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Halo #36
Halo: Empty Throne
An original novel set in the Halo universe—based on the New York Times bestselling video game series!
2559. It has been a year since the rogue artificial intelligence Cortana seized control of the Domain, an otherworldly dimension housing a vast information network. With an array of Forerunner weapons at her disposal, Cortana set out to enforce an authoritarian peace on the civilizations of the galaxy. But as the United Nations Space Command flagship Infinity prepares to strike against Cortana at Zeta Halo, another plan has also been set in motion.
An ancient access point hidden on a seemingly insignificant human colony has become the focus of a parallel effort to claim the Domain and its immeasurable capabilities. The UNSC, however, needs a a living, forsaken product of an old war. As a new generation of heroes rise to meet this challenge, and Cortana's pursuit of control reaches a desperate and sudden crescendo, a cunning, ruthless warrior emerges from the shadows of the Banished, who has vowed to fill the new power vacuum by any means necessary…
2559. It has been a year since the rogue artificial intelligence Cortana seized control of the Domain, an otherworldly dimension housing a vast information network. With an array of Forerunner weapons at her disposal, Cortana set out to enforce an authoritarian peace on the civilizations of the galaxy. But as the United Nations Space Command flagship Infinity prepares to strike against Cortana at Zeta Halo, another plan has also been set in motion.
An ancient access point hidden on a seemingly insignificant human colony has become the focus of a parallel effort to claim the Domain and its immeasurable capabilities. The UNSC, however, needs a a living, forsaken product of an old war. As a new generation of heroes rise to meet this challenge, and Cortana's pursuit of control reaches a desperate and sudden crescendo, a cunning, ruthless warrior emerges from the shadows of the Banished, who has vowed to fill the new power vacuum by any means necessary…
1 pages, Audio CD
Published February 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 1, 2025
What a wonderful welcome back to the Halo book series. This book actually pushes us past the events of Halo: Infinite and has the two tropes I love best in media: 1. Lone Wolf and Pup, where a bad ass older guy has to be a surrogate father figure to a little ass kicker kid and 2. Multi-Faction Succession Crisis. It’s the Halo/Game of Thrones with a dash of Last of Us that I didn’t know I needed. It’s probably top three in the entire 30+ book series.
April 13, 2025
It seemed like a slow windup with a lot of recap from the Halo universe for the first half. The second half was some of the best Halo writing I’ve read.
April 24, 2025
Halo: Empty Throne by Jeremy Patenaude is a remarkable and engaging addition to the Halo universe, delivering a compelling mix of military science fiction, political intrigue, and intense character exploration. The novel takes place less than eight years after the fall of the Covenant Empire and the conclusion of the Human-Covenant War. The end of the Created’s reign, marked by the defeat of the oppressive AI overlords and their Forerunner armies, signals a new era for humanity. However, far from ushering in peace, it leaves humanity vulnerable, caught between the dangers of the Banished—the largest remaining faction of the old Covenant—and the fragile remnants of past alliances.
The plot is set against a galaxy that is on the brink of collapse. The UNSC Infinity and the iconic Master Chief have gone missing after their assault on Zeta Halo, the Created’s headquarters. The absence of these two powerful forces leaves humanity defenseless, while the Banished, led by the brutal warlord Atriox, grow stronger and more dangerous. Meanwhile, the Swords of Sanghelios, the government formed by the Arbiter Thel ’Vadam, is trying to expand at an accelerated pace. Within the Swords, there are differing factions, some pushing to protect humanity, others wanting to place themselves at the forefront of galactic politics. It’s clear that the galaxy’s future hangs in the balance, and the coming years may shape the course of history for centuries to come.
One of the most impressive aspects of Halo: Empty Throne is its ability to explore the aftermath of the Human-Covenant War while expanding the scope of the Halo universe in meaningful ways. The novel provides a nuanced exploration of how different factions respond to the power vacuum left in the wake of the Created’s downfall. The Banished, a formidable threat from the old Covenant, are now more adaptive and deadly, and their tactics make them a dangerous adversary for both the human and Sangheili forces. The sense of urgency and the looming threat of this new faction keeps the narrative tense and full of suspense.
Patenaude does an excellent job of weaving together large-scale galactic politics with intimate character moments. The plot is not just about battles and galactic maneuvering—it’s about the individuals caught up in these events and how they are shaped by them. The Swords of Sanghelios, led by the Arbiter, are particularly well fleshed out, with political divisions, power struggles, and differing views on how to approach humanity. The narrative moves fluidly between different perspectives, showing the complex relationships between old allies and new enemies.
