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Severina Raine
Honourbound
An Astra Militarum novel
Commissar Severina Raine and the 11th Antari Rifles fight to subdue the spreading threat of Chaos burning across the Bale Stars. Little does Raine realise the key to victory lies in her own past, and in the ghosts that she carries with her.
READ IT BECAUSE
The hero of a series of short stories returns in her first full-length novel – and it's as grim, dark and brilliantly written, as you'd expect from Rachel Harrison.
THE STORY
Uncompromising and fierce, Commissar Severina Raine has always served the Imperium with the utmost distinction. Attached to the 11th Antari Rifles, she instills order and courage in the face of utter horror. The Chaos cult, the Sighted, have swept throughout the Bale Stars and a shadow has fallen across its benighted worlds. A great campaign led by the vaunted hero Lord-General Militant Alar Serek is underway to free the system from tyranny and enslavement but the price of victory must be paid in blood. But what secrets do the Sighted harbour, secrets that might cast a light onto Raine’s own troubled past? Only by embracing her duty and staying true to her belief in the Imperium and the commissar’s creed can she hope to survive this crucible, but even then will that be enough?
Commissar Severina Raine and the 11th Antari Rifles fight to subdue the spreading threat of Chaos burning across the Bale Stars. Little does Raine realise the key to victory lies in her own past, and in the ghosts that she carries with her.
READ IT BECAUSE
The hero of a series of short stories returns in her first full-length novel – and it's as grim, dark and brilliantly written, as you'd expect from Rachel Harrison.
THE STORY
Uncompromising and fierce, Commissar Severina Raine has always served the Imperium with the utmost distinction. Attached to the 11th Antari Rifles, she instills order and courage in the face of utter horror. The Chaos cult, the Sighted, have swept throughout the Bale Stars and a shadow has fallen across its benighted worlds. A great campaign led by the vaunted hero Lord-General Militant Alar Serek is underway to free the system from tyranny and enslavement but the price of victory must be paid in blood. But what secrets do the Sighted harbour, secrets that might cast a light onto Raine’s own troubled past? Only by embracing her duty and staying true to her belief in the Imperium and the commissar’s creed can she hope to survive this crucible, but even then will that be enough?
496 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2019
93 people are currently reading
701 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Harrison
28 books55 followersRachel Harrison writes Warhammer 40k stories for Black Library. She also publishes under the name Ray Harrison.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Rachel^^Harrison
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Rachel^^Harrison
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
March 20, 2019
A generic and boring base story (imperial guard fighting chaos with traitors in the ranks) executed brilliantly. The characters, the background stories, the regiment, the lore....it's amazing, especially in a debut novel.
Very good and recommended if you are tired of the same old bolterporn BL books.
Very good and recommended if you are tired of the same old bolterporn BL books.
July 8, 2022
Reviewing this book is not easy for me. I deeply disliked it. However, I'm not saying it's a bad book, just that it's the opposite of what I'm looking for in the 40k universe.
First, the good things: I did not have any stylistical issue with the book and it is obvious that there was a lot of research in the lore of the 40k universe to draw us in it. The plot was easy to follow and the action scenes were well done and entertaining.
An important thing to keep in mind is that the 40k universe can be many different things: it can be cartoonish, absurd, extreme, serious, thought-provoking, fun... So, you can have books with a lot of big battles and almost no plot, which read like action movies. What I'm interested in in this universe is its depth and complexity. How can decisions be made in such a dark and unforgiving universe, how simple humans can survive in it, and what does it say about humanity, in a nutshell.
As it is often said, there are no "good guys" in this universe, as every faction has its flaws. The Imperium of Man, the humans, are for the majority religious fanatics who want all the other alien races extinct because it is their birthright to rule the galaxy. Not exactly nice people, aren't they?
When the authors at Games Workshop created this universe with the tabletop game Warhammer 40,000, the Imperium of Man was an obvious parody of fascism and authoritarian regime. The figure of the commissar, for instance, was a shady one, as he could inspire normal soldiers and was even able to execute one to boost the morale of others. In the tabletop game, it was a cool mechanic but it also made you think... Of course, the commissar of 40k is based on the commissars of the Red Army during WW2, who were cold-blooded and would execute soldiers to "motivate" others. So it would also make you think about it, and about how such a figure can be seen as "positive" in such a universe. The ambiguity of it is what makes it interesting.
There are many books about commissars in the Black Library: the most famous ones are Gaunt, from the Gaunt's Ghosts serie and Ciaphas Cain, who were more human commissars and would rarely execute their men.
In other books, the commissar is often a negative character who lacks humanity and is feared by all. One of the most interesting one is Commissar Iverson in Fire Caste by Peter Fehervari, where Iverson is the main protagonist but has doubts about what he does and sees himself as a failed commissar.
That's what I find enthralling in this universe, when characters are multifaceted and can question their actions or what is asked of them. And the commissar can definitely be a complex figure which is very representative of this universe.
However, in recent years, Games Workshop has started modifying the 40k universe, so that for instance the regime of the Imperium of Man is a bad thing but that it has to be that way for the humanity to survive. Same thing with the commissars, they have to be the way they are for soldiers to be efficient. This is probably due to the success of the game, the satirical aspect of the authoritarian regime was toned down by legitimizing it... which is kind of an issue for me, as it undermines the original creative choice and could end up giving the message "sure, it's a good thing" instead of making us think about it and wonder if it's a good thing or not, even for such a universe.
In the first scene of Honourbound, we follow a soldier who is acting cowardly. The commissar Severina Raine executes him and... as we read his final thoughts, he actually agrees with it. He feels like he deserves it. So, our hero has just executed a man and there's no ambiguity or doubt about it. That was the right thing to do and that's it, no reason to think twice about it. Wouldn't it have been more interesting to have more nuance about it, though?
I thought that, as this was the first scene, maybe Severina would have an evolution, an arc... She kind of does in a way but she never questions what she does and the reader is never invited to do so either. There is always something to tell the reader that he/she should root for Severina no matter what their actions are. Everything is a bit too simplistic, so that we know we're on the "right" side.
The other characters are molded the same way. They are disciplined soldiers who will obey to the end no matter what. Even when they have flaws, it actually makes them better at being loyal and fighting to the best of their abilities. The character I found the most relatable was the psyker, Lydia, who is despised and feared by all the others but... is still loyal and does what is expected of her. There is no opposing viewpoint in the book, as in a way all the characters have the same qualities (loyal, disciplined, will go to the end to achieve what's expected of them) and not a lot which distinguishes them from each other.
The enemies of our heroes are for the most part villains who never have any positive aspect or are never shown one. This makes the job of rooting for our heroes easier. I know this is the case in a lot of Black Library books but I always find this too simplistic and uninteresting.
