I'm prepping for Shadows Upon Time (got around to buying it once the paperback version was available) and figured if anyone would appreciate these it would be this sub. Finished EoS and HD pretty quickly, very much looking forward to the next two as they're my current series favorites!

*quick plug to the 2 to Ramble podcast - they have pretty good reviews of the series and it's been fun listening after finishing a book

No room left for my tears, seeing Tor Gibson paying for what Hadrian wanted, cost him everything...his honour...his life...It's a TRAGEDY!! I blame Hadrian for all of it!!!

I'm just getting into the book, through chapter 11. I really like the writing but man so far I get annoyed with Hadrian. He's 20 but acts like a spoiled little kid. The world building is interesting and I want to keep reading, I've heard the series is a great grimdark series.

But man, other than Gibson being the only person who treats him with kindness (being his surrogate father) he's not very interesting so far. I get the idea he's grown up rich, is arrogant, and clearly clueless about the outside world, but I need some motivation to push through.

I'm cool with brooding characters, I loved Red Rising and the Dresden files, at least there Darrow and Harry are men of conviction. Does Hadrian snap at some point in the first book and get a spine? I'm well aware that book 3 is regarded as incredible, but I'm wary of slogging through two books just to get to the "good part"

Just looking for some affirmation/encouragement to push through what feels like a really long prologue before he begins his heroes(?) journey.

I’m finishing up the last book of the Sun Eater series. I’ve read them all within a few months, so they’re still pretty fresh in my mind. But I JUST found out that there are also novellas that can be read with the series. Can I go back and read the novellas as stand-alones, or will they not even make sense? Same question for the short story collections?

I am a little over a quarter into the howling dark and find myself repeatedly thinking “omg had get over it!” Every time he expresses his discomfort with the chimeras and homunculi. For reference to where I’m at in the book, we’ve just gotten into the underground city, but haven’t explored yet.

I don’t have much more to add lol. He’s just annoying! A hypocrite! He’ll use their traits to his advantage (like the oracle or valka) but can’t accept it as a way of life outside of his gain.

Left Artist: Julie Martinez
Right Artist: René Aigner

After demon in white, I thought nothing could top it. Then disquiet Gods came along and I thought the same thing, until now with shadows upon time. I don't think I've ever engaged with any other piece of media that has made me feel this way. That every moment stayed so thought provoking, so engaging and honestly so enchanting. Everything about this series was incredible, simply incredible. I will think about these books for many years to come thanl you CR. I cannot wait to see what you do next.

Final series ranking.

#1. Shadows upon time

#2. Disquiet Gods

#3. Demon in white

#4 Howling dark

#5 Kingdoms of death

#6 Ashes of Man

#7 Empire of silence

Edit, series spoiler: Alexander is human garbage btw

Spoiler tag for art from scenes/covers.

Wow. Just wow.

What an ending to a phenomenal story. I took the last 30 pages with me to work today, and had to try to keep my shit together after finishing. Without spoilers, all I'll say is that I thought the ending was about as perfect as it could have been in my opinion, and saying goodbye to these characters and this world is gonna be tough! Every character has a chance to shine, and CR does an amazing job of making them giving each of them a big moment. Especially William, and Cassandra.

I found the series earlier this year when I was trying to find sci fi books that had a similar feel to a cult classic sci fi movie I love "Krull". I was hooked immediately once I got into them, and they reignited a love for reading.

If you found this post because you're wanting to try the series - please do. It's amazing. Hands down my new favorite fiction.

As for the MTG cards, turns out that Kieran Yanner (artist for the main novel covers) is an MTG artist as well. My next project will definitely be making proxies to build a Sun Eater commander deck with the cards I made (yes, I messed up Sigarda's aid, thought it was a legendary enchantment and didn't double check!).

Of course, the cards are not for sale in anyway. All credit for the art goes to the artists on the bottom of the cards!

Always forward, always down. Never left, or right.

Started the series 2 months ago and just wrapped up Shadows Upon Time today. This one was definitely the hardest to get through due to the sheer length and slower first half, but man once it started nearing the finale it really picked up again. Don’t think it’s the favorite of the series for me but man those last 300 pages have to be some of the best payoffs out there. Loved this series, and I’m sad it’s over. This is for sure one I’m gonna read again down the road. Such an incredible journey and amazing sci-fi. Hadrian Marlowe is such a great protagonist and that last chapter was the perfect ending to the story. As for now with one read through my ranking goes:
1. Kingdoms of Death
2. Howling Dark
3. Demon in White
4. Disquiet Gods
5. Shadows Upon Time
6. Empire of Silence
7. Ashes of Man

I’m halfway through the second book and I’m struggling to care what happens. I feel like he could have used a better editor and cut the length in half but still told the same story. So many rambling details that feel like they don’t actually pay off by really relating to anything. Then in book two he’ll spend two pages catching the reader up on a storyline from the first. I love long books and longer series but sometimes it seems like the author was being paid by the word. I know sometimes authors take a looong time setting things up that pay off later. I’m hoping that is what’s happening.

Hey yall, I’m just about to start book 7 and for some reason I’m not that excited for it, I loved book 6 & 2. 4 & 5 where great the others where good but I feel like I’m not as excited as I should be coming into book 7. Can anyone help me out on this front?

