Demon in White Mass Market Paperback – July 6, 2021

Demon in White, the third installment of Christopher Ruocchio’s Sun Eater series continues the story of Hadrian Marlow as he manages threats – both internal and external – while trying to solve the mystery of the Quiet. The series, especially this installment, continue to impress. The author has created a rich, detailed world with a complex filled with interesting worlds, peoples, cultures, technologies, and political structures. Mr. Ruocchio’s writing and storytelling improves each installment – which is incredible considering how excellent the first installment (Empire of Silence is. In this installment, Hadrian Marlow’s exploits in Howling Dark have earned him the title of Royal Knight Victorian, a dedicated, cult-like following, and the name Halfmortal. As his popularity and rise to prominence grows, so does the Empire’s fear of him, and after a failed assassination attempt Hadrian and the Red Company are sent to the ends of the Sollan Empire, where he and Valka continue their quest to uncover the secrets of the Quiet.The pacing was great, intense battle sequences interspersed with scholarly pursuits, intense conversations, and political intrigue. In Demon in White, Hadrian spent time in Forum, the seat of power of the Sollan Empire, dealing with the political fallout of his recent successes. I enjoyed spending time learning more about the political structure of the Sollan Empire, especially the different factions, and the infighting, maneuvering for power, and intrigue. I also enjoyed reading about Hadrian’s scholarly pursuits, especially since some of the information he uncovers completely changes his (and the reader’s) understanding of, well, everything.The world building and character development is impressive. Mr. Ruocchio’s world is filled with unique places, each with its own history, peoples, technology, and culture. The characters are complex; within the confines of a small page count the author manages to create fully realized supporting characters that I was fully invested in their fates – even if said fate was to be left in fugue forever. I found Hadrian’s development from 19-year-old hot head fleeing his family, through frustrated scholar, reluctant military leader, and eventual destroyer of planets the most compelling. It is interesting to see some of the events that Hadrian told us/hinted about in the first book unfold – again a testament to the author’s skill as a storyteller and wordsmith that even though I know what’s going to happen (because Hadrian tells us) I am still completely immersed in the story and invested in the characters’ fates.I greatly enjoyed Demon in White, for an epic story spanning dozens of planets and hundreds of years, it felt very intimate -perhaps because at its core, the Sun Eater series is Hadrian’s story. The world building and characters are top-notch, the pacing is great, and the plot extremely engaging. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Hadrian Marlowe has had many battles; such as family expectations, living on the streets, as a gladiator in the Colosseum on Emesh and on the front line as a soldier against the Cielcin. But in the latest installment, Demon in White, Hadrian is confronted with a new battle, politics. Within the Sollan Empire amongst Caesar’s court Hadrian is thrown head first in invested waters. He must learn to navigate court maneuverings and decipher who is a friend or foe.Like all books in The Sun Eater series, the story is narrated by Hadrian as he recounts his journey across the galaxy. I’ve mentioned in previous reviews how I love this style of writing. It’s an intimate panache of storytelling. Readers are truly able to peek behind the proverbial curtains to see and feel what the writer is expressing. Before Hadrian became the infamous Halfmortal, Emperor Reborn, Demon in White he wanted to be a scholiast. And it hit me while reading, that he actually achieved it (Since the book started at the end as Hadrian narrates his rise and fall). A Scholiast is a commentator on ancient and classical literature. That’s precisely what Hadrian is doing and we’re reading his commentary! Ruocchio is absolutely brilliant!The first two novels were well plotted and written and Demon in White is no exception. Just when I thought the series couldn’t get any better and more complex; Ruocchio peels back another layer of the world expanding on the systems, beliefs and characters. While I love everything about this series. What makes this series stand out from other Sci-Fi novels and memorable are the characters. This series is extremely character driven. The characters are a great representation of the world that Ruocchio has created. They are multifaceted, rich, realistic, flawed yet redeemable. I’m sure many readers feel the same way when I say that we’ve been with Hadrian and the gang since the beginning that we know them like we know ourselves.Demon in White was another incredible addition to the series. As I said before these books are well written and the crème de la crème of its genre. I don’t know why but with this third installment I can see and just instinctively feel like Ruocchio has hit his rhythm with Demon in White. Or maybe as a reader, this is one of those big turning moment for Hadrian as friends and enemies from the beginning seem to fall away and the core main players are now defined.I highly recommend reading this series if you haven’t read it yet. It’s pretty damn near perfection as a series goes. And as always, start at the beginning with Empire of Silence, Book 1 because you can’t miss anything, everything is crucial! I can easily say this is one of my all-time favorite series. I cannot describe my love for this series nor how it makes me feel. No words can do it justice…but if it must be said/read please check out my previous reviews of the first two books :D. I’m excited to start the next book and ecstatic to learn that this is no longer a quartet; book 5 arrives at the end of 2022.

