Blood Pact

Gaunt's Ghosts #12

by Dan Abnett

The Tanith First have been pulled back from the front line and are enjoying some well-deserved rest. But that is about to end. An enemy prisoner – one of the deadly Blood Pact – wants to betray his masters, but he will only talk to Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt. Can he be trusted, and what exactly does he know? Gaunt must discover the truth and avert a deadly threat to both his own life and to the Sabbat Worlds Crusade itself.

Read it because
Even on leave, Gaunt's Ghosts find themselves in trouble... A dangerous enemy prisoner will only speak to Gaunt (who's apparently dead, if Imperial records are to be believed), and the Ghosts find themselves mixed up with criminal gangs.

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Fiction, Fantasy, War, Military Fiction, Military Science Fiction

414 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2009

Reviews

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Abnett siempre hace un trabajo muy notable con el material bajo franquicia.-

Género. Ciencia ficción.

Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Pacto sangriento (publicación original: Blood Pact, 2009) nos muestra como el coronel comisario Ibram Gaunt y su regimiento de la Guardia Imperial pasan el tiempo en el planeta Balhaut a la espera de recibir un nuevo destino de combate en la cruzada de los Mundos de Sabbat. La gestión de un prisionero enemigo de alta importancia y el ataque inesperado del Pacto Sangriento en un planeta imperial como es Balhaut pondrá a prueba la capacidad de decisión y combate de Gaunt. Decimosegundo libro de la serie Los fantasmas de Gaunt y comienzo del arco argumental conocido como La victoria.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Simon Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's controversial! But I think this is one of the very best Gaunt's Ghosts novels - maybe even the best?

Perhaps it's after the relative disappointment of The Lost arc and in particular its ending, but Blood Pact feels remarkably coherent, fun, and lacks most of the faults that have historically dogged the series.

The book is basically the complete inverse of the similarly excellent Traitor General as the Ghosts find themselves protecting a key imperial asset from an elite team of Blood Pact who have inserted into a familiar imperial world. Much like in that novel we see both sides' perspectives, and much like in that novel we glean a huge amount of information into the daily lives of soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Tension increases as the book goes on, and by the final confrontation - taking place in one of my favourite locations in any 40k novel - things are truly breathless.

By design the book has a range of antagonists with clear personalities, and even touches on some deeper themes such as memory, grief, and the inherently violent nature of soldiers. I would have loved to see these themes developed further, and it does feel like a missed opportunity particularly given the emotional resonance of the ending arena, but Abnett goes further here than in pretty much any other Gaunt's Ghosts novel. Within the confines of such a novel, it's truly 5 stars. It's not going to win the Nobel prize for literature, but as a 40k novel, and specifically a Gaunt's Ghosts novel, it's truly sublime. Very different from Necropolis and Sabbat Martyr and in many ways superior to the inverse novel Traitor General is this the best novel in the series to date?

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abnett starts yet another story arc in the Gaunt's Ghosts series with Blood Pact. After the mauling the Ghosts took in the last installment, the Ghosts are sent back to Balhaut, a world 'liberated' by the Sabbat Crusade some 15 years ago, safely now deep in Imperial territory. Gaunt himself needed several months of medical attention, including new eyes, etc., and the Ghosts have been in a holding pattern for almost two years...

What I really liked about this centers on the character development and how the Ghosts deal with 'normal' life after over a decade on the front lines. What is normal life to a battle hardened soldier? The Ghosts are on the one hand bored, and the other hand antsy for action; any type of action. Some ghosts start getting into trouble, engaging in a variety of scams just to keep busy. In any case, one day the brass contact Gaunt himself. A high-level Blood Pact general has 'defected' to the Empire and will only speak to Gaunt. It seems this defector was in charge of finding/killing Gaunt when he and a team were basically marooned on a Chaos occupied planet.

The plot surrounds the defector, as the forces of Chaos send a 'hit team' to kill him before he spills the beans, and the hit team is very capable, including a 'warp witch' to harness the warp to achieve their agenda. Not an action fest by any means, but rather, a complex character study of soldiers who have been idle and going a little Gakky. Also, some rather pointed musings about war itself. 4 stars!!