The character development is another highlight of Halo: Empty Throne. Patenaude introduces a host of new characters while maintaining the integrity of the franchise’s iconic figures. The characters are multifaceted, and their struggles—both internal and external—are a central focus of the story. The internal conflict within the Swords of Sanghelios adds a layer of complexity to the story, as different factions vie for power and influence. The book also does a great job of showcasing the toll war takes on those involved. The characters are more than just soldiers; they are people with histories, desires, and fears. This human element grounds the story, making it resonate on an emotional level.
The world-building in Halo: Empty Throne is another standout feature. Patenaude does an incredible job of expanding on the rich lore of the Halo universe. From the intricacies of the Banished to the political struggles of the Sangheili, the galaxy feels vibrant and full of life. The book also explores the technology and remnants of the old Covenant, giving the reader a sense of the vast history and cultural significance that shapes the current conflicts. The inclusion of new factions and governments, formed from old equipment and alliances, makes the galaxy feel more complex and layered, as each species tries to find its place in the shifting power dynamics.
The action in Halo: Empty Throne is top-notch, with intense battles that will satisfy fans of the series’ trademark combat. However, the novel is not just about action. The story delves into the political maneuvering and tactical decision-making that goes into these large-scale confrontations. The tactical elements are well thought out, and Patenaude balances the action with slower, more reflective moments, giving the reader a chance to digest the weight of each decision.
The novel’s pacing is fast yet steady, ensuring that the reader remains engaged throughout. The narrative constantly evolves, introducing new conflicts and challenges, while also taking the time to develop characters and their arcs. The dialogue is sharp, and the stakes feel real, with each decision made by the characters feeling consequential. Patenaude also introduces some intriguing plot twists that keep the reader on edge, adding layers of suspense and complexity to the story.
In terms of continuity, Halo: Empty Throne stays true to the established lore of the Halo universe, while also pushing the boundaries of what we know. The portrayal of the Banished as a more adaptive and dangerous force is an interesting twist, making them a compelling antagonist. Additionally, the internal politics within the Swords of Sanghelios adds a new layer to the narrative, making it clear that even the strongest nations can falter in times of crisis. The book introduces fresh perspectives without disregarding the franchise’s core elements, making it a great read for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.
In conclusion, Halo: Empty Throne is an outstanding contribution to the Halo franchise. Jeremy Patenaude masterfully combines action, political intrigue, and character-driven storytelling to create a gripping narrative that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. The novel expands the Halo universe in exciting new directions, adding depth and complexity to the ongoing conflict. Whether you’re a fan of the series or new to the world of Halo, Empty Throne is a must-read that captures the essence of the franchise while setting the stage for even greater adventures to come.
The plot is set against a galaxy that is on the brink of collapse. The UNSC Infinity and the iconic Master Chief have gone missing after their assault on Zeta Halo, the Created’s headquarters. The absence of these two powerful forces leaves humanity defenseless, while the Banished, led by the brutal warlord Atriox, grow stronger and more dangerous. Meanwhile, the Swords of Sanghelios, the government formed by the Arbiter Thel ’Vadam, is trying to expand at an accelerated pace. Within the Swords, there are differing factions, some pushing to protect humanity, others wanting to place themselves at the forefront of galactic politics. It’s clear that the galaxy’s future hangs in the balance, and the coming years may shape the course of history for centuries to come.
One of the most impressive aspects of Halo: Empty Throne is its ability to explore the aftermath of the Human-Covenant War while expanding the scope of the Halo universe in meaningful ways. The novel provides a nuanced exploration of how different factions respond to the power vacuum left in the wake of the Created’s downfall. The Banished, a formidable threat from the old Covenant, are now more adaptive and deadly, and their tactics make them a dangerous adversary for both the human and Sangheili forces. The sense of urgency and the looming threat of this new faction keeps the narrative tense and full of suspense.
Patenaude does an excellent job of weaving together large-scale galactic politics with intimate character moments. The plot is not just about battles and galactic maneuvering—it’s about the individuals caught up in these events and how they are shaped by them. The Swords of Sanghelios, led by the Arbiter, are particularly well fleshed out, with political divisions, power struggles, and differing views on how to approach humanity. The narrative moves fluidly between different perspectives, showing the complex relationships between old allies and new enemies.
The character development is another highlight of Halo: Empty Throne. Patenaude introduces a host of new characters while maintaining the integrity of the franchise’s iconic figures. The characters are multifaceted, and their struggles—both internal and external—are a central focus of the story. The internal conflict within the Swords of Sanghelios adds a layer of complexity to the story, as different factions vie for power and influence. The book also does a great job of showcasing the toll war takes on those involved. The characters are more than just soldiers; they are people with histories, desires, and fears. This human element grounds the story, making it resonate on an emotional level.