This series has all the necessary traits to sit on the shelves alongside the great novels and anthologies of both science fiction and fantasy.

This book is just perfect.The tragedy of Hadrian Marlowe is depicted in all of its colours. Here you have really dramatic moments, you laugh, you cry, you are genuinely worried about the characters during a grim and epic siege. You discover a lot about the world and its mysteries and you just want more.It is space opera at its best.

Recommended

by miles the best instalment so far. I found the first two books boring at some points of the story. Here from the beginning til the very end all what i felt was pure enjoyment.What i dislike?- Way too many references to Ancient Rome (and our history in general) - It really distracted me from remote future and heroic fantasy setting. Especially the middle arc involving the mystery. I was feeling i don't know.. out of place ?- I'd rather see more slow-paced political intrigues than way-too-long poetically written descriptions of battles.And Leaving aside enjoyment of reading this and the previous books i was shocking to find out there are still 4 books til the end. i was expecting like maybe 1 or 2. But 4? it might be tiresome for even the most zelaous reader like me because of how huge each book is i feel already weariness and need a few weeks/months break before putting book 4 in my hand.

Demon in WhiteI’ve been itching to get to Demon in White, the third installment of the Sun Eater Sequence, as it’s been a journey of discovery, following along as Hadrian Marlowe, the young man who wanted nothing more than to travel the stars in search of knowledge and peace becomes the tyrant the galaxy needs.Here’s a hint of what’s in store from the cover blurb:**********Hadrian and his Red Company have been serving the Empire in military engagements against the Cielcin, the vicious alien civilization bent on humanity's destruction. And they've been successful: a cult-like fervor building around Hadrian following a particularly impressive victory. But popularity comes at a price: an assassination attempt, triggered by those within the Imperial government who are scared of his rise to prominence.Now the Empire has turned dangerous, Hadrian and his crew leave to pursue his true interest: a search for a long-rumored connection between the first Emperor and the Quiet: the ancient, seemingly long-dead race. And he will find the next key to unlocking their secrets in a massive library on a distant world.The coordinates for their origin planet.A planet that no longer holds life, but may still contain answers.**********Now the scene is set, what did I think?Awesome! Absolutely awesome.And it has to be at close to 750 pages long. But this is the thing. Although Demon in White covers the sweeping vista of a number of planets spread throughout the immense expanse of a galactic empire, it doesn’t lose the personal touch. The story keeps its center by concentrating on Hadrian Marlowe’s transition from hero to legend. And from legend to virtual godhood in the eyes of the people that follow him.And therein lies the rub.If there’s one thing you need to understand about heroes, it’s that there’s no room for them in the Empire. For heroes build a reputation of invincibility, and such reputations attract the worst kind of sedition: Followers. Zealots who believe more in the object of their fervor than Caesar himself. And the Emperor mustn’t be challenged, for he is jealous of his rule and the Chantry are ever willing and able to make an example of those who fail to tow the party line.Yes, Hadrian Marlowe learns to his cost the consequences of victory.His rank, his success, his devotion – to duty and uncovering the truth about ancient beings both vast and incomprehensible – has ramifications he couldn’t possibly have imagined. And not only does he end up fighting against an evil from beyond the veil of time; not only must he contend against the worst and most powerful of the Cielcin overlords, but he must fend off multiple death threats from members of the royal family, the government and the Chantry, all of who want to see him dead.As I mentioned at the outset, this is an awesomely epic extravaganza of far future science fiction. The pace is well judged throughout; the battle scenes precise, bloody and brutal; the gradual reveal of just what it is behind the events taking place, mind bogglingly spectacular; and the story arc, superb.And THAT’s what I’ve really enjoyed about this series. As I mentioned in my review of Empire of Silence and Howling Dark, this far-fling operatic production carries all the scope of Frank Herbert’s, Dune; The scale of Arthur C. Clarkes, 2001: A Space Odyssey; and the poignancy of Barry B. Longyear’s, Enemy Mine. It’s huge. Yet Christopher Rucchio has managed to avoid wasting time with ‘filler material.’ Everything you read is relevant, and one of the best metaphysical journeys you will ever take in the discovery of the past, present and future of the human race.Do yourself a favor, and enlist in the Red Company!

good book