[Derek Weese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again Dan Abnett knocks one out of the park with his excellent 'Gaunt's Ghost's' series.
Blood Pact is a little something different than the rest of the books in the series. There are no epic battles, no massive tank/armor clashes, no titan battles, no dogfights, no siege lines. Instead the Ghost's are kicking their heels on Balhaut, the scene of Gaunt's first major success back when he was in Commissar with the Hyrkans. Unbeknownst to any of them, especially after two years of doing jack all except getting fat, lazy and bored (I love Tona Criid's obsession with pastry's and desserts which prompted her to start a jogging/running routine that would make most Marines cry), the Archenemy has sent a special forces group of their own to kill a very special prisoner held by Imperial forces on world.
What follows is a fun romp where Gaunt and a group of Ghosts have to protect the prisoner from the frighteningly effective Chaos special forces troops (loyal to Khorne, they are from the Blood Pact after all, hence the books title) while another under Major Rawne are fighting for their lives following a supremely hilarious early incident that involved a theft from a gambling institution that landed many of them (Rawne included) in the brig. All due to Rawne being 'really fething bored'. All of then come together in the end as well as a team under the personal command of an Inquisitor of His Most Holy Majesty's Holy Ordo's.
Blood Pact is a hell of a great, fun read and the ending absolutely floored me. Without giving anything away there is a character by the name of Jaume who make s a living by fabricating memorials for deceased members of the Imperial military to be given to their families. His father was a junior officer in the Balhaut PDF when the Crusade secured the world from the Chaos forces. Gaunt never lets Jaume on that he remembers Jaume's father. The epilogue is such a touching scene where Gaunt is simply remembering the horror that was the fighting for Balhaut. As he is sheltering under cover from the furious onslaught of incoming Chaos fire he turns to a junior PDF officer and together they lead the charge that breaks the Chaos resistance. The Junior Officers name is Jaume-it's little touches like that Abnett fills his books with that hit me and many other readers on an emotional level. Gaunt was correct when he told Jaume's son cryptically 'your father died a hero'. Indeed.

[Student Teacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Dan Abnett and written yet another Gaunt's Ghosts book. This on is called Blood Pact. Now I have to admit, after reading Sabbat Worlds, I was a little worried about this one.

Damn you Dan Abnett (I love you Dan Abnett), just when I think I have gotten over you, you prove that I just can't quit you! I read this book in three days, and for me thats pretty quick. I usually sit down to read for about 30 minutes each night before I go to bed, with some books its difficult to plow through one chapter a night, with Blood Pact, I was worried about the lack of sleep I was getting. This book is excellent.

Now I'll be up front about this book, there were some things I didn't like. This was not a combat oriented book, the Ghosts have been pulled back from the front lines after twelve years of near-constant war. They have been stationed on Balhaut for the past two years, and we come to find out that the Ghosts don't take well to inaction. Throughout the book, many of the characters we have come to know and love make the briefest of cameos throughout the entire story.

That being said, of the characters Abnett does put in the story, he does a good job. In the first chapter of the book, we meet E. F. Montvelt, he oversees things on Pier Thirty-One on a huge orbital platform called Highstation. In twelve pages Abnett does an excellent job telling the story of E. F. Montvelt, how he inherited his job and most of his possessions from his late uncle, and how Balhaut, the scene of one of the greatest victories and greatest tragedies of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade, has changed in the last fifteen years. In twelve pages I felt that I knew E. F. Montvelt, and this guy is beyond a minor character. We never see him after the first chapter, but I was sucked into the book in those twelve pages.

While this book does feel as if it missing the combat of other Ghosts books, where there is action THERE IS ACTION. When a small Blood Pact kill team gets on to Balhaut and assaults a commissariat headquarters (yes, I said that correctly) the action is fast-paced and brutal! I would also like to point out that Dan Abnett is the master of the 40k car chase. Ever since First and Only, Abnett gave us a great Ghosts car chase, and I think that the one in Blood Pact is bester yet!

Although there are some drawbacks to this story, it does feel like a nice change of pace for the Ghosts. I can deal with the lack of action, and more intrigue, but I am a bit sad that we didn't see more Mkoll, and Larkin and Brostin, and the rest.

And just because it wouldn't be a proper Ghosts story without a kick to the junk ala someone we've grown to love is given a death sentence. I hate you Dan Abnett! (I love you Dan Abnett!)

I don't usually give out spoilers from the books I read, but I have to give this one out. Highlight it to see the OMG part of the book!

SPOILER

On Balhaut, a memorial to Ibram Gaunt has been constructed.

