and PoV's see the same with ever increasing growth and detail…Cahill is one of the best out there at taking such a broad conflict and story, dozens of characters, as well as some of the best written magical beasts put to paper, and create a smooth and seamless reading experience that is insanely easy to get lost in and devour. The stakes have been raised, battles bigger and bloodier, love and loss stand on the front lines and the skies rain with fire and vengeance… and yes, even a fair share of laughs make their way into this tortured landscape of uncertainty. A personal favorite quote of mine during the read, that had me rolling (involving a running joke from the discord) 🤣…
“If you don't shut the f#@k up I'm going to kill you - slowly with a spoon.”
As always, you are in for a treat fellow fantasy readers! This is the experience we should get when opening the pages of these fantasy saga's we have selected and invested our time in! I can't express this enough, this was an experience that still has my blood pressure elevated…or possibly “Sparked” 😏 and I expect your experience to be nothing less. I'll close this emotionally charged review with a quote I saw Ryan post on socials during my read through OEAD just the other day…
“It's all about passion and love and escaping into a world beyond our own. So make sure when you read you chase that feeling!”
Man, even that simple post hit me right in the chest and plucked at the very emotion I felt during this whole read! Mission accomplished Mr. Cahill, you have outdone yourself with this gem…we await the next entry (Novella I believe) and final book to this Saga for the ages on the edges of our seats, don't change a thing sir …you are doing this perfectly! By blade and by Blood, my loyalty you have! 📚
5⭐ because I can't give it more! Grab a tall pour of some Lasch Havel's mead, settle in, enjoy this read and “chase that feeling” book fam, we don't get projects like this but maybe a few times a decade! 🔥🍻
Oh by the Gods…I am still in a haze of emotional euphoria, both unbelievably great and soul scaring. Wow Ryan, whatever it was that has brought your creativity and penmanship to these levels, please continue because you have entered another level of amazing! 🤯
The biggest book of the series so far (weighing in at over 1800 pages on Kindle) this book seemed to lean into the darker/grim side of our journey through Epheria and the state of our beloved character arcs…and it's quotes like these that set that tone well, 😈
“The screams of the dying are my lullaby. The cries of the damned are my morning song “
“Show them they matter to you, and you will matter to them. Show them you will bleed for them, and they will bleed for you.”
Emotions, strength, loyalty and pride (again, see above quotes) are tested over and over to the extreme for every PoV in this chonker along with the reader's sheer emotional and mental capabilities. (Ryan, you sir were both praised and hated at multiple occasions throughout this read…well done my good man!) 😋 To bring the masses constantly coming back for more of this emotional toil is a true testament to your saga and ability to weave these stories with unmatched skill. 🍻
Massive isn't enough to describe the size of this entry and the same goes for the scaling of the world and character depths. Darkness, shadow and destruction are reaching every boarder and gate on the map. Our huge list of characters and PoV's see the same with ever increasing growth and detail…Cahill is one of the best out there at taking such a broad conflict and story, dozens of characters, as well as some of the best written magical beasts put to paper, and create a smooth and seamless reading experience that is insanely easy to get lost in and devour. The stakes have been raised, battles bigger and bloodier, love and loss stand on the front lines and the skies rain with fire and vengeance… and yes, even a fair share of laughs make their way into this tortured landscape of uncertainty. A personal favorite quote of mine during the read, that had me rolling (involving a running joke from the discord) 🤣…
“If you don't shut the f#@k up I'm going to kill you - slowly with a spoon.”
As always, you are in for a treat fellow fantasy readers! This is the experience we should get when opening the pages of these fantasy saga's we have selected and invested our time in! I can't express this enough, this was an experience that still has my blood pressure elevated…or possibly “Sparked” 😏 and I expect your experience to be nothing less. I'll close this emotionally charged review with a quote I saw Ryan post on socials during my read through OEAD just the other day…
“It's all about passion and love and escaping into a world beyond our own. So make sure when you read you chase that feeling!”
Man, even that simple post hit me right in the chest and plucked at the very emotion I felt during this whole read! Mission accomplished Mr. Cahill, you have outdone yourself with this gem…we await the next entry (Novella I believe) and final book to this Saga for the ages on the edges of our seats, don't change a thing sir …you are doing this perfectly! By blade and by Blood, my loyalty you have! 📚
5⭐ because I can't give it more! Grab a tall pour of some Lasch Havel's mead, settle in, enjoy this read and “chase that feeling” book fam, we don't get projects like this but maybe a few times a decade! 🔥🍻
February 11, 2025
The godswar approaches. Get hyped!
