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The Sun Eater #1.5
The Lesser Devil
CAN THE YOUNGEST SON OF A NOBLE HOUSE SAVE HIS FAMILY FROM A PLOT GENERATIONS IN THE MAKING? Crispin Marlowe grew up in his brother’s shadow, but Hadrian is gone, and his grandmother—the duchess of Delos—is dying. Answering her summons, Crispin takes off on what should be a routine flight to the ducal palace from the castle at Devil’s Rest. But he is flying into a trap. There are whispers of treachery among the duchess’s many daughters, rumors of hidden knives in the planet’s court . . . if he can even make it there. With no one coming to save him and only his sister, Sabine, and a few injured guardsmen to protect him, House Marlowe’s least famous son must make his heroic stand, and contend not only the foes arrayed against his house, but with the cultists who dwell in the mountains above his family’s ancestral home . . . . PRAISE FOR THE LESSER "A deep and vividly told story that promises an even larger epic in the main body of the series. It's science fiction in the vein and legacy of Dune with its own satisfying voice." – R.R. Virdi, Two-Time Dragon Award-Finalist, Nebula-Finalist, Amazon Bestselling Author PRAISE FOR CHRISTOPHER "Empire of Silence is epic science fiction at its most genuinely epic. Ruocchio has made something fascinating here, and I can't wait to see what he does next." —James S.A. Corey, New York Times-bestselling author of The Expanse novels “Empire of Silence is a rich tapestry of future history and worldbuilding, a galactic-sized story of a hero, a tyrant, but portrayed as a man.” —Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times-bestselling author of The Dark Between the Stars "Space opera fans will savor the rich details of Ruocchio’s far-future debut, which sets the scene for a complicated series.... Readers who like a slow-building story with a strong character focus will find everything they’re looking for in this series opener." —Publishers Weekly "Although stretched across a vast array of planets, the story line is often more focused on the intimate than on the expanse, giving it a wonderful emotional punch. This wow book is a must for fans of Pierce Brown and Patrick Rothfuss." —Library Journal (starred review)
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2020
372 people are currently reading
7686 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Ruocchio
50 books4,825 followersChristopher Ruocchio is the author of The Sun Eater, a space opera fantasy series, as well as the Assistant Editor at Baen Books, where he has co-edited four anthologies. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University, where he studied English Rhetoric and the Classics. Christopher has been writing since he was eight and sold his first novel, Empire of Silence, at twenty-two. To date, his books have been published in five languages.
Christopher lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, Jenna. He may be found on both Facebook and Twitter with the handle ‘TheRuocchio.’
Christopher lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, Jenna. He may be found on both Facebook and Twitter with the handle ‘TheRuocchio.’
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 850 reviews
October 15, 2023
The Lesser Devil is an action-packed spin-off novel that offers readers the chance for a more extensive dive into the mind of Crispin Marlowe.
I have made it crystal clear since I finished Empire of Silence, the first book in The Sun Eater series, a few weeks ago that I am determined to read every book in Christopher Ruocchio’s epic space opera series. And when I spoke that statement confidently, I didn’t mean just reading the main novels, but reading the spin-off novels, novellas, and collections of short stories, too. The Lesser Devil has often been marked as a novella by many readers, and although I understand why, I do not think it is accurate. At almost 60k words, it is more precise to categorize The Lesser Devil as a short novel instead of a novella. I will proceed with this review by marking The Lesser Devil as a novel.
Chronologically, The Lesser Devil takes place in the middle of Empire of Silence. The story in this novel revolves around Crispin Marlowe, Hadrian’s younger brother. Crispin Marlowe grew up in his brother’s shadow, but Hadrian is gone, and his grandmother—the Duchess of Delos—is dying.
Answering her summons, Crispin takes off on what should be a routine flight to the ducal palace from the castle at Devil’s Rest. But he is flying into a trap. There are whispers of treachery among the duchess’s many daughters, rumors of hidden knives in the planet’s court . . . if he can even make it there.
With no one coming to save him and only his sister, Sabine, and a few injured guardsmen to protect him, House Marlowe’s least famous son must make his heroic stand, and contend not only the foes arrayed against his house, but with the cultists who dwell in the mountains above his family’s ancestral home.
Picture: The Lesser Devil and Other Stories by Kieran Yanner
The Lesser Devil is the first spin-off novel in The Sun Eater series, and even though it is possible to read and start your journey with this series here, I still highly recommend you to read Empire of Silence first. The best thing about reading The Lesser Devil is, as I said, to get a deeper insight into the inner thoughts and emotions of Crispin's. And to reap the maximum result, it is required to read Ruocchio's debut novel first, in my opinion. Crispin has always been portrayed as a brute addicted to violence and power by Hadrian in Empire of Silence. By reading Empire of Silence first, we readers can feel the contrast and depth of Crispin’s feelings more, and we will succeed at understanding the value of his brotherhood with Hadrian further despite everything that has happened between them. There is more to Crispin. So much more.
I found it interesting how Crispin keeps comparing himself to Hadrian in everything he does. If you have read Empire of Silence, you will know Hadrian has done the same thing. Hadrian kept thinking he was under the shadow of Crispin, who was more favored by Alastair Marlowe, their father. But Crispin kept thinking he lived under the shadow of Hadrian, his older and more intellectual older brother. It is a realistic depiction of how simple and complex brotherhood can be, and as someone with three brothers, I can certainly understand their conflicts in some way. However, in this case, Alastair Marlowe is hugely to blame for many things. Whether the sins of the father should be paid by his descendants is one of the key themes—together with religion and culture—discussed in The Lesser Devil. And, I must say, although Crispin and his feelings regarding Hadrian undoubtedly take the spotlight in this novel, it was great to see more of Kyra in The Lesser Devil.
