The Emperor's Finest: Sandy Mitchel

The Emperor’s Finest: Sandy Mitchell

A Ciaphas Cain Novel

Commissar Cain is called to duty once more, saving a governor’s daughter from a planet over-run by rebels. The uprising hides something far more sinister however – Genestealer hybrids! The search for the source of the alien threat leads Cain to a drifting space hulk – a far safer place than beside the obsessed governor’s daughter. But when the Reclaimer Space Marines suffer devastating losses at the hands of the Great Devourer, Cain and his trusty aide Jurgen must go it alone. With the tyranids waking and a group of stow away orks on the loose, there are no safe places to run or hide, and Cain must use all his ingenuity and cunning to escape the space hulk alive.

~http://www.blacklibrary.com/Warhammer-40000/Ciaphas-Cain/Emperors-Finest-The.html

Now then, Having not read the two Omnibuses that come before The Emperor’s Finest, I expected to not understand what was going on much, after all, this is the seventh book in the series, however, this was not the case. Sandy Mitchell, using the notes at the bottom of the page explains any previous encounters that Cain brings up that a new reader would miss, allowing me to keep moving along quickly.

However, one thing that did hold me back was that every time I found a note on something, I was drawn to the bottom of the page and distracted from my course of reading. And this happened on a lot of the pages.

Anyway, moving on, despite this, I enjoyed The Emperor’s Finest. It was a funny, entertaining read that proved not all Commissars are as ruthless as they look. And, It also gave an insight into one of the lesser known Space Marine chapters, the Reclaimers, however it didn’t give that much of a depth into the Chapter, unfortunately – it was more focused on Cain getting in and out of trouble.

Which he does, a lot. A good side of this book was that it was funny, and more light hearted than the rest of the 40k novels, which was a welcome break from the grim-dark Dead Men Walking Death Korps of Krieg novel which I enjoyed.

The Emperor’s Finest was also my second glance into a first person Black-Library written book, the first being Xenos, the first instalment in the Eisenhorn trilogy. I read it about a month ago and never got around to reading the other two parts in the omnibus, (sigh), and I found that I personally thought that Xenos was a better read.

In future, I will probably have to pick up the previous two omnibus for the Ciaphas Cain series, as I enjoyed this book overall, despite all its flaws.

Rating out of 10: 7/10 – Not the best book out there, but not the worst. Somewhere in the middle.

Dead Men Walking: Steve Lyons

Dead Men Walking: Steve Lyons

When the Necrons rise, a mining planet descends into a cauldron of war and the remorseless foes decimate the human defenders. Salvation comes in an unlikely form – the Death Korps of Kreig, a force as unfeeling as the Necrons themselves. When the two powers go to war, casualties are high and the magnitude of the destruction is unimaginable.

~http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/Dead-Men-Walking.html

Okay, Dead Men Walking is my second venture down the road that is Imperial Guard Black Library Novels, not counting The Gaunt’s Ghosts series. It is also my first fluff encounter with the Death Korps, and my first novel with Necrons as the main opposition. And, if I’m honest, Dead Men Walking focuses more on the inhabitants of the world under attack by the Necrons. The world is in fact Hieronymous Theta, and it is a doomed world, as the Iron Gods have risen to reclaim the planet that was once theirs.

Now, moving on, this story was a great read, and gave some great information to the background of the Death Korps of Krieg, and equally about the Iron Gods, the Necrons, and how they are viewed from a normal person’s point of view in the forty-first millennium.

Dead Men Walking was an enjoyable Imperial Guard Novel, and as this is the first time I’ve read a novel by Steve Lyons, who wrote Ice Guard and a Novel in Imperial Guard Omnibus, Vol. 1. The main characters were all flushed out and well-developed, given plenty of background and plenty of time in the spotlight. There’s also one or two heroic sacrifices, and the Death Korps of Krieg are portrayed brilliantly.

Yes, I know, some of the main characters will die, perhaps even your favorite ones, but Steve Lyons does make sure that nobody is safe – every time you turn the page you wonder, will this character die? Will he or she live? In that way, Lyons keeps the reader hooked as they want to try and find out about their favorite, as each character escapes one problem and is immediately thrown into the next.

Dead Men Walking may seem slow at the beginning, but when the Death Korps arrive, and the Necrons turn up in full force, it suddenly turns into an action packed, fast paced and a great page-turning Imperial Guard adventure, that really captures the grim-dark setting that the 40k universe is known for.

I’m pleased to say that Dead Men Walking contains no errors that I noticed, and overall there were little bad points about this novel, easily one of the better Black Library books out there that I’ve read.

Indeed, the only major downside to this novel was that I found the front cover to be a bit dull compared to the newly released ones, like The First Heretic and Garro: Oath of Moment. (Both of which I’ve reviewed, by the way).

Rating: 8/10

Should you buy this book? If you’re a fan of the Death Korps of Krieg, Imperial Guard, Necrons or just want to expand your knowledge of the 40k ‘verse, then this book’s for you.

Traitor General: Dan Abnett

Please note this book is now part of a four book omnibus entitled "The Lost," and cannot be purchased on Black Library as a single book. I brought it as part as an Omnibus. With that in mind, enjoy the review.

Traitor General: Dan Abnett

A Gaunt’s Ghosts Novel

“Whilst Reading The Lost I was reminded why Abnett is the King of 40K.”

The forces of Magister Sek have captured a high raking Imperial Lord General and Commissar Ibram Gaunt and a team of men have been tasked with the re-capture of this vital officer. Dropped onto the world of Gereon, Gaunt and his Ghosts witness first hand, the horrors of a world being enslaved by Chaos. Can the Ghosts track down and save the lost General before his resolve is broken or will they have to silence him?

~http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/Traitor-General-Softback.html

Well, here’s my first Gaunt’s Ghost Review, and it’s the opening novel in The Lost story arc, and puts Colonel Commissar Gaunt back in the spotlight in Dan Abnett’s most popular series. It’s also been a long time since I’ve journeyed to the Realm of Space known as the Sabbat Worlds, and now I wish I’d picked The Lost Omnibus up instead of the Three Ultramarines books.

Because Dan Abnett isn’t just better than McNeill. He runs rings around him, and whilst reading The Lost I was reminded why Abnett is the King of 40K. And 30k, and I have to say that was a weekend well spent.

Unlike other books published by Black Library, Traitor General lacks the epic battle between Loyalist and Chaos forces. However, what it lacks is made up in writing quality. The book wasn’t rushed, and was paced out to give us a great read that’ll drag you in on a hook and keep you there.

There is a fantastic scene in Traitor General, where we see Gaunt’s Ghosts (of which there are only twelve on this assassination mission), take on five Chaos Space Marines. It’s a great moment, and one of my highlights whilst reading this book.

Also for the first time, Abnett puts in humour, which he has avoided in the last two Omnibuses as of the more serious background. I mean, how can you crack a joke after your planet has been destroyed by the Ruinous Powers?

Rather than focus on several of the Gaunt’s Ghosts, Abnett has put them in a situation where there is only twelve, Gaunt, Rawne, Feygor, Cridd, Curth and more come together for this all star line-up of a well paced book which is one of the best of the Gaunt’s Ghosts that I’ve read. Although, I have to say, If there’s one thing which stops it from getting a ten out of ten, it’s the rather sudden ending.

Rating out of 10: 9/10 – Great Read, easily worth it.

Should you buy this book? Yes especially if you’re a Gaunt’s Ghosts fan.