Advertise on podcast: Devil's Rest Book Club

Today on DRBC, we interview the Sollan Emperor himself, without whom this podcast wouldn't exist, Christopher Ruocchio! We dive deep into questions about Empire of Silence, how he has approached the deluxe edition and how he is applying what he learned into the first book in his upcoming fantasy series, The Doomsong Saga! You can read an excerpt from the upcoming first book by grabbing a copy of the paperback edition of Shadows Upon Time wherever books are sold! https://quailridgebooks.com/book/9780756421298 Songs of the Sun Eater, the first of the short story collections set in the Sollan Empire, is coming out November 24th! It has a new short story set after the events of Shadows Upon Time! You can grab a signed copy from Quail Ridge books in the link below! https://quailridgebooks.com/book/9780756421502 You can late back Unbroken, a SFF Anthology, which also has another story post Shadows Upon Time at the link below: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unbroken/unbroken-new-tales-by-masters-of-fantasy Please check out what Christopher and his team have going on at the links below! Highmatter Books: https://www.highmatterbooks.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/SunEaterBooks Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ruocchio Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected]. Devil's Rest Book Club is a production of Disquiet Pods. This episode copyright 2026 Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Thanks for Joining us and Remember: Rage is Blindness.

Make peace my friend! Bring light! In today’s episode Hadrian kills Uvanari, learning in the process of the cielcin’s contact with Vorgossos, Hadrian maneuvers his way to a covert mission to find Vorgossos and negotiate with Aranata, and he recruits Valka and his myrmidons to join him on his adventure!   In this episode, we discuss Hadrian’s continued underestimation of his opponents, the morality of the Cielcin, as well as the political maneuverings we look forward to seeing later in the series! Oh and we finish the book! Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 76, 77, and 78 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018. Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected].

JUSTICE FOR GILLIAM!! In today’s episode Hadrian tells Valka about the Cielcin coming to Emesh to pray, Hadrian speaks to Uvanari alone where it tells Hadrian of its leader Aranata Otiolo and begs for mercy, and Hadrian plots with Valka and the other Cielcin to get information and kill Uvanari as a form of mercy. In today’s episode we discuss themes related to how to help someone out of a depressive state, the ineffectiveness of torture, a return to the morality of standing up for your beliefs. Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 73, 74 and 75 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected]. Devil's Rest Book Club is a production of Disquiet Pods. This episode copyright 2026 Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Thanks for Joining us and Remember: Rage is Blindness.

In the Time of Dying, We Will Die! In today’s episode Hadrian secures the Cielcin’s surrender, Hadrian is forced to translate for the interrogation of the captain of the Cielcin, and Hadrian grapples with conflicting emotions of empathy and horror toward the Cielcin.  In today’s episode we discuss themes related to culture, language, the ethics of torture, and the nature of personhood.  Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 70, 71, and 72 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected]. Devil's Rest Book Club is a production of Disquiet Pods. This episode copyright 2026 Cameron Elston and Drew Welty.

Episode description The Cielcin are here! In today’s episode Valka and Hadrian reconcile, the Cielcin crash on Emesh, and Hadrian accompanies Bassander Lin and Olorin to confront the Cielcin.   In today’s episode we discuss themes related to the present moment, embodied experience, the culmination of narrative and story, and excitement for where the story it going Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected]. Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 67, 68 and 69 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Devil's Rest Book Club is a production of Disquiet Pods. This episode copyright 2026 Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Thanks for Joining us and Remember: Rage is Blindness.

This must be! In today’s episode the Cielcin attack at the edge of the system, Hadrian sees apocalyptic visions with a clear voice saying “this must be”, and Anais pushes further for her marriage to Hadrian.   In today’s episode we discuss themes related to mistrust, apocalyptic and cosmic horror imagery, and violation of freedom in social hierarchy. Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 64, 65 and 66 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected]. Devil's Rest Book Club is a production of Disquiet Pods. This episode copyright 2026 Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Thanks for Joining us and Remember: Rage is Blindness.

Disinherited! In today’s episode Hadrian is told he has been disowned, he now has to flee from Legia Vas, and the crew heads to Calagah!  In today’s episode we discuss themes related to guilt, grief, personal growth, and the scale of the cosmos making us feel small. Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 56 and 57 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected]. Devil's Rest Book Club is a production of Disquiet Pods. This episode copyright 2026 Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Thanks for Joining us and Remember: Rage is Blindness.

En Garde! In today’s episode Valka and Hadrian fight about the upcoming duel and the upcoming duel arrives, ending with the death of Gilliam Vas. In today’s episode we discuss themes related to conflict, value differences, justice, and if violence solves problems or creates more. Apologies for the audio and video being out of sync! Hope to have this resolved in the next one. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected]. Devil's Rest Book Club is a production of Disquiet Pods. This episode copyright 2026 Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Thanks for Joining us and Remember: Rage is Blindness. Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 58-60 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018.