Another big reason why I recommend readers to read Empire of Silence first is because The Lesser Devil is not an accurate representation of the main novels. It is a compelling novella; there’s no doubt about that. But was this as amazing as Empire of Silence? Not really. It is a short novel, not as impactful, and I feel it was longer than it should be. I did not expect The Lesser Devil to be this incredibly action-packed. There is nothing wrong with having a lot of detailed action scenes, but the pacing in this novel did suffer in several sections because of it. To put it simply, The Lesser Devil has more battle scenes compared to the entirety of Empire of Silence. Let that sink in. Empire of Silence is four times bigger than The Lesser Devil, and it has fewer battle scenes compared to it.
By the way, that “avenged sevenfold” in the passage above must be an ode to one of my favorite music bands of the same name: Avenged Sevenfold. I hope that's true, but let’s not get sidetracked. Time to finish this review. I would have preferred The Lesser Devil to feature more dialogues, introspective, and intimate moments while showcasing the beauty and elegance of Ruocchio’s prose like Empire of Silence did. Unlike Empire of Silence, The Lesser Devil is written in third-person POV narration. And as expected, The Lesser Devil was well-written. First-person or third-person POV narration, Ruocchio displayed the high quality of his prose brilliantly. And hey, I know one thing for sure. I cannot deny that reading The Lesser Devil made me miss Hadrian’s first-person narration vastly more.
With that in mind, I guarantee you it will not be long before I read Howling Dark, the second main novel in the series. For now, I am unclear whether this novel will become a significant installment in the series or not. But I did have a blast reading The Lesser Devil. Learning more about the Marlowe family and the universe of this epic-scope space opera series, even by a little, is a good thing for me. Regardless of its importance in the main series, which I will find out by reading the series further soon, I believe any fans of Empire of Silence and The Sun Eater should read The Lesser Devil. Howling Dark… Here I come.
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Biskit, Brad, Cade, Chris, Cullen, Dan, David, Dernerror, Donna, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Ellen, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Tori, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
I have made it crystal clear since I finished Empire of Silence, the first book in The Sun Eater series, a few weeks ago that I am determined to read every book in Christopher Ruocchio’s epic space opera series. And when I spoke that statement confidently, I didn’t mean just reading the main novels, but reading the spin-off novels, novellas, and collections of short stories, too. The Lesser Devil has often been marked as a novella by many readers, and although I understand why, I do not think it is accurate. At almost 60k words, it is more precise to categorize The Lesser Devil as a short novel instead of a novella. I will proceed with this review by marking The Lesser Devil as a novel.
“The river of Time flows in but one direction, and does not turn back.”
Chronologically, The Lesser Devil takes place in the middle of Empire of Silence. The story in this novel revolves around Crispin Marlowe, Hadrian’s younger brother. Crispin Marlowe grew up in his brother’s shadow, but Hadrian is gone, and his grandmother—the Duchess of Delos—is dying.
Answering her summons, Crispin takes off on what should be a routine flight to the ducal palace from the castle at Devil’s Rest. But he is flying into a trap. There are whispers of treachery among the duchess’s many daughters, rumors of hidden knives in the planet’s court . . . if he can even make it there.
With no one coming to save him and only his sister, Sabine, and a few injured guardsmen to protect him, House Marlowe’s least famous son must make his heroic stand, and contend not only the foes arrayed against his house, but with the cultists who dwell in the mountains above his family’s ancestral home.
Picture: The Lesser Devil and Other Stories by Kieran Yanner
The Lesser Devil is the first spin-off novel in The Sun Eater series, and even though it is possible to read and start your journey with this series here, I still highly recommend you to read Empire of Silence first. The best thing about reading The Lesser Devil is, as I said, to get a deeper insight into the inner thoughts and emotions of Crispin's. And to reap the maximum result, it is required to read Ruocchio's debut novel first, in my opinion. Crispin has always been portrayed as a brute addicted to violence and power by Hadrian in Empire of Silence. By reading Empire of Silence first, we readers can feel the contrast and depth of Crispin’s feelings more, and we will succeed at understanding the value of his brotherhood with Hadrian further despite everything that has happened between them. There is more to Crispin. So much more.
“He could hear Hadrian’s voice in his mind, There stand we all, little brother. Crispin smiled. He had always been the lesser devil. Always in Hadrian’s shadow, or his father’s. It had taken years, decades, to realize that it was this that had made him angry as a boy. This that had made him… whatever he’d been.”
I found it interesting how Crispin keeps comparing himself to Hadrian in everything he does. If you have read Empire of Silence, you will know Hadrian has done the same thing. Hadrian kept thinking he was under the shadow of Crispin, who was more favored by Alastair Marlowe, their father. But Crispin kept thinking he lived under the shadow of Hadrian, his older and more intellectual older brother. It is a realistic depiction of how simple and complex brotherhood can be, and as someone with three brothers, I can certainly understand their conflicts in some way. However, in this case, Alastair Marlowe is hugely to blame for many things. Whether the sins of the father should be paid by his descendants is one of the key themes—together with religion and culture—discussed in The Lesser Devil. And, I must say, although Crispin and his feelings regarding Hadrian undoubtedly take the spotlight in this novel, it was great to see more of Kyra in The Lesser Devil.
“I always felt like he was better than me… Our tutors liked him better. He learned faster, fought better, spoke better than I ever did. And he was older, so I was certain he was going to inherit the place.”
Another big reason why I recommend readers to read Empire of Silence first is because The Lesser Devil is not an accurate representation of the main novels. It is a compelling novella; there’s no doubt about that. But was this as amazing as Empire of Silence? Not really. It is a short novel, not as impactful, and I feel it was longer than it should be. I did not expect The Lesser Devil to be this incredibly action-packed. There is nothing wrong with having a lot of detailed action scenes, but the pacing in this novel did suffer in several sections because of it. To put it simply, The Lesser Devil has more battle scenes compared to the entirety of Empire of Silence. Let that sink in. Empire of Silence is four times bigger than The Lesser Devil, and it has fewer battle scenes compared to it.
