I’ve been away from the blog for nearly three months, although there’s been a good reason for my absence — I’ve been working feverishly to finish the final book in my Dragon-Myth Cycle trilogy, and a complete draft is nearly in sight! But I am way behind on writing reviews for books I think my readers would like. However, I’m starting to catch up with a review of The Fall by Ryan Cahill.
The Fall is a compelling prequel to Cahill’s excellent The Bound and the Broken series that began with Of Blood and Fire. The novella takes place during a single event in the history of Cahill’s fantasy world — the destruction of the City of Ilnaen and the fall of the Jedi-like Order of the magic-wielding, dragon-riding Draleid.
I’ve likened the Draleid to the Jedi because the more I read The Bound and the Broken, the more I realize that Cahill has taken familiar elements from the Star Wars saga and reimagined them in a medieval fantasy setting. His books are not a copy of the Star Wars plot by any measure, but he has borrowed certain tropes, such as an evil empire, a near-broken order of Draleid (Jedi), and a farm boy with a secret, to name a few. If The Bound and the Broken is a fantasy version of Star Wars, then The Fall is a reimagining of the execution of Order 66, the event near the end of Revenge of the Sith, when the emperor suddenly orders the murder of the Jedi.
The Fall takes us through this terrible event where once loyal members of the Draleid turn on their brothers and sisters, seduced by promises made by the sorcerer Fane Mortem, the Emperor Palpatine of this tale. The story is told from the viewpoints of multiple characters, all struggling to fight the people — and their dragons — who betrayed them. Some of these characters, such as the Archon Alvira Serris, are but legends by the time of Of Blood and Fire, while other characters, such as a much younger warrior Aeson, return in the main series.
The scenes are presented in vivid detail, and the action is violent and fast-paced. Cahill is a master at his craft, and he does a tremendous job conveying the heroes’ immense betrayal and loss, but also their considerable heart and courage. Reading The Fall is like watching a great episode of House of the Dragon, another apt comparison because each side in The Fall has its own dragons, all of whom have names and legendary reputations like the great wyrms of George R.R. Martin’s prequel.
Overall, The Fall is an exciting introduction to The Bound and The Broken series, and the novella undoubtedly will leave you wanting more of this epic fantasy. With its fast-paced scenes, well-drawn characters, and compelling themes, it’s also a story that will stick with you long after you’ve turned the final page. I highly recommend it!