Hadrian takes offense! In today’s episode the Umandh rebel, Hadrian strikes Gilliam Vas, challenging him to a duel and revealing his palatine status, and Hadrian asks Switch to be his second.  On today’s episode we discuss themes related to subjugation and oppression, self-righteous anger, and empathetic reconciliation.  Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 56 and 57 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected].

Enter, The Quiet! In today’s episode Hadrian we are introduced to Bassander Lin as Hadrian verbally spars with the Chantry at a dinner party, Gilliam Accuses Hadrian of plotting with Valka, and Hadrian learns a the dark secret of the Quiet.  On today’s episode we discuss themes related to betrayal, paranoia, value differences, and suppression of the truth. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at [email protected]. Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 53, 54, and 55 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Devil's Rest Book Club is a production of Disquiet Pods. This episode copyright 2026 Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Thanks for Joining us and Remember: Rage is Blindness.

he political tension rises! In today’s episode Hadrian visits an alienage with Valka and the count’s children, Valka and Hadrian continue to become closer, and Hadrian is told to back away from the count’s children by Gilliam Vas.  On today’s episode we discuss themes related to the expression of ethics and responsibility in an authoritarian environment, jealousy, and the gradual growth of loving a flawed person. Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 50, 51, and 52 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected].

Brothers in arms have been reunited! In today’s episode Hadrian laments at his mistakes that have lead him to be trapped once again in a gilded cage, Hadrian sees the Cilecin he spoke with executed for the triumph he attends, and he meets with Pallino and attempts to reconcile. On today’s episode we discuss themes related to repairing relationships, human worth, image, and the many mistakes that Hadrian has made and how he continues to learn and grow.  Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 47-49 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected].

Valka has entered the building! In today’s episode, we discuss the start of Hadrian’s imprisonment in his new gilded cage. Hadrian appears changed by his time in Collosso, and behaves differently at court than he once behaved at Devil’s Rest. He meets the heirs to Emesh, and attends Collosso in the box once again, seeing some he knows fall to the gladiators. Lastly and most important, we meet a Xenoologist, Dr. Valka Onderra, which Hadrian has alluded to throughout the story thus far. Hadrian makes it clear that this person is of deep importance, and he appears to be falling HARD for her.  On today’s episode we discuss themes related to trauma, emotional suppression, and a variety of world building details related to the world of Emesh as well as Jadd. Also clearly present in our discussion is the focus on Valka as a character, how she mirrors Hadrian in some ways, and the types of relationships that change our life forever just for having met them. Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 44-46 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected].

Finally! Hadrian Marlowe has met his first Cielcin in a most unlikely of places, a cell. In this episode Hadrian’s conflict with Switch continues through lack of communication. As this separation continues, Hadrian finds an opportunity to slip away, using his language skills to talk his way to where the Cielcin is being kept. He has his first conversation with one of the pale, and feels unsure that it is a monster, because he believes that it is afraid to die. While doing so, Hadrian is stunned and brought before the Count of Emesh, now with his identity fully revealed. Hadrian is now caught in a gilded cage, unsure of what the future holds for him.   On today’s episode we discuss themes related to Hadrian’s anger being put onto others, being called out for your bad behavior by those that care about you, and the wonder associated with interacting with a Cielcin for the first time. Also meaningfully present in our discussion is Hadrian’s return for the desire to know more and understand the Cielcin, especially with his sense that it may not be a monster.  Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 41-43 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018.

Victory! Hadrian finally finds home in an unlikely place, Colosso. Hadrian grows closer to his fellow myrmidons, gradually forming a reputation both with his band of brothers, but also individually through his amazing single combat record. As Hadrian’s reputation as being known as “a myrmidon named Had” to the people of Borosevo is fulfilled, he attempts to include more of his band of brothers in his dreams to escape the planet. Then the unexpected happens. There's a Cieclin in the Colloso prison and Hadrian reveals his palantine status to try and get a ship to get off world. This sparks a relational conflict with his new friend Switch which ends with their friendship on the line. How will Hadrian recover his friendship, and how will Hadrian respond to a Cielcin being at his fingertips?  On today’s episode we discuss the sense of home Hadrian begins to feel and the reignition of not just his desire for his adventure, but his passion specifically for the Cielcin. We also discuss themes related to whether or not beauty is virtuous, nature versus nurture, and much much more. If you want to participate in this episode's discussion, leave a comment below to join the conversation! Devil's Rest Book Club is Cameron Elston and Drew Welty. Today’s episode discussed Chapters 37-40 of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, copyright 2018.  Empire of Silence was originally published by DAW books on July 3rd, 2018. Quality editing and original music by Cameron Elston. Find us on Youtube! Contact us at mailto:[email protected]. #SunEater #TheSunEater #EmpireOfSilence #HadrianMarlowe #DRBC #DevilsRestBookClub #SciFi #ScienceFantasy #SciFantasy