“And they should be stopped… It isn’t the stopping them I object to. It isn’t even the fighting. It is the attitude towards the fighting. There is a difference. If you answer violence with violence, you will inherit violence without end. Whoever slays the killer quickly discovers that killers are avenged sevenfold.”
By the way, that “avenged sevenfold” in the passage above must be an ode to one of my favorite music bands of the same name: Avenged Sevenfold. I hope that's true, but let’s not get sidetracked. Time to finish this review. I would have preferred The Lesser Devil to feature more dialogues, introspective, and intimate moments while showcasing the beauty and elegance of Ruocchio’s prose like Empire of Silence did. Unlike Empire of Silence, The Lesser Devil is written in third-person POV narration. And as expected, The Lesser Devil was well-written. First-person or third-person POV narration, Ruocchio displayed the high quality of his prose brilliantly. And hey, I know one thing for sure. I cannot deny that reading The Lesser Devil made me miss Hadrian’s first-person narration vastly more.
“Cultures are always built on the bones of the cultures that come before.”
With that in mind, I guarantee you it will not be long before I read Howling Dark, the second main novel in the series. For now, I am unclear whether this novel will become a significant installment in the series or not. But I did have a blast reading The Lesser Devil. Learning more about the Marlowe family and the universe of this epic-scope space opera series, even by a little, is a good thing for me. Regardless of its importance in the main series, which I will find out by reading the series further soon, I believe any fans of Empire of Silence and The Sun Eater should read The Lesser Devil. Howling Dark… Here I come.
“You know, I always wanted to be like him. When I was a boy. He was always better than me. A better student, a better fighter, a better everything. He could be an ass… But I loved him—love him, I suppose. I don’t think he’s dead. But it did always seem like I was in his shadow, you know?”
“I do,” Laurent said, “but shadows shrink in time.”
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Biskit, Brad, Cade, Chris, Cullen, Dan, David, Dernerror, Donna, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Ellen, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Tori, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
April 17, 2020
Just a note for curious readers: You don't have to read Empire of Silence to understand this book, although you may get more out of it if you do. I wrote it to stand alone (and hopefully to get readers into the universe). It's set in the gap between Hadrian's departure from Delos and his arrival on Emesh, so neither Crispin nor anyone else on Delos has any idea what happened to Hadrian. It was the best way to do a Crispin story with as little Hadrian in it as possible.
I hope you like it. If it does well, I'd like to do more spin off books with other characters.
I hope you like it. If it does well, I'd like to do more spin off books with other characters.
August 2, 2021
Pretty cool novella about Hadrian's younger brother, Crispin. I wasn't sure what to expect from this story going in but it's very much a stand-alone entry to the Sun Eater world and I enjoyed it.
It's not quite on the level of the main entries to the series obviously, but it was enjoyable and I'm eager to see more from this world Ruocchio has created. Having only followed Hadrian so far, this gives us another perspective of a noble being forced into a situation they are not familiar and having to learn how to adjust to their new surroundings.
We get a nice bit of lore and world building, clearly to a smaller scale because it's a novella, and I would certainly be interested in following more stories from Crispin's POV.
It's not quite on the level of the main entries to the series obviously, but it was enjoyable and I'm eager to see more from this world Ruocchio has created. Having only followed Hadrian so far, this gives us another perspective of a noble being forced into a situation they are not familiar and having to learn how to adjust to their new surroundings.
We get a nice bit of lore and world building, clearly to a smaller scale because it's a novella, and I would certainly be interested in following more stories from Crispin's POV.
April 29, 2021
Having read Empire of Silence and Howling Dark I thought it was time to give Christopher Ruocchio's novella, The Lesser Devil, a chance since I was already a big fan of this world and his writing. It didn't disappoint, and I'm a little mad I didn't read it before I read Howling Dark. Of course it can be read any time after Empire of Silence to avoid spoilers, but the cool thing this novella does is tell an exciting self-contained story while adding a lot to the Sun Eater world to give it more depth.
We get the POV of Hadrian's younger brother Crispin. It was not only interesting to have a POV other than Hadrian, but in this case we get one that has a different perspective on many things in the world. That includes a different perspective on Hadrian himself, and how the world is viewed outside of Hadrian's head. Since Crispin is admittedly less learned than Hadrian Ruocchio uses this as a device to introduce some new world elements as Crispin learns about them. What happened to the religions of Old Earth? If they still exist in some form or fashion what does that look like? How do they co-exist from Chantry and how did the Chantry develop? The same thing for Old Earth languages like French, and the perspectives on the Cielcin and the current interstellar conflict.
There are also really exciting parts to this story where we get to see Crispin kicking ass. We get to see the energy lances, plasma burners, and all the cool sci fi weaponry at work. However, the real core of this story is how Crispin develops as a person based on learning new things and meeting these new characters that adhere to some old ways and religion. Also, we see him really becoming his own man different from both his father and his brother. It was an awful lot of good stuff packed into a novella. That's something that is difficult to do, an it's the reason I don't typically like the format. However, it was navigated more than successfully here.
I continue to highly recommend this series. Anyone who is a fan of fantasy and sci fi should be reading it.
We get the POV of Hadrian's younger brother Crispin. It was not only interesting to have a POV other than Hadrian, but in this case we get one that has a different perspective on many things in the world. That includes a different perspective on Hadrian himself, and how the world is viewed outside of Hadrian's head. Since Crispin is admittedly less learned than Hadrian Ruocchio uses this as a device to introduce some new world elements as Crispin learns about them. What happened to the religions of Old Earth? If they still exist in some form or fashion what does that look like? How do they co-exist from Chantry and how did the Chantry develop? The same thing for Old Earth languages like French, and the perspectives on the Cielcin and the current interstellar conflict.
