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Watchers of the Throne #1
Die Legion des Imperators
Das Adeptus Custodes bildet die Prätorianergarde des Imperators, seine Krieger sind die Verteidiger Terras und die Wächter des Goldenen Throns. Doch am Horizont dämmert eine Gefahr, die sie zusammen mit den Schwestern der Stille an die Grenzen ihrer Macht führt.
WARUM DU DIESES BUCH LESEN SOLLTEST
Zum ersten Mal steht das Adeptus Custodes im Zentrum eines Warhammer-40.000-Romans. Erfahre alles über das Wirken und Streben der Beschützer des Imperators im dunklen Jahrtausend.
DIE GESCHICHTE
Die Custodeswache wacht seit Anbeginn des Imperiums über den Palast des Imperators auf Terra. Es ist ihre Aufgabe, den Herrn der Menschheit vor allen inneren und äußeren Gefahren zu beschützen. Ihre furchteinflößende Entschlossenheit ist in der gesamten Galaxis berüchtigt und ihre goldene Rüstung ist das Letzte, was ein Attentäter oder Saboteur jemals sieht. Zusammen mit den Schwestern der Stille, dem Fluch aller Psioniker und Hexer, haben sie bisher jede Gefahr für den Goldenen Thron gebannt … bis jetzt.
WARUM DU DIESES BUCH LESEN SOLLTEST
Zum ersten Mal steht das Adeptus Custodes im Zentrum eines Warhammer-40.000-Romans. Erfahre alles über das Wirken und Streben der Beschützer des Imperators im dunklen Jahrtausend.
DIE GESCHICHTE
Die Custodeswache wacht seit Anbeginn des Imperiums über den Palast des Imperators auf Terra. Es ist ihre Aufgabe, den Herrn der Menschheit vor allen inneren und äußeren Gefahren zu beschützen. Ihre furchteinflößende Entschlossenheit ist in der gesamten Galaxis berüchtigt und ihre goldene Rüstung ist das Letzte, was ein Attentäter oder Saboteur jemals sieht. Zusammen mit den Schwestern der Stille, dem Fluch aller Psioniker und Hexer, haben sie bisher jede Gefahr für den Goldenen Thron gebannt … bis jetzt.
383 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published March 1, 2017
291 people are currently reading
1501 people want to read
About the author
Chris Wraight
128 books357 followersChris Wraight is a British author of fantasy and science fiction.
His first novel was published in 2008; since then, he has published books set in the Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate:Atlantis universes, and has upcoming titles in the Warhammer 40K setting.
He is based in the south-west of England.
His first novel was published in 2008; since then, he has published books set in the Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate:Atlantis universes, and has upcoming titles in the Warhammer 40K setting.
He is based in the south-west of England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
November 11, 2017
One word- awesome! This is one of the best books set outside the Horus Heresy. The events of this book are likely some of the most momentous since the Heresy some 10K years ago.The best part is it focuses on some very elite forces rarely seen in the normal stories.
For centuries Abbadon the Despoiler and his Black Legion have been launching Black Crusades to attack Imperium worlds. But, this time the battle shifts to somewhere unthinkable- Holy Terra itself. The Gates of Cadia is a defensive bulwark in deep space surrounding a warp gate. This is not only a staging area for Terra military forces, it is also a massive set of defensive works protecting the warp gate. Somehow Abbadon has forced the warp open and brought the Eye of Terror (the physical manifestation of the Dark Gods' reality) and for only the second time in history (the first being during the Heresy) chaos tainted warriors and demons set foot on Holy Terra itself and attack the Imperial palace.
For anyone familiar with the setting of these stories, you will realize the vast consequences and import of such an act. The Empire itself is shaken to the core. More than this I shall not say. A great plot, well worth the time of any Warhammer fan. But it is not only the superlative story but the esoteric forces employed throughout this book that make this one of my favorites. We learn, and witness in action, a great deal about the Sisters of Silence-a group of null psykers (psykers with no soul-thus impervious to the noxious corruption of the warp...since..uhh...they have no souls to corrupt) trained to a razor's edge in martial abilities. VERY cool group. But the best part is the focus on the Custodian Guards-the elite of the elite in the Imperium. As a human is to Astartes (genetically enhanced Space Marines) so is, to a certain extent, is Astartes to Custodes. If that sentence makes sense to you-then you are well aware that makes the Custodes the finest warriors in the known Galaxy. Standing a foot or two taller than a Astartes and possibly 200-300 lbs heavier in mass (without their specialized Armor which is nearly Terminator class armor in its own right) they are able to move with blinding speed and have superior mental capabilities allowing them to "see into the future" by mapping out an attack pattern chain that is able to think several moves ahead and carry them all out in a few seconds.
We find that the Custodes is also divided into different sub-units. There is a unit of the Custodes that dwells within the inner reaches of the Palace (BTW the Imperial Palace is the size of Australia. The entire continent of Australia. Um...it's big. REALLY big. Makes you wonder if the Emeperor was from Texas) and instead of the scarlet cape they are draped in black, to show their sorrow at failing to protect the Emperor from physical harm during the Heresy. On top of that (there are about 10K Custodes total-all pretty much in the palace.) is a select group of 300 known as the Companions who are senior Custodes who actually guard the Emepror's body and stand in His Presence for as long as they live-and being nearly immortal..umm some of these guys have been around and are unimaginably powerful warriors. I enjoyed learning that the Custodes are the closest of the Emperor's children in his own Image. Elegant, scholarly, and formal the Custodes are more like Primarchs than Astartes.
But this book also delves into the High Lords of Terra. The 12 men and women who rule the Imperium in the name of the Emperor. The Grey Knights, the ultra-secretive demon hunting chapter of Space Marines with psyker powers, also play a prominent part in this tale. I wish I could say more about the plot but that wouldn't be cool- instead I'll mindlessly rave about the superb story, complex politics and sheer bloody violence of this novel. You will find out a lot about the Custodian Guards, the High Lords of Terra, the Grey Knights and the Silent Sisters-not to mention the Lex Imperialis, the return of a Primarch (yep...one of them is back) and an invasion of Holy Terra by Abbadon all make for a grand and epic novel. HIGHLY recommend.
For centuries Abbadon the Despoiler and his Black Legion have been launching Black Crusades to attack Imperium worlds. But, this time the battle shifts to somewhere unthinkable- Holy Terra itself. The Gates of Cadia is a defensive bulwark in deep space surrounding a warp gate. This is not only a staging area for Terra military forces, it is also a massive set of defensive works protecting the warp gate. Somehow Abbadon has forced the warp open and brought the Eye of Terror (the physical manifestation of the Dark Gods' reality) and for only the second time in history (the first being during the Heresy) chaos tainted warriors and demons set foot on Holy Terra itself and attack the Imperial palace.
For anyone familiar with the setting of these stories, you will realize the vast consequences and import of such an act. The Empire itself is shaken to the core. More than this I shall not say. A great plot, well worth the time of any Warhammer fan. But it is not only the superlative story but the esoteric forces employed throughout this book that make this one of my favorites. We learn, and witness in action, a great deal about the Sisters of Silence-a group of null psykers (psykers with no soul-thus impervious to the noxious corruption of the warp...since..uhh...they have no souls to corrupt) trained to a razor's edge in martial abilities. VERY cool group. But the best part is the focus on the Custodian Guards-the elite of the elite in the Imperium. As a human is to Astartes (genetically enhanced Space Marines) so is, to a certain extent, is Astartes to Custodes. If that sentence makes sense to you-then you are well aware that makes the Custodes the finest warriors in the known Galaxy. Standing a foot or two taller than a Astartes and possibly 200-300 lbs heavier in mass (without their specialized Armor which is nearly Terminator class armor in its own right) they are able to move with blinding speed and have superior mental capabilities allowing them to "see into the future" by mapping out an attack pattern chain that is able to think several moves ahead and carry them all out in a few seconds.
