Read History
2026 | Score: 10
Great Conclusion to a great series. Second best book in the series behind Demon in White. The very very end felt a bit rushed but I think that was intentional. The build up to certain scenes was done incredibly, feels good to have a modern series conclude so well.
Format: Audible
Days: 29
Date: 12/18/2025 -> 1/16/2026
Summary
Shadows Upon Time
Christopher Ruocchio
Sun Eater #7
Opens with Hadrian trying to teach Cassandra to hear The Quiet. Then he is notified the Jadians have arrived and meets with Prince Kime Eloran (his friend from Emesh who is actually their biggest prince). Explains how he took the Demiurge, was betrayed by the empire, learned the Chantry employ demons secretly built on Earth, and was forced to kill the Empire men after they ruined the alliance with the Lothrians. The Prince takes some convincing but believes him, and is scared of the Mericanii weapons stored on the Demiurge. Hadrian asks him to escort him to Forum so he can talk to the emperor. They go and people hate Hadrian but he is not attacked, only called a homonculus because they have not yet seen his reborn body.
He talks with William over the telegram and William seems like he is dying. They plan to meet at Goddodan and launch one final assault to kill all the Cielcen. Alexander is acting as emperor when Hadrian gets there since his father is sick and in fugue, but Strategos Basander Lin is also there and they reconnect. Hadrian is planning to sacrifice himself to lure Doreaka to a planet and kill him. But Princess Seline and Cassandra keep coming with him anad foiling his plans. They go to save some refugees from Duna (Switch’s home planet from forever ago), but when they are there Hadrian fights the prince of princes and they stalemate and then Ushara the watcher takes control of a bunch of his men and make Holden and Captain Goshal all kill each other. She takes control of Cassanra and both her and Hadrian almost die.
They go to the Goddoden system to meet the emperor and prepare for a Cielcin attack, since Hadrian told them where the fleet was. At first only Alexander greets them and he is still a spiteful little bully who wants to claim Demiurge, but the emperor summons them to himself. He is dying of the Rot, the disease released by the Minoans. He is half in fugue to slow the spread and speaks through a computer. He named Hadrian Ochter of the empire, meaning he is basically the emperor himself. He begins the evacuation of Goddoden, but keeps hitting issues and it is taking too long. After a number of years the Cielcin still have not showed up and support for Hadrian is dying. Alexander is backed by the Chantry and they hate him. Selene donates a bunch of food to the people of Goddodan who are trapped in refugee/evacutation camps. When her and Hadrian and Cassandra go to visit the planet there is a riot and they are almost killed. A young boy named Kit helps them escape and the Irk-tani fly them to safety. THey know Alexander and the chantry are behind this but can’t prove it. Eventually public opinion turns against Hadrian so bad he retreats to Demiurge. A prophecy from Orphan makes him know the Cielcin are still coming. Alexander and the Chantry then burn/bomb most of the planet and blame Hadrian for it. Oh hadrian also destroyed an empty outlying planet on his way into system as a show of force, Iden.
Hadrian is forced to flee/hide. Goes to the emperor. He then magic-travels to Doreaka’s moon ( can;t remember the name) and kills his physical body with help, but that births a new watcher. HE flees and the Cielcin invade and attack the Solan fleet. Big battle happens, Hadrian thinks The jaddians and Lin are dead, but no they lived. Ushara makes him live through Cassandra dying and Lorians betrayal thousands of time to torture him, until orphan scares her away with a darak light weapon. Hadrian goes to see William. William and Nicephorous witness Hadrian named emperor of the SOlan empire, althoug he does not want it, and is secretly wed to Selene. He also learns that the palatine genetic codes are tied to his blood. HAdrian leaves the emperor, who does not have long to live, and is ambushed by Martians, Alexander, and the Chantry. They say he committed regicide and stole the throne, and that he is stealing Selene by force. They try to take Cassandra from him and they have to fight their way out with help from the JAddians. They get back to Demiurge and activate the Sun Eater. They think Lorian, Alexander, and most people die except Basander Lin and Jadd. But Lorian is awesome and escaped. They meet to discuss next moves. They need to avoid war and convince people Hadrian is rightful emperor. Hadrian thinks this is impossible and plans to die and give himself up. Lorian is upset, but leaves to go explore the galaxy. Everyone else goes to Avalon, when it turns out Alexander lives and has named himself emperor and killed his father. HAdrian sends Albe A2 awai with the Danu refugees and Cassandra, and him, Selene, and Basander lin go to the planet. They take Hadrian prisoner, although many see that he was the rightful emperor. Lin is demoted and Selene is never seen again. THey hang Hadrian althoug hwe know he is revived because he is writing this account. The end.