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Hive #1-2
Hive Part I & II
The planetary governor has fallen amidst scandal and treachery, and the city chokes under the oppressive austerity of Imperial life while roving Adeptus Arbites patrols enforce the Lex Imperialis without so much as a hint of pity. The newly crowned replacement has a lot to contend with – not least that they are an outsider to this rough and dogmatic city – and already whispers of rebellion reach the upper spires.[1]
Who are the people planting seeds of anarchy beneath the sprawl of Sacramentus? Could they topple the new governor’s regime before it gets moving? Are they even the greatest threat lurking below?
Who are the people planting seeds of anarchy beneath the sprawl of Sacramentus? Could they topple the new governor’s regime before it gets moving? Are they even the greatest threat lurking below?
600 pages, Hardcover
Published May 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
May 17, 2026
boy oh boy!!
take a bow mr. abnett because that was one hell of a ride!
as always with brand new books, i’ll avoid any spoilers.
i honestly don’t even know where to start. there’s so much i want to say. i guess first and foremost, the characters and how they evolve and progress throughout the story was phenomenal. you can truly see how much fun abnett was having with these characters! also, a big gripe i have with some 40k novels is they will introduce you to quite a few characters but will slowly forget about them and focus on 1 or 2..
abnett however, did the complete opposite of that (thank the emperor!) EVERY single character is flushed out. each having there moment to shine through the pages. (and to preface. there’s a lot of characters)
the next thing i want to focus on is the style and setting. the borderline horror-esque hive we are in throughout the novel was something i was not completely ready for to be honest, but i welcome it with open arms! when i say horror-esque, i don’t mean this is a scary book but it is very very veryyy eerie and very grimdark! again, thank the emperor (known as abnett). i would almost describe the hive itself as the true protagonist/antagonist of this story. the feelings the hive itself provides to the characters is reflected on the reader in such a unique way, that i absolutely loved.
now i reaaaaally want to mention the story, but to keep this spoiler free - all i will say is the twist and turns abnett takes the reader through throughout this novel was done so masterfully, there’s a reason he is known as THE 40k author.
i’ll probably add on to this once i gather my thoughts on this master class but until then, as always mr.abnett. you have a one of a kind talent and it’s a honour to experience it.
take a bow mr. abnett because that was one hell of a ride!
as always with brand new books, i’ll avoid any spoilers.
i honestly don’t even know where to start. there’s so much i want to say. i guess first and foremost, the characters and how they evolve and progress throughout the story was phenomenal. you can truly see how much fun abnett was having with these characters! also, a big gripe i have with some 40k novels is they will introduce you to quite a few characters but will slowly forget about them and focus on 1 or 2..
abnett however, did the complete opposite of that (thank the emperor!) EVERY single character is flushed out. each having there moment to shine through the pages. (and to preface. there’s a lot of characters)
the next thing i want to focus on is the style and setting. the borderline horror-esque hive we are in throughout the novel was something i was not completely ready for to be honest, but i welcome it with open arms! when i say horror-esque, i don’t mean this is a scary book but it is very very veryyy eerie and very grimdark! again, thank the emperor (known as abnett). i would almost describe the hive itself as the true protagonist/antagonist of this story. the feelings the hive itself provides to the characters is reflected on the reader in such a unique way, that i absolutely loved.
now i reaaaaally want to mention the story, but to keep this spoiler free - all i will say is the twist and turns abnett takes the reader through throughout this novel was done so masterfully, there’s a reason he is known as THE 40k author.
i’ll probably add on to this once i gather my thoughts on this master class but until then, as always mr.abnett. you have a one of a kind talent and it’s a honour to experience it.
May 17, 2026
Dan Abnett, you absolute genius! You did it again!
HIVE has rocketed up to sit nicely at the top of my favourite book list. It is just incredible, I blasted through it in a single weekend. Couldn't put it down!
The Hive is it's people and the people are the Hive. Beset by gangs, oppression, corruption and even cults, the Hive teeters on the edge of rebellion. So when the new offworld planetary governer arrives to take her place, the Hive is set to erupt into chaos.
But there's something even darker lurking in the Hive's heart and it's ready to emerge.
Reading HIVE was an absolute roller coaster of emotions, and now it'll be all I can think of for months!
If you're a big Dan Abnett or Warhammer 40k fan you are in for an absolute treat!
May your light last
HIVE has rocketed up to sit nicely at the top of my favourite book list. It is just incredible, I blasted through it in a single weekend. Couldn't put it down!
The Hive is it's people and the people are the Hive. Beset by gangs, oppression, corruption and even cults, the Hive teeters on the edge of rebellion. So when the new offworld planetary governer arrives to take her place, the Hive is set to erupt into chaos.
But there's something even darker lurking in the Hive's heart and it's ready to emerge.
Reading HIVE was an absolute roller coaster of emotions, and now it'll be all I can think of for months!
If you're a big Dan Abnett or Warhammer 40k fan you are in for an absolute treat!
May your light last
July 4, 2026
Dan Abnett at his most Dan Abnett: writing a book with some somewhat baffling pacing decisions and story choices that nevertheless manages to stay compelling throughout. There’s tons of great characters, with Dan’s knack for making them memorable really shining (“Only 6 rounds in the drum. But they were manstoppers, and his aim was good”). The opening act does a great job of introducing all these different characters and plot threads, which gives a great “slice of life” side of 40K, with a lot of interesting details. There’s some really great horror moments in this one too, and the reveal of the first genestealer cultist (“her left hand did X, her right hand did Y, and her other hand did Z”) was classic Abnett.
What holds it back, in my opinion, and maybe this is my expectations getting the better of me, is that I couldn’t wait to see how all these different plot threads come together in the climax…and they don’t really. Instead, these threads get overwhelmed and subsumed by the Genestealer Cult uprising, which in turn gets shuffled off stage for the Tyranids. I think this plotline still works overall, but I think it’s definitely flawed in the execution. The Genestealer reveal comes way too late in the story for them to be the warm up final boss. The precision F-Strike “That’s a fucking genestealer!” (Black Library will let Dan do whatever he wants) is a great moment, but it comes at a point in the story that the greater threat has already clearly become the Tyranids (and the reader, if they’re familiar enough with Warhammer to know what a Genestealer is, has already figured out that they’re involved, so it’s not a reveal to the reader). In a similar vein, it’s weirdly paced. We go probably 60% of the book before clearly realizing genestealers are present, then the first non-genestealer Tyranids come into play at around the last 15%, and the Tyranids overwhelming the Hive’s defenses takes up about the last 5% of the book. Abnett’s short climaxes strike again. I think the Genestealer reveal and Tyranid assault both probably needed to be moved up in the story, to give them a bit more time to breathe.
I also think the book falls into the frequent horror trap/trope of “there’s literally nothing these characters could have done to avert their fate.” Which in fairness is Abnett’s explicit thesis: a character spells out that the imperium has lost the war for this world years before it even began. I think you can tell a good “the Tyranids are totally unstoppable” story. But I don’t know that it’s as satisfying a story when we completely miss the decisive moment.
Relatedly, how do they miss the tyranid hive fleet approaching? Does no one own a telescope in this hive? It’s a plot point that the tyranids have been landing troops and the only way the hive hears of it is through a seismometer. It didn’t really feel like the tyranids’ element of surprise was earned.
Yet after all that complaining: still a really fun book. No one does it like Dan, for good and ill, but 90% of it is good.
