Ashes of Man
The Sun Eater: Book Five
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4.7 • 155 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
The fifth 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 galaxy is burning.
With the Cielcin united under one banner, the Sollan Empire stands alone after the betrayal of the Commonwealth. The Prophet-King of the Cielcin has sent its armies to burn the worlds of men, and worse, there are rumors...whispers that Hadrian Marlowe is dead, killed in the fighting.
But it is not so. Hadrian survived with the help of the witch, Valka, and together they escaped the net of the enemy having learned a terrible truth: the gods that the Cielcin worship are real and will not rest until the universe is dark and cold.
What is more, the Emperor himself is in danger. The Prophet-King has learned to track his movements as he travels along the borders of Imperial space. Now the Cielcin legions are closing in, their swords poised to strike off the head of all mankind.
Customer Reviews
Extraordinary as always
This is latest installment in the Suneater series is yet another example of the sweeping vision and originality that characterizes all Ruocchio’s work. Not to mention fully realized characters who evolve over time and a writing style that savors everything that can be done with the English language. I consumed the book in rapid order, which has been the case with every one in the series. Enjoy this latest portion of the Hadrian Marlowe saga while looking forward to the next!
A better entry
So I’ll say this and I know this won’t be a popular opinion, I really like the story and the setting but I cannot stand Hadrian. I find him pretentious, arrogant, he seems to come off as “all knowing, all feeling” like his pain is the most and only pain ever endured and I find it incredibly frustrating. He always seems to have a snark remark and has to have the last word, seems to think that he has the deepest thoughts and I can’t understand that attitude. He seems to give orders even to those above his station and outside of his “lore” I don’t really know why. He even tries to explain that he knows the pain Valka goes through but nobody shares the same experiences in pain yet he tries to claim that as well.
*spoilers*
He blames the Emperor for not listening to him and causing Valka’s death by not listening and again I think this is his arrogance (the ships that were in hiding that blew up the relief ships weren’t there when he asked him to leave?) I don’t know if the author is trying to get us to sympathize so much with him but to me this doesn’t come across as genuine and I can’t root for Hadrian.
But back to the setting this is a well thought out world very much in the like of Dune where humanity has evolved and changed over centuries of time and I am intrigued by that aspect and I am interested in how this story ends. I just wished I liked the main character…