The Lesser Devil

A short novel about Hadrian's misunderstood(?) brother. It is well written, I actually enjoyed first 100 pages more than I enjoyed Empire of Silence because the book was showing how things have changed on Delos and third person narration was refreshing. But second half gets too predictable. Nevertheless, it was fascinating to see adult Crispin. He is perhaps... too likeable compared to what he was in EoS but maybe Hadrian had more influence on him than we thought.

He needs a therapy, though. This book takes place about 30 or even 40 years after Hadrian left Delos but Crispin still keeps thinking about him every chance he gets. I knew of father and mother issues, apparently Crispin has brother issues. If Hadrian wasn't mentioned so often I think it would only improve Crispin's story because it would have made him more independent.

I understand that the novel was written after EoS was sold but before it was published and so there was probably desire to connect it tighter to the main story but I really think it wasn't necessary to invoke his name in almost every chapter.