EDIT: Two things I forgot but wanted to comment on: I very much enjoyed the Slaanesh worshipper who really doesn’t quite understand what he’s worshipping turning himself in to warn the Hive. Good moment.
Second, this story reminded me (though I think there’s still more to do with it) of vampire fiction’s influence on the genestealers as a concept, particularly with the “translation error” about them stealing blood. You’ve got the thralls worshipping the thing that turned them. I’d love to see a more standard gothic horror type story but the twist is instead of a vampire, it’s a genestealer.
EDIT 2: One final point, to elaborate on something I left more implicit earlier. I think the version of this book where the tyranids are absent, and the genestealers are absent or merely one plotline among many is one I would have preferred to see. Seeing how the administration of the hive changed and how it dealt with or failed to deal with the various planned uprisings (both the workers and the gangs), the spies from the other city, the elite coup attempt, the psyker manhunt, the murder investigation, and the slaaneshi cult would have come together was something I was super interested in as I started the book, and I don’t think it delivered totally.
What holds it back, in my opinion, and maybe this is my expectations getting the better of me, is that I couldn’t wait to see how all these different plot threads come together in the climax…and they don’t really. Instead, these threads get overwhelmed and subsumed by the Genestealer Cult uprising, which in turn gets shuffled off stage for the Tyranids. I think this plotline still works overall, but I think it’s definitely flawed in the execution. The Genestealer reveal comes way too late in the story for them to be the warm up final boss. The precision F-Strike “That’s a fucking genestealer!” (Black Library will let Dan do whatever he wants) is a great moment, but it comes at a point in the story that the greater threat has already clearly become the Tyranids (and the reader, if they’re familiar enough with Warhammer to know what a Genestealer is, has already figured out that they’re involved, so it’s not a reveal to the reader). In a similar vein, it’s weirdly paced. We go probably 60% of the book before clearly realizing genestealers are present, then the first non-genestealer Tyranids come into play at around the last 15%, and the Tyranids overwhelming the Hive’s defenses takes up about the last 5% of the book. Abnett’s short climaxes strike again. I think the Genestealer reveal and Tyranid assault both probably needed to be moved up in the story, to give them a bit more time to breathe.
I also think the book falls into the frequent horror trap/trope of “there’s literally nothing these characters could have done to avert their fate.” Which in fairness is Abnett’s explicit thesis: a character spells out that the imperium has lost the war for this world years before it even began. I think you can tell a good “the Tyranids are totally unstoppable” story. But I don’t know that it’s as satisfying a story when we completely miss the decisive moment.
Relatedly, how do they miss the tyranid hive fleet approaching? Does no one own a telescope in this hive? It’s a plot point that the tyranids have been landing troops and the only way the hive hears of it is through a seismometer. It didn’t really feel like the tyranids’ element of surprise was earned.
Yet after all that complaining: still a really fun book. No one does it like Dan, for good and ill, but 90% of it is good.
EDIT: Two things I forgot but wanted to comment on: I very much enjoyed the Slaanesh worshipper who really doesn’t quite understand what he’s worshipping turning himself in to warn the Hive. Good moment.
Second, this story reminded me (though I think there’s still more to do with it) of vampire fiction’s influence on the genestealers as a concept, particularly with the “translation error” about them stealing blood. You’ve got the thralls worshipping the thing that turned them. I’d love to see a more standard gothic horror type story but the twist is instead of a vampire, it’s a genestealer.
EDIT 2: One final point, to elaborate on something I left more implicit earlier. I think the version of this book where the tyranids are absent, and the genestealers are absent or merely one plotline among many is one I would have preferred to see. Seeing how the administration of the hive changed and how it dealt with or failed to deal with the various planned uprisings (both the workers and the gangs), the spies from the other city, the elite coup attempt, the psyker manhunt, the murder investigation, and the slaaneshi cult would have come together was something I was super interested in as I started the book, and I don’t think it delivered totally.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2026
‘There’s only one war, bond, and only one enemy.’
‘Two wings, two heads, two faces.’
Hive is a dramatically exuberant story about the circle of life, and the nature of the setting of Warhammer 40k. Brutal, complex, sweeping, panoramic, and unlike any other.
Where to even begin with this behemoth? Not only is Hive substantially larger than your average Black Library novel, it is also one of the most unique, humane, and amazing stories that Black Library has ever published, and while I've said before that Abnett is not my favorite Warhammer author (mostly due to some of the things he did in the Horus Heresy), this novel made me completely switch sides and now, I'm just imploring for more novels like this one. Following a devastating decade-long war between hive Sanctum and hive Ostrika, Sanctum emerges victorious but at a grave cost; the loss of manpower, resources, the removal of the planetary governor, and worse, tithes lagging behind. A new planetary governor is sent to restore order, but right as things seem to be back on track, a new threat from the inside emerges.
Taking place completely inside the massive guts of a monstrous hive city, this is one of the best and most complete examples on how the average hive looks like, and the daily lives of their citizens. But while Sanctum is not meant to be a sort of "stock hive", it does provide a great and in-depth exploration on how the government of hives work, how cultures develop and become unique to each city, their politics, their caste systems, and the quality of their lives.
It is deep. Deep in the sense that it plunges you into a massive world of ninety billion "souls" and explores each possible facet with extreme care and detailed precision. And to make things more interesting, throw some rebellions and nasty shadowy activity, and you get a perfect combination for an epic thriller of insane proportions that is just delightful.
But Hive is a massive book. If we exclude The End and the Death as a single book, this is probably the biggest single standalone novel Black Library has ever published, and is not just for show. The page size makes tribute to its depth by sharing a very complex story that is absolutely ridden with multiple characters and different points of view that are as diverse as they are entertaining. But this, of course, comes at a price depending on what you want and expect from the novel.
Is it hard to read? Yes, yes it is. The first act in particular, Abnett doesn't let go and pushes no brakes at all. Each chapter is long enough that it can take your an hour to read, and he never stops introducing new characters, even during the latter parts of the novel. This makes it very hard to follow through at times, particularly because each character is distinctive enough that you don't only have to remember their names, but their position, their roles, and their goals. From the lowborn living in the belly of the hive, to the average worker toiling away their lives in the factories, to the frantic Lex-followers of the Arbites, to the high-class society, to the very planetary governor itself. This is a panoramic story in the sense that it takes you through the entire society of the hive. You experience how everyone lives and dies depending to their class and role, and how everything just works together to get this perpetually-decaying city always moving, always taking, always giving.
But what is a society if not a culture? Abnett makes it pretty clear that Sanctum is not just meant to be another city, but an exploration on how humans live and how we develop our own customs, traditions, and even dialects. And the lingo itself is another manifestation of this. Simply called "Gutter", Abnett uses it heavily and deliberately since the first moment to immerse you into the story and the city itself. In a way, it reminded me of Neuromancer's use of constructed words to create a new near-future. It is heavy, and not explained at all, so instead you have to rely on context and practice to decipher its meaning (unless you go to the foreword and spoil yourself the fun) but as you read you'll find it comes quite naturally.
The scope of the novel is as wide as it is deep. I think it is safe to say that there's no main character or a single protagonist in the entire novel. The planetary governor, Aphra, is, of course, one of the pivotal characters, but so are the many that are spread throughout the story. Having such a large cost, other than being hard to follow, also comes with the cost that sometimes you'll find reading about some you don't care that much about. Some characters seem to have been written to try and deepen the emotional perception of the novel, but it feels a little theatrical and artificial at times. Other characters don't appear that much but offer powerful insights into the developing storylines, and also work great to provide a more extensive read of the hive and its situation. Particular standout for me was Moler and Scuti (catch the reference?) who are Arbites adepts tasked with finding the seeds of rebellion in the hive. Their detective plotline is a fascinating exposition that would fit perfectly well in the (defunct) Warhammer Crime/Horror series.
