A review by josiah17
Kingdoms of Death by Christopher Ruocchio

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Perhaps the most aptly titled book ever? That was dark, likely the darkest book I have ever read. And it's a complete masterpiece of misery. It might even be better than Demon in White, a top ten SFF book for me. Not sure yet though.

"I had defied the Prince of Princes, and all would see the consequences of that defiance.”

The beginning of this book wasn't actually very captivating, which was surprising coming off the triumph of Demon in White. (Picking this up after Wind and Truth definitely played a part in that too). But as soon as Hadrian reaches the Commonwealth, I was incredibly immersed and intrigued. The book never lets up. So many dark, unsettling twists and turns. More bone-chilling cinematic moments. Time spent in a deeply disturbing totalitarian society, which I almost thought could rival the treachery of the Cielcin. The book quickly put that thought to rest. The amount of times I had to pause my reading to process the heinous things happening on the page. I have never been so utterly disgusted and distraught. It's hard to convey just how difficult it was to read at times. You didn't have to be so cruel mister Ruocchio. (Also gotta say that said cruelty felt kinda gratuitous at times, mostly in the latter half with character deaths. But one must consider the impossible odds and forces faced, so it simultaneously makes sense).

"Time is the Mercy of Eternity, or so the poets say. But the mind makes Eternity of Time. When Milton's monster said the mind might make heaven of hell, it was the father of lies who spoke those words-the very devil whose image my ancestors took for their sign. Great though the mind may be, even in its capacity for self-deception, it has limits. No mind can make heaven of hell, not even mine. You cannot dream your way out of prison, not truly, nor think your way from the camps. No one would say to those suffering under the Lothriad that they could simply imagine a better world. It is one thing to tell the slaves of the Cielcin to shoulder their burdens and fight to survive, quite another to tell them to imagine they wear no chains."

Though there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel after the climax, which takes place a little earlier than you would anticipate. This was all very welcoming after the onslaught of pain endured. A beautiful, bittersweet ending.

Previously I have expressed one of my main criticisms of the series and Ruocchio's writing is the lack of compelling side characters besides Valka and Gibson. But he's obviously doing something right because he made me emotional on several occasions in this book. I believe that's proof of quality character writing, even if it didn't feel evident beforehand. And I think Ruocchio was able to evoke such emotion because of Hadrian's brilliant narration and his own immense devastation as well.

"In writing, I dissolved my madness and my sorrow both, for it is the peculiar nature of words to trap feelings larger than themselves, and so reduce those forces and passions which might overthrow us to objects we can handle and name. Sorrow. Grief. Fear. Pain."

This book has a ton of incredible worldbuilding too. The Sun Eater universe proceeds to leave me in awe so often. Ruocchio just continue to impress, four books in, with marvelous worldbuilding and sheer depth and fascinating lore. This world is so rich, simply such a joy to spend time reading in it. He's crafted something truly special, truly ingenious.

Altogether, such an amazing, powerful book. So much excellence and impressive writing. I continue to be so enamored by Ruocchio's prose and the story of Hadrian Marlowe. I say this seemingly after every Sun Eater review, but I cannot wait to see what comes next for the Halfmortal.

"The future?" I echoed her words, shook my head. "No. Not like you think. I remember time. Things that haven't happened, or won't. And things that might happen." I tried not to think about the water, about how I failed. The vision was gone completely then, no possibility flickered on the edge of human sight. "If I try, I can choose what happens. Just for a moment."

The witch blinked at me, gray eyes like the shutters of camera eyes. "The beam. On Berenike. You're saying you can perceive the possible world states and... collapse the waveform how you choose?"

I told her I did not know, but her eyes grew wide. I know now. The ancient mystes teach us that-unobserved-light acts like a wave, that it is the eye of the beholder that collapses light into coherent beams of energy. So it is with all things. So it is that all conscious observers collapse the potential universe, condense reality, make history with their eyes. It is only that my eyes-my mind-sees more than other men.
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