Published: July 16, 2019
Publisher: DAW Books
Series: Sun Eater #2
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 688 (Hardcover)
My Rating: 4.5.5/0
Synopsis:
The second novel of the galaxy-spanning Sun Eater series merges the best of space opera and epic fantasy, as Hadrian Marlowe continues down a path that can only end in fire.
Hadrian Marlowe is lost.
For half a century, he has searched the farther suns for the lost planet of Vorgossos, hoping to find a way to contact the elusive alien Cielcin. He has not succeeded, and for years has wandered among the barbarian Normans as captain of a band of mercenaries.
Determined to make peace and bring an end to nearly four hundred years of war, Hadrian must venture beyond the security of the Sollan Empire and among the Extrasolarians who dwell between the stars. There, he will face not only the aliens he has come to offer peace, but contend with creatures that once were human, with traitors in his midst, and with a meeting that will bring him face to face with no less than the oldest enemy of mankind.
If he succeeds, he will usher in a peace unlike any in recorded history. If he fails…the galaxy will burn.
At last!! I got past the first 100 or so pages! The first time I picked this up I ultimately decided to put it down until I could re-read Empire of Silence and get a good refresher. Turns out, I was so confused because there are pretty big time jumps between books and events we never get to see and are only told of. This realization explained so much of my confusion.
Hadrian Marlowe and his mercenary Red Company, along with the disguised Imperial troops, are in search of Vorgossos. Vorgossos was thought to be a myth, but is in fact difficult to find unless invited by it’s lord, the Undying. By finding this mercurial world, Hadrian hopes to contact the Cielcin and negotiate a peace treaty with one of their princes in exchange for the prisoners he holds. He does locate this world and though he knew not what to expect, it’s certainly more than he could have imagined. The horror of it is uncanny. It’s a brilliantly executed tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat for the majority, though the pace does drag a bit in certain sections.
This is such an underrated series and this book only reinforces my high opinion of the first. Certainly, it would have been nice to have a little heads up that so many years pass between each installment of the series but if you read them in sequence you’ll quickly realize that. It’s interesting to follow Hadrian Marlowe as he ages and as his legend grows. This book is truly where his legendary status begins to take form. Where he earns the moniker Half Mortal and where he begins to truly become the soldier he denies being. The character growth is great and the companion characters (because they aren’t truly “minor”) are equally wonderful and add so much vibrancy to the story.
This was an excellent read, there was a great deal of slow build-up to the really epic portion of this book, but it is intended to be a five book series so I can forgive a slower installment. It was entirely worth the time spent reading and the ending was such that I picked up the audiobook of Demon in White as soon as it was available.
Powder & Page 
Leave a comment