In the end, I understand that not everybody is looking for what I'm looking for in the 40k universe, and it's ok. If you're looking for a multifaceted and nuanced vision of the 40k universe, like me, then this book is not for you.
On the other hand, if you want heroic soldiers and commissars in badass action scenes, go for it, you'll probably enjoy Honourbound much more than me! And it's ok, to each his own, even if I find that simplifying complex questions that the 40k universe allows us to raise a pity.
PS: damn, that review was hard to write! I hope I don't come off as aggressive or judgemental, it's obvious there was a ton of work and love in writing this novel, even if I didn't like it. Kudos to the author as it's her first novel. And if she ever reads this review, don't take it personally, that's just my opinion and a lot of other people are enjoying your book. :)
First, the good things: I did not have any stylistical issue with the book and it is obvious that there was a lot of research in the lore of the 40k universe to draw us in it. The plot was easy to follow and the action scenes were well done and entertaining.
An important thing to keep in mind is that the 40k universe can be many different things: it can be cartoonish, absurd, extreme, serious, thought-provoking, fun... So, you can have books with a lot of big battles and almost no plot, which read like action movies. What I'm interested in in this universe is its depth and complexity. How can decisions be made in such a dark and unforgiving universe, how simple humans can survive in it, and what does it say about humanity, in a nutshell.
As it is often said, there are no "good guys" in this universe, as every faction has its flaws. The Imperium of Man, the humans, are for the majority religious fanatics who want all the other alien races extinct because it is their birthright to rule the galaxy. Not exactly nice people, aren't they?
When the authors at Games Workshop created this universe with the tabletop game Warhammer 40,000, the Imperium of Man was an obvious parody of fascism and authoritarian regime. The figure of the commissar, for instance, was a shady one, as he could inspire normal soldiers and was even able to execute one to boost the morale of others. In the tabletop game, it was a cool mechanic but it also made you think... Of course, the commissar of 40k is based on the commissars of the Red Army during WW2, who were cold-blooded and would execute soldiers to "motivate" others. So it would also make you think about it, and about how such a figure can be seen as "positive" in such a universe. The ambiguity of it is what makes it interesting.
There are many books about commissars in the Black Library: the most famous ones are Gaunt, from the Gaunt's Ghosts serie and Ciaphas Cain, who were more human commissars and would rarely execute their men.
In other books, the commissar is often a negative character who lacks humanity and is feared by all. One of the most interesting one is Commissar Iverson in Fire Caste by Peter Fehervari, where Iverson is the main protagonist but has doubts about what he does and sees himself as a failed commissar.
That's what I find enthralling in this universe, when characters are multifaceted and can question their actions or what is asked of them. And the commissar can definitely be a complex figure which is very representative of this universe.
However, in recent years, Games Workshop has started modifying the 40k universe, so that for instance the regime of the Imperium of Man is a bad thing but that it has to be that way for the humanity to survive. Same thing with the commissars, they have to be the way they are for soldiers to be efficient. This is probably due to the success of the game, the satirical aspect of the authoritarian regime was toned down by legitimizing it... which is kind of an issue for me, as it undermines the original creative choice and could end up giving the message "sure, it's a good thing" instead of making us think about it and wonder if it's a good thing or not, even for such a universe.
In the first scene of Honourbound, we follow a soldier who is acting cowardly. The commissar Severina Raine executes him and... as we read his final thoughts, he actually agrees with it. He feels like he deserves it. So, our hero has just executed a man and there's no ambiguity or doubt about it. That was the right thing to do and that's it, no reason to think twice about it. Wouldn't it have been more interesting to have more nuance about it, though?
I thought that, as this was the first scene, maybe Severina would have an evolution, an arc... She kind of does in a way but she never questions what she does and the reader is never invited to do so either. There is always something to tell the reader that he/she should root for Severina no matter what their actions are. Everything is a bit too simplistic, so that we know we're on the "right" side.
The other characters are molded the same way. They are disciplined soldiers who will obey to the end no matter what. Even when they have flaws, it actually makes them better at being loyal and fighting to the best of their abilities. The character I found the most relatable was the psyker, Lydia, who is despised and feared by all the others but... is still loyal and does what is expected of her. There is no opposing viewpoint in the book, as in a way all the characters have the same qualities (loyal, disciplined, will go to the end to achieve what's expected of them) and not a lot which distinguishes them from each other.
The enemies of our heroes are for the most part villains who never have any positive aspect or are never shown one. This makes the job of rooting for our heroes easier. I know this is the case in a lot of Black Library books but I always find this too simplistic and uninteresting.
In the end, I understand that not everybody is looking for what I'm looking for in the 40k universe, and it's ok. If you're looking for a multifaceted and nuanced vision of the 40k universe, like me, then this book is not for you.
On the other hand, if you want heroic soldiers and commissars in badass action scenes, go for it, you'll probably enjoy Honourbound much more than me! And it's ok, to each his own, even if I find that simplifying complex questions that the 40k universe allows us to raise a pity.
PS: damn, that review was hard to write! I hope I don't come off as aggressive or judgemental, it's obvious there was a ton of work and love in writing this novel, even if I didn't like it. Kudos to the author as it's her first novel. And if she ever reads this review, don't take it personally, that's just my opinion and a lot of other people are enjoying your book. :)
April 23, 2019
The Dramatis Personae at the beginning had me worried. 'Oh no, it's one of those books' I thought. But I was proven wrong. While Severina has her boots strapped a bit too tight to be interesting through much of her own story, the supporting cast and side plots were interesting enough to keep me going until all the threads started to come together. By then, we get one of the most harrowing battle sequences ever, with stakes appropriately high. By this late point Severina has come out of her shell a little and I felt I understood her, even if she was a bit too rigid before. Admittedly it's a tough position for any character since as a Commissar of the Imperium, she needs to fill one of the most rigid and brutal of rolls in an already brutal and war-soaked setting. A little more internal or relationship conflict for her would have helped, though I understand its necessary for her to start as an outsider to her unit in her debut.
October 8, 2023
Eccoci con un nuovo romanzo legato al mondo di Warhammer 40.000: Legami d’onore di Rachel Harrison, edito da Ala Nera Edizioni. Un bel tomo di più di 500 pagine, compatto e ben fatto, in perfetta aderenza all’universo di WH40k. Nulla da dire, al momento devo ancora trovare un lavoro basato su questa ambientazione che non mi sia piaciuto, e visto che con il tempo riscontro la tendenza ad accontentarmi sempre meno, credo sia un ottimo risultato.
