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Interceptor City
A Warhammer 40,000 Audiobook
With the Imperial forces locked in a gruelling war of attrition over the dead hive city of Vesperus, a former ace fighter pilot returns to the cockpit as the Aeronautica risks it all to secure Interceptor City for the Imperium.
LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE
Twenty years after the release of the highly acclaimed Double Eagle, Dan Abnett returns to the Aeronautica Imperialis for the long-awaited follow-up. Follow along as an ace dogfighter is forced out of her comfortable “retirement” and back into deadly aerial combat.
THE STORY
Former ace fighter pilot Bree Jagdea’s days of high-octane, white-knuckle dogfights are long behind her. Content with executing supply runs for the war effort, Jagdea considers herself retired. But when enemy forces start a relentless bombing campaign through the hive city of Vesperus, Jagdea is forced back into the Aeronautica – stationed with the infamous Circus 66 squadron, executing near-suicidal dead-drops and blistering interception runs through Vesperus’ lethal rat runs.
Plunged back into a world where the smallest of errors means instant death, can Jagdea outfly the enemy aces, secure Interceptor City for the Imperium, and return to solid ground with her sanity intact?
With the Imperial forces locked in a gruelling war of attrition over the dead hive city of Vesperus, a former ace fighter pilot returns to the cockpit as the Aeronautica risks it all to secure Interceptor City for the Imperium.
LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE
Twenty years after the release of the highly acclaimed Double Eagle, Dan Abnett returns to the Aeronautica Imperialis for the long-awaited follow-up. Follow along as an ace dogfighter is forced out of her comfortable “retirement” and back into deadly aerial combat.
THE STORY
Former ace fighter pilot Bree Jagdea’s days of high-octane, white-knuckle dogfights are long behind her. Content with executing supply runs for the war effort, Jagdea considers herself retired. But when enemy forces start a relentless bombing campaign through the hive city of Vesperus, Jagdea is forced back into the Aeronautica – stationed with the infamous Circus 66 squadron, executing near-suicidal dead-drops and blistering interception runs through Vesperus’ lethal rat runs.
Plunged back into a world where the smallest of errors means instant death, can Jagdea outfly the enemy aces, secure Interceptor City for the Imperium, and return to solid ground with her sanity intact?
513 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2025
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236 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 14, 2025
For reasons not only to do with the content of the book, Dan Abnett’s last work, The End and the Death kind of killed my enjoyment of Black Library books, and, frankly, reading in general.
I’m delighted to say that his latest, Interceptor City, has managed to fully rekindle both.
Interceptor City may be the first book of his where I’ve noticed Abnett’s alleged weakness with endings, but that aside it’s a pretty flawless 40k novel that hade gripped throughout. I didn’t necessarily feel that Double Eagle *needed* a sequel but I’m so very glad one has finally arrived; it reads like a real passion project- I’ve visions of Abnett swooshing round minature Aeronautica planes as he wrote this, a notion I refuse to be disabused of.
I’m delighted to say that his latest, Interceptor City, has managed to fully rekindle both.
Interceptor City may be the first book of his where I’ve noticed Abnett’s alleged weakness with endings, but that aside it’s a pretty flawless 40k novel that hade gripped throughout. I didn’t necessarily feel that Double Eagle *needed* a sequel but I’m so very glad one has finally arrived; it reads like a real passion project- I’ve visions of Abnett swooshing round minature Aeronautica planes as he wrote this, a notion I refuse to be disabused of.
April 23, 2025
“The Emperor Protects,” she heard Grumm reply.
“The Aeronautica Remembers.” Jagdea said.”
Once again I’m just flat struck at how Abnett can jam like four novels worth of material into one single novel.
It’s like, one angle gets you in the door. High action dogfights. White knuckle piloting! And that’s there, for sure. And then the other angle starts to reveal itself as another pretty harrowing look at war and the people that fight it (one of the things that makes the novel this is sequelizing soar so high too). And then, RIGHT At the end! It also becomes a survival tale and then a serial killer murder mystery?!
For Throne’s Sake, Abnett sure does spoil us, huh.
But seriously, this was a total blast. Both a tremendous sequel and also a fantastic in-road into the horribly entertaining meat-grinder that’s the Imperium of Mankind. I might think Double Eagle is the better book, but this one was still just such a roller coaster from start to stop. That’s precisely what I want when I dip back into 40k.
