Synopsis:
What do you do when your only safe haven is overrun by monsters?
With Silverwood under attack, Spymaster Vendrick Caecillion’s instinct is to plan. It’s to counterattack from the shadows. It’s to never expose your underbelly and never reveal your hard-kept secrets.
But to save his sister from the ruthless Unseen, he’ll have to break all of his old rules.
Swordswoman Frelia Valerius’ instinct is to fight. To charge forward and, yes, risk her life in others’ defense, if that’s what it takes to win. It’s to never surrender and never yield.
But how can she move forward when the dead keep trying to claw her back?
The Unseen will stop at nothing to claim all nine of the sacred Bloodrunes, and no one is safe from their hateful plans—not even the dead. To save Vendrick’s little sister, Frelia’s hometown, their students, and themselves, Frelia will have to face the past she hasn’t yet buried, and Vendrick will need to silence his doubts for good.
For if they can’t, world-ending monsters will only be the beginning.
Favorite Lines:
“What glitters like gold but hangs heavy as a stone?”
“What is done may only be answered for, and what is made can only be destroyed.”
“You, love, kept cracking my masks. And I had far fewer of them, as a student, so you were the first person in a very long time to just see… me.”
“…and he had no words for how much I’d bring down the sky for you echoed in his ears.”
My Opinion:
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
In Bring Down the Sky, Evelyn Hyde unleashes an epic continuation of her The Wolf and The Viper saga—a sprawling fantasy infused with wit, grit, and emotional intelligence. With rich worldbuilding, sharp character interplay, and moments of sheer cosmic awe, this book is a standout in the indie fantasy space and a testament to Hyde’s maturing narrative voice.
The story continues the journey of Frelia and Vendrick, two figures caught in the storm of rebellion, arcane secrets, and the shadowy threat of the Unseen. Hyde wastes no time plunging readers into complex interpersonal dynamics and existential peril. The pace is brisk but never rushed, balancing large-scale conflict with intensely personal moments of doubt, love, rage, and loyalty.
One of Hyde’s greatest strengths is dialogue. It crackles with sarcasm, warmth, and tension—sometimes all at once. Characters feel lived-in, full of contradictions and tenderness beneath their armor. Deadcut, in particular, brings levity and depth, while Vendrick’s arc explores trauma and self-worth with nuance rarely seen in the genre.
The magic system—based on Bloodrunes, darkbeasts, and spellbooks—is creative and well-integrated, never overwhelming the story’s emotional core. And while the action is cinematic (especially a pulse-pounding rooftop showdown with a monstrous Lord Huginn), it’s the quiet moments—of betrayal, bonding, and hard-won trust—that linger.
Hyde also lets the book play with genre conventions. Political intrigue, magical academia, gothic horror, and found family tropes blend into something wholly her own. Fans of Tamsyn Muir or Leigh Bardugo will find plenty to love, but Hyde’s voice is refreshingly unique.
This is a fantasy with heart. A story where emotional honesty matters as much as magical might. And if the last few chapters are any indication, the saga still has plenty of teeth—and secrets—left to bare.
Summary:
Bring Down the Sky is a fierce, funny, and often deeply moving fantasy that pushes its characters—and readers—to grapple with identity, loyalty, and legacy in a world on the edge of unraveling. If you’re searching for a richly layered, character-driven epic that still knows how to have fun (and make you feel things), Evelyn Hyde’s latest installment should be at the top of your list. Happy reading!
Check out Bring Down the Sky here!