And, of course, the main danger of the novel: the Burns. A euphemism for rebellion, Burns are treated as common occurrence that happens every once in a while when a city sector decides they want to have better lives and be treated with more dignity; the end result is being suppressed by the Arbites, violently, of course, to just spark down and die. But this Burn, this time, is coming up to be a full wildfire that threatens the entire hive. It is hard to discuss this one without falling into spoilers, but Abnett makes heavy use of misdirection to keep you guessing about the true nature of this threat. This is one of those aspects of the story that can be hit-or-miss, depending on how well-versed you are in the lore, and how well you follow the clues.
Whatever you try and guess, the execution is nearly flawless. It is exquisite in its paranoia; characters are bewildered and know shit about what to do next, and you taste their anxiety through the pages. It is extremely unnerving in the way in reveals the truth; playing to the classic trope of the unknown, it works both as just a plain good story, and a look into what the average citizen of the Imperium knows and knows not about the galaxy.
I enjoyed Hive greatly for its unique take and inspiration that draws from horror and detective-stories. It is a thrilling tale filled with humane moments show a more varied and natural side of the Imperium. The prose, at times, lends to this emotion by providing a beautiful and poetic scent that permeates some of the most crucial moments of the story. Still, it is a hard novel in its complexity and density. I do think this is one of those books that would get better and better with each new read, with the amount of characters, moments and little clues Abnett spreads through the pages. I do wish it had been a little more character focused, as by the end of it, I still struggled to remember most of the cast, but even then, the story and conflict was so enthralling and so well-built with a slow burn pace, that it really makes for a compelling case for one of the best Black Library novels ever published, and just a downright good sci-fi novel of horrific proportions.
‘Two wings, two heads, two faces.’
Hive is a dramatically exuberant story about the circle of life, and the nature of the setting of Warhammer 40k. Brutal, complex, sweeping, panoramic, and unlike any other.
Where to even begin with this behemoth? Not only is Hive substantially larger than your average Black Library novel, it is also one of the most unique, humane, and amazing stories that Black Library has ever published, and while I've said before that Abnett is not my favorite Warhammer author (mostly due to some of the things he did in the Horus Heresy), this novel made me completely switch sides and now, I'm just imploring for more novels like this one. Following a devastating decade-long war between hive Sanctum and hive Ostrika, Sanctum emerges victorious but at a grave cost; the loss of manpower, resources, the removal of the planetary governor, and worse, tithes lagging behind. A new planetary governor is sent to restore order, but right as things seem to be back on track, a new threat from the inside emerges.
Taking place completely inside the massive guts of a monstrous hive city, this is one of the best and most complete examples on how the average hive looks like, and the daily lives of their citizens. But while Sanctum is not meant to be a sort of "stock hive", it does provide a great and in-depth exploration on how the government of hives work, how cultures develop and become unique to each city, their politics, their caste systems, and the quality of their lives.
It is deep. Deep in the sense that it plunges you into a massive world of ninety billion "souls" and explores each possible facet with extreme care and detailed precision. And to make things more interesting, throw some rebellions and nasty shadowy activity, and you get a perfect combination for an epic thriller of insane proportions that is just delightful.
But Hive is a massive book. If we exclude The End and the Death as a single book, this is probably the biggest single standalone novel Black Library has ever published, and is not just for show. The page size makes tribute to its depth by sharing a very complex story that is absolutely ridden with multiple characters and different points of view that are as diverse as they are entertaining. But this, of course, comes at a price depending on what you want and expect from the novel.
Is it hard to read? Yes, yes it is. The first act in particular, Abnett doesn't let go and pushes no brakes at all. Each chapter is long enough that it can take your an hour to read, and he never stops introducing new characters, even during the latter parts of the novel. This makes it very hard to follow through at times, particularly because each character is distinctive enough that you don't only have to remember their names, but their position, their roles, and their goals. From the lowborn living in the belly of the hive, to the average worker toiling away their lives in the factories, to the frantic Lex-followers of the Arbites, to the high-class society, to the very planetary governor itself. This is a panoramic story in the sense that it takes you through the entire society of the hive. You experience how everyone lives and dies depending to their class and role, and how everything just works together to get this perpetually-decaying city always moving, always taking, always giving.
But what is a society if not a culture? Abnett makes it pretty clear that Sanctum is not just meant to be another city, but an exploration on how humans live and how we develop our own customs, traditions, and even dialects. And the lingo itself is another manifestation of this. Simply called "Gutter", Abnett uses it heavily and deliberately since the first moment to immerse you into the story and the city itself. In a way, it reminded me of Neuromancer's use of constructed words to create a new near-future. It is heavy, and not explained at all, so instead you have to rely on context and practice to decipher its meaning (unless you go to the foreword and spoil yourself the fun) but as you read you'll find it comes quite naturally.
The scope of the novel is as wide as it is deep. I think it is safe to say that there's no main character or a single protagonist in the entire novel. The planetary governor, Aphra, is, of course, one of the pivotal characters, but so are the many that are spread throughout the story. Having such a large cost, other than being hard to follow, also comes with the cost that sometimes you'll find reading about some you don't care that much about. Some characters seem to have been written to try and deepen the emotional perception of the novel, but it feels a little theatrical and artificial at times. Other characters don't appear that much but offer powerful insights into the developing storylines, and also work great to provide a more extensive read of the hive and its situation. Particular standout for me was Moler and Scuti (catch the reference?) who are Arbites adepts tasked with finding the seeds of rebellion in the hive. Their detective plotline is a fascinating exposition that would fit perfectly well in the (defunct) Warhammer Crime/Horror series.
And, of course, the main danger of the novel: the Burns. A euphemism for rebellion, Burns are treated as common occurrence that happens every once in a while when a city sector decides they want to have better lives and be treated with more dignity; the end result is being suppressed by the Arbites, violently, of course, to just spark down and die. But this Burn, this time, is coming up to be a full wildfire that threatens the entire hive. It is hard to discuss this one without falling into spoilers, but Abnett makes heavy use of misdirection to keep you guessing about the true nature of this threat. This is one of those aspects of the story that can be hit-or-miss, depending on how well-versed you are in the lore, and how well you follow the clues.
Whatever you try and guess, the execution is nearly flawless. It is exquisite in its paranoia; characters are bewildered and know shit about what to do next, and you taste their anxiety through the pages. It is extremely unnerving in the way in reveals the truth; playing to the classic trope of the unknown, it works both as just a plain good story, and a look into what the average citizen of the Imperium knows and knows not about the galaxy.
I enjoyed Hive greatly for its unique take and inspiration that draws from horror and detective-stories. It is a thrilling tale filled with humane moments show a more varied and natural side of the Imperium. The prose, at times, lends to this emotion by providing a beautiful and poetic scent that permeates some of the most crucial moments of the story. Still, it is a hard novel in its complexity and density. I do think this is one of those books that would get better and better with each new read, with the amount of characters, moments and little clues Abnett spreads through the pages. I do wish it had been a little more character focused, as by the end of it, I still struggled to remember most of the cast, but even then, the story and conflict was so enthralling and so well-built with a slow burn pace, that it really makes for a compelling case for one of the best Black Library novels ever published, and just a downright good sci-fi novel of horrific proportions.
