Shadows upon Time

Sun Eater, Book 7

The seventh and final novel of the galaxy-spanning series merges the best of space opera and epic fantasy, as Hadrian Marlowe at last lights the greatest fire humanity has ever seen

Ambitious universe-building combines with intimate character portraits for storytelling on a truly epic scale—for fans of Orson Scott Card, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Patrick Rothfuss, and Jack Campbell

The trumpet sounds.

The end has come at last. After his victory at Vorgossos, Hadrian Marlowe finds himself a fugitive, on the run not only from the Extrasolarians, but from his own people, the Sollan Empire he betrayed—and who betrayed him. Hidden safely beyond the borders of human space, Hadrian awaits the arrival of the one ally he has left: the Jaddian Prince Kaim-Olorin du Otranto.

What's more, the inhuman Cielcin have vanished, unseen for more than one hundred years. The armies of men have grown complacent, but Hadrian knows the truth: the Cielcin are gathering their strength, preparing for their final assault against the heart of all mankind.

Only Hadrian possesses the power to stem the tide: an ancient war machine, forged by the daimon machines at the dawn of time. The mighty Demiurge. With it, Hadrian must face not just the Cielcin horde, but their Prophet-King, and the dark gods it serves—the very gods who shaped the universe itself.

This must be.

©2025 Christopher Ruocchio (P)2025 Recorded Books

This Must Be

Unbelievably satisfying ending to one of my favorite series across all media. Can’t believe how much I liked this book especially considering the peaks of the other books but Ruocchio stuck the landing and cemented this series in the annals of science fiction history.

Probably Best of All-Time

This book, and the entire series, is probably one of the best works of all-time. A magnificent human achievement in consciousness and imagination. Roukin's narration brings the dimensionality component, absolutely perfect. What more can be said to convey the message that this book/series is one of the best things a mind can engage in?

Stunning conclusion

An immensely emotional finale to a treasured series that’s quite the perfect capstone for me. I think this series will stand the test of time, and not least because of the performance of a lifetime given by Samuel Roukin to bring it all to such vivid life. Bravo!!

Incredible Finale

6/5 masterpiece. Book of the year. Amazing conclusion. Satisfying. S tier prose and character interactions.

Ruocchio sticks the landing perfectly in this entry.

Epic science fantasy at its absolute grandest and most imaginative. Every bit as epic and visionary as its contemporaries, surpassing them all in many ways all its own.