Premetto che nella marea di unità e fazioni di questa sterminata ambientazione, i Fucilieri Antari, ossia le truppe di fanteria standard dell'Astra Militarum, precedentemente noto come Guardia Imperiale, pur costituendo la spina dorsale delle forze di combattimento umane sul campo di battaglia, non sono mai state fra le mie predilette. Fra le mille particolarità di truppe d’élite, questi soldatini, ben disciplinati, mi sono sempre parsi i fratellastri bistrattati e meno evocativi. Devo ammettere però che in questo romanzo hanno saputo farmi ricredere e la pletora di personaggi più o meno principali, mi hanno conquistato. Recensione completa: https://evasioneletteraria.blogspot.c...
Premetto che nella marea di unità e fazioni di questa sterminata ambientazione, i Fucilieri Antari, ossia le truppe di fanteria standard dell'Astra Militarum, precedentemente noto come Guardia Imperiale, pur costituendo la spina dorsale delle forze di combattimento umane sul campo di battaglia, non sono mai state fra le mie predilette. Fra le mille particolarità di truppe d’élite, questi soldatini, ben disciplinati, mi sono sempre parsi i fratellastri bistrattati e meno evocativi. Devo ammettere però che in questo romanzo hanno saputo farmi ricredere e la pletora di personaggi più o meno principali, mi hanno conquistato. Recensione completa: https://evasioneletteraria.blogspot.c...
July 22, 2020
DNF @ 5% for me-not-you reasons. I came into this book not knowing anything about the world the novel is a tie-in for, and although the writing is strong and gave me a good idea of what was going on right off the bat, it's just not a world I'm interested in spending any time in right now. Give me fluff or give me... self-help nonfiction, I guess.
October 15, 2019
My video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7EKL...
It was no ADB.
It was no ADB.
December 7, 2021
3.5 Very similar too the Gaunts ghosts books but with a female commissar. Nevertheless a solid debut which sets up a new regiment and laws, hoping the series will continue as it has a tonne of potential.
June 8, 2020
There are many Commissars in the 40k universe. Some of them are heinous, malevolent and despicable, some charismatic, inspiring or just downright hilarious. Commissar Raine is simply charmless.
Moreover the folklore Harrison created for the Guardsmen from Antar is bland and unoriginal, compared with the other cultural backgrounds of Imperial Regiments we already know. This combined with the dullest memory flashbacks I have ever read in a 40k novel results with a boring read, prolonged by tiresome visions of the regimental Psyker and drug addiction of one of the Antari.
We also have multiple "schematic" confrontations where good/corageous/strong women fight evil/cowardly/weak men, which reeks of a certain ideological superstructure that has been pushed down our throats in modern sci-fi blockbusters.
It's not the fault of Harrison, but "Honourbound" is also pushed down our throats in terms of promotion. Even when I write this review "Honourbound" is listed among the Horus Heresy audiobooks at Black Library's website - to bump up it's sales. This book has nothing to do with 30k and placing it on top of the Horus Heresy list is just downright scurvy.
Because all of that I find "Honourbound" one of the worst 40k books of 2019.
Moreover the folklore Harrison created for the Guardsmen from Antar is bland and unoriginal, compared with the other cultural backgrounds of Imperial Regiments we already know. This combined with the dullest memory flashbacks I have ever read in a 40k novel results with a boring read, prolonged by tiresome visions of the regimental Psyker and drug addiction of one of the Antari.
We also have multiple "schematic" confrontations where good/corageous/strong women fight evil/cowardly/weak men, which reeks of a certain ideological superstructure that has been pushed down our throats in modern sci-fi blockbusters.
It's not the fault of Harrison, but "Honourbound" is also pushed down our throats in terms of promotion. Even when I write this review "Honourbound" is listed among the Horus Heresy audiobooks at Black Library's website - to bump up it's sales. This book has nothing to do with 30k and placing it on top of the Horus Heresy list is just downright scurvy.
Because all of that I find "Honourbound" one of the worst 40k books of 2019.
September 9, 2020
I am really hoping they make Raine a major character and give her a decent run as a series. The characters are well developed and everything works to make this one of the better recent Black Library novels outside the HH.
November 6, 2020
****1/2: among the finest Black Library novels I’ve read. Rachel Harrison spins an engrossing, complex web of endearing characters and puts them through an absolute blender of harrowing action and inter-personal strife. Multiple sub-plots are expertly handled and culminate in a moving, powerful story that I just could not put down. My only criticism was in one of the final reveals being a little too easily tipped off. But otherwise, wow, sets a new standard for 40K fiction. I didn’t read any of the run-up stories & novellas but you can bet I will now. Here’s to Severina Raine & The Antari 11th Rifles having a long Black Library career.
April 24, 2024
God, omend en smule forudsigelig
December 6, 2019
Full review can be read over here: https://wordaholicanonymous.wordpress...
December 24, 2025
Nope. Ran out of books at camp and I can’t stop in the middle of a book. But this could have been half the size and much better if it was shorter. Not for me but maybe for someone else.
June 15, 2021
Rachel Harrison’s debut Black Library novel, this follows on from several excellent short stories and features Commissar Severina Raine serving with the 11th Antari Rifles as part of the decades-long Bale Stars Crusade. As Raine and the Antari grind their way to hard-fought victories over the chaos cult known as the Sighted, the stress of constant attritional warfare starts to show – even on the resolute Commissar. With the Sighted changing tactics and darkness forming within the Crusade, Raine knows that her faith and determination will be tested like never before as she wrestles with the implications of her past and the dangers of the present.
It goes above and beyond expectations, delivering a complex, characterful, brilliantly plotted and beautifully written narrative that does everything a 40k story should do and then some. It’s a big old book (380+ pages in hardback) and the dialogue does occasionally dip into a slightly over-formal style, but any minor niggles are quickly forgotten amidst the compelling drama unfolding as Harrison explores this fascinating little corner of the 40k universe.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/03/...
It goes above and beyond expectations, delivering a complex, characterful, brilliantly plotted and beautifully written narrative that does everything a 40k story should do and then some. It’s a big old book (380+ pages in hardback) and the dialogue does occasionally dip into a slightly over-formal style, but any minor niggles are quickly forgotten amidst the compelling drama unfolding as Harrison explores this fascinating little corner of the 40k universe.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/03/...
May 17, 2020
The following review was originally published in the online newspaper The Orkney News in May 2020. Link here. https://theorkneynews.scot/2020/05/17...
Warhammer 40,000: Honourbound by Rachel Harrison
‘Loyalty before the threat of death.’ – Old Antari saying
Welcome once again to my small corner of this world. I’m glad for the company as today I discuss a favourite character of mine. I’ve spoken on many occasions – as long time readers will know! – of Warhammer (be it Horus Heresy, Age Of Sigmar or 40K) and all its numerous settings. However I’ve only rarely discussed the Imperial Guard otherwise known as the Astra Millitarum (the closest thing the Imperium has to a conscript army of common humans) and the rank of Imperial Commissar.