We find that the Custodes is also divided into different sub-units. There is a unit of the Custodes that dwells within the inner reaches of the Palace (BTW the Imperial Palace is the size of Australia. The entire continent of Australia. Um...it's big. REALLY big. Makes you wonder if the Emeperor was from Texas) and instead of the scarlet cape they are draped in black, to show their sorrow at failing to protect the Emperor from physical harm during the Heresy. On top of that (there are about 10K Custodes total-all pretty much in the palace.) is a select group of 300 known as the Companions who are senior Custodes who actually guard the Emepror's body and stand in His Presence for as long as they live-and being nearly immortal..umm some of these guys have been around and are unimaginably powerful warriors. I enjoyed learning that the Custodes are the closest of the Emperor's children in his own Image. Elegant, scholarly, and formal the Custodes are more like Primarchs than Astartes.
But this book also delves into the High Lords of Terra. The 12 men and women who rule the Imperium in the name of the Emperor. The Grey Knights, the ultra-secretive demon hunting chapter of Space Marines with psyker powers, also play a prominent part in this tale. I wish I could say more about the plot but that wouldn't be cool- instead I'll mindlessly rave about the superb story, complex politics and sheer bloody violence of this novel. You will find out a lot about the Custodian Guards, the High Lords of Terra, the Grey Knights and the Silent Sisters-not to mention the Lex Imperialis, the return of a Primarch (yep...one of them is back) and an invasion of Holy Terra by Abbadon all make for a grand and epic novel. HIGHLY recommend.
September 27, 2017
Watchers of the Throne is a bold examination of the consequences of Warzone: Fenris and The Gathering Storm. It is balancing act of complementary stories and musings which ultimately provide a framework to understanding what has transpired.
What Wraight achieves more than anything else is, by centering his focus on Terra, to drive home the scale of the galaxy and the conflict it faces. Facts we take as simple gospel in canon take so long to cross the void; till the disaster of Fenris is dropped almost on top of the Fall of Cadia. Through the human eyes of Tieron (The Chancellor of the Senatorum Imperialis), we watch as hope slowly bleeds away. Through the viewpoint of Custodian Valerian, we see the strictures which bind him to the Palace tighten and loosen, as he struggles with philosophical musings and armed conflict. And through Aleya of the Anathema Psykana we see the rage at being forgotten and ill-used by the galaxy at large.
Each of these characters presents in first person, which really personalises the narrative. Aleya's story crackles with anger, especially at the dismissive terms which blight her order. Hers is the most direct of the stories, and complements her warrior nature very well, in addition to underlining the trials she has suffered in her soullessness.
Valerian struggles with the burden of duty, acknowledging that his kind were always meant to be more than soldiers. Much of his story plays off the cues previously set up in both The Carrion Throne and Master of Mankind; showing us the Adeptus Custodes as fundamentally out of place in this dark millennium, yet clinging to the precepts of the past.
Tieron binds aspects of these stories together, as he tries desperately to muster and release the institutions which might give humanity a fighting chance. He is a very human character, relatable in his flaws and his failings, yet also admirable for his supreme commitment to the idea of the Imperium rather than its floundering realities.
When battle is finally properly joined, it is in the height of the Blindness, with the Great Rift splitting the sky. The frenetic and hard-hitting battles follow some grisly cult scenes. Wraight carves the horror of the Warp onto the setting and inflicts it on his cast, giving us the same upheaval from multiple points of view.
Far more than Dark Imperium, this feels like a primer. Not of a "new normal" but of the absolute madness that marked the end of 7th edition 40k. While Terra does not feel as inhabited or vital as it did in The Carrion Throne, Wraight still makes it feel like a character in its own right; even if it is one that feels at points not long for the world.
Definitely a recommended read for anyone who feels as though they need to catch up with the hows and whys of 8th edition, rather than what to expect going ahead.
What Wraight achieves more than anything else is, by centering his focus on Terra, to drive home the scale of the galaxy and the conflict it faces. Facts we take as simple gospel in canon take so long to cross the void; till the disaster of Fenris is dropped almost on top of the Fall of Cadia. Through the human eyes of Tieron (The Chancellor of the Senatorum Imperialis), we watch as hope slowly bleeds away. Through the viewpoint of Custodian Valerian, we see the strictures which bind him to the Palace tighten and loosen, as he struggles with philosophical musings and armed conflict. And through Aleya of the Anathema Psykana we see the rage at being forgotten and ill-used by the galaxy at large.
Each of these characters presents in first person, which really personalises the narrative. Aleya's story crackles with anger, especially at the dismissive terms which blight her order. Hers is the most direct of the stories, and complements her warrior nature very well, in addition to underlining the trials she has suffered in her soullessness.
Valerian struggles with the burden of duty, acknowledging that his kind were always meant to be more than soldiers. Much of his story plays off the cues previously set up in both The Carrion Throne and Master of Mankind; showing us the Adeptus Custodes as fundamentally out of place in this dark millennium, yet clinging to the precepts of the past.
Tieron binds aspects of these stories together, as he tries desperately to muster and release the institutions which might give humanity a fighting chance. He is a very human character, relatable in his flaws and his failings, yet also admirable for his supreme commitment to the idea of the Imperium rather than its floundering realities.
When battle is finally properly joined, it is in the height of the Blindness, with the Great Rift splitting the sky. The frenetic and hard-hitting battles follow some grisly cult scenes. Wraight carves the horror of the Warp onto the setting and inflicts it on his cast, giving us the same upheaval from multiple points of view.
Far more than Dark Imperium, this feels like a primer. Not of a "new normal" but of the absolute madness that marked the end of 7th edition 40k. While Terra does not feel as inhabited or vital as it did in The Carrion Throne, Wraight still makes it feel like a character in its own right; even if it is one that feels at points not long for the world.
Definitely a recommended read for anyone who feels as though they need to catch up with the hows and whys of 8th edition, rather than what to expect going ahead.
October 2, 2017
This needed to be out around half a year earlier. It is basically The Gathering Storm: Side Terra, from the Fall of Cadia to the Rise of the Primarch.
I hope to write a full review soon, but for right now I'll just say that it exceeded my expectations and tied together a multitude of threads that desperately needed it, and made many things about the Gathering Storm plausible.
I hope to write a full review soon, but for right now I'll just say that it exceeded my expectations and tied together a multitude of threads that desperately needed it, and made many things about the Gathering Storm plausible.
January 1, 2018
You can read the full review over at my blog:
https://shadowhawksshade.wordpress.co...
Over the last several months, we've seen some major changes in the lore for Warhammer 40,000 as Games Workshop and Black Library moved the clock forward to move the setting from the death-knell of the the M41 millennium and beyond into M42. It hasn't been without its challenges but in that progression we've seen some really great stories such as Guy Haley's Dark Imperium and The Devastation of Baal, and Gav Thorpe's Ghost Warrior, not to mention a host of assorted short stories and novellas. It has been an exciting time for Warhammer 40,000 lore and I've been enjoying the ride through all the ups and downs.
The Emperor's Legion by Chris Wraight is another home-run novel in the new reality of the end of the "ten minutes to midnight" theme of M41 that has been a hallmark of the setting since its inception. Whereas with the other novels we've seen what has been happening out and about in the Imperium at large, and even beyond it, with Chris' new entry we see what's been happening on the Throneworld itself. We see what the Adeptus Custodes have been up to in the years of their isolation on Terra, and how the they react to the massive events of the new millennium. Filled with some incredible characters and great action scenes and emotional touches, The Emperor's Legion is one of the best new releases of Black Library in 2017.
Once, in the days of the Great Crusade, the warriors of the Custodes and the Silent Sisterhood were amongst the Emperor's most elite armies that brought disparate human worlds into the Imperium and beat back the oppression of alien races. But the Horus Heresy changed the entire galaxy-scape and so it happened that with the Emperor's permanent internment on the Golden Throne, the Custodes withdrew from all active life abroad in the galaxy and rooted themselves to Terra. Charging themselves with the mandate of being the master of Mankind's greatest defense, the Custodes have passed from reality into myth. And the Silent Sisterhood followed, although to an even sadder end, as the Imperium itself forget about them for thousands of years.