There are also really exciting parts to this story where we get to see Crispin kicking ass. We get to see the energy lances, plasma burners, and all the cool sci fi weaponry at work. However, the real core of this story is how Crispin develops as a person based on learning new things and meeting these new characters that adhere to some old ways and religion. Also, we see him really becoming his own man different from both his father and his brother. It was an awful lot of good stuff packed into a novella. That's something that is difficult to do, an it's the reason I don't typically like the format. However, it was navigated more than successfully here.
I continue to highly recommend this series. Anyone who is a fan of fantasy and sci fi should be reading it.
July 4, 2024
4/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟! The Lesser Devil, a spin-off novella set in the Sun Eater world delves into the life of Crispin, Hadrian’s younger brother and the younger son of the house Marlowe. With Hadrian gone and his grandmother—the Duchess of Delos—dying, Crispin faces treachery, hidden knives, and catholic cultists as he takes a routine flight to the ducal palace from the castle at Devil’s Rest. But he is flying into a trap. Whispers of treachery among the duchess’s many daughters and rumors of hidden knives in the planet’s court add tension to the story. With no one coming to save him and only his sister, Sabine, and a few injured guardsmen to protect him, House Marlowe’s least famous son must make his heroic stand. Ruocchio weaves a deep and vividly told story that promises an even larger epic in the main series. I found this novella satisfying and engaging.
May 31, 2025
Talk about a wonderful surprise of a novella! Don't tell Hadrian, but I was already quite charmed by Crispin with all his petty sibling haughtiness in Empire of Silence, and I only loved him more here as a protagonist.
The contemplative first half was stronger for me than the hectic, action-packed second half, but overall I really enjoyed how The Lesser Devil brought more depth and nuance to the characters, the lore and history, and the political landscape of this series.
Also, how can you not like French in space?!
The contemplative first half was stronger for me than the hectic, action-packed second half, but overall I really enjoyed how The Lesser Devil brought more depth and nuance to the characters, the lore and history, and the political landscape of this series.
Also, how can you not like French in space?!
February 19, 2025
The Lesser Devil
The Lesser Devil is a novel in The Sun Eater saga that takes place between book 1 Empire of Silence and book 2 Howling Dark and in this novel we follow Crispin, Hadrien's younger brother who is sent by his father on a mission to meet with his grandmother and get some benefits for his house but of course not everything goes as planned and I have to say that when I read book 1 I hadn't really liked Crispin I found him very annoying but in this novel I managed to like him more I think here he had a very interesting development and the sandpaper that happens to him here deepens the layers of the character I hope that if he appears in the other books in the series that he adds a lot to the story because here he showed that he has a lot of potential I hope the author can develop him well and now it remains to read the other books in the series to see what will happen to this character and if he will be able to meet his brother Hadrien again but overall a good novel in this universe.
The Lesser Devil is a novel in The Sun Eater saga that takes place between book 1 Empire of Silence and book 2 Howling Dark and in this novel we follow Crispin, Hadrien's younger brother who is sent by his father on a mission to meet with his grandmother and get some benefits for his house but of course not everything goes as planned and I have to say that when I read book 1 I hadn't really liked Crispin I found him very annoying but in this novel I managed to like him more I think here he had a very interesting development and the sandpaper that happens to him here deepens the layers of the character I hope that if he appears in the other books in the series that he adds a lot to the story because here he showed that he has a lot of potential I hope the author can develop him well and now it remains to read the other books in the series to see what will happen to this character and if he will be able to meet his brother Hadrien again but overall a good novel in this universe.
February 3, 2023
Crispin just wanted to have a relationship with his big brother! Hadrian, you asshole 😭
I loved the description of the Chantry. Wonderful worldbuilding: “They wanted to venerate the first Emperor. Old King William. So they borrowed from old religions. Your prayers are Christian, your sacrifices are Hindu. Your architecture is Islamic, your icons pagan. Your scripture is plagiarism, and your canon is politics. And yes, the robes your Chanters wear are only imitations of this.” Still, slight irritation at the Marlowe privilege and arrogance aside, I loved this novella. And the French-Catholics!! I hope we see them again in future books.
Also Crispin >>>>>> Hadrian.
Maybe I'll love Hadrian more in the later books but for now, Crispin is my favourite 😁
I loved the description of the Chantry. Wonderful worldbuilding: “They wanted to venerate the first Emperor. Old King William. So they borrowed from old religions. Your prayers are Christian, your sacrifices are Hindu. Your architecture is Islamic, your icons pagan. Your scripture is plagiarism, and your canon is politics. And yes, the robes your Chanters wear are only imitations of this.” Still, slight irritation at the Marlowe privilege and arrogance aside, I loved this novella. And the French-Catholics!! I hope we see them again in future books.
Also Crispin >>>>>> Hadrian.
Maybe I'll love Hadrian more in the later books but for now, Crispin is my favourite 😁
September 13, 2024
3.5
(Post-it cuando vuelva a tener el libro en mis manos).
Primer relato ambientado en el mundo de Sun Eater. Pensé leerlo en un principio como historia 0 pero cuando me di cuenta que era cronológicamente un 1.5 y te hacia referencia de parte del primer libro, lo dejé para cuando lo hubiese acabado.
Sinceramente me encantó leer sobre este personaje sabiendo lo que ocurría en la historia principal. Siento que es bastante interesante, aunque desde un punto de vista de personalidad no sea del todo de mi agrado.
La historia ha estado bastante bien y muy intensa. He de admitir que está lleno de post-it pero he prestado el libro y me urgía la reseña. Ojalá en las siguientes entregas contemos con ellos. Me encantaría verlos.