Was fortunate enough to beta read this and bucks up everyone you’re in for a treat. Ryan’s longest book to date does not disappoint!
Was fortunate enough to beta read this and bucks up everyone you’re in for a treat. Ryan’s longest book to date does not disappoint!
March 20, 2025
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Of Empires and Dust is the penultimate entry in the behemoth that is The Bound and the Broken. I have, I feel like, experienced and seen the growth of this series over the past couple of years in not only quality but also the sheer amount of people that have decided to read it. With that exceptional growth comes colossal expectations. I am beyond delighted to say that this book far exceeded the expectations that I had. And they were huge. Every book that has been released in the series has somehow transcended the previous installment.
OEAD starts off right after the ending of OWAR and it allows us to take in the ramifications of book three. Right out of the gate, Cahill reminds us that there are always consequences to our actions and that our decisions have a direct impact on everyone around us. As the story continues, we are right back in the thick of things traveling all over Epheria. This is a sprawling epic of mass proportions. We are quickly reunited with our favorite characters.
The characters are the beating heart and the running blood of this series. The plot is phenomenal and that is not to be overlooked, but what sets these books apart from the rest is the cast. Each character grows so much throughout OEAD. The development is not forced and is rather gardened throughout the series, and it seems to all come to a head here. You are not going to get the same Calen, Rist and Dann. They are growing up and it feels so real. It feels like these are OUR friends and OUR loved ones experiencing this story. It adds so much, in my opinion, that the time is taken by the author, allowing us to see this growth. You will shed tears and you will be shocked, and you will FEEL the impact of the immense experiences these characters struggle through.
The plot is superb as always. So many questions are answered in this book. Riddles are answered and the lore is expanded. All my theories I had come up with were mostly (I got a couple right) proved wrong. The amount of world building and lore expansion in this book is gigantic. All of the threads from the beginning of the series begin to come together and some of it is legitimately shocking. There is stuff here I never expected.
Of Empires and Dust is a huge book, and I can honestly say that I wasn’t ready for it to end. I cried happy tears and sad tears. I scared my wife quite a few times, yelling out curse words and ‘oh my god’. I also laughed my ass off multiple times. The themes are mostly all relatable and you can really connect with the characters and their feelings of loss, love, joy and pain. If I could describe this series in as few words as possible, I'd say that this is a fantasy series about second chances and dealing with decisions. Right or wrong.
This was the best experience I’ve ever had with any book. It gets all the stars.
Of Empires and Dust is the penultimate entry in the behemoth that is The Bound and the Broken. I have, I feel like, experienced and seen the growth of this series over the past couple of years in not only quality but also the sheer amount of people that have decided to read it. With that exceptional growth comes colossal expectations. I am beyond delighted to say that this book far exceeded the expectations that I had. And they were huge. Every book that has been released in the series has somehow transcended the previous installment.
OEAD starts off right after the ending of OWAR and it allows us to take in the ramifications of book three. Right out of the gate, Cahill reminds us that there are always consequences to our actions and that our decisions have a direct impact on everyone around us. As the story continues, we are right back in the thick of things traveling all over Epheria. This is a sprawling epic of mass proportions. We are quickly reunited with our favorite characters.
The characters are the beating heart and the running blood of this series. The plot is phenomenal and that is not to be overlooked, but what sets these books apart from the rest is the cast. Each character grows so much throughout OEAD. The development is not forced and is rather gardened throughout the series, and it seems to all come to a head here. You are not going to get the same Calen, Rist and Dann. They are growing up and it feels so real. It feels like these are OUR friends and OUR loved ones experiencing this story. It adds so much, in my opinion, that the time is taken by the author, allowing us to see this growth. You will shed tears and you will be shocked, and you will FEEL the impact of the immense experiences these characters struggle through.
The plot is superb as always. So many questions are answered in this book. Riddles are answered and the lore is expanded. All my theories I had come up with were mostly (I got a couple right) proved wrong. The amount of world building and lore expansion in this book is gigantic. All of the threads from the beginning of the series begin to come together and some of it is legitimately shocking. There is stuff here I never expected.
