Ashes of Man
2022 • 544 pages
Ratings19
Average rating4.5
15
Ratings19
Average rating4.5
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.
Featured Series
6 primary books11 released booksThe Sun Eater is a 11-book series with 6 primary works first released in 2018 with contributions by Christopher Ruocchio, L.J. Hachmeister, and 11 others.
Reviews with the most likes.
This book was a much more enjoyable read than [b:Kingdoms of Death 57443696 Kingdoms of Death (Sun Eater, #4) Christopher Ruocchio https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616007067l/57443696.SY75.jpg 89939526], and I think does a much better job of delving into the personal turmoil of the main character, as well as relating that inner turmoil to the larger story. I did have to listen to Ruocchio's synopses of the previous books on Youtube to remind me of some of the crucial events, but that was no big deal. This is a great series and I can't imagine giving gup on it. The fun part is we already know how it's going to end, but we don't exactly know how it's going to end. This book just adds to Hadrian's motivation, adding a little piece of the puzzle, as to how Hadrian will be the hero/villain he's set himself up to be. Exciting and a fun read, with Ruocchio's trademark prose, this was a four-star book for me up until the very end, with an ending that I really wasn't expecting.
Ashes of Man was one of my most anticipated books this year. So when I revived an ARC from Netgalley, I was so happy. And it did not disappoint.
Everything I love about Sun Eater is in this book. Quiet retrospective character moments, excellent prose, fantastic world-building, and explosive action.
I will definitely do a reared on audio when it comes out because I miss Roukin's voice.
9/10
Another amazing chapter in the epic sci fi masterpiece.
The prose, the characters, the plot, the battles....and the emotions. Carried over from Kingdoms of Death, the story continues at break neck pace. Different, but dark in its own way, we see the toils of war and the toil it takes on a man.
Started this and could not put it down. Cannot wait for Disquiet Gods...Book 6 of the Sun Eater.
5 STARS
This fifth installment of Sun Eater is everything you could want after Kingdoms of Death. It's probably the two books I feel benefit the most from being split (that I've read). Ashes of Man was able to deliver breathing space and emotional beats and a bit more of a ramp up to the next thing after all the crazy events of Kingdoms of Death.
I think I liked the climax of Kingdoms of Death more, but the falling action in this book is some of the stuff I've liked the most in the entire series. This book is harrowing and emotional, but still has epic space battles and pew-pews and laser swords. The characters in this series continue to grow and interest me in new ways, and Hadrian is so old now and been through so much that he feels like a new character from where we started, but in a believable, earned way. I also think this book has Ruocchio's best prose to date; it is extremely well written.
9/10