As those who are familiar with history may be aware, Commissars aren’t exactly popular with the average soldier. NO. STEPS. BACK. And Severina Raine is no exception! But before I go into detail on Raine and her Antari I should discuss the plot: The 11th Antari Rifles are a part of the Bale Stars Crusade. An effort by the current Lord-General Militant Alar Serek, a highly respected great hero of the Imperium, to purge the Bale Stars of one of its greatest threats – The Sighted: A truly powerful Chaos cult with many Psykers and true madmen among their number – which allows Commissar Severina Raine a true leader of soldiers and the men and women under her command to serve with distinction. However in the process of fulfilling their duties and standing firm in the face of true abominations, the 11th Antari Rifles discover a great secret in the possession of The Sighted. How will they reveal this information to High Command? And just who knows how far this rot at the centre of the Bale Stars will be allowed to grow? Will Raine discover some personal truths in the process of cleansing the Bale Stars of Chaos?
The character work by the author Rachel Harrison in Honourbound is some of my favourite characterisations in all of Warhammer. Severina Raine herself is a truly loyal Commissar who will give her life for the Imperium. Uncompromising and at points genuinely terrifying when she needs to be. She certainly isn’t a joker like Commissar Ciaphas Cain was! And yet despite her intense loyalty to the structure of the Imperium Raine trusts the Antari. She will…they will find the truth. The personal journey which Raine goes on throughout the novel is a continuation of her arc from the several short stories she and the 11th have been the focus of prior to Honourbound’s release and it is a captivating listen. I have been hoping for an audio version since the initial release so I can discuss this regiment! There is a lot more to Raine…and a certain important keepsake than I can say here but she isn’t the only main character of note.
To be completely honest every high ranking member of the Rifles has their moment or moments to shine as well as – in some cases – some beautiful and yet grim writing. The Sighted and everything tied to them is shown as utterly horrific and tainted beyond belief during the regiments’ many battles.
Other important figures I feel I must discuss include Andren Fel, the commander of the ‘Duskhounds’ (The Antari equivalents of the ‘Black Dog’) squad. He is a man close to Raine. One who knows all the ancient stories of the home planet of Antar and just why the Antari are quite as feral and traditional as they are. Something about them definitely makes me think of certain old Celtic traditions. Fel is also a man who despite his great skill in battle, feels he stands for the Duskhounds and must make certain choices when the time comes. But will he like them?
One final character I will discuss at length is Primaris Psyker Lydia Zane. Psykers are – as the name implies – individuals with great psychic ability ranging from the reading of mental states if not minds to the breaking of arms to turning people into soup from the inside out among other things! They are understandably kept on a leash by the Imperium. These powers make Zane something of an outsider among the Antari. However despite this we spend a lot of time in Honourbound finding out just what makes her tick. How does she feel about her treatment by others? About Raine? Why does she serve the Imperium and not attempt to flee? The answers make her and the other Antari fascinating.
The character writing in Honourbound is not Harrison’s only strong point. The battles are wonderfully dark with many moments worthy of a crusade. The sieges and attempts to counter the Sighted are also especially noteworthy with Harrison managing to pull you fully into the battle be it in the eyes of Fel, Raine or a low ranking soldier. The deaths feel worthy of a war as do those who make last stands. Personally? I could hardly put the book down and I cannot praise the book enough! I certainly would be happy to hear more news regarding the Bale Stars Crusade.
However I still have to discuss the audiobook. The audio edition of Honourbound is narrated by Nicolette Chin who in my opinion performs excellently. She IS Raine. Be it in battles, quiet moments of rest or command meetings she exudes this presence worthy of a leader who trusts her soldiers and yet despite that will do the duty of a Commissar as needed. Be it among her own men or others. Chin is also rather good at giving each character a distinct voice and making The Sighted just as unnerving, unnatural and disturbing as they should be. Other favourite performances of mine include the voice used for the Lord-General Militant which definitely suits a figure of such authority who has a well-deserved reputation and the somewhat unsavoury and very cutting and rough voice she gives to Wyck – the leader of the Wyldfolk – who is definitely the most aggressively feral of all the 11th Antari Rifles. I definitely look forward to hearing Chin again!
In conclusion not only is Honourbound one of the best novels I’ve read in recent memory but the audio version is gripping entirely on its own merit. Engaging as a war story and the kind of tale that burrows its way into your mind. There’s a reason Severina and the 11th Antari Rifles are the group I’d replicate if I ever joined a 40K tabletop battle and Raine is one of a very select group of characters from the Black Library history to be immortalised as a special edition unit in the game itself! I certainly hope that I can persuade some of my readers to join me alongside the Duskhounds and their fellows as we defend the Bale Stars from the bane of corruption.
P.S For the curious the chronology of the stories staring the Antari and Raine goes as follows:
Execution
A Company Of Shadows
Fire And Thunder
Trials
Honourbound
The Darkling Hours
FIRE AND THUNDER!
Nephrite
Warhammer 40,000: Honourbound by Rachel Harrison
‘Loyalty before the threat of death.’ – Old Antari saying
Welcome once again to my small corner of this world. I’m glad for the company as today I discuss a favourite character of mine. I’ve spoken on many occasions – as long time readers will know! – of Warhammer (be it Horus Heresy, Age Of Sigmar or 40K) and all its numerous settings. However I’ve only rarely discussed the Imperial Guard otherwise known as the Astra Millitarum (the closest thing the Imperium has to a conscript army of common humans) and the rank of Imperial Commissar.
As those who are familiar with history may be aware, Commissars aren’t exactly popular with the average soldier. NO. STEPS. BACK. And Severina Raine is no exception! But before I go into detail on Raine and her Antari I should discuss the plot: The 11th Antari Rifles are a part of the Bale Stars Crusade. An effort by the current Lord-General Militant Alar Serek, a highly respected great hero of the Imperium, to purge the Bale Stars of one of its greatest threats – The Sighted: A truly powerful Chaos cult with many Psykers and true madmen among their number – which allows Commissar Severina Raine a true leader of soldiers and the men and women under her command to serve with distinction. However in the process of fulfilling their duties and standing firm in the face of true abominations, the 11th Antari Rifles discover a great secret in the possession of The Sighted. How will they reveal this information to High Command? And just who knows how far this rot at the centre of the Bale Stars will be allowed to grow? Will Raine discover some personal truths in the process of cleansing the Bale Stars of Chaos?
