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Vaults of Terra #1
The Carrion Throne
In the hellish sprawl of Imperial Terra, Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Erasmus Crowl serves as a stalwart and vigilant protector, for even the Throneworld is not immune to the predations of its enemies. In the course of his Emperor-sworn duty, Crowl becomes embroiled in a dark conspiracy, one that leads all the way to the halls of the Imperial Palace. As he plunges deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the many palace districts, his investigation attracts the attention of hidden forces, and soon he and his acolyte Spinoza are being hunted – by heretics, xenos, servants of the Dark Powers, or perhaps even rival elements of the Inquisition itself. Soon they discover a terrible truth, one that if allowed to get out could undermine the very fabric of the Imperium itself.
Read it because
It's a novel that gets into the seedy underbelly of the Throneworld, Terra itself, at the end of the 41st millennium!
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2017
242 people are currently reading
1418 people want to read
About the author
Chris Wraight
217 books379 followersChris Wraight is a British author of fantasy and science fiction.
His first novel was published in 2008; since then, he has published books set in the Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate:Atlantis universes, and has upcoming titles in the Warhammer 40K setting.
He is based in the south-west of England.
His first novel was published in 2008; since then, he has published books set in the Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate:Atlantis universes, and has upcoming titles in the Warhammer 40K setting.
He is based in the south-west of England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
August 21, 2017
Chris Wraight's Carrion Throne is spectacular. One of the best Warhammer 40K novels I've read yet and I've read more than my fair share. The best part of this novel was that it takes place on the Throne World of Terra. Often heard about, referenced and spoken of but this is my first time reading a 40K novel set on Terra. I really appreciated the dark and grim tone of this novel. The age of man seems to coming to an end. The Imperium seems to be decaying from within. I also appreciated how this story is in keeping with the intro page to all Warhammer 40K books wherein it says this is the 41st Millennium.... this story adheres to that intro part. It is dirty, claustrophobic, overpopulated and dangerous. It is truly a hellish vision of the future:
"Holy Terra, marvel of the galaxy, heart of wonder. No jewel shone more brightly, no canker was more foul..........Spoil-grey, scored and crusted with the contamination and majesty of ten long millennia, a shrine world that glowed with a billion fires, a tomb that clutched its buried souls close. All the planet's natural beauty had long since been scrubbed from its face replaced by the layers upon layers of a single, creeping hyper-city. The sprawl blotted out the once great oceans and the long-hewn forests under suffocating mountains of rockcrete and plasteel, tangled and decaying and renewed and rebuilt until the accretions stretched unbroken from the deepest chasms to the exalted heights...."
Also this idea of the sheer mass of the traffic:
"...They arrived full, they left empty. The Throneworld did not trade with the rest of the Imperium-it consumed it. Goods were sucked in from every corner of every segmentum, dragged out from the holds of leviathans that carried them, seized by the ravenous populace and devoured, and it was never enough. A million cargo-lifters might touch down in a single hour, and still thousands would starve. Any delay in a single hour, and still thousands of thousands would die. Like a hopeless opiate addict, the populace could never be satisfied, never given enough. The birthplace of Humanity now squatted like some obscene, famished infant at the heart of its web of stellar kingdoms, ingesting the last dregs of energy out of the straggling fringes and gulping them down into greedy oblivion..."
So on top of this great vision of Terra we are also treated to a great story and there are two rare forces written of- the Inquisition (Ordo Xenos & Ordo Hereticus) and the Imperial Custodians. The Inquisition is an interesting bunch and always make for great stories. The Custodes are to Astartes as Astartes are to humans. This elite bunch of super-Space Marines are the Emperor's personal guard. They are considered a genetic leap forwards from the standard Adeptus Astartes.
There is a great ceremony about to happen, but the Inquisition suspects something foul. Inquisitor Crowl and his new apprentice Inquisitor Spinoza are on the trail of a mysterious shipment. They are also trying to figure out if someone within the Inquisition might be corrupt. All of this is taking place against the backdrop to the most powerful world in the entire Imperium. We are also treated to a rare sighting and storytelling of the Custodes. That was excellent.
I shall not spoil any more of the plot..but it is quite good. However it was the beautiful world crafting of Terra that had me sold on this book. I hope this author pens more Warhammer 40K books. I'm a fan. Any Warhammer 40K fan will love this book. Even non-fans will appreciate a true grim-dark tale of Terra and those who would defend her.
"Holy Terra, marvel of the galaxy, heart of wonder. No jewel shone more brightly, no canker was more foul..........Spoil-grey, scored and crusted with the contamination and majesty of ten long millennia, a shrine world that glowed with a billion fires, a tomb that clutched its buried souls close. All the planet's natural beauty had long since been scrubbed from its face replaced by the layers upon layers of a single, creeping hyper-city. The sprawl blotted out the once great oceans and the long-hewn forests under suffocating mountains of rockcrete and plasteel, tangled and decaying and renewed and rebuilt until the accretions stretched unbroken from the deepest chasms to the exalted heights...."
Also this idea of the sheer mass of the traffic:
"...They arrived full, they left empty. The Throneworld did not trade with the rest of the Imperium-it consumed it. Goods were sucked in from every corner of every segmentum, dragged out from the holds of leviathans that carried them, seized by the ravenous populace and devoured, and it was never enough. A million cargo-lifters might touch down in a single hour, and still thousands would starve. Any delay in a single hour, and still thousands of thousands would die. Like a hopeless opiate addict, the populace could never be satisfied, never given enough. The birthplace of Humanity now squatted like some obscene, famished infant at the heart of its web of stellar kingdoms, ingesting the last dregs of energy out of the straggling fringes and gulping them down into greedy oblivion..."
So on top of this great vision of Terra we are also treated to a great story and there are two rare forces written of- the Inquisition (Ordo Xenos & Ordo Hereticus) and the Imperial Custodians. The Inquisition is an interesting bunch and always make for great stories. The Custodes are to Astartes as Astartes are to humans. This elite bunch of super-Space Marines are the Emperor's personal guard. They are considered a genetic leap forwards from the standard Adeptus Astartes.
There is a great ceremony about to happen, but the Inquisition suspects something foul. Inquisitor Crowl and his new apprentice Inquisitor Spinoza are on the trail of a mysterious shipment. They are also trying to figure out if someone within the Inquisition might be corrupt. All of this is taking place against the backdrop to the most powerful world in the entire Imperium. We are also treated to a rare sighting and storytelling of the Custodes. That was excellent.
I shall not spoil any more of the plot..but it is quite good. However it was the beautiful world crafting of Terra that had me sold on this book. I hope this author pens more Warhammer 40K books. I'm a fan. Any Warhammer 40K fan will love this book. Even non-fans will appreciate a true grim-dark tale of Terra and those who would defend her.
June 6, 2017
"The Carrion Throne" is a sublime book from a master storyteller who truly understands (and indeed inhabits) the setting in which he writes. More than anyone else, Wraight has brought the beating heart of the Imperium to life, rendering Terra not only as setting but also as almost a character in its own right.
Straight from the get-go we are flung into a compelling mystery which sprawls from the ruinous underhives to the heart of the Imperial Palace. Wraight renders Terra into a self-described "Gormenghast of the stars", awash with conspiracy. The Infinite City of the throneworld is artfully described, and feels utterly organic. It is one of the most sumptuously broken dystopic settings in a galaxy brimming with them. At one point Wraight beautifully describes how the "birthplace of humanity now squatted like some obscene, famished infant at the heart of its web of stellar kingdoms, ingesting the last dregs of energy out of the straggling fringes and gulping them down into greedy oblivion." This is the dark core of the setting, with as much of its own gravity as the Throne itself, which sits at the heart of everything- bending even the elements to its own inscrutable service.
Into this mystery are plunged two very compelling viewpoints. Inquisitor Crowl is an old hand, jaded and whimsical. He possesses a wry intellect and dry humour, a sufferance for and understanding of the Throneworld that his new protoge finds almost heretical. This protoge, Interrogator Luce Spinoza is equally compelling. A fish out of water, used to battlefields more than the confusion and flux of Terra, she is desperate to find her feet and to prove her own worth on her own terms.
Crowl's team are well defined and interesting. The sense and weight of each of them having stories and drives of their own is palpable.
Without giving too much away, I will say that Carrion Throne takes on a major plot point from the last edition of 40k, one that caused a great deal of speculation when it came into view with the Mechanicus releases. This particular plot nugget is a favourite of mine, and to see its ramifications dealt with was an utter joy.
The novel brims with subtle hints and revelations; asides, nods and winks to the Heresy and to the wider canon. Terra sometimes feels like a temple and a muesum, a vast gallery given over to prayer. Wraight deftly incises through the muck and grime, to show flickers of the great power, history and potential of the human species. In doing so, he creates one of the most timely, interesting and involved narratives we've seen of late in 40k. In a field of recent excellence, this book is to be commended for its drive, ambition and scope. I can only hope we see more of these characters going ahead.
I would be remiss if I also failed to mention that the Limited Edition of this book is a thing of beauty; wonderfully prepared and presented. The short story that accompanies it, "Sanguine", is part locked room mystery and part origin story of a favoured weapon (in a similar way to the story "Argent"). It was very compelling to dive back into Crowl's head, and to see a broadening of his circle, and an acknowledgement of his fundamental humanity. Even an Inquisitor can have friends, after all. The twist was deftly handled and very well executed.