And now, thanks to the actions of one man, the forgotten elites of history return to the forefront of a galactic war thousands of years in the making. As Abaddon the Despoiler finally breaks past the Imperial war-girdle at the Cadian Gate, as a massive warp storm ruptures the galaxy in half, as the Aeldari suffer apocalyptic losses and set themselves on a path towards a race-wide spiritual resurrection, it is up to the Custodes and the Silent Sisterhood to keep Terra safe. For should the Throneworld fall and the Emperor with it, then all hope for a bright future for Mankind will end and the Chaos Gods will triumph.
In The Emperor's Legion, we have three primary viewpoints. The first of these is Imperial Chancellor Alexei Tieron who looks after the interests of the High Lords of Terra, the twelve nominated peers of the Imperium who rule it in the Emperor's name. He is no High Lord himself, but he has equal political power and can affect great changes should he put himself to the task. Which is what much of the novel is about for one of the great debates before the High Lords when the novel begins is to (potentially) redefine the role of the Adeptus Custodes within the Imperium. Said to be ten thousand strong, they are a potent legendary force and with the affairs of the Imperium as dire as they are, redeploying some of their number to active warzones would be a great advantage. And so the law itself must be changed, and Alexei intends for that to happen.
Caught up in the Chancellor's schemes are Custodian Valerian and Sister Aleya. Both of them provide an excellent counterpoint to not just Tieron but also to each other. One if a favoured son of an Imperial institution that has lived in the Emperor's shadow for ten thousand years while the other belongs to a near-forgotten order that has often been marginalized and ignored. It creates a lot of fantastic tension between the stories of the two characters and I really enjoyed seeing all these viewpoints come together throughout the novel.
The Emperor's Legion is not your typical Warhammer 40,000 tale for it is not about the Space Marines or the Inquisition or the warriors of Chaos, at least not directly. It focuses on the mortals at the seat of Imperial power and how they are often their own greatest enemies. We saw this happen some time back in the phenomenal The Beast Arises series which charted much of this but also left plenty of room to explore the topic further. And now we return to that but with some great twists.
https://shadowhawksshade.wordpress.co...
Over the last several months, we've seen some major changes in the lore for Warhammer 40,000 as Games Workshop and Black Library moved the clock forward to move the setting from the death-knell of the the M41 millennium and beyond into M42. It hasn't been without its challenges but in that progression we've seen some really great stories such as Guy Haley's Dark Imperium and The Devastation of Baal, and Gav Thorpe's Ghost Warrior, not to mention a host of assorted short stories and novellas. It has been an exciting time for Warhammer 40,000 lore and I've been enjoying the ride through all the ups and downs.
The Emperor's Legion by Chris Wraight is another home-run novel in the new reality of the end of the "ten minutes to midnight" theme of M41 that has been a hallmark of the setting since its inception. Whereas with the other novels we've seen what has been happening out and about in the Imperium at large, and even beyond it, with Chris' new entry we see what's been happening on the Throneworld itself. We see what the Adeptus Custodes have been up to in the years of their isolation on Terra, and how the they react to the massive events of the new millennium. Filled with some incredible characters and great action scenes and emotional touches, The Emperor's Legion is one of the best new releases of Black Library in 2017.
Once, in the days of the Great Crusade, the warriors of the Custodes and the Silent Sisterhood were amongst the Emperor's most elite armies that brought disparate human worlds into the Imperium and beat back the oppression of alien races. But the Horus Heresy changed the entire galaxy-scape and so it happened that with the Emperor's permanent internment on the Golden Throne, the Custodes withdrew from all active life abroad in the galaxy and rooted themselves to Terra. Charging themselves with the mandate of being the master of Mankind's greatest defense, the Custodes have passed from reality into myth. And the Silent Sisterhood followed, although to an even sadder end, as the Imperium itself forget about them for thousands of years.
And now, thanks to the actions of one man, the forgotten elites of history return to the forefront of a galactic war thousands of years in the making. As Abaddon the Despoiler finally breaks past the Imperial war-girdle at the Cadian Gate, as a massive warp storm ruptures the galaxy in half, as the Aeldari suffer apocalyptic losses and set themselves on a path towards a race-wide spiritual resurrection, it is up to the Custodes and the Silent Sisterhood to keep Terra safe. For should the Throneworld fall and the Emperor with it, then all hope for a bright future for Mankind will end and the Chaos Gods will triumph.
In The Emperor's Legion, we have three primary viewpoints. The first of these is Imperial Chancellor Alexei Tieron who looks after the interests of the High Lords of Terra, the twelve nominated peers of the Imperium who rule it in the Emperor's name. He is no High Lord himself, but he has equal political power and can affect great changes should he put himself to the task. Which is what much of the novel is about for one of the great debates before the High Lords when the novel begins is to (potentially) redefine the role of the Adeptus Custodes within the Imperium. Said to be ten thousand strong, they are a potent legendary force and with the affairs of the Imperium as dire as they are, redeploying some of their number to active warzones would be a great advantage. And so the law itself must be changed, and Alexei intends for that to happen.
Caught up in the Chancellor's schemes are Custodian Valerian and Sister Aleya. Both of them provide an excellent counterpoint to not just Tieron but also to each other. One if a favoured son of an Imperial institution that has lived in the Emperor's shadow for ten thousand years while the other belongs to a near-forgotten order that has often been marginalized and ignored. It creates a lot of fantastic tension between the stories of the two characters and I really enjoyed seeing all these viewpoints come together throughout the novel.
The Emperor's Legion is not your typical Warhammer 40,000 tale for it is not about the Space Marines or the Inquisition or the warriors of Chaos, at least not directly. It focuses on the mortals at the seat of Imperial power and how they are often their own greatest enemies. We saw this happen some time back in the phenomenal The Beast Arises series which charted much of this but also left plenty of room to explore the topic further. And now we return to that but with some great twists.
October 3, 2017
Excellent novel giving a lot of insight into inner working of Empire of Terra, Adeptus Custodes and Sisters of Silence. Custodes and Sisters, two sides of the same coin, trained to fight together against any foe but, following Horus Heresy, separated for thousands of years. Custodes stayed on Terra, living under shadow of their failure to keep the Emperor from harms way and Sisters scattered throughout the galaxy fighting the Chaos but almost got forgotten by the Empire.
Book describes these warrior orders beautifully - two armies aware that they have lost a lot to time but nevertheless they are trying to record and save as much as possible of their glorious past, training and doctrine. What I particularly liked is that they are free of any W40K dogma usually blocking any free-will or initiative on Imperial worlds - they are thinking with their heads.
Also interesting is that these remnants of the original Empire do not see themselves part of the existing Imperium - as novel gets to the conclusion it is clear that Custodes have put a lot of things in motion behind the bureaucracy 's back that they see as required for administration of the huge Imperium but also as stagnant political body that has lost the original path set by the Emperor.
Excellent read, highly recommended.
Book describes these warrior orders beautifully - two armies aware that they have lost a lot to time but nevertheless they are trying to record and save as much as possible of their glorious past, training and doctrine. What I particularly liked is that they are free of any W40K dogma usually blocking any free-will or initiative on Imperial worlds - they are thinking with their heads.
Also interesting is that these remnants of the original Empire do not see themselves part of the existing Imperium - as novel gets to the conclusion it is clear that Custodes have put a lot of things in motion behind the bureaucracy 's back that they see as required for administration of the huge Imperium but also as stagnant political body that has lost the original path set by the Emperor.
Excellent read, highly recommended.
June 19, 2020
Great to get up to speed with the 40k universe after not reading anything for a while. Amazing scenes, interesting characters, epic story. Felt like it tried to do too much and in the end was a bit silly.
