Devil's Rest Book Club

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.

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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.

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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.

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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].