The Lesser Devil (Sun Eater) Paperback – February 25, 2020

One of the best novellas that I’ve read to date, and I’ve read some pretty fantastic novellas through the years. When I saw that this was a story about Crispin during the time of Hadrian’s absence, I was really ecstatic to see what happened to him and to see if some theories I had came to fruition. I didn’t expect to come away from this story liking Crispin the way that I do now, I was expecting to see him end up as the really bad kid that got worse as an adult, but that wasn’t the case, and this story shows a major evolution into him and I truly hope there’s more to his story going forward.“If you answer violence with violence, you will inherit violence without end. Whoever slays the killer quickly discovers that killers are avenged sevenfold.”This novella feels like it was written to show the contrasts of the two brothers, Hadrian and Crispin. In Empire of Silence we got to see the pov of Hadrian and his inner thoughts on Crispin, now we get to see Crispin’s and just how much he actually looked up to him. I connected with Crispin on a much bigger level than I expected because as a little brother also, we can come off a bit annoying and sometimes seem like we are getting favored more to the older sibling. Beyond that though, I loved how action packed this was, with how Empire of Silence was more slow and methodical with some action which fit Hadrian’s personality, The Lesser Devil is near non-stop adrenaline ride that fits more woth Crispin’s.And of course I have to mention the stellar performance of Samuel Roukin, who knocks it out of the park again. Between him, Tim Gerard Reynolds & Steven Pacey, this may be the holy trinity of SFF narration, and I will stand firmly on that hill. I also have to mention Ruocchio’s incredible writing that just sucked me in from the get go. Just phenomenal storytelling, world build and character work.

Buy this! This is a must read for any Sun Eater fan. I look forward to more stories in this universe.

I am a huge fan of Christopher Ruocchio's massive space opera series, The Sun-Eater, so a little side novel featuring an adventure of the younger brother of protagonist Hadrian Marlowe was a real treat. Crispin lacks Hadrian's intelligence or political acumen and ability to grasp the big galactic picture. He has played only a minor role in the series so far, but given a chance to shine in The Lesser Devil, he does indeed, acting not only courageously but nobly in dealing with both friends and enemies and unexpected new allies.I was most impressed with author Ruocchio's facility in switching from writing first-person (Hadrian's POV in the large series) and third-person with Crispin's story. Still the same feeling of being inside the protagonist's mind and interpreting things from a unique perspective.The plot is fairly straight-forward, with one neat little twist involving the real enemy that Crispin and the other characters are facing. The action involving futuristic weaponry and the descriptions of the family Marlowe's home planet are first-rate and at times, breathtaking. Clocking in at under 200 pages it can be read in one or two sittings and there's not a moment of boredom. Superbly paced, with occasional thought-provoking dialogue, the novel is one that any space opera or military sf fan will enjoy.I also enjoyed the author accepting and embracing the religious aspects of human life, which so many sf writers either ignore completely or seem afraid to allow into their plot and cultures. The Lesser Devil features a fascinating offshoot of ancient Christianity that manages to enlighten the primary tale of battle and escape.Last but not least, Ruocchio continues his clever references to other science fiction, yet never allowing these to interfere or detract from his story. My particular favorite in this book was an homage to the Alien films.This novel can be read as a stand-alone but quite frankly, I can't imagine anyone reading this book who would not immediately jump all over the Sun-Eater novels and kick themselves for not having found them sooner. Like me, they will be eagerly awaiting the third book, Demon in White, due to be published this summer and my personal front-runner for best speculative fiction of 2020.

While Empire of Silence kind of makes Crispin seem like a Chad, the writing in that book hints that perhaps he isn’t entirely.This book really gets into the previously untold depths of the real Crispin. Was Hadrian perhaps an “unreliable narrator” regarding his brother or did they never get a chance to really know one another? There are a few editing issues, but I thoroughly enjoyed this installment.

This series is one of my favorites. I usually don't read the 1.5s or side stories, because I never find them to be of sufficient scope to be worthwhile, but this one is an exception. It's not long, but if you rate the series as a four or greater, then consider reading this short addition.What I liked: - Crispin had his own distinct voice. He was well fleshed out and very believable/relatable. - The world build was fleshed out more. Interesting worldbuilding info was discovered naturally in a very organic way. It's a rich universe. - The action was well written. In fact, there was probably more action than in the main story as there was less time for a full tapestry.What I didn't like: - It is definitely a short story and I prefer full fat, but then I knew that going in. - Crispin is no Hadrian. I would say that he is arguably too intellectually limited to be a believable heir to his titan of a father. I struggle with protagonists who are slow, I get frustrated with them, however Crispin isn't too bad. He is brave, biased to action, open to change, and introspective.I sincerely wish all the best to the author. I hope he has a long a productive career. These books are all fantastic.

Was missing Hadrian a lot, so took me a few pages to get over the fact that this was Crispin’s story. However, got over that fast, and actually enjoyed this short novel on ‘The Lesser Devil’. It was great to see Crispin’s perspective on some of the earlier events that take place in ‘Empire of Silence.’ How he views his interactions with his family. I have a feeling this book will have readers more sympathetic towards Crispin.There is a distinct difference in the voice, with Book 1 told from a much older, more experienced, Hadrian looking back POV, with this one a younger, present day Crispin, and I think the author pulls this off very well.I would say the story, while short, adds a great deal to the lore, the science, the religion, the politics, and the overall world created by Christopher Ruocchio, and is therefore a must read for fans of the series. Plenty of action as well, and we are introduced to weapon technology very well. Works perfectly as a standalone, but probably best read after Empire of Silence.

book content should be great but considering the price of the paperback vs the thickness (or lack of) of the book, it should have been hardcover, it doesn't stand by itself. Still, I think I'll enjoy it!

look forward to reading the next one

This is a great adventure & a coming-of-age story for callow 50 year old Crispin (palatines live very long lives,in contrast to the plebs,a fact which is vividly brought home to us),the brother of the hero of Ruocchio's Sunday Eater series and a nice meditation on faith, now and in a future galactic empire.Recommended.

Really enjoyed the fleshing out of Crispin, and a little peak into the Marlowe business. Couple of nods to the future if Hadrian does cross paths with his family again.Not normally a fan of shorts but happy to see one for this universe that's not part of an anthology!