“The Aeronautica Remembers.” Jagdea said.”
Once again I’m just flat struck at how Abnett can jam like four novels worth of material into one single novel.
It’s like, one angle gets you in the door. High action dogfights. White knuckle piloting! And that’s there, for sure. And then the other angle starts to reveal itself as another pretty harrowing look at war and the people that fight it (one of the things that makes the novel this is sequelizing soar so high too). And then, RIGHT At the end! It also becomes a survival tale and then a serial killer murder mystery?!
For Throne’s Sake, Abnett sure does spoil us, huh.
But seriously, this was a total blast. Both a tremendous sequel and also a fantastic in-road into the horribly entertaining meat-grinder that’s the Imperium of Mankind. I might think Double Eagle is the better book, but this one was still just such a roller coaster from start to stop. That’s precisely what I want when I dip back into 40k.
March 21, 2025
Was worried I was falling out of love with WH40K, despite playing Space Marine 2 every weekend.
Nope, just a terrible string of authors. Abnett still has it. He's introduced and forgotten more lore than most of us have ever learned. Glavians return to prominence. An unexpected return to the Sabatt Worlds Crusade. Brilliant, military sci-fi with very little of the high fantasy bullshit that marks most Space Marine stories. Guardsmen are what make this universe.
The Emperor Protects. The Aeronautica Remembers.
Nope, just a terrible string of authors. Abnett still has it. He's introduced and forgotten more lore than most of us have ever learned. Glavians return to prominence. An unexpected return to the Sabatt Worlds Crusade. Brilliant, military sci-fi with very little of the high fantasy bullshit that marks most Space Marine stories. Guardsmen are what make this universe.
The Emperor Protects. The Aeronautica Remembers.
December 28, 2025
Honestly a *very good* book requiring a HIGH level of writing skill, with only a handful of mildly annoying Abnetty flourishes.
My main and really only irritation is that 'Interceptor City' has a meta sub-plot about the pulpy 'Glory Stories' enjoyed by Imperial Military personnel which strikes me so utterly as Dan Abnett making an apologia for his work that it actually made me slightly sad to read. You don't need to make an argument for the work while we are reading the work, and if you think you need to make an argument then why are you writing it?
Genre writers writing about writing is never good. There is a certain amount of 'writing about writing' that we need in the world and that total value was filled, and then severely exceeded, around 1965.
There is also an annoying meta-plot element in this where
SPOILERS!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The end baddy wants to challenge the hero to an air duel mano-et-womano, but she SUBVERTS HIS EXPECTATIONS and does not in fact do that. The book still ends with a major final massive action sequence where the main hero kills an absolutely epic amount of baddies, (before this scene), and then ends again (after this scene) with the main heroine pulling a Ripley with some loading equipment and personally sending the main baddy to a serious Disney Death. He does not scream or shake his fist on the way down, (maybe he does actually?), but he may as well have. Its a traditional book that ends, well, the traditional way, because this way respects the way stories actually work. It just has a silly sub-plot where the writer, and the characters, get to have a go saying "well maybe these TRADITIONAL STORIES are BAD ACTUALLY and here is the REAL WORLD thing's won't end up like that" - they do, just under a layer of camouflage.
I'm really going on about this too much, its only a very slight very mild smear on the book which on the whole is very good.
Particular writing award points go to Dan Abnett for, not only learning enough about fighting in the air to communicate a fictionalised version of that with fluidity, and what *feel* like, (though who knows), a deep granular accuracy, which still doesn't get in the way of the story. But also to find ways to communicate, well, extremely well, in *text*, a complex multidimensional air-war with lots of super-fast planes swooshing about in a super-complex environment and having it not only make sense, but be interesting, and also be a good story. Genuinely very hard stuff to pull off.
We are fighting in super-mega Death Star ruined city now. In films, they have the fighter pilots swoosh around these closed urban-style spaces simply because its very very hard to tell complex stories about things moving quickly in space, in an actual placeless void without anything to see or track apparent motion. All the characters can feel and know where and how fast they are, but for the EYE, the eye of a cinematic viewer, this back-ground of buildings and ruins and stuff makes the movement legible in a way it wasn't before.
