Howling Dark (Sun Eater Book 2)

This review was difficult to write! I had to take some time to piece my thoughts together after finishing Howling Dark, and honestly I'm still not sure if I've completely decided how I feel. Ultimately, I think determining the strength of a sequel can be answered by asking: "does this story deliver on the promises of the original?" And while there is much to like about Howling Dark (and some stuff to like, uh, less), I'm not convinced it does.I LOVED Empire of Silence. I adored the dazzling, far-flung future world it created, and all the carefully crafted empires and societies and cultures it introduced. The blend of military sci-fi and fantasy was fascinating, and the omniscient narrator teasing out how the story would conclude (while still maintaining a level of suspense) made it really unique. Hadrian was a bit of a bland main character, but certainly not objectionable, and anyway, there were dozens of colorful and intriguing side characters to balance him out. However, in many ways, Empire of Silence was a long (800 pages!) introduction to the Sun Eater saga, rather then a story in and of itself. It was in some ways, a long, glorified prologue. Which is not to say that things didn't happen! There was a lot going on in that book, but once I got to the end where Had and his friends went off to find Vorgossos I realized that the whole story had just been a lead-up to the beginning of a greater, grander story the author was going to tell. Which is 100% understandable in the first book of a series, especially one so tightly packed with world-building and political machinations. I was eager for the second book to take over and fully push us into the story of Hadrian Marlowe. And it...kind of does? In some ways? But when I finished Howling Dark I had this irritated moment of deja vu...because in many ways Howling Dark does the same thing Empire of Silence does. It ALSO feels like the beginning to a larger, grander story. And you can't really do that more then once!At almost 700 pages, Howling Dark didn't really have an excuse for being as empty on plot as it was. It was an engaging read for sure, and yes ~things happened~ but the plot can actually be boiled down to a sentence or two. Hadrian finds Vorgossos, and fails miserably at diplomacy (several times!). There's some interesting, if confusing, stuff going on with the Quiet, the Mericanii machines, this organism called the Deep, and the web of connections and unclear allegiances that link them all together. The stuff with the Quiet kind of exemplifies how I feel about Howling Dark as a whole: it's really interesting, but unnecessarily drawn out, and ends up feeling like a teaser for something more that'll happen...eventually. I get the sense that this author wants to make this series into a sprawling, long saga, but it ends up feeling like he's plugging filler in order to do so.I don't want to get too down on this book. It did have a lot going for it, Hadrian ends up sharpening into a more distinct, and memorable character - and you finally get the sense why he's reviled as a monster, since he does some genuinely monstrous things for believable reasons in this book. It's rare that authors push their characters into morally reprehensible territory (unless they're a cliched anti-hero or grimdark "protagonist" from the get-go), so it was refreshing to see Hadrian's "who you are in the dark" moments. He also doesn't shy away from making sure there are real and tangible consequences for Hadrian's actions, and isn't afraid to make Had lose or injure him (physically or emotionally). This helps keep the plot grounded (important, considering the fantasy element is becoming more showcased!), and makes any "happy" or bittersweet endings feel appropriately deserved.Valka becomes more likable in this book, although the cast of secondary characters don't have as much to do. The gladiators in particular get side-lined, and while they're in the book often, they rarely have much to do. Bassander Lin is terrific as a nuanced antagonistic presence for Hadrian, and he's probably the most well-developed side character in Howling Dark. The Exalted, Kharn Sagara, the Ceilcin, and the machine gods that lurk underground are also compelling, but Howling Dark is more interesting in introducing these characters then really digging too deeply into them (Kharn Sagara being the possible exception).Ultimately, Howling Dark was a perfectly enjoyable story, but left me feeling more disappointed then excited. I don't think it succeeded at delivering a satisfying follow-up to Empire of Silence - instead, it functioned more as another prelude to the larger story that's teased at. I'll keep reading this series, but I really hope the next story turns around and actually fulfills the promises of it's predecessors.

Space opera so powerful that the author clearly made a deal with darker powers to receive guidance from the dead. This author has earned a place on my "buy before release" list, which is less than five authors. Thank you for an excellent story, I look forward to more.

This is second in the series. You follow Had's growth from an idealistic youth to a warrior capable of hard measures. Excellent universe. I much liked both the symbols and the story. Definitely engaged my mind and heart. Surprised me a couple times, worth the read.

I enjoyed the first book in this series very much, but almost put this book down after the first few chapters because it began in medias res and seemed sluggish and I wasn't sure if it knew where it was going. Well, was I wrong! About a third of the way through the story takes off and just gets better and better. And the writing gets better and better. Although Christopher Ruocchio has always had a distinctive voice, somewhere in the late middle of the book he comes into his own, and I feel like a true talent has been born. You can feel the story take on a substance and gravity and the writing a maturity that is exciting and profound. I am a very picky reader and am always looking for new good sci fi writers (there are not that many). I am thrilled another one has come along.

Mr. Ruocchio is build a huge rich universe in these books. Hadrian is a very interesting and human protaganist. His see self doubt and reflection make him extremely interesting especially when viewed against his decisiveness when he believes he is right. I look forward to more

I read Empire of Silence when it came out, and it took me a while to get to this one. So for starters, the most important thing to note is that Empire is just set up for this book. The book gets wild with its world, especially after the first third, and things get insane. There are elements of fantasy here, also Lovecraft, with a touch of Simmons, but woven in a rather new way. I really liked that aspect of the book.Also, it's worth noting that the characters get a lot of growth here, and that works much better with the newer settings as they are forced to make decisions that the first book wouldn't have made feel earned. Hadrian gets a much more interesting arc, and in general, the second half of the book really gripped me and I was invested until the end. It is a dense book, and not meant for a light read, but that isn't a bad thing. It sits with you, and I think that's the intent. I'm excited to see where the series goes from here.Also the cover is just pretty.