December 18, 2021
Star Wars meets Middle Earth meets Imperial Rome. Three stars for the first half, 4 stars for the second half. Not recommended for readers unfamiliar with the Black Library, Warhammer 40k. I spent much time looking up the complicated history of the Horus Heresy, Custodian Guard, Silent Sisterhood, Ultramarines, and their sworn enemy Chaos.
October 21, 2017
For a second I wanted to give it 5 stars, it is a good book and it deserves a high score, but for some reason my mind was not blown as much as I expected. It was very interesting to explore the recent events from Terra. The most refreshing view of all three main characters came from Tieron, the chancellor of the Senatorum Imperialis. It has always been a struggle for me to fully enjoy the stories of humans, but this was a unique case. While I feel like Valerian and Aleya needed some time before they stood out as unique characters and not just base models of a Custodian and a Sister of Silence, Tieron shined from start to end. The only issue I had is that the book felt a little scrambled at the end, I did not get the feeling of completeness. Probably the reason might be the main trio, all of them needed to be properly developed, so there was not much "screen time" left for the ultimate bigger picture. The enemy forces were lacking a face, of course most readers know the story behind the story, but I feel like it still needs to be explained at least a little more. Overall I recommend this book and I would love to read more novels set in this time frame.
March 9, 2018
Lets summarize Gathering Storm part 1 for a bit:
13th Black Crusade is happening. Abaddon the most impressive black legionare who basically fail almost everything his done in his life and live to tell the tale just attack Cadia with all the Chaos Gods backing..except Mallal because he doesn't exist.
Black Fleet of Abaddon is inbound to finish of Cadia, with a Blackstone Fortress called the Will of Eternity(40K Death Star just bigger and better). So Cadia is fuck. Imperial Guards with purple eyes tries to fight back. Tech Michanicus trying to stop shield themselves to the Death Star Attack and some battle brothers with Cadian regiments attack the Will of Eternity with some kind of suicide squad.
Meanwhile Belasirus Cawl(this guy is important so google this guy out) has been having some shady conversations with a Harlequin Shadowseer. He said go to this planet that had been wreck during 4th BC and he discovered something there. his planet has Pylons on it, just like the Cadian Pylons and it seems Abaddon was trying to destroy them! The Shadowseer tells him to go to Cadia. So he does their and stuff happens. They manage to fix Cadia's and then the book campaign starts.
Chaos baneblade and greater deamons shows up *fight* *fight* *fight*
*shot* *shot* *shot* Black Templar and Sisters of Battle team up to defend the shield generators and Saint Celestine shows up(google her too if you have the time).
The tide turns for a moment, the Defenders rallying to Celestine. But then the Traitor Legionnaires crash back into the defenses. Urkanthos destroyed the generator and while trying to escape the Saint shows up to great him. *fight* *fight* *fight* she wins also What about the Blackstone Fortress about to blow up Cadia? Oh yeah btw, that ship Celestine hooked the Sisters up with was the Phalanx and it just suddenly jumped in amongst the Black Fleet.
The Phalanx bears straight down on the Will of Eternity. It's taking on the entire Black Fleet by itself but, hell, its a fleet in of itself. Garadon knows he's gotta kill the Blackstone Fortress, so he saves all his firepower for the opportune moment... and a section of the Will of Eternity's shields go down! Turns out Sven Bloodhowl's Suicide Squad made it aboard after all and they managed to sabotage the shields! Taking the shot, the Phalanx pours all its firepower into the Blackstone Fortress and blows it the hell up (along with like a third of the Black Fleet), the wreckage breaking into a few large chunks that sit in orbit like moons. The Black Fleet, having just been sucker punched hard by the Phalanx, pulls away to regroup. Down on the planet, Kell replants the Standard of the Cadian 8th atop the Kriegan Gates as the Battle Sisters and Cadians route the attacking Chaos Forces. Creed breathes a sigh of relief, but knows it's only a fleeting victory.
Meanwhile Abaddon looks out over another failure and his like *Ugh* no more. so he jumps with his men(Yeah that's right he jumps out on a planet that he just aimed a Death Star a moments ago). Abaddon launches the next assault. Long story short again, lots of fighting, lots of pew pew pew. Sisters of Battle had alot of moments in this enough for the collectors to pray for a "Plastic Sisters" to be release in 2017 BUT NOOOOOOOOOOO...
Cawl the arch magus guy whose basically had the answers to everything is actually teaming up with Trazyn(his a necron guy) His like "U like cyberdong" "yeah u". The Cadian fall back into the underground catacombs where the Pylons and Cawl are, pursued by Abaddon and his Terminators. On the surface, only the Battle Sisters have managed to push back the attacks. Legion of the Damned helped up and MAGIC BULLETS SHOOTS ALL AROUND THE PLACE. Abaddon and Celestine fights and he goes like hahaha I win and then SURPRISE Celestine stabs him(don't worry his still alive). Stuff happens, Eye of Terror spread like a ketchup in the cosmos, everybody hull up and ditch the planet. "The Planet fall before the guard did" and that's part one.
Watcher of the Throne is basically what's happening on Terra while the 98% of Gathering Storm is having its own thing. This book is focusing on the political aspect of the imperium and giving us readers the perspective of a Custodes inside the throne room. We didnt see Guilliman fix the corruption in the imperium yet we seen the revival of the Remembrancer in the current timeline and of course the Custodes and Sisters of Silent fighting in the frontline once again.
This book is possibly 2nd best 40K novel I've read outside the HH series.
13th Black Crusade is happening. Abaddon the most impressive black legionare who basically fail almost everything his done in his life and live to tell the tale just attack Cadia with all the Chaos Gods backing..except Mallal because he doesn't exist.
Black Fleet of Abaddon is inbound to finish of Cadia, with a Blackstone Fortress called the Will of Eternity(40K Death Star just bigger and better). So Cadia is fuck. Imperial Guards with purple eyes tries to fight back. Tech Michanicus trying to stop shield themselves to the Death Star Attack and some battle brothers with Cadian regiments attack the Will of Eternity with some kind of suicide squad.
Meanwhile Belasirus Cawl(this guy is important so google this guy out) has been having some shady conversations with a Harlequin Shadowseer. He said go to this planet that had been wreck during 4th BC and he discovered something there. his planet has Pylons on it, just like the Cadian Pylons and it seems Abaddon was trying to destroy them! The Shadowseer tells him to go to Cadia. So he does their and stuff happens. They manage to fix Cadia's and then the book campaign starts.
Chaos baneblade and greater deamons shows up *fight* *fight* *fight*
*shot* *shot* *shot* Black Templar and Sisters of Battle team up to defend the shield generators and Saint Celestine shows up(google her too if you have the time).
The tide turns for a moment, the Defenders rallying to Celestine. But then the Traitor Legionnaires crash back into the defenses. Urkanthos destroyed the generator and while trying to escape the Saint shows up to great him. *fight* *fight* *fight* she wins also What about the Blackstone Fortress about to blow up Cadia? Oh yeah btw, that ship Celestine hooked the Sisters up with was the Phalanx and it just suddenly jumped in amongst the Black Fleet.
The Phalanx bears straight down on the Will of Eternity. It's taking on the entire Black Fleet by itself but, hell, its a fleet in of itself. Garadon knows he's gotta kill the Blackstone Fortress, so he saves all his firepower for the opportune moment... and a section of the Will of Eternity's shields go down! Turns out Sven Bloodhowl's Suicide Squad made it aboard after all and they managed to sabotage the shields! Taking the shot, the Phalanx pours all its firepower into the Blackstone Fortress and blows it the hell up (along with like a third of the Black Fleet), the wreckage breaking into a few large chunks that sit in orbit like moons. The Black Fleet, having just been sucker punched hard by the Phalanx, pulls away to regroup. Down on the planet, Kell replants the Standard of the Cadian 8th atop the Kriegan Gates as the Battle Sisters and Cadians route the attacking Chaos Forces. Creed breathes a sigh of relief, but knows it's only a fleeting victory.
