Queen Amid Ashes

The Sun Eater #2.5

by Christopher Ruocchio

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

Hadrian Marlowe is newly a knight of the galaxy-spanning Sollan 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 man’s own inhumanity to man.
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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

"One hell of a writer." —Larry Correia, author of Monster Hunter International

"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)

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction, Space Opera, Novella, Adult

157 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2022

About the author

Christopher 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.’

Reviews

[Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

First novella I've ever given 5 stars. Just a wonderful read from start to finish.

Watch my video review by clicking here.

[Petrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemplative and thought-provoking, Queen Amid Ashes asked the question of who’s more monstrous in The Sun Eater universe: humanity or The Cielcin?

“Men are ever more careful with the lives of their loved ones than they are with their own.”

Although they're both spin-offs to the main series, three main things are separated The Lesser Devil to Queen Amid Ashes. First, The Lesser Devil is a short novel at 56,000 words long, and Queen Amid Ashes is a novella at roughly 36,000 words long. The second point, and probably the most important one, is where The Lesser Devil follows Crispin Marlowe as the POV character, in Queen Amid Ashes, we get to continue our journey with Hadrian Marlowe first-person narration, the main character of the main novels of The Sun Eater series. And lastly, because of the second point, the narrative and storytelling style in Queen Amid Ashes is more attuned to the main novels rather than the heavily battle-scenes oriented style of The Lesser Devil. Those who loved Empire of Silence and Howling Dark will have a great time reading Queen Amid Ashes.

“There will always be peace. It is only a question of when. War is energy, and energy runs down. The universe returns to rest, and whether that rest comes without any conflict or after it is another matter entirely.”

Hadrian’s mission takes him to the desert planet Thagura, and by driving off the Cielcin invaders, he rescues Lady Gadar Malyan (the Baroness of Thagura) in the process. But peace in Thagura hasn’t been achieved. There is still inhuman resistance in 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.

In its nature, Queen Amid Ashes is a thought-provoking novella. I always find it interesting how there is an intense prejudice against the Daimons and their existence. But from what we can analyze and gather from the narrative in the series so far, the actions of humans and Cielcin are far more monstrous compared to the Daimon. As I said at the beginning of this review, this exploration of the violence and savagery of both humanity and the Cielcin are the key strengths of Hadrian’s narration in Queen Amid Ashes. I haven’t read Demon in White and the rest of the series yet, but it felt natural to read this novella immediately after you finished reading Howling Dark, and I implore you to do that. Queen Amid Ashes chronologically takes place about a decade after the end of Howling Dark, and it can be treated as a small direct sequel to it. And honestly, it reads like one! It bodes so damn well for me.

“I still hoped for peace, though I no longer knew how to achieve it. The boy who dreamed of peace on Delos long ago was dead, indeed, and though I bore his name and blood alike, I was not him. With every threshold we cross we become someone new, for every place is new, and every hour, and with every moment we are changed.”

From the beginning of Empire of Silence, Hadrian has developed a lot as a character, and one of the things that gradually changed about him is the descent of belief toward possible peace between humanity and the Cielcin. Queen Amid Ashes is a novella. Hadrian is still the melodramatic Hadrian, of course. In Queen Amid Ashes, Hadrian is accompanied mostly by Valka and Pallino, and we readers see these changes in Hadrian’s mind and thoughts already here. Especially after he witnessed the cruelty unleashed by the Cielcin in this novella. He is also more confident and more commanding. If you have read and enjoyed the main series, I think reading this escalating development in Hadrian will prove to be satisfying. And then there is also the matter of learning about the existence of Miudanar the Great, the Dreamer, and the god of Cielcin.

“Though our two kinds had warred for centuries, there was much— so much— we had yet to learn. But for a few symbols, their written language was still a mystery, and though we knew their weapons and their warships, understood their tactics, much of their culture, their literature, their art, remained obscure.”

I don't have much more to add here. As far as the novella goes, I think Queen Amid Ashes was a superb addition to the world of The Sun Eater. I wouldn't call The Lesser Devil a must-read spin-off, but Queen Amid Ashes felt necessary and relatively crucial. The prose and writing style was beautifully produced and structured, as expected in Ruocchio's prose, just like in the main novels. As I mentioned earlier, Queen Amid Ashes really feels like reading a few chapters out of the sequel of Howling Dark. At the same time, the increasing darkness and level of violence in this novella performed well as a preparation before the hellish storm, I assume, will come soon in the main novels. And undoubtedly, I am ready and excited to read Demon in White. Highly recommended if you are a fan of The Sun Eater series.

“Justice, by its very nature, must be retributive. Punishment must follow crime, and cannot precede it. Criminals cannot be brought to justice before their crimes, because before their crimes they are not criminals. Man becomes monstrous by his actions, though the monster dwells in all our hearts, as it dwells in mine. Lurking. Waiting. Biding its time. None of us is born evil. Our choices make us so.”