The character work by the author Rachel Harrison in Honourbound is some of my favourite characterisations in all of Warhammer. Severina Raine herself is a truly loyal Commissar who will give her life for the Imperium. Uncompromising and at points genuinely terrifying when she needs to be. She certainly isn’t a joker like Commissar Ciaphas Cain was! And yet despite her intense loyalty to the structure of the Imperium Raine trusts the Antari. She will…they will find the truth. The personal journey which Raine goes on throughout the novel is a continuation of her arc from the several short stories she and the 11th have been the focus of prior to Honourbound’s release and it is a captivating listen. I have been hoping for an audio version since the initial release so I can discuss this regiment! There is a lot more to Raine…and a certain important keepsake than I can say here but she isn’t the only main character of note.
To be completely honest every high ranking member of the Rifles has their moment or moments to shine as well as – in some cases – some beautiful and yet grim writing. The Sighted and everything tied to them is shown as utterly horrific and tainted beyond belief during the regiments’ many battles.
Other important figures I feel I must discuss include Andren Fel, the commander of the ‘Duskhounds’ (The Antari equivalents of the ‘Black Dog’) squad. He is a man close to Raine. One who knows all the ancient stories of the home planet of Antar and just why the Antari are quite as feral and traditional as they are. Something about them definitely makes me think of certain old Celtic traditions. Fel is also a man who despite his great skill in battle, feels he stands for the Duskhounds and must make certain choices when the time comes. But will he like them?
One final character I will discuss at length is Primaris Psyker Lydia Zane. Psykers are – as the name implies – individuals with great psychic ability ranging from the reading of mental states if not minds to the breaking of arms to turning people into soup from the inside out among other things! They are understandably kept on a leash by the Imperium. These powers make Zane something of an outsider among the Antari. However despite this we spend a lot of time in Honourbound finding out just what makes her tick. How does she feel about her treatment by others? About Raine? Why does she serve the Imperium and not attempt to flee? The answers make her and the other Antari fascinating.
The character writing in Honourbound is not Harrison’s only strong point. The battles are wonderfully dark with many moments worthy of a crusade. The sieges and attempts to counter the Sighted are also especially noteworthy with Harrison managing to pull you fully into the battle be it in the eyes of Fel, Raine or a low ranking soldier. The deaths feel worthy of a war as do those who make last stands. Personally? I could hardly put the book down and I cannot praise the book enough! I certainly would be happy to hear more news regarding the Bale Stars Crusade.
However I still have to discuss the audiobook. The audio edition of Honourbound is narrated by Nicolette Chin who in my opinion performs excellently. She IS Raine. Be it in battles, quiet moments of rest or command meetings she exudes this presence worthy of a leader who trusts her soldiers and yet despite that will do the duty of a Commissar as needed. Be it among her own men or others. Chin is also rather good at giving each character a distinct voice and making The Sighted just as unnerving, unnatural and disturbing as they should be. Other favourite performances of mine include the voice used for the Lord-General Militant which definitely suits a figure of such authority who has a well-deserved reputation and the somewhat unsavoury and very cutting and rough voice she gives to Wyck – the leader of the Wyldfolk – who is definitely the most aggressively feral of all the 11th Antari Rifles. I definitely look forward to hearing Chin again!
In conclusion not only is Honourbound one of the best novels I’ve read in recent memory but the audio version is gripping entirely on its own merit. Engaging as a war story and the kind of tale that burrows its way into your mind. There’s a reason Severina and the 11th Antari Rifles are the group I’d replicate if I ever joined a 40K tabletop battle and Raine is one of a very select group of characters from the Black Library history to be immortalised as a special edition unit in the game itself! I certainly hope that I can persuade some of my readers to join me alongside the Duskhounds and their fellows as we defend the Bale Stars from the bane of corruption.
P.S For the curious the chronology of the stories staring the Antari and Raine goes as follows:
Execution
A Company Of Shadows
Fire And Thunder
Trials
Honourbound
The Darkling Hours
FIRE AND THUNDER!
Nephrite
April 8, 2025
What an absolutely amazing story. I was expecting action, but was welcomed with quite a bit of intrigue. The characters are (mostly) likable and the story throws you through a loop on multiple occasions.
Definitely worth a read, even if you’re just a military sci-fi fan!
Definitely worth a read, even if you’re just a military sci-fi fan!
April 4, 2022
Boring to the bone. Generic and full of cliché. It was chore from beginning to the drop point which was 50 pages before ending. I could not finish it.
July 6, 2021
Favorite Quote: 'Words are powerful. They can begin wars and end them. People will die in the name of them, or to defy them.'
I think overall I was disappointed by this novel. I thought that the plot stood as a fairly generic conspiracy story within the backdrop of a war tale. Also, I thought most of the character development was shallow and contrived, lacking any meaningful growth through the novel. I especially disliked the romantic relationship between Andren Fel and Severina Raine, as it felt out of place and unnecessary. Fel's devotion and 'love' for Raine is not explained at all beyond just stating it as fact, even though that bond is what drives some important decisions and events later in the story. I think it would have been more realistic and believable if Harrison left their relationship as brother/sister-in-arms, with loyalty having been earned during a specific event/battle.
The other frustration I had was with the choppiness of the narrative. I felt like there were too many abrupt POV changes (changing almost every page or 2) and it hurt the flow of the story. It didn't help that I wasn't interested in most of the other characters besides Raine either. It's like if Marvel started the MCU with Avengers: Infinity War and there wasn't any background provided for any the characters. Jumping narratives all over the place just doesn't work without a good foundation. It wasn't until 2/3 of the way through I felt like the story smoothed out. I did enjoy the remaining 1/3 of the book.
Although, this book was a little underwhelming, I hope to enjoy Mark of Faith, which is an Adepta Sororitas novel from Rachel Harrison.
Synopsis (Spoilers):
In this novel, Severina Raine is a commissar attached to the Eleventh Antari Rifles regiment assigned to cleanse the planet, Laxus Secundus, of the Sighted Chaos Cult. The campaign falls under the Bale Stars Crusade in the Bale Stars Sector. Raine is a young woman with a Serious personality type, solemn, and lacks any pretense. She will follow orders to the death and will execute fellow soldiers for cowardice without hesitation.
At a young age, her mother, the Lord-General Militant, was killed in battle and her father was executed for running away from battle (cowardice). She grows up with her older sister, Lucia, in a commissar scholam. Severina and Lucia have a close relationship and both are unjustly judged by the actions of their father. They are eager to become commissars to prove that they do not have coward's blood. Lucia earns her commissar rank first and is sent off to fight in the crusade. She returns disillusioned by the purpose and the motivation of the crusade and tells Severina of her misgivings. Severina believes that Lucia is speaking out of cowardice and tells her never to speak of those things again. Not long after, Lucia is declared a traitor and executed.