I am not entirely sure why Abnett moved his action to the super-city. Unlike a movie maker, he needs to worry less about the eye of the viewer, but perhaps the city works for him either in other ways, or in patterns of textual description which act in a manner parallel to those motion-tracking movements of the visual eye, though emerging through quite different cognitive architecture. Or maybe he just really wants to end up in the movie industry.
Remember "this won't end like one of your GLORY STORIES JAGDHIR! Apart from you killing a BAZILLION FOES, being saved by divine grace and killing the main baddy with a loading truck (he falls screaming to his death), before being given a promotion and sticking arrive to help out the good guys."
My main and really only irritation is that 'Interceptor City' has a meta sub-plot about the pulpy 'Glory Stories' enjoyed by Imperial Military personnel which strikes me so utterly as Dan Abnett making an apologia for his work that it actually made me slightly sad to read. You don't need to make an argument for the work while we are reading the work, and if you think you need to make an argument then why are you writing it?
Genre writers writing about writing is never good. There is a certain amount of 'writing about writing' that we need in the world and that total value was filled, and then severely exceeded, around 1965.
There is also an annoying meta-plot element in this where
SPOILERS!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The end baddy wants to challenge the hero to an air duel mano-et-womano, but she SUBVERTS HIS EXPECTATIONS and does not in fact do that. The book still ends with a major final massive action sequence where the main hero kills an absolutely epic amount of baddies, (before this scene), and then ends again (after this scene) with the main heroine pulling a Ripley with some loading equipment and personally sending the main baddy to a serious Disney Death. He does not scream or shake his fist on the way down, (maybe he does actually?), but he may as well have. Its a traditional book that ends, well, the traditional way, because this way respects the way stories actually work. It just has a silly sub-plot where the writer, and the characters, get to have a go saying "well maybe these TRADITIONAL STORIES are BAD ACTUALLY and here is the REAL WORLD thing's won't end up like that" - they do, just under a layer of camouflage.
I'm really going on about this too much, its only a very slight very mild smear on the book which on the whole is very good.
Particular writing award points go to Dan Abnett for, not only learning enough about fighting in the air to communicate a fictionalised version of that with fluidity, and what *feel* like, (though who knows), a deep granular accuracy, which still doesn't get in the way of the story. But also to find ways to communicate, well, extremely well, in *text*, a complex multidimensional air-war with lots of super-fast planes swooshing about in a super-complex environment and having it not only make sense, but be interesting, and also be a good story. Genuinely very hard stuff to pull off.
We are fighting in super-mega Death Star ruined city now. In films, they have the fighter pilots swoosh around these closed urban-style spaces simply because its very very hard to tell complex stories about things moving quickly in space, in an actual placeless void without anything to see or track apparent motion. All the characters can feel and know where and how fast they are, but for the EYE, the eye of a cinematic viewer, this back-ground of buildings and ruins and stuff makes the movement legible in a way it wasn't before.
I am not entirely sure why Abnett moved his action to the super-city. Unlike a movie maker, he needs to worry less about the eye of the viewer, but perhaps the city works for him either in other ways, or in patterns of textual description which act in a manner parallel to those motion-tracking movements of the visual eye, though emerging through quite different cognitive architecture. Or maybe he just really wants to end up in the movie industry.
Remember "this won't end like one of your GLORY STORIES JAGDHIR! Apart from you killing a BAZILLION FOES, being saved by divine grace and killing the main baddy with a loading truck (he falls screaming to his death), before being given a promotion and sticking arrive to help out the good guys."
March 7, 2025
This is a good follow-up to Double Eagle, and it's probably stronger than that novel. But it isn't quite up to the better Gaunt stories, because it doesn't have as fleshed out a cast, or as interesting an objective, end point or impact as in some of those.
It's strong for a 40K novel, if I had to give it a numerical score on that basis, it'd be a strong 8.
But for a Dan Abnett novel, it's pretty middle of the road, closer to 6 or 7 by the standards of his other work.
It's nice to visit a long-time side character though, and that she's very different in a very believable way from when we last encountered her, is testament to Abnett's grasp of his character's, the places he puts them, and the larger weave that he's always working on,
He's managed to make the air action coherent and compelling, which is always impressive. The new characters are just pretty good , at least in my view, and that's based on having read most of Abnett's books. At this point, the archetypes are bit too obvious for me. They're still well written, but I've seen them a half dozen times before, and so have you if you've been keeping up.