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

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[Henrique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen Amid Ashes


Queen Amid Ashes is a novella by The Sun Eater that takes place between the second book Howling Dark and the third book Demon in White and I wanted to read this novella first precisely because I saw in some places saying that it was essential to read before going to the third book in the series and what a great novel we had here still following the protagonist Hadrien Marlowe now with a new position after the end of the second book where he was rewarded by the emperor for his "heroic" acts here we see him on an important mission on a planet that is surrounded by the scary Cielcin and who are holding an important hostage Baroness Maylen and she in particular I found a very interesting character to read and the contrast she has with Hadrien is incredible and makes you reflect on right and wrong I don't want to go into details so as not to give spoilers but let's just say that this book hits on that issue neither black nor arm just gray or grayish and I really liked this novella even though it is less than 200 pages I think the pace was just right and I enjoyed every moment of this short story and now I'm more than ready to read more. start Demon in White which many say is their favorite book and also the best book in the series so far and also one of the most epic fantasy and science fiction books anyone has ever read.

[Alex Nieves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly done. I kinda wish I had read this right after Howling Dark since that's when this story takes place but it's fantastic either way. I love the world and story of Sun Eater and this was so well done.

[Gyan K · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars🌟🌟🌟💫!
Queen Amid Ashes by Christopher Ruocchio is a fusion of fun and fury, a mixed medley of mirth and mayhem. The plot pulses with pockets of pace that pep up the prose. Hadrian’s heroics are again highlighted, but this sad side story seemed to sag sometimes. Did not feel there was much of a surprise lurking in the climax as I was reading and nor was one found.
The desert drama felt detailed and daring, with dialogue that delighted. Having read the all the main books in the series thus far, I found it fun to read about this side adventure. Three and a half stars for a tale told with talent and tenacity, but tamed by tedium.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Probably some of the best writing Ruocchio has.

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this the first time in the Sword and Planet collection and it was great. It was somehow even better with Samuel Roukin performing it. This is my favorite thing Ruocchio has written outside of the main Sun Eater series of novels. Sun Eater isn't typically a sci fi series that wrestles with a lot of themes or ideas as story drivers. Queen Amid Ashes kind of does and it is quite satisfying.

[Jorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Nick Tankard · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/10

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

That sure was some fucked up shit... and I was kinda here for it.

Really glad I decided to read Queen Amid Ashes in in-world chronological order right after Howling Dark, because I really liked seeing how Hadrian is navigating his new role as a knight of the Sollan Empire on this first mission.

It's really damn impressive how much Ruocchio was able to pack into so few pages during this little side quest, if you will. That said, I never really got emotionally invested in the main conflict of this story, even if some of the dark twists and reveals should have hit like a knife to the heart (because for the love of all that is holy, that was DARK).

Still, I devoured this in a single sitting and had an absolute blast. Overall just a great novella that is not necessary reading, but which absolutely adds to the brilliance of The Sun Eater series as a whole. Can't wait to get to Demon in White now!

[Sean Harmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

More wonderful Ruocchio writing, more Hadrian Marlowe, on a new world called Thagura. Side story sure, but there’s hints and reflection done by our main character on what’s to come and how he will have to go through similar problems in his future. Well done!

[Wick Welker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep, I'm definitely into this series. This is a significant novella featuring Hadrian and Valka with Hadrian in his new role as the Emperor's knight. He liberates a planet from the Cielin and discovers awful war crimes committed by more than the alien horde. This tows a great line between the humanity and inhumanity of both the Cielin and humans. You're definitely not going to want to pass over this brief novella as you work your way through these books.

[Benghis Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread update: an engaging, grim story to bridge the gap between Howling Dark and Demon in White that gives more context for the Cielcin wars and what they do when they ravage a human planet, but nothing overly memorable. It'd be perfect for someone to fit in while taking a break between bks 2 and 3, but it's not essential if one would rather just jump right in to the next big masterpiece of a chunker.

Original Review:

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. Being a side story it necessarily lacks the suspense and tension of the main novels, which is why I cut it down to 4 stars from the usual Sun Eater 5, but I don't think Ruocchio could write a poor story if he tried.

[Joshua Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty solid novella set after book 2 of the main series, Howling Dark. Although you could infer early on where the story was going, I was still surprised its ultimate ending. And I enjoyed Hadrian's (always overly melodramatic) ruminations upon that conclusion and how it will likely parallel his own ending. A good read.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Choko · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 4.66 ***

Very difficult to read, but perhaps the one delivering the hardest emotional punch of the series so far.

[Andrew Rockwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 stars—-

I don’t give too many novellas 5 stars, but this is among the best. Not a boring chapter within the story.

[Lancelot Schaubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably the lesser of the interstitial stuff, but still great.

https://lanceschaubert.substack.com/p...

[Theo A · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
Awesome.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ngl this did feel a bit like a random side quest and after reading Demon in White (the next book in the series following this novella), I’m not entirely sure how important the information contained in this novella is to the main story. I enjoyed this but I think it’s one you could probably skip. With that said, do not skip the first novella, The Lesser Devil!