The world-building in Halo: Empty Throne is another standout feature. Patenaude does an incredible job of expanding on the rich lore of the Halo universe. From the intricacies of the Banished to the political struggles of the Sangheili, the galaxy feels vibrant and full of life. The book also explores the technology and remnants of the old Covenant, giving the reader a sense of the vast history and cultural significance that shapes the current conflicts. The inclusion of new factions and governments, formed from old equipment and alliances, makes the galaxy feel more complex and layered, as each species tries to find its place in the shifting power dynamics.
The action in Halo: Empty Throne is top-notch, with intense battles that will satisfy fans of the series’ trademark combat. However, the novel is not just about action. The story delves into the political maneuvering and tactical decision-making that goes into these large-scale confrontations. The tactical elements are well thought out, and Patenaude balances the action with slower, more reflective moments, giving the reader a chance to digest the weight of each decision.
The novel’s pacing is fast yet steady, ensuring that the reader remains engaged throughout. The narrative constantly evolves, introducing new conflicts and challenges, while also taking the time to develop characters and their arcs. The dialogue is sharp, and the stakes feel real, with each decision made by the characters feeling consequential. Patenaude also introduces some intriguing plot twists that keep the reader on edge, adding layers of suspense and complexity to the story.
In terms of continuity, Halo: Empty Throne stays true to the established lore of the Halo universe, while also pushing the boundaries of what we know. The portrayal of the Banished as a more adaptive and dangerous force is an interesting twist, making them a compelling antagonist. Additionally, the internal politics within the Swords of Sanghelios adds a new layer to the narrative, making it clear that even the strongest nations can falter in times of crisis. The book introduces fresh perspectives without disregarding the franchise’s core elements, making it a great read for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.
In conclusion, Halo: Empty Throne is an outstanding contribution to the Halo franchise. Jeremy Patenaude masterfully combines action, political intrigue, and character-driven storytelling to create a gripping narrative that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. The novel expands the Halo universe in exciting new directions, adding depth and complexity to the ongoing conflict. Whether you’re a fan of the series or new to the world of Halo, Empty Throne is a must-read that captures the essence of the franchise while setting the stage for even greater adventures to come.
May 5, 2025
Empty Throne doesn’t answer all the questions left hanging around Halo: Infinite. It does however cement itself firmly as one of the best lore giving books in a long time. Expertly weaving in concepts that have started in previous books almost 20 years ago, to new concepts that set the stage for a continued vibrant and exciting universe that is still very much Halo.
Game Developers take note on these authors and their willingness to delve deep into the lore that is halo. If games followed some of the books story lines you’d still be the best running game series in history.
Game Developers take note on these authors and their willingness to delve deep into the lore that is halo. If games followed some of the books story lines you’d still be the best running game series in history.
February 28, 2025
While still not answering the big questions, this is a well written book that fits perfectly into the Halo book series; and indeed leaves more questions that I hope are addressed in the next piece of media
March 13, 2025
4.5/5
A fun ride that really shows us the current state of the wider universe. The way it weaves between the current events from Halo 5 to Outcasts to Infinite, and then with much older story telling including short stories, is nothing short of impressive. I really enjoy learning about all the factions and seeing the people struggle with multifaceted wars and battles. It's very different from the clear UNSC vs Covenant of old and you see that shine here.
It also sets up lots of future stories which I cannot wait to see explored.
A fun ride that really shows us the current state of the wider universe. The way it weaves between the current events from Halo 5 to Outcasts to Infinite, and then with much older story telling including short stories, is nothing short of impressive. I really enjoy learning about all the factions and seeing the people struggle with multifaceted wars and battles. It's very different from the clear UNSC vs Covenant of old and you see that shine here.
It also sets up lots of future stories which I cannot wait to see explored.
August 3, 2025
This book has the unenviable task of neatly and convincingly tying together the disjointed narratives of Halo 4 (2012), Halo 5 (2015), and Halo Infinite (2021) while also telling its own compelling story. To my surprise, it did so quite well. I can only hope that the same writing acumen could be applied to the actual games moving forward, but that's a horse that's been beaten dead many years ago.
Halo: Empty Throne manages to take the detritus of those aforementioned stories and weave it, in my opinion, into something satisfying. Dare I say it salvages the damage done by 343i so far? Who knows, but it's a damn good read, with solid writing, decent drama, and great action sequences. As someone who's been reading these since I was in middle school, I'd rank this one up there with the tactical bombast of First Strike and the spec-ops thrill of the Kilo-Five Trilogy.
