Howling Dark Mass Market Paperback – 30 June 2020

Better than book oneThe second half of this book I read in one day could not put it down.

Second volume in the 'Sun Eater' series of epic far future science fiction novels. This began with 'Empire of Silence.'And this volume is absolutely not a jumping on point, so new readers should start with that one.Those who have read it, read on.This one runs for six hundred and fifty six pages. It has seventy nine chapters. It is absolutely not the end of the story. And there is some strong language, violence, and mild adult moments.Picking up from the end of book one, Hadrian and colleagues are still looking for the planet of Vorgossos. And thus the alien Cielcin, and hopefully a chance to make peace with them. But their destination still remains elusive.Hadrian is prepared to make very hard choices in order to find what he is looking for. And should he succeed, even harder ones will await. As his elder self, who is telling us this story, knows full well...There's nothing to refresh your memory for book one. All the character glossaries and appendices and the like are at the back of the book. So this is one of those ones that will take a little while to get back into.But all the things I liked about book one remain. It is readable. It is doesn't go overboard with world building, and thus is easily accessible. The narrative device of the elder Hadrian telling the story and occasionally interjecting works really well. It's also very inventive when it does do world building. With strange beings and new worlds and the like.Steadily, you get back into quicker than you would expect to. And the supporting cast do start to come to life again as well.The narrative also does keep moving. It is a very big book, but it does move the story along steadily throughout. It does feel very epic, and also part of a greater whole. Thus although it has advanced a bit by the end, there is a long way clearly still to go. And yet it feels ok. Because it feels like it's taking just the right time to tell the story it has to tell. Thus it held me throughout.A solid second volume in this series. I look forward to the next one.

The story and universe really come into their own during this novel. I loved the horror and cyberpunk aesthetics and themes.

The book is amazing and well worth reading as it has great characters and setting combined with cool imaginary and well build worldA great follow up

Book came in perfect condition.