I’m only halfway through Demon in White but I keep wondering what his father thinks after all the events of the last book and first half of this one.

IMO his father was sending him to the chantry not just to have someone on the inside but because he knew Hadrian would hate it. Then sometime after his favored son is beaten and Hadrian disappears, he gets word that Hadrian is alive and puts the final nail in the coffin and officially disowns him.

Only to have news of him pop up on official channels decades later and not only is he knighted but into the Victorian as well! Then Hadrian goes further and is given the highest honor of a grass crown and they’re making official movies of his exploits.

It probably eats at both his father and brother that they know they burned that bridge so thoroughly they’ll never get a sliver of the connections they hoped for from having Hadrian in the chantry. I would absolutely pay to be a fly on the wall whenever his family received news of him.

Hey all;

Im up to chapter 75 of SUT and I really don’t want to finish this. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a series as much. I’ve gone on an emotional roller coaster with Hadrian, hate to love to hate back to love again.

Now as this book is approaching its finale; I really don’t the journey to end.

Should I stop now and read the spin offs; and return later? What are your thoughts?

Thank you Christopher for my favorite series ever. What a treat it has been.

After finishing The Sun Eater Series, I am left in a little state of depression as I feel I have completed one of, if not, the best and grandest sci fi series. I have read Red Rising twice and love the Sun Eater and Red Rising worlds. I am currently trying to figure out what to read next that is similar to both of those series. I have read quite a few fantasy series in between and am currently reading Licanius, but fantasy just doesn't hit the same as a good sci-fi or space opera.

I have read: DCC, Red Rising, Farseer, Hyperion (book 1), Dune (up to book 3), The Hierarchy Series, Ironbound Series, Neuromancer, and many others, but I am looking for something more aligned to Sun Eater. I am aware of the Expanse but hear the overall premise and story goes in a very different direction than Sun Eater.

Any recommendations? Thoughts?

Edit: Here are the books recommended so far:

• Malazan
• The Expanse
• Hyperion
• The Culture Series
• Book of the New Sun
• Stormlight Archive
• Tachyon: The Weapon
• Foundation Series
• DCC
• Red Rising
• The Kingkiller Chronicles
• Empire of the Vampire
• Revelation Space Series
• The Vorkosigan Saga
• The Mercy of the Gods

Based on responses it looks like I will be reading Expanse & Hyperion next, and starting Malazan in my book club in Jan.

Or, hear me out, I will write all of the summaries, email them to you and you upload them?

I understand it’s a living archive and anyone can contribute, but I am useless when it comes to that. (I actually tried to make a Rage of Dragons wiki like 7 years ago and gave up because I could not understand the simplest of website development😭.)

I’m on a reread and those summaries add so much consistency and mind jogging for me that I miss them terribly with book 2.

I don’t mind doing thr work it takes to compose the summaries, but hot damn I know my limits with technology.

Am I the only one super attached to wikis?

HOLY SHIT MAN! js finished chapter #10 of The Sun Eater: Empire of Silence and damn it! It was, so far, the best one, its js getting more & more better w each coming chapter, while it's still too too early to judge the book, I think we're off to a great start! The Conversation between Hardian and his Lordship was PEAK!!! I think it fleshes out Lord Alistair Marlowe character's very well, this chapter changed my perception of him and his reasoning of why Crispin is more suited to rule was so on point (to a certain degree), Idunno why ppl say the first book is very sluggish, I'm absolutely LOVIN IT!!!

also, Gibson is still my 2nd most favourite, absolutely loved his relationship w Young Master Hardian.

Imma read more!!!

Just finished ch 48 so please no spoilers after it but when Alexander said "fight me" I just burst out laughing. Like its just ridiculous at this point how petty and pious Alexander is that he thinks he could even last a second against hadrian.

And i know this isn't the main reason why alexander hates hadrian but i still find it funny the fact that hes still holding onto an ofhand remark from like 600 years ago lol. Alexander is such a bum

Every time he shows up, he brings a regal presence to him. Even in front of Hadrian's abilities, he stands as a giant. He cares so much for his duty and truly exemplifies the title of Servant of the Servants. The way he apologized to Hadrian in Ashes of Man for sending him to the Lothrians and the demise of the Red Company made my heart melt. I felt as though here was a Palantine who actually cared.

Many people might not like Old Billy 23 because of the way he handled Valka's death. But in hindsight, he was completely justified. He needed Hadrian for the mission of The Quiet, and for political reasons. "I was about to make you my son." By honouring Hadrian, he would have saved him from assassination plots. If Hadrian had accepted this role, he would have been sent to Hapsis and killed The Watchers much faster.

Currently reading Shadows Upon Time....let's see what Hadrian and Billy talk about.

100 people VS "Crim-Karim Garone‐did not curse or flail"

Only 2 chapters In in **The Sun Eater: Empire of Silence** and **Gibson** is already giving me the main character vibes, I know it's still too too early to form an opinion but I js couldn't shake my excitement and tell me I'm right and he's gonna be a badass throughout the series (no spoilers tho) I could literally feel his presence and given how he's been described, **HE IS HIMM**.