The galaxy is in disarray in the wake of Cortana's takeover of the Domain, and the main three post-war factions are all after the same target that could drastically alter the balance of galactic power. The book makes a largely successful attempt in justifying the bafflingly odd Created plotline from Halo 5 while refocusing on the more interesting characters of the old canon (Lord Hood, Rtas 'Vadum, Gray Team, Serin Osman) and the best ideas from the late 343i era (the Banished... well, just the Banished). In doing so, the Guardian Custodes' weird reign of AI terror feels like a palpable, serious threat with real on-the-ground consequences for all. Its a welcome far cry from its cheesy, out-of-left-field introduction in the game.
It's like modern Star Wars. Side characters are now more engaging than the series' mainline ones, and it adds much-needed flavor to the bland state of the current canon. Everybody now has a believable stake in this strange new war, and it adds good weight and focus to what are arguably the best parts of the book: the different species of the post-war era cooperating in a way that would have been unthinkable during the Human-Covenant War. A fireteam composed of Spartans IIs, Spartan IVs, ODSTs, Sangheili warriors, and an Unggoy ranger? Sign me up. A brooding ONI operative with a complex character that leads to an actual satisfying conclusion unheard of in the modern canon? (I never want to see Agent Locke again). Excellent. Main and side characters that aren't just two-dimensional sci-fi caricatures? Say no more.
Assorted Thoughts:
-With real-world AI concerns and heightened interest in the risks of artificial general intelligence, I feel that the Halo universe's current plotline is somewhat vindicated and made more believable, if only by blind luck, and almost a decade after the fact.
-I said it then and I'll say it again, it was brazenly stupid what they did to Jul 'Mdama back in 2015. The complete and utter misuse of a complex character from the Kilo-Five books is a travesty that I will never forgive, honestly. So I'm glad he got a couple of well-deserved mentions in this book.
-A nightclub run by a money-laundering Kig-Yar will never not be hilarious.
-I give big props to the author for incorporating a wide selection of elements from the games and books, even the poorly received ones. The franchise needs to own these choices and write them into a good story moving forward. We have armigers (Promethean soldiers), Guardians, Venezian janissaries, Halo Wars weapons and vehicles, war sphinxes from the Forerunner Saga, acknowledgement of the Didact and Genesis, and more. It's a who's who of Halo mythos, and that's great.
-It's great that we get glimpses into Jiralhanae and Sangheili culture through the words, actions, and thoughts of the characters. For the most part it feels natural and not overly expositional. The alternating character POV between chapters helps this.
-I absolutely love the banter between James, Chloe, and Lola.
-Ship-to-ship combat is solid here. It's not a Halo book without someone getting a MAC round put through them.
Halo: Empty Throne manages to take the detritus of those aforementioned stories and weave it, in my opinion, into something satisfying. Dare I say it salvages the damage done by 343i so far? Who knows, but it's a damn good read, with solid writing, decent drama, and great action sequences. As someone who's been reading these since I was in middle school, I'd rank this one up there with the tactical bombast of First Strike and the spec-ops thrill of the Kilo-Five Trilogy.
The galaxy is in disarray in the wake of Cortana's takeover of the Domain, and the main three post-war factions are all after the same target that could drastically alter the balance of galactic power. The book makes a largely successful attempt in justifying the bafflingly odd Created plotline from Halo 5 while refocusing on the more interesting characters of the old canon (Lord Hood, Rtas 'Vadum, Gray Team, Serin Osman) and the best ideas from the late 343i era (the Banished... well, just the Banished). In doing so, the Guardian Custodes' weird reign of AI terror feels like a palpable, serious threat with real on-the-ground consequences for all. Its a welcome far cry from its cheesy, out-of-left-field introduction in the game.
It's like modern Star Wars. Side characters are now more engaging than the series' mainline ones, and it adds much-needed flavor to the bland state of the current canon. Everybody now has a believable stake in this strange new war, and it adds good weight and focus to what are arguably the best parts of the book: the different species of the post-war era cooperating in a way that would have been unthinkable during the Human-Covenant War. A fireteam composed of Spartans IIs, Spartan IVs, ODSTs, Sangheili warriors, and an Unggoy ranger? Sign me up. A brooding ONI operative with a complex character that leads to an actual satisfying conclusion unheard of in the modern canon? (I never want to see Agent Locke again). Excellent. Main and side characters that aren't just two-dimensional sci-fi caricatures? Say no more.
Assorted Thoughts:
-With real-world AI concerns and heightened interest in the risks of artificial general intelligence, I feel that the Halo universe's current plotline is somewhat vindicated and made more believable, if only by blind luck, and almost a decade after the fact.
-I said it then and I'll say it again, it was brazenly stupid what they did to Jul 'Mdama back in 2015. The complete and utter misuse of a complex character from the Kilo-Five books is a travesty that I will never forgive, honestly. So I'm glad he got a couple of well-deserved mentions in this book.
-A nightclub run by a money-laundering Kig-Yar will never not be hilarious.
