A review by sibley
Howling Dark by Christopher Ruocchio

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“Better the reassuring fable than the clinical truth. Fables are more real than reality…. By this fact of human nature and belief, we are made larger than ourselves: some better, some worse, some only more complicated. Thus two and two is made five, and so we grow beyond ourselves.”

What. A. Sequel!!
Book one was already great, but this follow-up blew it out of the water! Our favorite melodramatic collar-popper is back, a bit older and more mature, but still thoughtful and brimming with brash charisma. Compared to the long prologue that was Empire of Silence, Howling Dark is the action-packed, emotionally complex, and often terrifying origin story of the legendary figure known as Hadrian Halfmortal. The plot kicks off with a bang and drags you across the universe without giving you a moment to buckle your seatbelt. Not to mention all of the moral conundrums and philosophical ponderings you’ll find along the way. This is truly a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and your mind echoing the beautiful prose for months to come.

Read it! I’ll be moving on to book 3 immediately.

Reactions:
- I think the first chapter gave me whiplash. Ngl, I had to make sure I was actually reading book 2.
- JINAN?? Um ok then, I guess she and Hadrain are cute together.... Did Hadrian just give up on Valka? XD There's definitely some (jealousy?) tension between Jinan and Valka though.
- Forget Valka and Jinan. Hadrian x swanky high collar trench coat is the best ship.
- Hadrian's got JOKES now?! This man literally just went "That guy's so fat he has his own gravity." I adore him omg.
- The Painted Man is my sleep paralysis demon.
- Hadrian vs. The Painted Man was so unnecessarily epic. XD "Yes, I am dramatic!" *proceeds to drop big box on Painted Man's head*.
- Bassander isn't wrong, but I still don't like him.
- Hadrian x Jinan was kinda growing on me, but not anymore. The way she refused to support him.... Did Jinan even know Hadrian at all?? Obviously the mission is the most important thing in his life and he's a total wildcard. Of course he'd ditch them to continue on. Hadrian may have pulled the trigger on their relationship, but Jinan loaded the gun.
- (Is it Hadrian x Valka time now?)
- "Your past is broken." PLEASE EXPLAIN.
- Kharn Sagara... is creepy.
- Brethren: HADRIAN YOU ARE THE CHOSEN ONE.
- Brethren shows Hadrian a vision of him in fugue aboard the Eurynasir? A green flash and everyone disappeared??? Is that why his past is broken? Did the Quiet interfere already?
- EEEEE Hadrian and Valka forced bonding in prison!!! 
- I hate Bassander Lin. Also OUCH that Jinan reunion hurt.
- SWITCH NO. DId NOT see that coming. 0.0 Breaks my heart, but 
- The Cielcin are horrifying and negotiations are falling apart. I've got a bad feeling about this....
- I hate Bassander Lin (x2).
- RIP Smythe, you were awesome.
- HADRIAN IS DEAD?!?! Oh no, he's fine... somehow. My brain hurts.
- Hadrian needs to stop losing his sword... he's giving me anxiety here. And Valka has asked him "Are you okay?" like ten times in this book istg. XD
- Another surprisingly happy ending? (Other than that excruciating goodbye to Switch) I love how Hadrian's main thought after hearing he's being knighted is "Suck it, Dad!"