Straight from the get-go we are flung into a compelling mystery which sprawls from the ruinous underhives to the heart of the Imperial Palace. Wraight renders Terra into a self-described "Gormenghast of the stars", awash with conspiracy. The Infinite City of the throneworld is artfully described, and feels utterly organic. It is one of the most sumptuously broken dystopic settings in a galaxy brimming with them. At one point Wraight beautifully describes how the "birthplace of humanity now squatted like some obscene, famished infant at the heart of its web of stellar kingdoms, ingesting the last dregs of energy out of the straggling fringes and gulping them down into greedy oblivion." This is the dark core of the setting, with as much of its own gravity as the Throne itself, which sits at the heart of everything- bending even the elements to its own inscrutable service.
Into this mystery are plunged two very compelling viewpoints. Inquisitor Crowl is an old hand, jaded and whimsical. He possesses a wry intellect and dry humour, a sufferance for and understanding of the Throneworld that his new protoge finds almost heretical. This protoge, Interrogator Luce Spinoza is equally compelling. A fish out of water, used to battlefields more than the confusion and flux of Terra, she is desperate to find her feet and to prove her own worth on her own terms.
Crowl's team are well defined and interesting. The sense and weight of each of them having stories and drives of their own is palpable.
Without giving too much away, I will say that Carrion Throne takes on a major plot point from the last edition of 40k, one that caused a great deal of speculation when it came into view with the Mechanicus releases. This particular plot nugget is a favourite of mine, and to see its ramifications dealt with was an utter joy.
The novel brims with subtle hints and revelations; asides, nods and winks to the Heresy and to the wider canon. Terra sometimes feels like a temple and a muesum, a vast gallery given over to prayer. Wraight deftly incises through the muck and grime, to show flickers of the great power, history and potential of the human species. In doing so, he creates one of the most timely, interesting and involved narratives we've seen of late in 40k. In a field of recent excellence, this book is to be commended for its drive, ambition and scope. I can only hope we see more of these characters going ahead.
I would be remiss if I also failed to mention that the Limited Edition of this book is a thing of beauty; wonderfully prepared and presented. The short story that accompanies it, "Sanguine", is part locked room mystery and part origin story of a favoured weapon (in a similar way to the story "Argent"). It was very compelling to dive back into Crowl's head, and to see a broadening of his circle, and an acknowledgement of his fundamental humanity. Even an Inquisitor can have friends, after all. The twist was deftly handled and very well executed.
May 1, 2017
Abbati, medico, patronoque intima pande
(Do not keep secrets from your clergyman, your physician, or your patron).
Chris Wraight has made it again. Another book with the soul has been given to us for dissect. And to be honest - that's first novel in a long while which wasn't solely focused on fighting and war. That's a story focused on Inquisition and what most important - that's a story about Inquisition written by mister 'awesome writing' Chris Wraight himself. And even more - it has it's roote's in the new Gathering Storm setting of 40K. The Carrion Throne gets into the seedy underbelly of the Throneworld, Terra itself, at the end of the 41st millennium!
Before we go for the meat of the novel I want to mention that you will get an upgraded view on the The Carrion Throne if you would find and read two prequel stories for the novel. One is called 'Ardent' and focused on one of the main/secondary characters - interrogator Spinoza and how she went to wield her weapon in the first place. The second - is an exclusive story 'Sanguine' which is included into the Limited Edition variant of the novel. Both are very short - but in the core they are much more than simply a fan-service, as usually goes with Chris. Which only shows the reader again how prominent the author has become since his first BL novel.
Plot/narrative/style
As far as the synopsis goes it follows Inquisitor Crowl, who serves on Holy Terra itself, who follows the trail of a conspiracy that leads him to the corridors of the Imperial Palace itself… With all the attending secondary characters and plot lines. Let's get to the meat of it. In the hellish sprawl of Imperial Terra, Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Erasmus Crowl serves as a stalwart and vigilant protector, for even the Throneworld is not immune to the predations of its enemies. In the course of his Emperor-sworn duty, Crowl becomes embroiled in a dark conspiracy, one that leads all the way to the halls of the Imperial Palace. As he plunges deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the many palace districts, his investigation attracts the attention of hidden forces, and soon he and his acolyte Spinoza are being hunted – by heretics, xenos, servants of the Dark Powers, or perhaps even rival elements of the Inquisition itself. Soon they discover a terrible truth, one that if allowed to get out could undermine the very fabric of the Imperium itself.
Beginning of the story is truly a splendid one. As a masterful writer and a person who can do adverts Chris Wraight gives us one of the best beginnings for the novel in a long while since 'I was where .... Horus killed the Emperor':
Say nothing, listen with utmost care,’ he said. ‘You understand me. You are in danger – you know this. You can see the tools against the far wall. But do not look at them. Look at me
After that the story moves very slowly - making way to exploration of Inquisition and Throneworld itself. A place of disgust, degradation, stagnation, broken things and pious piligrimage with the bottomless holiness in it's bones.
Further up the story is truly well paced, every scene is exactly as it should be. With each further page it goes in it's scope and speed alea iacta est (the die is cast indeed).
And through it all we have an awesome descriptive writing style of Chris Wraight.
He is a true master of a word. What he gave us in each chapter - is the view of a Throneworld from a different angle. And his description is beyond godlike:
«Terra. Holy Terra, marvel of the galaxy, heart of wonder. No jewel shone more brightly, no canker was more foul. At its nexus met the fears and glories of a species, rammed tight within the spires and the vaults, the pits and the hab-warrens. Spoil-grey, scored and crusted with the contamination and majesty of ten long millennia, a shrine world that glowed with a billion fires, a tomb that clutched its buried souls close. All the planet’s natural beauty had long since been scrubbed from its face, replaced by the layers upon layers of a single, creeping hyper-city. The sprawl blotted out the once-great oceans and the long-hewn forests under suffocating mountains of rockcrete and plasteel, tangled and decaying and renewed and rebuilt until the accretions stretched unbroken from the deepest chasms to the exalted heights.
No part of that world was free of the hand of man. Viewed from space, the planet’s night-shrouded hemisphere glittered with constellations of neon and sulphur, while its sunlit hemisphere gasped in a hot haze of pale grey. Its skies were clogged with voidcraft and lifters, packed with the manufactures and commodities that kept the teeming world from starving itself. With those commodities came living bodies – pilgrims by the million, products of a migration that never ended, bringing souls from across the vastness of space whose only wish was to live long enough to reach the sacred precincts of the Palace itself; to somehow endure the crowds and the hardship and the myriad predators that circled them for just one glimpse, even the smallest, of the golden towers portrayed in the Ecclesiarchy vid-picts, before they died in rapture.»
And on and on it goes...
All in all - Chris has made a truly admirable job linking he start and the end of a novel. Like Uroboros it's constant and eating it's own tail.
You need to read The Carrion Throne to get the full story for yourself. I will not provide spoilers - partly cause it's being a 'part detective story'. But I will say that ending would be to your satisfaction (for most of the fans). Especially if you will remember that the story will have a continuation further on in another novel.
Plus Chris Wraight masterfully uses snippets from other BL authors (which make you smile a lot while reading something here like 'awry' or 'feth' from some
Dan Abnett books) :)
Characters
The characters are truly alive with believable motivation to their actions. Author used his usual dynamic to create a consistent development throughout the book.
But the true main character of this novel is not the Inquisition as an organization (through it feels like it's own character) and not mister Crowl himself. The main character of The Carrion Throne is Throneworld. Mighty Terra, Hyper-city itself.
And as I mentioned above - it's character building and description are beyond compare.
Another alive main character - inquisitor Crowl will make you like him through his own seriousness and problem solving. Yes - he is a harsh person to like or work with. He is a man of fewer words and a man whose road leads to 'here be dragons'. But that makes him interesting and curious enough to root for.
Spinoza - secondary main character that truly shows the greatness of Chris Wraight as a character builder. Not only she is likeable and easy to root for. She is also show the gap between and inside the Inquisition in general and Ordos in particular. With her views on the Galaxy as a Schola kid and tutelage student of a crusading Inquisitor - he views Terra, the throneworld for what it is. A place of holiness, a place of death and stagnation.
Another as you could say - main character is a ghost of the past. An augmetic-encrusted servo-skull of the 'ghost' to Crowl Pavl which speaks abbreviated latin makes for the hilarious compatriot : 'Phylum tertius. Tut, tut...Numeroso. Dally not.' :) Which makes humor entries into the serious story to make you smile a bit and show the fruitness of the setting where nothing go to recycle. Everything is salvaged and reused. And that's one of the cornerstones of the W40K on itself.
Every person or 'unit' in this novel feels alive and that's one of the best characteristics of Chris Wraight as an awesome author.
(Probably except for the lone Custodian - but we will have a fully focused novel on him at the end of a year, so I think we will dive into his character in it)
etc.
Cons
It wouldn't have been me if I haven't given a portion of critic for the novel. After all bene diagnoscitur, bene curatur(well diagnosed, well cured).
Main critic is about the point where the novel fails in Acta non verba (actions, not words). It's trying to be a detective/sci-fi/theological/ war story but fails to delivery a proper range of actions to each of the ways. Instead of some specific range what we have is a hybrid of a lot of genre's. It's trying to hard to be something specific but in the end it is a hybrid (through a solid one). But as a general W40K book and a character/world building one it is amazing.
That's not a masterpiece like The Path of Heaven - but an amazing novel in itself.
Next portion of critic - sometimes the steps to actions are not motivated the way they should be.
As a detective story linked to a mystery sometimes it feels flat. And author who has shown us that he could write and epic battle scenes has written some here - but not one of them are so memorable as his scenes from The Path of Heaven or 'Scars' or War of the Fang.
