You haven’t read this gem yet? Please do yourself a favor, drop everything you’re doing and read this! Ugh I envy anyone who didn’t read it yet because they have the luxury of enjoying this masterpiece for the first time 😭 You will not be disappointed!
Hey Petrik, Thanks for this, man. Like I said over on IG, Howling Dark still holds a really special place in my heart, and I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as you did!
cant wait for you to get to demon in white. its my favorite in the series and in my opinion is really when the story hits full steam. glad youre enjoying it!
References in «Howling Dark» (3/3): Athenaeum: A higher education instutution in Ancient Rome, especially focused on philosophy and rhetoric, founded by Emperor Hadrian Hadrian comparing himself to Orpheus of Greek Myth, the Poet-Prophet who upon his wife’s death was allowed into Hades due to his sorrow and bring his late wife back with him, so long he did not look backwards «Lucifer and Prometheus are the same»: Comparing the Fallen Angel Lucifer/Satan’s rebellion against God in John Milton’s «Paradise Lost» with the Titan Prometheus’ rebellion against the Greek Gods, by stealing fire from them and giving it to humankind (and in some sources, such as Ovid, even creating humankind, which is referenced in Mary Shelley’s subtitle «The Modern Prometheus» to her Gothic novel «Frankenstein») Valka having a «Minervan Face»: Minerva was Roman Goddess of Wisdom, Strategy and Victory equated with the Greek Goddess Athena Kharn declaring «You call this Empire. You make a Desert and call it Peace!»: Same accusation levied against the Romans by the Caledonian Chieftain Calgacus in Tacitus’ «Agricola» The Imperal Ship «Schiavona»: Italian variant of a basket-hilted sword The Empire that conqured most of «Mythic Asia» that Hadrian couldn’t remember: The Mongol Empire The Spaceship «Demiurge»: Greek «artist»/«creator», term used by Platonists for the creator and maintainer of the physical world (usually not a monotheistic deity, with itself having an origin in the higher spiritual world of forms), later adopted by Gnostics as a Luciferian «Anti-god», chaining eternal pure spirits into ephemeral physical beings The Spaceship «Obdurate»: Latin «hardened», today more meaning «stubbornly persistent» (name of two destroyers in Royal Navy: One participated in the WW1 Battle of Jutland, the other in the WW2 Atlantic Convoys) The Third Treason: St. Peter’s three denials? Cornicen: A hornblower who gave salutes and orders in the Roman Legion The Chalcenterite School: I first thought of it perhaps being derived from «chalce» (Greek: «copper») or «Chalcedon» (Ancient City in Modern Day Turkey, known for a early Church Council where the doctrine of the Trinity was solidified: Virtually all major Christian Denominations today (with Unitarians as the only major exception I can think of on the spot) can be considered «Chalcedonian» in their theology), but it being a corruption of «Call Center» (), not only seems to me to be a pun fitting in the Tradition of Gene Wolfe (and Robert Jordan!), but Ruocchio’s emphasis on the school’s focus on «Self-Reflection» and «Asceticism», to me only hammers in the pun, as I can think of few other places known for serious self-reflection (of your life choices) and limited amenities, as call centers! Chiliarch: Not a Commander of chilli-wagons (), but a Macedonian/Hellenistic period Greek Army Rank of a Commander of a thousand soldiers (akin to a Roman Military Tribute) Solifer: Latin «Sun Bringer»/«Bringer of Sunshine», fitting name for a Sollan Empire Bannerman! Raine Smythe described as a «pillar of salt» during the atomics attack: Lot’s Wife was turned to a pillar of salt, when looking back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah while fleeing from it. The Nahute: Mechanical versions of the Alien Snakes from the «Alien» prequel movie «Prometheus»? The Phoenix of Perfugium: Latin «Refuge»/«shelter», name of a far future Earth Colony inspired by Edwardian Britain in the Mystery TV series «Doctor Who» Leviathan & Behemoth: Jewish mythological creatures found in the Old Testament, a gigantic sea worm/creature defeated by God (tied to the concept of «Khaoskampf», «the battle against chaos» found in multiple cultures: A sky/storm god defeating a worm/dragon representing chaos, creating/restoring order/balance) and a giant bull The Mericanii Weapon «Kenotikon»: Greek «empty act»? The Mericanii Weapon «Bleteira»: Greek «blue companion»? The Mericanii Weapon «Crymainecca»: Greek «Freezing Substance»? The Mericanii Weapon «Astrophage»: Greek «star eater» (may come in handy later in a series called the «Sun Eater»!) Bassander: Greek «(He who) Step(s on) man»? Lin: Mandarin «Forest», «Sun Goddess» or «Gemstone» The Centurion Mozgus: Lord/Father Inquisitor Mozgus from the Manga «Berserk» … «Cowards and faint-hearted runaways Look for orations when the foe is near: Our swords shall play the orators for us.» - Techelles in Act 1 Scene 2 of «Tamburlaine the Great Part 1» by Christopher Marlowe I am really curious to know if Ruocchio is a fan of the anime «Legend of the Galactic Heroes», as Hadrian and Bassander reminded me of a Mirror World version of the rivalry between Reinhard von Lohengramm and Yang Wen-li, pluss the Legionnaires reminds me as much of the «Rosenritters» of «LOGH» as Roman-style Stormtroppers from «Star Wars» Hauptmann: German «Army Captain» plus a character in «LOGH» Fallen comrades as sandbags callback… An arm with a sword coming out of water: A very Arthurian image! The Starship «Sieglinde»: Mother of the Germanic Hero Siegfried in the Medieval Epic Poem the «Nibelunglied» and Richard Wagner’s «Ring Cycle»/«Nibelungen» Opera Cycle (also the name of a «Dark Souls» character) Megathere: Giant Sloth! Orodes: Orodes II was Emperor of Parthia during the battle of Carrhae Musashi: Japanse «Kensai» «Sword Saint», made famous from a quasi-fictious series of books (which inspired the Manga «Vagabond») «spectre at the feast»: The Ghost of Banquo in Shakespeare’s «Macbeth»
Legit curious. I know many of these references. But do you still enjoy reading your books when you note them all down like this? I mean, this is like 3,000 words in total. xD
@@PetrikLeo Yeah, I do usually naturally take notes while I read (old study habit, as you better remember stuff you write down) whenever I find a good quote or something I catch/don’t catch and want to look up later, but I will freely admit that this novel was a doozy! 😆Obviously, I don’t write the explanation while reading, so at least 3/4-4/5s is written well after I have finished the novel, after all I finished «Howling Dark» last month! 😄
References in «Howling Dark» (2/3): Hadrian’s possible ancestor Prince Faustinus: Christopher Marlowe wrote the play «Dr. Faustus», where the Devil (the Marlowe sigil) tempts Doctor Faust Lady Harfleur: Harfleur is a city in Normandie, France, famous for it’s seige during the Hundred Years War by English King Henry V, which not only was the first English use of gunpowder artillery during a siege, but also became immortalized in Shakespeare’s play «Henry V» when the King rally his men with the line: «Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more»! Domitia: Female variant of Domitian (Roman Emperor) The Golem (Robot) Yume: Yume is Japanese for «Dream», and is the Japanese title of Akira Kurasawa’s movie «Dreams» (maybe also a reference to the story «Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep» by Philip K Dick, which was the basis for the movie «Blade Runner») Golem: Jewish Mythology, a clay men serving a Rabbi to protect the Ghetto Historian Impatian: Of Latin «Impatiens» («Impatient») and also the name of the Impatiens flower, also known as «touch-me-not» in North America. Playwright Bastien: Inspired by the Roman Comedy writer Terence? Panormo: Panormo(s) is a village on Crete Merenhor: Possible 8th Dynasty Pharaoh (only mentioned in one source) Anunna: Also known as the Anunnaki, pantheon of Ancient Mestopamian Deities, often espoused by Pseudo-Archaeologists as proof of Ancient Astronauts/Ancient Aliens! The Statue at Kharn Sagara’s Table: Jesus and Mother Mary! «Sat gray-hair'd Saturn, quiet as a stone»: John