Of Empires and Dust is a huge book, and I can honestly say that I wasn’t ready for it to end. I cried happy tears and sad tears. I scared my wife quite a few times, yelling out curse words and ‘oh my god’. I also laughed my ass off multiple times. The themes are mostly all relatable and you can really connect with the characters and their feelings of loss, love, joy and pain. If I could describe this series in as few words as possible, I'd say that this is a fantasy series about second chances and dealing with decisions. Right or wrong.
This was the best experience I’ve ever had with any book. It gets all the stars.
March 19, 2025
Just finished this as an ARC reader. First, this is a massive book (111 chapters). I don't know if I am happy or sad that I won't be up until 2 am reading this everyday trying to see what's happening on the next page or chapter. This probably took my whole kindle charge to read through it (not joking). Second, you are going to want to read the novellas before you dive into this tome Ryan decided to write as his 4th book. Finishing this leaves two questions, why isn't it even longer (I want more) and when is book 5? Seriously, I can't wait for book 5. You will laugh, cry, get angry, sad and your eyes might even water up and start sweating while reading this. This will take you through an emotional roller coaster while you read through all the characters and what they have endured across the series and Novellas. This is a nexus point headed toward a Grand Finally that I know Ryan can deliver.
I don't want to put spoilers in here but you will not be disappointed.
I don't want to put spoilers in here but you will not be disappointed.
April 7, 2025
My most anticipated read of 2025—and it absolutely delivered. Ryan has truly leveled up as both an author and storyteller, making me even more excited to see how he wraps up the series in the final installment. OEAD marks the beginning of the payoff for so many threads that have been carefully woven throughout the earlier books and novellas.
The battle and action scenes are incredible, but where this book really shines is in its quieter, emotional moments. The time spent with the characters between the chaos—those raw, human interactions—is what truly makes this story special. The character development and evolving dynamics between the characters we've come to love (and hate) are the beating heart of this book. It's no surprise that so many consider this series a modern classic in fantasy.
There’s so much more I could say, but at the end of the day, this book was everything I hoped it would be—and somehow, it still managed to exceed my expectations.
The battle and action scenes are incredible, but where this book really shines is in its quieter, emotional moments. The time spent with the characters between the chaos—those raw, human interactions—is what truly makes this story special. The character development and evolving dynamics between the characters we've come to love (and hate) are the beating heart of this book. It's no surprise that so many consider this series a modern classic in fantasy.
There’s so much more I could say, but at the end of the day, this book was everything I hoped it would be—and somehow, it still managed to exceed my expectations.
February 9, 2025
So excited to see this one coming out. Another page turner guaranteed. Ryan has found a recipe that works and makes the most out of it, for the greater enjoyment of us fantasy readers and dragon lovers.
October 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ║ Sprawling and ambitious, packed with everything epic fantasy fans could want, yet this one dragged for me and I struggled to stay engaged. I loved Book 3 and came in with high hopes, but it just didn’t land the same way.
Of Empires and Dust, the fourth main novel in The Bound and the Broken, is a massive tome—480,000 words of dragons, elves, dwarves, gods, magic, rebellion, betrayals, and battles across a sprawling map. The scope is staggering. The lore is dense and intricate. Cahill serves the full buffet of classic high fantasy with a modern voice. I especially like his ongoing themes around grief and brokenness. Having recently lost my dog, my closest companion for most of my adult life, I felt the weight of characters grieving the loss of soulkin or family members in a way that hit close to home. Those moments were the highlight of the novel and continue to be the highlight of the series for me.
But the experience of reading this book was harder than I expected. I was traveling and busy, and the timing didn’t help, but even aside from that, this tome often felt like a grind. The sheer length is daunting, and the pacing is uneven. With such a massive cast, momentum frequently stalls. Calen, Dann, Rist, and Ella are enjoyable leads, but they lack the nuance and depth of real people. Meanwhile, many other POVs feel unnecessary or less compelling. Too many chapters drag with filler, and dialogue circles the same points without pushing the story forward or revealing anything new.
The action reflects this unevenness too. Duels and smaller, character-focused clashes shine. Large-scale battles, on the other hand, lose their impact—more chaotic carnage than human drama. Combined with archetypal characters and a plot that rarely surprises, the story feels predictable even when it entertains.
