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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I give only a quote for my review.
There are things stronger than our words for them. Have I not said so? Or perhaps I *will* have said so when all is done. In some other place. But it is so, regardless. Time and space. Death. Stone. Sea. Things that are and would be even without us. Things that are in nature and belong to it.
But there are things weaker than our words. Many things. Civilization is one. Civilization is a story we tell, a story in which we are only players, characters on a stage. There are others: history, for example--the field if not the string of incidents itself--would not exist but for our making of it, for history is another story we tell. So too is virtue weaker than we, as are goodness, and beauty, and truth itself.
And justice. Justice perhaps most of all.
Please understand: I do not say that we have invented these things. On the contrary, I believe these things make us, shape us as a narrative shapes its characters. Indeed, I believe these weaker things are higher, deeper than we, and are so made mutable by their hiddenness, their remoteness from us. But we may bend them, or deny them, or negate them, as we may not negate the baser realities of time and space.
There are things stronger than our words for them. Have I not said so? Or perhaps I *will* have said so when all is done. In some other place. But it is so, regardless. Time and space. Death. Stone. Sea. Things that are and would be even without us. Things that are in nature and belong to it.
But there are things weaker than our words. Many things. Civilization is one. Civilization is a story we tell, a story in which we are only players, characters on a stage. There are others: history, for example--the field if not the string of incidents itself--would not exist but for our making of it, for history is another story we tell. So too is virtue weaker than we, as are goodness, and beauty, and truth itself.
And justice. Justice perhaps most of all.
Please understand: I do not say that we have invented these things. On the contrary, I believe these things make us, shape us as a narrative shapes its characters. Indeed, I believe these weaker things are higher, deeper than we, and are so made mutable by their hiddenness, their remoteness from us. But we may bend them, or deny them, or negate them, as we may not negate the baser realities of time and space.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
This may be the best novella I've ever read. Queen Amid Ashes adds to the Sun Eater story in profound ways in less than 200 pages. I highly recommend giving this a read immediately after book 2, Howling Dark.
Ruocchio once again flexes his universe-building muscles, giving us a deeper understanding of the conflict between humans and Cielcin through the eyes of our protagonist and narrator, Hadrian Marlowe. This short side quest for our main characters explores powerful themes and asks important questions about morality, compassion and judgment. It also seems to be valuable foreshadowing and context for future plot and character developments. In fact, Hadrian tells us so as he writes this story centuries in the future. Queen Amid Ashes is packed with great action and more beautiful writing from Ruocchio. The baroness of this desert planet is a captivating character. Everything is so well done. Incredible stuff packed into such a short little story.
Only reason for the 4.5 vs 5 stars is I struggle to rate a novella on the same level as my favorite full length novels. I really did love it despite the short length.
I could not recommend this novella more for Sun Eater readers. In fact, I'd venture to say Queen Amid Ashes is required reading. Squeeze it in. You won't regret it.
Sun Eater
Ruocchio once again flexes his universe-building muscles, giving us a deeper understanding of the conflict between humans and Cielcin through the eyes of our protagonist and narrator, Hadrian Marlowe. This short side quest for our main characters explores powerful themes and asks important questions about morality, compassion and judgment. It also seems to be valuable foreshadowing and context for future plot and character developments. In fact, Hadrian tells us so as he writes this story centuries in the future. Queen Amid Ashes is packed with great action and more beautiful writing from Ruocchio. The baroness of this desert planet is a captivating character. Everything is so well done. Incredible stuff packed into such a short little story.
Only reason for the 4.5 vs 5 stars is I struggle to rate a novella on the same level as my favorite full length novels. I really did love it despite the short length.
I could not recommend this novella more for Sun Eater readers. In fact, I'd venture to say Queen Amid Ashes is required reading. Squeeze it in. You won't regret it.
Sun Eater
Book 1: Empire of Silence – 5/5
Novella: The Lesser Devil – 4.5/5
Book 2: Howling Dark – 5/5
Novella: Queen Amid Ashes – 4.5/5
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced