Howling Dark by Christopher Ruocchio

Now in paperback, the second 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. Hadrian Marlowe is lost. For half a century, he has searched the farther suns for the lost planet of Vorgossos, hoping to discover a way to contact the elusive alien Cielcin. He has pursued false leads for years among the barbarian Normans as captain of a band of mercenaries, but Hadrian remains determined to make peace and bring an end to nearly four hundred years of war. Desperate to find answers, Hadrian must venture beyond the security of the Sollan Empire and among the Extrasolarians who dwell between the stars. There, he will face not only the aliens he has come to offer peace, but contend with creatures that once were human, with traitors in his midst, and with a meeting that will bring him face to face with no less than the oldest enemy of mankind. If he succeeds, he will usher in a peace unlike any in recorded history. If he fails, the galaxy will burn.

When asked to describe the Sun Eater series the best description I can come up with is epic Space Opera in the style of Rothfuss. The prose here is gorgeous, in a kind of reflective journal style similar to that used in Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicles. At the same time we have the galaxy spanning conflict between the alien Cielcin and humanity, giving the epic space opera elements.

With the Cielcin, Ruocchio has created an enemy that is both relatable and extremely alien at the same time. The central plot in this novel is an attempt by our main protagonist and chronicler, Hadrian Marlowe, to broker a peace between the species. The world that Hadrian lives in has seen a large part of humanity reject technology, especially AI and human enhancement based technologies, but other people exist on the fringe of human society which has openly embraced this. In order to make contact with the Cielcin Harlowe has to find one of these cyber enhanced societies, and that is what the first part of the story deals with. The second half follows the fall out of the negotiations.

There are few space operas that are more epic in scale than this. Ruocchio's world deserves to be known better than it is - this is just such a huge scale. It is beautifully realised and beautifully told. I am looking forward to continuing this story!

Just an absolutely amazing adventure. This series hooks me in such a special way that I can understand why for some it might not be as great as I find it to be, but I love it all the same. It scratches a very specific itch that I didn't know was possible in media and I'm very excited to keep listening on.