The Lesser Devil by Christopher Ruocchio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“He had always been the lesser devil. Always in Hadrian’s shadow, or his father’s. It had taken years, decades, to realize that it was this that had made him angry as a boy. This that had made him … whatever he’d been.”

“…shadows shrink in time.”

Crispin, the “lesser devil” of House Marlowe, has always lived in Hadrian’s shadow, even close to 40 years after his older brother’s disappearance. Hadrian is constantly on Crispin’s mind. His longing for his older brother, in spite of how terribly they parted, was poignant. “I wish Hadrian was here” and “Hadrian would know what to do” were frequent refrains in his thoughts. And yet, he has within himself the potential to be a better man.

I love the presentation of the Christian—and specifically Catholic—faith through this book. This little Catholic, French-speaking village, like a slice out of time, was such an intriguing counterpoint to the Marlowe empire as Crispin knows it. Alongside him, we encounter Museum Catholics on an Imperial reservation for adorators, preserving ancient faiths like art installations. And yet, the faith inside the reserve is so much more than a museum piece. It is living, active, vibrant even 20,000 years after its founding. It shapes the way these people interact with life and trials. The Catholics handle their situation, including Crispin’s antagonism toward their beliefs and their history, with so much grace. And they, in turn, end up shaping Crispin in some really powerful ways.

As House Marlowe’s emblem is a devil, Crispin approaches their faith with an extra layer of incredulity and defensiveness. I can understand why he found them so initially off-putting. He internally viewed them as cannibals, based off of what he had heard about the Mass and the Host. But these people, with their bravery and selflessness even when they know what it will cost them, break down Crispin’s defenses. The further we get into the story, the more subtle Christian imagery begins weaving through Crispin’s thoughts and effecting his heart.

Ruocchio did a brilliant job weaving these Catholic symbols and images through the story. This is true from the more blatant symbology House Marlowe’s devilish emblem to the more subtle, insidious motif of snakes embedded in the text. He also wrestles beautifully with philosophy, and what one is raised believing. He evaluates the ideology behind caste and class systems through asking big questions. Can any life truly be more worthy of protection and life than others? What makes a good leader? Are we defined by our name, our house, our heritage?

I didn’t expect to love this little novella nearly as much as I did, especially considering the fact that I found Crispin fairly unlikeable in Empire of Silence. But he grew tremendously over the course of this story, in some really surprising ways. The Lesser Devils is a perfect blend of action and philosophy, one that makes me eager to dive back into the main Sun Eater series.

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