Keats’ poem «Hyperion» Dis: Dis Pater, another name of/conflation with Pluto, the Roman God of the Underworld Kharn calling out Hadrian that in Dante’s «Inferno», the 9th circle is frozen! Anaxander: Greek, «King/Ruler of men», Spartan King, Great-Great-Grandfather of the famous King Leonidas Cyrus the Golden: Cyrus Gold, aka Salomon Grundy from DC! The Pretender Boniface: Multiple saints and popes (interestingly also an antipope!), as well as a leader of the 4th Crusade Sunless Sea, Gardens and Domes: Xanadu in the poem «Kubla Khan» by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Eternal Youth: Shangri-La in «Lost Horizon» by James Hilton «Thatched Cottages at Cordeville»: Van Gogh painting! Hadrian compare Naia to the brides of Dracula! Holographic clothes: «Blade Runner 2049» Consent Kharn! Former Emperor Victor Sebastos: Latin «The Victorious» & «The Venerable» Dual helix snake biting a man from a tree: Garden of Eden , St. Paul biten by a snake on Malta (first accused being a criminal by the locals, and then declared a god surviving it) and DNA Twisted Horn: A Saxophone? Kharn as «The King-in-Yellow»: Story by Robert Chambers, later part of the Lovecraftian Cthulhu Mythos as the Great Old One Hestur «Sibylla ti theleis»: From the Epigraph of T.S. Elliot’s Poem «The Waste Land» (which has a loosely narrative deal with death and rejuvenation, faith and post-war depression, with multiple allusions and references to Ancient Literature, Religious Texts and Arthurian Myth), lifted from Petronius’ «Satyricon», being spoken to in Greek «Sibyl, what do you want?» (The Sibyl being a Roman Oracle, this one being specifically the Cumaean Sibyl who in «The Aeneid» had guided the Trojan Hero and Roman Ancestor Aeneas through Hades and who had been granted immortality (though without eternal youth) by the god Apollo), to which she replies «apothanein thelo»: «I want to die» Sword of Mars: The legendary weapon of Attila the Hun, worshiped by the Huns (and given Ruocchio is a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs, also likely a nod to his «John Carter of Mars»/«Barsoom» Novel «Swords of Mars»), here mixed with King Arthurs’s Sword in the Stone/Excalibur Gibson: The Force Ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi appearing to Luke Skywalker Titania and Oberon: Queen and King of the Faerie in Shakespeare’s «A Midsummer Night’s Dream» «London Bridge is Falling Down»! Father Calvert: Possible reference to the English Calvert Noble Family with the title Lord Baltimore (of which the US State has it name from) or the Calvert Half-Brothers in Peter F. Hamilton’s «The Night’s Dawn» Trilogy Child of Clay: In Jewish Mythology, Adam was made out of clay «You are a lever pulled your genes. Nothing More.»: Genetic Determinism «I think, therefore I am»: Descartes’ «Cogito, ergo sum», a Classic Quote/Principle of Continental Rationalist Philosophy and Western Philosophy in general, also quoted by AM, the villainous and sadistic AI/Sentient Master Computer from Harlan Ellison’s «I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream» AI using Humans as bio-electricity: «The Matrix» Brethren as a form of «Grey Goo»: Out of control self-replicating machines «Bound by laws Isaac Asimov would have approved of»: Asimov’s three laws of Robotics (The First Law: A robot may not injure a human being (through action or inaction), The Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings (as long as it does not conflict with the first law) & The Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence (as long as it does not conflict with the first or second law) A man «like Pallino» hanging from a Tree: In Norse Myth Odin gave one of his eyes and hanged from a Tree to gain Wisdom Zeno: Ancient Greek Philosopher, founder of Stoicism Hypatia: Female Neoplatonist Philosopher, often cited as a Martyr of Science and Feminisim Lovelace: Ada Lovelace, daughter of the Poet Lord Byron, known for recognizing the potential beyond simple calculations of Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, a proposed mechanical computer (also a character in William Gibson and Bruce Sterling’s Steampunk/Alt. History Novel «The Difference Engine») Peterson: Jordan Peterson The «Other Gibson»: William Gibson? («Neuromancer») The Deep: The Deep Ones from Lovecraft’s Chtulhu Mythos
Here are all the references I caught in «Howling Dark» (1/3) Vorgossos: Tartaros (the Abyss serving as prison for the Titans in Ancient Greek Myth), Tartessos (a «lost» Iron Age Civilization in South Western Spain, by some tied to the Myth of Atlantis, being beyond the «Pillars of Hercules»/The Gibraltar Strait), the Atlantic Sargasso Sea (famous for its seaweed) and the «Vorkosigan Saga» Sci-Fi Series by Lois McMaster Bujold Admiral Marius Whent: House Whent of Harrenhal from George RR Martin’s «A Song of Ice & Fire», Catelyn Stark’s Mother was a Whent The Planet of Pharos: The Lighthouse of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt. One of the Seven Wonders of Antiquity. The Space Destroyer «Balmung»: The name given to the Sword of Sigurd/Siegfried the Dragonslayer in the Medieval German Epic Poem «Die Nibelungenlied», «Gram(r)» in Norse Sagas and «Nothung» in Wagner’s «Der Ring des Nibelungen»/«Ring Cycle» The Space Interceptor «Mistral»: Famous Wind in Southern France, giving name to several cars, aircraft and ships, including a class of French Amphibious Assault Ship/Helicopter Carriers The Planet of Trieste: Italian City on the Adriatic Coast Soisson: French City, Capital of the Post-Roman Kingdom of Soisson before conquered by the Franks Prisca: Roman Empress, wife of Diocletian Durand: Surname of Multiple French, British, American and Canadian Politicians, Scholars and Artists, as well as the Durand Line (the international recognized border between Afghanistan and Pakistan) Corvo: Italian «Crow» Shara: Mesopotamian God of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Irrigation & Divine Warrior, and a Nation in Robert Jordan’s «Wheel of Time» Fantasy Series Eidhin: Aidhne, a Irish Petty Kingdom, in myth settled by the legendary Fir Bolg Bordelon: Surname, including a French Utopian polygraph Playwright and Abbot, an American Korean War Flying Ace and an US Marine awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor during the Pacific Campaign The Painted Man: Novel by Peter V. Brett (The Mule from Isaac Asmiov’s «Foundation»? The Finn from «Neuromancer»? The Joker?) Andernach: German City along the Rhine River, founded by the Romans and site of the Archepiscopal Castle of the Archbishop/Electorate of Cologne during the Holy Roman Empire Aptuca: Archaeological Site of an Roman City in Modern Day Tunisia, with a titular Catholic Bishopric from Antiquity to this very day Ardistama: Ancient City in Cappadocia (Modern Day Turkey) inhabited by the Hittites, the Hellenistic Greeks, the Romans and the Byzantines Athyras: Greek Colony in Ancient Thrace (today near the European side of Istanbul, Turkey), a titular Catholic and Orthodox Bishopric Bannatia: One of the Settlements of the Pictish Tribe Vacomagi in Modern Day Scotland mentioned by the Geographer Ptolemy Coritani: Britonic Celtic Tribe before the Roman Conquest, located in the Midlands, with Modern Day Leicester as their Capital Epidamnos: Greek Colony in Illyrium (Modern Day Durres in Albania). Their governmental structure is mentioned in Aristotle’s «Politics» and their internal political strife between Oligarchs and Democrats served as an ignition for the Peloponnesian War, between Sparta and Athens and their respective allies. Later renamed Dyrrhachium by the Romans and was the site of a battle between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great Gibeah: Several settlements in the Old Testament, including the first capital of a Unified Israel under King Saul Kremnoi: Greek colony on the Black Sea Coast (Modern Day Taganrog, Russia, famous from many of the works by Anton Chekhov) Lycia: Ancient Region of Anatolia in Modern Day Turkey Milinda: Milinda Panha/Milindapanha, Ancient Indian Buddhist Text, written as a dialogue between the Buddhist Sage Nagasena and the Indo-Greek King Menander I Soter the Great of Bactria («Milinda» in Pali), who converted and