Meanwhile Abaddon looks out over another failure and his like *Ugh* no more. so he jumps with his men(Yeah that's right he jumps out on a planet that he just aimed a Death Star a moments ago). Abaddon launches the next assault. Long story short again, lots of fighting, lots of pew pew pew. Sisters of Battle had alot of moments in this enough for the collectors to pray for a "Plastic Sisters" to be release in 2017 BUT NOOOOOOOOOOO...
Cawl the arch magus guy whose basically had the answers to everything is actually teaming up with Trazyn(his a necron guy) His like "U like cyberdong" "yeah u". The Cadian fall back into the underground catacombs where the Pylons and Cawl are, pursued by Abaddon and his Terminators. On the surface, only the Battle Sisters have managed to push back the attacks. Legion of the Damned helped up and MAGIC BULLETS SHOOTS ALL AROUND THE PLACE. Abaddon and Celestine fights and he goes like hahaha I win and then SURPRISE Celestine stabs him(don't worry his still alive). Stuff happens, Eye of Terror spread like a ketchup in the cosmos, everybody hull up and ditch the planet. "The Planet fall before the guard did" and that's part one.
Watcher of the Throne is basically what's happening on Terra while the 98% of Gathering Storm is having its own thing. This book is focusing on the political aspect of the imperium and giving us readers the perspective of a Custodes inside the throne room. We didnt see Guilliman fix the corruption in the imperium yet we seen the revival of the Remembrancer in the current timeline and of course the Custodes and Sisters of Silent fighting in the frontline once again.
This book is possibly 2nd best 40K novel I've read outside the HH series.
May 28, 2020
A great escape during the time of Rona. Took my mind off of the dystopia that we live in; you can't ask for anything better.
November 4, 2017
Another book of 40K awesomeness by Chris Wraight. This is something a 40K fan should not miss! For real! It is something that changes where the wider story of Warhammer 40K progresses.
Also, you might want to read The Carrion Throne first before this one, as it is also great piece of 40K literature but could be - kind of - lost to the shadow of THIS book's greatness.
Also, you might want to read The Carrion Throne first before this one, as it is also great piece of 40K literature but could be - kind of - lost to the shadow of THIS book's greatness.
March 14, 2020
The Adeptus Custodes and the Sisters of Silence take centre stage in this, their first full non-Heresy outing. With word from Cadia looking bleak, and crises springing up throughout the Imperium, calls grow for the Custodes to end their self-enforced seclusion and fight once more at the forefront of the Imperium’s armies.
As a standalone novel this is excellent, and should appeal to any fan of 40k. As an expansion of the background – both answering some questions about the Talons and filling in the detail of the Gathering Storm, it adds so much to the big picture as well. An absolute must-read.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2017/10/...
As a standalone novel this is excellent, and should appeal to any fan of 40k. As an expansion of the background – both answering some questions about the Talons and filling in the detail of the Gathering Storm, it adds so much to the big picture as well. An absolute must-read.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2017/10/...
October 18, 2022
This seems to be the background for things happening in the W40K universe around the time of 8th edition of the miniature game. So somewhere around Millenium 42? Terra is a target of Chaos forces and a plan of another siege is under way. Some more of the same, only the names change. Or in case of the immortal metahumans, I guess even some names don't change. In this case the Adeptus Custodes must leave their usual post on Terra.
A part of a Humble Bundle I bought a while back and am trying to skim through.
A part of a Humble Bundle I bought a while back and am trying to skim through.
October 29, 2020
Was great. I got my first look at the Adeptus Custodes. I look at the life in the palace and running of Terra. The red tape and bureaucracy of the Imperium.
I got a look at the Sisters of Silence and how lethal they were.
If you are wondering, this book is closer to the newer Era of 40K. I recommend researching the timeliness of 40k and where this falls if that bothers you.
It doesn't me.
I got a look at the Sisters of Silence and how lethal they were.
If you are wondering, this book is closer to the newer Era of 40K. I recommend researching the timeliness of 40k and where this falls if that bothers you.
It doesn't me.
January 5, 2025
I feel this book could be a good start after finishing the horus heresy and siege of terra series as it somewhat moves the story forward and a look into the direction of the new imperium. Was in the mood for this as wanted to see some good stories about the custodes as we don't get to see a whole lot on them. This book did a great job giving us a inside look at how they work and live. I really enjoyed the chapters about the sisters of silence too, was great seeing them explored.
December 31, 2021
Very good ja.
A glimpse into the Warhammer universe and fall of Cadia. Managed to keep interested most of the time.
Tells the tale from three different perspectives and alternates between them in chapters. Does occasionally fall a bit into the thing where you want to see how one story continues but have to shuffle through another one first.
Luckily the chapters aren't very long
A glimpse into the Warhammer universe and fall of Cadia. Managed to keep interested most of the time.
Tells the tale from three different perspectives and alternates between them in chapters. Does occasionally fall a bit into the thing where you want to see how one story continues but have to shuffle through another one first.
Luckily the chapters aren't very long
January 24, 2022
Absolutely fantastic read. Really interesting to see the inner workings of the great lords and Aleya and Valerian were written so well. Can’t wait to read the next one!
March 27, 2021
When I read this book, I was set on giving it two stars. That did not feel entirely fair. Sure, the terribad language overshadowed everything, but the book itself wasn't that bad? What was this book about? I kind of remembered one long ongoing conflict but could not remember details of when, where or why. I decided to re read the entire book.
I'm not new to the universe. I have been playing 40 k obsessively for a couple of years until some other hobby took over. That was about 20 years ago but the universe still has a special place in my heart. The thing I liked the most about the game was it's tactical depth. Aesthetics and model painting had some part in it too, but the thought process of which troops should be deployed where, given which order behind which cover in order to win was most important.
So when I grabbed this book I was hoping to relive that. Instead, almost every conflict in the entire book was described something like:
[Constant static of Ushabti bone dry academic language]… “I see one enemy”… [static]… Extremely detailed description of the death of the enemy… [static]… more enemies… [static]… description of the interior or heroes own appearance or enemies appearance… [static]… reflections about how superior the hero is or how easily enemies die… [static]… Description of smoke, color of the laser, wounds, interior crumbling… [static]… “OMG were overwhelmed!”… [static]… more descriptions or reflections of irrelevant things… [static]…” It's hopeless! Were doomed”… [Next chapter]. [A couple of chapters later you get back to this event]… “We made it!”... [static]...New threat arises… [static]… “I see one enemy”...
Nothing about any kind of strategic or tactical decisions. Nothing about how they are using terrain or why they use specific equipment (except that it feels good to smash enemies). Not even in which way some troops are better at fighting than others. Even lore specific details are uncommon. Sure, I didn’t expect battle reports, but god damn, some kind of substance would be nice instead of a constant stream of dry, academic flavour text.
I mean (Actual quote from the book): “I drove myself hard, aiming to recover my full spectrum of physical movement and banish my last evidence of my injury but even so there were still moments of unavoidable reflection.” You don’t say… “Unavoidable”
And about that… Not that I'm entirely against some heroes that are:
Devoting an ever increasing number of complex terminology to their oral testimony of their perilous vehement deeds whenever they enter that foe's arena as if they were adhering to a secret cult with an highly unreserved belief that casual language is an inexcusable heresy only admissible to the detestable foe’s that they are about to purge while describing the entire incident with as many adjectives as it’s humanly possible. While this exhausting practice is not entirely without it’s own literal benefits, a spectator such as I, would consider it to be somewhat refreshing if…
… At least one other character would talk as you and I do.
Somewhere in the middle of my second read I realized that I actually didn't miss any details the first time I read it because it was so badly written. The details were simply not there, and the language was just concealing the lack of substance. The irony is that one of the characters actually makes some reflection about “Twitter of pointless fleeting utterances”, and wants to see some less talking and more action. Well, so do I, but that reflection does not hinder her from “pointless verbal jackery” just like everyone else in this book.
