Christopher Ruocchio is an American science fiction author best known for the Sun Eater series. It is a blend of space opera and epic fantasy. The debut novel was Empire Of Silence in 2018 which is the first in the Sun Eater series, now comprising 6 main novels and many novellas in between. Ruocchio has been praised for the series’ world-building and complex characters.
It was not his war.
The galaxy remembers Hadrian Marlowe as a hero, a monster, a murderer, and a savior. But Hadrian was not a hero by choice.
He refuses the destiny imposed on him by his father and instead flees into the stars, seeking a quiet life of scholarship. Yet fate has other plans. Through misadventures, he finds himself thrust into a war between humanity and the Cielcin, a hostile alien race threatening to wipe out human civilization.
In his quest for survival and peace, Hadrian becomes an unwilling player in a conflict that will change the fate of the universe forever.
I had seen Empire of Silence mentioned frequently on social media and Booktube, and with its intriguing premise, I couldn’t resist diving in. As a fan of Sci-Fi, and with comparisons to the classic Dune, I was excited to get started.
This novel truly feels like the beginning of something epic. The expansive world-building and character development are impressive, even if the pacing sometimes requires some patience. The story begins with Hadrian Marlowe recounting his life, so we know he’s destined for great things, and this first book sets the stage for the immense journey ahead in the Sun Eater universe. I don’t think I have ever read a book with so many chapters in it, they are short and punchy but I was wondering just how many he was going to squeeze in.
As the eldest child of Lord Alistair Marlowe, Hadrian is expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. However, his inability to meet these expectations shifts his father’s favor to his younger brother, Crispin. With plans to send Hadrian to the Chantry to serve the family, Hadrian takes his fate into his own hands—but things don’t go as planned. What follows is a journey of hardship, growth, and the shaping of the man Hadrian will eventually become.
The characters are compelling, and the complexity of the relationships—especially within Hadrian’s family—is engrossing. By the time I reached the end, I was eager to continue the journey into this vast universe and see what lies ahead in the series.
Christopher Ruocchio’s Empire of Silence is a grand start to an epic saga that promises vast world-building and complex character development. While the pace can be challenging at times, the depth of the universe and its intricate relationships kept me hooked, and by the end, I was eager to dive into the next installment. If you like Epic Sci-fi/Fantasy this will be for you. Get reading!
You can purchase Empire of Silence from your local Bookshop supporting indie bookshops is important and something I am very in favor of. I like nothing more than to browse physical books. Or if you want you can shop at your local Waterstones, or online at Amazon
