Joshua’s Reviews > Disquiet Gods > Status Update

Sometimes I feel Hadrian as a character is poorly realized. Not inconsistent—just a bit unrealistic and unbelievable. He comes off as bullish and not all that smart, and he’s never once inspired me. Or humored me. Or impressed me. All he’s done is act how I’ve expected, or frustratingly worse. I stand by that. But this sixth novel has felt less burdened by eye-rolling cliche than the last two. That helped it.

I’m still of middling opinion on this series. I can soberly appreciate much that it does, but it doesn’t stir much passion in me. I enjoy his worldbuilding and the concepts at play, but in the end I don’t care much for his characters.

Also, to return to the weird and random inclusions of eroticism, you can argue it’s not Ruocchio, it’s Hadrian—sure. He’s writing it. But would a guy, hundreds of years old, who was loyal to his one partner for over a century, be thinking about other woman’s breasts in situations no normal person would be? Or thinking it’s necessary to include in his autobiography? I think not. It just pulls me out, because Hadrian has never read like a pervert. If he was established as some lecherous guy to begin with, it wouldn’t seem out of place at all. That’s my issue.

Lastly, I wish I didn’t know Ruocchio became catholic. Because damn, was this starting to read like Catholic-hero fanfic at one point. God’s chosen warrior. But I would’ve picked up on it either way. The Quiet is being framed pretty heavily in that light, after all. I hope he turns that on its head—that would save this for me.