/SPOILER

Anywho, I give this book four straight silvers, out of five.

[Chris Bowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the years between the previous novel Only in Death and this one, the Ghosts have been posted on Balhaut essentially as a garrison force and are struggling to adapt to their now relatively ‘normal’ lives away from facing death on a daily basis. That is until they are caught off guard by a highly elite enemy infiltration force on an assassination mission.

In many areas, the novel is unlike any other in the series so far. It takes place over a very small geographic area in friendly, Imperium territory. The plot is narrow in scope and focuses on only a handful of characters, though many of the series favourites do appear albeit in minor roles. Newly introduced friendly characters are almost solely non-combatants. Combat is in the form of skirmishes, almost entirely between named characters; when a character ‘expires’ it feels like a name on a short checklist is crossed off.

Something Dan Abnett has always done well in his Warhammer novels is blur the lines between good and evil; it’s almost never a simple case of the Imperium vs Chaos. The enemy is almost as likely to be found in one’s own ranks as in the enemy force. In Blood Pact this feature is again the case but turned up a notch – are we perhaps even able to find some ‘good’ in the forces of Chaos?

At the conclusion, Abnett unexpectedly unleashes a storm of emotion from multiple angles that is likely to leave a lasting effect on the reader.

[Andrew Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this book last night. At first it was reading like Traitor General, only it was the exact opposite. Instead of Gaunt and a team infiltrating a Chaos held world to kill a high value target, they were instead trying to protect a high value target on a Imperial world.

I thought the book was good and Abnett once again delivered in this series I so very much love. However, it seemed way to short and way to, how can I say this, fluffy? There is a lengthy description of Tona Criid and her running regimen, her eating habits, and her weird psychosis about running more to work off the sweets she had become addicted to. The subplot about whether this was the last stop for the First and Only and they were to be retired seemed a little far fetched, especially knowing this is Book 1 of a new story arc for the Ghosts. And lastly, let's look at the featured characters, Gaunt, Tona, Maggs...and then 30 or so pages about Rawne, and a mob being criminals do to boredom. The whole book seems a little like a short story instead of the Gaunt's books you are used to. Maybe Abnett has grown kind of bored of these characters. As much as I loved Only In Death and Abnett's normally masterful work in the 40K universe I can only really say I like this 12th installment. Still read it though, there are some character developments that you will need to read to stay caught up.

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most interesting Gaunt's Ghosts novels have a stated antagonist (usually a Chaos organization of some sort) and a more interesting one. The real enemy in a couple books in bureaucracy. In another it's sexism within the regiment. A mistrust of their commander. An regiment-wide identity crisis. You get the idea.

In this book the true enemy is boredom. The Ghost's have been put on shore leave for over a year and they're getting antsy. They're too hard-wired for combat and can't adjust to peacetime.

While an interesting idea on paper, "good guys vs the big bad boredom" doesn't actually make for all that gripping a story. The conflicts feel forced and fabricated, because, in-world, they are, and I had trouble empathizing with the characters deliberately getting into unnecessary trouble.

There were a couple highlights though. The Circles are a pretty cool concept, at least in the context of 40K. The brother-sister partners in charge of the bad guys are very interesting. They're twisted, cruel and ruthless, as Chaos cultists should be, but they're strangely human and sympathetic. They care about each other and their troops more than most Chaos characters I've ever read about.

This book could have been better, but the plot is pretty thin for an Abnett book and there isn't much character development at all. There's also a character that turns out to be secretly evil, but it isn't explained how all the characters just clock that he's evil and suddenly treat him with suspicion and malice.

It's probably the weakest book in the series so far, but it's a quick read and introduces some characters that might be important in later books.

[Jiří Pavlovský · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dan Abnett je řemeslník. A to ten nejlepší typ řemeslníka, takového toho prvorepublikového střihu. Člověk, který sice píše obrovským tempem, ale na každé své knize si dává záležet a do každé přihodí něco navíc. Nějaký nápad, nějakou scénu, něco, co z toho dělá něco víc než jen snadno čitelné a zapomenutelné čtivo.