-I give big props to the author for incorporating a wide selection of elements from the games and books, even the poorly received ones. The franchise needs to own these choices and write them into a good story moving forward. We have armigers (Promethean soldiers), Guardians, Venezian janissaries, Halo Wars weapons and vehicles, war sphinxes from the Forerunner Saga, acknowledgement of the Didact and Genesis, and more. It's a who's who of Halo mythos, and that's great.
-It's great that we get glimpses into Jiralhanae and Sangheili culture through the words, actions, and thoughts of the characters. For the most part it feels natural and not overly expositional. The alternating character POV between chapters helps this.
-I absolutely love the banter between James, Chloe, and Lola.
-Ship-to-ship combat is solid here. It's not a Halo book without someone getting a MAC round put through them.
April 30, 2025
In this book, I mostly liked the concept and form of the story.
Especially the newer things like Chloe and James, Tol Juran with Gray Team, Severan and Dovo Nesto. (though I would have preferred Nyon and Several teaming up for extra threat level. Now it kinda just feels no different from having Nyon in charge. Honestly that distrusting the guy that raised you so easily was quite jarring imo).
The execution I found highly lacking, however.
The space battles for instance were very bad, compared to the previous ones. There was no strategy whatsoever, and random misses that should have been kills. Very, very thick plot armor was involved.
What I had the most problem with however, was the scale. Mostly of the Banished fleet. Over 1300 ships?! That's NUTS. These are Banished specific ships and the Banished exist for just over 10 years at this point. The number of ships is ludicrous on this timescale. Especially if you consider the Infinity of all ships was ambushed with only 4 ships, with only a few more being implied to be at Zeta Halo, and Enduring Conviction being the only major capital ship at the Ark. If the Banished truly had such massive numbers of ships in their home fleet, at least a few hundred should have been deployed to either of these operations.
But most jarring of all with Jiralhanae aggression, with those numbers you'd at least attempt to bring down a Guardian.
Another problem with scale is the ground operation at Boundary. I get that you want to send in a silent covert ground team, I'd also say with the ships in orbit, you'd want ALL your combat personnel on the ground (since the banished are not interested in invading ships, so you don't need them for defence), at least for backup if the covert mission goes bad. A ship like that should have plenty of pelicans and drop pods, and is implied to have dozens of Spartan 4's and companies of marines/ODST's.
It's just flat out idiotic.
Also to waste people when you can put a MAC round in it and call it a day. Oh, and about that MAC round with that speed and mass? It can shatter a planets Crust, not put in a minor dent a few hundred meters. Think more Dinosaur-killing meteor. Another gross misunderstanding of scale. Ash everywhere, instant vaporisation. Tsunami's, volcanoes, the works. Them being so worried about 1 kid is also ironic when probably thousands of civilians and children were killed as well
Also idiotic is why the guardians near Earth didn't do anything the moment the Banished fleet showed up. Plain nuts. The Created seem so inactive in this, they don't police or do anything at all. I get people don't like them, but that doesn't justify making them obsolete.
My last major problem with this book is the role of James-005. Having him as a contractor for 'deniability reasons' is stupid, especially if he's still wearing MJOLNIR. Everyone can see he is a spartan. No reason to change this, Black and Gray teams have been doing black ops stuff for years. James easily could have done this in his role as Spartan. ONI wouldn't loosen their leash on an asset like that.
Wait, why did I like this book again? ;)
Especially the newer things like Chloe and James, Tol Juran with Gray Team, Severan and Dovo Nesto. (though I would have preferred Nyon and Several teaming up for extra threat level. Now it kinda just feels no different from having Nyon in charge. Honestly that distrusting the guy that raised you so easily was quite jarring imo).
The execution I found highly lacking, however.
The space battles for instance were very bad, compared to the previous ones. There was no strategy whatsoever, and random misses that should have been kills. Very, very thick plot armor was involved.
What I had the most problem with however, was the scale. Mostly of the Banished fleet. Over 1300 ships?! That's NUTS. These are Banished specific ships and the Banished exist for just over 10 years at this point. The number of ships is ludicrous on this timescale. Especially if you consider the Infinity of all ships was ambushed with only 4 ships, with only a few more being implied to be at Zeta Halo, and Enduring Conviction being the only major capital ship at the Ark. If the Banished truly had such massive numbers of ships in their home fleet, at least a few hundred should have been deployed to either of these operations.
But most jarring of all with Jiralhanae aggression, with those numbers you'd at least attempt to bring down a Guardian.
Another problem with scale is the ground operation at Boundary. I get that you want to send in a silent covert ground team, I'd also say with the ships in orbit, you'd want ALL your combat personnel on the ground (since the banished are not interested in invading ships, so you don't need them for defence), at least for backup if the covert mission goes bad. A ship like that should have plenty of pelicans and drop pods, and is implied to have dozens of Spartan 4's and companies of marines/ODST's.
