The Ice by Ryan Cahill

In Epheria, you are the predators. Here, you are the prey. Almost four hundred years have passed since the fall of The Order. Four hundred years since the empire rose. Four hundred years since the last dragon egg hatched. In the icy wasteland of Valacia, Aeson Virandr searches for the one thing that could turn the tide of war: hope. But there is a reason no soul has ever returned from Valacia. Hope comes at a cost, one that can only be paid in blood. *Note: this is a companion novella to The Bound and The Broken series, not a standalone novella. Previous books in the series should be read first.*

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!

An excellent, fast-paced read. I am excited for Of Empires and Dust :)

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.