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A review by emilyacres
Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio
5.0
Reposting because it seems my review has gone missing after a re-read.
Thank you to the publisher for providing this ARC is exchange for an honest review.
Set in the distant future in a society where technology is restricted by the religious ruling class known as the Chantry, only the nobles are given any tech and the peasant class none at all. Life is short and brutal for those among the lowest castes who see none of the technological advancements of humans, like the genetic modeling that allows nobles to live for centuries. On planet Delos lives Hadrian Marlowe a young man and first son of a Lord and Archon in line to inherit the Meidua Prefecture, his own corner of the world. Written as an autobiography of epic proportion from the hand of an aged Hadrian centuries after the start of this book, we know that the future will eventually lead to the obliteration of an entire solar system at his own hand. This book is the first installment in unraveling his tale. I'm hesitant to say anymore as one of the great many things about this book are its mysteries.
This book is brilliant, I enjoyed every page of it. After realizing the last chunk of pages was a Dramatis Personae and not more of the book I just about had a meltdown, I was not ready for it to be over.
To say the scope of this world is huge would be an understatement, after all it's worlds plural, and each fitting so perfectly into the universe with it's own society and values. I loved the complexity of this book, both political complexity and the pure complexity that comes with building a universe and people who's history spans eons. Despite all this complexity Ruocchio, through the voice of Hadrian, takes you gently by the hand and explains it in a way that never leaves you feeling like you're missing something or that the story might be anything other than genuine. Hadrian is a terrific main character and an excellent tour guide for the small corner of the universe shown in this first installment. Most of the story is Hadrian recalling the narrative of his own life but what I really loved getting was the pieces of wisdom or lessons learned from aged Hadrian interspersed with the life events as they happen, it makes for a very interesting story beyond just the plot itself. This crossing of timelines of old and young Hadrian also serves to drive the plot forward by giving you little glimpses into what you can expect to come, even the parts with little action create a feeling of anticipation. It's going to be very hard to wait for the sequel.
The blurb of this book compares it to The Name of the Wind and Dune and I wholeheartedly agree that Empire of Silence deserves a place on the shelf with these classics.
Thank you to the publisher for providing this ARC is exchange for an honest review.
The light of that murdered sun still burns me. I see it through my eyelids, blazing out of history from that bloody day, hinting at fires indescribable. It is like something holy, as if it were the light of God's own heaven that burned the world and billions of lives with it. I carry that light always, seared into the back of my mind. I make no excuses, no denials, no apologies for what I have done. I know what I am.
Set in the distant future in a society where technology is restricted by the religious ruling class known as the Chantry, only the nobles are given any tech and the peasant class none at all. Life is short and brutal for those among the lowest castes who see none of the technological advancements of humans, like the genetic modeling that allows nobles to live for centuries. On planet Delos lives Hadrian Marlowe a young man and first son of a Lord and Archon in line to inherit the Meidua Prefecture, his own corner of the world. Written as an autobiography of epic proportion from the hand of an aged Hadrian centuries after the start of this book, we know that the future will eventually lead to the obliteration of an entire solar system at his own hand. This book is the first installment in unraveling his tale. I'm hesitant to say anymore as one of the great many things about this book are its mysteries.
This book is brilliant, I enjoyed every page of it. After realizing the last chunk of pages was a Dramatis Personae and not more of the book I just about had a meltdown, I was not ready for it to be over.
To say the scope of this world is huge would be an understatement, after all it's worlds plural, and each fitting so perfectly into the universe with it's own society and values. I loved the complexity of this book, both political complexity and the pure complexity that comes with building a universe and people who's history spans eons. Despite all this complexity Ruocchio, through the voice of Hadrian, takes you gently by the hand and explains it in a way that never leaves you feeling like you're missing something or that the story might be anything other than genuine. Hadrian is a terrific main character and an excellent tour guide for the small corner of the universe shown in this first installment. Most of the story is Hadrian recalling the narrative of his own life but what I really loved getting was the pieces of wisdom or lessons learned from aged Hadrian interspersed with the life events as they happen, it makes for a very interesting story beyond just the plot itself. This crossing of timelines of old and young Hadrian also serves to drive the plot forward by giving you little glimpses into what you can expect to come, even the parts with little action create a feeling of anticipation. It's going to be very hard to wait for the sequel.
The blurb of this book compares it to The Name of the Wind and Dune and I wholeheartedly agree that Empire of Silence deserves a place on the shelf with these classics.