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A review by zeph1337
Kingdoms of Death by Christopher Ruocchio
dark
emotional
slow-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
Woah. Does any book ever have a more fitting title than this one? Like what the hell have I just read?
But let's take it step by step.
The book starts out in true Sun Eater fashion being disjointed and just having to orient ourselves first. I did enjoy the opening parts but I felt like they just weren't overly relevant to the grand scheme of things.
Afterwards we follow up with some great pieces of worldbuilding as we meet a new society of people. These worldbulding bits are always parts that I love about this series with this book being no exception. Just some super compelling stuff.
Then the book takes a turn with a storytelling device that has already been used quite a bit of times in the predecessor and it just didn't feel as impactful here anymore or it just wasn't executed as well as in Demon in White. But this sets the main events of Kingdoms of Death in motion and holy fuck this was probably the darkest, bleakest, most filled with hopelessness shit I have ever read.
This was majorly uncomfortable to read for like half of the book. This author just broke, no shattered, his protagonist into pieces.
I was in shock and horror, I teared up multiple times, I had to put the book down for a bit on multiple occassions but I also wanted to know how the fuck you ever come out of this. (The answer is not good)
Thankfully there was a light at the end of the tunnel during the last chapters of the book. I don't know if I wanted to keep going if there wasn't.
This thing is probably a masterpiece but I cannot give it 5 stars just because of how uncomfortable it makes you feel. (edit: After I let it sit for a bit I decided to raise it to 5 stars)
Of to Ashes of Man!
But let's take it step by step.
The book starts out in true Sun Eater fashion being disjointed and just having to orient ourselves first. I did enjoy the opening parts but I felt like they just weren't overly relevant to the grand scheme of things.
Afterwards we follow up with some great pieces of worldbuilding as we meet a new society of people. These worldbulding bits are always parts that I love about this series with this book being no exception. Just some super compelling stuff.
Then the book takes a turn with a storytelling device that has already been used quite a bit of times in the predecessor and it just didn't feel as impactful here anymore or it just wasn't executed as well as in Demon in White. But this sets the main events of Kingdoms of Death in motion and holy fuck this was probably the darkest, bleakest, most filled with hopelessness shit I have ever read.
This was majorly uncomfortable to read for like half of the book. This author just broke, no shattered, his protagonist into pieces.
I was in shock and horror, I teared up multiple times, I had to put the book down for a bit on multiple occassions but I also wanted to know how the fuck you ever come out of this. (The answer is not good)
Thankfully there was a light at the end of the tunnel during the last chapters of the book. I don't know if I wanted to keep going if there wasn't.
This thing is probably a masterpiece but I cannot give it 5 stars just because of how uncomfortable it makes you feel. (edit: After I let it sit for a bit I decided to raise it to 5 stars)
Of to Ashes of Man!