The biggest criticism I have for this story is that there isn't really a goal or objective for the main character, or anyone. It's the middle of a war of attrition, which is fine, but nobodies particularly interested in changing that in this story. Everything goes along quite procedurally, then a b-plot established in the prologue starts coming up a little over half way through, and is then resolved without much fanfare or interest (at least from me) in the close.
And our main characters opinion changes, but she, herself, doesn't really. It feels like a bit of a side story as is, solid for an episode, but it's not gonna be anyone's favorite.
Despite my criticism I think there's enough flesh on these bones for more stories from these characters, and in this warzone. And I expect that if Abnett goes on to write more stories in this space, my opinion on this book will soften, and grow fonder, because as a series Pilot, it's pretty good!
If you like any of Dan Abnett's other books, you'll have great fun with this and you already know that Toby Longworth reading it is gonna be a great time.
If you've not gone through any of his books though, or only the Horus Heresy ones, I wouldn't suggest starting here, because it's sort of a legacy-sequel to Double Eagle, and it does take place after a lot of events from the Gaunt's Ghosts series.
It's strong for a 40K novel, if I had to give it a numerical score on that basis, it'd be a strong 8.
But for a Dan Abnett novel, it's pretty middle of the road, closer to 6 or 7 by the standards of his other work.
It's nice to visit a long-time side character though, and that she's very different in a very believable way from when we last encountered her, is testament to Abnett's grasp of his character's, the places he puts them, and the larger weave that he's always working on,
He's managed to make the air action coherent and compelling, which is always impressive. The new characters are just pretty good , at least in my view, and that's based on having read most of Abnett's books. At this point, the archetypes are bit too obvious for me. They're still well written, but I've seen them a half dozen times before, and so have you if you've been keeping up.
The biggest criticism I have for this story is that there isn't really a goal or objective for the main character, or anyone. It's the middle of a war of attrition, which is fine, but nobodies particularly interested in changing that in this story. Everything goes along quite procedurally, then a b-plot established in the prologue starts coming up a little over half way through, and is then resolved without much fanfare or interest (at least from me) in the close.
And our main characters opinion changes, but she, herself, doesn't really. It feels like a bit of a side story as is, solid for an episode, but it's not gonna be anyone's favorite.
Despite my criticism I think there's enough flesh on these bones for more stories from these characters, and in this warzone. And I expect that if Abnett goes on to write more stories in this space, my opinion on this book will soften, and grow fonder, because as a series Pilot, it's pretty good!
If you like any of Dan Abnett's other books, you'll have great fun with this and you already know that Toby Longworth reading it is gonna be a great time.
If you've not gone through any of his books though, or only the Horus Heresy ones, I wouldn't suggest starting here, because it's sort of a legacy-sequel to Double Eagle, and it does take place after a lot of events from the Gaunt's Ghosts series.
March 3, 2025
Warhammer Top Gun! Definitely a great read.
March 29, 2025
As an initial matter, you do not have to read Double Eagle in order to enjoy the book, but there are definite references and side characters that are there for readers of Abnett’s early work. It’s also very nostalgic to read another Sabatt Worlds setting book, and there’s even a mention of everyone’s favorite Colonel-Commissar near the end. With that said, do not go into this with the idea that this is a continuation of Gaunts story.
For vibes, this book is not Battle of Britain 2 in space, so it’s not another Double Eagle. Commensurate with a 20 year gap, everything and everyone feels grittier, more technologically sophisticated, and more psychologically traumatic. Rather than Abnett’s hilarious justification to write Spitfires, Mustangs, and B2s in space, IC planes now have sophisticated HUDs, fly by wire systems, Christmas light control panels, and actual mentions of honest to god programming to alter a fighter to better suit the local environment. The modern interpretation of the Guard/AstraMilitarum as generally competent, and that not every theatre has to be a gratuitous meat grinder is alive and well.
