Ratings15
Average rating4.7
I'm not sure I could give a book in this series less than a 5 stars, because I don't think there's another author out there this consistently good, even in a novella.
In this one we go back to events just before the start of book 1 and see how Aeson acquired the egg. Even in 200 pages, it's epic and dramatic and even made me tear up!
These novellas are an absolute must read in the overall series so please do yourself a favour and don't skip them.
Even knowing how the novella's story ends (as it is a prequel to the first book), that somehow does not lower the stakes or tension in the slightest. It is high throughout the whole novella.
This story almost feels like a horror/fantasy mash-up because of how well the coldness and eeriness of Valacia's atmosphere is captured. The creeping sense of dread permeates every aspect of the story.
The characters are allowed to be so painfully flawed and human, and because of this the story only becomes more emotionally engaging.
As far as novellas go, Ryan's are the absolute best.
This was another excellent instalment that added depth to a story already well told! This time, it was following Aeson's journey to Valacia in search of the dragon egg. I'm glad we got this because it really helps us understand the perilous journey Aeson, Dahlen, Erik and a group of others faced just to get their hands on the dragon egg.
It also gave a real insight into Aseon and how far he was willing to go for the cause. The insight really helps us better understand him as a character. Understanding him better is definitely going to stop me from being as harsh on him in the next book.
After everything they went through, I can also understand Dahlen's frustrations when the egg didn't hatch for him. You went through all that only for the egg to hatch for someone else. Yeah, I feel your pain, Dahlen.
This was brilliantly written, with tension from start to finish. Even though we know how some things go, there were still a few heart in mouth moments!
Thank you so much to Ryan Cahill for my eARC of this!
Usually, I'm not that into novellas. Often, they add a bit of extra info, but nothing that really builds on the story, nothing that adds just as much intrigue and interest as the regular novels. Well, in true Cahill form , he has done all this again in The Ice.
So this new book is focues on Aeson and how he found the dragon egg (you know the one that hatches into a lovely dragon in the first book, if you have no clue what I'm talking about STOP READING NOW! And go start the series)
This book is slightly different because we already know the outcome, we know the egg got back safely, and he protected for however long he had to. This did make me wonder if it might be a little boring cause why read something if you know what happens, but I could not be more wrong.
This was definitely the darkest book in the series so far, maybe even a little horror like. These parts really showed how unrelenting and dangerous Valacia was or maybe is.
There is a lot of family and relationship talk throughout this book, and how important these aspects are to these characters. We got introduced to many new characters alongside Aeson and his sons Erik and Dahlen. It was great to delve more into Aesons life and his friends. That character really pulls on your heart strings he has gone through so much and lost so many people.
It made me realise how important Aeson is to the whole story. Without him, we would have no dragon, no draleid (no series, lol).
Once again, Ryan has created a very descriptive and well written book. Everything is so well described that you really feel like you're in the story with these characters. He has done so well with making this book so gripping even though the ending is already known.
Thank you again, Ryan, for an ARC copy. I can't wait to carry on this journey further.