In the end, I liked this book but didn’t love it. Comfort food for epic fantasy fans—solid, enjoyable, and impressive in scope. Yet, like Sanderson’s Wind and Truth, it feels bloated and long for the sake of being long. With sharper editing, it could be a relentless page-turner. Instead, I sometimes had to force myself to keep grinding through the chonker.
I haven’t given up on Cahill or this series. I’m still curious to see what comes next, but I hope he tightens things up, converges plotlines, and delivers a focused, imaginative conclusion that elevates the story from a solid yet familiar spectacle to something unforgettable, innovative, and unique.
The Bound and the Broken by Ryan Cahill
Book 1: Of Blood and Fire 3/5
Book 1.5 (novella): The Fall 4/5
Book 2: Of Darkness and Light 4/5
Book 2.5 (novella): The Exile 4/5
Book 3: Of War and Ruin 4/5
Book 3.5 (novella): The Ice 4/5
Book 4: Of Empires and Dust 3/5
Of Empires and Dust, the fourth main novel in The Bound and the Broken, is a massive tome—480,000 words of dragons, elves, dwarves, gods, magic, rebellion, betrayals, and battles across a sprawling map. The scope is staggering. The lore is dense and intricate. Cahill serves the full buffet of classic high fantasy with a modern voice. I especially like his ongoing themes around grief and brokenness. Having recently lost my dog, my closest companion for most of my adult life, I felt the weight of characters grieving the loss of soulkin or family members in a way that hit close to home. Those moments were the highlight of the novel and continue to be the highlight of the series for me.
But the experience of reading this book was harder than I expected. I was traveling and busy, and the timing didn’t help, but even aside from that, this tome often felt like a grind. The sheer length is daunting, and the pacing is uneven. With such a massive cast, momentum frequently stalls. Calen, Dann, Rist, and Ella are enjoyable leads, but they lack the nuance and depth of real people. Meanwhile, many other POVs feel unnecessary or less compelling. Too many chapters drag with filler, and dialogue circles the same points without pushing the story forward or revealing anything new.
The action reflects this unevenness too. Duels and smaller, character-focused clashes shine. Large-scale battles, on the other hand, lose their impact—more chaotic carnage than human drama. Combined with archetypal characters and a plot that rarely surprises, the story feels predictable even when it entertains.
In the end, I liked this book but didn’t love it. Comfort food for epic fantasy fans—solid, enjoyable, and impressive in scope. Yet, like Sanderson’s Wind and Truth, it feels bloated and long for the sake of being long. With sharper editing, it could be a relentless page-turner. Instead, I sometimes had to force myself to keep grinding through the chonker.
I haven’t given up on Cahill or this series. I’m still curious to see what comes next, but I hope he tightens things up, converges plotlines, and delivers a focused, imaginative conclusion that elevates the story from a solid yet familiar spectacle to something unforgettable, innovative, and unique.
The Bound and the Broken by Ryan Cahill
Book 1: Of Blood and Fire 3/5
Book 1.5 (novella): The Fall 4/5
Book 2: Of Darkness and Light 4/5
Book 2.5 (novella): The Exile 4/5
Book 3: Of War and Ruin 4/5
Book 3.5 (novella): The Ice 4/5
Book 4: Of Empires and Dust 3/5
March 25, 2025
If you want blood 🩸 you got it!!!
If you want blood, you got it
If you want blood, you got it
Blood on the streets
Blood on the rocks
Blood in the gutter
Every last drop
You want blood
You got it
Blood on the rocks
Blood on the streets
Blood in the sky
If you want blood, you got it
If you want blood, you got it
The story in "Of Empire and Dust" is unforgettable, with vivid action sequences that feel like they're straight out of a blockbuster movie.
The author masterfully crafts relatable characters, making even minor ones memorable.
Despite the brutal scenes and devastating moments, the overarching theme of hope shines through.
Characters navigate impossible situations, make tough choices, and persevere, driven by hope to make a difference and find a better future.
March 21, 2025
Thankful for the eARC as always. After nearly half a million words I’m finally done with this beast.
Like taking flight on the back of a dragon, the 4th book of the Bound and Broken series, Of Empires and Dust, takes you on a journey that will stick with you forever.