The themes of IC deal much more with addiction, trauma, coping, and healing, all wrapped in a 40k themed urban aerial warfare setting, a rarity indeed. Characters are presented as having many vices and seek different forms of escapism, to varying degrees of success. And I think that the struggle between debauchery, faith, and duty is presented well - all central themes with tension in 40K lore, and these competing coping mechanisms are definite undercurrents in Interceptor City.
This plays into the last act of the book. The central whodunnit mystery, the identity of the white crow, which is presented and then the ending is actually subverted by Abnett. I liked it, though some bolter porn fans might not be. He lampshades the villain pretty hard and the way the culprit was caught was perhaps the weakest part of the story - a bit convenient and another hallmark of Abnett.
You know you’re reading an Abnett story when the ending is like… 10-20 pages too short, and in typical fashion, the ending feels breathless compared to the good to excellent pacing of the start and middle. But regardless, I like the idea that if you have a smart protagonist who figures out the mystery early, is not passive, and is not contrived to figure out the mystery JUST as the final climactic duel is set to take place, then it’s great because you can just… confront the bad guy before he’s ready. I’m just not sure there needed to be a white crow in here at all if I’m honest.
For vibes, this book is not Battle of Britain 2 in space, so it’s not another Double Eagle. Commensurate with a 20 year gap, everything and everyone feels grittier, more technologically sophisticated, and more psychologically traumatic. Rather than Abnett’s hilarious justification to write Spitfires, Mustangs, and B2s in space, IC planes now have sophisticated HUDs, fly by wire systems, Christmas light control panels, and actual mentions of honest to god programming to alter a fighter to better suit the local environment. The modern interpretation of the Guard/AstraMilitarum as generally competent, and that not every theatre has to be a gratuitous meat grinder is alive and well.
The themes of IC deal much more with addiction, trauma, coping, and healing, all wrapped in a 40k themed urban aerial warfare setting, a rarity indeed. Characters are presented as having many vices and seek different forms of escapism, to varying degrees of success. And I think that the struggle between debauchery, faith, and duty is presented well - all central themes with tension in 40K lore, and these competing coping mechanisms are definite undercurrents in Interceptor City.
This plays into the last act of the book. The central whodunnit mystery, the identity of the white crow, which is presented and then the ending is actually subverted by Abnett. I liked it, though some bolter porn fans might not be. He lampshades the villain pretty hard and the way the culprit was caught was perhaps the weakest part of the story - a bit convenient and another hallmark of Abnett.
You know you’re reading an Abnett story when the ending is like… 10-20 pages too short, and in typical fashion, the ending feels breathless compared to the good to excellent pacing of the start and middle. But regardless, I like the idea that if you have a smart protagonist who figures out the mystery early, is not passive, and is not contrived to figure out the mystery JUST as the final climactic duel is set to take place, then it’s great because you can just… confront the bad guy before he’s ready. I’m just not sure there needed to be a white crow in here at all if I’m honest.
April 5, 2025
Take to the skies once more as legendary Warhammer 40,000 author Dan Abnett presents another ambitious and rip-roaring novel of dogfights and explosive characters in the incredible novel, Interceptor City.
The Emperor protects, the Aeronautica remembers!
It has been more than 20 years since the battle to save Enothis and the Sabbat Worlds Crusade continues to rage, with millions of soldiers from the Imperium of Man fighting and dying to claim the planets from the arch-enemies grasp. For some the crusade seems like a distant event, but for those on the scarred planet of Lysander, war is a daily occurrence, especially as the air forces of Chaos constantly seek to destroy the Imperial defenders with massive bomber flights. The latest front of this campaign is the ruined hive city of Vesperus, which the enemy is using as cover to launch bombing attacks where the Imperials least expect it. In response, the fighter pilots of the Aeronautica Imperialis have been ordered to secure the destroyed spires and massive building and turn Vesperus into a city of interceptors.
Into this precarious warzone flies former famed fighter pilot Bree Jagdea. No longer the heroic ace who led her squadron to victory on Enothis, Jagdea now only pilots cargo haulers, determined to stay out the fighting. However, an encounter with an old comrade leads her back into danger when she agrees to help the war effort by driving a needed replacement fighter to the Circus 66 squadron, currently serving in the ruins of Vesperus. Planning to leave immediately after dropping off her precious cargo, Jagdea instead finds herself conscripted to join the ranks of the squadron as they face overwhelming odds against massed opposition from the forces of Chaos.