became a great patron to Buddhism Nessus: Centaur in Greek Mythology Rostam: Persian/Iranian Mythical Hero, famous from the Persian Epic «Shahnameh» Sarmatia: The Sarmatians, Iranian-languaged Nomadic Equestrian Confederation related to the Scythians on the Pontic Steppe, who fought the Romans numerous times, famous for their Armored Cataphract Cavalry which later served as Roman Foederati Soldiers Senussa: Senussi, a Sufi Order and Clan in Libya, claimant Kings of Libya Ubar: Mythical Kingdom in Southern Arabia («Atlantis of the Sands»), sometimes tied to «Iram/Irem of the Pillars» famous from «1001 Nights» and HP Lovecraft’s «Call of Cthulhu» & «The Nameless City» Tyras: Archeological Site of an Ancient Greek colony on the Black Sea Coast, near Modern Day Odessa, Ukraine Tanais: Archeological Site of an Ancient Greek colony on the Black Sea Coast, in the Don River Delta of Modern Day Russia. The Refugee Camp/City of Arslan: Persian, «Brave»/«Lion-Hunter»/«Gladiator» The Downed Space Carrier «Murakami»: Japanese «Village Superior», the name of an ancient Clan and Fiefdom, as well as of an 10th Century Emperor during the Heian Period and the famous modern writer Haruki Murakami Suren, the Destroyed Capital of Rostram: The Parthian Noble House of Suren, which including the General Surena who defeated and executed the Roman Statesman Crassus (once the richest man in Rome, who had defeated the Slave Rebellion led by Spartacus, and been part of the First Triumvirate together with Ceasar and Pompey the Great) at the Battle of Carrhae Stygian Ropes: Stygia, «Evil Egyptian Wizard Land» in Conan the Cimmerian Orestes: Son of King Agamemnon and Clytemnestra of the Iliad, whose murder of his Mother (for murdering his Father) and trial was the subject of multiple Ancient Greek Poems and Plays Tristan: Arthurian Knight of the Round Table, famous for his tragic romance with the Princess Isolde Ram: Rama, avatar of Vishnu and hero of the Indian Epic «Ramayana», Arthur C. Clarke’s «Rendezvous with Rama» and a character in the Sci Fi movie «Tron» Idun: Norse Goddess, Guardian of the Apples of Eternal Youthfulness Kingu & Marduk: Mesopotamian Gods Panopticon: Prison design by the Utilitarian philosopher Jeremey Bentham, allowing one guard to watch over all prisoners at all times Catwalk sword-fights and cut hands: Humming the Imperial Theme here! March Station: «Ringworld» by Larry Niven and the «Halo» Video Games! Lothrian Cyrillic! Name: The Ides of March? Therevada bhikkhu: Buddhist munk (Theravada is the oldest and strictest interpretation of the main branches of Buddhism) Holographic Geisha: «Blade Runner» and «Ghost in the Shell»! The Raven Hrothgar: King Hrothgar of Denmark built Heorot Hall that is plagued by attacks by Grendel in «Beowulf», and the raven is a symbol of Odin in Norse Myth Hellenic Pharaoh: The Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt, and Percey Shelley’s «Ozimandias»(Ozimandias is the Greek name of Ramses) Ossulum Vaccine: «Osculum infame» «kiss of shame», alledged witch ritual involving the witch kissing the Devil’s…«end»… The Spaceship «Enigma of the Hours»: «The Enigma of the Hour», Italian early 20th Century Painting by metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico The Old Florentine & Lions, Leopards & Wolves: Dante, «The Divine Comedy» Artifical Owl: «Blade Runner» Nuncius: Latin «Messenger», «Sidereus Nuncius» («Starry/Sidereal Message/Messenger») was Galileo Galilei’s first treatise on his celestial observations using a telescope Jayavarman: Multiple Khmer Kings, including Jayavarman VII, who converted to Buddhism and invested heavily in infrastructure and welfare for his people The hightower: The Hightower(s) of Oldtown in «A Song of Ice & Fire»?
Glad you loved it. The climax of Howling Dark is incredible, but Demon in White is on another level. Demon in White is like 5 of the best books you've ever read in a single book. I would advise to at least read Demons of Arae (short story from Tales of the Sun Eater Vol. 1) and Queen Amid Ashes before Demon in White though, if memory serves.
Thank you so much! Demon in White sounds incredibly exciting. I plan to read both Queen Amid Ashes first and Tales of the Sun Eater vol 1 before Demon in White! :)
So glad you're enjoying and helping bringing the series into wider audiences, this is so seriously underrated and certainly deserves more spotlight. Ruocchio is truly a talent we don't see often and in time will surely become one of the greats of the genre!!
I don't do audiobooks, but I'll never say never to it. Once I get used to audiobooks, there will be a lot of books I want to reexperience. This being one of them! 😃
Woooohoooo!!! I knew you would love this one, and that means you’re about to read one of the great literary masterpieces of our time in Demon in White. This review made me so happy, and the whole thing from the moment they met Kharn just had me so gripped and continually blew my mind.
Aaaaaa so exciting! Cannot wait to read Demon in White next month! And I agree with you. Ever since we encountered Kharn, suddenly everything escalated. Don't even get me started on Brethren. So good!
Yessssss Petrik! It makes me so happy to see SunEater getting the praise it deserves. I absolutely cannot wait to see my Lettered Edition hardcover of EoS. Eagerly awaiting to hear how Demon in White exceeded expectations yet again.
Howling dark was my favorite of the series until i read kingdoms of death. Im interested in you thoughts on demon in white, i think it may be the most popular of the series. I know youll love it but trying to pick a favorite of the series can be difficult. Thanks for bringing more recognition to this amazing series. Christopher deserves all the praises
Exciting! And it is my pleasure to read a great series like this. I already have difficulty deciding which one I love more between Empire of Silence and Howling Dark, but I have to give the edge to Howling Dark. I look forward to reading the rest of the series! :)
About 30 chapters in it feels like it’s starting to get going, but there is just sooo much philosophising from Hadrian breaking things up. I couldn’t put down Empire of Silence but I’m having to push myself to keep going with this one.
Petrik I was so confused by Ch 43 that I went to the author’s summary and if anyone feels that way just go to the 8 minute mark and he explains it all!😀 Now I can move on to Ch 44 or re-listen to Ch 43.
Yes! Howling Dark is such a great book. My favourite part is whenever Hadrian had a conversation with Kharn, especially his first meeting. You can tell Hadrian is naive and Kharn is really an ancient that has lost his humanity. I have a feeling they will meet again in the future and would love to see how the dynamic change
I loved the horror elements that slowly creep into Howling Dark. I was not expecting them at all. Parts of Howling Dark almost feel Lovecraftian, which I loved.
I am almost done with Howling Dark and it’s just mind-bending good. I really enjoyed the first book, but this one is blowing my mind!! Action, philosophy, character growth, and fascinating world building. I seriously want to call in sick to work just to read these. I haven’t been doing anything else since I started!! I want to dive into the lore and the histories, and not just of the humans. These books are so weird and wonderful, sweet and suspenseful.
Yeah I know what you mean. Howling Dark blew my mind. Aeta Aranata is crazy. And Kharn Sagara is so cool. Somehow, Demon in White managed to top Howling Dark. Truly amazing series!
Dude how 😂 I finished the first one and had a head start on you and you still finished before me 😂 but howling dark is amazing. The first book was great but man…. This one is crazy. 100 pages left!
I think you should write a book petrik. You truly have a way with words, an example. The obsidian dominion was a great line I stsrted this months ago but malazan has taken over so im gonna restart it next year, i LOVED EoS, and loved what i read in howling dark. Especially the painted man scene.
Haha, thank you, Sean! Never say never. :) I hope you'll enjoy this series whenever you get around to it. I totally understand how Malazan can take up a lot of your time and commitment!