June 13, 2026
Man im super conflicted on this one.
Overall I enjoyed it, but the vast amount of characters and a twist that turns the whole thing on it head just did not work for me. I love Dan Abnett’s work and consider the Eisenhorn series some of the most immersive and fun sci fi I have read. However, Hive doesn’t reach those same heights and struggles with the ambition of telling a grand story full of misdirection and politics.
Overall I enjoyed it, but the vast amount of characters and a twist that turns the whole thing on it head just did not work for me. I love Dan Abnett’s work and consider the Eisenhorn series some of the most immersive and fun sci fi I have read. However, Hive doesn’t reach those same heights and struggles with the ambition of telling a grand story full of misdirection and politics.
July 9, 2026
40k is usually about big doings, following characters who know about the unknowable. To them, the heretic, the xenos, and the alien are existential threats to the sanctity of a million million worlds.
On the ground at a scale a thousand times larger than any megacity, the heretic, xenos, and alien are more mantra than reality. The daily rigor is all about the drudgery of planetary work, the overreach of the Arbites, and trying not to get starched by the mutant beasties that sculk all around the edges of “civilized” life on Sacramentus.
This is your first real look at why and how ignorance protects the masses. It’s a delightfully bleak vision of the meat grinder that lurks behind the curtain of Imperial rule.
On the ground at a scale a thousand times larger than any megacity, the heretic, xenos, and alien are more mantra than reality. The daily rigor is all about the drudgery of planetary work, the overreach of the Arbites, and trying not to get starched by the mutant beasties that sculk all around the edges of “civilized” life on Sacramentus.
This is your first real look at why and how ignorance protects the masses. It’s a delightfully bleak vision of the meat grinder that lurks behind the curtain of Imperial rule.
May 28, 2026
Hive
A Warhammer 40k novel that takes you into the culture of the genre. It's a great read as it gives you a feeling of what it is like to be a citizen of the Warhammer 40K society. Most of the books describe the warfare but this book takes you into the ordinary streets. An excellent read
A Warhammer 40k novel that takes you into the culture of the genre. It's a great read as it gives you a feeling of what it is like to be a citizen of the Warhammer 40K society. Most of the books describe the warfare but this book takes you into the ordinary streets. An excellent read
September 3, 2026
This is a pretty big book to tackle, but well worth the read. We will bounce between innumerable points of view, to the point it feels gratuitous, until I struggle to work out which one's I'd cut and fall at the first hurdle.
The action is well paced as we follow the transition of power in the titular Hive (read Mega City from 2001AD if you aren't familiar with the Warhammer universe). The new governor is an outsider, thrust into the job without warning and committed to improving the situation in the face of political opposition. The lower classes are agitating for a riot to vent their grievances while being brutally supressed by the various police forces. The criminal gangs are planning to extend their influence. Some suspicious murders/crimes need investigating. Finally Cherish Palgrave wants to complete her toil chopping the heads of statues and going on an art hunt with one of the higher ups.
I loved the language/slang invented for the book, and particularly enjoyed how time is measured (10 of time, 3 full time etc). The romance sub plots are good fun. The mystery kept me guessing for a decent chunk of the book, and the action carries one along well. Get ready for some amount of heartbreak tho :(
If one were looking for a Warhammer book to recommend to people not in that hobby space, this would be top of my list. Get reading jha, only a ecja chofa would miss this one.
The action is well paced as we follow the transition of power in the titular Hive (read Mega City from 2001AD if you aren't familiar with the Warhammer universe). The new governor is an outsider, thrust into the job without warning and committed to improving the situation in the face of political opposition. The lower classes are agitating for a riot to vent their grievances while being brutally supressed by the various police forces. The criminal gangs are planning to extend their influence. Some suspicious murders/crimes need investigating. Finally Cherish Palgrave wants to complete her toil chopping the heads of statues and going on an art hunt with one of the higher ups.
I loved the language/slang invented for the book, and particularly enjoyed how time is measured (10 of time, 3 full time etc). The romance sub plots are good fun. The mystery kept me guessing for a decent chunk of the book, and the action carries one along well. Get ready for some amount of heartbreak tho :(
If one were looking for a Warhammer book to recommend to people not in that hobby space, this would be top of my list. Get reading jha, only a ecja chofa would miss this one.
September 5, 2026
That's how you use the IP. The reader knows more about what's happening than anyone in the story, and at the start it's obvious. Blah blah blah Ruinous Powers, dynastic politics, references to overarching developments in the setting.
But some things don't seem to add up. And then they do. And when they do, you know exactly where all this is headed...
But some things don't seem to add up. And then they do. And when they do, you know exactly where all this is headed...
July 29, 2026
Absolutly fantastic, perhaps my new favourite from Dan Abnett.
August 7, 2026
Abnett you diabolical son of a gun.
June 17, 2026
Abnett continues to be one of the best BL authors writing stories set in the 40k universe. I struggled a little bit with how short all the different character’s POVs were at first but the end effect is much like what life in a hive must be like, an overwhelming display of human diversity, struggles, scheming, and triumphs. This book is long, but I think that’s necessary to explore all of the different social strata and perspectives in Sacramentus, from the neg to top of the overmost. As a longtime 40k enthusiast and lorebuff, I enjoyed the red herring big bad before the true enemy within is revealed. The length also helps the end feel more meaningful as you realize how meaningless it all was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2026
Good, but not his best work.
In trying to have a Tom Clancy number of characters and story arcs (some of which did intersect), he strayed away from what makes his writing great: intimate character development. The number of arcs might have been necessary to disguise the "big bad", but felt excessive. The world building was incredible as always, but sometimes overwhelmed by repetitive fake slang terms (some of which payed off for narrative reasons, but we're mostly distracting). My biggest complaint is that this book was huge and I was hoping for the third Bequin book!
In trying to have a Tom Clancy number of characters and story arcs (some of which did intersect), he strayed away from what makes his writing great: intimate character development. The number of arcs might have been necessary to disguise the "big bad", but felt excessive. The world building was incredible as always, but sometimes overwhelmed by repetitive fake slang terms (some of which payed off for narrative reasons, but we're mostly distracting). My biggest complaint is that this book was huge and I was hoping for the third Bequin book!
June 20, 2026
I was thinking that the pacing was weird in this book. So the main characters all find out what is really happening separately. Why wouldn't the stories build on top of another? Then the characters would eventually meet each other, bring their piece of the puzzle and together fight the ... and ... and ... oh. I see. The depiction of the hive was great I could even swallow Abnett's foray into gutter slang this time. A little bit padded at times with so many characters but in the end never boring 3.5
June 3, 2026
Unless the higher ups decide this is too insular to be representative of the universe, I can 100% see this becoming the tv series.
Even allows for a few post credits drop pods!
Even allows for a few post credits drop pods!
October 9, 2026
Hive, by Dan Abnett, is an exceptionally well-crafted novel. I can hardly imagine the amount of work that goes into creating a story so intricately imagined. With its enormous cast of characters, epic worldbuilding, plotlines that weave in and out of one another, and endless power struggles, Hive is quite the feat of storytelling.
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
Abnett brings a city to life here, a city so large it defies comprehension. Not only that, he gives us a taste of life from its darkest depths to its soaring heights. The slang, in particular, gives the novel a lot of character, at times reminding me of A Clockwork Orange. The language feels as though it has evolved organically alongside the people who speak it, giving the impression of a culture with its own history, customs, and internal logic. It makes the setting feel lived-in rather than merely imagined.