With no way out of the fight, Jagdea must once again contend against opponents in the sky if she wants survive and escape this new hellish posting. However, this is not the air combat she is familiar with, instead the fighting in Vesperus is a cramped and deadly affair as their fighter aircraft must fight amongst the devastated and towering buildings of the Hive, where even the slightest error could result in death. Forced to adapt to the new urban conditions Jagdea attempts to bring out her former skills and talent to survive the enemy all around her. But with mysterious deaths haunting the squadron and the addictive thrill of danger once again luring her in, can Jagdea once again become a hero, or will she finally face her fate in the sky?
Well damn, now that’s how you do a sequel! Dan Abnett continues to showcase why he is one of the very best authors of Warhammer fiction with the exceptional Interceptor City. A particularly intense and captivating read that brings back one of Abnett’s best protagonists, Interceptor City was everything I hoped it would be, and more, as this novel simply blew me away. One of my new favourite Warhammer 40,000 novels, Interceptor City gets a very easy five-star rating from, and I love the unique direction Abnett took this long-awaited sequel.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/04/05/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
The Emperor protects, the Aeronautica remembers!
It has been more than 20 years since the battle to save Enothis and the Sabbat Worlds Crusade continues to rage, with millions of soldiers from the Imperium of Man fighting and dying to claim the planets from the arch-enemies grasp. For some the crusade seems like a distant event, but for those on the scarred planet of Lysander, war is a daily occurrence, especially as the air forces of Chaos constantly seek to destroy the Imperial defenders with massive bomber flights. The latest front of this campaign is the ruined hive city of Vesperus, which the enemy is using as cover to launch bombing attacks where the Imperials least expect it. In response, the fighter pilots of the Aeronautica Imperialis have been ordered to secure the destroyed spires and massive building and turn Vesperus into a city of interceptors.
Into this precarious warzone flies former famed fighter pilot Bree Jagdea. No longer the heroic ace who led her squadron to victory on Enothis, Jagdea now only pilots cargo haulers, determined to stay out the fighting. However, an encounter with an old comrade leads her back into danger when she agrees to help the war effort by driving a needed replacement fighter to the Circus 66 squadron, currently serving in the ruins of Vesperus. Planning to leave immediately after dropping off her precious cargo, Jagdea instead finds herself conscripted to join the ranks of the squadron as they face overwhelming odds against massed opposition from the forces of Chaos.
With no way out of the fight, Jagdea must once again contend against opponents in the sky if she wants survive and escape this new hellish posting. However, this is not the air combat she is familiar with, instead the fighting in Vesperus is a cramped and deadly affair as their fighter aircraft must fight amongst the devastated and towering buildings of the Hive, where even the slightest error could result in death. Forced to adapt to the new urban conditions Jagdea attempts to bring out her former skills and talent to survive the enemy all around her. But with mysterious deaths haunting the squadron and the addictive thrill of danger once again luring her in, can Jagdea once again become a hero, or will she finally face her fate in the sky?
Well damn, now that’s how you do a sequel! Dan Abnett continues to showcase why he is one of the very best authors of Warhammer fiction with the exceptional Interceptor City. A particularly intense and captivating read that brings back one of Abnett’s best protagonists, Interceptor City was everything I hoped it would be, and more, as this novel simply blew me away. One of my new favourite Warhammer 40,000 novels, Interceptor City gets a very easy five-star rating from, and I love the unique direction Abnett took this long-awaited sequel.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/04/05/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
April 4, 2025
I liked it more than Gaunt's Ghosts (Heresy I know...)
It's very rare these days that I'm actually sad to finish a book, but I was sad to finish this one. In the few weeks I spent reading it The action is superb, but it's the moments between the action that made me love this book. I loved the life of the squadron itself. What struck me most is how attached I became to the characters that make up Intercept 66, whether it's the masked wingman with a mysterious past, or the tough-as-nails base commander or the wise-cracking crew chief. I liked these characters from the outset and I got worried for them on every mission they flew.
There is a subplot that emerges halfway through the story that is thoroughly engaging - Abnett at his best. The only part I did not like was the section titled "Day Unknown," which was a sort of isolated mini-plot that was actually very good except for the fact that it interrupts the above subplot to the main story in a way that made me just want to get "Day Unknown" over with. Even then, that section of the book finishes in a really satisfying way that makes the journey to get there worth it.