The fact that a book with SO much hype can still manage to live up to that hype is just insane to me! I am happy that you loved this so much though, and can't wait to start my own Sun Eater journey! Enjoy the wild ride 🤩
I’ve just finished the first 3 chapters of Howling Dark. I’m glad you said it takes a while to get used to the time jump as I definitely feel the same. So excited to continue!
Will have to check this out, sounds really interesting! I just started Gentlemen Bastards... again... I keep trying to get into it but haven't managed it. The audio book is pretty poorly recorded and the last time I tried was right after I rage quite The Wheel of Boring so I think it also absorbed some of my anger at that which was unfair so giving it a fair go this time and I've already passed where I got to before, will see how it goes. I also just saw something while looking for a short video explaining the Greenbone Saga and why people should read it (I have linked your video on it before but I wanted something in the 2-3 minute range as some people don't watch the whole video but they usually do with shorts) when I found something so unbelievably cool I had to come make sure you saw it too. Green Bone Saga | Jade City Teaser Trailer by Live Action Trailers on youtube! It's a fan made trailer for a potential Jade City film using clips from other movies and some sound bites from the audiobook! I cried, really recommend checking it out.
I think you will enjoy this series, I hope so anyway! And I know the video on Green Bone Saga teaser trailer you mentioned. I have seen it before! Really well done, and I hope the TV adaptation for it will be something terrific eventually! :)
I'm so glad to hear this,the good news is that Demon in White is the favourite of most readers,my money is that you will like it even more than the first two books. Now you begin to see why I like the Sun Eater even more than Red Rising 😅.Happy readings.
That art of Hadrian by James Cook is the spitting image of big soap opera star! I hope I can unsee that image when I pick up this book again! I was about 20% in and then I got stuck. Your happiness in this review will jump start my return. In Petrik I trust!! I need to catch up to you.😀
@@PetrikLeoLook up the actor, a young Ron Moss, maybe this artist grew up with the “ Bold & the Beautiful” on the television. Believe it or not Ridge Forrester was a very patrician character on that show!
Understandable! Once I read Demon in White, I'll take a little break from the series. Probably. But my goal is to read Demon in White this year. Kingdoms of Death and the rest will be next year. :)
*spoiler alert* While reading this book, I came across a Reddit post "which series/character has the most plot armor". And I remember thinking obviously Sun Eater because you literally know the character writing the book has to survive until the end... Then I read *the chapter* with the Howling Dark and was promptly stunned. Amazing stuff. I can't imagine Demon in White can live up to the unending hype, but let's find out!
Big Spoiler for Howling Dark . . . . . . . That was EXACTLY my thought, too. "Yeah, nothing will happen to him." Then boom, a hand got cut off. And he literally died. What the hell!? Incredible stuff.
I did audiobooks for the first 2 and it just didn’t do it for me, ended up not picking up book 3. This is a series I will revisit (and prob read) sometime in the future, just didn’t click with me. Also minor gripe about the prose with characters retelling their story “[event xxxxx] is something I will NEVER forget”…..it seems you don’t forget a lot of anything, we have 6 novels worth of stuff 😂😂😂
Finally found the first four main novels, which was difficult enough to accomplish in Norway, but the novellas are all but impossible. Can I skip them or are they essential reading?
Nice! I don't think any of the novellas and collections of short stories in the series that I've read are absolutely necessary. They're good to add quicker context and depth, but you'll understand them, too, from reading the main novels! :)
@@PetrikLeo yup, I agree. I think it's because Hadrian is a scholiast. His story is a rich meal my poor stomach cannot take. Also I had difficulty imagining his world. How do you do it?
i heard you could read the short story before book 1 to see if you like the author. is this true. can you read lesser devil before empire of silence and do u recommend it?
Imo, better to read that after Empire of Silence. Lesser Devil, while good, is not representative to how the main books goes at all. The narration is very different, too. :)
Definitely disagree with "not enough story or actual ideas". But well, as always, reading is subjective! For example, I abhorred Sailing to Sarantium by GGK. I don't know why many loved that book but so many people do hahaha! :D
FINE! I’ll read it. The universe has put this series in my face like 9 times this week. I don’t believe in signs but good lord!
It is meant to be, Daniel. I was in that spot, too. Here's hoping you'll have a blast with it! :)
hehehehe I WAS ONE OF EM
You haven’t read this gem yet? Please do yourself a favor, drop everything you’re doing and read this! Ugh I envy anyone who didn’t read it yet because they have the luxury of enjoying this masterpiece for the first time 😭 You will not be disappointed!
This series can NEVER be overhyped ❤️👌🏽 it is just a masterpiece
I cant make a top 10 of the year because it would be mostly Sun Eater
Hey Petrik,
Thanks for this, man. Like I said over on IG, Howling Dark still holds a really special place in my heart, and I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as you did!
You're welcome, Chris. Thank YOU so much for such an incredible story. Definitely will stay with me! :)
I knew this series would be an all-timer for you. So glad you're enjoying it.
Thank you so much, Mike! It's one of the best reading experiences of this year. Can't wait to read Demon in White next month! :)
cant wait for you to get to demon in white. its my favorite in the series and in my opinion is really when the story hits full steam. glad youre enjoying it!
Thank you so much! I'm very excited for it! :)
References in «Howling Dark» (3/3):
Athenaeum: A higher education instutution in Ancient Rome, especially focused on philosophy and rhetoric, founded by Emperor Hadrian
Hadrian comparing himself to Orpheus of Greek Myth, the Poet-Prophet who upon his wife’s death was allowed into Hades due to his sorrow and bring his late wife back with him, so long he did not look backwards
«Lucifer and Prometheus are the same»: Comparing the Fallen Angel Lucifer/Satan’s rebellion against God in John Milton’s «Paradise Lost» with the Titan Prometheus’ rebellion against the Greek Gods, by stealing fire from them and giving it to humankind (and in some sources, such as Ovid, even creating humankind, which is referenced in Mary Shelley’s subtitle «The Modern Prometheus» to her Gothic novel «Frankenstein»)
Valka having a «Minervan Face»: Minerva was Roman Goddess of Wisdom, Strategy and Victory equated with the Greek Goddess Athena
Kharn declaring «You call this Empire. You make a Desert and call it Peace!»: Same accusation levied against the Romans by the Caledonian Chieftain Calgacus in Tacitus’ «Agricola»
The Imperal Ship «Schiavona»: Italian variant of a basket-hilted sword
The Empire that conqured most of «Mythic Asia» that Hadrian couldn’t remember: The Mongol Empire
The Spaceship «Demiurge»: Greek «artist»/«creator», term used by Platonists for the creator and maintainer of the physical world (usually not a monotheistic deity, with itself having an origin in the higher spiritual world of forms), later adopted by Gnostics as a Luciferian «Anti-god», chaining eternal pure spirits into ephemeral physical beings
The Spaceship «Obdurate»: Latin «hardened», today more meaning «stubbornly persistent» (name of two destroyers in Royal Navy: One participated in the WW1 Battle of Jutland, the other in the WW2 Atlantic Convoys)
The Third Treason: St. Peter’s three denials?
Cornicen: A hornblower who gave salutes and orders in the Roman Legion
The Chalcenterite School: I first thought of it perhaps being derived from «chalce» (Greek: «copper») or «Chalcedon» (Ancient City in Modern Day Turkey, known for a early Church Council where the doctrine of the Trinity was solidified: Virtually all major Christian Denominations today (with Unitarians as the only major exception I can think of on the spot) can be considered «Chalcedonian» in their theology), but it being a corruption of «Call Center» (), not only seems to me to be a pun fitting in the Tradition of Gene Wolfe (and Robert Jordan!), but Ruocchio’s emphasis on the school’s focus on «Self-Reflection» and «Asceticism», to me only hammers in the pun, as I can think of few other places known for serious self-reflection (of your life choices) and limited amenities, as call centers!