Custodes character and overall plot is a bit too thin. The revelations actually wouldn't be a surprise for the fans who read Gathering Storm campaign fluff and theories of Emperor's Rebirth.
Score
As a well written W40K story combined with awesome author's writing style and ability breath 'life' into stagnant Terra as a Throneworld I will give it 4,5 out of 5 stars.
In his next novel in the setting which appears to be focused on one particular Custodes character I hope to see a more 'genre specific' story and a lot more enthusiastic action scenes. And how 'Gathering Storm' affected Custodes strategic doctrine outside the Throneworld.
Chris Wraight thank you for the amazing read and can't wait to read your next adventure.
(Do not keep secrets from your clergyman, your physician, or your patron).
Chris Wraight has made it again. Another book with the soul has been given to us for dissect. And to be honest - that's first novel in a long while which wasn't solely focused on fighting and war. That's a story focused on Inquisition and what most important - that's a story about Inquisition written by mister 'awesome writing' Chris Wraight himself. And even more - it has it's roote's in the new Gathering Storm setting of 40K. The Carrion Throne gets into the seedy underbelly of the Throneworld, Terra itself, at the end of the 41st millennium!
Before we go for the meat of the novel I want to mention that you will get an upgraded view on the The Carrion Throne if you would find and read two prequel stories for the novel. One is called 'Ardent' and focused on one of the main/secondary characters - interrogator Spinoza and how she went to wield her weapon in the first place. The second - is an exclusive story 'Sanguine' which is included into the Limited Edition variant of the novel. Both are very short - but in the core they are much more than simply a fan-service, as usually goes with Chris. Which only shows the reader again how prominent the author has become since his first BL novel.
Plot/narrative/style
As far as the synopsis goes it follows Inquisitor Crowl, who serves on Holy Terra itself, who follows the trail of a conspiracy that leads him to the corridors of the Imperial Palace itself… With all the attending secondary characters and plot lines. Let's get to the meat of it. In the hellish sprawl of Imperial Terra, Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Erasmus Crowl serves as a stalwart and vigilant protector, for even the Throneworld is not immune to the predations of its enemies. In the course of his Emperor-sworn duty, Crowl becomes embroiled in a dark conspiracy, one that leads all the way to the halls of the Imperial Palace. As he plunges deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the many palace districts, his investigation attracts the attention of hidden forces, and soon he and his acolyte Spinoza are being hunted – by heretics, xenos, servants of the Dark Powers, or perhaps even rival elements of the Inquisition itself. Soon they discover a terrible truth, one that if allowed to get out could undermine the very fabric of the Imperium itself.
Beginning of the story is truly a splendid one. As a masterful writer and a person who can do adverts Chris Wraight gives us one of the best beginnings for the novel in a long while since 'I was where .... Horus killed the Emperor':
Say nothing, listen with utmost care,’ he said. ‘You understand me. You are in danger – you know this. You can see the tools against the far wall. But do not look at them. Look at me
After that the story moves very slowly - making way to exploration of Inquisition and Throneworld itself. A place of disgust, degradation, stagnation, broken things and pious piligrimage with the bottomless holiness in it's bones.
Further up the story is truly well paced, every scene is exactly as it should be. With each further page it goes in it's scope and speed alea iacta est (the die is cast indeed).
And through it all we have an awesome descriptive writing style of Chris Wraight.
He is a true master of a word. What he gave us in each chapter - is the view of a Throneworld from a different angle. And his description is beyond godlike:
«Terra. Holy Terra, marvel of the galaxy, heart of wonder. No jewel shone more brightly, no canker was more foul. At its nexus met the fears and glories of a species, rammed tight within the spires and the vaults, the pits and the hab-warrens. Spoil-grey, scored and crusted with the contamination and majesty of ten long millennia, a shrine world that glowed with a billion fires, a tomb that clutched its buried souls close. All the planet’s natural beauty had long since been scrubbed from its face, replaced by the layers upon layers of a single, creeping hyper-city. The sprawl blotted out the once-great oceans and the long-hewn forests under suffocating mountains of rockcrete and plasteel, tangled and decaying and renewed and rebuilt until the accretions stretched unbroken from the deepest chasms to the exalted heights.
No part of that world was free of the hand of man. Viewed from space, the planet’s night-shrouded hemisphere glittered with constellations of neon and sulphur, while its sunlit hemisphere gasped in a hot haze of pale grey. Its skies were clogged with voidcraft and lifters, packed with the manufactures and commodities that kept the teeming world from starving itself. With those commodities came living bodies – pilgrims by the million, products of a migration that never ended, bringing souls from across the vastness of space whose only wish was to live long enough to reach the sacred precincts of the Palace itself; to somehow endure the crowds and the hardship and the myriad predators that circled them for just one glimpse, even the smallest, of the golden towers portrayed in the Ecclesiarchy vid-picts, before they died in rapture.»
And on and on it goes...
All in all - Chris has made a truly admirable job linking he start and the end of a novel. Like Uroboros it's constant and eating it's own tail.
You need to read The Carrion Throne to get the full story for yourself. I will not provide spoilers - partly cause it's being a 'part detective story'. But I will say that ending would be to your satisfaction (for most of the fans). Especially if you will remember that the story will have a continuation further on in another novel.
Plus Chris Wraight masterfully uses snippets from other BL authors (which make you smile a lot while reading something here like 'awry' or 'feth' from some
Dan Abnett books) :)
Characters
The characters are truly alive with believable motivation to their actions. Author used his usual dynamic to create a consistent development throughout the book.
But the true main character of this novel is not the Inquisition as an organization (through it feels like it's own character) and not mister Crowl himself. The main character of The Carrion Throne is Throneworld. Mighty Terra, Hyper-city itself.
And as I mentioned above - it's character building and description are beyond compare.
Another alive main character - inquisitor Crowl will make you like him through his own seriousness and problem solving. Yes - he is a harsh person to like or work with. He is a man of fewer words and a man whose road leads to 'here be dragons'. But that makes him interesting and curious enough to root for.
Spinoza - secondary main character that truly shows the greatness of Chris Wraight as a character builder. Not only she is likeable and easy to root for. She is also show the gap between and inside the Inquisition in general and Ordos in particular. With her views on the Galaxy as a Schola kid and tutelage student of a crusading Inquisitor - he views Terra, the throneworld for what it is. A place of holiness, a place of death and stagnation.
Another as you could say - main character is a ghost of the past. An augmetic-encrusted servo-skull of the 'ghost' to Crowl Pavl which speaks abbreviated latin makes for the hilarious compatriot : 'Phylum tertius. Tut, tut...Numeroso. Dally not.' :) Which makes humor entries into the serious story to make you smile a bit and show the fruitness of the setting where nothing go to recycle. Everything is salvaged and reused. And that's one of the cornerstones of the W40K on itself.
Every person or 'unit' in this novel feels alive and that's one of the best characteristics of Chris Wraight as an awesome author.
(Probably except for the lone Custodian - but we will have a fully focused novel on him at the end of a year, so I think we will dive into his character in it)
etc.
Cons
It wouldn't have been me if I haven't given a portion of critic for the novel. After all bene diagnoscitur, bene curatur(well diagnosed, well cured).
Main critic is about the point where the novel fails in Acta non verba (actions, not words). It's trying to be a detective/sci-fi/theological/ war story but fails to delivery a proper range of actions to each of the ways. Instead of some specific range what we have is a hybrid of a lot of genre's. It's trying to hard to be something specific but in the end it is a hybrid (through a solid one). But as a general W40K book and a character/world building one it is amazing.
That's not a masterpiece like The Path of Heaven - but an amazing novel in itself.
Next portion of critic - sometimes the steps to actions are not motivated the way they should be.
As a detective story linked to a mystery sometimes it feels flat. And author who has shown us that he could write and epic battle scenes has written some here - but not one of them are so memorable as his scenes from The Path of Heaven or 'Scars' or War of the Fang.
Custodes character and overall plot is a bit too thin. The revelations actually wouldn't be a surprise for the fans who read Gathering Storm campaign fluff and theories of Emperor's Rebirth.
Score
As a well written W40K story combined with awesome author's writing style and ability breath 'life' into stagnant Terra as a Throneworld I will give it 4,5 out of 5 stars.
In his next novel in the setting which appears to be focused on one particular Custodes character I hope to see a more 'genre specific' story and a lot more enthusiastic action scenes. And how 'Gathering Storm' affected Custodes strategic doctrine outside the Throneworld.
Chris Wraight thank you for the amazing read and can't wait to read your next adventure.
May 5, 2020
I'm interested in the doings of the Imperial Palace, and I'm interested in the Inquisition. This book gives us Inquisitors working in the Palace, or at least its environs.
If you've seen the fan-film "The Lord Inquisitor: Prologue", that's a *Disneyfied* version of the hot, stifling, depressing hellscape that is Holy Terra.
Chris Wraight is one of my favourite Black Library writers, and he took the subject matter for which I bought the book and did not disappoint me.
Oh yeah, and it's a holiday story too.
If you've seen the fan-film "The Lord Inquisitor: Prologue", that's a *Disneyfied* version of the hot, stifling, depressing hellscape that is Holy Terra.
Chris Wraight is one of my favourite Black Library writers, and he took the subject matter for which I bought the book and did not disappoint me.
Oh yeah, and it's a holiday story too.
October 15, 2024
I have the same feeling of living in another reality as when I watched the first episode of Andor after hearing nothing but thoughtful and engaging praise for it...