Tahle knížka je navíc ve válečné sérii Gauntovi duchové trochu atypická, víc připomíná akční thriller než bitevní řežbu. Odehrává se na planetě Balhaut, jejímž hlavním průmyslem je pohřebnictví. Z celého vesmíru sem lidé přijíždějí pohřbít a uctít své padlé vojáky… a Gauntova jednotka je sem odvelená, aby se vzpamatovala po křížovém tažení. A není nic horšího, než nudící se vojáci, kteří nemají po kom střílet. Brzo se zapletou do loupeží a octnou se v hledáčku inkvizice. Ovšem to je jen začátek. Na planetě přistává komando, které má za úkol zlikvidovat nepohodlného svědka. Komando, ovládající síly warpu, které se nezastaví před ničím.

Úvodní scéna připomíná Útok na třináctý okrsek, ale brzo se honička na Gaunta přenese od zasněženého a téměř opuštěného města, zatímco všichni ostatní po Gauntovi pátrají. Aby mu pomohli, zavřeli či zabili. Ale i tak je to civilnější a komornější záležitost a lidé tu umírají po desítkách, nikoliv po tisícovkách. Na Warhammer téměř idyla.

[Gordon Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve books into the series, Dan Abnett continues to find new and interesting ways to make life miserable for Gaunt and his Ghosts.

This time out the regiment has been off the front line for two years with no immediate sign of redeployment to active service, so Abnett explores internal troubles the Ghosts call down on themselves and brings a familiar external threat into a supposedly safe setting.

Insightful, witty and exciting as ever, the heart of this novel is the tragedy that Gaunt - the embodiment of Imperial loyalty - continues to fall under suspicion simply because of all the temptation and corruption he has heroically resisted in prior novels. It's an emotional, frustrating situation that beautifully captures the brutality and unfairness of the setting.

An engaging and thought provoking entry, even if it doesn't quite hit the traumatic and terrifying heights of the previous book in the series.

[Sean McBride · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the strongest of the series, but it's still a fun read. We are brought back to the Ghosts, inactive, on Bauhaus. They are bored and looking for action as only lifetime, frontline soldiers can. Ultimately this is the novel that brings the Ghosts back together again, and takes a turn in the Sabbat crusades. I'm trying not to go on too much for fear of spoilers (seeing as this is the 12th book in the series), but there isn't much going on here. It feels like a connector novel (meaning that it connects two different story lines), but it's a novel that is only told to give more back story for Gaunt. It's interesting, but could have been taken care of in a short story. Can't wait for the next one though, now that the band is back together!

[Duncanator · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was pretty decent. A blood pact infiltration team attacks Gaunt in the relative safety of a world far from the front lines.

[Morgan Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

while a decent book with great setting, characters and background, it hangs cliff hangers off cliff hangers that eventually become annoying to deal with. the ending also feels a bit rushed.

[Jack Neighbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another epic. Getting closer to the end now with 3 books left. Don’t know whether to be happy or sad! Onto salvations reach!

[Michael T Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cons: The coroner got really old really fast. The ending, while not as abrupt as many of Abnett's works, had a twist that was a bit too "pat" for my tastes.

Pros: everything else.

Abnett continues to find ways to present the Ghosts fighting in unique set pieces, and moves many of the ongoing stories along in minor ways. To the first point, this is a story about the Ghosts after two years of having downtime, going crazy waiting for their next posting. Some of them (unsurprisingly, Rawne's team) are robbing local establishments to have some excitement in their lives. Their location is far behind their own lines, lazy, soft.

Then a Blood Pact strike team is sent in to take down a special prisoner, who says he will only speak to Gaunt ...

So essentially it's another 'fight within a town' story, but now the town is occupied by just ... normal people, and the threat is half the times the Blood Pact, and half the time the Inquisition thinking Gaunt has been tainted by chaos (and maybe he has ... no, no, probably he's just really intuitive lately, right?). The specter of Gereon continues to haunt the Ghosts, and in ways that certainly seem like they can't be put back in the bottle. I wouldn't say it seems like everything is coming to an end, but it certainly feels like the pathways down which many of the characters will fall have been pretty clearly laid out here.

I'll admit, one of the reasons I disliked the Gereon story (I liked it overall, but this was a frustration) was because it seemed like ... this is TOO big. This is something that's going to tear the Ghosts apart. And Abnett is not shying away from that. Though his team was cleared of Chaos taint, it's obvious that certain people/factions are still pretty suspicious of Gaunt & co. Chaos has obviously had an effect on at least a couple of the Gereon 12.

