Ashes of Man

Sun Eater, Book 5

De: Christopher Ruocchio

Narrado por: Samuel Roukin

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.

©2022 Christopher Ruocchio (P)2022 Recorded Books

Too few Science Fantasy series

This series really captures the feelings of epic fantasy in a sci-fi setting. Much like Dune, without feeling excessively derivative. Though the inspiration of Dune, Kingkiller Chronicles and Warhammer 40k are apparent, this world stands on its own, and Hadrian Marlowe is fast becoming one of my favorite hero/anti heros

Best Book in Series to Date

This has been my favorite books to date, the story was always progressing without unnecessary lag. Great voice acting as always and compelling narrative, can’t wait for #6 & #7

Heartbreakingly Amazing

I have rarely ever read a space opera that has been so moving. From the very beginning of this series the reader has known where this story goes, but you do not know how the journey unfolds. this entry was simply put, fantastic. do yourself a favor and read this book series. it is a masterclass of science fiction.

great world building

a great series that paints an amazing picture. each book builds on the last and doesn't feel out of place. a very fun read

rich world and character building

the narrator is a perfect fit for this series it is well written with rich characters and grand scenes

Moved the story along but slow at times

Definitely not the best of the series. Felt like a lot of the stakes were not as high and many side characters felt annoying

Love and Frustration

This book is so good, but is the most frustrating of the series (in the best way). I’m so committed to this main character and story.

My heart

I could see it coming and was still not ready for it. Two more books to go. ;_;

Hadrian Marlowe has emotional trauma

4/5 stars. The general pattern of the last three books continues here. Hadrian recovers from his previous battles, dealing with the new information/ailments that he has garnered along the way as he waxes philosophical about his life’s choices, then he is sent on a mission for the Emperor that results in calamity, capture, destruction, etc. Overall, this story felt lonely, having followed after Kingdoms of Death – the darkest and most profound of the books so far, and was slower-paced than the previous three. Not to give the impression that I disliked this book, but there were even more difficult moments in this story than in the last one. Hadrian’s story is one of emotional upheaval and personal self-destruction at times. He is a wonderful character, but not a very good person. His path has become increasingly darker and his response to that has been, in many instances, the emotional response of a 15-year old, in spite of his centuries of life. The scope of Hadrian’s story and his lifespan as a Palatine are, at times, overwhelming to the reader, but satisfactory in the genre of science fiction. Speaking of which, there is some science to this fiction, but it is limited and the story feels more like fantasy but on a grander and more epic scale – in space.
I have had issues at times in these books with the historical context and the use of Earth’s history, at times accurate and at other times manufactured by the author to meet his needs. Ruocchio is an excellent writer and has certainly grown as a storyteller since Empire of Silence but there are still moments as I am reading when I feel he is overly pretentious.
With all of that being said, this series is one of the best stories that I have ever read and I highly recommend it! Everyone should read this series, but especially those who enjoy a broad, darkly epic fantasy/sci-fi like Game of Thrones, Dune, Book of the New Sun, or Hyperion.
I also listened to parts of this book on Audible and the narrator, Samuel Roukin, does a very good job with the characters, although he has a deep British accent that can be difficult at times. Nevertheless, the audiobook is also highly recommended!

Incredible sequel in a spectacular series

If you’ve made it this far, you already know how masterful a storyteller and writer is Christopher Ruocchio. He does not disappoint in the least with this one. The slow sections are just as gripping as the heartstopping action scenes, and there continue to be bold narrative choices in this ultimate high stakes game.

Roukin matches Ruocchio’s quality with his incredible narration, with his accrue understanding of Hadrian’s character and voice. It is the perfect match of material and voice actor—bravo!!