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kineticace 's review for:
Empire of Silence
by Christopher Ruocchio
4 stars because it does more set up than concluding and because it’s so derivative of Dune. That doesn’t bring it down too far though, Empire of Silence is a gripping entry to a series I am now very excited to continue.
The first part borrows heavily from the backdrop of Dune, with the humans of the distant future dispersed amongst the stars with ruling families from historic bloodlines, with clear linkages to Ancient Greece and Rome. The themes, too, feel similar to Dune, though mostly these seem to be pushed to future books rather than kept in the first. What it does differently is a more modern, character-first approach to the story, staying within the viewpoint of Hadrian Marlowe as he struggles to find his path in life.
The politicking, plotting, characterization, and themes are all nicely written and fill out a universe that I can’t wait to dive back into. Here’s to hoping the second book keeps the promises that the first book made.
The first part borrows heavily from the backdrop of Dune, with the humans of the distant future dispersed amongst the stars with ruling families from historic bloodlines, with clear linkages to Ancient Greece and Rome. The themes, too, feel similar to Dune, though mostly these seem to be pushed to future books rather than kept in the first. What it does differently is a more modern, character-first approach to the story, staying within the viewpoint of Hadrian Marlowe as he struggles to find his path in life.
The politicking, plotting, characterization, and themes are all nicely written and fill out a universe that I can’t wait to dive back into. Here’s to hoping the second book keeps the promises that the first book made.