Cold Ruin in Cantomir: A Story of the T'Kan Empire

Drew McCaffrey

Feb 2024 · Drew McCaffrey

About this ebook

General A'bresh has spent three years in the northern city of Cantomir, ruling it for the T'Kan Empire as a colonial overseer. When word arrives of a new, implacable threat, A'bresh must make a choice that might save or doom those closest to him.

Ratings and reviews

In Cold Ruin in Cantomir, McCaffery tells the story of the moments leading up to the decision to leave Cantomir from the perspective of the commanding officer, General A'bresh. In this short story, the world feels large and feels familiar, despite the short time we spent in it, providing a setting for the conflict that enhances the overall experience; similar to the world building style of Glen Cook in the Black Company books. McCaffery's use of language provides a well-paced story that is beautiful to read, allowing the reader to visualize the world and characters without difficulty. I really enjoyed how we saw the General struggle with this decision, while accepting that it was the best course of action. It gave the story quite a bit of tension and left me wanting more on both the character of the General as well as the T'Kan empire. I cannot wait to see what is to come in this world. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy books. While it may not have the page count of a Brandon Sanderson or Robert Jordan book (or even short story), McCaffery's world building and characters will feel familiar.

This story draws you in. Definitely low fantasy, but takes place on the same world (I think) as his previous story. Fun, fast read. Drew is talented, folks! I said it first.

About the author

Drew McCaffrey is an American author of fantasy and literary fiction. In addition to writing stories, he hosts Inking Out Loud, a book review podcast, and plays professional inline hockey. He lives in Fort Collins, CO with his wife, Lauren, and their house panther, Severian.