Demon in White (Sun Eater #3)

Ive been looking forward to this since Howling Dark came out, and was not disappointed.

Hadrian is great. The introspection, the dramatic persona, it really makes him a unique character. The whole second half of the book feels very rewarding in that the reader can finally connect some dots, see the big picture and how everything connects, while also leaving a ton of mystery still to explore.

If I had to find a fault…It felt like there was one spot with pacing issues. The whole time Hadrian is at forum just didnt hit for me. It felt very much like a re-hash of Hadrians time at the courts of Emesh from Empire of Silence when the rest of the book is in the vein of Howling Dark. Hadrian just had no initiative, which is expected when hes at courtits just a slog to read. It left the whole book sort of disjointed into an opening, a weird lull, and then a great second half. You know whats being set upand its necessary, it just dragged a little (for me). But thats ok, and for a book thats over 700 pages its expected there are some arcs that just arent for you.

I really think theres almost nothing like this series in sci-fi right now. It just feels incredibly unique, and it has 10x as many good points as any sort of perceived negatives. Im looking forward to book 4 and where Hadrian goes from here.

The Demon in White approaches 800 pages, but it’s so good, the reader finishes it wanting the next thousand page tome in this series – now. The third novel in this science fiction series begins with palace intrigue so deadly and dangerous that even Hadrian the Half-Mortal thinks he might just be safer in the heat of battle.

Much of the story has Hadrian and Valka and the rest of Red Company digging through ruins or ensconced in study in an ancient library. Nevertheless, for those looking for breathtaking ferocious battle, it’s all here, nastier, dirtier, bloodier, and more terrifying. On the way, the legend of Hadrian grows as the royals fear he is on his way to becoming so powerful that even the throne will fall to him.

Balanced against fierce battles against mankind’s greatest enemies – the kind that views humans as cattle to be slaughtered for dinner — are mystical questions about fate and coincidence and free will and what forces are out there beyond history. Whose tool is Hadrian and who does he serve? And whose tools are the enemies? The fate of the universe just may hang in balance.

This is a tremendous spacefaring series that gets better and better with each volume.

I was worried when I started this book. After The Howling Dark my expectations could not have been higher, and in my opinion a lot of series begin to falter on the third book. My concerns were unfounded.

I might write a longer review at some point, but the basic gist is this. If you haven’t read Empire of Silence, you should. It has strong characters, a fascinating world, and mellifluous language that sticks with you.

If you liked the first two books in this series you will not be disappointed. Characters grow, the story moves forward, questions are answered, mysteries grow, the world is further developed and most importantly it’s a pleasure to read. I can’t wait for the next one.

What a book! Christopher Ruocchio mixed all the best elements from books one and two to create this Space Opera Epic! Demon in White has the right amount of action, espionage, and political intrigue. Yes, it is a large book, but the story moves so smoothly. Every word, every page is deliberate to get you from point A to point B. A lot and I mean a lot of stuff happens in this novel.

Demon in White has one of the most significant time jumps out of any book I’ve ever read. A whopping several decades and the story itself spans a few more. Hadrian is a much different character when DiW starts. He is a more calculated and seasoned protagonist. It is very interesting to follow him now because we didn’t really get to see him get to this point, but over time in the story you are given little hints at to why he is the way he is now. There are a couple short stories that take place between the ending of Howling Dark and the beginning of Demon in White. I personally haven’t read those stories yet but I didn’t feel like I needed to because this book did such a great job filling you in when the time was right.

The story of Demon in White like I said earlier is expansive. It spans a few decades. So much of what we have been gearing towards since book one comes to light. Plus a lot of information is unearthed, but also there are still some questions dangling in the air. Now where book book one and two felt very cohesive and standalone-ish, Demon in White on the other hand feels like only that start of a longer arc in the Sun Eater world. I know that seems odd to say but it makes sense (well for me at least, lol).

Demon in White is a true testament to what makes such a fantastic Space Opera. Christopher Ruocchio is detailed and widely gifted in is storytelling craft. If anyone is looking for a game changing Sci-fi epic, then look no further then this highly underrated series!

A beautiful third book in the series, that shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. As the war between the inhuman Cielcin escelates, so does Hadrian Marlowe’s reputation among the legions of the Sollan Empire. We visit Forum, home to the Emperor and his Martian Guard, to see the impact Hadrian’s experiences have had on the common soldiery and palatine alike.

This book expands on the incredible world build by Ruocchio, strengthening the bonds between the cast, delving into the origins of empire, filling in the blanks conjured from the first two books. The pace moves quick enough you don’t feel bogged down in an epic, and an epic it is. My favorite space opera in the last decade, with much more to come. As i’ve mentioned in previous reviews, reading the other stories set in the universe isn’t essential but certainly helps flesh things out. The novel takes any comparisions as a Dune-lite, and absolutely sets the record straight. This isn’t so much a series with tropes, but a love letter to historigraphy and science-fiction.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member