Ryan Cahill ups the stakes from the already amazing prior book, War and Ruin, to somehow an even greater level. The bits and pieces laid throughout the series start coming into view, secrets are revealed, characters both old and new try to come to terms with who they are and how to reckon with a world on fire and a ever looming darkness that continues to grow larger. From the beginning page to the final one, Of Empires and Dust wastes no time sucking you back into the world of Epheria.
All the characters who make the series such a joy to follow continue to grow and evolve, bonds deepen, love in a crumbling world is found, and motives are explain. In some books having too many characters can dilute the experience, but not here, Ryan takes care to and shows love in his writing to every characters time on the page. His ability to create intriguing characters in a vast world is among the best of any writer I’ve seen.
4 books down with one more to go, plus at least a couple more novella’s to help tie everything together. Hard to believe we are here, but I know the journey isn’t over, and I cannot wait to see how it all wraps up.
As a lover of fantasy, this series has moved to the top tier for me. But for anyone who wants to fall into a vast world with characters that you will grow to love as you follow them on their journey, this book, this series is for you. And somehow every book continues to raise the stakes and improve as a reading experience.
I can’t wait to jump back into the world of Epheria again.
Well done Ryan, congratulations on getting this book out, I can say all you set out to accomplish with this book you exceeded that for me.
Like taking flight on the back of a dragon, the 4th book of the Bound and Broken series, Of Empires and Dust, takes you on a journey that will stick with you forever.
Ryan Cahill ups the stakes from the already amazing prior book, War and Ruin, to somehow an even greater level. The bits and pieces laid throughout the series start coming into view, secrets are revealed, characters both old and new try to come to terms with who they are and how to reckon with a world on fire and a ever looming darkness that continues to grow larger. From the beginning page to the final one, Of Empires and Dust wastes no time sucking you back into the world of Epheria.
All the characters who make the series such a joy to follow continue to grow and evolve, bonds deepen, love in a crumbling world is found, and motives are explain. In some books having too many characters can dilute the experience, but not here, Ryan takes care to and shows love in his writing to every characters time on the page. His ability to create intriguing characters in a vast world is among the best of any writer I’ve seen.
4 books down with one more to go, plus at least a couple more novella’s to help tie everything together. Hard to believe we are here, but I know the journey isn’t over, and I cannot wait to see how it all wraps up.
As a lover of fantasy, this series has moved to the top tier for me. But for anyone who wants to fall into a vast world with characters that you will grow to love as you follow them on their journey, this book, this series is for you. And somehow every book continues to raise the stakes and improve as a reading experience.
I can’t wait to jump back into the world of Epheria again.
Well done Ryan, congratulations on getting this book out, I can say all you set out to accomplish with this book you exceeded that for me.
March 21, 2025
Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
Ryan Cahill's Of Empire and Dust is book 4 of the Bound and the Broken series and continues to excel in everything that it does. This is one in which the ending has stuck with me and if you are not reading this series already, what are you waiting for?
A new Cahill release is always my most anticipated for the year and this was no different. This world is already established, these characters are already built but someone Ryan has excelled in his character work even further and my third read through this book was more emotional than the last.
We continue straight after Of War & Ruin and it doesn't stop from there. These characters have been through trials and tribulations from the start and things ramp up 300% from here on out. Cahill does not give these characters a chance to breathe. My favourite part of Cahills writing is his ability to make us feel things for his characters - "heroes or villains". There are characters that you wouldn't have believed you'd be rooting for and others whose opinion will be changed but either way, these are characters that will make you feel empathy and hope. I will say that Dann has been elevated to a favourite of mine here, amongst other spoiler-characters.
The world itself continues to deepen and just when we thought we knew what was going to happen, Cahill throws a curveball and everything we ever thought we knew is thrown into turmoil. These revelations turn the story on its head and I cannot wait to discuss those with the rest of the fanbase. There are some spectacularly epic scenes that I just need to see turned into artwork. There are also parts where emotions are high and had me thinking long and hard. This is arguably Cahills most emotional book and the experience of reading this was outstanding.
Watching the journey from Of Blood and Fire until now, this is a truly brilliant series and Of Empires and Dust is a fantastic addition to The Bound and The Broken. Ryan Cahill continues to excel into being a favourite author and this series sparks the joy that we aim to feel from epic fantasy. This is everything I want to read about. A fantasy series for the ages and a book that will stick with me until Cahills next release.
