Demon in White Book Review
Book Review:
Demon in White
by Christopher Ruocchio
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There will be spoilers in this post.
There is so much here that happened; yet I'm not even sure how to talk about it coherently. The third book in the series takes so much of what we know about the Cielcin, our past, and the Quiet and just flips it. Everything we learn, just the sheer scope of the universe being built is one of the reasons I love this series.
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Let's start with the expansion (or deepening of the world-building). From book two we got our first glimpse of the Mericonii and learned of their interactions with the Quiet. Hadrian's goal over the past several years has been to get into the Imperial library hoping to find information on the Mericanii kept by the Emperors of old. When he is finally allowed, we learn more about how they rose to power and why. As well as given a new perspective of what humanity was treated to under their care. I was completely nerding out over the fact that one of the presidents was the creator of the Mericanii. To the damions, they were only acting on the primary order of extending human lives. When Hadrian meets Harmony it tells them the humans were living perfect lives in the simulation until “they” interfered. Which would lead us into the next set of revelations.
For the story, this trip to the library was worth it by finding out a detail about the Quiet. Harmony tells our group about the locations the Quiet operated from even showing the coordinates for Valka to memorize. Also revealing that time does not work the same for either entity. Later revelations dwarf these details though. Hadrian talks with the Quiet again learning more about the darker forces in the wider universe. Through this they show him that the Ceilcin don't worship themselves but these dark beings. The Quiet even goes so far as to show Hadrian his future at Gododdin. Which of course Hadrian fights against that he will murder billions.
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Hadrian in this book felt much like he had at the beginning, well except no longer being so naïve. Now he is an adult with knowledge of the empire and finally the ability to study as he always wanted. Okay sure that's not how the book starts him out but I'm happy we got to see the scholarly side come back out. Hadrian does prove that he is also good at the game of politics, all the harsh lessons drilled by his father are greatly needed in this book. With that, we also get to see the compassionate side that the older Lord Marlowe would never have as Hadrian works to save lives. This book shines at showing how much Hadrin has grown and all the different facets of him come into play throughout.
One thing I do realize I left out of the video review is how he is paralleled against both his younger self and even Bassander Lin. It is mentioned several times that Hadrian prefers to stay awake longer during their voyages. Unlike others, it is due to the dreams, which even though impossible he still has. This leads to Hadrian being isolated for long stretches of his life. Which he previously thought was bad for Lin’s mental health and you do see more of the edginess of this showing up in Hadrian's thoughts.
This series has done a fair job of building up its side characters as well. I love Valka and how she has challenged Hadrian since the beginning. The romance between them worked a bit better in this book. A new addition to the Red Company is Lorian Aristedes, who is a brilliant lord's son who was stuck at a desk for the legion until Hadrian recruited him. Lorian is another character who is skeptical and challenges Hadrian while learning the man and myth at the same time. Several other supporting characters make wonderful impacts throughout the story.
Our story in this book takes place starting roughly a hundred years after the events of Vorgossos. Hadrian has been searching for answers about the Quiet and ways to peace. For all his exploits as a knight of the empire, the legend of the Halfmortal has only grown. This leads to tension between himself and some members of the Empiral council (and Emperess). For the insult of surviving his attempted assassination(s), Hadrian must leave on a mission that will keep him out of sight. Hadrian can spend time in scholarly research before his Red Company is drawn back into the war efforts. The path to peace seems achievable only through a destruction Hadrian won't accept.
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The ending of this book was something else. It firmly cements the beginning of Hadrian the Half-Mortal in the eyes of more than the Legionaries. It’s hard to say he was showing off because to have done anything different would have just been death. However, it was a huge spectacle that will have far-reaching consequences.
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