I love Chris Wraight, and his Sanguinius Primarchs novel is one of my favourite Black Library books and is probably the most perfect encapsulation of the Horus Heresy and/ to Warhammer 40,000 transition and vibe, but I truly did not care for this at all.
I think it's very clear from my reading of the Horus Heresy that I love character-driven, emotionally resonant narratives with mythic and epic allusions and moments, and I don't get on well with plot-driven, intrigue and action-focused stories. In the latter there's just nothing for my brain to latch on to or care about, so the audiobook was like listening to whalesong.
I nearly gave this three because it's competently written enough, there are a few interesting details, and the concept is interesting, but I really didn't enjoy this at all and it feels like one of the least interesting or driven by a need to be set on Terra, as opposed to Coruscant or any other universe that I've read.
I'm very much in the minority on this so your mileage may seriously vary. Just
I love Chris Wraight, and his Sanguinius Primarchs novel is one of my favourite Black Library books and is probably the most perfect encapsulation of the Horus Heresy and/ to Warhammer 40,000 transition and vibe, but I truly did not care for this at all.
I think it's very clear from my reading of the Horus Heresy that I love character-driven, emotionally resonant narratives with mythic and epic allusions and moments, and I don't get on well with plot-driven, intrigue and action-focused stories. In the latter there's just nothing for my brain to latch on to or care about, so the audiobook was like listening to whalesong.
I nearly gave this three because it's competently written enough, there are a few interesting details, and the concept is interesting, but I really didn't enjoy this at all and it feels like one of the least interesting or driven by a need to be set on Terra, as opposed to Coruscant or any other universe that I've read.
I'm very much in the minority on this so your mileage may seriously vary. Just
June 17, 2019
I just love dystopic, futuristic cities and Wraight takes it to gleefully grotesque levels. And extra points for passing the Bechdel test with flying colors and featuring female characters who are kickass, competent, and not sexy fanservice.
February 4, 2018
This one really had me from the first page. As a GM for the Dark Heresy RPG, wherein Acolytes serve an Inquisitor and all the various and sundry adventures and life threatening danger they constantly are involved in are a daily occurrence, this book resonates.
The story here takes place on Holy Terra, with the Interrogator, Luce Spinoza being assigned to her new Inquisitor. Her latest superior was killed in action and she was elected to serve a new Inquisitor, Crowl. He is an interesting figure, having been there and done that, in many places across the Imperium of Man. Spinoza is cold and unsure of her place, having never been to Terra, but Crowl takes her in with cool assurance and assigns her, tests her immediately to task. A cult following a figure called the False Angel has taken up in the sub-hives. This has begun to be a problem and has to be dealt with. There is lots of word amongst the menials and the implications of the cult are dangerous and far reaching. Crowl and Spinoza, as well as other members of Crowl's retinue begin to dig, and the rabbit hole opens up before them.
Crowl runs afoul of a Custodian, who appears after Crowl attacks an Adeptus Arbites fortress in the upper hive. He has never seen an Adeptus Custodes, who are the Emperor's personal bodyguard, and who almost never leave the Imperial Palace. This in itself is strange, and Crowl eventually is taken into the Custodes' trust and shown things that reaffirm his belief in the Golden Throne and He Who Reigns.
A terrible plot causes Crowl to also run into armed conflict with the Mechanicus, while he is searching for connections to a cargo in a ship explored in Terra's space, resulting in its setting to self destruct. Layers upon layers of deceit and lies and subterfuge come to a head while Crowl and Spinoza, fighting on two different fronts, discover the true threat in the form of a Xenos plot. The culmination brings in a squad of Custodes to aid in the destruction of the Xenos threat, and the proximity to the Emperor is beyond imagining by the tim all is said and done.
I have been purposefully vague in a lot of describing this story because its simply that good! The characters are wonderfully portrayed and the story with its plots and switchbacks is masterfully written. I read a lot of 40K books, comics and graphic novels. This one ranks up there with my favorites from the Horus Heresy and Gaunt's Ghosts. An absolute must read for 40K readers and fans. Get this now and devour it!
Danny
The story here takes place on Holy Terra, with the Interrogator, Luce Spinoza being assigned to her new Inquisitor. Her latest superior was killed in action and she was elected to serve a new Inquisitor, Crowl. He is an interesting figure, having been there and done that, in many places across the Imperium of Man. Spinoza is cold and unsure of her place, having never been to Terra, but Crowl takes her in with cool assurance and assigns her, tests her immediately to task. A cult following a figure called the False Angel has taken up in the sub-hives. This has begun to be a problem and has to be dealt with. There is lots of word amongst the menials and the implications of the cult are dangerous and far reaching. Crowl and Spinoza, as well as other members of Crowl's retinue begin to dig, and the rabbit hole opens up before them.
Crowl runs afoul of a Custodian, who appears after Crowl attacks an Adeptus Arbites fortress in the upper hive. He has never seen an Adeptus Custodes, who are the Emperor's personal bodyguard, and who almost never leave the Imperial Palace. This in itself is strange, and Crowl eventually is taken into the Custodes' trust and shown things that reaffirm his belief in the Golden Throne and He Who Reigns.
A terrible plot causes Crowl to also run into armed conflict with the Mechanicus, while he is searching for connections to a cargo in a ship explored in Terra's space, resulting in its setting to self destruct. Layers upon layers of deceit and lies and subterfuge come to a head while Crowl and Spinoza, fighting on two different fronts, discover the true threat in the form of a Xenos plot. The culmination brings in a squad of Custodes to aid in the destruction of the Xenos threat, and the proximity to the Emperor is beyond imagining by the tim all is said and done.
I have been purposefully vague in a lot of describing this story because its simply that good! The characters are wonderfully portrayed and the story with its plots and switchbacks is masterfully written. I read a lot of 40K books, comics and graphic novels. This one ranks up there with my favorites from the Horus Heresy and Gaunt's Ghosts. An absolute must read for 40K readers and fans. Get this now and devour it!
Danny
July 26, 2017
When I learned that this book was upcoming, I was interested in it because it featured a story concerning the Inquisition and taking place on Terra. The moment I saw the preview picture of the cover, I realized that it would also concern the Adeptus Custodes- a faction that I find extremely interesting, and one that to my knowledge hadn't featured in any 40k literature (as opposed to the Heresy Series). I am glad to say that their introduction to the 40k stage was successful and impressive.
The primary driving action of the story concerns Inquisitor Crowl and his apprentice, Interrogator Spinoza, and their various servants as they attempt to unravel a conspiracy that could threaten the Imperial Palace, and thus the God-Emperor of Mankind himself. Both of the primary main characters are compelling, especially because of the contrast in their methods and worldview. Crowl has been working on Terra (a nasty, horrible, poverty-stricken, gilded, glorious place) for many years and his attitudes and beliefs have been shaped by it, while Spinoza is new to the Throneworld and initially has very idealistic ideas about it. I certainly hope to see further developments for both of these characters.
The fact that the Emperor could possibly be threatened leads to the involvement of the primary Adeptus Custodes character, who introduces himself as Navradaran. He is characterized very well, being as imposing and deadly as one of the greatest warriors of mankind should be, but he also shows a surprisingly soft side and seems to understand the human condition in the 40k universe. The narrative uses him sparingly, focusing much more on the Inquisition characters, but I felt he made an impact on the story well beyond the relatively few pages he appeared on. I hope this character returns in the upcoming "Watchers of the Throne", and that he brings his brutal presence with him.
I will not spoil how the solving of the conspiracy transpires, but I will state that any 40k fan should read this novel. It has some thought-provoking implications for the future of the narrative, and it did both the Inquisition and the Adeptus Custodes justice and then some. I now have another preferred Black Library author in Chris Wraight.
The primary driving action of the story concerns Inquisitor Crowl and his apprentice, Interrogator Spinoza, and their various servants as they attempt to unravel a conspiracy that could threaten the Imperial Palace, and thus the God-Emperor of Mankind himself. Both of the primary main characters are compelling, especially because of the contrast in their methods and worldview. Crowl has been working on Terra (a nasty, horrible, poverty-stricken, gilded, glorious place) for many years and his attitudes and beliefs have been shaped by it, while Spinoza is new to the Throneworld and initially has very idealistic ideas about it. I certainly hope to see further developments for both of these characters.
The fact that the Emperor could possibly be threatened leads to the involvement of the primary Adeptus Custodes character, who introduces himself as Navradaran. He is characterized very well, being as imposing and deadly as one of the greatest warriors of mankind should be, but he also shows a surprisingly soft side and seems to understand the human condition in the 40k universe. The narrative uses him sparingly, focusing much more on the Inquisition characters, but I felt he made an impact on the story well beyond the relatively few pages he appeared on. I hope this character returns in the upcoming "Watchers of the Throne", and that he brings his brutal presence with him.
I will not spoil how the solving of the conspiracy transpires, but I will state that any 40k fan should read this novel. It has some thought-provoking implications for the future of the narrative, and it did both the Inquisition and the Adeptus Custodes justice and then some. I now have another preferred Black Library author in Chris Wraight.
October 24, 2017
One gift given, another returned
The Carrion Throne is possibly the best 40k novel I ever read. Chris Wraight brought us through Terra and Ohh BOYhe didn't go cheap on us. He brought the Terra itself in the book. Its people, Its architecture, Its society, the culture. The details in this makes the imperium more alive than any 40k books I've read. The characters here is solid for me Finally a female character whose not overly attractive that actually kickass and not skinny bitch like all those YA girls we get plague right now and the best part they make a servo-skull likable.
ohh look a her. Look how friendly they actually are
The description is top notch here too:
You want a short paragraph that explain how imperial ships do their routine We got one here
You want to example how fuc-- I mean Grim Dark the lives of a servants and underhive citizens live on Terra We got one here
You want to know a Custodes looks like!
