The Lesser Devil

Slowest 250 pages I've ever read... idk if it was just me but didn't really care or connect with the characters. Still finished because I have a feeling I'm going to really like the rest of Sun Eater

Slowest 250 pages I've ever read... idk if it was just me but didn't really care or connect with the characters. Still finished because I have a feeling I'm going to really like the rest of Sun Eater

In Empire of Darkness, book #1 of the Sun Eater Series, we meet Hadrian Marlowe and his priggish younger brother Crispin. Hadrian leaves their home planet and Crispin is lost to the story. In this filler novella that sits between #1 and #2 of the series, Crispin is given space to fill in his own story.

An enemy from the past emerges with a new threat and Crispin is thrown into the head of the battle. He proves to be a much more rounded person, a competent leader, and a man of mercy and integrity, attributes that were nowhere to be found when we first met him.

3.5

Entretenido, bueno para saber un poco más de lo que pasa entremedio del libro 1, aunque es totalmente independiente.
Bueno ver un poco el crecimiento del personaje, y buenas las batallas, aunque me hubiera gustado un poco de más diálogos internos.

Loved coming back to Crispin. I have hope this ties into later books. His character growth was cool to see

Excellent novella. This universe continues to amaze. Great story and shines the light on a secondary character from his first book, and shows him at a deeper level that you can relate too, while having an action packed sci-fi story that shows an interesting backdrop to this universe.

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.

One of the only novellas I've ever really enjoyed. Christopher is becoming a favorite for me if he keeps it up.

Was a pretty good and quick read. Wasn't a huge Crispin fan in EOS but here he was a lot more bearable and likeable. Now onwards to Howling Dark.

8/10