Chiliarch: Not a Commander of chilli-wagons (), but a Macedonian/Hellenistic period Greek Army Rank of a Commander of a thousand soldiers (akin to a Roman Military Tribute)
Solifer: Latin «Sun Bringer»/«Bringer of Sunshine», fitting name for a Sollan Empire Bannerman!
Raine Smythe described as a «pillar of salt» during the atomics attack: Lot’s Wife was turned to a pillar of salt, when looking back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah while fleeing from it.
The Nahute: Mechanical versions of the Alien Snakes from the «Alien» prequel movie «Prometheus»?
The Phoenix of Perfugium: Latin «Refuge»/«shelter», name of a far future Earth Colony inspired by Edwardian Britain in the Mystery TV series «Doctor Who»
Leviathan & Behemoth: Jewish mythological creatures found in the Old Testament, a gigantic sea worm/creature defeated by God (tied to the concept of «Khaoskampf», «the battle against chaos» found in multiple cultures: A sky/storm god defeating a worm/dragon representing chaos, creating/restoring order/balance) and a giant bull
The Mericanii Weapon «Kenotikon»: Greek «empty act»?
The Mericanii Weapon «Bleteira»: Greek «blue companion»?
The Mericanii Weapon «Crymainecca»: Greek «Freezing Substance»?
The Mericanii Weapon «Astrophage»: Greek «star eater» (may come in handy later in a series called the «Sun Eater»!)
Bassander: Greek «(He who) Step(s on) man»?
Lin: Mandarin «Forest», «Sun Goddess» or «Gemstone»
The Centurion Mozgus: Lord/Father Inquisitor Mozgus from the Manga «Berserk» …
«Cowards and faint-hearted runaways Look for orations when the foe is near: Our swords shall play the orators for us.» - Techelles in Act 1 Scene 2 of «Tamburlaine the Great Part 1» by Christopher Marlowe
I am really curious to know if Ruocchio is a fan of the anime «Legend of the Galactic Heroes», as Hadrian and Bassander reminded me of a Mirror World version of the rivalry between Reinhard von Lohengramm and Yang Wen-li, pluss the Legionnaires reminds me as much of the «Rosenritters» of «LOGH» as Roman-style Stormtroppers from «Star Wars»
Hauptmann: German «Army Captain» plus a character in «LOGH»
Fallen comrades as sandbags callback…
An arm with a sword coming out of water: A very Arthurian image!
The Starship «Sieglinde»: Mother of the Germanic Hero Siegfried in the Medieval Epic Poem the «Nibelunglied» and Richard Wagner’s «Ring Cycle»/«Nibelungen» Opera Cycle (also the name of a «Dark Souls» character)
Megathere: Giant Sloth!
Orodes: Orodes II was Emperor of Parthia during the battle of Carrhae
Musashi: Japanse «Kensai» «Sword Saint», made famous from a quasi-fictious series of books (which inspired the Manga «Vagabond»)
«spectre at the feast»: The Ghost of Banquo in Shakespeare’s «Macbeth»
Legit curious. I know many of these references. But do you still enjoy reading your books when you note them all down like this? I mean, this is like 3,000 words in total. xD
@@PetrikLeo Yeah, I do usually naturally take notes while I read (old study habit, as you better remember stuff you write down) whenever I find a good quote or something I catch/don’t catch and want to look up later, but I will freely admit that this novel was a doozy! 😆Obviously, I don’t write the explanation while reading, so at least 3/4-4/5s is written well after I have finished the novel, after all I finished «Howling Dark» last month! 😄
References in «Howling Dark» (2/3):
Hadrian’s possible ancestor Prince Faustinus: Christopher Marlowe wrote the play «Dr. Faustus», where the Devil (the Marlowe sigil) tempts Doctor Faust
Lady Harfleur: Harfleur is a city in Normandie, France, famous for it’s seige during the Hundred Years War by English King Henry V, which not only was the first English use of gunpowder artillery during a siege, but also became immortalized in Shakespeare’s play «Henry V» when the King rally his men with the line: «Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more»!
Domitia: Female variant of Domitian (Roman Emperor)
The Golem (Robot) Yume: Yume is Japanese for «Dream», and is the Japanese title of Akira Kurasawa’s movie «Dreams» (maybe also a reference to the story «Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep» by Philip K Dick, which was the basis for the movie «Blade Runner»)
Golem: Jewish Mythology, a clay men serving a Rabbi to protect the Ghetto
Historian Impatian: Of Latin «Impatiens» («Impatient») and also the name of the Impatiens flower, also known as «touch-me-not» in North America.
Playwright Bastien: Inspired by the Roman Comedy writer Terence?
Panormo: Panormo(s) is a village on Crete
Merenhor: Possible 8th Dynasty Pharaoh (only mentioned in one source)
Anunna: Also known as the Anunnaki, pantheon of Ancient Mestopamian Deities, often espoused by Pseudo-Archaeologists as proof of Ancient Astronauts/Ancient Aliens!
The Statue at Kharn Sagara’s Table: Jesus and Mother Mary!
«Sat gray-hair'd Saturn, quiet as a stone»: John Keats’ poem «Hyperion»
Dis: Dis Pater, another name of/conflation with Pluto, the Roman God of the Underworld
Kharn calling out Hadrian that in Dante’s «Inferno», the 9th circle is frozen!
Anaxander: Greek, «King/Ruler of men», Spartan King, Great-Great-Grandfather of the famous King Leonidas
Cyrus the Golden: Cyrus Gold, aka Salomon Grundy from DC!
The Pretender Boniface: Multiple saints and popes (interestingly also an antipope!), as well as a leader of the 4th Crusade
Sunless Sea, Gardens and Domes: Xanadu in the poem «Kubla Khan» by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Eternal Youth: Shangri-La in «Lost Horizon» by James Hilton
«Thatched Cottages at Cordeville»: Van Gogh painting!
Hadrian compare Naia to the brides of Dracula!
Holographic clothes: «Blade Runner 2049»
Consent Kharn!
Former Emperor Victor Sebastos: Latin «The Victorious» & «The Venerable»
Dual helix snake biting a man from a tree: Garden of Eden , St. Paul biten by a snake on Malta (first accused being a criminal by the locals, and then declared a god surviving it) and DNA
Twisted Horn: A Saxophone?
Kharn as «The King-in-Yellow»: Story by Robert Chambers, later part of the Lovecraftian Cthulhu Mythos as the Great Old One Hestur
«Sibylla ti theleis»: From the Epigraph of T.S. Elliot’s Poem «The Waste Land» (which has a loosely narrative deal with death and rejuvenation, faith and post-war depression, with multiple allusions and references to Ancient Literature, Religious Texts and Arthurian Myth), lifted from Petronius’ «Satyricon», being spoken to in Greek «Sibyl, what do you want?» (The Sibyl being a Roman Oracle, this one being specifically the Cumaean Sibyl who in «The Aeneid» had guided the Trojan Hero and Roman Ancestor Aeneas through Hades and who had been granted immortality (though without eternal youth) by the god Apollo), to which she replies «apothanein thelo»: «I want to die»
Sword of Mars: The legendary weapon of Attila the Hun, worshiped by the Huns (and given Ruocchio is a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs, also likely a nod to his «John Carter of Mars»/«Barsoom» Novel «Swords of Mars»), here mixed with King Arthurs’s Sword in the Stone/Excalibur
Gibson: The Force Ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi appearing to Luke Skywalker
Titania and Oberon: Queen and King of the Faerie in Shakespeare’s «A Midsummer Night’s Dream»
«London Bridge is Falling Down»!
