Michael Sands’s Reviews > Empire of Silence > Status Update

"My stupidity, my arrogance had pushed me forward into a place and time I did not wish to be in and robbed me of any freedom to choose. I was now a victim, not of fate but of a kind of logical proof."

At least he knows.

This book has the strangest pacing. Every time there are dire consequences Hadrian is removed to some other locale where he can delay/dodge judgment. I still like it but I feel like he, and I, are just caught in a strong current with little agency.

Ok you got me. Its still way slower than I expected in a very strange way. Maybe not slow, but not moving where I wanted to go. We are still very stuck but im starting to warm to the humid mess of a situation Hardian is always in. I am also starting to vibe more with the world building. Nothing entirely new yet, but I like the set pieces and see potential.

I'm enjoying this mostly but part of me is also annoyed at the slowdown forced on Hadrian. I keep hoping the next chapter we finally get moving again as I dont feel the emotional weight I think I'm supposed to be feeling in this harsh time for his character's relative infancy. Its reminding me of name of the wind but without all the wonder and sense of purpose built into that story from the very start. Or the prose.

Nothing feels particularly new to the genre and the writing isn't beautiful, but it is thoughtful and deliberate. Enjoying it so far and the stage is being set so ill reserve any judgement for now. Getting Gene Wolfe vibes (not by writing style but perspective) which automatically makes me distrust the narrator but he seems more self aware than Severian.