It's just flat out idiotic.
Also to waste people when you can put a MAC round in it and call it a day. Oh, and about that MAC round with that speed and mass? It can shatter a planets Crust, not put in a minor dent a few hundred meters. Think more Dinosaur-killing meteor. Another gross misunderstanding of scale. Ash everywhere, instant vaporisation. Tsunami's, volcanoes, the works. Them being so worried about 1 kid is also ironic when probably thousands of civilians and children were killed as well
Also idiotic is why the guardians near Earth didn't do anything the moment the Banished fleet showed up. Plain nuts. The Created seem so inactive in this, they don't police or do anything at all. I get people don't like them, but that doesn't justify making them obsolete.
My last major problem with this book is the role of James-005. Having him as a contractor for 'deniability reasons' is stupid, especially if he's still wearing MJOLNIR. Everyone can see he is a spartan. No reason to change this, Black and Gray teams have been doing black ops stuff for years. James easily could have done this in his role as Spartan. ONI wouldn't loosen their leash on an asset like that.
Wait, why did I like this book again? ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2025
Overall a good addition to the Halo universe, I really enjoyed the Zulu Blue team sections and always anything with Shadow of Intent. I love that Gray team has been back in the fold for a few books now and hope we get another book of their efforts with SoI.
Empty Throne also had some excellent naval combat moments and brought in ship classes which I don’t think we have seen in before outside of just being mentioned.
This is no fault of the book and does not affect my rating, but I am getting a bit sick of STILL not getting any story development after the events of Infinite. These stories should have been told three to four years ago leading up to and immediately around the release of Infinite, we are almost at four years of no post-Infinite story. Where is Infinity? Where is Atriox? Blue team?
Spoilers:
I was not the biggest fan of James’s reintroduction, a rogue-ish Spartan II who does what he wants but still works for ONI as a mercenary sounds more like a fanfic OC than a character I would expect in the universe. His non-volitional AI, Lola acts more like a volitional AI, I think the only reason she was called non-volitional was to both close off any issues of her siding with the Created and also to make sure Chloe isn’t alone for the foreseeable future. That said, I really enjoyed James’s character arch with Chloe and was glad he was at least able to see another Spartan one last time.
Empty Throne gives us a brief second battle for Earth, and teases a potential second strike, I hope we follow up on this.
Empty Throne also had some excellent naval combat moments and brought in ship classes which I don’t think we have seen in before outside of just being mentioned.
This is no fault of the book and does not affect my rating, but I am getting a bit sick of STILL not getting any story development after the events of Infinite. These stories should have been told three to four years ago leading up to and immediately around the release of Infinite, we are almost at four years of no post-Infinite story. Where is Infinity? Where is Atriox? Blue team?
Spoilers:
I was not the biggest fan of James’s reintroduction, a rogue-ish Spartan II who does what he wants but still works for ONI as a mercenary sounds more like a fanfic OC than a character I would expect in the universe. His non-volitional AI, Lola acts more like a volitional AI, I think the only reason she was called non-volitional was to both close off any issues of her siding with the Created and also to make sure Chloe isn’t alone for the foreseeable future. That said, I really enjoyed James’s character arch with Chloe and was glad he was at least able to see another Spartan one last time.
Empty Throne gives us a brief second battle for Earth, and teases a potential second strike, I hope we follow up on this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2025
This was actually pretty good.
I’m not a fan at all of the story the games have told post Halo 3. I think 343 made a lot of baffling decisions in both the fourth and fifth games.
But despite being set after the terrible story of the fifth one, this book actually manages to make the story of that game sound coherent.
The point of this book is to reconcile and explain the reason the factions are so different by the time Halo Infinite is set and it really does tell an interesting story.
It was really cool to see the politics of the many post-Covenant factions and the power plays they’ve done since the events of Halo 3. I never really thought about how the events of that game would genuinely disrupt the whole non-human ecosystem but that’s explored pretty in depth here.
Theres like four main POVs in this book and they’re all very varied in species and faction. My favorite has to be one focused on an ex-Spartan, a character who hasn’t appeared since the Fall of Reach book (one of my favorite science fiction books Ngl).
All in all, somehow this book makes the horribly written events set up by Halo 5 actually seem interesting while also telling a really cool story in general.
I’m not a fan at all of the story the games have told post Halo 3. I think 343 made a lot of baffling decisions in both the fourth and fifth games.
But despite being set after the terrible story of the fifth one, this book actually manages to make the story of that game sound coherent.
The point of this book is to reconcile and explain the reason the factions are so different by the time Halo Infinite is set and it really does tell an interesting story.
