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cossty's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
amiewg's review
4.0
Getting to know Crispin from his POV instead of Hadrian's was so eye-opening. This is why men should talk to each other...So many problems could have been avoided. Realizing that Hadrian and Crispin could have actually been good friends if they both had EQ is sad.
Crispin is such a 2nd born. I especially loved the 'Hadrian would know what to do' moments...made it more heart-breaking.
Going into Howling Dark excited. Christopher is so talented.
Crispin is such a 2nd born. I especially loved the 'Hadrian would know what to do' moments...made it more heart-breaking.
Going into Howling Dark excited. Christopher is so talented.
lgconley3's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
graff_fuller's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I usually not a fan of novellas (or short stories), but when they are connect to a larger story (like this one is), I enjoy them a LOT more.
When reading this novella, you have to flip a switch in your mind...to understand the pagan religion that they are talking about...it the religion that most of call our own, but for the inworld people, especially Crsispin and Sabine Marlow (who to us...are pagans), see these Roman Catholics as the pagans. I thought that was an interesting juxtaposition to put the reader in.
It was useful, too...to build this world out. In the Empire of Silence book, we KNOW that this series is an expansion on Earth/Sol system...a little like Dune is the expansion from old Earth, too.
In the first book, you don't really like any of the characters, but Hadrian is the main character...so you are in his head, understanding his struggles and as you read, though you may not agree with what he does, you understand his plight, and feel for him.
Same in this story. I cannot say that I love Crispin. Nor do I like Sabine, but in this story, I got to understand Chrispin a LOT better...and I dislike him LESS, now.
My overall complaint...about most novellas...is that I wish there were more story, that it was fleshed out to a full novel. To me, there was story that could've shown more and allowed us (the reader) to experience more of what was going on...and allow the worldbuilding to expand enough...to make their mark on this this area...more.
It definitely gives more dimension to Crispin and Sabine, and House Marlowe (for sure). It even shows that the bond that Crispin has for his brother...even though their last meeting...didn't go very well.
Okay, on to Howling Dark, and all that it will provide for the story.
When reading this novella, you have to flip a switch in your mind...to understand the pagan religion that they are talking about...it the religion that most of call our own, but for the inworld people, especially Crsispin and Sabine Marlow (who to us...are pagans), see these Roman Catholics as the pagans. I thought that was an interesting juxtaposition to put the reader in.
It was useful, too...to build this world out. In the Empire of Silence book, we KNOW that this series is an expansion on Earth/Sol system...a little like Dune is the expansion from old Earth, too.
In the first book, you don't really like any of the characters, but Hadrian is the main character...so you are in his head, understanding his struggles and as you read, though you may not agree with what he does, you understand his plight, and feel for him.
Same in this story. I cannot say that I love Crispin. Nor do I like Sabine, but in this story, I got to understand Chrispin a LOT better...and I dislike him LESS, now.
My overall complaint...about most novellas...is that I wish there were more story, that it was fleshed out to a full novel. To me, there was story that could've shown more and allowed us (the reader) to experience more of what was going on...and allow the worldbuilding to expand enough...to make their mark on this this area...more.
It definitely gives more dimension to Crispin and Sabine, and House Marlowe (for sure). It even shows that the bond that Crispin has for his brother...even though their last meeting...didn't go very well.
Okay, on to Howling Dark, and all that it will provide for the story.
hellhound_slayer's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
yak_attak's review
2.0
The first Sun Eater novella is something of a nothingburger. We get a chance to see Ruocchio flex a his muscles by switching to a different PoV, and he offers us a pretty dull Crispin, not much more than Hadrian Two. The perspective into what's been going on at "home" is neat, but once again the side characters are pretty flat, so even the largest implications and consequences here aren't too exciting. The plot's a standard "someone is out for revenge and the hero gets in over his head trying to survive", with the twist that Crispin's battle takes place in Generic Medieval Catholic-for-some-unknown-reason village, and we get some pretty banal writing about belief in God.
The writing itself is mixed, generally Ruocchio can write some great sentences if he concentrates, but on the whole he kinda forgets what he's up to, and spaces out - this is never more obvious than the second half of the novella where we have one solid big battle in which not at single exciting fight happens - Everything is too specific, too slow, combat just isn't this style's forte, and we get bogged down over and over for pages as we get each little encounter described. Cool fight, you can see Ruocchio playing it out in his head like a movie or something, but.... but no, not interesting at all to read.
If you're starved for Sun Eater, go ahead and read this, could be a fun little side thing - but in any other case, it's an easy skip.
The writing itself is mixed, generally Ruocchio can write some great sentences if he concentrates, but on the whole he kinda forgets what he's up to, and spaces out - this is never more obvious than the second half of the novella where we have one solid big battle in which not at single exciting fight happens - Everything is too specific, too slow, combat just isn't this style's forte, and we get bogged down over and over for pages as we get each little encounter described. Cool fight, you can see Ruocchio playing it out in his head like a movie or something, but.... but no, not interesting at all to read.
If you're starved for Sun Eater, go ahead and read this, could be a fun little side thing - but in any other case, it's an easy skip.
akazen's review against another edition
5.0
Crispin is a fascinating character and I appreciate the author not simply making him an annoying evil caricature but an actual developed character who went under some character development in this small book
4.75
4.75
andrew23825's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mightyjor's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 stars
It was a fun read. I was really interested to know what happened to this main character after book one of sun eater and I really liked seeing where his character went. It's interesting to see how he is both similar to Hadrian in some ways but wildly different in another. It's always a bit fun following a heroic type who is not actually a hero. Like one minute I'm cheering them on for being brave and saving someone and feeling horrible for having to kill someone, then he says how it's not like killing slaves because he feels so much worse, and then you remember - "oh yeah, this guy is kind of a scumbag". But that's really fun to read.
Ultimately though there's not much that happens that I haven't seen done in other stories.
It was a fun read. I was really interested to know what happened to this main character after book one of sun eater and I really liked seeing where his character went. It's interesting to see how he is both similar to Hadrian in some ways but wildly different in another. It's always a bit fun following a heroic type who is not actually a hero. Like one minute I'm cheering them on for being brave and saving someone and feeling horrible for having to kill someone, then he says how it's not like killing slaves because he feels so much worse, and then you remember - "oh yeah, this guy is kind of a scumbag". But that's really fun to read.
Ultimately though there's not much that happens that I haven't seen done in other stories.