You wanna know what a Groquest looks like!!
You wanna know what a homuculi really looks like !!!
You want a full description of HOW THEY GUARD THE FUCKING GOLDEN THRONES We got one here
5 starts I really enjoyed this one and I hope for a sequel in the future.
The Carrion Throne is possibly the best 40k novel I ever read. Chris Wraight brought us through Terra and Ohh BOYhe didn't go cheap on us. He brought the Terra itself in the book. Its people, Its architecture, Its society, the culture. The details in this makes the imperium more alive than any 40k books I've read. The characters here is solid for me Finally a female character whose not overly attractive that actually kickass and not skinny bitch like all those YA girls we get plague right now and the best part they make a servo-skull likable.
ohh look a her. Look how friendly they actually are
The description is top notch here too:
You want a short paragraph that explain how imperial ships do their routine We got one here
You want to example how fuc-- I mean Grim Dark the lives of a servants and underhive citizens live on Terra We got one here
You want to know a Custodes looks like!
You wanna know what a Groquest looks like!!
You wanna know what a homuculi really looks like !!!
You want a full description of HOW THEY GUARD THE FUCKING GOLDEN THRONES We got one here
5 starts I really enjoyed this one and I hope for a sequel in the future.
June 22, 2017
Review also published here
The Carrion Throne is the kind of novel I've wanted Black Library to publish for years and years. I was honestly worried I'd be putting my expectations up too high - the announcement excited me like few Black Library releases had in recent years. But some things sound just a bit too good to be true, don't they? It has been a long time since BL had greenlit a proper, full-on Inquisition novel and now we're seeing two series kick off in 2017 (John French's Horusian Wars being the other). Fingers crossed that this would be good, then.
Spoiler: It was fantastic!
The novel delivered that sense of thick atmosphere of grit and intrigue that the setting has lacked a great deal in recent years, outside of some exceptions. There is no glorious war here, but plenty of misery under the vener of righteousness and piety. It is easy to think of Holy Terra, humanity's home and the God-Emperor's seat of power, as a jewel of the Imperium. Chris Wraight sets the record straight once and for all and makes it very clear that it is a terrible place to live for all but the elite few, including the Inquisition. People are afraid and driven to extremes, living off scraps and knowing little to no justice in life.
In a way, Wraight even leveled big criticisms against the Inquisition's modus operandi, both through his depictions of them in action and their hypocrisy throughout, but also by pitching Erasmus Crowl's philosophies against those of his new Interrogator, who previously served under a major hardliner. They clash in ideological ways, if not openly, which serves to keep things tense for the reader. It is easy to glorify the role of Inquisitors as the ultimate authority, the righteous gun to the head of heretics. The Carrion Throne explores the adverse effects of their creed in great detail and, by focusing on Interrogator Spinoza's shift from one master to another and all the uncertainties that come with it, forces the reader to reevaluate their views on the Inquisition's activities in more ways than one.
The bulk of the book is formed by two strings of investigation, one mainly led by Inquisitor Erasmus Crowl, the other taken over by Interrogator Luce Spinoza. As can be expected, both intertwine on various points, especially as the Sanguinala, a massive festivity on Terra, draws closer. As pilgrims once more swarm the hives of Holy Terra, misery grows stronger still and more subversive elements cause grief for the local law enforcement and Inquisition. What starts as a series of gruesome murders promises to endanger the Imperial Palace and the Sanguinala themselves. What better way to cause chaos than to bring down doom on millions of pilgrims in front of the Eternity Gate?
So Crowl and Spinoza are working against time, pursuing leads as to the killings while also looking for a missing Inquisitor, interrogating rogue traders, performing autopsies and infiltrating Mechanicus strongholds. I don't think we've ever seen as much of "modern" Terra as we do here. Not only does The Carrion Throne take us places on and around the planet, but it also showcases many walks of life on the Throneworld and the way their lives are governed by fear. I was particularly impressed by pious Spinoza's shock and disbelief at seeing a statue of a Space Marine defaced and demanding the crowds around her to show a similar reaction, only to realize they're numb to it all.
In other parts, it felt horrific with what supposed luxuries the people on Terra are somewhat content with, like living in tiny hab-units. Living plants are a miracle to this sorry lot and there is little light to illuminate the dark corridors of Terra's underbelly.
The two leading characters Crowl and Spinoza were brilliant to read about too. Their dynamics as new mentor and adopted student were unique and full of tension due to clashing philosophies. Crowl himself has a lot of depth to him, not all of which has been explored just yet. There's much that I'd love to see covered bit by bit in future novels. Spinoza meanwhile already had a short story, Argent, to showcase her time under her former master and how she got honored by the Imperial Fists. Her development in The Carrion Throne was spot on and potentially more satisfying than Crowl's, simply because of her own crisis of faith and overall doubts after coming to Terra, whereas Crowl has a long history in his role already and, having been on Terra for a long time, adjusted his methods.
Crowl's retinue was, dare I say it, about as compelling as Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn retinue. Only of few of them were along for the ride for a substantial amount of time, but even the short scenes we got of some, like archivist once-Yulia Huk, are hard-hitting sections. It was compelling seeing her role in things and how both Spinoza and later Eresmus interact with her. There was a level of sadness there, of longing, that made Eisenhorn's group feel more happy-go-lucky than expected. Crowl's storm trooper captain Revus may not smile much, but his fierce dedication to the job and attitude complemented the Inquisitor's own tremendously well. Comedic relief comes in the form of sergeant Hegain, whose exchanges with Spinoza first felt a bit cringey due to the acolyte's stiffness, but opened up a good deal as characters developed and grew closer.
In my opinion, Wraight created a cast of characters that work exceptionally well together and are compelling to follow around, one and all. There was nobody I didn't care for in some capacity or wanted to learn more about. Each and every one of them deserves further exploration, whether in future novels or short stories like Argent.
The involvement of the Custodians had me excited and anxious both, seeing how Games Workshop had just printed rules for use of the Emperor's personal guard on the tabletop when they had been a defensive, reclusive force for the past 10,000 years. I was afraid that we'd be seeing a lot of them in action where they - in my opinion - do not belong. To my utmost relief, Wraight did not do that at all. In fact, I was surprised that they even relented to do as much as they did, which, until the climax, wasn't much beyond dialogue with Inquisitor Crowl.
On top of that I enjoyed the way these golden defenders of the Throne were presented, mainly through their "leader" Navradaran. In his interactions with Crowl it easily becomes apparent that his cohort have been very disconnected from the Imperium at large. They still maintain their exceptional martial prowess and intimidating presence, but their eyes are turned inward towards the Emperor's inner sanctum. In fact, Navradaran was the first Custodian Crowl had encountered or even heard of venturing outside the Palace's inner wards. His attitude and situation serve to strengthen what was known about the Custodes from a lore standpoint while making them as awe-inspiring as they needed to be here.
This is exactly what the novel needed to show. This book, for all its talk of glorious victories of ages past, the breathtaking views of the Imperial Palace, the sheer unlimited authority of the Inquisition, is one of vicious contrasts. While the wider Imperium reveres Holy Terra and considers life there a sign of immense status and luck, reality is a punch in the gut.
I cannot remember a book that has fleshed out the Imperium's society on a similar level since Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn and Ravenor novels. I guess it really is down to the Inquisition books to deal with the gritty details of these things. Even beyond the dynamic plot developments, Wraight managed to fill his book with little pieces of fluff. For example, there's a book mentioned alongside others called "My Wish to Generate Children with You is Only Exceeded by My Devotion to Him"! Nevermind what the Sanguinala brings to the table to shape Imperial culture, or the fantastic retinue Crowl has serving under him. It covers all the things I wanted out of this book.
It boggles my mind that it took Black Library this long to once again publish a novel of this caliber. The setting needs this in many ways rather cynical look at the Imperium's self-righteous hypocrisies. Seeing how well the Warhammer 40,000 universe has lent itself to this style of content featuring Inquisitors and their retinues in the past, I am happy to see its like back in production. But even aside from my relief in those regards, I still believe that Chris Wraight has truly outdone himself here and written one of his best books to date in The Carrion Throne.
Now, excuse me while I try to convince some friends to join me for a session of Fantasy Flight Games' Dark Heresy Pen & Paper Roleplaying Game (which the license expired on so FFG isn't selling it anymore, of course). I've been wanting to do that for years, but this novel has certainly increased my desire for more Inquisition adventures by a tenfold...
The Carrion Throne is the kind of novel I've wanted Black Library to publish for years and years. I was honestly worried I'd be putting my expectations up too high - the announcement excited me like few Black Library releases had in recent years. But some things sound just a bit too good to be true, don't they? It has been a long time since BL had greenlit a proper, full-on Inquisition novel and now we're seeing two series kick off in 2017 (John French's Horusian Wars being the other). Fingers crossed that this would be good, then.
Spoiler: It was fantastic!
The novel delivered that sense of thick atmosphere of grit and intrigue that the setting has lacked a great deal in recent years, outside of some exceptions. There is no glorious war here, but plenty of misery under the vener of righteousness and piety. It is easy to think of Holy Terra, humanity's home and the God-Emperor's seat of power, as a jewel of the Imperium. Chris Wraight sets the record straight once and for all and makes it very clear that it is a terrible place to live for all but the elite few, including the Inquisition. People are afraid and driven to extremes, living off scraps and knowing little to no justice in life.
