A review by josiah17
Ashes of Man by Christopher Ruocchio

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Forget the normal coherent review. There are no words I can use to convey how empty I feel right now. I knew it was coming, I just knew it, and yet I was not ready in the slightest. I'm not sure how I read the last 60 pages through all the tears. Hard to think of a book that has evoked as much emotion as this one did just in that ending alone. Ruocchio...you are magnificent...but man...this book hurts.

"The ugliness of the world does not fade and pass away. Have I told you that? That fear and grief are not made less by time? All life is tragedy, for all life must end—and so no life grows stronger by its ending. Dorayaica was right about one thing. Time runs down into darkness. Even the stars burn out. And scars...there are scars that not even Death can wash away."
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