It was really cool to see the politics of the many post-Covenant factions and the power plays they’ve done since the events of Halo 3. I never really thought about how the events of that game would genuinely disrupt the whole non-human ecosystem but that’s explored pretty in depth here.
Theres like four main POVs in this book and they’re all very varied in species and faction. My favorite has to be one focused on an ex-Spartan, a character who hasn’t appeared since the Fall of Reach book (one of my favorite science fiction books Ngl).
All in all, somehow this book makes the horribly written events set up by Halo 5 actually seem interesting while also telling a really cool story in general.
November 30, 2025
Really complex with multi storylines running together. All these players involved in an outcome that in the end was dealt with far from the location of this stories endeavour. It was indeed a side track from the greater battle taking place at Zeta Halo. It was book that followed several pro and antagonists. I read the whole book through - well actually I listened to the audio and then later I read those chapters that interested me. I'm a big fan of the humans present and ancient - journeys in these novels, followed closely by the Forerunners, who don't feature in this story, well only insofar as their incredible structures are concerned.
It was good to finally put a tick next to James, whom we all know never died. Spartans who are either MIA or KIA, unless you see their remains? They're being utilized elsewhere. And the Halo Universe dark teams really put forth this very inhuman way of treating these - what they term expensive assets.
It is a great read, with chapters that follow in groupings, of the main all those intent on getting to the prize - a so called physical entry way to the Domain and all they need is a clone of the ever so enigmatic Dr Halsey. Read to find out how it all collapses in on itself with the Brutes, Sangheili and Humans.
It was good to finally put a tick next to James, whom we all know never died. Spartans who are either MIA or KIA, unless you see their remains? They're being utilized elsewhere. And the Halo Universe dark teams really put forth this very inhuman way of treating these - what they term expensive assets.
It is a great read, with chapters that follow in groupings, of the main all those intent on getting to the prize - a so called physical entry way to the Domain and all they need is a clone of the ever so enigmatic Dr Halsey. Read to find out how it all collapses in on itself with the Brutes, Sangheili and Humans.
November 29, 2025
this book was vastly different from what I expected but not in a bad way, this is not a book that actually focuses on how the created fell or Cortana is removed from the chess board it is a book that focuses on the politics that play out when it happens across the rest of the galaxy, the book is mostly a fight over access to the domain all factions thinking it best if they have it and no one else, overall a verry game of thrones feeling book with all of its political intrigue, one of the saddest moments in all halo books for me takes place in this book, but it also brings back into play many characters who's status has been questionable. overall great read, I would recommend having read, the original trilogy, ghosts of onyx, the kilo 5 trilogy, the Cole protocol, and envoy, aswell as the short story books, honestly the only books you don't have to read fully get everything from this book is the Rubicon protocol, that's the only book that takes place after this one I think the book would still be enjoyable without most of these other books but you wouldn't truly appreciate the political climate that these books find us in
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March 17, 2025I listened to this book via Audible.
Halo: Empty Throne takes place at the same time as the events of the Halo Infinite campaign, focusing on characters new and old across the galaxy from the Master Chief and Atriox on Zeta Halo.
It was great to see some Spartans we hadn't crossed paths with in a while make a return. There were a lot of references and tie-ins in the story, making it more meaningful to those who have read many of the earlier books in the series. It was still a solid science fiction adventure that should be accessible to all readers, but it's definitely geared towards the Halo lore fans.
If you've enjoyed other entries in the Halo book series, especially those focusing on the Banished or ONI, Empty Throne is one you should definitely give a read!
Halo: Empty Throne takes place at the same time as the events of the Halo Infinite campaign, focusing on characters new and old across the galaxy from the Master Chief and Atriox on Zeta Halo.
It was great to see some Spartans we hadn't crossed paths with in a while make a return. There were a lot of references and tie-ins in the story, making it more meaningful to those who have read many of the earlier books in the series. It was still a solid science fiction adventure that should be accessible to all readers, but it's definitely geared towards the Halo lore fans.
If you've enjoyed other entries in the Halo book series, especially those focusing on the Banished or ONI, Empty Throne is one you should definitely give a read!
April 5, 2025
Absolutely amazing book. All of the protagonists are written super well, so much so that I was generally pretty attached to them. The multiple story lines all come together really well too. While it does use some tropes, it’s all tropes that I really enjoy. Without a doubt a 5/5, not only being the best halo book I’ve read but possibly one of the overall best books I’ve read.
As a bonus, it also explores parts of the halo universe I wanted to hear more about, namely what the universe was like between Halo 5 and Infinite. It also explains things as if the reader is unfamiliar with the franchise, which I can imagine being helpful for some readers. However, despite that I think some familiarity with the lore, universe, and story would help you get more out of it.