[Denille Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually rate novellas this high but Queen Amid Ashes was enthralling and a good entry to the Sun Eater series. Hadrian Marlowe is once again put to the test as he alights upon planet Thagura, a planet ravaged by the Cielcin war. While he tries to find survivors and continues a rescue operation on the planet, he finds a lot of sinister happenings and endless philosophical questioning about humanity given the barbaric acts he witnesses for himself as spoils of war. While Hadrian also contemplates his own choices and what it means to be a palatine and dealing with his own sense of justice, we see other dimensions to his character as he meets the baroness Gadar Malyan.

It was done superbly well with fast pacing and I wasn't able to put the book down for a solid few hours. I really do appreciate Ruocchio's masterful writing and each Sun Eater book paints a wider and more vast picture of Hadrian's philosophical and adapting character.

[Udy Kumra · Rating 4 out of 5]

2/7/25: 4 stars. The beginning of this was not super impressive to me, but the latter half of this story really picked up with some interesting themes and questions. Where The Lesser Devil was a short action-philosophy side novel that isn’t necessary to the story, this novella I feel is a lot more critical as it explores a key question left hanging after the end of Howling Dark that is necessary to bridge before moving on from the subject matter of that book. As always, Ruocchio blends plot, character, action, and philosophy beautifully and seamlessly to tell his story and delivers a great product. I can’t wait for Tales of the Sun Eater Vol. 1 and Demon in White!

[Ashutosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I still hoped for peace, though I no longer knew how to achieve it. The boy who dreamed of peace on Delos long ago was dead, indeed, and though I bore his name and blood alike, I was not him. With every threshold we cross we become someone new, for every place is new, and every hour, and with every moment we are changed.”


Unlike The Lesser Devil, which followed a plot parallel to the events of Empire of Silence, Queen Amid Ashes begins over a decade after the events of Howling Dark; it can be considered an almost direct short sequel, or perhaps some additional pages to Howling Dark itself. After becoming the Knight of the Sollan Empire, Hadrian Marlowe embarks on his first mission towards universal peace, bringing stability to the hellish place that the desert planet Thagura has become since Cielcin's invasion and the mass destruction that it brought with it. While they were successful in achieving stability, Hadrian and his crew were unprepared for the most dreadful facts hidden in Thagura's deepest, darkest ruins. This accurately describes the main premise of another novella that I felt to be more thrilling than The Lesser Devils; in fact, it was one of the best novellas I've ever read. As the title implies, Hadrian deals with Baroness Lady Gadar Malyan, a queen amidst the ashes caused by the Cielcins, but what makes this idea more interesting and riveting is the human nature at work.

As Sun Eater readers are well aware, Cielcins are an alien creature, and something awful and bizarre is to be expected of them; however, what this story mastered was how human intentions and greed for power and affection can sometimes overpower and exceed the darkest of sins, and how an unexpected tragedy can be more painful and traumatic than an expected one. I won't go into detail because it is spoiler territory, but unlike The Lesser Devil, which can be enjoyed after finishing the series, I believe Queen Amid Ashes should be read immediately after Howling Dark, given the continuity of events and the real-time growth of Hadrian and his crew's personalities.

Ruocchio's writing is so flawless that everything he writes feels like a warm hug to me at this point, including scenes containing gory clashes and battles. As I go deeper into his catalogue, book by book, I notice an improvement in his writing approach. I never found it dull, but with Howling Dark and Queen Amid Ashes, I believe it has finally struck the right blend of prose and speed to keep you interested.

Overall, Queen Amid Ashes is an absolute must-read. I truly didn't see any issues in it, and I believe that despite being only 170 pages long, it effectively concludes the story it was attempting to convey. It takes a writer like Ruocchio to introduce characters in such a short period of time while still successfully developing their personalities and motivations.

[James Morpurgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great tale from Christopher Ruocchio. This is probably best read immediately after Howling Dark, but I have been keeping this and some other short stories back as an appetiser ahead of the next main installment in the series which is 'Ashes of Man' releasing this December.

As always, nothing but the highest praise for Ruocchio's writing, it is such a shame that more people haven't discovered him yet.

[Dr Sayuti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of mine called it a mini Sun Eater book and I don't think I disagree. This somehow managed to even yet enhance the already stellar world building and added more depth to the red company. Tho this may be due to reading it after catching up to ashes of man but it really added more personality and dimensions to some of his crew particularly crim. I really liked this entry. Much better than the lesser Devil was imo.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in Sword & Planet, but enjoyed the extra chapter included in this stand-alone version (ch 9 for those curious). This also has a neat essay on the history of House Marlowe after the novella. This is better than The Lesser Devil, and is a nice bite of Ruocchio’s Hadrian goodness, set after Howling Dark. This would probably be best read after book 2, and I think how dark it is would be a good prelude to the abattoir that is Kingdoms of Death.

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5; the narrative didn't feel extremely consequential but I enjoyed it as a link between 2 and 3.

[Kimbot the Destroyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

These novellas are perfect for audiobooks, a little story in a familiar world. They are not essential to the main series, but worth the time for their own sake.

[Ty MaC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2


Very good short story of one battle to regain a planet.

[Nick Gaspard’s Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blew through this in one sitting! Dang what a crazy twist that was lol