Disquiet Gods by Christopher Ruocchio – Review

Published: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Baen

Series: Sun Eater #6

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 704 (Hardcover)

My Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis:
The sixth 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.

The end is nigh.

It has been nearly two hundred years since Hadrian Marlowe assaulted the person of the Emperor and walked away from war. From his Empire. His duty. From the will and service of the eldritch being known only as the Quiet. The galaxy lies in the grip of a terrible plague, and worse, the Cielcin have overrun the realms of men.

A messenger has come to Jadd, bearing a summons from the Sollan Emperor for the one-time hero. A summons, a pardon, and a plea. HAPSIS, the Emperor’s secret first-contact intelligence organization, has located one of the dreadful Watchers, the immense, powerful beings worshipped by the Pale Cielcin.

Called out of retirement and exile, the old hero—accompanied by his daughter, Cassandra—must race across the galaxy and against time to accomplish one last, impossible

To kill a god.

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I couldn’t possibly imagine what the sixth and penultimate book in the Sun Eater series would be like, especially after the tragic and shocking ending of Ashes of Man. I know this series is ultimately a tragedy, written by Hadrian Marlowe after he burns an entire world but sometimes the events still take me by surprise. 

Hadrian has been residing in Jad for two centuries after his falling out with the Emperor and during that time he’s healed somewhat from Valka’s loss and had a daughter made from his and Valka’s genetic materials. Cassandra is a grown woman of 40 when she’s introduced and is training to become a Jaddian sword master. The two live a peaceful life, but the Empire comes calling once again, this time with a letter of pardon and an unavoidable order to go to a remote planet where one of the Watchers has been discovered. The Emperor believes Hadrian can destroy the Watcher before it’s discovered by the Cielcin and so Hadrian spends years investigating the ruins and trying to encounter this being so that it might be cornered and destroyed. Though this seems like it would cover a significant portion of the story, this section is in reality quite a small segment. This is more about Hadrian having certain realizations and heralds his return into Caesar’s fold. 

I hate to simply provide a summary of events because not only would that be terribly full of spoilers, it would not have all the details that make the story so good. The events that unfold are largely political in nature and Disquiet Gods lacks the action that earlier installments had in abundance. That’s not to say there isn’t any at all, because there are several rather bloody battles that take place with some memorable action scenes. The big focus is how the Sollan Empire is interacting with other political entities and the alliances that are being formed. True lines are being drawn in this universe and during the politicking on Forum and the events that follow, there are some very surprising and familiar faces that make an appearance. 

I enjoyed Disquiet Gods, though not as much as previous installments. This is most clearly setting up for what I can only imagine will be a finale of galactic proportions in the seventh and last installment in the Sun Eater series.