BookBingeSun Eater Books in Order
The short answer
Christopher Ruocchio · 7 books
- How many books?
- There are 7 books in the Sun Eater series, published 2018–2025.
- Is it finished?
- Yes — the series is complete; it ends with Shadows Upon Time (2025).
- Where to start
- Start with Empire of Silence (2018).
About 5,200 pages — roughly 90 hours of reading
An epic, richly detailed space opera narrated by a man who claims to be both hero and destroyer, recounting his rise across a galaxy-spanning empire.
Here is the complete Sun Eater reading order — all 7 books by Christopher Ruocchio, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- Empire of SilenceRecounting his story from a prison cell decades later, a disgraced nobleman explains how his flight from a life as an imperial torturer set him on the path to becoming humanity's most infamous hero in a war against an alien empire.2018612 pages
- Howling DarkYears after the events that made him famous, Hadrian ventures into the lawless outer reaches of the galaxy searching for a lost world that might hold the key to ending humanity's war with the alien Cielcin.2019688 pages
- Demon in WhiteHailed across the galaxy as a hero, Hadrian is drawn deeper into the politics and machinery of the Sollan Empire even as the war against the Cielcin grinds relentlessly on.2020776 pages
- Kingdoms of DeathHadrian leads a perilous campaign into hostile, unknown territory that tests his companions and his own resolve like never before.2022912 pages
- Ashes of ManAs the war reaches an unprecedented scale, Hadrian finds himself confronting enemies on multiple fronts, both human and alien, with the stakes higher than ever.2022541 pages
- Disquiet GodsCalled out of retirement and exile alongside his daughter, an older Hadrian sets out on one last, near-impossible mission: to kill a god.2024704 pages
- Shadows Upon TimeHunted as a fugitive by the empire he once served, Hadrian goes into hiding as the long war between humanity and the Cielcin finally hurtles toward its conclusion.2025928 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
On our lists: Completed sci-fi book series
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Sun Eater books are there?
There are 7 books in the Sun Eater series by Christopher Ruocchio, from Empire of Silence (2018) to Shadows Upon Time (2025). Together they run to about 5,200 pages.
Is the Sun Eater series finished?
Yes. Christopher Ruocchio completed the series with Shadows Upon Time in 2025; all 7 books are out now.
What is the first Sun Eater book?
Empire of Silence (2018) is book one, at 612 pages. Recounting his story from a prison cell decades later, a disgraced nobleman explains how his flight from a life as an imperial torturer set him on the path to becoming humanity's most infamous hero in a war against an alien empire.
Should I read the Sun Eater series in publication order?
Yes. For the Sun Eater series, reading order and publication order are the same — Empire of Silence (2018) through Shadows Upon Time (2025).
How long does it take to read all Sun Eater books?
About 5,200 pages across 7 books — roughly 90 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Shadows Upon Time (928 pages); the shortest is Ashes of Man (541 pages).