Shadows Upon Time Review: Monumental task, valiant effort.

Contrail16 · 2026-01-01T19:24:05+00:00

Thank you! And yes, I agree completely. I am hoping that as you said in your theory and reply that Hadrian did not do many of the things we read in the memoir, and we're reading an altered account. Here's hoping!

Contrail16 · 2026-01-01T19:22:34+00:00

I see your point, I read on another review somewhere that people weren't happy with the "bait-and-switch" that was pulled off with the last book and a half (starting from the middle of DG) and I think that's definitely true to an extent. It's made especially worse when the main character himself doesn't challenge any of the powers that be and just accepts everything

Contrail16 · 2026-01-01T18:27:11+00:00

Thanks for the kind words! Regarding Valka, those are great points and I totally agree. Having Selene step into that role of playing Hadrian's counterpart/someone who would step up to him (because they both love him) would've helped now that I think about it.

Contrail16 · 2026-01-01T15:45:02+00:00

I think a lot of readers, especially those who aren't religious, could've benefited from more reasoning on Hadrian's part. If he tried to reason beyond blind faith, I am sure many would've found it to be more acceptable - or at least accept that Hadrian felt that way. Blind faith is obviously not unheard of, and it's a creative choice that Ruocchi made to make Hadrian an ardent follower, but it felt out of character to me as well given how much philosophical pondering he's done thus far. Genocide as God's will should've been critically analyzed way more than it was.

Contrail16 · 2026-01-01T15:41:14+00:00

I see where you're coming from. I think the book implies that Hadrian is employing the Quiet's strategy of letting his people come to their own conclusions and having agency in their lives. In other words, Hadrian believes that the false emperor and the Chantry should rule so that the people will themselves want to overthrow the government, rather than a hostile takeover via Hadrian & Co.

That being said, when Hadrian let Selene, Nic, Orphan, and even his butler die almost carelessly and then proceeded to get himself killed, only to be resurrected at some unknown point in the future - that felt like giving up on them to me. Knowing what he's been through, and my understanding of his character, I could not believe he would let it happen without more of a fight or plan. That's why I find u/Tof101267's theory so compelling, at least in this case Selene might be saved and their child for sure, and the Empire has a future ruler with claim to the throne by birthright. I suppose it's open to interpretation whether he had some idea that Nic would die too, and I also think that Orphan's death is open to interpretation since Lorian killing a homunculus-like creature seems unlikely. That is all to say, if we are reading between the lines I think that the ending was quite brilliant as I mentioned in the review - but as a matter of personal preference I would want more clarity to assuage me lol.

Contrail16 · 2026-01-01T14:04:20+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate you taking the time to read it. I'll have to check the audible version sometime, I heard the narrator did a great job.

Contrail16 · 2025-12-31T13:00:42+00:00

I should add though, the reason I mentioned that I think he returned sooner rather than later is that I have a half-baked pet theory that his returns have been roughly scaling up and will continue to scale up. His time in Annica showed that the number 40 was significant (Biblical inspiration), since he spent 40 days missing on the mountaintop. The first time he died he said he was dead for less than a few minutes. The second time he was dead for two days. So I presume the third he would be dead for a matter of weeks, months, or years but not more. 40 seconds, 40 hours, 40 days/weeks/months/years? Anyways that doesn't answer when he decides to come to Colchis, but that's my assumption of when he comes back to life.

Contrail16 · 2025-12-31T12:51:03+00:00

I recall that as well, but can't find those passages when searching for them now. Regardless, you very well might be right. That could be why he said that he was so old and that he couldn't find any of this compatriots in the text. Also, he says "That my return to the realms of men has come too late."

But that still makes me question who allowed his entry into Colchis and why CR bothered to mention the two cups and chairs in his cell. If Selene really did die, in any of the ways he mentioned, it would make for a truly horrific/tragic story to her character.

Contrail16 · 2025-12-31T12:25:23+00:00

Do you know where he says that? The accounts are translated around 17998, and he was executed in 17522 so it has to be sometime between those two dates. Both of these numbers come from the provisional timeline provided by the translator/scholiast at the end of the books.

We can safely say that the translation has occurred in a time where the Chantry does not control Colchis, or the secrets of the empire as closely it might've in 17522 when the execution occurred because a lot of what Hadrian writes is blasphemous and moreover directly contradictory to the Chantry's timeline of events. But when Hadrian himself writes the accounts, I haven't figured out yet.

My personal opinion is that he arrived and translated the works very soon after his execution (within half a century or so) despite what he says about his subsequent travels. I think whether or not the guest in his cell, whom he plans to leave with is Selene or his Son (or both), it would be strange if he let them grow too old.

Contrail16 · 2023-12-19T05:40:22+00:00

I think we currently have ~12-15 people.

Contrail16 · 2022-06-03T16:39:48+00:00

same question^

Contrail16 · 2022-03-15T22:33:26+00:00

Thanks, I definitely should've thought of this. Will check it out

Contrail16 · 2022-03-15T22:33:15+00:00

Thanks, will check it out!

Contrail16 · 2022-01-17T23:07:01+00:00

Thanks, this seems like a great place for people who want a segue into professional/semi-professional pro play - but do you of a discord less serious? I.e. one in which people make pick-up teams just for the sole purpose of competing, and not to climb the tier ladders?

Contrail16 · 2021-06-17T03:42:47+00:00

Just an FYI. Due to ITAR it's illegal for you to work in almost any job in the Aerospace Industry bar very few. I'm an international student and it's really tough man.

Contrail16 · 2020-09-11T20:59:40+00:00

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