Father Calvert: Possible reference to the English Calvert Noble Family with the title Lord Baltimore (of which the US State has it name from) or the Calvert Half-Brothers in Peter F. Hamilton’s «The Night’s Dawn» Trilogy
Child of Clay: In Jewish Mythology, Adam was made out of clay
«You are a lever pulled your genes. Nothing More.»: Genetic Determinism
«I think, therefore I am»: Descartes’ «Cogito, ergo sum», a Classic Quote/Principle of Continental Rationalist Philosophy and Western Philosophy in general, also quoted by AM, the villainous and sadistic AI/Sentient Master Computer from Harlan Ellison’s «I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream»
AI using Humans as bio-electricity: «The Matrix»
Brethren as a form of «Grey Goo»: Out of control self-replicating machines
«Bound by laws Isaac Asimov would have approved of»: Asimov’s three laws of Robotics (The First Law: A robot may not injure a human being (through action or inaction), The Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings (as long as it does not conflict with the first law) & The Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence (as long as it does not conflict with the first or second law)
A man «like Pallino» hanging from a Tree: In Norse Myth Odin gave one of his eyes and hanged from a Tree to gain Wisdom
Zeno: Ancient Greek Philosopher, founder of Stoicism
Hypatia: Female Neoplatonist Philosopher, often cited as a Martyr of Science and Feminisim
Lovelace: Ada Lovelace, daughter of the Poet Lord Byron, known for recognizing the potential beyond simple calculations of Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, a proposed mechanical computer (also a character in William Gibson and Bruce Sterling’s Steampunk/Alt. History Novel «The Difference Engine»)
Peterson: Jordan Peterson
The «Other Gibson»: William Gibson? («Neuromancer»)
The Deep: The Deep Ones from Lovecraft’s Chtulhu Mythos
Here are all the references I caught in «Howling Dark» (1/3)
Vorgossos: Tartaros (the Abyss serving as prison for the Titans in Ancient Greek Myth), Tartessos (a «lost» Iron Age Civilization in South Western Spain, by some tied to the Myth of Atlantis, being beyond the «Pillars of Hercules»/The Gibraltar Strait), the Atlantic Sargasso Sea (famous for its seaweed) and the «Vorkosigan Saga» Sci-Fi Series by Lois McMaster Bujold
Admiral Marius Whent: House Whent of Harrenhal from George RR Martin’s «A Song of Ice & Fire», Catelyn Stark’s Mother was a Whent
The Planet of Pharos: The Lighthouse of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt. One of the Seven Wonders of Antiquity.
The Space Destroyer «Balmung»: The name given to the Sword of Sigurd/Siegfried the Dragonslayer in the Medieval German Epic Poem «Die Nibelungenlied», «Gram(r)» in Norse Sagas and «Nothung» in Wagner’s «Der Ring des Nibelungen»/«Ring Cycle»
The Space Interceptor «Mistral»: Famous Wind in Southern France, giving name to several cars, aircraft and ships, including a class of French Amphibious Assault Ship/Helicopter Carriers
The Planet of Trieste: Italian City on the Adriatic Coast
Soisson: French City, Capital of the Post-Roman Kingdom of Soisson before conquered by the Franks
Prisca: Roman Empress, wife of Diocletian
Durand: Surname of Multiple French, British, American and Canadian Politicians, Scholars and Artists, as well as the Durand Line (the international recognized border between Afghanistan and Pakistan)
Corvo: Italian «Crow»
Shara: Mesopotamian God of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Irrigation & Divine Warrior, and a Nation in Robert Jordan’s «Wheel of Time» Fantasy Series
Eidhin: Aidhne, a Irish Petty Kingdom, in myth settled by the legendary Fir Bolg
Bordelon: Surname, including a French Utopian polygraph Playwright and Abbot, an American Korean War Flying Ace and an US Marine awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor during the Pacific Campaign
The Painted Man: Novel by Peter V. Brett (The Mule from Isaac Asmiov’s «Foundation»? The Finn from «Neuromancer»? The Joker?)
Andernach: German City along the Rhine River, founded by the Romans and site of the Archepiscopal Castle of the Archbishop/Electorate of Cologne during the Holy Roman Empire
Aptuca: Archaeological Site of an Roman City in Modern Day Tunisia, with a titular Catholic Bishopric from Antiquity to this very day
Ardistama: Ancient City in Cappadocia (Modern Day Turkey) inhabited by the Hittites, the Hellenistic Greeks, the Romans and the Byzantines
Athyras: Greek Colony in Ancient Thrace (today near the European side of Istanbul, Turkey), a titular Catholic and Orthodox Bishopric
Bannatia: One of the Settlements of the Pictish Tribe Vacomagi in Modern Day Scotland mentioned by the Geographer Ptolemy
Coritani: Britonic Celtic Tribe before the Roman Conquest, located in the Midlands, with Modern Day Leicester as their Capital
Epidamnos: Greek Colony in Illyrium (Modern Day Durres in Albania). Their governmental structure is mentioned in Aristotle’s «Politics» and their internal political strife between Oligarchs and Democrats served as an ignition for the Peloponnesian War, between Sparta and Athens and their respective allies. Later renamed Dyrrhachium by the Romans and was the site of a battle between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great
Gibeah: Several settlements in the Old Testament, including the first capital of a Unified Israel under King Saul
Kremnoi: Greek colony on the Black Sea Coast (Modern Day Taganrog, Russia, famous from many of the works by Anton Chekhov)
Lycia: Ancient Region of Anatolia in Modern Day Turkey
Milinda: Milinda Panha/Milindapanha, Ancient Indian Buddhist Text, written as a dialogue between the Buddhist Sage Nagasena and the Indo-Greek King Menander I Soter the Great of Bactria («Milinda» in Pali), who converted and became a great patron to Buddhism
Nessus: Centaur in Greek Mythology
Rostam: Persian/Iranian Mythical Hero, famous from the Persian Epic «Shahnameh»
Sarmatia: The Sarmatians, Iranian-languaged Nomadic Equestrian Confederation related to the Scythians on the Pontic Steppe, who fought the Romans numerous times, famous for their Armored Cataphract Cavalry which later served as Roman Foederati Soldiers
Senussa: Senussi, a Sufi Order and Clan in Libya, claimant Kings of Libya
Ubar: Mythical Kingdom in Southern Arabia («Atlantis of the Sands»), sometimes tied to «Iram/Irem of the Pillars» famous from «1001 Nights» and HP Lovecraft’s «Call of Cthulhu» & «The Nameless City»
Tyras: Archeological Site of an Ancient Greek colony on the Black Sea Coast, near Modern Day Odessa, Ukraine
Tanais: Archeological Site of an Ancient Greek colony on the Black Sea Coast, in the Don River Delta of Modern Day Russia.
The Refugee Camp/City of Arslan: Persian, «Brave»/«Lion-Hunter»/«Gladiator»
The Downed Space Carrier «Murakami»: Japanese «Village Superior», the name of an ancient Clan and Fiefdom, as well as of an 10th Century Emperor during the Heian Period and the famous modern writer Haruki Murakami
Suren, the Destroyed Capital of Rostram: The Parthian Noble House of Suren, which including the General Surena who defeated and executed the Roman Statesman Crassus (once the richest man in Rome, who had defeated the Slave Rebellion led by Spartacus, and been part of the First Triumvirate together with Ceasar and Pompey the Great) at the Battle of Carrhae
Stygian Ropes: Stygia, «Evil Egyptian Wizard Land» in Conan the Cimmerian
Orestes: Son of King Agamemnon and Clytemnestra of the Iliad, whose murder of his Mother (for murdering his Father) and trial was the subject of multiple Ancient Greek Poems and Plays
Tristan: Arthurian Knight of the Round Table, famous for his tragic romance with the Princess Isolde
Ram: Rama, avatar of Vishnu and hero of the Indian Epic «Ramayana», Arthur C. Clarke’s «Rendezvous with Rama» and a character in the Sci Fi movie «Tron»
Idun: Norse Goddess, Guardian of the Apples of Eternal Youthfulness
Kingu & Marduk: Mesopotamian Gods
Panopticon: Prison design by the Utilitarian philosopher Jeremey Bentham, allowing one guard to watch over all prisoners at all times
Catwalk sword-fights and cut hands: Humming the Imperial Theme here!
March Station: «Ringworld» by Larry Niven and the «Halo» Video Games!
Lothrian Cyrillic! Name: The Ides of March?