I think there's one more book before the big break, while Dan dealt with health issues. It will be very strange to say goodbye to these characters (especially midstory!) for so long (I'm reading through the 40k fiction in order of release date), but maybe that will just make me appreciate it more once it returns.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Downtime For The Ghosts, Or So They Thought

The ghosts are waiting for their next deployment, trouble won’t wait for them though, a prisoner has grasped there notice and also the notice of the people he has betrayed who are coming for him, Gaunt and his ghosts must stop them from retrieving them at all costs, the crusade may depend on it, plenty of action and character pieces to keep everyone ticking along, not the best of the series but a good breather before the next story arc happens, also with a real heart wrencher at the end, a favourite character is due to pass on soon.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a bit more sentimental than the other Gaunt's Ghosts books. Smaller action although still brutal. Shows how dangerous the age they're in is even when you're surrounded by your own side.

[W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very comfortable read, felt like putting on a nice pair of shoes that you've not worn for a long while.

Sharpe in Space continues to appeal to me.

[Daniel Shellenbarger · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a couple years since Jago and the haunted hellhole of Hinzerhaus, and since then the Ghosts of the Tanith First and Only have been resting and recovering and... getting fat and bored. That changes abruptly when the rear area world where they've been on extended R&R (and rumors suggest... retirement) plays host to a selection of unexpected visitors. The first of these is an officer of the Archenemy's armies who has made the wholly unprecedented decision to defect and reveal his masters' secrets, but the only Imperial officer he'll trust is Colonel-Commissar Gaunt, whom he once hunted on Gereon (during the events of Traitor General). Of course, the Archenemy's forces aren't going to just take treachery like this lying down, so they send a chosen company of some of their best and most dedicated troops to eliminate the traitor before he can reveal what he knows. Caught in the midst of this assassination attempt, Gaunt faces a complex situation: the traitor must be kept alive, but by protecting him, Gaunt risks being labeled as tainted by Chaos, particularly given his prior experiences after leaving Gereon, so, on the run with the asset, he not only must keep ahead of the assassins (and their witch) but avoid Imperial forces until he knows who he can trust.

This book presents something that in 11 prior books we had never seen: the Ghosts far from the action and well... bored out of their minds. They've always been a crack unit full of some of the Imperium's best and brightest when it come to creating havoc while being sneaky and, well... sitting around in a barracks for a year isn't their idea of fun, even if it is safe. They've seen the elephant and know the cost, but... well... they're really good elephant hunters (I know, stretching the metaphor, but I like it), and you can't exactly turn that off. That alone helped to provide the book with an interesting angle (particularly as some of the less savory Ghosts use their initiative in... questionable way to escape their boredom). The main storyline kind of flips the story of Traitor General, as the Ghosts are in the position of those hunting the hunters but the snowy urban wilderness and the smaller scope of the action (not to mention the fraught relationships between the Tanith, the Commissariat, and the Inquisition who theoretically should all be on the same side) give it a very different feeling, almost a Cold War drama. Further, the world where the story is set is the sight of one of Gaunt's greatest military triumphs and also where his former mentor, Warmaster Slaydo, died, an event which derailed his meteoric rise in the Guard and set him on the path that led him to become the Ghosts' commander. Indeed, due to its history the planet has become a memorial and mausoleum to the dead of the Crusade, and Abnett uses that very effectively as a constant reminder for Gaunt of how much the Crusade has already cost and to motivate him to not waste the opportunity before him to obtain intel which could end the bloody stalemate and dramatically shift things in the Imperium's favor. All in all, a very interesting and enjoyable entry in the series, right up there with some of the best that Abnett's written.

[Heinz Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read this the first time, I was moderately underwhelmed. The change of pace, the smaller focus, the, at first, confusing Inquisition portrayal.
The second time through, it locked in and I have to say this is my second favorite of the series.
For the first time we get to see many of the Ghosts in a domestic type setting, well sort of. They're on what is essentially garrison and recovery duty on Balhaut, a world reclaimed near the beginning of the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. Except what was once a war torn ruin, is now a rebuilt tourist trap for common people to find solace in visiting the spots, allegedly, where there relatives and loved ones fell.
It is a world whose tourist industry banks upon false commemorations and twisted memories, a theme that relates to Gaunt in many ways.
The addition to the plot of a Blood Pact defector, and a Blood Pact kill team sent to assassinate him, while providing plenty of action, is very much the side story. The main story is of the Ghosts themselves, and how they view their past and their future.
This really was a damned fine read, a more introspective look at some of our favorite characters of the series, while having enough action to give it a good clip of a pace.
Highly recommended.

[Gareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a change of pace this one, set behind the front for the whole book, rather than just one part of the first novel, and certainly get to see that the quiet life doesn't really suit the Ghosts.
Plenty of action, intrigue and tension throughout the book, with an interesting twist near the end as well, but plenty of scenes that let you get to connect with the characters, both reinforcing bonds with existing, and getting to know and empathise for new characters introduced here.
It doesn't reach the emotional heights of some of the other novels, but is a nice change of pace, and is a nice change that none of the Ghosts die here, though plenty of casualties elsewhere.
One part I found interesting, is the treatment of Meryn here, and looks set to fulfil that sort of prophecy as such where if people treat someone as being bad / evil, then even if they aren't initially, they can be pushed that way. We have already seen Meryn being somewhat ruthless, and following in Rawne's old footsteps, but the way everyone pushes him around and treats him like dirt here, certainly seems to be pushing him towards a bad path, which feels like could have been preventable if those around him didn't treat him so badly.
All round though, a good read.

[Adam Whitehead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two years have passed since the ferocious battle for Hinzerhaus Fortress on Jago. The Tanith First and Only won a famous victory, but only at a horrendous cost in lives. Battered and bleeding, the Tanith First finally won a respite, being rotated back to sector HQ on Balhaut for a well-earned rest after ten years on the front lines.

However, two years of inaction has led to problems with discipline, training and morale. In the midst of these problems, Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt is summoned to a clandestine meeting. An agent of the archenemy has been taken prisoner and wants to give up valuable intelligence...but the Blood Pact have been sent to silence him by any means necessary.

Blood Pact is the twelfth novel in the Gaunt's Ghosts series and marks the beginning of the fourth distinct story arc in the series, "The Victory". The opening of the book feels like Dan Abnett is taking a deep breath after the mayhem of the previous novels, which featured some of the bloodiest and most frenzied battles in the series to date, but it's not too long before the action kicks in again. Blood Pact is a short novel taking place over one single night and morning of carnage as the Blood Pact - the Ghosts' sworn rivals - arrive to carry out a suicide assassination task, succeed in splitting up the Ghosts and also take advantage of internal divisions as the Ghosts find themselves still under suspicion from the Inquisition about their mission to the Chaos-tainted world of Gereon years earlier.

As usual with a Gaunt's Ghosts novel, the pace is blistering, the action is superbly-handled and the characterisation shines. Gaunt's return to the world where he lost his former command but gained a new one adds new shades to his character. Background Ghosts nicely come to the fore, such as Maggs, whilst we touch base with a few key Ghosts who've been lower in profile in the preceding books. However, Blood Pact does feel like a lesser entry in the series. Perhaps it's due to the increasing frequency between novels (Blood Pact was released in 2009 and one more book, Salvation's Reach, in 2011 with nothing since), but Blood Pact feels a little like too much set-up at a moment in the series when it feels like it should be perhaps more decisively moving towards a conclusion. This can be seen in the fact that while a few key characters get a lot of time in the sun, numerous other Ghosts (including many who played key roles in the preceding few books) suddenly drop into the background. If Gaunt's Ghosts was a TV series (and we can but hope), this is the relatively low-key opening to a new season which is reacquainting you with all the characters before the big storylines kick in.

On that basis, Blood Pact (***½) does a good job of setting up its immediate sequel, Salvation Reach, and tells a rollicking good action story. Not one of the best books in the series, but still an effortlessly enjoyable slice of military SF from the best author in the subgenre.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Pact begins a new arc by taking the Ghosts away from war and forcing them to reflect on what makes a Ghost in more ways then one. There's a good deal of reflection for Gaunt in particular as he finds himself back on Balhaut where things began and ended for him all at once. Meanwhile, the plot recalls Traitor General by keeping a tight focus on a few of the Ghosts, some local characters, as well as giving an in-depth look at how the Archenemy operate and behave while putting Gaunt in the position to protect a pheguth where he was once tasked with killing one...