I’ve always wanted to know more about everyday life in a hive city, and Abnett delivers a fascinating glimpse of it. He captures the sheer absurdity of an entire continent’s worth of cultures, ambitions, petty grievances, and desperate struggles crammed into one enormous city. Life in the hive is a constant negotiation of social hierarchies, bureaucracy, and competing interests, with ordinary people trying to carve out some semblance of a life for themselves amid the chaos. It’s a world that feels immense and yet claustrophobically small, where billions of lives are pressed together beneath the weight of an indifferent Imperial machine.
That sense of suffocation becomes something far more sinister as the novel unfolds. The gradual revelation of the Genestealer infestation and the eventual horror of the Tyranid invasion turn an already grim setting into something genuinely nightmarish. In its final hundred pages or so, Hive ventures beyond grimdark and into outright horror. Abnett understands that horror isn't simply a matter of grotesque creatures or gruesome deaths; it’s the slow realization that something is terribly wrong, the creeping dread of discovering that the world you thought you understood is hiding something monstrous, and the dawning certainty that there may be nothing you can do about it.
Much of this dread comes from the perspectives Abnett chooses to follow. We see events through the eyes of Imperial citizens and bureaucrats who know little beyond their immediate spheres of influence. The true horrors of the universe are kept from the Imperium's trillions of citizens, lest the truth plunge society into panic and anarchy. They don't know what a Tyranid is, let alone understand the full scale of the horror bearing down on them. Hell, at one point, a character questions whether xenos are even real or just a scare tactic. They have only fragments of information, mundane responsibilities, and their own limited understanding of the world. Watching them struggle to interpret the unfolding catastrophe, while knowing what awaits them, creates a particularly cruel kind of dramatic irony. The reader understands the danger long before the characters do. It's like watching a train hurtle towards a collapsed bridge, knowing what's coming but being too far away to do anything about it.
By the time the novel reaches its conclusion, that dread gives way to something even bleaker: absolute hopelessness. There is no last-minute reprieve, no miraculous salvation. Only death, war, and duty to the Imperium and the Emperor. The people whose lives we've followed, with all their ambitions, rivalries, and small personal concerns, are ultimately swallowed by a catastrophe far beyond their control. Their deaths become sacrifices in the desperate attempt to halt the xenos scourge.
The sheer finality of it is devastating. Abnett builds this intricate world and populates it with fleshed-out, relatable characters. We find ourselves rooting for the worker uprising to succeed, or hoping the new Domme will somehow get everything under control. Their lives and struggles become tangible, their fates matter to us, and then Abnett extinguishes them one by one. Plot threads are left unresolved, lives are cut short, and the world carries on towards its inevitable destruction. There is something deeply unsettling about watching so many individual stories end without resolution.
That, to me, is what makes Hive such an effective Warhammer 40,000 novel. It brings the setting down to the level of ordinary people, immersing us in their culture, their daily struggles, and their limited understanding of the universe they inhabit, only to remind us how little any of that can protect them from the Imperium's many horrors. The result is a novel that is as impressive in its worldbuilding as it is merciless in its portrayal of life in the 41st millennium. In the end, there is no salvation, only the terrible realization that for all the lives contained within a hive, not one of them is guaranteed to matter.
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
Abnett brings a city to life here, a city so large it defies comprehension. Not only that, he gives us a taste of life from its darkest depths to its soaring heights. The slang, in particular, gives the novel a lot of character, at times reminding me of A Clockwork Orange. The language feels as though it has evolved organically alongside the people who speak it, giving the impression of a culture with its own history, customs, and internal logic. It makes the setting feel lived-in rather than merely imagined.
I’ve always wanted to know more about everyday life in a hive city, and Abnett delivers a fascinating glimpse of it. He captures the sheer absurdity of an entire continent’s worth of cultures, ambitions, petty grievances, and desperate struggles crammed into one enormous city. Life in the hive is a constant negotiation of social hierarchies, bureaucracy, and competing interests, with ordinary people trying to carve out some semblance of a life for themselves amid the chaos. It’s a world that feels immense and yet claustrophobically small, where billions of lives are pressed together beneath the weight of an indifferent Imperial machine.
That sense of suffocation becomes something far more sinister as the novel unfolds. The gradual revelation of the Genestealer infestation and the eventual horror of the Tyranid invasion turn an already grim setting into something genuinely nightmarish. In its final hundred pages or so, Hive ventures beyond grimdark and into outright horror. Abnett understands that horror isn't simply a matter of grotesque creatures or gruesome deaths; it’s the slow realization that something is terribly wrong, the creeping dread of discovering that the world you thought you understood is hiding something monstrous, and the dawning certainty that there may be nothing you can do about it.
Much of this dread comes from the perspectives Abnett chooses to follow. We see events through the eyes of Imperial citizens and bureaucrats who know little beyond their immediate spheres of influence. The true horrors of the universe are kept from the Imperium's trillions of citizens, lest the truth plunge society into panic and anarchy. They don't know what a Tyranid is, let alone understand the full scale of the horror bearing down on them. Hell, at one point, a character questions whether xenos are even real or just a scare tactic. They have only fragments of information, mundane responsibilities, and their own limited understanding of the world. Watching them struggle to interpret the unfolding catastrophe, while knowing what awaits them, creates a particularly cruel kind of dramatic irony. The reader understands the danger long before the characters do. It's like watching a train hurtle towards a collapsed bridge, knowing what's coming but being too far away to do anything about it.
By the time the novel reaches its conclusion, that dread gives way to something even bleaker: absolute hopelessness. There is no last-minute reprieve, no miraculous salvation. Only death, war, and duty to the Imperium and the Emperor. The people whose lives we've followed, with all their ambitions, rivalries, and small personal concerns, are ultimately swallowed by a catastrophe far beyond their control. Their deaths become sacrifices in the desperate attempt to halt the xenos scourge.
The sheer finality of it is devastating. Abnett builds this intricate world and populates it with fleshed-out, relatable characters. We find ourselves rooting for the worker uprising to succeed, or hoping the new Domme will somehow get everything under control. Their lives and struggles become tangible, their fates matter to us, and then Abnett extinguishes them one by one. Plot threads are left unresolved, lives are cut short, and the world carries on towards its inevitable destruction. There is something deeply unsettling about watching so many individual stories end without resolution.
That, to me, is what makes Hive such an effective Warhammer 40,000 novel. It brings the setting down to the level of ordinary people, immersing us in their culture, their daily struggles, and their limited understanding of the universe they inhabit, only to remind us how little any of that can protect them from the Imperium's many horrors. The result is a novel that is as impressive in its worldbuilding as it is merciless in its portrayal of life in the 41st millennium. In the end, there is no salvation, only the terrible realization that for all the lives contained within a hive, not one of them is guaranteed to matter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2026
[No Spoilers Review]
Hive is perhaps one of Dan Abnett's finest works. Not as exciting (atleast initially) as some of his other works, such as the excellent and action packed Gaunt's Ghosts, it reads more like the three interwoven-yet-separate mystery novels in a trench coat. Additionally, I'm glad that Dan Abnett wrote this, as other writers may not have had the balls to write the ending the way Abnett did, and the setting as a whole deserves more like it.
