Of Darkness and Light is an action-packed sequel to Of Blood and Fire and is filled with all the rich lore and worldbuilding that many traditional fantasy writers often struggle to depict.
The book is written in the same unique, unusual style that I've come to know the author for. He writes from several POVs at a time, switching in an orthodox manner, with several POVs often seen in a single chapter. The effect is quite refreshing, as I like to see an author do things differently, unencumbered by any unspoken or unwritten rules that often make a story seem bland.
The first thing that strikes a reader about Of Darkness and Light is its sheer length and volume, especially compared to the previous book in the series. It begins right where Of Blood and Fire ends, and there are several battles, travels, and angles from which the story is being told. But ultimately, we follow two major storylines- those of Calen and his companions (including those separated from him) and Ella and Farda.
Of all the story arcs, that of Ella and Farda was the one I found most intriguing. It was also the only story arc where I feel the author dropped some of his narrative styles to focus more on the characters themselves. We also see this style replicated, albeit less pronounced, with Rist's story arc. Overall, I felt the story was far more plot than character-driven. This probably sits well with readers who want to immerse themselves in a good story and have the author paddle them carefully from one end to the other. If you're a reader that seeks extra depth to your characters, this series may not be for you.
There were parts in the first half of the book that I felt were overly drawn out, particularly the scenes in the Dwarven Freehold, where I thought that some of the scenes could have either been done away with or spiced up with some of the action that dominated much of the other story arcs. Nevertheless, like any good book, the second part of the book was a jolly good ride right up till the very end.
Ryan Cahill likes writing battle scenes, and this book has no shortage of them. The worldbuilding, similar to book one, is expertly done. You can see the vast city walls, forests, snowlands, and country scenery as vividly as if you were watching it on the big screen in 4K.
There's also a massive influx of new characters, and I spent much of the book navigating through the many names and surnames of new characters, most of which weren't fully developed. I suspect this is deliberate, though, and I think the author preferred focusing his attention on his MCs and a limited ensemble.
Rist and his bonny lass are a refreshing romantic addition to a story that had, up till this point, lacked any budding romance (save for Ella's brutally-cut-short romance). I also look forward to meeting more of Belina. Introducing such a unique character with an excitingly erratic demeanor was a brilliant way to spice up the climax of that story arc.
Of Darkness and Light is excellent for readers weaned on traditional fantasy seeking something similar to the classic good vs. evil tales, complete with dragons, elves, and dwarves. While the story itself might be a bit predictable, a few juicy twists and fun characters make it worth it. I look forward to seeing how it all ends in book 3!
