Ultimately, just sorta *fine*. Didn't particularly love it, didn't particularly hate it. 

This was totally a me problem and not necessarily a problem with the book but for some reason going into the book I thought this was going to be more of a historical fiction novel than contemporary literary fiction. I was really jarred when the characters started talking about cell phones and laptops. 

Much more engaging pace compared to Empire of Silence while still having moments of slower but still fantastic world building. 

Quite enjoyable, fast, and action packed! I read this fairly soon after reading Empire of Silence. I would have preferred to read this series in the publication order rather than in the chronological order, but my library had this hold ready so much more quickly than the next in the publication order soooo here we are. I'd be curious to see if my opinion on this book once I read the rest of the series, and also to see if we see Crispin or go back to Delos in the main series. 

I always like to see depictions of religion in fiction, especially science fiction. We know the Terran Chantry is effectively the state religion of the Empire, this book explores what other beliefs they allow.

Mostly just kinda disappointed with this book tbh.

 I found this book in a thread for recommendations on books like Red Rising. Unfortunately, it feels less like Red Rising and more like Dune in it's general slowness and how it kinda throws the reader into the deep end of the world of the book. I think because of that it really took me a while to get into the book. It wasn't until a little less than halfway through that I started to feel positively about the book.

One thing to note is the book's interesting writing style, it's written as if it's a memoir from the perspective of our main character, Hadrian. Right from the beginning we find out there's been some sort of war, and that Hadrian has done something horrible in the course of that war but that this story isn't about the war and Hadrian's role in it, at least not yet. For now, he's just retelling his life story. Throughout this retelling, however, we get periodic nuggets of commentary from future Hadrian on his past, and these little asides where he reflects on how he used to act or think is how we're slowly introduced to the character he becomes.