Hell's Last

Cadia #5

by Justin D. Hill

A Minka Lesk Novel

Cadia has fallen. Last to escape the hell that was the Thirteenth Black Crusade's destruction of their home world, the Cadian 101st are bloodied, but unbroken as they fight to prove they deserve the legacy that was left to them.

READ IT BECAUSE
Captain Minka Lesk returns and is tested as never before. As she leads her regiment in the Gallows Cluster, she must deal with a threat she's never seen – a jungle that wants to eat her troops alive!

THE STORY
When a new threat surges through the Gallows Cluster, jeopardising the stability of the entire warfront, the 101st are thrown into the breach. As loyal fortresses fall on the world of Alia, Minka Lesk’s company leads the mad gambit that is the last hope of turning the tide. But when the jungle itself is as deadly as any enemy, can Minka keep her troopers fighting as her regiment fractures around her?

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Military Fiction

420 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2025

About the author

Justin is a long-time Astra Militarum player with a trophy cabinet of painting and gaming awards. He now leads his Imperial Fists into the hell of the Horus Heresy.

Reviews

[Luk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. Justin D Hill writes amazing battle sequences. That last stand was a *chefs kiss*

[Matt TB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully grim and epic.
Band of brothers style human warfare in the 41st millennium, I’ve enjoyed all of Minka Lesks tales and this is another solid entry to her tale.

[Virgil Purvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

A really good warhammer 40 k book. Keeps you on edge the whole time.You can't put it down. Loved it.

[Jack Neighbour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good jungle romp with an epic defensive battle. Fair amount of peril but not perfect. Still love the series.

[Benjamin Ho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Idk how many final stands I’ve read. I don’t even know the lines or tune to “Flowers of Cadia”. But when CPT Lesk begins to sing as the forces of Hel make their final push, tears stung my eyes. I won’t spoil what happens, but I’ve been following Minka’s crusade since book 1, and what a growth in character. This is what the Black Library needs, dynamic growth of characters like her and Yarrick. Well done!

[Paul Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death and Mayhem abound Which is pretty normal if you have followed minka and her companions over the series, I almost thought that this was going to be the end for her and 7th company, really enjoyed it and the epilogue gives us more enemies to fight

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last Stand at Obsidian Ridge.

That was the best.

[Chris Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow I could not put this book down every intense story from start to finish to a couple of times when I Jo didn't know what was going to happen next and I had to find out over the last four books I really got attached to some of the characters so seeing some of them die was really heartbroken. It's also with me very interested to see where the store is going to go next.
a sidenote I really like the structure of how the book was laid out it gave me a lot of room to take breaks I felt like I ended up reading more

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

More bad ass cadia fighting, Minka is cool a few sad moments and I was generally not sure what would happen next in some parts, very fun read

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good, but a little flat in places. It struck me as being a bit of a fill in book.

[Richard Cheng · Rating 3 out of 5]

bit of a quick ending but fun read.

[James Leyden · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's a slow build with a lot of names in the first half. But when it gets going. it gets GOING, and only a few of the names actually matter the rest could be generic guardsmen #3.