Therevada bhikkhu: Buddhist munk (Theravada is the oldest and strictest interpretation of the main branches of Buddhism)
Holographic Geisha: «Blade Runner» and «Ghost in the Shell»!
The Raven Hrothgar: King Hrothgar of Denmark built Heorot Hall that is plagued by attacks by Grendel in «Beowulf», and the raven is a symbol of Odin in Norse Myth
Hellenic Pharaoh: The Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt, and Percey Shelley’s «Ozimandias»(Ozimandias is the Greek name of Ramses)
Ossulum Vaccine: «Osculum infame» «kiss of shame», alledged witch ritual involving the witch kissing the Devil’s…«end»…
The Spaceship «Enigma of the Hours»: «The Enigma of the Hour», Italian early 20th Century Painting by metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico
The Old Florentine & Lions, Leopards & Wolves: Dante, «The Divine Comedy»
Artifical Owl: «Blade Runner»
Nuncius: Latin «Messenger», «Sidereus Nuncius» («Starry/Sidereal Message/Messenger») was Galileo Galilei’s first treatise on his celestial observations using a telescope
Jayavarman: Multiple Khmer Kings, including Jayavarman VII, who converted to Buddhism and invested heavily in infrastructure and welfare for his people
The hightower: The Hightower(s) of Oldtown in «A Song of Ice & Fire»?
Glad you loved it. The climax of Howling Dark is incredible, but Demon in White is on another level. Demon in White is like 5 of the best books you've ever read in a single book. I would advise to at least read Demons of Arae (short story from Tales of the Sun Eater Vol. 1) and Queen Amid Ashes before Demon in White though, if memory serves.
Thank you so much! Demon in White sounds incredibly exciting. I plan to read both Queen Amid Ashes first and Tales of the Sun Eater vol 1 before Demon in White! :)
I told you man!! So glad you loved this book so much. These books check every box for me. Enjoy Demon in White!!!
It was so damn good. Demon in White next!! :)
I’m reading the empire of silence now because of your review on good reads. Enjoying it so far.
So good to hear that! Howling Dark is even better, too!
Loved your review and so glad you loved this one. Demon in White is my favorite but i feel Howling Dark is the most special if that makes sense!
Thank you very much! That makes sense. Here's hoping Demon in White will become my favorite, too! :)
So glad you're enjoying and helping bringing the series into wider audiences, this is so seriously underrated and certainly deserves more spotlight. Ruocchio is truly a talent we don't see often and in time will surely become one of the greats of the genre!!
I definitely agree with you on this. What a criminally underrated sci-fi series. More people need to read Sun Eater!
Ahhh I have "Howling Dark" sitting on my shelf, now I'm even more excited to continue Hadrian's story!
Yes dooo it! It's incredible!! 😃
Petrik, I dont know if you ever do audiobooks, but definitely worth it whenever you get to a reread. Samuel Roukin's narration is masterclass.
I don't do audiobooks, but I'll never say never to it. Once I get used to audiobooks, there will be a lot of books I want to reexperience. This being one of them! 😃
Woooohoooo!!! I knew you would love this one, and that means you’re about to read one of the great literary masterpieces of our time in Demon in White.
This review made me so happy, and the whole thing from the moment they met Kharn just had me so gripped and continually blew my mind.
Aaaaaa so exciting! Cannot wait to read Demon in White next month!
And I agree with you. Ever since we encountered Kharn, suddenly everything escalated. Don't even get me started on Brethren. So good!
Yessssss Petrik! It makes me so happy to see SunEater getting the praise it deserves. I absolutely cannot wait to see my Lettered Edition hardcover of EoS. Eagerly awaiting to hear how Demon in White exceeded expectations yet again.
Thank you so much! I'm so pumped for Demon in White. Many seems to agree that's the best of the series! :)
Your review of EoS is what got me into this series! Im about to now start howling dark, unbelievably excited!
Thank you so much! Here's hoping you'll enjoy Howling Dark, too!
Howling dark was my favorite of the series until i read kingdoms of death. Im interested in you thoughts on demon in white, i think it may be the most popular of the series. I know youll love it but trying to pick a favorite of the series can be difficult. Thanks for bringing more recognition to this amazing series. Christopher deserves all the praises
Exciting! And it is my pleasure to read a great series like this. I already have difficulty deciding which one I love more between Empire of Silence and Howling Dark, but I have to give the edge to Howling Dark. I look forward to reading the rest of the series! :)
About 30 chapters in it feels like it’s starting to get going, but there is just sooo much philosophising from Hadrian breaking things up. I couldn’t put down Empire of Silence but I’m having to push myself to keep going with this one.
Hadrian and philosophy go hand in hand through the entire series. 😂 It was a lot in Howling Dark, though.
Petrik I was so confused by Ch 43 that I went to the author’s summary and if anyone feels that way just go to the 8 minute mark and he explains it all!😀 Now I can move on to Ch 44 or re-listen to Ch 43.
Haha that's good! I haven't checked the author's summary yet actually. 😂
Perfect timing! I just finished Empire of Silence last night and I’m about to start the second one. I’m loving it so far. Thanks Petrik!
Thank you so much! You will love Howling Dark even more! :)
Yes! Howling Dark is such a great book. My favourite part is whenever Hadrian had a conversation with Kharn, especially his first meeting. You can tell Hadrian is naive and Kharn is really an ancient that has lost his humanity. I have a feeling they will meet again in the future and would love to see how the dynamic change
Loved every scene with Hadrian and Kharn together! The atmosphere in their conversation felt real. Looking forward to reading Demon in White! :)
I loved the horror elements that slowly creep into Howling Dark. I was not expecting them at all. Parts of Howling Dark almost feel Lovecraftian, which I loved.
Totally true. The horror elements were palpable! 😃
Lost track of how many times you’ve given me goosebumps! I’m so happy you’re enjoying this, and yes, Demon in White is even better!
So excited to read Demon in White next month! Will read Queen Amid Ashes and Tales of the Sun Eater volume 1 first!
You are blazing through! Can't wait I have 1 more spooky season read then Way of Edan and Empire of Silence will be in my hands.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts! It's amazing! :)
I am almost done with Howling Dark and it’s just mind-bending good. I really enjoyed the first book, but this one is blowing my mind!! Action, philosophy, character growth, and fascinating world building. I seriously want to call in sick to work just to read these. I haven’t been doing anything else since I started!! I want to dive into the lore and the histories, and not just of the humans. These books are so weird and wonderful, sweet and suspenseful.
Yeah I know what you mean. Howling Dark blew my mind. Aeta Aranata is crazy. And Kharn Sagara is so cool. Somehow, Demon in White managed to top Howling Dark. Truly amazing series!
One of the best books ive ever read!!! Do yourself a favor and try this series!
@@Dominknows Hear hear!!
Dude how 😂 I finished the first one and had a head start on you and you still finished before me 😂 but howling dark is amazing. The first book was great but man…. This one is crazy. 100 pages left!
Hahah, I got around to reading this sooner than I expected. And I LOVED it. I hope you will, too. The last 100 pages are insane!
I think you should write a book petrik. You truly have a way with words, an example. The obsidian dominion was a great line
I stsrted this months ago but malazan has taken over so im gonna restart it next year, i LOVED EoS, and loved what i read in howling dark. Especially the painted man scene.
Haha, thank you, Sean! Never say never. :)
I hope you'll enjoy this series whenever you get around to it. I totally understand how Malazan can take up a lot of your time and commitment!
@@PetrikLeo yeah, it's been the year of malazan, and I have a hard time entering new series while my brain is hooked on malazan haha
Halfmortal!!! Normally I fall asleep around 11pm but I had to stay up to 1am to finish this book haha
HALFMORTAL! I couldn't put it down, brother. It was so badass. Read the last 100 pages in one sitting.