Years later, Severina is a full-fledged commissar and is active in the front-lines of the crusade. In the battle against Calvar Larat, a Sighted witch, Yulia Cry from the 'Wyndfolk' Infantry Squad discover the Sighted to be in possession of Steadfast rifles. These weapons should have been only available to imperial forces. Raine begins an investigation and eventually uncovers Lord-General Militant Alar Serek's deception. Decades prior, he was grievously injured after disposing a powerful Sighted cultist, Dektar the Ascended. Fearing death, Serek accepted chaos corruption in a bid for continued life. After that battle he was given the title 'living embodiment of the Emperor's Will' and became above reproach. This gave him power to play both sides (imperial forces and cultists) to maintain control over the sector.
Several characters are silenced during Raine's investigation, including her immediate superior officer, Lord-Commissar Mardan Tula, who was hung to look like an apparent suicide, and Requesitions Adept Lori Ghael, who helped Andran Fel gain access to the alpha-grade records about the Strixian 99th Regiment in the Munitorium. Andran Fel was almost killed by a rigged explosive device in his sleeping quarters after his investigation and bedridden for the rest of the novel.
Serek eventually recognizes that he is suspected by Raine and sends her and the entire Eleventh Antari Rifles regiment on a suicide mission. The regiment succesfully completes the mission, but with heavy losses and Raine is listed as KIA. During the celebratory ceremony for the regiment's success, Raine appears and publicly accuses and exposes Serek's of treachery in front of the Bale Stars Sector High Command and all of the soldiers in attendance. A brawl ensues between Serek loyalists and opposition. Once the loyalists were eliminated, lasguns were concentrated on Serek and Raine executes him with her bolt pistol, Penance.
At the end of the book, Lord-Marshall Veris Drake and High-King Araxis asks Raine to continue to investigate and stamp out any other traitors amongst their ranks. It was decided that the truth about Serek would shatter morale and destroy the entire crusade, therefore he would be given a hero's death. Fortunately, there would not be any repercussions or retaliation for those who know the truth.
I think overall I was disappointed by this novel. I thought that the plot stood as a fairly generic conspiracy story within the backdrop of a war tale. Also, I thought most of the character development was shallow and contrived, lacking any meaningful growth through the novel. I especially disliked the romantic relationship between Andren Fel and Severina Raine, as it felt out of place and unnecessary. Fel's devotion and 'love' for Raine is not explained at all beyond just stating it as fact, even though that bond is what drives some important decisions and events later in the story. I think it would have been more realistic and believable if Harrison left their relationship as brother/sister-in-arms, with loyalty having been earned during a specific event/battle.
The other frustration I had was with the choppiness of the narrative. I felt like there were too many abrupt POV changes (changing almost every page or 2) and it hurt the flow of the story. It didn't help that I wasn't interested in most of the other characters besides Raine either. It's like if Marvel started the MCU with Avengers: Infinity War and there wasn't any background provided for any the characters. Jumping narratives all over the place just doesn't work without a good foundation. It wasn't until 2/3 of the way through I felt like the story smoothed out. I did enjoy the remaining 1/3 of the book.
Although, this book was a little underwhelming, I hope to enjoy Mark of Faith, which is an Adepta Sororitas novel from Rachel Harrison.
Synopsis (Spoilers):
In this novel, Severina Raine is a commissar attached to the Eleventh Antari Rifles regiment assigned to cleanse the planet, Laxus Secundus, of the Sighted Chaos Cult. The campaign falls under the Bale Stars Crusade in the Bale Stars Sector. Raine is a young woman with a Serious personality type, solemn, and lacks any pretense. She will follow orders to the death and will execute fellow soldiers for cowardice without hesitation.
At a young age, her mother, the Lord-General Militant, was killed in battle and her father was executed for running away from battle (cowardice). She grows up with her older sister, Lucia, in a commissar scholam. Severina and Lucia have a close relationship and both are unjustly judged by the actions of their father. They are eager to become commissars to prove that they do not have coward's blood. Lucia earns her commissar rank first and is sent off to fight in the crusade. She returns disillusioned by the purpose and the motivation of the crusade and tells Severina of her misgivings. Severina believes that Lucia is speaking out of cowardice and tells her never to speak of those things again. Not long after, Lucia is declared a traitor and executed.
Years later, Severina is a full-fledged commissar and is active in the front-lines of the crusade. In the battle against Calvar Larat, a Sighted witch, Yulia Cry from the 'Wyndfolk' Infantry Squad discover the Sighted to be in possession of Steadfast rifles. These weapons should have been only available to imperial forces. Raine begins an investigation and eventually uncovers Lord-General Militant Alar Serek's deception. Decades prior, he was grievously injured after disposing a powerful Sighted cultist, Dektar the Ascended. Fearing death, Serek accepted chaos corruption in a bid for continued life. After that battle he was given the title 'living embodiment of the Emperor's Will' and became above reproach. This gave him power to play both sides (imperial forces and cultists) to maintain control over the sector.
Several characters are silenced during Raine's investigation, including her immediate superior officer, Lord-Commissar Mardan Tula, who was hung to look like an apparent suicide, and Requesitions Adept Lori Ghael, who helped Andran Fel gain access to the alpha-grade records about the Strixian 99th Regiment in the Munitorium. Andran Fel was almost killed by a rigged explosive device in his sleeping quarters after his investigation and bedridden for the rest of the novel.
Serek eventually recognizes that he is suspected by Raine and sends her and the entire Eleventh Antari Rifles regiment on a suicide mission. The regiment succesfully completes the mission, but with heavy losses and Raine is listed as KIA. During the celebratory ceremony for the regiment's success, Raine appears and publicly accuses and exposes Serek's of treachery in front of the Bale Stars Sector High Command and all of the soldiers in attendance. A brawl ensues between Serek loyalists and opposition. Once the loyalists were eliminated, lasguns were concentrated on Serek and Raine executes him with her bolt pistol, Penance.
At the end of the book, Lord-Marshall Veris Drake and High-King Araxis asks Raine to continue to investigate and stamp out any other traitors amongst their ranks. It was decided that the truth about Serek would shatter morale and destroy the entire crusade, therefore he would be given a hero's death. Fortunately, there would not be any repercussions or retaliation for those who know the truth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2020
Another one from the Black Library 2020 Humble Bundle. https://www.humblebundle.com/books/vo...
I understand the miniature painting company is trying to put at least one face on each type of unit they're selling. In this case we get a Commissar Severina Raine who hears and feels like an NKVD or Gestapo officer, looks like a Soviet militia officer with that ridiculously oversized hat. She also has the same emotional depth and range as her inspirational predecessors, which is to say none. Making the whole novel a chore, no matter how much I like the narrator Nicolette Chin's voice.