Blood Pact is really quite fantastic even if it's a bit different in some ways from the average Ghosts book. After how heavy the battles of the last several books have been, I liked seeing the Ghosts "at peace" and seeing the effects it has on all of them. Really excellent stuff and, despite it being a book I once again barely remembered due to having only read it once (maybe twice) I'd say its one of the stronger in the series.

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan Abnett’s twelfth Gaunt’s Ghosts novel, this kicks off the fourth arc in the series. Set two years after their last mission on Jago, the Ghosts have spent the last year stationed on Balhaut, the site of the Sabbat Crusade’s greatest victory. While the regiment grows increasingly bored and complacent, Gaunt worries that he’s been sidelined for good. When a high-ranking enemy prisoner insists on speaking only to Gaunt, however, he’s dragged back into intrigue and danger in a way he couldn’t have expected, on a world freighted with memories.

After a calm, intriguing opening it quickly turns into a breathless, gripping story that keeps you turning the page, desperate to find out what happens. Step back from that and it’s clear that, while it makes a great story on its own, this is setting things up for the next books in the arc...

Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2017/11/...

[Iri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 / 4

Meh, I am not sure about this one. It was in some way kinda crisp and the tiniest details were absolutely heartbreaking. In a good sense. I must surrender before Abnett´s gift to create such an adult, smart and so touch the sore spot stories. But I feel that since the last few books in the Lost story arc (AoC for example) the stories are somehow... well... bland? There is something... missing in them. And it´s not about the lack of battlefield, like in this specific one. Well, this is what I am struggling with mostly during the reading of the "newer" Ghost books.

However:

When an author is able to make reader strongly dislike the not even existing institution like the Imperial Inquisition (I know, that´s a heresy) from the bottom of his heart it´s the sign of a good author. I am convinced about that because I hate inquisition even more than ever. Good job, Mr. Abnett. Good job.

[Raymond Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slight improvement over the previous book, so far as character development is concerned. I understand the need to replenish the ranks of the cast as old characters are killed, but Mr. Abnett has not done too great a job of that in the last few books. I felt it difficult to care about most of the new blood. In this book however, it is a fun bit of buildup toward climax and a fair bit of action. I especially enjoyed seeing how Gaunt interacted with the "prisoner," and the Maggs. Likewise, I enjoyed the Rawne and Daur adventure, especially seeing how Daur, even when bored to death, manages to maintain much of his "honorable straight-shooter" character. In all this is a fun, and paradigm shifting, adventure for Gaunt and Co. I hope, though I doubt it (having written this review after reading the next book), that going forward we will see more action and less ham-fisted new cast introductions.

[Luke Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Gaunt's Ghosts novel I read, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, it certainly intrigued me enough to read the rest of the series...

'Assigned to inactive duty on the garrison world of Balhaut, the lazy days of Colonel Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the Tanith 1st and Only are about to end. A high ranking enemy prisoner has been brought to Balhaut, insisting he will speak to no one but Gaunt himself. Already under pressure from High Command to get the information before the Inquisition takes custody of the prisoner, when an enemy strike team infiltrates Balhaut with orders to kill the prisoner before he talks, Gaunt finds himself in a game of cat and mouse with enemies on all sides... "

A great introductory read for me into the series, full of action, tension and human moments all amidst one of the best scifi universes created...

[Will R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A welcome look at the situation behind the front lines, Blood Pact sees the Ghosts somewhere they've rarely, if ever been - at peace. Of course, the situation doesn't last, but it lasts long enough to see what the end result of that would be; their combat talents going to waste for two years, the regiment and Gaunt himself are tightly coiled vipers lashing out at their own. The interruption, when it comes, is an interesting inversion of Traitor General that works well. We see more Chaos up close than we've seen previously, which is also an interesting look at the Blood Pact and their tainted magicks.

[Calyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing new to say about Abnett's work, I go in expecting something familiar, and sure the cast is there, but adventure is again, new fresh, and attention grabbing, and since its 12th book in the series i think its an amazing plus.
I loved whole ambience of the work, atmosphere, its as if you can taste it, like a snowflake on the tip of the tongue.

[Flyss Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 12th novel in the Gaunts Ghosts series sees the Tannith first and only on hiatus on Balhaut once a war torn part of the Empire now a imperial stronghold and administrative centre. Two years since their last manoeuvre the ghosts are getting bored and twitchy. However with the arrival of a mysterious Widow and her twin brother, the possibility of combat action may be along sooner than anticipated.