Far in the distant future, long after the human race has spread itself among the stars and rebuilt itself after being nearly wiped out in a war against artificial intelligence, and the Earth was lost, Christopher Ruocchio’s Sun Eater series recounts the life story of Hadrian Marlowe – a noble, a knight, the Half-mortal, the man who destroyed a sun.
The world of Sun Eater is an intriguing mix of refined, futuristic idealism and barbaric practices that feel more in line with the Victorian era. In many ways, it reminds me of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series (which you should also read). While technology has allowed humankind to travel faster than light, granted the ability to put individuals in a state of suspended sleep known as “fugue” to keep them from aging during long travels, much of the known universe is ruled on one hand by the Sollan Empire and its leader – Emperor William the Twenty-Third of the House Avent, Firstborn Son of the Earth, Guardian of the Solar System, King of Avalon, Lord Sovereign of the Kingdom of Windsor-in-Exile, Prince Imperator of the Arms of Orion, of Sagittarius, of Perseus, and Centaurus, Magnarch of Orion; Conqueror of Norma, Grand Strategos of the Legions of the Sun, Supreme Lord of the Cities of Forum, North Star of the Constellations of the Blood Palatine, Defender of the Children of Men, and Servant of the Servants of Earth (yes, that is his full title) – and on the other by the Terran Chantry, the powerful holy church with tendrils in nearly all matters, both in the light and hidden in the shadows. With gene-editing technology, nobles have far longer lifespans than we currently have, but at the expense of requiring the emperor’s approval to have children. Fans of Greek mythology and Arthurian Legend will love finding all of the nods and inspiration that have found their way into these books.
Recommended reading order according to the author:
Empire of SilenceThe Lesser Devil (Novella)Howling DarkQueen Amid Ashes (Novella)Tales of the Sun Eater, vol.1 (Novella)Demon in WhiteTales of the Sun Eater, vol.2 (Novella)Kingdoms of DeathAshes of ManTales of the Sun Eater, vol.3 (Novella)The Dregs of Empire (Novella)Tales of the Sun Eater, vol.4 (Novella)Disquiet GodsShadows Upon Time
On the topic of the books themselves, the seven that comprise the main series are all told through the words of Hadrian himself, long after the events have occurred, as he writes his history. Right from the start, readers are told where this story will eventually conclude: Hadrian blowing up a sun, a planet, and an alien race. Just as with any part of history, the journey and events are always far more complex, or potentially completely different, than what is believed to be common knowledge, and dispelling the myths around his life and revealing the secret events behind the scenes is the aim of the wise Marlowe, who is setting the record straight. This is a series more about the journey than the ultimate destination.
Hadrian, as a character, falls into the camp as one forced to take on a mantle he does not want, but is destined to for. At times, he will make seemingly stupid decisions that will make you shout at the pages, and in the next breath, you will be cheering him on or weeping for him. Christopher Ruocchio grew up as a Roman Catholic, and for readers who are sensitive to religious imagery, both subtle and overt (the cover of the final book shows Hadrian with his arms outstretched in a less-than-subtle pose). I never found the series to be overly preachy, but describing Hadrian – on a very basic and high level – as “What if Jesus was a Jedi” crept into my mind on several occasions, but this is a science fiction-forward tale with space battles and planet-sized spaceships. And one of the strongest offerings in recent memory for the genre, to
How to Read the Books in Order
1. Empire of Silence
Right from the earliest pages of Empire of Silence, series protagonist Hadrian Marlowe tells us where and how this saga will end – with the death of a star, the killing of billions, and Hadrian’s fall. But before all of that, Hadrian was just the son of a nobleman who dreamed of becoming a scholar (referred to as a Scholiast in the time of the Sollan Empire), but some things just aren’t meant to be. This first book recounts his early days and tribulations, from living on the streets to being a gladiator and back into high society.
Over the course of the 36 years that Empire of Silence takes place over, Hadrian will meet many of his beloved friends who will continue to follow and support him in the trying times to come. Even with that support, though, danger is never too far from the young Marlowe, and while the threat of the war against the feral and primal pale Cielcin is still a great distance away, its presence is always looming silently in the dark.
2. Howling Dark
Picking up 47 actual years after the events of the first novel (but only 12 living years for Hadrian) after navigating his way off of Emesh and out of the House of Mataro, Hadrian sets out with his Red Company to find a way to bring the Cielcin to the table and bring about an end to galaxy-spanning war. To achieve his goal, he will go directly up against the wishes of the Sollan Empire, risking the lives of his friends in the process. Horrors lurk in the dark, and the name and tales of the “Half-Mortal” begin here. What would you do if you met a hero from the stories you heard growing up?
The entirety of Howling Dark spans eight years of Marlowe’s long history, though, in terms of aging, Hadrian is 35 throughout the book.
