REVIEW: Of Empires and Dust by Ryan Cahill
My favourite indie author du jour, Ryan Cahill, returns with the fourth novel in his runaway success of a series, The Bound and the Broken. Of Empires and Dust is here to astound and amaze you, not just with its scope and prowess but also with a few sharp blows to the gut when you weren’t expecting them. Cahill has taken the series to new heights – and new page totals – once again with Of Empires and Dust, building on the foundations laid in the previous three novels (and three novellas). As it’s the seventh book to be published in the series, some spoilers may seep into this review, so be aware before you continue.
As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews for The Bound and the Broken, this is a story of epic proportions. I didn’t think it could get any more epic yet, somehow, Of Empires and Dust proved to be the most expansive of the lot. I was genuinely flabbergasted at how Ryan Cahill has managed to keep all these threads, weaving intricate patterns into this epic tale, straight in his head. The growth of story, characters and author that this series is demonstrating is a wonder.
Of Empires and Dust is officially the longest book I’ve ever read, but don’t be intimidated by the page count as Cahill’s effortless prose flows so smoothly you’ll be sailing through it. This is also one of the very few books that has made me cry – twice! Once through tragedy and once through a deep recognition in the excellent character work Cahill has achieved.
There are a lot of themes running through Of Empires and Dust, the old familiars of loss, loyalty and hope remain, and are joined by ideas of monstrosity, godhood and identity. Despite the complexity of the tome, it is still a joy to read and never feels convoluted or burdensome. Ryan Cahill is a deft hand at exploring a lot of ideas and revealing intricate story details at just the right moment.
Of Empires and Dust continues to give attention to so much more than just our chosen one, Calen, and his dragon, Valerys. All the characters show growth and depth across the series and this latest instalment is no different. This is an immersive story that will swallow you whole and spit you out, back into cold harsh reality, when it’s done with you. It is the warm embrace of old friends, as daggers flash in the darkness just out of sight.
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