I'm not new to the universe. I have been playing 40 k obsessively for a couple of years until some other hobby took over. That was about 20 years ago but the universe still has a special place in my heart. The thing I liked the most about the game was it's tactical depth. Aesthetics and model painting had some part in it too, but the thought process of which troops should be deployed where, given which order behind which cover in order to win was most important.
So when I grabbed this book I was hoping to relive that. Instead, almost every conflict in the entire book was described something like:
[Constant static of Ushabti bone dry academic language]… “I see one enemy”… [static]… Extremely detailed description of the death of the enemy… [static]… more enemies… [static]… description of the interior or heroes own appearance or enemies appearance… [static]… reflections about how superior the hero is or how easily enemies die… [static]… Description of smoke, color of the laser, wounds, interior crumbling… [static]… “OMG were overwhelmed!”… [static]… more descriptions or reflections of irrelevant things… [static]…” It's hopeless! Were doomed”… [Next chapter]. [A couple of chapters later you get back to this event]… “We made it!”... [static]...New threat arises… [static]… “I see one enemy”...
Nothing about any kind of strategic or tactical decisions. Nothing about how they are using terrain or why they use specific equipment (except that it feels good to smash enemies). Not even in which way some troops are better at fighting than others. Even lore specific details are uncommon. Sure, I didn’t expect battle reports, but god damn, some kind of substance would be nice instead of a constant stream of dry, academic flavour text.
I mean (Actual quote from the book): “I drove myself hard, aiming to recover my full spectrum of physical movement and banish my last evidence of my injury but even so there were still moments of unavoidable reflection.” You don’t say… “Unavoidable”
And about that… Not that I'm entirely against some heroes that are:
Devoting an ever increasing number of complex terminology to their oral testimony of their perilous vehement deeds whenever they enter that foe's arena as if they were adhering to a secret cult with an highly unreserved belief that casual language is an inexcusable heresy only admissible to the detestable foe’s that they are about to purge while describing the entire incident with as many adjectives as it’s humanly possible. While this exhausting practice is not entirely without it’s own literal benefits, a spectator such as I, would consider it to be somewhat refreshing if…
… At least one other character would talk as you and I do.
Somewhere in the middle of my second read I realized that I actually didn't miss any details the first time I read it because it was so badly written. The details were simply not there, and the language was just concealing the lack of substance. The irony is that one of the characters actually makes some reflection about “Twitter of pointless fleeting utterances”, and wants to see some less talking and more action. Well, so do I, but that reflection does not hinder her from “pointless verbal jackery” just like everyone else in this book.
February 14, 2020
Honestly, if I had to get rid off all other books produced by Black Library and only read the Chris Wraight ones that would be fine by me.
Like a lot of the Warhammer book I've read recently, this follows multiple POVs across a series of epic events - but unlike the ones I was disappointed by, this focuses on being a book rather than a collection of 40k facts set to fight sounds. A refreshing change from books that seem to be selling you the game instead of being a book about the world...Instead, the Space Marines have thoughts and feelings, the people in charge aren't just strange caricatures of villains, and the faults of various factions get to be explored.
That said, it's still very much a Warhammer 40k specific book and I wouldn't recommend it for someone new to the universe. I'm not the most up to date on events happening in the 40k fiction, and I still understood what was happening enough to enjoy it, but had no idea how many other events/books it actually tied into.
Like a lot of the Warhammer book I've read recently, this follows multiple POVs across a series of epic events - but unlike the ones I was disappointed by, this focuses on being a book rather than a collection of 40k facts set to fight sounds. A refreshing change from books that seem to be selling you the game instead of being a book about the world...Instead, the Space Marines have thoughts and feelings, the people in charge aren't just strange caricatures of villains, and the faults of various factions get to be explored.
That said, it's still very much a Warhammer 40k specific book and I wouldn't recommend it for someone new to the universe. I'm not the most up to date on events happening in the 40k fiction, and I still understood what was happening enough to enjoy it, but had no idea how many other events/books it actually tied into.
September 29, 2017
Deeper view of the Custodes. I thought the Space Marines were elite and the Grey Knights a step beyond but these guys are truly beyond them all. Throw in the fact you see all three fight side by side AND the Sisters of Silence brought back I was a bit giddy. Then, then you throw in a returned Primarch AND a demon incursion on Terra and it is just all sheer epicness.
February 9, 2020
This well crafted story form Chris Wriaght shows why he is so highly thought of as an author.
The story is told by three POV characters and is written in the first person to give the book a personal feel and encourages the reader to feel like they are part of the action.
The story is set during the Gathering Storm and shows how those on Terra react to the events that unfold.
Any fan of 40K and the new timeline and events should make this the top of their To Read pile.
The story is told by three POV characters and is written in the first person to give the book a personal feel and encourages the reader to feel like they are part of the action.
The story is set during the Gathering Storm and shows how those on Terra react to the events that unfold.
Any fan of 40K and the new timeline and events should make this the top of their To Read pile.
September 1, 2019
I feel that Warhammer books are at their best when they acknowledge and accentuate the strangeness of the world. Space marines are terrifying inhuman beasts. In this book we see that Custodes have even more terrifying skills, but with a grace and sensitivity that comes literally from an older universe. Seeing them come into contact with other weirdnesses in the universe is fascinating. A shockingly good book considering it essentially exists to justify a new army release from Games Workshop.
February 12, 2021
Wow! Just wow! We finally, at long last, see the setting move forward and look into the very heights of power. There is so much revealed lore in this novel. Guilliman returns, the Custodians are released, the Anathema Psykana are remembered, and the grim darkness of the far future continues to be excitingly grim. This was a great read by a great author.
February 13, 2021
Had a hard time picking between 4 & 5 stars so five it is! This one is really quite good and for those wanting to get to the start of the Indomnitus Crusade and the new WH40K here is where you want to start!
3 different overlapping perspectives which weave together into an incredible whole.
3 different overlapping perspectives which weave together into an incredible whole.
May 14, 2023
Very good. I felt the ending was a tad rushed kinda just "theneverythingwasgoodokaybye" but that really was my only complaint. Loved every charecter.
October 10, 2023
A bombastic exploration of the Emperor's closest companions.
Chris Wraight, man, do you ever do something bad? Once again, an incredible read that flows like butter on a summer day down a ramp, and reads like a beautiful cinematic adventure of pure unaltered chaos (the word, no the faction).
The Emperor's Legion tells a new story set at the heart of Terra, from the POV of three main characters: A custodes, a sister of silence, and the chancellor. Each one contributes an essential pillar to the full narrative by which we experience a new dawn upon the Imperium, and how these consequences spread throughout the entire inner workings of the dystopic machine of the Imperium to tremble its very core. Chris Wraight manages to establish the setting and somber mood of Terra through the eyes of different perspectives that work out quite well in the full panorama, giving us a glimpse of what is like to be a human in such place and in such times. The construction of Terra and the way the scenarios are laid out is a fascinating new insight into the lore, as well as an entertaining journey through an industrial, overly zealous hell.
After reading a few works by Chris Wraight, I think I've come to realize that he probably works the best when he has strong characters to use, and from their perspective. His first-persona narrative feels alive, palpable and exciting. Each character has a distinctive voice and each one contributes to a different manner to the overall story as they travel into the heart of Terra across the enemies of mankind. It is a beautiful tale of epic proportions, supported by an interesting cast and just juicy writing that goes quite well.
The Emperor's Legion is a slightly more complex read than your average 40k novel, mostly because it is set in a very important period for the history of the Imperium, and marks one of the most important events in recent history for the lore. Without a somewhat clear grasp of the background and the events going on at hand, it might be a little troublesome to read. However, the first-person narrative helps out a lot with understand the emotion and gravity of the situation, as well as working as a very entertaining motion for us the readers.
