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dragontomes2000's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW, WOW, WOW! This my readers is how you deliver a sequel! Howling dark picks up 10 years after the events of Empire of Silence, Hadrian and his crew are looking for the mythical planet of Vorgossos. The action takes off from there at a break-neck pace.
I don't think I said this in my review for EoS, but this book is told through journals left behind by Hadrian. So we as readers are reading events that have already transpired. I enjoy this storytelling device because in a sense you know what is going to happen but you also have no clue how it happened. Christopher Ruocchio does this extremely well. He is a master at his writing craft. His prose just glide on the paper. This is a very detailed and complicated story but it's done in a way that doesn't make you feel stupid (for lack of a better term).
Once again we follow Hadrian Marlowe as he is on this mission he set off for at the end of book one. Yes, the old cast is still there like Valka, Switch, Pallino, and Ghen. Then there are some side characters from the later half of book one that take more focus like Raine Smythe, Jinan, Bassander Lin, Olorin Milta, and William Crossflane. I know that is a lot of characters to keep track but trust you me that is just an ice breaker of names I gave you. The cast of characters is extensive, but what Christopher does with them all is brilliant. Every character whether big or small has a purpose on the page. Some characters more then others. However the true journey is within Hadrian Marlowe's character. Since the story is told from his perspective you see the most growth within him. And let me tell you the journey Hadrian is on in Howling Dark is a hard one.
I want to reiterate also that this world is our world in a far distant future. Like 20,000 years in the distant future. It is expansive and vast. There is so much rich history in this world whether it be history we already have knowledge of or history we are hearing or reading for the first time. If you do take a chance on this series, and I think you should, don't take this series lightly. It needs your undivided attention. Every little detail matters. I did say Christopher writes in a way that doesn't make you feel stupid, however if you go in with a clouded head you may get lost.
Howling Dark is an exceptional sequel and hits all the right points for me. This series is a risky one and I do believe Christopher Ruocchio is hitting it out of the park. I'm so excited to sink my teeth into book three.
I don't think I said this in my review for EoS, but this book is told through journals left behind by Hadrian. So we as readers are reading events that have already transpired. I enjoy this storytelling device because in a sense you know what is going to happen but you also have no clue how it happened. Christopher Ruocchio does this extremely well. He is a master at his writing craft. His prose just glide on the paper. This is a very detailed and complicated story but it's done in a way that doesn't make you feel stupid (for lack of a better term).
Once again we follow Hadrian Marlowe as he is on this mission he set off for at the end of book one. Yes, the old cast is still there like Valka, Switch, Pallino, and Ghen. Then there are some side characters from the later half of book one that take more focus like Raine Smythe, Jinan, Bassander Lin, Olorin Milta, and William Crossflane. I know that is a lot of characters to keep track but trust you me that is just an ice breaker of names I gave you. The cast of characters is extensive, but what Christopher does with them all is brilliant. Every character whether big or small has a purpose on the page. Some characters more then others. However the true journey is within Hadrian Marlowe's character. Since the story is told from his perspective you see the most growth within him. And let me tell you the journey Hadrian is on in Howling Dark is a hard one.
I want to reiterate also that this world is our world in a far distant future. Like 20,000 years in the distant future. It is expansive and vast. There is so much rich history in this world whether it be history we already have knowledge of or history we are hearing or reading for the first time. If you do take a chance on this series, and I think you should, don't take this series lightly. It needs your undivided attention. Every little detail matters. I did say Christopher writes in a way that doesn't make you feel stupid, however if you go in with a clouded head you may get lost.
Howling Dark is an exceptional sequel and hits all the right points for me. This series is a risky one and I do believe Christopher Ruocchio is hitting it out of the park. I'm so excited to sink my teeth into book three.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, and Violence
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