I'm already eager to start my reread!
Ryan Cahill's Of Empire and Dust is book 4 of the Bound and the Broken series and continues to excel in everything that it does. This is one in which the ending has stuck with me and if you are not reading this series already, what are you waiting for?
A new Cahill release is always my most anticipated for the year and this was no different. This world is already established, these characters are already built but someone Ryan has excelled in his character work even further and my third read through this book was more emotional than the last.
We continue straight after Of War & Ruin and it doesn't stop from there. These characters have been through trials and tribulations from the start and things ramp up 300% from here on out. Cahill does not give these characters a chance to breathe. My favourite part of Cahills writing is his ability to make us feel things for his characters - "heroes or villains". There are characters that you wouldn't have believed you'd be rooting for and others whose opinion will be changed but either way, these are characters that will make you feel empathy and hope. I will say that Dann has been elevated to a favourite of mine here, amongst other spoiler-characters.
The world itself continues to deepen and just when we thought we knew what was going to happen, Cahill throws a curveball and everything we ever thought we knew is thrown into turmoil. These revelations turn the story on its head and I cannot wait to discuss those with the rest of the fanbase. There are some spectacularly epic scenes that I just need to see turned into artwork. There are also parts where emotions are high and had me thinking long and hard. This is arguably Cahills most emotional book and the experience of reading this was outstanding.
Watching the journey from Of Blood and Fire until now, this is a truly brilliant series and Of Empires and Dust is a fantastic addition to The Bound and The Broken. Ryan Cahill continues to excel into being a favourite author and this series sparks the joy that we aim to feel from epic fantasy. This is everything I want to read about. A fantasy series for the ages and a book that will stick with me until Cahills next release.
I'm already eager to start my reread!
March 18, 2025
Book good
November 30, 2025
HOLY HELL! The 4th book in this series absolutely wrecked me… grabbed me by the face and threw me straight back into Loria. I swear Ryan Cahill has some kind of emotional remote control because one minute I was crying, then laughing, then ready to go to war. It feels wild and chaotic and perfect. Even with a whole crowd of characters and places to keep straight, it all came rushing back like muscle memory. I love these people like they are real and I will not be taking questions at this time.
The many POVs should feel overwhelming but they make the whole world feel bigger and richer and way more addictive. Every chapter pulled me in deeper and I knew before I even opened the book that it was going to be a 5 star read. Honestly I would give it a million stars if the world would let me. Somehow every installment in this series levels up and I already know I will be in a tragic book slump when the dust settles. I need “Of Gods and Ashes” like I need breath and I am not emotionally prepared for the wait or the ending that comes after.
The many POVs should feel overwhelming but they make the whole world feel bigger and richer and way more addictive. Every chapter pulled me in deeper and I knew before I even opened the book that it was going to be a 5 star read. Honestly I would give it a million stars if the world would let me. Somehow every installment in this series levels up and I already know I will be in a tragic book slump when the dust settles. I need “Of Gods and Ashes” like I need breath and I am not emotionally prepared for the wait or the ending that comes after.
September 6, 2025
Were I not so invested in the series purely due to having got this far, I might have stopped reading.
This book is vast and complex and far, far too long.
I should firstly say you can’t argue about the amount of work that has gone into this book and series, and that the writing and storylines overall are good. Cahill should be commended in many ways for the complexity and weaving together of this story, but it also makes for a poor read.
The number of characters and pov’s and side storylines going on is way too much and detracts from the pace and main thread of the book. Where the first book was strong and had a core group of characters with some side-ones you could forget the names of but still appreciate how they added to the overall storyline, this one has just gone off the rails. I can barely follow who anyone is, nor do I care about any of them or what is happening. These are akin to ‘extras’ on TV and shouldn’t be named or have detailed conversations and feelings. No one cares. Someone telling us something has happened or relating what someone said can be more effective than living through each painful moment.
In the first quarter of the book nothing happens. Everyone is exactly where they were at the start and all they’ve done is talk. I had throwbacks to Harry Potter 5 where the beginning was quite stagnated and wondered if the same applied here - a case of writer’s block maybe?
Much of the text is just too descriptive and long. And I found myself starting to feel frustrated with the woe of feelings that went on and on.
Unfortunately, as much as some may love them the battle scenes were also far too descriptive and too long.
