Empire of Silence- Review- NonSpoilery
Before I finish up with the few books I'm reading I'd thought I would give my review of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio. For those of you who aren't familiar I'd recommend you rectify that. Take a look here and check out his novels and his anthology. Sun Eater is Aces . Christopher Ruocchios Website.
I'm currently about half way through Book 2 of the Sun Eater series, Howling Dark. He is very active on social media so I recommend you go follow him as he posts updates on youtube and twitter/IG. Before I get into the review I just wanted to let you know what I have in the works. I'm finishing up Stones of Light by Zack Argyle, should be done very shortly, and have a few reviews that might peak your interests in the works. I am about a third of the way done with Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne, have yet to start Empires Ruin but I was able to procure an E-Arc, Thank you Netgalley. I am also enjoying Dreams of the Dying by Nicolas Lietzau. I'm not too familiar with this author but will do more research when that Review comes up, but wow this book is Awesome. As if that wasn't enough books to be reading, I'm also working on Daniel Greene's Breach of Peace which shouldn't take long. I still haven't finished The Fisherman even though it's a short book as It is a bit sloggy and non eventful.
Ok, let's get to Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio. Here's a brief synopsis. Taken from his website.
Hadrian Marlowe, a man revered as a hero and despised as a murderer, chronicles his tale in the galaxy-spanning debut of the Sun Eater series, merging the best of space opera and epic fantasy.
It was not his war.
The galaxy remembers him as a hero: the man who burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. They remember him as a monster: the devil who destroyed a sun, casually annihilating four billion human lives—even the Emperor himself—against Imperial orders.
But Hadrian was not a hero. He was not a monster. He was not even a soldier.
On the wrong planet, at the right time, for the best reasons, Hadrian Marlowe starts down a path that can only end in fire. He flees his father and a future as a torturer only to be left stranded on a strange, backwater world.
Forced to fight as a gladiator and navigate the intrigues of a foreign planetary court, Hadrian must fight a war he did not start, for an Empire he does not love, against an enemy he will never understand.
So it gives you a little information about what to expect but it really doesn't do it justice. Let's start with the pacing. I did find the pacing to be a bit slow in some places where there was more dialogue or maneuvering but his writing has that ability to get you lost in the world whether Hadrian is reminiscing or taking a walk. It has that quality where it really isn't easy to get distracted from. Very impressive prose. At the risk of sounding cliche and what I've heard many times, the writing reminds me of The Name of The Wind. Luckily for us, this book is much, much more interesting than TNOTW and the similarities stop there. World-building in space is rarely done well, and Ruocchio is able to keep you wondering what is out there while making it seem that his world is fleshed out. It's quite brilliant. It's a Science Fiction book but it reads to me like a Fantasy in space. Coming in at just over 700 pages it definitely gives you a lot of information without feeling overwhelmed. It's what isn't right in front of your face that you have to pay attention to that keeps you interested. The ending sets up book 2 pretty well, but be prepared to not know everything at the start of Howling Dark.
The other standout for me with this book is the way he makes you care about most of the characters in this series. Even though there are a few who you wish would burn in a thousand hells he makes you want to read more about them. I found this to be true with anyone that was on screen, even when they were in direct conflict with our man of the hour Hadrian Marlowe. I try to make these reviews as spoiler free as possible so I won't be adding any on this review, but Howling Dark is really ramping up and the world is getting more ominous and interesting.
In effect Empire of Silence a solid 4/5. Closer to 4.5.
Since Amazon really has dropped the ball with the quality of their shipping, and since they are a soulless corporation who doesn't pay their workers well or give much in the way of benefits heres a link to the Book on Bookshop.org Empire of Silence.
Also check out Book Depository and your local bookstores. I know of local bookstores if anyone needs links but also www.Powells.com
If Amazon is your only choice I'm not hear to shop shame, just wanted to give other links.
Till next time