Queen Amid Ashes

By: Christopher Ruocchio

Narrated by: Samuel Roukin

THOUGH THE BATTLE TO SAVE A PLANET IS OVER, THE WAR NEVER ENDS.

Hadrian Marlowe is newly a knight of the galaxy-spanning Sollan Empire: a hero who they say slew the alien Prince Aranata Otiolo in single combat; a man they say no man or xenobite can kill.

Acting on the Emperor’s orders, Hadrian has come to the desert planet Thagura and driven off the Cielcin invaders, rescuing in the process the Lady Gadar Malyan, Baroness of that entire world.

But not all the fighting is ended. Pockets of inhuman resistance remain on the desert world, and Hadrian the Halfmortal must soon do battle with not only the man-eating alien barbarians, but with something just as terrible: man’s own inhumanity to man.

©2022 Christopher Ruocchio (P)2022 Recorded Books

Decent story that drags at the end

Interesting story that finds a matured Hadrian losing more innocence in the galaxy. More information about the Cielsin and the Empire. The story itself is fairly straightforward and feels like an episode of a TV Show. The major twist is found about 50-60% through and the resolution drags a bit. Worth a shot though if you’re committed to reading the whole series and getting maximum enjoyment in sequence

Incredible

This is another great story by Ruocchio. Can not recommend this series enough. Check it out!

fantastic

really enjoyed this small entry to the series. it really shows how deadly the enemy is. while also showing how deadly humans can be.

another interesting Sun Eater tale!

As always Samuel Roukin is brill!! Getting to see so much of the Cielcin ways....fascinating.

Solid short story

On point with the rest of the material. I got through the main books and went back for everything I could get. I am glad I did.

Great Storytelling, Themes, and Prose

Christopher Ruocchio hits another home run with this wonderful addition to his Sun Eater Universe. This is my favorite thing he has written outside of the main novels. It has an exciting plot. It expands the world. It gives hints of future events. And it develops the characters by making them wrestle with the concept of justice and ends justifying the means and how that fits into the larger scope of Hadrian's story from the main series. Also you get more insight into the Cielcin that is horrifying. Don't sleep on Sun Eater and don't sleep on the accompanying novellas.

Impactful interlude

This is a solid hundred-page Sun Eater story that's a worthy addition to the saga, but it really really really should be read in its chronological order after Howling Dark and not when I did it after Kingdoms of Death (due to waiting for the paperback and audiobook to come out). Hadrian and co go through a lot in Demon in White and KoD, so going backwards in time to this earlier Hadrian felt like backtracking for me as the reader when I really am just craving the next future installment to see how things progress.

As with all the Sun Eater books, it is written exquisitely with a never-ending stream of interesting first-person reflections (on humanity, on the unknowable Other, on the beastly Other, on morality, on the cosmos, and plenty more). Samuel Roukin's narration is superb!

Being a side story it necessarily lacks the suspense and tension of the main novels, but I don't think Ruocchio could write a poor story if he tried.

Good quick story

Good bridge for books 2 and 3. Story helps paint clear what the enemy is actually like and how evil they are

Amazing!

If you love science fiction than you need to read Christopher Ruocchio. The characters are so rich and he is able to tell an epic tale but with such a personal intimate experience. I cannot recommend this author enough.

Great novella

This was a great novella. What a fun little side story. Definitely going to be reading these as I go along!