The fact that a book with SO much hype can still manage to live up to that hype is just insane to me! I am happy that you loved this so much though, and can't wait to start my own Sun Eater journey! Enjoy the wild ride 🤩
Thank you very much, Esmay! I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Sun Eater. I think you'll love it, too! :)
I’ve just finished the first 3 chapters of Howling Dark. I’m glad you said it takes a while to get used to the time jump as I definitely feel the same. So excited to continue!
You won't regret continuing. It will pay off! :)
I’m about to start Ashes of Man, book 5. Book 4 Kingdoms of Death is the most heartbreaking so far.
I will try to catch up! I should be reading Kingdoms of Death and Ashes of Man early next year!
Thanks Petrik. You’re the best.
You're welcome! Thank you for watching, too! :)
So glad you love this book Petrik, its a wonderful series. Definitely my favourite Sci-fi series of all time.
Thank you, brother! Sun Eater is on its way becoming my favorite scifi series!
So glad the hype paid off for you!
It totally does! 😁
I can't wait to read this series, but I did the kickstarter for the special edition of the first book so I'm waiting for that.
I did the Kickstarter, too! I will use that for reread purposes! :)
Glad u liked it. The white alien looks really cool.
They're so terrifying, too. :D
I’m soo glad you loved it; I had a feeling you would!
I love it so much, Luis! You were right. This was AMAZING. :)
Once you read Howling Dark ch 43 i.e. Bretheren it's so hard to not realize this is something really special.
That chapter was SOOOO GOOD! Let's not even get started on the howling dark moments at the end. Bloody insane.
@@PetrikLeo Absolutely crazy. You could never predict it.
Will have to check this out, sounds really interesting! I just started Gentlemen Bastards... again... I keep trying to get into it but haven't managed it. The audio book is pretty poorly recorded and the last time I tried was right after I rage quite The Wheel of Boring so I think it also absorbed some of my anger at that which was unfair so giving it a fair go this time and I've already passed where I got to before, will see how it goes.
I also just saw something while looking for a short video explaining the Greenbone Saga and why people should read it (I have linked your video on it before but I wanted something in the 2-3 minute range as some people don't watch the whole video but they usually do with shorts) when I found something so unbelievably cool I had to come make sure you saw it too. Green Bone Saga | Jade City Teaser Trailer by Live Action Trailers on youtube! It's a fan made trailer for a potential Jade City film using clips from other movies and some sound bites from the audiobook! I cried, really recommend checking it out.
I think you will enjoy this series, I hope so anyway! And I know the video on Green Bone Saga teaser trailer you mentioned. I have seen it before! Really well done, and I hope the TV adaptation for it will be something terrific eventually! :)
I just finished Book 1 on audio and it was AMAZING! I cannot believe the upcoming books can possibly be better.
I was the same as you. But it did succeed. Amazing!
I'm so glad to hear this,the good news is that Demon in White is the favourite of most readers,my money is that you will like it even more than the first two books. Now you begin to see why I like the Sun Eater even more than Red Rising 😅.Happy readings.
Thank you! Haha, this is so exciting! The first two were damn good already. Can't wait to read Demon in White next month! :)
That art of Hadrian by James Cook is the spitting image of big soap opera star! I hope I can unsee that image when I pick up this book again! I was about 20% in and then I got stuck. Your happiness in this review will jump start my return. In Petrik I trust!! I need to catch up to you.😀
Hahaha, The Art of Hadrian by James Cook reminded me of Ben Barnes! Such a handsome bloke haha. I hope you will enjoy the rest of book!
@@PetrikLeoLook up the actor, a young Ron Moss, maybe this artist grew up with the “ Bold & the Beautiful” on the television. Believe it or not Ridge Forrester was a very patrician character on that show!
Howling Dark is such a big improvement from Empire of Silence. I'm slowly going through the series, but looking forward to read books 3-6 next yr.
Understandable! Once I read Demon in White, I'll take a little break from the series. Probably. But my goal is to read Demon in White this year. Kingdoms of Death and the rest will be next year. :)
@@PetrikLeo Slow down man! I'm still trying to keep up with you on The Wheel of Time! I'm just halfway through Lord of Chaos hahah
Finished reading the book it was good definitely will be continuing this series unfortunately it's going to be awhile
Woohoo! Here's hoping you'll love the rest of the series more! 😄
Book 3 was probably one of my favorite books this year. Starting 4 next week!
I will read Demon in White next month! No idea how it will top this, but I'm excited to find out. Enjoy Kingdoms of Death! :)
Yay. My favourites were Books 4 and 5, one of those series which got better imo. 😊
Woohoo! That's even more awesome if it's true for me. :)
I'll give it a go. People with similar taste to seem to be hooked by this book but those people were also much higher on EoS than me so we'll see haha
Haha, I hope you'll enjoy this, too. But if not, don't worry about it. Sometimes, we just have different opinion and experience. :)
*spoiler alert*
While reading this book, I came across a Reddit post "which series/character has the most plot armor". And I remember thinking obviously Sun Eater because you literally know the character writing the book has to survive until the end... Then I read *the chapter* with the Howling Dark and was promptly stunned. Amazing stuff. I can't imagine Demon in White can live up to the unending hype, but let's find out!
Big Spoiler for Howling Dark
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That was EXACTLY my thought, too. "Yeah, nothing will happen to him." Then boom, a hand got cut off. And he literally died. What the hell!? Incredible stuff.
i knew you'd love it Petrik!!! I still need to read Lesser Devil!!! You recommend it?
Lesser Devil is good! None of it played a huge part in Howling Dark yet, but great to know what's going on with Crispin etc!
I ordered this yesterday!
Woohoo! I hope you'll love it! :)
How were you able to get that hardcover for howling dark?! I've been trying to get one for years lol.
I bought it a long time ago. My bad habit of buying hardcover ahead of time of books I'm interested in pays off. :D
I did audiobooks for the first 2 and it just didn’t do it for me, ended up not picking up book 3. This is a series I will revisit (and prob read) sometime in the future, just didn’t click with me. Also minor gripe about the prose with characters retelling their story “[event xxxxx] is something I will NEVER forget”…..it seems you don’t forget a lot of anything, we have 6 novels worth of stuff 😂😂😂
HAHAHA! C'mon. Hadrian admitted he is melodramatic after all! Fully understand though if it's not for you! 😁
Sun Eater is awesome!!!
Hear hear!!
Well I guess that's another one on my 1mil TBR list.. 😶
You won't regret it, though. :D
@@PetrikLeo I trust your word on that. 🤝
Finally found the first four main novels, which was difficult enough to accomplish in Norway, but the novellas are all but impossible. Can I skip them or are they essential reading?
Nice! I don't think any of the novellas and collections of short stories in the series that I've read are absolutely necessary. They're good to add quicker context and depth, but you'll understand them, too, from reading the main novels! :)
Aah, i feel the story cud be trimmed. I find just the ending interesting
That's too bad! I found the beginning of Howling Dark a bit sluggish, but after they arrived in Vorgossos, the book became incredible to the end!
@@PetrikLeo yup, I agree. I think it's because Hadrian is a scholiast. His story is a rich meal my poor stomach cannot take. Also I had difficulty imagining his world. How do you do it?
But the pacing Petrik?....come on. ❤
Didn't feel bored with any page here. :)
i heard you could read the short story before book 1 to see if you like the author. is this true. can you read lesser devil before empire of silence and do u recommend it?
You cooould read it first, but it's going to make more sense if you read it after EoS. It's set after the beginning of EoS.
Imo, better to read that after Empire of Silence. Lesser Devil, while good, is not representative to how the main books goes at all. The narration is very different, too. :)
@@PetrikLeo thanks
Hi 👋 sorry this series wasn’t for me.. but I’m glad u liked it… 🎉
Thank you!!!
I don't understand all the praise for this book. Quite some weird ideas disguised by flowery prose in here. But not enough story or actual ideas.
Definitely disagree with "not enough story or actual ideas". But well, as always, reading is subjective! For example, I abhorred Sailing to Sarantium by GGK. I don't know why many loved that book but so many people do hahaha! :D
@@PetrikLeo ah see that is one I really loved 🙂