Disquiet Gods

I just don’t love it

2.5/5

I’m of two minds with this book. I actually enjoyed the beginning quite a bit and for the first time really found myself sympathizing with Hadrian as a father. Many of the emotions he was feeling I have felt and I felt like I understood him a little better.
On the other hand, there are still many of the same issues I’ve had with previous books in this novel as well. There are a lot of repeated beats both in this novel and carrying over from previous works.

***SPOILERS BELOW

I really had an issue with Hadrian dying and coming back to life again. It cheapens the past stories when you realize (and it’s confirmed in this book) that it doesn’t matter what happens to him in his time. If he dies he will get resurrected. That’s such a cheap cop out and there’s no risk no danger left. I know this is told as a memoir so of course he is alive but to know that the danger and battles he faces mean nothing it makes me wonder why I’m reading it. All he has left to potentially lose is his daughter. This is very reminiscent of the MCU where deaths mean nothing.
My 2nd major issue continues to be with the main character. As I said there are a number of repeated beats. Anytime he is in danger with whatever crew he’s with (which always includes his daughter) he threatens whoever he’s around if he perceives danger and it gets old. You can change this so easily by character actions or even phrasing things differently but it’s a continuous “if you hurt her…” and it’s frustrating when you’re reading a 800+ page book and we are getting this 5-6 times in the same book (it’s also in others as well). I’m also tired of how he continues to whine about how he’s lost everything. You (Hadrian) continue to put your friends and loved ones in danger. Also, you haven’t lost everything. This character has been living on a planet in relative peace for 200 years, has a daughter (which is against their laws but since when does he care about rules), has a dedicated servant and basically isn’t bothered until the empire calls. I think back to the Dark Knight Rises when you have Batman say he hasn’t given everything because he was willing to die for a people that hated him. Hadrian just whines.
My final thoughts are I think the author may have fallen too in love with his main character. I’ve seen it sometimes with series where even if the character makes a mistake he quickly remedies the thoughts to be correct. This character is deemed intelligent because he studies old literature and feels things but I feel this is so shallow when in the book it says he feels anger and rage. Just show it in actions and words and you won’t have to repeat what is obvious emotion. I’m debating finishing this series because of these frustrations and I probably will because I’m a completionist I’m just not looking forward to it. I wish I loved the series as much as everyone else did. It’s sort of a cousin to Dune just with a main POV I’ve come to loathe and root against oddly.