After reading this I caught myself lamenting that we don't yet have the cryogenic anabiosis tech used in the book's setting, for I'll have to wait A YEAR to get my hands on the next novel. Good job well done!On that note, I strongly suggest reading the sci-fi classics that, to my understanding, were the author's primary inspirations - Gene Wolfe (I mean, the name of the series even has "Sun" in it) and, to a lesser degree, Frank Herbert.

I am the type of reader who loves background lore. This series has that but it also fires up my sense of wonder. It builds up themes over deconstruction. If you have any love for space opera, read this series, worth every penny. And I don't often put out more then 10 bucks on e-books.Edit: I am currently re-reading the first two before I dive back into the 3rd.Has quite the scope. Stuff that might seem insignificant turn up later in the narrative in surprising ways. The overall mystery of this setting is what ultimately drives me to keep reading. If I had to point at a main factor that is.

Second volume in the 'Sun Eater' series of epic far future science fiction novels. This began with 'Empire of Silence.'And this volume is absolutely not a jumping on point, so new readers should start with that one.Those who have read it, read on.This one runs for six hundred and fifty six pages. It has seventy nine chapters. It is absolutely not the end of the story. And there is some strong language, violence, and mild adult moments.Picking up from the end of book one, Hadrian and colleagues are still looking for the planet of Vorgossos. And thus the alien Cielcin, and hopefully a chance to make peace with them. But their destination still remains elusive.Hadrian is prepared to make very hard choices in order to find what he is looking for. And should he succeed, even harder ones will await. As his elder self, who is telling us this story, knows full well...There's nothing to refresh your memory for book one. All the character glossaries and appendices and the like are at the back of the book. So this is one of those ones that will take a little while to get back into.But all the things I liked about book one remain. It is readable. It is doesn't go overboard with world building, and thus is easily accessible. The narrative device of the elder Hadrian telling the story and occasionally interjecting works really well. It's also very inventive when it does do world building. With strange beings and new worlds and the like.Steadily, you get back into quicker than you would expect to. And the supporting cast do start to come to life again as well.The narrative also does keep moving. It is a very big book, but it does move the story along steadily throughout. It does feel very epic, and also part of a greater whole. Thus although it has advanced a bit by the end, there is a long way clearly still to go. And yet it feels ok. Because it feels like it's taking just the right time to tell the story it has to tell. Thus it held me throughout.A solid second volume in this series. I look forward to the next one.

In this, the second book of the Sun Eater Sequence, Hadrian Marlowe’s life begins to spiral out of control. Seeing what happened to him in Empire of Silence, that’s saying something.Here’s the blurb for Howling Dark:*******Hadrian Marlowe is lost.For half a century, he has searched the farther suns for the lost planet of Vorgossos, hoping to discover a way to contact the elusive alien Cielcin. He has pursued false leads for years among the barbarian Normans as captain of a band of mercenaries, but Hadrian remains determined to make peace and bring an end to nearly four hundred years of war.Desperate to find answers, Hadrian must venture beyond the security of the Sollan Empire and among the Extrasolarians who dwell between the stars. There, he will face not only the aliens he has come to offer peace, but contend with creatures that once were human, with traitors in his midst, and with a meeting that will bring him face to face with no less than the oldest enemy of mankind.If he succeeds, he will usher in a peace unlike any in recorded history. If he fails, the galaxy will burn.*******Hadrian Marlowe wakes from cryo-sleep to find himself light-years further away from the Empire’s clutches, and one step closer to discovering the location of elusive Vorgossos. And therein lies the rub. On every occasion he thinks he’s gained vital information, he discovers those clues to be nothing but smokescreens and illusions that do nothing but lead him along divergent paths.However, those trials and tribulations serve another, just as important purpose. They notify ‘strange & terrifying powers’ of Hadrian’s existence. Drawn into a web of dread and shocking potential, Hadrian Marlowe is beset by doubts and indecision. Yet he is matured by his experiences. So much so, that when hard decisions have to be made, he isn’t slow in stepping up.The thing is, stepping up puts him directly in harm’s way. And in this adventure, Hadrian Marlowe is ever beset by the potential for great harm. From the Empire, who view him as an embarrassment to be silenced; from the Cielcin, who, despite his earnest desire for peace, look on all humans as chaff to be reaped; from long-dead legends who have no right to be alive; from diabolical nightmares who have never known the fragility of flesh and blood; and even from his closest friends.Yes, death is Hadrian Marlowe’s closest friend. And it’s astonishing how things work out for him when that specter comes-a-calling, for ‘something’ has Hadrian in its cosmos-spanning eye, and he has a task to accomplish before it’s/they’re done with him.As I mentioned in my review of Empire of Silence, this awesomely epic space opera portrays the scope of Frank Herbert’s, Dune; The scale of Arthur C. Clarkes, 2001: A Space Odyssey; and the poignant message conveyed in Barry B. Longyear’s, Enemy Mine.It’s magnificent stuff, better than his first book, and will keep you engrossed from beginning to end.Bravo, Christopher Ruocchio. Bravo indeed!

I can say even less about this book than the first one.Except for one thing.What a narration! Reading the end, past the time I go to sleep, I imagined the reaction of Marlowe's on Delos, of his grandmother, of Count Motaro ... but he won't ever see them again, and so my hopes are crushed and I am so relieved by that difficult knowledge, relived and so I think of Robert Jordan who has left so much unsaid, untouched.And there is one more thing...

Genuinely impressive, almost flawless and convincing space opera. While a few characters are somewhat two dimensional, the central figure of Hadrian is compelling and fascinating.

The book is amazing and well worth reading as it has great characters and setting combined with cool imaginary and well build worldA great follow up