There was a lot of fights between some random dudes I don't know and care about and the author doesn't really give me any reason to care, because there is no intro or buildup. The characters introduced are so bland and one-dimensional without any development that it gets boring rather quickly. On the other hand you could suggest we are given a glimpse into the lives of theocratical religious fanatics and author wanted the reader to really feel that insane culture while reading. In that case all the more power to the author, it just didn't resonate with me personally.
Another thought coming to mind with the book - she has a pretty decent armor on the coverpicture instead of a metal bikini, so that's a refreshingly functional design by the artist. But I guess the whole Warhammer universe tries really hard to be children friendly, so no kissy-kissy anywhere, and definitely no bikinis! But blood and gore is fine to the US PG-scale...
My personal little dictionary into WH40K universe (leaving in the notes from other reads):
Commissars - the Imperium's Internal Affairs aka NKVD of the Soviets who go around being hated and feared by everybody and executing soldiers when they think it boosts morale. I feel it might be an "interesting" mechanic in the game, but it's really boring to read about it
Space Marines or Adeptus Astartes - the posterboys of WH40K. Foremost amongst the defenders of Humanity, created by the Emperor by generic engineering. Wearing Power Armor that Starcraft marines copied without remorse.
Blood Angels - one of the 20 Fist Founding Legions of the Space Marines, their armor main color is red.
Lasrifle/lasgun - energy rifle. Many variations: lascarabine, shotlas,
Bolter/boltgun - kinetic rifle
Psyker - a person with psychic abilities, called Librarians in Space Marines. Like Chief Librarian Mephiston, the titular character of the book.
Segmentum - a region of the Milky Way Galaxy, Sol and Terra are in the Segmentum Solar, "galactic center"
Emperor of Mankind - living god who sits on the Golden Throne on Terra, ruler of the Imperium of Man
Astra Militarum - aka Imperial Guard serve as the Imperium of Man's primary combat force in the 41th century
Low Gothic - common tongue like English in the 21st century
Praetorian Guard - regiments with roman numerals (e.g XXIV) of Astra Militarum from the planet Praetoria. Known for discipline and presenting perfectly formed firing lines like Napoleonic battles.
Inquisitor - secret policemen and intelligence agents of the Imperium. Split into three main orders or "ordos majoris," the Ordo Xenos (Alien Hunters), the Ordo Malleus (Daemonhunters) and the Ordo Hereticus (Witch Hunters). Aliens like Orks, the Tyranids, the Aeldari, the Necrons and the T'au.
Vostroya - Imperial industrial world in the Halo Zone < Segmentum Obscurus, galactic "north". Home to Vostroyan Firstborn regiment of Astra Militarum.
I understand the miniature painting company is trying to put at least one face on each type of unit they're selling. In this case we get a Commissar Severina Raine who hears and feels like an NKVD or Gestapo officer, looks like a Soviet militia officer with that ridiculously oversized hat. She also has the same emotional depth and range as her inspirational predecessors, which is to say none. Making the whole novel a chore, no matter how much I like the narrator Nicolette Chin's voice.
There was a lot of fights between some random dudes I don't know and care about and the author doesn't really give me any reason to care, because there is no intro or buildup. The characters introduced are so bland and one-dimensional without any development that it gets boring rather quickly. On the other hand you could suggest we are given a glimpse into the lives of theocratical religious fanatics and author wanted the reader to really feel that insane culture while reading. In that case all the more power to the author, it just didn't resonate with me personally.
Another thought coming to mind with the book - she has a pretty decent armor on the coverpicture instead of a metal bikini, so that's a refreshingly functional design by the artist. But I guess the whole Warhammer universe tries really hard to be children friendly, so no kissy-kissy anywhere, and definitely no bikinis! But blood and gore is fine to the US PG-scale...
My personal little dictionary into WH40K universe (leaving in the notes from other reads):
Commissars - the Imperium's Internal Affairs aka NKVD of the Soviets who go around being hated and feared by everybody and executing soldiers when they think it boosts morale. I feel it might be an "interesting" mechanic in the game, but it's really boring to read about it
Space Marines or Adeptus Astartes - the posterboys of WH40K. Foremost amongst the defenders of Humanity, created by the Emperor by generic engineering. Wearing Power Armor that Starcraft marines copied without remorse.
Blood Angels - one of the 20 Fist Founding Legions of the Space Marines, their armor main color is red.
Lasrifle/lasgun - energy rifle. Many variations: lascarabine, shotlas,
Bolter/boltgun - kinetic rifle
Psyker - a person with psychic abilities, called Librarians in Space Marines. Like Chief Librarian Mephiston, the titular character of the book.
Segmentum - a region of the Milky Way Galaxy, Sol and Terra are in the Segmentum Solar, "galactic center"
Emperor of Mankind - living god who sits on the Golden Throne on Terra, ruler of the Imperium of Man
Astra Militarum - aka Imperial Guard serve as the Imperium of Man's primary combat force in the 41th century
Low Gothic - common tongue like English in the 21st century
Praetorian Guard - regiments with roman numerals (e.g XXIV) of Astra Militarum from the planet Praetoria. Known for discipline and presenting perfectly formed firing lines like Napoleonic battles.
Inquisitor - secret policemen and intelligence agents of the Imperium. Split into three main orders or "ordos majoris," the Ordo Xenos (Alien Hunters), the Ordo Malleus (Daemonhunters) and the Ordo Hereticus (Witch Hunters). Aliens like Orks, the Tyranids, the Aeldari, the Necrons and the T'au.
Vostroya - Imperial industrial world in the Halo Zone < Segmentum Obscurus, galactic "north". Home to Vostroyan Firstborn regiment of Astra Militarum.
August 31, 2019
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll start off by saying that you need to pay attention as there is a lot going on in this book. On the face of it you’d think ‘dark science-fiction because it’s Warhammer 40,000’. What you get is dark science-fiction with and undercurrent of military mystery/thriller style plot.
Just based on the writing, it was one I expected to hate. It is written in present tense and that really grated on me to start with. So much so that I nearly broke my own ‘thou shalt not DNF’ rule. What I didn’t expect was for the writing style to become so familiar that I barely noticed it at all and it did not inhibit my enjoyment of the book.
And enjoy it I did. As I said, there is so much going on in this novel and so many interesting characters that each has plotlines of their own going on in the background. My main gripe regarding characters would be that, considering it is a series named after Severina Raine, the commissar herself doesn’t feel like she takes up much of the spotlight. In fact, if I had gone into this reading it without any idea of series title, I’d have assumed the main character focuses would be Wyck, Lydia Zane or Arden Fel. Those three had the more interesting plot arcs and depth of character and seemed to eat up more of the words than Raine; who’s only real page time was normally spent remembering her fallen family members. Just feel as though more could be done with her character.
