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A review by book_scent
Of Darkness and Light by Ryan Cahill
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
2nd read: 5 stars!
This is how you deliver a sequel!!
Of Darkness and Light does a fantastic job of taking everything that made book 1 work so well and amping it up a 100-fold. The world feels more grounded, the scope more epic, and the characters even more real.
Right from the beginning, we get thrown back into the midst of everything. The book is filled with high-stakes, heart-pounding action sequences that make you feel like you are right there with everybody. Having read it before, I (thought I) knew what to expect going in, but it actually did not ease my anxiety or diminish my pain during certain scenes in the slightest. On the contrary, my deeper connection to the characters only added to my worry & distress.
The characters here are some of my favorites in all of fantasy. I couldn't be more invested in their journeys, and friendships, and overall arcs. Not to mention the animal companions that have my heart. Even the side characters feel like real people with their own lived experiences that color the way they react and interact in this world. The introduction of new POVs in this book was very cleverly done and it was so interesting to see how everyone was struggling in their own way, no matter which side they're on.
I loved that we got more viewpoints from the different fractions, which allowed for more insight into the conflict. It not only provided context to both sides, but also helped expand the world and explore new places & cultures in an organic way. The lore and history woven into the story also added more background and dimension to the world.
So much happens in this book, and while the plot, at times, moves along at a break-neck speed, some quieter moments and slower chapters throughout create just the right balance, so it never feels overwhelming.
There's a reveal at the end of the last chapter that shocked me the first time around. Knowing what I know now, it was really fun to see all the little hints along the way, and in general to pick up on clues throughout the book for things to come. I love how there's always more to discover and I already can't wait to reread this book again. But first, there are still 2 more novellas and a book waiting to be read again. God, I love this series!!
1st read: 5 stars!
Oh, my goodness! What a sequel, what a jump in epicness!! RTC :)
This is how you deliver a sequel!!
Of Darkness and Light does a fantastic job of taking everything that made book 1 work so well and amping it up a 100-fold. The world feels more grounded, the scope more epic, and the characters even more real.
Right from the beginning, we get thrown back into the midst of everything. The book is filled with high-stakes, heart-pounding action sequences that make you feel like you are right there with everybody. Having read it before, I (thought I) knew what to expect going in, but it actually did not ease my anxiety or diminish my pain during certain scenes in the slightest. On the contrary, my deeper connection to the characters only added to my worry & distress.
The characters here are some of my favorites in all of fantasy. I couldn't be more invested in their journeys, and friendships, and overall arcs. Not to mention the animal companions that have my heart. Even the side characters feel like real people with their own lived experiences that color the way they react and interact in this world. The introduction of new POVs in this book was very cleverly done and it was so interesting to see how everyone was struggling in their own way, no matter which side they're on.
I loved that we got more viewpoints from the different fractions, which allowed for more insight into the conflict. It not only provided context to both sides, but also helped expand the world and explore new places & cultures in an organic way. The lore and history woven into the story also added more background and dimension to the world.
So much happens in this book, and while the plot, at times, moves along at a break-neck speed, some quieter moments and slower chapters throughout create just the right balance, so it never feels overwhelming.
There's a reveal at the end of the last chapter that shocked me the first time around. Knowing what I know now, it was really fun to see all the little hints along the way, and in general to pick up on clues throughout the book for things to come. I love how there's always more to discover and I already can't wait to reread this book again. But first, there are still 2 more novellas and a book waiting to be read again. God, I love this series!!
1st read: 5 stars!
Oh, my goodness! What a sequel, what a jump in epicness!! RTC :)