(Post-it cuando vuelva a tener el libro en mis manos).
Primer relato ambientado en el mundo de Sun Eater. Pensé leerlo en un principio como historia 0 pero cuando me di cuenta que era cronológicamente un 1.5 y te hacia referencia de parte del primer libro, lo dejé para cuando lo hubiese acabado.
Sinceramente me encantó leer sobre este personaje sabiendo lo que ocurría en la historia principal. Siento que es bastante interesante, aunque desde un punto de vista de personalidad no sea del todo de mi agrado.
La historia ha estado bastante bien y muy intensa. He de admitir que está lleno de post-it pero he prestado el libro y me urgía la reseña. Ojalá en las siguientes entregas contemos con ellos. Me encantaría verlos.
November 13, 2024
Solid novella following Hadrian Marlowe's brother Crispin, set a few decades after his parting with Hadrian in Empire of Silence. I appreciated that Crispin felt like a three-dimensional character, after his two-dimensional treatment in Empire of Silence, and I also really enjoyed the world-building aspects of this story. The action sequences at the end felt a bit long, but overall this was an enjoyable novella. 3.5/5
July 4, 2021
The Lesser Devil is a self-contained story that focuses mainly on the character of Crispin, Hadrian's younger brother. His characterization is quite well-done, and his development was the central focus of this novella. The writing style is simpler and very easy to read while also feeling rich, with beautiful descriptions of old buildings and landscapes in particular. While I thought that some of the changes happened a tad too quickly, (in some part due to my lingering negative impression of Crispin from Hadrian's perspective in the Sun Eater books) the overall growth was handled well, given the shorter format.
It also has some interesting lore about the Chantry and the Old Earth religions and customs, and how they have changed and meshed over time. The way information was conveyed never felt excessive or out of place, especially since Crispin isn't a person who is very well versed in studies and knowledge about the history of the Empire, allowing for others to tell him about these things without feeling forced. The action scenes were tense and fast-paced, with all sorts of interesting technology like plasma blasters, energy shields, and high-matter swords in use, showing the variety of weaponry in this world and how they can be put to different purposes while fighting in different situations.
Overall, it's a short, quick, and fun read that focuses on the character growth of Crispin, as he becomes his own person with his own values, while also dealing with some of the politics of his family on Delos that weren't explored very deeply in Empire of Silence. It also briefly touches on themes of cycles of violence and power disparity between the plebeian and palatine classes, which I found interesting and would have liked to have seen it explored further.
7.5/10
It also has some interesting lore about the Chantry and the Old Earth religions and customs, and how they have changed and meshed over time. The way information was conveyed never felt excessive or out of place, especially since Crispin isn't a person who is very well versed in studies and knowledge about the history of the Empire, allowing for others to tell him about these things without feeling forced. The action scenes were tense and fast-paced, with all sorts of interesting technology like plasma blasters, energy shields, and high-matter swords in use, showing the variety of weaponry in this world and how they can be put to different purposes while fighting in different situations.
Overall, it's a short, quick, and fun read that focuses on the character growth of Crispin, as he becomes his own person with his own values, while also dealing with some of the politics of his family on Delos that weren't explored very deeply in Empire of Silence. It also briefly touches on themes of cycles of violence and power disparity between the plebeian and palatine classes, which I found interesting and would have liked to have seen it explored further.
7.5/10
October 27, 2023
A short novel about Hadrian's misunderstood(?) brother. It is well written, I actually enjoyed first 100 pages more than I enjoyed Empire of Silence because the book was showing how things have changed on Delos and third person narration was refreshing. But second half gets too predictable. Nevertheless, it was fascinating to see adult Crispin. He is perhaps... too likeable compared to what he was in EoS but maybe Hadrian had more influence on him than we thought.
He needs a therapy, though. This book takes place about 30 or even 40 years after Hadrian left Delos but Crispin still keeps thinking about him every chance he gets. I knew of father and mother issues, apparently Crispin has brother issues. If Hadrian wasn't mentioned so often I think it would only improve Crispin's story because it would have made him more independent.
I understand that the novel was written after EoS was sold but before it was published and so there was probably desire to connect it tighter to the main story but I really think it wasn't necessary to invoke his name in almost every chapter.
He needs a therapy, though. This book takes place about 30 or even 40 years after Hadrian left Delos but Crispin still keeps thinking about him every chance he gets. I knew of father and mother issues, apparently Crispin has brother issues. If Hadrian wasn't mentioned so often I think it would only improve Crispin's story because it would have made him more independent.
I understand that the novel was written after EoS was sold but before it was published and so there was probably desire to connect it tighter to the main story but I really think it wasn't necessary to invoke his name in almost every chapter.
February 28, 2024
4.5 stars—-
A great story for being only 200ish pages. I read Empire of Silence first so I was familiar with Crispin, but I hadn’t realized how similar he was to Hadrian in terms of human decency among the palatine (and how they treat the lower classes). Or it may be more accurate to say Crispin looks up to his brother more than Hadrian realizes and becomes more like him over the 30 year span between EoS and The Lesser Devil.
A great story for being only 200ish pages. I read Empire of Silence first so I was familiar with Crispin, but I hadn’t realized how similar he was to Hadrian in terms of human decency among the palatine (and how they treat the lower classes). Or it may be more accurate to say Crispin looks up to his brother more than Hadrian realizes and becomes more like him over the 30 year span between EoS and The Lesser Devil.
May 15, 2024
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I started Howling Dark, then noticed a 50 year gap between the first two books -> surely that missing time must be what the novella is about?
No, as it turns out.
Not related to Hadrian’s story at all, this novella gives a glimpse into the lives of side characters left behind early in Empire of Silence. Assuming those characters get some screen time later, this novella will come in handy adding some depth to draw on. I’m curious to see how the events in both corners of the universe will eventually affect each other.