In a way, Wraight even leveled big criticisms against the Inquisition's modus operandi, both through his depictions of them in action and their hypocrisy throughout, but also by pitching Erasmus Crowl's philosophies against those of his new Interrogator, who previously served under a major hardliner. They clash in ideological ways, if not openly, which serves to keep things tense for the reader. It is easy to glorify the role of Inquisitors as the ultimate authority, the righteous gun to the head of heretics. The Carrion Throne explores the adverse effects of their creed in great detail and, by focusing on Interrogator Spinoza's shift from one master to another and all the uncertainties that come with it, forces the reader to reevaluate their views on the Inquisition's activities in more ways than one.
The bulk of the book is formed by two strings of investigation, one mainly led by Inquisitor Erasmus Crowl, the other taken over by Interrogator Luce Spinoza. As can be expected, both intertwine on various points, especially as the Sanguinala, a massive festivity on Terra, draws closer. As pilgrims once more swarm the hives of Holy Terra, misery grows stronger still and more subversive elements cause grief for the local law enforcement and Inquisition. What starts as a series of gruesome murders promises to endanger the Imperial Palace and the Sanguinala themselves. What better way to cause chaos than to bring down doom on millions of pilgrims in front of the Eternity Gate?
So Crowl and Spinoza are working against time, pursuing leads as to the killings while also looking for a missing Inquisitor, interrogating rogue traders, performing autopsies and infiltrating Mechanicus strongholds. I don't think we've ever seen as much of "modern" Terra as we do here. Not only does The Carrion Throne take us places on and around the planet, but it also showcases many walks of life on the Throneworld and the way their lives are governed by fear. I was particularly impressed by pious Spinoza's shock and disbelief at seeing a statue of a Space Marine defaced and demanding the crowds around her to show a similar reaction, only to realize they're numb to it all.
In other parts, it felt horrific with what supposed luxuries the people on Terra are somewhat content with, like living in tiny hab-units. Living plants are a miracle to this sorry lot and there is little light to illuminate the dark corridors of Terra's underbelly.
The two leading characters Crowl and Spinoza were brilliant to read about too. Their dynamics as new mentor and adopted student were unique and full of tension due to clashing philosophies. Crowl himself has a lot of depth to him, not all of which has been explored just yet. There's much that I'd love to see covered bit by bit in future novels. Spinoza meanwhile already had a short story, Argent, to showcase her time under her former master and how she got honored by the Imperial Fists. Her development in The Carrion Throne was spot on and potentially more satisfying than Crowl's, simply because of her own crisis of faith and overall doubts after coming to Terra, whereas Crowl has a long history in his role already and, having been on Terra for a long time, adjusted his methods.
Crowl's retinue was, dare I say it, about as compelling as Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn retinue. Only of few of them were along for the ride for a substantial amount of time, but even the short scenes we got of some, like archivist once-Yulia Huk, are hard-hitting sections. It was compelling seeing her role in things and how both Spinoza and later Eresmus interact with her. There was a level of sadness there, of longing, that made Eisenhorn's group feel more happy-go-lucky than expected. Crowl's storm trooper captain Revus may not smile much, but his fierce dedication to the job and attitude complemented the Inquisitor's own tremendously well. Comedic relief comes in the form of sergeant Hegain, whose exchanges with Spinoza first felt a bit cringey due to the acolyte's stiffness, but opened up a good deal as characters developed and grew closer.
In my opinion, Wraight created a cast of characters that work exceptionally well together and are compelling to follow around, one and all. There was nobody I didn't care for in some capacity or wanted to learn more about. Each and every one of them deserves further exploration, whether in future novels or short stories like Argent.
The involvement of the Custodians had me excited and anxious both, seeing how Games Workshop had just printed rules for use of the Emperor's personal guard on the tabletop when they had been a defensive, reclusive force for the past 10,000 years. I was afraid that we'd be seeing a lot of them in action where they - in my opinion - do not belong. To my utmost relief, Wraight did not do that at all. In fact, I was surprised that they even relented to do as much as they did, which, until the climax, wasn't much beyond dialogue with Inquisitor Crowl.
On top of that I enjoyed the way these golden defenders of the Throne were presented, mainly through their "leader" Navradaran. In his interactions with Crowl it easily becomes apparent that his cohort have been very disconnected from the Imperium at large. They still maintain their exceptional martial prowess and intimidating presence, but their eyes are turned inward towards the Emperor's inner sanctum. In fact, Navradaran was the first Custodian Crowl had encountered or even heard of venturing outside the Palace's inner wards. His attitude and situation serve to strengthen what was known about the Custodes from a lore standpoint while making them as awe-inspiring as they needed to be here.
This is exactly what the novel needed to show. This book, for all its talk of glorious victories of ages past, the breathtaking views of the Imperial Palace, the sheer unlimited authority of the Inquisition, is one of vicious contrasts. While the wider Imperium reveres Holy Terra and considers life there a sign of immense status and luck, reality is a punch in the gut.
I cannot remember a book that has fleshed out the Imperium's society on a similar level since Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn and Ravenor novels. I guess it really is down to the Inquisition books to deal with the gritty details of these things. Even beyond the dynamic plot developments, Wraight managed to fill his book with little pieces of fluff. For example, there's a book mentioned alongside others called "My Wish to Generate Children with You is Only Exceeded by My Devotion to Him"! Nevermind what the Sanguinala brings to the table to shape Imperial culture, or the fantastic retinue Crowl has serving under him. It covers all the things I wanted out of this book.
It boggles my mind that it took Black Library this long to once again publish a novel of this caliber. The setting needs this in many ways rather cynical look at the Imperium's self-righteous hypocrisies. Seeing how well the Warhammer 40,000 universe has lent itself to this style of content featuring Inquisitors and their retinues in the past, I am happy to see its like back in production. But even aside from my relief in those regards, I still believe that Chris Wraight has truly outdone himself here and written one of his best books to date in The Carrion Throne.
Now, excuse me while I try to convince some friends to join me for a session of Fantasy Flight Games' Dark Heresy Pen & Paper Roleplaying Game (which the license expired on so FFG isn't selling it anymore, of course). I've been wanting to do that for years, but this novel has certainly increased my desire for more Inquisition adventures by a tenfold...
January 11, 2024
Genuinely one of the best 40k books I ve read. Wraight cements his place with Abnett and ADB as truly elite Black Library author. Part detective story, part thriller, part horror, a book I genuinely did not want to put down. A great plot with great characters, fleshed out and well-written, together with expertly-worded sections that paint a truly hellish picture of life in the 41st millennium. Wraight perfectly and fearlessly captures the decay of splendour and the rotting of the imperium, truly grimdark, and thats before the story starts. Cant wait to read the 2nd book in the series.
August 12, 2021
I've been a Warhammer 40,000 fan for 25 years, over that quarter-century, I can safely say my mind has been concerned with this fictional universe at least once a day. Consequently, good and great fiction set in thet universe has the possibility to grasp and shake me like few other fictions ever will.
This work is great fiction. Toweringly great. Cyclopean. Holy Terra - Earth - the cradle of mankind, a vast heaving termite hill of debased humanity, an endlessly draining vampire of lifeblood and soul at the centre of a vicious, paranoid, hypocritical galaxy-spanning empire; a place of infinite regret and thwarted ambition, where the dead-but-living God not-God sits in glory and splendour amidst the ruin of his dreams. I've been there, and felt this world in my lungs and under my feet, due to this book.
When the moment came, and this work cast aside its last veils of mystery, I gawped and gasped aloud. I said "heresy", not as a knowing wink at the expense of the blinkered, fearful, and xenophobic mindset Warhammer 40,000 satirises so completely, but from a part of my true self, that little bit of me that has, for 25 years, lived in the Imperium, and was shaken to its core by the revelation.
Great fiction.
This work is great fiction. Toweringly great. Cyclopean. Holy Terra - Earth - the cradle of mankind, a vast heaving termite hill of debased humanity, an endlessly draining vampire of lifeblood and soul at the centre of a vicious, paranoid, hypocritical galaxy-spanning empire; a place of infinite regret and thwarted ambition, where the dead-but-living God not-God sits in glory and splendour amidst the ruin of his dreams. I've been there, and felt this world in my lungs and under my feet, due to this book.
When the moment came, and this work cast aside its last veils of mystery, I gawped and gasped aloud. I said "heresy", not as a knowing wink at the expense of the blinkered, fearful, and xenophobic mindset Warhammer 40,000 satirises so completely, but from a part of my true self, that little bit of me that has, for 25 years, lived in the Imperium, and was shaken to its core by the revelation.
Great fiction.
August 4, 2022
This offers a welcome return to Inquisition stories, featuring Inquisitor Erasmus Crowl and Interrogator Luce Spinoza as they work to root out a dangerous cult deep within the heart of the throneworld, Terra itself. As the sacred festival of Sanguinala approaches and Terra swells with countless pilgrims, can Crowl and Spinoza cut to the heart of the unfolding events in time to prevent disaster?
It’s not a book *about* the Inquisition, so don’t expect lots of detail about the nitty gritty of Inquisitorial factions, but that’s all there in the background if you look closely. It definitely continues the Eisenhorn legacy, and will appeal to anyone looking for a change of pace away from the more typical 40k stories. That pace might not be to everyone’s taste, but if you’re looking for a book that delves into some of the most iconic locations and concepts in 40k then this is for you.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2017/09/...