Perhaps unsurprisingly -given the title- HIVE really makes use of one of the "million worlds" of the Imperium in Warhammer 40k. Blending together the familiar and the foreign, Abnett once again weaves a story that feels just real enough that it requires little suspension of disbelief (much like DUNE). If you are newer to Warhammer 40k, you don't need much background knowledge to make sense of this book, as it is largely self-contained.
Many of the characters feel worn and aged, like an old well-loved book in the corner of a library. They've already lived the greatest stories of their lives, and we get are treated to a vast cast of characters that has something to look forward to no matter your usual genre of interest. Even without the eventual rising action that defines so much of Warhammer 40,000, i feel like hive could have continued in the same manner as the first dozen chapters, and still be an entertaining narrative. Perhaps it's just me getting old, but i'm finding that i enjoy characters just interacting more and more, and my interest gradually slips when combat occurs for too long. At a glance, that is an odd sentiment for someone who is reading a book based in a universe of "Only War", but i believe that many of the writers have been given a longer leash, and many use it to really flesh out their characters.
I find myself wishing for others to have read this, so i can make use of many of the phrases and slang words that have strangely grown on me. "Plenty be", or even just "soul" as a acknowledgement has become very endearing to me. Alternatively, telling someone they are full of "Jant" or that they're a "chofa gruek" would be great fun, given both parties know the full context.
There's so, so much more i wish i could discuss, but as with most of my reviews, i try to make them spoiler free. If you are one of my friends reading this, shoot me a message and i'll happily yap about this book while we paint our miniatures.
Lastly, as this is a book with many characters, I recommend you take notes of names, who they're with, and what their profession is. You'll thank me later, and i can't tell you why.
Whomever you are, I hope you give the book a shot.
May your light last, soul.
Hive is perhaps one of Dan Abnett's finest works. Not as exciting (atleast initially) as some of his other works, such as the excellent and action packed Gaunt's Ghosts, it reads more like the three interwoven-yet-separate mystery novels in a trench coat. Additionally, I'm glad that Dan Abnett wrote this, as other writers may not have had the balls to write the ending the way Abnett did, and the setting as a whole deserves more like it.
Perhaps unsurprisingly -given the title- HIVE really makes use of one of the "million worlds" of the Imperium in Warhammer 40k. Blending together the familiar and the foreign, Abnett once again weaves a story that feels just real enough that it requires little suspension of disbelief (much like DUNE). If you are newer to Warhammer 40k, you don't need much background knowledge to make sense of this book, as it is largely self-contained.
Many of the characters feel worn and aged, like an old well-loved book in the corner of a library. They've already lived the greatest stories of their lives, and we get are treated to a vast cast of characters that has something to look forward to no matter your usual genre of interest. Even without the eventual rising action that defines so much of Warhammer 40,000, i feel like hive could have continued in the same manner as the first dozen chapters, and still be an entertaining narrative. Perhaps it's just me getting old, but i'm finding that i enjoy characters just interacting more and more, and my interest gradually slips when combat occurs for too long. At a glance, that is an odd sentiment for someone who is reading a book based in a universe of "Only War", but i believe that many of the writers have been given a longer leash, and many use it to really flesh out their characters.
I find myself wishing for others to have read this, so i can make use of many of the phrases and slang words that have strangely grown on me. "Plenty be", or even just "soul" as a acknowledgement has become very endearing to me. Alternatively, telling someone they are full of "Jant" or that they're a "chofa gruek" would be great fun, given both parties know the full context.
There's so, so much more i wish i could discuss, but as with most of my reviews, i try to make them spoiler free. If you are one of my friends reading this, shoot me a message and i'll happily yap about this book while we paint our miniatures.
Lastly, as this is a book with many characters, I recommend you take notes of names, who they're with, and what their profession is. You'll thank me later, and i can't tell you why.
Whomever you are, I hope you give the book a shot.
May your light last, soul.
June 29, 2026
The highly inventive and compelling Dan Abnett once again impresses with his latest addictive entry in the gritty Warhammer 40,000 universe, Hive, an exceptional novel that really puts the grim into grimdark fiction.
In the hive city of Sacramentus, known simply as the Hive, toil, duty and austerity are the way of life, as its people work in the Hive’s oppressive darkness. However, after years of war with the planet’s other major city, Sacramentus is entering a period of instability and change. The planet’s governor, the Domne, has been deposed and executed by the Adeptus Arbites, and a new Domne has been named. However, this new Domne is an off-planet administrator sent by the wider Imperium of Man to rule, and the Hive does not appreciate outsiders.
As preparations begin for the Domne’s coronation, unrest besets Sacramentus. Many of the Hive’s citizens, from its lowest worker to its highest noble, speak of revolution and anarchy, while unusual murders and the destructive emergence of unstable psykers create their own havoc. With the city on edge, many look to take advantage, with gangs, revolutionaries, terrorists and tired workers all determined to make their mark, no matter the cost.
Soon, protests and deadly riots are unleashed upon the Hive’s streets, and the city’s new ruler attempts to maintain control from the forces arrayed against her. However, there is far more to this atmosphere of dissent and revolution than anyone realises. A dark and dangerous threat lies just beneath the surface of the Hive, hidden and waiting to unleash its full wrath on everything it encounters. Can the beleaguered citizens of Sacramentus pull together and fight the malevolent forces coming for it, or is the city’s precious light about to go out for good?
Well damn, that was a very impressive read. Dan Abnett continues to showcase why he is one of the very best authors of Warhammer fiction, with the highly intricate and deeply addictive Hive. A powerful and multilayered novel filled with a multitude of compelling character stories, Hive was one of Abnett’s most epic projects yet, with the author’s inventive flair and ability to craft large, unique worlds, perfectly showcased. A particularly dark and intense novel that gets a very easy five-star rating, Hive is guaranteed to hook you all the way to the bitter end.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2026/06/29/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
In the hive city of Sacramentus, known simply as the Hive, toil, duty and austerity are the way of life, as its people work in the Hive’s oppressive darkness. However, after years of war with the planet’s other major city, Sacramentus is entering a period of instability and change. The planet’s governor, the Domne, has been deposed and executed by the Adeptus Arbites, and a new Domne has been named. However, this new Domne is an off-planet administrator sent by the wider Imperium of Man to rule, and the Hive does not appreciate outsiders.
As preparations begin for the Domne’s coronation, unrest besets Sacramentus. Many of the Hive’s citizens, from its lowest worker to its highest noble, speak of revolution and anarchy, while unusual murders and the destructive emergence of unstable psykers create their own havoc. With the city on edge, many look to take advantage, with gangs, revolutionaries, terrorists and tired workers all determined to make their mark, no matter the cost.
Soon, protests and deadly riots are unleashed upon the Hive’s streets, and the city’s new ruler attempts to maintain control from the forces arrayed against her. However, there is far more to this atmosphere of dissent and revolution than anyone realises. A dark and dangerous threat lies just beneath the surface of the Hive, hidden and waiting to unleash its full wrath on everything it encounters. Can the beleaguered citizens of Sacramentus pull together and fight the malevolent forces coming for it, or is the city’s precious light about to go out for good?