There’s a lot going on in this universe and I like that life moves on away from the main character – it enriches the story. That said, I didn’t find Crispin’s POV distinctive enough from Hadrian’s, but I still think him interesting as a basic profile.
Recommendations: While this didn’t add anything to my experience of the main series at this point, I get the impression it will have greater significance later on in the series. Worth reading, but only if you plan on basking in the series.
Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, and Bee! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like (if you like the Sun Eater series as a whole, and not necessarily based on this short story):
I started Howling Dark, then noticed a 50 year gap between the first two books -> surely that missing time must be what the novella is about?
No, as it turns out.
Not related to Hadrian’s story at all, this novella gives a glimpse into the lives of side characters left behind early in Empire of Silence. Assuming those characters get some screen time later, this novella will come in handy adding some depth to draw on. I’m curious to see how the events in both corners of the universe will eventually affect each other.
There’s a lot going on in this universe and I like that life moves on away from the main character – it enriches the story. That said, I didn’t find Crispin’s POV distinctive enough from Hadrian’s, but I still think him interesting as a basic profile.
Recommendations: While this didn’t add anything to my experience of the main series at this point, I get the impression it will have greater significance later on in the series. Worth reading, but only if you plan on basking in the series.
Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, and Bee! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like (if you like the Sun Eater series as a whole, and not necessarily based on this short story):
August 27, 2024
A treat of a short book in the world of the Sun Eater!
November 15, 2024
Worthwhile detour into a side character.
After reading Empire of Silence, a very promising first entry, I almost skipped this novella. I sometimes find novellas like this to just be dragging filler that doesn’t add to the story. Not true here. Not only is this a side plot that fleshes out the main story, but you get a pretty worthwhile story. Did it blow my mind? Of course not. But the arc of Hadrian’s brother, Crispin, is not bad at all and it will be interesting to see how his changes here impact the rest of the series.
SPOILIES
This is a brief story about Crispin and his sister, Sabine, who are attacked by a rival house and have a stand off in solidarity with a Catholic village of plebians. Crispin goes from a loathsome and unlikeable aristocrat to a loathsome and unlikeable aristocrat who actually values the lives of the plebeians. It’s a realistic and remarkable progression that I enjoyed. Crispin also learns, through Kyra, that Hadrian escaped with the assistance of his mother, and that he lives. We learn that Crispin never really hated Hadrian, but actually loved him which was a surprising revelation. I’m very curious to see how this dovetails with their inevitable reunion later in the series. The plot overall was not bad and I’m glad I read this.
After reading Empire of Silence, a very promising first entry, I almost skipped this novella. I sometimes find novellas like this to just be dragging filler that doesn’t add to the story. Not true here. Not only is this a side plot that fleshes out the main story, but you get a pretty worthwhile story. Did it blow my mind? Of course not. But the arc of Hadrian’s brother, Crispin, is not bad at all and it will be interesting to see how his changes here impact the rest of the series.
SPOILIES
This is a brief story about Crispin and his sister, Sabine, who are attacked by a rival house and have a stand off in solidarity with a Catholic village of plebians. Crispin goes from a loathsome and unlikeable aristocrat to a loathsome and unlikeable aristocrat who actually values the lives of the plebeians. It’s a realistic and remarkable progression that I enjoyed. Crispin also learns, through Kyra, that Hadrian escaped with the assistance of his mother, and that he lives. We learn that Crispin never really hated Hadrian, but actually loved him which was a surprising revelation. I’m very curious to see how this dovetails with their inevitable reunion later in the series. The plot overall was not bad and I’m glad I read this.
July 5, 2024
This was a really fun novella! I loved getting Crispin’s POV and I really liked his dynamic with Sabine. Again, Samuel Roukin is a fantastic narrator and I’m thoroughly enjoying listening to these audiobooks.
February 1, 2025
Wow, The Lesser Devil was so much better than I ever expected it would be. The deep focus on Crispin and how he feels about his family and his brother to helps to make us as the reader see that we are looking through such a pidgeon hole by only seeing this world through Hadrian's perspective but also because it shows us the idea that we are all so locked into our own view of the world that we can forget other people live whole LIVES and have a whole different view of themselves. It was such a fantastic read, especially allowing us to see the relationship with religion in this new world that Ruocchio has crafted so many millenia after our generation.
August 26, 2024
4.5 rounded for Goodreads. I had a great time listening to The Lesser Devil audiobook. Excellent narration by Sam Roukin. Wonderful writing once again by Christopher Ruocchio.
I’m only rating this less than 5 stars since it is a less immersive novella and just not on the same level as a full-length novel. That said, I really enjoyed it for what it was. The Lesser Devil does exactly what Ruocchio must have set out to do: add layers and depth to the world, offer a fun little romp bringing us back to Delos and Hadrian's brother Crispin, pull new Sun Eater readers like me in deeper, and satiate existing Sun Eater fans while they wait for longer books to come out. Mission accomplished.
I love the layers of detail this adds to the Sun Eater world. The culture and beliefs of the people we encounter landed perfect for me. I LOVE the idea that religions persevered and still influence the hearts and minds of people in this universe. What a wonderful way to connect this surreal setting with our current world.
Crispin, it turns out, is a more compelling character than I anticipated. He’s an entitled Palatine brat, but he also wants to be better, thanks in part to influence from Hadrian when he was a child. I enjoyed the push and pull with his personality, and his constant mental references to Hadrian helping tie this back to the series’s main character and story.
I jumped right into this after reading Empire of Silence and am glad I did. This was an entertaining novella that added depth to my Sun Eater experience and repeatedly put a smile on my face. I highly recommend it for fans, new and old.