It’s not a book *about* the Inquisition, so don’t expect lots of detail about the nitty gritty of Inquisitorial factions, but that’s all there in the background if you look closely. It definitely continues the Eisenhorn legacy, and will appeal to anyone looking for a change of pace away from the more typical 40k stories. That pace might not be to everyone’s taste, but if you’re looking for a book that delves into some of the most iconic locations and concepts in 40k then this is for you.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2017/09/...
August 20, 2018
I'm going to give it 3 stars because I ultimately enjoyed it though it was rough going for much of the book. I found a troubling disparity in the prose between the vivid descriptions of the (grim) setting and the terse character interactions. If it was runaway action and compelling dialogue a la Leviathan Wakes then this would have been much easier to enjoy but it only stumbled into this mode in short bursts. Overall I enjoyed it but I really wanted to LOVE it or its characters (like I did with Eisenhorn) considering the choice of setting for this novel but it was just not obliging.
For one thing the characters were grossly lacking. See, this is a story about inquisitors, basically glorified investigators/secret agents in the Warhammer 40k setting. That means the protagonists themselves have to be a presence in the story to build a relationship with them as they search for the requisite McGuffins. I've read just enough such investigator/detective/searching plot books to know that this relationship with the characters should be developing in some way with the evolving plot of the story. We get some of that here with Inquisitor Crowl towards the end but sadly not enough with Spinoza. Almost immediately I recognized what an advantage it is for an author to write first person narratives like Dan Abnett or Sandy Mitchell in For The Emperor. First person can both selectively summarize while also conveying a lot more of the narrator's thoughts, feelings and attitude. Just the very telling of the tale itself can fill in a lot about the narrator and I feel that if Inquisitor Crowl or Spinoza were telling the story here I would be so much more to be invested in with these people. Because on examination it's likely that these two definitely have thoughts and feelings about what they're doing and what's going on that they can't and don't express to each other and the third person omniscient here oddly misses the opportunity to explore this potential.
But to be fair the first book of the Eisenhorn series was lacking a bit in this regard also and I felt that series only really blossomed during the short story "Missing in Action" and Malleus.
For one thing the characters were grossly lacking. See, this is a story about inquisitors, basically glorified investigators/secret agents in the Warhammer 40k setting. That means the protagonists themselves have to be a presence in the story to build a relationship with them as they search for the requisite McGuffins. I've read just enough such investigator/detective/searching plot books to know that this relationship with the characters should be developing in some way with the evolving plot of the story. We get some of that here with Inquisitor Crowl towards the end but sadly not enough with Spinoza. Almost immediately I recognized what an advantage it is for an author to write first person narratives like Dan Abnett or Sandy Mitchell in For The Emperor. First person can both selectively summarize while also conveying a lot more of the narrator's thoughts, feelings and attitude. Just the very telling of the tale itself can fill in a lot about the narrator and I feel that if Inquisitor Crowl or Spinoza were telling the story here I would be so much more to be invested in with these people. Because on examination it's likely that these two definitely have thoughts and feelings about what they're doing and what's going on that they can't and don't express to each other and the third person omniscient here oddly misses the opportunity to explore this potential.
But to be fair the first book of the Eisenhorn series was lacking a bit in this regard also and I felt that series only really blossomed during the short story "Missing in Action" and Malleus.
December 31, 2025
very fun book, great dive into terran life and politics
really fun crime tinged drama, lots of good action. and some well drawn characters.
however the cast got a little too big and felt easier to lose track of who was important or not. so some later events didn't carry the heft hoped for , especially as characters often had pseudonyms
a reflection of the noir genre. but perhaps made a touch more difficult with the 40k naming.
but also read this over some busy weeks. so may be a me problem
still a lot of fun. looking forward to the rest of the series
really fun crime tinged drama, lots of good action. and some well drawn characters.
however the cast got a little too big and felt easier to lose track of who was important or not. so some later events didn't carry the heft hoped for , especially as characters often had pseudonyms
a reflection of the noir genre. but perhaps made a touch more difficult with the 40k naming.
but also read this over some busy weeks. so may be a me problem
still a lot of fun. looking forward to the rest of the series
August 4, 2022
Such was the tragedy of the times. Terra still held its riches, diminished from glory but still greater than a thousand other worlds combined, and yet they were forever cloistered, kept locked down by ignorance. If some catalyst could be found to revive the species’ questing spirit, to shake off the terror of the new and escape the dread hand of the Mechanicus and the Priesthood, then those treasures might yet be used.
But they never would be, not now. All that remained was the continual struggle for another decade or two of life, to endure just a little longer amid the gasping terror while the beasts circled. Human presence here was an aberration, born of desperation, and when they were gone the shadows would close over, perhaps never to be broken again.
But they never would be, not now. All that remained was the continual struggle for another decade or two of life, to endure just a little longer amid the gasping terror while the beasts circled. Human presence here was an aberration, born of desperation, and when they were gone the shadows would close over, perhaps never to be broken again.
July 31, 2017
Boy oh boy... Chris Wraight is really on a roll here. Yup, the big golden fella is just the "thing" you think it is, and this isn't a Horus Heresy series novel where those guys show up from time to time. This is 40K timeline.
I've no idea if this is part of a larger series, or just a standalone book. Either way this time the danger is in Holy Terra, a place that is THE most protected part of the Imperium (besides Cadia, and "we" know how well that held...). The Inquisition only takes orders from the throne, a thing that actually is same as no one but this time is close enough to see does it have any effect (or overcomplicates things).
I've no idea if this is part of a larger series, or just a standalone book. Either way this time the danger is in Holy Terra, a place that is THE most protected part of the Imperium (besides Cadia, and "we" know how well that held...). The Inquisition only takes orders from the throne, a thing that actually is same as no one but this time is close enough to see does it have any effect (or overcomplicates things).
February 20, 2024
Наверное, все, что я читал из серии Вархаммера, касалось разных планет с самых разных секторов, но про Терру ничего не было. А тут вот тебе "Крипты Терры" - путевка на родную планету много тысячелетий спустя=)
Молодая дознаватель Люче Спиноза попадает в служение к новому опытному начальнику инквизитору Эразму Кроулу. Сходу происходит обнаружение странного трупа, которого явно подкинули в общую кучу, чтобы никто не заметил. А нет, заметили. С этого начинает виться ниточка, которую тянешь и ловишь все больше и больше новых фактов о практически всемирном заговоре против Трона.
Тут оказываются втянуты множество сторон - и Ордо Механикус, и сама инквизиция, и даже... Хотя обойдусь без спойлеров. Сам роман - довольно типичный детективный триллер. Было ощущение, что читаешь обычный полицейский детектив, где сначала кто-то кого-то убивает, полицейские находят труп, выходят на наркокартель, вычисляют координаты корабля, на котором везли наркотики, обнаруживают, что там были совсем не наркотики, а кое-что похуже, и это кое-что похуже спрятано в катакомбах под полицейским офисом. А теперь давайте все это заменим сеттинг Вархаммера, и получится "Прогнивший трон". Так как я не шибко люблю подобные детективы, то не могу сказать, что сюжет меня восхитил. Книга вполне нормально читается, но без особого интереса. Более интересен был антураж Терры. Деградирующая планета, которая сосет ресурсы с множества других планет, но их количества все равно не хватает для пропитания всех, кто живет на планете. Из-за чего люди мрут, инквизиция лютует, а Император защищает.
Понравился момент, когда Спиноза нагло сбивает терранина, тот пытается наехать, но, увидев волшебный значок инквизиции, тут же ретируется и чуть ли не ботинки облизывает. А Спиноза аж сияет в лучах славы от своей важности. Напыщенная самовлюбленная девочка...
Хотя, если честно, Терры хотелось бы побольше.
Не могу сказать, что роман чем-то сильно выделяется на фоне других романов об инквизиции. Не лучше, не хуже, типичный середняк. 7/10
Молодая дознаватель Люче Спиноза попадает в служение к новому опытному начальнику инквизитору Эразму Кроулу. Сходу происходит обнаружение странного трупа, которого явно подкинули в общую кучу, чтобы никто не заметил. А нет, заметили. С этого начинает виться ниточка, которую тянешь и ловишь все больше и больше новых фактов о практически всемирном заговоре против Трона.
Тут оказываются втянуты множество сторон - и Ордо Механикус, и сама инквизиция, и даже... Хотя обойдусь без спойлеров. Сам роман - довольно типичный детективный триллер. Было ощущение, что читаешь обычный полицейский детектив, где сначала кто-то кого-то убивает, полицейские находят труп, выходят на наркокартель, вычисляют координаты корабля, на котором везли наркотики, обнаруживают, что там были совсем не наркотики, а кое-что похуже, и это кое-что похуже спрятано в катакомбах под полицейским офисом. А теперь давайте все это заменим сеттинг Вархаммера, и получится "Прогнивший трон". Так как я не шибко люблю подобные детективы, то не могу сказать, что сюжет меня восхитил. Книга вполне нормально читается, но без особого интереса. Более интересен был антураж Терры. Деградирующая планета, которая сосет ресурсы с множества других планет, но их количества все равно не хватает для пропитания всех, кто живет на планете. Из-за чего люди мрут, инквизиция лютует, а Император защищает.
Понравился момент, когда Спиноза нагло сбивает терранина, тот пытается наехать, но, увидев волшебный значок инквизиции, тут же ретируется и чуть ли не ботинки облизывает. А Спиноза аж сияет в лучах славы от своей важности. Напыщенная самовлюбленная девочка...