Well damn, that was a very impressive read. Dan Abnett continues to showcase why he is one of the very best authors of Warhammer fiction, with the highly intricate and deeply addictive Hive. A powerful and multilayered novel filled with a multitude of compelling character stories, Hive was one of Abnett’s most epic projects yet, with the author’s inventive flair and ability to craft large, unique worlds, perfectly showcased. A particularly dark and intense novel that gets a very easy five-star rating, Hive is guaranteed to hook you all the way to the bitter end.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2026/06/29/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
October 16, 2026
My god is this book bleak. It nails the feeling of living in a hive as an average citizen better than any other 40k book I've read so far. The huge cast of characters from the lowest levels of the hive all the way to the top does a great job of highlighting just how stratified and divided the class structure of the imperium really is. It gives you a little bit of police drama, political intrigue, workers organizing, rich meets poor. It makes the Hive feel like a living, breathing place. It does a good job at showing most of the human characters well. Most of the hive leadership is competent, the law enforcement as good at what they do, the workers as good people trying to make the best of it. No one character is massively failed but all of them had flaws that slowed the realization down.
Then it all ended. Everything boiled burned down to nothing. I want to hate the ending because I spend so long learning about all these different and unique characters and there issues and ambitions and in the span of a hundred pages all of them are dead. Its such a gut punch as soon as you realize what is happening. Vox is down, not communication out of the hive and the genestealer cult is revealed. At first it seems manageable, then the full tyranid invasion enters the picture and it settles in that the rest of the book is going to be the futile deaths of everyone you've met so far.
And yet I really feel like this bleak empty feeling was the entire point. This is 40k, you hear blurbs about tyranids consuming worlds and think nothing of it because space marines will eventually rally and save the day. This isn't that story though. This is meant to represent the thousands of worlds who never get saved. To give insight into the hundreds of billions of people who story will never get told because it simply ends in the maw of a tyranid. It portrays the genestealer cult as ruthlessly competent, the tyranids as brutally efficient killing machines and in the end, no matter how strong, or faithful the human characters are, they will never be enough this time.
Then it all ended. Everything boiled burned down to nothing. I want to hate the ending because I spend so long learning about all these different and unique characters and there issues and ambitions and in the span of a hundred pages all of them are dead. Its such a gut punch as soon as you realize what is happening. Vox is down, not communication out of the hive and the genestealer cult is revealed. At first it seems manageable, then the full tyranid invasion enters the picture and it settles in that the rest of the book is going to be the futile deaths of everyone you've met so far.
And yet I really feel like this bleak empty feeling was the entire point. This is 40k, you hear blurbs about tyranids consuming worlds and think nothing of it because space marines will eventually rally and save the day. This isn't that story though. This is meant to represent the thousands of worlds who never get saved. To give insight into the hundreds of billions of people who story will never get told because it simply ends in the maw of a tyranid. It portrays the genestealer cult as ruthlessly competent, the tyranids as brutally efficient killing machines and in the end, no matter how strong, or faithful the human characters are, they will never be enough this time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2026
4.5/5 stars (round to 5)!
A perfect book to introduce someone to 40k. No prior knowledge is needed to read this. No primarchs, Astartes, or any of the usual craziness is present without it being seen from the ground level PoV of people who barely understand it.
This is a long book for Black Library, and one or two parts in the middle third do drag a bit. But once it get rolling, Abnett proves why he is still the King of 40k. And if you are a fan of the setting, you can pick up on what is going on much earlier than the characters in the story, giving it a sense of dread that otherwise would not be present.
I do think one or two characters have some “modern” views on the setting that seems pretty unusual for 40k, but the whole point of this system is that it’s been relatively immune from the wars which ravage the setting. We also probably could have lost 1-2 PoVs without loosing much (there are a lot of PoV characters), but when we so rarely get a grounded human view of the setting I don’t want to complain too much.
I have seen some people criticize the end for being sudden and while I see where they are coming from, I disagree. I think the end, while surprising, is set up enough in the story to not come out of nowhere and it wonderfully ties into the wider theme’s of the setting about not going quietly into the dark night.
Highly recommend for anyone even slightly interested in 40k.
A perfect book to introduce someone to 40k. No prior knowledge is needed to read this. No primarchs, Astartes, or any of the usual craziness is present without it being seen from the ground level PoV of people who barely understand it.
This is a long book for Black Library, and one or two parts in the middle third do drag a bit. But once it get rolling, Abnett proves why he is still the King of 40k. And if you are a fan of the setting, you can pick up on what is going on much earlier than the characters in the story, giving it a sense of dread that otherwise would not be present.
I do think one or two characters have some “modern” views on the setting that seems pretty unusual for 40k, but the whole point of this system is that it’s been relatively immune from the wars which ravage the setting. We also probably could have lost 1-2 PoVs without loosing much (there are a lot of PoV characters), but when we so rarely get a grounded human view of the setting I don’t want to complain too much.
I have seen some people criticize the end for being sudden and while I see where they are coming from, I disagree. I think the end, while surprising, is set up enough in the story to not come out of nowhere and it wonderfully ties into the wider theme’s of the setting about not going quietly into the dark night.
Highly recommend for anyone even slightly interested in 40k.
June 3, 2026
"In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only class war."
The only three flaws I can level against this novel are as follows: it didn't need to be two volumes, the science-fiction-profanity is groanworthy and criminally overused, and the names in this one are also clumsy.
The rest is a triumph. Deep political intrigue threads the work. We get a varied, authentic cross-section of urban life. This book expands the known universe of the 41st millenium in a way that few before it have.
The most refreshing design choice here is how much of the universe is unknown. Our characters are literally and figuratively hooded; their eyes are pointed downward into the dust of the hive and lofty ideals like Chaos, heresy, xenos, and Adeptus Astartes exist on the outside of the Platonic cave Abnett's constructed, and they are out of sight and out of mind for our cast.
Is the work derivative? Yes. It's shot through with notes of Andor and The Expanse, to name two in similar keys. But it's also good, fresh Warhammer, and Abnett sticks the landing for a satisfying conclusion. And absent the egregious untranslated slang, we have compelling notes of culture here that again colour the world of the Imperium just a bit more vividly.
Plenty be.
The only three flaws I can level against this novel are as follows: it didn't need to be two volumes, the science-fiction-profanity is groanworthy and criminally overused, and the names in this one are also clumsy.
The rest is a triumph. Deep political intrigue threads the work. We get a varied, authentic cross-section of urban life. This book expands the known universe of the 41st millenium in a way that few before it have.
The most refreshing design choice here is how much of the universe is unknown. Our characters are literally and figuratively hooded; their eyes are pointed downward into the dust of the hive and lofty ideals like Chaos, heresy, xenos, and Adeptus Astartes exist on the outside of the Platonic cave Abnett's constructed, and they are out of sight and out of mind for our cast.
Is the work derivative? Yes. It's shot through with notes of Andor and The Expanse, to name two in similar keys. But it's also good, fresh Warhammer, and Abnett sticks the landing for a satisfying conclusion. And absent the egregious untranslated slang, we have compelling notes of culture here that again colour the world of the Imperium just a bit more vividly.
Plenty be.
June 7, 2026
A worthwhile look at the grim dystopian lifestyle and culture of a prominent hive-city in 40k. I appreciate all the world building Abnett got to do, and I understand his reasoning for all the slang use, but I also think he went a little too hard on it. 40k already has a fair bit of unique jargon, and this particular novel throws another dozen on top of that. You figure it out through context as it goes, but I can see why some might find it annoying.
I also liked that he wrote a lot about the more common citizens, and how little they'd know of potential chaos or xenos threats, other than myths or rumor.
I also liked that he wrote a lot about the more common citizens, and how little they'd know of potential chaos or xenos threats, other than myths or rumor.