Sun Eater
Book 1: Empire of Silence 5/5
Novella: The Lesser Devil 4.5/5
I’m only rating this less than 5 stars since it is a less immersive novella and just not on the same level as a full-length novel. That said, I really enjoyed it for what it was. The Lesser Devil does exactly what Ruocchio must have set out to do: add layers and depth to the world, offer a fun little romp bringing us back to Delos and Hadrian's brother Crispin, pull new Sun Eater readers like me in deeper, and satiate existing Sun Eater fans while they wait for longer books to come out. Mission accomplished.
I love the layers of detail this adds to the Sun Eater world. The culture and beliefs of the people we encounter landed perfect for me. I LOVE the idea that religions persevered and still influence the hearts and minds of people in this universe. What a wonderful way to connect this surreal setting with our current world.
Crispin, it turns out, is a more compelling character than I anticipated. He’s an entitled Palatine brat, but he also wants to be better, thanks in part to influence from Hadrian when he was a child. I enjoyed the push and pull with his personality, and his constant mental references to Hadrian helping tie this back to the series’s main character and story.
I jumped right into this after reading Empire of Silence and am glad I did. This was an entertaining novella that added depth to my Sun Eater experience and repeatedly put a smile on my face. I highly recommend it for fans, new and old.
Sun Eater
Book 1: Empire of Silence 5/5
Novella: The Lesser Devil 4.5/5
September 21, 2024
Awwww. He loves Hadrian!
April 29, 2024
After reading Empire of Silence I was wondering what had happened with Crispin, Hadrians little brother and his sister Sabine. Loved that we got some insight in Crispin's thoughts, life and what a man he became in the time Hadrian has vanished from them.
The story itself was highly intriguing and broadend the world. Loved the political intrigue and getting to know new people on the planet.
Amazing addition to the series!
The story itself was highly intriguing and broadend the world. Loved the political intrigue and getting to know new people on the planet.
Amazing addition to the series!
February 20, 2024
9/10. Not quite Empire of Silence but it was an entertaining quick listen and I enjoyed the last half quite a bit.
January 21, 2025
This is a really good, action packed story! Definitely glad I read it in between the main novels of Sun Eater.
Glad this book was written, Crispin is a spoiled palatine like his brother, but we get to see some depth from the other Marlowe brother and it all makes sense. He has some heart, unlike people he has been raised around this whole life but you can get why he feels like the inferior sibling.
I liked the religion aspect brought in as this is a futuristic setting, so interesting to see how things can be looked upon in a world far way from ours.
Will be reading Howling Dark soon!
Glad this book was written, Crispin is a spoiled palatine like his brother, but we get to see some depth from the other Marlowe brother and it all makes sense. He has some heart, unlike people he has been raised around this whole life but you can get why he feels like the inferior sibling.
I liked the religion aspect brought in as this is a futuristic setting, so interesting to see how things can be looked upon in a world far way from ours.
Will be reading Howling Dark soon!
June 26, 2025
Reread thoughts: Five stars on a reread. Actually there’s a number of clever things Ruocchio did here that I missed on my first read.
This is required reading for Sun Eater!
Some time after Hadrian leaves his home planet in the main Sun Eater time line we pick up with his younger brother Crispin in this excellent novella. After his space ship gets shot down, the young noble must join with a cult of ancient pagans known as museum Catholics to fight off an incoming invasion.
This book gives the reader more insight into the mind of Hadrian Marlowe than you might expect. Because this book isn’t written from his POV, you almost get a more objective look at his family, specifically his brother. You get to see elements of things that maybe Hadrian has missed or misunderstood.
The other interesting thing about this book is that much of it is spent in this Catholic colony, which is a cool Easter egg. (The history of the Catholic Church in the Sun Eater world is one of the coolest things to me) It helps make a few counterpoints to elements from Empire of Silence and also ask some deeper questions of religion.
While it’s abundantly clear that Ruocchio has no interest in proselytizing for his faith, he believes it to be true and wants to ask interesting questions investigating it in his stories, and I am all here for it!
The Lesser Devil is a fantastic addition to the Sun Eater world, and I can’t wait for the updated cover rerelease in late 2024 when I will finally purchase a physical copy of this book.
This is required reading for Sun Eater!
Some time after Hadrian leaves his home planet in the main Sun Eater time line we pick up with his younger brother Crispin in this excellent novella. After his space ship gets shot down, the young noble must join with a cult of ancient pagans known as museum Catholics to fight off an incoming invasion.
This book gives the reader more insight into the mind of Hadrian Marlowe than you might expect. Because this book isn’t written from his POV, you almost get a more objective look at his family, specifically his brother. You get to see elements of things that maybe Hadrian has missed or misunderstood.
The other interesting thing about this book is that much of it is spent in this Catholic colony, which is a cool Easter egg. (The history of the Catholic Church in the Sun Eater world is one of the coolest things to me) It helps make a few counterpoints to elements from Empire of Silence and also ask some deeper questions of religion.
While it’s abundantly clear that Ruocchio has no interest in proselytizing for his faith, he believes it to be true and wants to ask interesting questions investigating it in his stories, and I am all here for it!
The Lesser Devil is a fantastic addition to the Sun Eater world, and I can’t wait for the updated cover rerelease in late 2024 when I will finally purchase a physical copy of this book.
February 24, 2025
This was interesting to see the point of view of Crispin.
You really got to see how differently he saw the world from Hadrian.
The writing voice felt different, maybe a bit more direct, although Crispin being as philosophical, and musing the way Hadrian does would be weird. It was very well written still, but stylistically felt a bit different. Which....I guess it should, it is a totally different narrator.
The plot with the French Catholics didn't quite hook me, the world and characters still did.
6.9
You really got to see how differently he saw the world from Hadrian.
The writing voice felt different, maybe a bit more direct, although Crispin being as philosophical, and musing the way Hadrian does would be weird. It was very well written still, but stylistically felt a bit different. Which....I guess it should, it is a totally different narrator.