I *highly* recommend this book. I hope Dan Abnett will consider writing more Aeronautica stories because this was absolutely thrilling from start to finish.
It's very rare these days that I'm actually sad to finish a book, but I was sad to finish this one. In the few weeks I spent reading it The action is superb, but it's the moments between the action that made me love this book. I loved the life of the squadron itself. What struck me most is how attached I became to the characters that make up Intercept 66, whether it's the masked wingman with a mysterious past, or the tough-as-nails base commander or the wise-cracking crew chief. I liked these characters from the outset and I got worried for them on every mission they flew.
There is a subplot that emerges halfway through the story that is thoroughly engaging - Abnett at his best. The only part I did not like was the section titled "Day Unknown," which was a sort of isolated mini-plot that was actually very good except for the fact that it interrupts the above subplot to the main story in a way that made me just want to get "Day Unknown" over with. Even then, that section of the book finishes in a really satisfying way that makes the journey to get there worth it.
I *highly* recommend this book. I hope Dan Abnett will consider writing more Aeronautica stories because this was absolutely thrilling from start to finish.
May 28, 2025
If there were six stars to give this would warrant it.
Well and truly masterly done Mr. Abnett.
A long time in coming this book follows the protagonist of Double Eagle which was published in 2004.
Dan Abnett had this on the list for years.
With other things happening it got sidelined but the wait made the story even better.
I appreciate this book from two angles
As a huge 40K fan and as a former aviator.
He did his homework and applied things that one would recognize from WW2 history combined with 40K lore.
Great story , page turning from start to finish!
Great characters
Brilliantly done!!!!
Again if you are just starting 40K this won’t mean a lot to you
As a cursory reader of sci fi this is not for you either because it requires some 40K background knowledge.
But for 40K fans this is a MUST !!!!
Not Spoilering anything see for yourself!
The emperor protects !
Well and truly masterly done Mr. Abnett.
A long time in coming this book follows the protagonist of Double Eagle which was published in 2004.
Dan Abnett had this on the list for years.
With other things happening it got sidelined but the wait made the story even better.
I appreciate this book from two angles
As a huge 40K fan and as a former aviator.
He did his homework and applied things that one would recognize from WW2 history combined with 40K lore.
Great story , page turning from start to finish!
Great characters
Brilliantly done!!!!
Again if you are just starting 40K this won’t mean a lot to you
As a cursory reader of sci fi this is not for you either because it requires some 40K background knowledge.
But for 40K fans this is a MUST !!!!
Not Spoilering anything see for yourself!
The emperor protects !
November 2, 2025
Abnett's still got it.
And the book has an actual ending!
And people actually survived all the way to the end!
He takes a completely bonkers concept ( dog fights in a hive city ) and turns it into such a character driven, introspective piece on the nature of stress, survival in horrid conditions and the things people do to just get through the day that, at times, it was a bit jarring to suddenly be back in the cockpit being tossed out a window.
Seriously, fantastic work that even ties into Gaunt's Ghosts, kinda! If you needed that little bit of a push.
And the book has an actual ending!
And people actually survived all the way to the end!
He takes a completely bonkers concept ( dog fights in a hive city ) and turns it into such a character driven, introspective piece on the nature of stress, survival in horrid conditions and the things people do to just get through the day that, at times, it was a bit jarring to suddenly be back in the cockpit being tossed out a window.
Seriously, fantastic work that even ties into Gaunt's Ghosts, kinda! If you needed that little bit of a push.
March 20, 2025
Dan Abnett protects, Aeronautica remembers!
Dan has done the impossible and written a blinder of a follow up to Double Eagle, if you ever wondered what happened to Bree Jagadea then this is the book for you! It’s a slow start but when it gets going it really gets going! Would highly recommend. Brought tears to my eyes afew times, as with Double Eagle there is an innate sadness about this series.
Dan has done the impossible and written a blinder of a follow up to Double Eagle, if you ever wondered what happened to Bree Jagadea then this is the book for you! It’s a slow start but when it gets going it really gets going! Would highly recommend. Brought tears to my eyes afew times, as with Double Eagle there is an innate sadness about this series.