September 30, 2026
The scope of this book is huge, and the characters numerous. The story is as beautiful as always from Dan Abnett, and worth a really good rating. The problem, however, is also the scope. There are so many, gradual activities, and so many characters, that it becomes difficult to engage with, and remain in, the narrative. The effort is undoubtedly worth it, but two of my household read this. I left a gap of weeks part way through, and my family member stopped reading. When you reach the end, it makes sense, but it is also a huge book. Finally part of what you realise at the end is that the scope, rather than the ending, of the book is the whole point of it. It ends well, if you can make it that far.
For more quick, light, honest reviews of books that I have read, please visit me at The Fairfax Curator: https://www.fairfaxcurator.com/blog or access my reading list and notes directly at https://wirehaired-butter-a49.notion....
For more quick, light, honest reviews of books that I have read, please visit me at The Fairfax Curator: https://www.fairfaxcurator.com/blog or access my reading list and notes directly at https://wirehaired-butter-a49.notion....
June 17, 2026
This was a very different sort of Warhammer book. Abnett builds his Hive literally from the ground up: its strict social structure, its complex tiered architecture, its language – oh, my goodness, its language. There’s a complex slang vocabulary that really helps bring the place to life. And, as the characters say, “The hive is its people.” We meet folks from every walk of life – gang members, laborers, academics, soldiers, politicians. It’s complex, but a good read.
It’s an exploration of life on an isolated Hive planet with no contact and very little knowledge of the rest of the Imperium. Locals refer to their Hive as “all that is.” A change in leadership from Without brings with it all kinds of possible conflict, which threaten the well-being of the planet. But what’s really going on? Workers’ rebellion, an attempted coup, a mysterious cult, or xenos invaders from Without?
It was slow-going, but this was an excellent and compelling read.
It’s an exploration of life on an isolated Hive planet with no contact and very little knowledge of the rest of the Imperium. Locals refer to their Hive as “all that is.” A change in leadership from Without brings with it all kinds of possible conflict, which threaten the well-being of the planet. But what’s really going on? Workers’ rebellion, an attempted coup, a mysterious cult, or xenos invaders from Without?
It was slow-going, but this was an excellent and compelling read.
June 4, 2026
Dan Abnett’s finest work yet.
This beautifully dark story follows not the Astartes, nor the ordos, nor any other well-established faction in the 40K universe. Instead it tells the story of a city and its people, the oppression and corruption that they face, and the dark secrets that lie throughout and beneath.
While the story itself was excellent, I hesitate to give it a perfect store, (I’d rate it a 4.75 if I could) mostly due to the beginning of the story being loaded with character introductions and perspective changes that made things a bit difficult to follow at first. The handful of slang created for this book also made the early portions a little awkward to read, but as their meanings became clearer through repeated use and context clues, it quickly became easier to follow.
I look forward to whatever else Abnett has in store for us.
This beautifully dark story follows not the Astartes, nor the ordos, nor any other well-established faction in the 40K universe. Instead it tells the story of a city and its people, the oppression and corruption that they face, and the dark secrets that lie throughout and beneath.
While the story itself was excellent, I hesitate to give it a perfect store, (I’d rate it a 4.75 if I could) mostly due to the beginning of the story being loaded with character introductions and perspective changes that made things a bit difficult to follow at first. The handful of slang created for this book also made the early portions a little awkward to read, but as their meanings became clearer through repeated use and context clues, it quickly became easier to follow.
I look forward to whatever else Abnett has in store for us.
August 11, 2026
Abnett does it again.
It's a slow burn, to be sure, which keeps you 'guessing' for about half the book. If you're paying attention and you know your lore, you'll have a decent chance of knowing what's up before the big reveal.
( I would have felt like a super genius but someone spoiled it for me. )
The day-to-day existence of the Hive, the hierarchy, the multiple threats, the feuding and the sheer scale of the whole thing is amazing. The little bits of 'blink and you miss it' hints to the dangers to come are so well written and subtle that I want to read it again and figure out, exactly, where and when I could tell what's really happening.
Just remember, if you get overwhelmed by all of the disparate plotlines in the book, I promise you that they're all 100% resolved by the end. Abnett left nothing hanging like he usually does.
It's a slow burn, to be sure, which keeps you 'guessing' for about half the book. If you're paying attention and you know your lore, you'll have a decent chance of knowing what's up before the big reveal.
( I would have felt like a super genius but someone spoiled it for me. )
The day-to-day existence of the Hive, the hierarchy, the multiple threats, the feuding and the sheer scale of the whole thing is amazing. The little bits of 'blink and you miss it' hints to the dangers to come are so well written and subtle that I want to read it again and figure out, exactly, where and when I could tell what's really happening.
Just remember, if you get overwhelmed by all of the disparate plotlines in the book, I promise you that they're all 100% resolved by the end. Abnett left nothing hanging like he usually does.
June 28, 2026
Grim, exciting, extremely well fleshed out, and massively entertaining to read. This might be Dan Abnett’s best 40k book. There are a ton of perspectives and characters that get introduced early, but the book does a fantastic job of making sure to reorient the reader whenever you jump back to them. The stories dovetail in ways that I didn’t expect but ways that made sense.
It’s a really long book but it doesn’t feel like it, it just feels fleshed out and full. The world building is the best I’ve ever read in a Warhammer book. The hive of Sacramentus feels alive and real, with its own history and culture. The characters are compelling and it’s full of surprises until the very end. Not just a great 40k novel, but a great sci fi novel.
It’s a really long book but it doesn’t feel like it, it just feels fleshed out and full. The world building is the best I’ve ever read in a Warhammer book. The hive of Sacramentus feels alive and real, with its own history and culture. The characters are compelling and it’s full of surprises until the very end. Not just a great 40k novel, but a great sci fi novel.
July 13, 2026
I LOVED this book. The characters, the slow burn, the twists and turns. I would have been equally happy with either Tyranids or the Arch Enemy being the main antagonist. I knew it was going to be great either way because Dan is exceptionally good at writing these stories from the perspective of the "little guys" a.k.a normal humans living in the hellish universe of 40k. I've read a few genestealer cult stories but this was my first time reading about a full scale invasion and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
It took me a minute to reconcile with the seemingly rushed ending of different characters stories but I think that is most true to the lore and setting. Tyranids are the great devourer after all.
It took me a minute to reconcile with the seemingly rushed ending of different characters stories but I think that is most true to the lore and setting. Tyranids are the great devourer after all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2026
I didn't really know what to expect from this, but it was brilliant.
A good glimpse of day to day life in an imperial hive world.
I won't spoil the surprise, but it shows how few of the day to day people in the Imperium know about the dangers of their universe. As unfortunately the Imperium doesn't like to share information and the rulebooks for Warhammer 40k aren't sold in the Imperium.
Unlike most books which feature Inquisitors, Rogue Traders, Space Marines and Imperial Guard Commissars, here we see an Imperial Governor and the Adeptus Arbities. They have a lot of clearance, but the Inquisition doesn't like knowledge of the Imperium's enemies widely distributed. So they know vague rumours, but no specifics.
A good glimpse of day to day life in an imperial hive world.
I won't spoil the surprise, but it shows how few of the day to day people in the Imperium know about the dangers of their universe. As unfortunately the Imperium doesn't like to share information and the rulebooks for Warhammer 40k aren't sold in the Imperium.
Unlike most books which feature Inquisitors, Rogue Traders, Space Marines and Imperial Guard Commissars, here we see an Imperial Governor and the Adeptus Arbities. They have a lot of clearance, but the Inquisition doesn't like knowledge of the Imperium's enemies widely distributed. So they know vague rumours, but no specifics.
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