If there's one thing I wasn't quite overly fond of is the rather distant prose that the novel takes by the time shit hits the fan. This is Terra, the homeworld of homeworlds and the single most sacred thing in all of the Imperium, and by the time things get heated, it should be marked as a pivotal moment for all of humanity, but Chris Wraight makes it feel a little less important, and more like a simple event that's just another Sunday for humanity. I would be going into spoilers a bit trying to explain it to the fullest, but it ultimately comes down the fact that, perhaps, the characters who are almost too far away from humanity, lack the proper emotion and it doesn't capture such a moment as I wished it had.
Still, The Emperor's Legion is a great read that just makes me appreciate Wraight more and more. It is fun, relatively short, and sweetly-paced. A great read that can be finished quickly thanks to being entertaining and insightful for 40k fans.
Chris Wraight, man, do you ever do something bad? Once again, an incredible read that flows like butter on a summer day down a ramp, and reads like a beautiful cinematic adventure of pure unaltered chaos (the word, no the faction).
The Emperor's Legion tells a new story set at the heart of Terra, from the POV of three main characters: A custodes, a sister of silence, and the chancellor. Each one contributes an essential pillar to the full narrative by which we experience a new dawn upon the Imperium, and how these consequences spread throughout the entire inner workings of the dystopic machine of the Imperium to tremble its very core. Chris Wraight manages to establish the setting and somber mood of Terra through the eyes of different perspectives that work out quite well in the full panorama, giving us a glimpse of what is like to be a human in such place and in such times. The construction of Terra and the way the scenarios are laid out is a fascinating new insight into the lore, as well as an entertaining journey through an industrial, overly zealous hell.
After reading a few works by Chris Wraight, I think I've come to realize that he probably works the best when he has strong characters to use, and from their perspective. His first-persona narrative feels alive, palpable and exciting. Each character has a distinctive voice and each one contributes to a different manner to the overall story as they travel into the heart of Terra across the enemies of mankind. It is a beautiful tale of epic proportions, supported by an interesting cast and just juicy writing that goes quite well.
The Emperor's Legion is a slightly more complex read than your average 40k novel, mostly because it is set in a very important period for the history of the Imperium, and marks one of the most important events in recent history for the lore. Without a somewhat clear grasp of the background and the events going on at hand, it might be a little troublesome to read. However, the first-person narrative helps out a lot with understand the emotion and gravity of the situation, as well as working as a very entertaining motion for us the readers.
If there's one thing I wasn't quite overly fond of is the rather distant prose that the novel takes by the time shit hits the fan. This is Terra, the homeworld of homeworlds and the single most sacred thing in all of the Imperium, and by the time things get heated, it should be marked as a pivotal moment for all of humanity, but Chris Wraight makes it feel a little less important, and more like a simple event that's just another Sunday for humanity. I would be going into spoilers a bit trying to explain it to the fullest, but it ultimately comes down the fact that, perhaps, the characters who are almost too far away from humanity, lack the proper emotion and it doesn't capture such a moment as I wished it had.
Still, The Emperor's Legion is a great read that just makes me appreciate Wraight more and more. It is fun, relatively short, and sweetly-paced. A great read that can be finished quickly thanks to being entertaining and insightful for 40k fans.
August 11, 2023
For long years I've avoided reading anything involving the Adeptus Custodes; in the Horus Heresy, they were either bland and unmemorable, or boorish, arrogant jackasses whose deaths I revelled reading. But Chris Wraight is one of my favourite writers in Black Library, and a lot of what I was hearing about this series, not to mention the Custodes getting a lot of attention for being Henry Cavill's army of choice, decided to make me give this a go. Having finished this, I would recommend it for both long time fans of the setting, and newcomers, given it gives a fairly succinct layout of how things stand in the Warhammer 40,000 setting's current timeline.
"As the 41st millennium ends and the 42nd begins, the Imperium of Man buckles under the strain of war on a thousand fronts. The fortress world of Cadia, the bulwark that held back the hordes of Chaos spilling forth from the Eye of Terror has been lost, and now Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade ravages the Imperium. The Cicatrix Maledictum has ripped reality apart, cutting half of the galaxy off in darkness and leaving half of the Imperium at the mercy of Abaddon's monsters. As daemons and heretics tread Holy Terra's soil for the first time since the Horus Heresy, the Adeptus Custodes, the God-Emperor's Prateorian Guard, humbled by their failure to save their master from Horus Lupercal and leashed to the Throneworld for millennia, must face a new reality, one that may require them to take to the battlefield once more. As the Custodes fend off the hordes of Hell, the Sisters of Silence, a militant order left to fester in darkness, return to Terra for the first time in centuries, bringing word of a terrible plot to utterly destroy the Imperium..."
The main characters of Valerian and Aleya are miles above the last characters from their respective Orders I encountered in a novel; one who has lived in relative seclusion and peaceful bliss despite being personal guards to the Imperium's undead ruler, the other bitter and resentful at her order's abandonment despite the pivotal role they have played in the Imperium, thrown together and bonded in the fires of battle (I'm already headcasting Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra as them, I'll almost be disappointed if an adaptation of this book and its sequel isn't at the core of Cavill's upcoming Warhammer 40K project). The political schemes and double dealing as the nobility of the Imperium struggle to come to grips with the fact the established order they knew is gone is definitely engaging, even as you long for someone to just sweep the corruption away, and while there's not much detailed action, the final battle as Valerian and Aleya try to thwart the Black Legion's plan to leave Terra trapped in darkness is gripping and full on (even if my loyalties in universe are with the Warmaster). Better than I expected, and I look forward to starting the sequel...
"As the 41st millennium ends and the 42nd begins, the Imperium of Man buckles under the strain of war on a thousand fronts. The fortress world of Cadia, the bulwark that held back the hordes of Chaos spilling forth from the Eye of Terror has been lost, and now Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade ravages the Imperium. The Cicatrix Maledictum has ripped reality apart, cutting half of the galaxy off in darkness and leaving half of the Imperium at the mercy of Abaddon's monsters. As daemons and heretics tread Holy Terra's soil for the first time since the Horus Heresy, the Adeptus Custodes, the God-Emperor's Prateorian Guard, humbled by their failure to save their master from Horus Lupercal and leashed to the Throneworld for millennia, must face a new reality, one that may require them to take to the battlefield once more. As the Custodes fend off the hordes of Hell, the Sisters of Silence, a militant order left to fester in darkness, return to Terra for the first time in centuries, bringing word of a terrible plot to utterly destroy the Imperium..."
The main characters of Valerian and Aleya are miles above the last characters from their respective Orders I encountered in a novel; one who has lived in relative seclusion and peaceful bliss despite being personal guards to the Imperium's undead ruler, the other bitter and resentful at her order's abandonment despite the pivotal role they have played in the Imperium, thrown together and bonded in the fires of battle (I'm already headcasting Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra as them, I'll almost be disappointed if an adaptation of this book and its sequel isn't at the core of Cavill's upcoming Warhammer 40K project). The political schemes and double dealing as the nobility of the Imperium struggle to come to grips with the fact the established order they knew is gone is definitely engaging, even as you long for someone to just sweep the corruption away, and while there's not much detailed action, the final battle as Valerian and Aleya try to thwart the Black Legion's plan to leave Terra trapped in darkness is gripping and full on (even if my loyalties in universe are with the Warmaster). Better than I expected, and I look forward to starting the sequel...
December 11, 2021
A closer look at the Throne and Terra, what remains of the Earth we know. It explores a bit of the inner workings of the Adeptus Custodes, the layout of the Golden Throne and how it is maintained, and a walk through the life of a Sister of Silence.
The story takes a three pronged approach to telling the tale of what seems to be an invasion on the Throne itself by a host of demons. From chapter to chapter the perspective is shifted from one of these three viewpoints. Of which are a Custodian, a Sister of Silence, and a chancellor of the Senatorum Imperialis.
The beginning of the book is incredibly slow and cumbersome as the initial three chapters are doled out like exposition letters of self introduction from each of the characters. It comes across as though each is speaking directly to the reader. While this is very informative and delivers quite a lot of character portrayal from each, it's not the most immersive way to begin a book.