March 18, 2025
Kontynuacja Double Eagle dziejąca się po wielu latach, bohaterką jest ponownie Bree Jagdea, as Imperial Aeronautica. Czyta się niesamowicie, tempo jest z początku nieśpieszne ale później akcja przyśpiesza a stawka rośnie nieustannie. Dan Abnett zdecydowanie jest najlepszym pisarzem Black Library co udowadnia po raz kolejny.
July 12, 2025
Having read Double Eagle quite a while ago, I was surprised to discover Abnett had written another novel featuring the Adeptus Aeronautica.
Really leaned hard on the military flight jargon in this one, which makes it feel more realistic in that sense. A perfect WH40k novel either way. Grimdark, but still managing to instill hope in the bleak setting.
Really leaned hard on the military flight jargon in this one, which makes it feel more realistic in that sense. A perfect WH40k novel either way. Grimdark, but still managing to instill hope in the bleak setting.
July 15, 2025
Good follow-up novel to double eagle. I liked double eagle better, primarily because I enjoyed several of the characters it followed, but in the scheme of things I feel this book is much better written in just about every respect. I think the word that fits this book best is tense. Enveloping tenseness in tone, pacing, as well as the characters feelings. Very difficult to put down.
October 12, 2025
A great sequel to one of my favorite novels of all time, Double Eagle. We get to see what happens to Commander Jagdea after the events of the first novel. The setting is fantastically described and the peril/danger of where the characters find themselves hits hard. The action is fast paced and great. I could not recommend this book anymore highly.
November 8, 2025
This is the sequel to Double Eagle i didnt know i wanted.
Instead of more of the same with the Phantine XX, Bree is thrust into a worse situation, stripped of her rank and privileges, and forced to make the best of it
Abnett does not fail to disappoint with his writing, taking you straight into the steeples and treacherous angles of the dead hive, sortie after sortie.
Instead of more of the same with the Phantine XX, Bree is thrust into a worse situation, stripped of her rank and privileges, and forced to make the best of it
Abnett does not fail to disappoint with his writing, taking you straight into the steeples and treacherous angles of the dead hive, sortie after sortie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2025
Complete junk, and oh so so good! Read the first 250 pages in a night, and loved falling back into the viffs and jaggs and crazy dogfights of Abnett's 41st millennia. The murder mystery plot felt a little contrived, but characters were fun and punchy. Made me want to rewatch Top Gun!
Likeability 5/5
Readability 5/5
Resonance 3/5
Education 1/5
Literature 2/5
Likeability 5/5
Readability 5/5
Resonance 3/5
Education 1/5
Literature 2/5
March 3, 2025
Goodbye, Bree.
March 3, 2025
Dan Abnett nails it again!
(Though the whodunnit was foreshadowed way too heavily, spotted it a mile off).
(Though the whodunnit was foreshadowed way too heavily, spotted it a mile off).
March 11, 2025
Abnett scores another kill…
Excellent writing and engaging story in Abnett’s latest offering! This is a must read for any WH40K fans. Keep the glory stories coming!
Excellent writing and engaging story in Abnett’s latest offering! This is a must read for any WH40K fans. Keep the glory stories coming!
March 11, 2025
Worth the wait! Amazing read, satisfying payoff, if you loved the first part you’ll find so much to love here!
March 17, 2025
Dan Abnett, nothing else needs to be said.
March 21, 2025
Dan Abnett does it again. Completely nailing a type of book, I'd have never thought I'd enjoy. A fighter pilot story with rich characters and an absolutely captivating plot.
April 21, 2025
Bloody good read, thank you very much!
April 27, 2025
Once again Abnett proves to be the best writer GW has. There is nobody who writes military sci-fi as well as he does.
May 5, 2025
Some good ole fashion Dan Abnett as a pallet cleanser after the End and the Death never hurt anyone.
I will say that some of the dogfights became confusing in the audible version.
I will say that some of the dogfights became confusing in the audible version.
Read
May 12, 2025it won't happen, but if they ever adapt any 40k fiction into a feature it should be this one (it will be boring ultramarine bullshit)
May 17, 2025
Excellent.
May 22, 2025
Perfect, thrilling until the very last page. Just as good as double eagle,perhaps even better, I hope he writes more about this storyline.
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