Хотя, если честно, Терры хотелось бы побольше.
Не могу сказать, что роман чем-то сильно выделяется на фоне других романов об инквизиции. Не лучше, не хуже, типичный середняк. 7/10
September 29, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The oppressive atmosphere of Terra, the epicenter of the imperium is captured. You mourn for the state of deterioration the corrupt high lords have allowed to happen, it has piled up over the thousands of years. You even get a sense of desperation from everyone and everything around you. The main characters are well written, the inquisition has it's most compelling characters in a long while. I cared for the characters and the outcome. The state of the imperium of mankind is distressing to me, as was intended. Chris Wraight is quickly becoming my favorite black library author. Pick this one up!! Will not disappoint! It's a hunt and a mystery with dire consequences for all. No galaxy spanning here though, it takes place solely on Terra, but believe me when I say there is enough happening just there to keep you very busy! Enjoy, this is a good one!
November 25, 2021
Not only is this a fantastic book (not just a fantastic *40k* book), it's the first 40k book I've read that I don't feel like saying "It's mostly good, but..."
This is a masterful exploration of character philosophy that never gets too navel-gazy, saddled with a riveting plot that only occasionally veers into mild bolter-porn territory, and only mostly towards the end. A superlative balance of descriptive writing and substantial plot, with neither ever getting overwrought. The leads are engaging, the threat is menacing, and the pace is brisk yet never overwhelming. I'd almost suggest this as an early read for newer 40k fans: while it doesn't entirely orient new folks into the world of 40k, it comes pretty close.
A highly-recommended read in the grim darkness of the far, far future.
This is a masterful exploration of character philosophy that never gets too navel-gazy, saddled with a riveting plot that only occasionally veers into mild bolter-porn territory, and only mostly towards the end. A superlative balance of descriptive writing and substantial plot, with neither ever getting overwrought. The leads are engaging, the threat is menacing, and the pace is brisk yet never overwhelming. I'd almost suggest this as an early read for newer 40k fans: while it doesn't entirely orient new folks into the world of 40k, it comes pretty close.
A highly-recommended read in the grim darkness of the far, far future.
May 15, 2024
After the Heresy, this is a stark contrast - the decay and depravity of the grimdark far future. A great piece of sci-fi when it comes to the teeming mass of humanity and the suffering of those far below. Really great stuff from Wraight as per usual.
November 14, 2025
Definitely a sci-fi true crime type novel. I never expected to enjoy following the adventures of an ordo hereticus inquisitor, but the investigation and eventual unmasking of the conspiracy is well built with a good pay-off. Excellent depiction of the Custodes too.
November 11, 2019
The greatest Warhammer 40k book ever written.
April 14, 2022
A very good view into life on Terra, and viewing it from an inquisitor too.
November 25, 2022
Really good read from one of the best Authors in the 40k Universe
April 26, 2023
This was fantastic.
It provides a crime and cop tale but with the full knowledge that all cops are bastards, especially in the 41st millennium.
It provides a crime and cop tale but with the full knowledge that all cops are bastards, especially in the 41st millennium.
August 1, 2017
What an amazing read!! Definitely one of my favourite new reads in the 41st millennium, with a casually added like which makes you rock back on your heels!!
June 19, 2017
You can read the full review over at my blog:
https://shadowhawksshade.wordpress.co...
It has been some time since I’ve read anything from Chris Wraight, whom I consider to be one of the most careful and intentioned world-builders within the ranks of Black Library’s authors. Over the years, he has given us some gems like Scars and Battle of the Fang among others. His latest for the M41 era is the first novel in the Vaults of Terra series, The Carrion Throne, which explores the machinations of the Inquisition on Terra itself and paints one of the most vivid pictures of the throneworld in the current era. An absolute joy from start to finish, the novel takes some big risks and justifies them in the end.
The novel starts off with something that helps establish the sombre mood of the rest of the story, Lord Inquisitor Crowl, a senior member of the Holy Ordos is in the midst of conducting an interrogation of a heretic, and the way that Chris writes out the scene, you can’t help but feel goosebumps up and down your arms. The threat of something sinister, some deep personal harm, is ever-present in this opening, and works as a superb introduction to one of the protagonists of the novel. If novels are defined by their opening chapters, then the one for The Carrion Throne is a superlative work that keeps you spell-bound all the way through.
Joining Inquisitor Crowl in his mission to keep Terra and the Imperium safe from the depredations of the minions of Chaos is Interrogator Spinoza, recently transferred to his retinue. A determined agent of the Holy Ordos, Spinoza is one of the highlights of the narrative and quite the contrarian as it turns out since she doesn’t always take Crowl at his word and always ready to challenge his views. This sets up a lot of tension between the master and the apprentice and it is fascinating to see played out. We have seen something like this before of course, in the Eisenhorn and Ravenor series by Dan Abnett, and Chris Wraight’s latest definitely brings to mind the best of those two, which are very much foundational works of Warhammer 40,000. And the best thing of course is that neither are typecast characters. They are portrayed as different from the norm, yes, but then such is the lot of the senior agents of the Holy Ordos. And as the primary actors of the narrative, they both have a deep sense of depth and urgency to them, which is part of what just keeps you reading and turning the pages, as it were.
https://shadowhawksshade.wordpress.co...
It has been some time since I’ve read anything from Chris Wraight, whom I consider to be one of the most careful and intentioned world-builders within the ranks of Black Library’s authors. Over the years, he has given us some gems like Scars and Battle of the Fang among others. His latest for the M41 era is the first novel in the Vaults of Terra series, The Carrion Throne, which explores the machinations of the Inquisition on Terra itself and paints one of the most vivid pictures of the throneworld in the current era. An absolute joy from start to finish, the novel takes some big risks and justifies them in the end.
The novel starts off with something that helps establish the sombre mood of the rest of the story, Lord Inquisitor Crowl, a senior member of the Holy Ordos is in the midst of conducting an interrogation of a heretic, and the way that Chris writes out the scene, you can’t help but feel goosebumps up and down your arms. The threat of something sinister, some deep personal harm, is ever-present in this opening, and works as a superb introduction to one of the protagonists of the novel. If novels are defined by their opening chapters, then the one for The Carrion Throne is a superlative work that keeps you spell-bound all the way through.
Joining Inquisitor Crowl in his mission to keep Terra and the Imperium safe from the depredations of the minions of Chaos is Interrogator Spinoza, recently transferred to his retinue. A determined agent of the Holy Ordos, Spinoza is one of the highlights of the narrative and quite the contrarian as it turns out since she doesn’t always take Crowl at his word and always ready to challenge his views. This sets up a lot of tension between the master and the apprentice and it is fascinating to see played out. We have seen something like this before of course, in the Eisenhorn and Ravenor series by Dan Abnett, and Chris Wraight’s latest definitely brings to mind the best of those two, which are very much foundational works of Warhammer 40,000. And the best thing of course is that neither are typecast characters. They are portrayed as different from the norm, yes, but then such is the lot of the senior agents of the Holy Ordos. And as the primary actors of the narrative, they both have a deep sense of depth and urgency to them, which is part of what just keeps you reading and turning the pages, as it were.
October 17, 2017
Damn, so this is what I've been missing.
Carrion Throne was the first 40k novel I've finished, though I have hundreds of hours in various franchise video games and thus I thought I knew what the universe was about: a rough-hewn amalgamation of Imperial Roman pageantry, fascist Italy false glamor, and '30s German aesthetic all mashed into a colossal space war with interstellar filth. That's all true, but Carrion Throne shows the oppressive decay of the Throneworld in ways I doubt games ever could.
The manner in which Wraight describes enormous structures, ships, and billions of braindead peons is a spectacular journey into a grim future. His command of language is supreme, although as with most books I found his obvious thesaurus-diving somewhat tedious towards the end. Additionally, there are a few pieces of disconnect/narrative irregularity; for example, a side character is described as making a gesture to open doors, then a few pages later it is stated how regal he was and that all doors opened without a gesture at all. Nothing major, but still a sign of lazy editing.
The internet is packed with reading order guides for 40k --most of which direct readers to the Horus Heresy-- but I am quite glad I chose this. It's a standalone experience that is good for a couple sittings and yet not an epic 40+ novel series that will take a year to slog through.
Do recommend.
Carrion Throne was the first 40k novel I've finished, though I have hundreds of hours in various franchise video games and thus I thought I knew what the universe was about: a rough-hewn amalgamation of Imperial Roman pageantry, fascist Italy false glamor, and '30s German aesthetic all mashed into a colossal space war with interstellar filth. That's all true, but Carrion Throne shows the oppressive decay of the Throneworld in ways I doubt games ever could.
The manner in which Wraight describes enormous structures, ships, and billions of braindead peons is a spectacular journey into a grim future. His command of language is supreme, although as with most books I found his obvious thesaurus-diving somewhat tedious towards the end. Additionally, there are a few pieces of disconnect/narrative irregularity; for example, a side character is described as making a gesture to open doors, then a few pages later it is stated how regal he was and that all doors opened without a gesture at all. Nothing major, but still a sign of lazy editing.
The internet is packed with reading order guides for 40k --most of which direct readers to the Horus Heresy-- but I am quite glad I chose this. It's a standalone experience that is good for a couple sittings and yet not an epic 40+ novel series that will take a year to slog through.
Do recommend.
July 6, 2017
i waited on a book for a long time on the inner dealings within Terra and was not disappointed at all, i look forward to reading more about Terra and the Inquisitors,
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