The plot with the French Catholics didn't quite hook me, the world and characters still did.
6.9
May 31, 2025
Crispin Marlowe, younger son of House Marlowe and brother to our series protagonist, Hadrian, takes hold of the reins in this novella. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting from this story, but when I found out that Crispin was the central character, I was intrigued. I wanted to learn more of his perspective, especially after the friction in the relationship between the two brothers in Empire of Silence.
Despite my lack of plot expectations, I was surprised by the direction that the story took. The introductory chapters were tense, deadly, and set up a bit of a survival plotline, which I was buckled in and ready for. However, things took a turn fairly soon after the initial setup. And I have to admit that while Ruocchio gave us some insight into previously unseen sections of his galactic world, I found that it was a bit "Hero's Journey" in the plot beats.
Instead of a harrowing survival story, like I expected, we were led by the hand into the inner sanctum of a hidden world. A secret society within the firm grip of the Chantry, dedicated to preserving the religions of ancient Earth. Crispin's own belief systems are challenged and dissected throughout the novella, held up to the light of a world long forgotten in general society.
Overall, I appreciated the extra worldbuilding and getting to see a little further into Crispin's POV. The plot felt a little melodramatic for me at some points, even more so than in Empire of Silence, and I felt in some ways that the very beginning of the story set up something more thrilling than we ended up getting in the rest of the novella. A decent installment, definitely worth reading, but just an okay read for me.
Despite my lack of plot expectations, I was surprised by the direction that the story took. The introductory chapters were tense, deadly, and set up a bit of a survival plotline, which I was buckled in and ready for. However, things took a turn fairly soon after the initial setup. And I have to admit that while Ruocchio gave us some insight into previously unseen sections of his galactic world, I found that it was a bit "Hero's Journey" in the plot beats.
Instead of a harrowing survival story, like I expected, we were led by the hand into the inner sanctum of a hidden world. A secret society within the firm grip of the Chantry, dedicated to preserving the religions of ancient Earth. Crispin's own belief systems are challenged and dissected throughout the novella, held up to the light of a world long forgotten in general society.
Overall, I appreciated the extra worldbuilding and getting to see a little further into Crispin's POV. The plot felt a little melodramatic for me at some points, even more so than in Empire of Silence, and I felt in some ways that the very beginning of the story set up something more thrilling than we ended up getting in the rest of the novella. A decent installment, definitely worth reading, but just an okay read for me.
August 13, 2024
This novella was very fascinating and helped us get a better understanding into Crispin, his mindset, and what he thought of Hadrian… amongst other things.
The trials and tribulations that he and his sister go through are interesting, and I love how we are learning more of how the humans have evolved. Plus it was nice to know what happened on Delos after Hadrian lost so many years.
I’ll also state that I’m currently reading these in paperback format, but at the same time listening to the audiobook narrated by Samuel Roukin. This helps me envision the world and get a feel for the tone of the story while also being able to see the names of the people & places. Personally it’s helping me understand the world building aspect way better!
3.5 ⭐️
The trials and tribulations that he and his sister go through are interesting, and I love how we are learning more of how the humans have evolved. Plus it was nice to know what happened on Delos after Hadrian lost so many years.
I’ll also state that I’m currently reading these in paperback format, but at the same time listening to the audiobook narrated by Samuel Roukin. This helps me envision the world and get a feel for the tone of the story while also being able to see the names of the people & places. Personally it’s helping me understand the world building aspect way better!
3.5 ⭐️
November 13, 2023
This was a great addition to the series! The Lesser Devil focuses on Hadrian's little brother Crispin and sheds some light on what has been happening since Hadrian's departure.
I wasn't sure I was gonna like this novella, since Crispin wasn't exactly a favorite character of mine in Empire of Silence, but (luckily) there was nothing to worry about - and after reading this story my feelings have certainly changed. Crispin's perspective provided some vital insight & context to earlier events, which made me see him in a new light and even appreciate him as a character.
The Lesser Devil was fast-paced, with an interesting plot, great character moments, and suspenseful action ... and I find myself wishing for more. I'm really excited to see what else this series will bring.
I wasn't sure I was gonna like this novella, since Crispin wasn't exactly a favorite character of mine in Empire of Silence, but (luckily) there was nothing to worry about - and after reading this story my feelings have certainly changed. Crispin's perspective provided some vital insight & context to earlier events, which made me see him in a new light and even appreciate him as a character.
The Lesser Devil was fast-paced, with an interesting plot, great character moments, and suspenseful action ... and I find myself wishing for more. I'm really excited to see what else this series will bring.
November 12, 2024
A spin-off novel for those who want more of Sun Eater series or it‘s even a possible starting point to the series. You don‘t have to read a long frst book and you can dip your toes into the world/series/plot to see if it‘s right for you.
The novel focuses on Hadrian‘s younger brother who has been in his shadow. Honestly, I expected more of a character-based story, more family dynamics. Here we have a very well done pacing, constant action, quite high stakes, and all of that is good, I just had higher expectations (hence 3 star rating). I know you can‘t have it both ways, especially in this length book. You can totally skip the novel and not miss any of on the plot or character study (hence the spin-off).
„A lesser devil“ is a very decent novel for hardcore Sun Eater fans or a great starting point.
The novel focuses on Hadrian‘s younger brother who has been in his shadow. Honestly, I expected more of a character-based story, more family dynamics. Here we have a very well done pacing, constant action, quite high stakes, and all of that is good, I just had higher expectations (hence 3 star rating). I know you can‘t have it both ways, especially in this length book. You can totally skip the novel and not miss any of on the plot or character study (hence the spin-off).
„A lesser devil“ is a very decent novel for hardcore Sun Eater fans or a great starting point.
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