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A review by samtherat17
Howling Dark by Christopher Ruocchio
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
How do you even begin reviewing a book such as this? I mean, in terms of scope, if you thought Empire of Silence was ambitious, this book dials that up to 11 and doesn't look back. The worldbuilding is fascinating just like the first book, and we explore many more parts of the galaxy. I especially loved the exploration of Vorgossos (and the Undying too) and found it to be a really cool and menacing setting, and some of those scenes in which our main characters investigate Vorgossos are quite chilling and give off some serious horror vibes.
This is not a very easy book to read, firstly because of the prose, which almost everyone who reads this series gushes about (including me!). Seriously though, I adore Christopher Ruocchio's writing style, even though it makes reading his books take twice as much time as any other novel😅. Anyway, this book is also quite hard to read because of its slow-burn style, which I personally enjoy because it allows for more worldbuilding and character interactions, but may put off some readers. Howling Dark also begins after a pretty big time jump, which is a bit disorienting at first, but isn't really a problem later on.
Perhaps the biggest reason for me loving this book (and series too!) is Hadrian Marlowe. Ruocchio writes him in such a way that he seems real to the reader, and you never know if the decisions he takes will prove to be right or wrong, which is what makes him such a flawed, but amazing character. His relationships with people like Jinan, Valka and Switch are also complex and Ruocchio really makes them feel nuanced and not one-dimensional.
Really my only issue with this book is that apart from vital side characters such as Valka, Bassander and Switch, none of Hadrian's other counterparts have much development. Hey, maybe it's just a me thing, but I have a hard time distinguishing them from one another, apart from a couple of them like Pallino and Crim.
I would be remiss if I didn't talk about that last act. Ruocchio must be taking some notes from Brandon Sanderson, because whoa. I can't say much about it, but suffice it to say that the story finally explodes, everything goes wild, and it's amazing. If you're having trouble getting through that first half, hang in there, because there's a lot more in store for you.
So yeah, I guess that's it. This book may have taken a while to get through, but every second was worth it. Can't wait to read further into the series!
Hadrian died???? And came back?? And the Gibson which spoke to him in his dreams was actually the Quiet? And what's up with that white stone? I have so many questions.
This is not a very easy book to read, firstly because of the prose, which almost everyone who reads this series gushes about (including me!). Seriously though, I adore Christopher Ruocchio's writing style, even though it makes reading his books take twice as much time as any other novel😅. Anyway, this book is also quite hard to read because of its slow-burn style, which I personally enjoy because it allows for more worldbuilding and character interactions, but may put off some readers. Howling Dark also begins after a pretty big time jump, which is a bit disorienting at first, but isn't really a problem later on.
Perhaps the biggest reason for me loving this book (and series too!) is Hadrian Marlowe. Ruocchio writes him in such a way that he seems real to the reader, and you never know if the decisions he takes will prove to be right or wrong, which is what makes him such a flawed, but amazing character. His relationships with people like Jinan, Valka and Switch are also complex and Ruocchio really makes them feel nuanced and not one-dimensional.
Really my only issue with this book is that apart from vital side characters such as Valka, Bassander and Switch, none of Hadrian's other counterparts have much development. Hey, maybe it's just a me thing, but I have a hard time distinguishing them from one another, apart from a couple of them like Pallino and Crim.
I would be remiss if I didn't talk about that last act. Ruocchio must be taking some notes from Brandon Sanderson, because whoa. I can't say much about it, but suffice it to say that the story finally explodes, everything goes wild, and it's amazing. If you're having trouble getting through that first half, hang in there, because there's a lot more in store for you.
So yeah, I guess that's it. This book may have taken a while to get through, but every second was worth it. Can't wait to read further into the series!