On reading: Empire of Silence, a fascinating slog

Sometimes, a book demands patience. It invites you to savor rather than devour. My latest read, Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, asked precisely for that. This is the first book in the Sun Eater saga (so far 7 published books).

Initially, I was enthralled by its scope and ambition: an epic science-fiction tale with echoes of high fantasy. Think Malazan meets space opera. The world-building was meticulous, the setting immersive, and the plot threads intriguing.

But soon enough, the slow pacing became a challenge. I'm used to quickly devouring books, absorbing plot momentum and character progression. Empire of Silence had different plans.

It revealed its secrets slowly. Plot progression was covered in layers of contemplative dialogues and philosophical musings where Ruocchio didn't fully trust me as a reader. The book's core concepts were continuously repeated. That explicitness, rather than providing clarity, sometimes came across as overly simplistic and monotonous.

The book also has narrative decisions I'm skeptical of. Using visions alongside retrospective narration results in moments that feel convenient or forced rather than genuinely revelatory. Or how the ending carried a faint whiff of deus ex machina with an abrupt, happy, and easy resolution after a slow, deliberate, and complex buildup.

Yet, despite these frustrations, the story's payoff was good enough to make me glad I'd persisted.

The novel sets up intriguing mysteries, such as the enigmatic, long-dead civilization of the Quiet and the uncertain fate of the warlike Cielcin, hinting that future books will focus on the rise and fall of empires and the morality of conquest within a realistic, galaxy-spanning, multi-species setting.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but adjust your expectations accordingly if you're accustomed to faster, more streamlined narratives (think Red Rising or The Murderbot Diaries).

Reading Empire of Silence demanded patience, rewarded perseverance, and occasionally tested my limits. It was a fascinating slog.

Do you have thoughts about this book? I'd love to hear your perspective! ❤️