Beyond that, the tale slowly takes shape as each character gradually comes upon a climactic battle for the Golden Throne. There are a lot of big moments for each character, certainly enough to keep readers entertained through each individual's segments. In fact, each story could have served to tell a much stronger tale entirely on its own. Instead we are given a rapidly accelerating story that crashes into a massive battle and then disperses very quickly and leaves the book hanging in a bit of a static.... bluh.
The individual one-on-one battles are told quite well and even though we are dealing with very powerful warriors, we are also shown just how dangerous their opponents can be. The larger scale battles are on the other hand somewhat dull. Many times over you will read how they hacked and ripped their way through the opponents. Tearing their flesh asunder...
The action leans so heavily into telling us that they are mowing down an endless onslaught of opponents that it begins to feel very casual and meaningless. Are they demons or are they cardboard boxes? It isn't so much that the characters couldn't do this. It's just the blunted manner in which it is portrayed.
All in all it's quite entertaining and a good solid look at some of these characters and their roles. The story is one of gravity and large events occur in abundance.
The story takes a three pronged approach to telling the tale of what seems to be an invasion on the Throne itself by a host of demons. From chapter to chapter the perspective is shifted from one of these three viewpoints. Of which are a Custodian, a Sister of Silence, and a chancellor of the Senatorum Imperialis.
The beginning of the book is incredibly slow and cumbersome as the initial three chapters are doled out like exposition letters of self introduction from each of the characters. It comes across as though each is speaking directly to the reader. While this is very informative and delivers quite a lot of character portrayal from each, it's not the most immersive way to begin a book.
Beyond that, the tale slowly takes shape as each character gradually comes upon a climactic battle for the Golden Throne. There are a lot of big moments for each character, certainly enough to keep readers entertained through each individual's segments. In fact, each story could have served to tell a much stronger tale entirely on its own. Instead we are given a rapidly accelerating story that crashes into a massive battle and then disperses very quickly and leaves the book hanging in a bit of a static.... bluh.
The individual one-on-one battles are told quite well and even though we are dealing with very powerful warriors, we are also shown just how dangerous their opponents can be. The larger scale battles are on the other hand somewhat dull. Many times over you will read how they hacked and ripped their way through the opponents. Tearing their flesh asunder...
The action leans so heavily into telling us that they are mowing down an endless onslaught of opponents that it begins to feel very casual and meaningless. Are they demons or are they cardboard boxes? It isn't so much that the characters couldn't do this. It's just the blunted manner in which it is portrayed.
All in all it's quite entertaining and a good solid look at some of these characters and their roles. The story is one of gravity and large events occur in abundance.
August 30, 2021
*Contains spoilers related to other plot points in the 40k universe.*
I'm giving this book 5 stars because I thought it was fantastic. However, that does come with a rather large asterisk. I love the Warhammer 40k universe, I got into it by playing the games, but it is most certainly the lore that keeps me engrossed. Therefore this book has a unique appeal to me as it adds a lot of detail to the most significant moment in 40k history there has been in a long time. The Fall of Cadia, the opening of the rift, and the return of Guilliman. This is when 40k made the jump past 40k, as it were, and time actually moved forward narrative-wise. Rather than us being stuck in the same period forever.
If you aren't familiar with the above events, you won't enjoy this book as much, although I think it'll still entertain (well worth becoming familiar with these events FYI). For anyone who is familiar, you will really enjoy this book. It has 3 perspectives. The key functionary who serves the high lords of Terra. A Sister of Silence (they hate that name), mostly abandoned by the Imperium and making her own way through a universe that hates her kinds. And a member of the Custodia Guard. Through the lenses of these three characters we get to experience what happened on Terra (and some parts elsewhere) when Cadia fell and the grim darkness of the far future got that bit much darker.
Do not assume the High Lords are administration loving bafoons who govern the Imperium ineffectually. (Ish)
Do not assume the Custodian Guard are zealots who have stagnated behind the walls of the Imperial Palace, knowing nothing of the outside world. (Or greased up muscle men, you'll know what I mean if you're in the know hehe)
And do NOT assume that Sisters of Silence are simply regular mortals with no souls.
Go into this book with an open mind and you'll have a great time.
I'm giving this book 5 stars because I thought it was fantastic. However, that does come with a rather large asterisk. I love the Warhammer 40k universe, I got into it by playing the games, but it is most certainly the lore that keeps me engrossed. Therefore this book has a unique appeal to me as it adds a lot of detail to the most significant moment in 40k history there has been in a long time. The Fall of Cadia, the opening of the rift, and the return of Guilliman. This is when 40k made the jump past 40k, as it were, and time actually moved forward narrative-wise. Rather than us being stuck in the same period forever.
If you aren't familiar with the above events, you won't enjoy this book as much, although I think it'll still entertain (well worth becoming familiar with these events FYI). For anyone who is familiar, you will really enjoy this book. It has 3 perspectives. The key functionary who serves the high lords of Terra. A Sister of Silence (they hate that name), mostly abandoned by the Imperium and making her own way through a universe that hates her kinds. And a member of the Custodia Guard. Through the lenses of these three characters we get to experience what happened on Terra (and some parts elsewhere) when Cadia fell and the grim darkness of the far future got that bit much darker.
Do not assume the High Lords are administration loving bafoons who govern the Imperium ineffectually. (Ish)
Do not assume the Custodian Guard are zealots who have stagnated behind the walls of the Imperial Palace, knowing nothing of the outside world. (Or greased up muscle men, you'll know what I mean if you're in the know hehe)
And do NOT assume that Sisters of Silence are simply regular mortals with no souls.
Go into this book with an open mind and you'll have a great time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2022
I went into this book not really knowing what to expect, only a brief glance at the blurb let me know it was about the Custodes.
I was greatly surprised to find this book was brilliant. Its not just Custodes doing stuff, it's a great depiction of 40k Terra. After learning what horus heresy Terra was like, the author does a great job of comparing the two through only the barest knowledge his characters possess. The reader of course is able to fill in the blanks and see the greater decline the Imperium is in before the Indomitus Crusade.
The story is split through three characters, a Custode, the high council's chancellor and a sister of silence. The Custodes depiction is a good insight into these usually mysterious warriors and his perception of the world around him. The chancellor has a great political story and also serves to show how normal humans are dealing with the events of the book, something which is usually quite interesting as normal 40k books are space marines with no fear.
The silent sister was my least favourite narrator, her journey is more to aid the progress and provide a different perspective which is all good, but she's constantly angry to the point where it just seems like it should stop now.
As always there is action in these books. It's all well written and doesn't go on for too long. I did like how the author chose not to show all the battles that happen in this book either as the characters weren't there. It added a certain mystery and added to the idea that some of the events in this book are beyond what Terra is ready for.
Overall a brilliantly surprising read, I recommend it to all fans of the 40k universe.
I was greatly surprised to find this book was brilliant. Its not just Custodes doing stuff, it's a great depiction of 40k Terra. After learning what horus heresy Terra was like, the author does a great job of comparing the two through only the barest knowledge his characters possess. The reader of course is able to fill in the blanks and see the greater decline the Imperium is in before the Indomitus Crusade.
The story is split through three characters, a Custode, the high council's chancellor and a sister of silence. The Custodes depiction is a good insight into these usually mysterious warriors and his perception of the world around him. The chancellor has a great political story and also serves to show how normal humans are dealing with the events of the book, something which is usually quite interesting as normal 40k books are space marines with no fear.
The silent sister was my least favourite narrator, her journey is more to aid the progress and provide a different perspective which is all good, but she's constantly angry to the point where it just seems like it should stop now.
As always there is action in these books. It's all well written and doesn't go on for too long. I did like how the author chose not to show all the battles that happen in this book either as the characters weren't there. It added a certain mystery and added to the idea that some of the events in this book are beyond what Terra is ready for.
Overall a brilliantly surprising read, I recommend it to all fans of the 40k universe.
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