As a bonus, it also explores parts of the halo universe I wanted to hear more about, namely what the universe was like between Halo 5 and Infinite. It also explains things as if the reader is unfamiliar with the franchise, which I can imagine being helpful for some readers. However, despite that I think some familiarity with the lore, universe, and story would help you get more out of it.
April 10, 2025
I really liked it. It managed to juggle a LOT of character point of views that made what could have been a fairly pedestrian action plot into some really compelling personal narratives, and we got a really hateable and very intriguing bad guy in Dovo Nesto, the apparently immortal Prophet who's been lurking in the shadows for longer than the Covenant has existed. The only part that didn't totally work for me was the James/Chloe subplot, not that it was bad, but it didn't really connect to the rest of the story like it could have, by the time the moral quandary of whether to use Chloe to open the Domain was relevant, that option was already off the table which made the whole thing kind of moot.
March 13, 2025
Definitely top five halo books in my opinion. The story of this book is long and packed with information. Empty Throne reintroduces us to characters in the Halo universe that we haven't seen in some time, catching us up on what they've been up to. The cast of brand new characters is quite expansive as well, all while connecting these characters to the broader universe. This book has a perfect combination of tension and emotion. The space battles are very reminiscent of the early Nylund books. Overall this story reestablishes humanity as a people struggling to survive in an increasingly vast galaxy.
January 28, 2026
Enjoy the Halo series and will continue buying them. This book had good parts, but unlike some other authors, so much of the book was too “wordy” for me. I know and appreciate the author trying to give me a well rounded view of the situation but there was way too much background provided on the opponents. The names all had hyphens, dashes and apostrophes, nothing you could pronounce. Found myself scanning each page for odd names and skipping whole chapters. Enjoyed the relationship between the Spartan and the young girl. Appreciate the author trying to pull me into the theme but it did not happen this time.
July 15, 2025
This book was a very nice surprise! It has some incredible Halo writing and lore. i enjoyed it much more than I thought. BUT, though it is a 'stand-alone' novel, I would say there are spoilers, or at least minor spoilers, to other books in the Halo series. I would highly recommend to read Shadow of Intent, the Kilo-Five Trilogy, and possibly The Cole Protocal (Have not read yet myself) prior to reading this. Again, I throughly enjoyed this and highly recommend!
July 22, 2025
This book made me remember how deep the Halo Universe lore is and how great an extended series can be (so much so it made me buy the entire series...my bad wallet). The plot starts off incredible, but loses some steam as it goes. If you are into the Halo Universe at all, and especially if you are desperate to fill-out the barebones story of Halo Infinite, you can't go wrong with this book.
December 29, 2025
This book felt like the official ending to the “created” storyline, and while that storyline overall is pretty mediocre, I do feel that this book did a great job of tying that up while introducing us to some new players that can be further expanded upon in later books. Not the best Halo book in recent memory, but did a good job trying up threads that many didn’t like in the first place.
March 16, 2025
Gigachad lord hood in his 70’s working out after recovering for alcoholism,previously dead characters brought in for unique perspectives, and a general love letter to halo as a whole. Didn’t think I’d get teary over a little grunt being saved by a Spartan. 4 big booms.
March 27, 2025
Phenomenal entry into the Halo universe. Every POV character tells a fantastic story. And regarding the politics and universe its great to see all these factions play out current timeline and post Halo Infinite. I look forward to the future stories following these characters
July 2, 2025
Now this is what a Halo book should be. Military science fiction at its peak. Multiple perspectives and factions, ground battles, space battles, heart-felt moments. Spartans, Elites, Brutes, and AI. This one has it all. Halo books have been shouldering the load lately.
October 23, 2025
I’ve read all the halo books and this isn’t the greatest and not the worse
It worth a read, if you read and/or played the games you will not be overly disappointed.. I hope they carry on with this series.
It worth a read, if you read and/or played the games you will not be overly disappointed.. I hope they carry on with this series.
December 7, 2025
This book was an incredible way to tie Halo infinite together with halo 5. Though it would’ve been better in game form I throughly enjoyed the way this book. Set up the do or die stakes between humanity the banished and the covenant remnants.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2025
I see Halo I read Halo. Amazing book that pushes the franchise forward into an interesting direction for new stories to be told.
March 12, 2025
Liked it was about other characters other than MC. Overall a decent read/listen
March 24, 2025
Great book, this is the kind of story the games need. Love all the characters that have returned that weren't mentioned in any of 343s games.
June 8, 2025
Yeah not bad at all, got my halo juices flowing again.
July 8, 2025
I’ve read many Halo books. So,e I’ve started but could not finish. This book was a great enjoyment to read and I could not stop towards the end. Stayed up past my bed time for it many times.
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