I actually found myself skimming large chunks of text that added nothing, just to get to the point. This book could be two thirds the size and lose nothing. I sincerely hope the last one is shorter and more concise. Also, if one more person ‘inclined their head’…. So jarring! Sometimes a nod is fine!!
If I had to give a summary title for this book review it would be ‘get to the point’.
This book is vast and complex and far, far too long.
I should firstly say you can’t argue about the amount of work that has gone into this book and series, and that the writing and storylines overall are good. Cahill should be commended in many ways for the complexity and weaving together of this story, but it also makes for a poor read.
The number of characters and pov’s and side storylines going on is way too much and detracts from the pace and main thread of the book. Where the first book was strong and had a core group of characters with some side-ones you could forget the names of but still appreciate how they added to the overall storyline, this one has just gone off the rails. I can barely follow who anyone is, nor do I care about any of them or what is happening. These are akin to ‘extras’ on TV and shouldn’t be named or have detailed conversations and feelings. No one cares. Someone telling us something has happened or relating what someone said can be more effective than living through each painful moment.
In the first quarter of the book nothing happens. Everyone is exactly where they were at the start and all they’ve done is talk. I had throwbacks to Harry Potter 5 where the beginning was quite stagnated and wondered if the same applied here - a case of writer’s block maybe?
Much of the text is just too descriptive and long. And I found myself starting to feel frustrated with the woe of feelings that went on and on.
Unfortunately, as much as some may love them the battle scenes were also far too descriptive and too long.
I actually found myself skimming large chunks of text that added nothing, just to get to the point. This book could be two thirds the size and lose nothing. I sincerely hope the last one is shorter and more concise. Also, if one more person ‘inclined their head’…. So jarring! Sometimes a nod is fine!!
If I had to give a summary title for this book review it would be ‘get to the point’.
March 24, 2025
I received an e-ARC copy of the book from Ryan in exchange for an honest review. These are all my personal honest thoughts.
Some books entertain. Others leave a mark. Of Empires and Dust is the latter.
Ryan Cahill delivers another masterclass in epic fantasy, blending heartbreak and hope into a story that feels both intimate and massive in scope. With each book in The Bound and the Broken, the stakes rise, the emotions deepen, and the characters grow into something unforgettable. This entry doesn’t just move the story forward—it elevates it.
The pacing is thoughtful, the worldbuilding is rich, and the emotional beats hit with real weight. Somehow, Cahill balances intense action, character-driven moments, and thought-provoking themes without missing a step. The characters—flawed, fierce, and achingly real—are the heart of it all. You feel their victories and their losses like your own.
Even with its substantial size, the pages fly by. This is a story that demands your attention, grips your heart, and doesn’t let go.
Whether you're here for dragons, deep lore, complex relationships, or the kind of fantasy that stays with you long after you finish the final page—this book delivers on every front.
A stunning continuation of one of the best modern fantasy series out there. If you're not already reading The Bound and the Broken, it's time to change that.
5/5 stars. Only because I can give anymore but id give as many as I could.
Just once again want to say thank you to Ryan for giving me opportunity for 6 time. Hopefully, there'll be many more to come in the future.
Some books entertain. Others leave a mark. Of Empires and Dust is the latter.
Ryan Cahill delivers another masterclass in epic fantasy, blending heartbreak and hope into a story that feels both intimate and massive in scope. With each book in The Bound and the Broken, the stakes rise, the emotions deepen, and the characters grow into something unforgettable. This entry doesn’t just move the story forward—it elevates it.
The pacing is thoughtful, the worldbuilding is rich, and the emotional beats hit with real weight. Somehow, Cahill balances intense action, character-driven moments, and thought-provoking themes without missing a step. The characters—flawed, fierce, and achingly real—are the heart of it all. You feel their victories and their losses like your own.
Even with its substantial size, the pages fly by. This is a story that demands your attention, grips your heart, and doesn’t let go.
Whether you're here for dragons, deep lore, complex relationships, or the kind of fantasy that stays with you long after you finish the final page—this book delivers on every front.
A stunning continuation of one of the best modern fantasy series out there. If you're not already reading The Bound and the Broken, it's time to change that.
5/5 stars. Only because I can give anymore but id give as many as I could.
Just once again want to say thank you to Ryan for giving me opportunity for 6 time. Hopefully, there'll be many more to come in the future.
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