3. Demon in White
284 years after the conclusion of the previous novel, Hadrian Marlowe is now a man of 113, and his exploits and the moniker “Half-Mortal” continue to spread throughout the galaxy, and those same exploits have earned him a personal invitation from the Emperor himself. But, much like everything in Hadrian’s life, there is always more lying just under the surface than it appears. Sent on impossible missions and serving as the personal tutor of Alexander, the emperor’s very own son, all while trying to uncover more of the secrets about the mysterious “Quiet”.
The events of Demon in White span 190 years, with Hadrian being 174 years old when the book concludes.
4. Kingdoms of Death
Just over 300 years after Demon in White, Hadrian is called out of his exile and given another near-impossible task by Emperor William – to negotiate and earn the support of the Lothrian Commonwealth. What transpires will result in some of the darkest days for the Half-Mortal and leave him a changed man. This book is perhaps the most brutal of the series, so hold onto your seats.
Kingdoms of Death recounts the events of the 83 years from 17006 ISD to 17089 ISD.
5. Ashes of Man
After eight years of rest and recovering, following the horrific events of Kingdoms of Death, Ashes of Man begins with Hadrian being pulled back once more into the fray, only to discover not only a new threat devised by the Extrasolarians, but also even more secrets of both the Watchers and the Quiet. While carrying out an order to meet with the Emperor, who is on tour in the outer systems, Hadrian will reunite with old friends and enemies, but the cost of his re-entering the fray will be high.
The events of Ashes of Man take place over the course of 38 years, but only two years in Hadrian’s long life.
6. Disquiet Gods
More than 250 years have passed since Hadrian left the Empire and sought asylum in the systems of Jadd, and with Hadrian now more than 600 years old, a summons by his longtime friend and ally, the Emperor William, along with a full pardon, puts the Half-mortal back on the gameboard. After a research team on a far-off Sollan world stumbles on the ruins of an ancient Watcher-worshipping race, Hadrian is put on a path directly in the way of the Watchers, but a new weapon may just prove that these ancient beings can be killed.
63 years pass over the course of Disquiet Gods, with Hadrian 626 years old at the conclusion.
7. Shadows Upon Time
It has been 41 years since Hadrian’s failure against the Watchers, but the time of Hadrian Marlowe earning the title of “Sun Eater” has at long last arrived. The moment in which he will destroy the Cielcin, Gododin, and its Sun. Armed with the powerful weapons of the past and standing with the last few allies he has left, Hadrian will need to fend off not only the Watchers, but the Chantry and members of the Sollan Empire that would rather see him dead. The tale that Hadrian began telling us in Empire of Silence has reached its conclusion.
This final book details 23 years of actual time with Hadrian, during which he ages only 21 years, resulting in him being 687 years old at the end, though the age of the version of Hadrian recounting his story is alluded to as being far older.
Additional Novellas
In addition to the main books, smaller novellas and collections flesh out and expand on moments only hinted at. These tales both further fill in events involving Hadrian Half-mortal, along with others that fill in details of events hinted at in the books involving side characters. For those who want to dive even further into this universe that Ruocchio has created.
The Lesser Devil
The Lesser, set between the events of the first two books, shifts the story from Marlowe to another, with Hadrian’s younger brother, Crispin, taking center stage. With rumors of ill-actors within the ducal court of Delos poised to take down the Marlowe house, only Crispin and the small handful of survivors from a trap that nearly cost him his life can put an end to it. It’s time for the younger brother to step out of the shadows of the man who will be the Half-mortal.
Queen Amid Ashes
Set after Howling Dark, Hadrian is tasked by the Emperor to deal with a Cielcin invasion on a far-off desert world, but when he arrives he discovers things are worse than they first seemed. Having to rescue the baroness of the world and deal with threats of both the Cielcin and humans alike, Hadrian and his Red Company will have to find a way to succeed in an impossible situation—just another day for Hadrian Marlowe.
The Dregs of Empire
If there were one man who was on par (or better) than Marlowe at pulling off the impossible, it would be the short intus, Lorian Aristides. After assisting Hadrian in escaping at the end of Ashes of Men and assuming responsibility, this is Lorian’s tale of how he managed to escape from the prison planet of Belucia. The harshest prison world in the whole Sollan Empire, and a seemingly death sentence for one as frail as Lorian, but Belucia has never had the honor of “hosting” the Good Commander of Red Company before.
Tales of the Sun Eater vol. 1-4
The volumes of Tales of the Sun Eater feature collections of stories that offer smaller but detailed looks at events and characters who also live among the same stars as Marlowe himself. For those who can’t get enough of the universe and lore that Ruochhio has crafted, the Tales of the Sun Eater will satiate your appetite for more.
Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games, books, and guide coverage. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.