My main non-character gripe would be that it just didn’t feel like a Warhammer 40,000 novel. None of the main tropes/jargon are ever mentioned in more than a passing word, if at all. So you barely ever hear the word ‘Chaos’ or ‘Warp and, I’m venturing a guess into my memory here, but I don’t think the words Imperial Guard or Astra Militarum are used. If they are, it’s so infrequent that it doesn’t commit to memory. To be quite honest; if you were to remove every mention of the God Emperor of Mankind and give the book to someone that hates Warhammer, they would enjoy it. As it just feels like a general science fiction novel that has ever so gently dipped its toe into the Warhammer 40,000 pond.
My main complaints aside, I really enjoyed this when I got stuck into it, which is why I scored it so highly. I even found myself spending more time reading than I normally do just to get through it. The run up to the ending was pretty intense and handled well. I’ll certainly look towards future books in the series with interest, but would hope that they have a more 40,000 feel to them than this offering.
I’ll start off by saying that you need to pay attention as there is a lot going on in this book. On the face of it you’d think ‘dark science-fiction because it’s Warhammer 40,000’. What you get is dark science-fiction with and undercurrent of military mystery/thriller style plot.
Just based on the writing, it was one I expected to hate. It is written in present tense and that really grated on me to start with. So much so that I nearly broke my own ‘thou shalt not DNF’ rule. What I didn’t expect was for the writing style to become so familiar that I barely noticed it at all and it did not inhibit my enjoyment of the book.
And enjoy it I did. As I said, there is so much going on in this novel and so many interesting characters that each has plotlines of their own going on in the background. My main gripe regarding characters would be that, considering it is a series named after Severina Raine, the commissar herself doesn’t feel like she takes up much of the spotlight. In fact, if I had gone into this reading it without any idea of series title, I’d have assumed the main character focuses would be Wyck, Lydia Zane or Arden Fel. Those three had the more interesting plot arcs and depth of character and seemed to eat up more of the words than Raine; who’s only real page time was normally spent remembering her fallen family members. Just feel as though more could be done with her character.
My main non-character gripe would be that it just didn’t feel like a Warhammer 40,000 novel. None of the main tropes/jargon are ever mentioned in more than a passing word, if at all. So you barely ever hear the word ‘Chaos’ or ‘Warp and, I’m venturing a guess into my memory here, but I don’t think the words Imperial Guard or Astra Militarum are used. If they are, it’s so infrequent that it doesn’t commit to memory. To be quite honest; if you were to remove every mention of the God Emperor of Mankind and give the book to someone that hates Warhammer, they would enjoy it. As it just feels like a general science fiction novel that has ever so gently dipped its toe into the Warhammer 40,000 pond.
My main complaints aside, I really enjoyed this when I got stuck into it, which is why I scored it so highly. I even found myself spending more time reading than I normally do just to get through it. The run up to the ending was pretty intense and handled well. I’ll certainly look towards future books in the series with interest, but would hope that they have a more 40,000 feel to them than this offering.
January 18, 2024
This story didn't feel like a book but a collection of short stories bundled together in an attempt to make a full book. It's because of this it never felt like the plot got off the ground. I was halfway through the book and still wondering when the story was actually going to start.
The Antari Rifles have an elaborate culture I found confusing, but it didn't matter in the end as all the time spent explaining it had nothing to do with the plot and could've been completely cut without affecting anything but the length of the book. The Duskhounds also have their own sub-culture, but it's just as skippable.
The closest thing to a central plot is a battle against a cult. Even though they're a cult led by a Magos, they have nothing to do with the genestealers. They're closer to the dark mechanicum as they are fusions of flesh and machinery with the addition of mirrors and crystals jutting out every which way.
The war frequently takes a back seat to the other storylines, so much so that the fight against the cult doesn't seem that important for most of the book. There are numerous points where the story starts to move forward but instantly reverses for a flashback chapter to either lay a foundation for what comes next or to explain what just happened.
The book had some cool ideas and interesting characters; I just wish the author had done something with them.
The Antari Rifles have an elaborate culture I found confusing, but it didn't matter in the end as all the time spent explaining it had nothing to do with the plot and could've been completely cut without affecting anything but the length of the book. The Duskhounds also have their own sub-culture, but it's just as skippable.
The closest thing to a central plot is a battle against a cult. Even though they're a cult led by a Magos, they have nothing to do with the genestealers. They're closer to the dark mechanicum as they are fusions of flesh and machinery with the addition of mirrors and crystals jutting out every which way.
The war frequently takes a back seat to the other storylines, so much so that the fight against the cult doesn't seem that important for most of the book. There are numerous points where the story starts to move forward but instantly reverses for a flashback chapter to either lay a foundation for what comes next or to explain what just happened.
The book had some cool ideas and interesting characters; I just wish the author had done something with them.
Read
September 13, 2021Pros: (1) it did more or less fulfill what I was expecting from it, namely: formulaic milscifi with desperate maneuvers and last stands and honorable non-coms ET CETERA ET CETERA in the grim darkness, religious fanaticism, dubious dog Latin and skull decor of the space Holy Roman Empire. (2) A couple of the minor characters actually had pretty neat arcs, in particular the completely unexpected team-up and back-having of Zane the psyker, who knows that the rest of her company will never trust or her or see her as one of them or even as fully human, despite the fact that she's pretty much the only reason any of them ever survive a day fighting the forces of Chaos, and Wyke the secret drug-addict brute of a sergeant secretly wrestling with his Dark Past. (3) Severina was a less cool knockoff Shira Calpurnia (ruthless, fanatically upright officers of the (martial) law, etc. etc.) but since there aren't (probably) ever going to be more Shira Calpurnia books, I have to take what I can get.
Cons: (1) present tense. Warhammer books are not known for being well written, exactly, and this one is no exception; but bad-to-barely-serviceable prose is so. much. worse. when it's in that breathless present-tense YA style. (At least it's not first person. At least it's not that.) (2) Not really ridiculous enough. Some vague descriptions of terrible cultist sacrifices, but and the very occasional description of a cog-adorned cathedral vault, but both the praeterhumanly sized space goth decor and the grim dark "wait are these actually the bad guys?" characterization were a bit lacking. Severina's sister was just executed by firing squad for being discovered to be a traitor at the highest levels? Possibly that could be explained by .
Anyway: it was fine, I guess. I'm not saying that I won't read another Severina Raine book the next time I want to read a book of this type, should one be published.
Cons: (1) present tense. Warhammer books are not known for being well written, exactly, and this one is no exception; but bad-to-barely-serviceable prose is so. much. worse. when it's in that breathless present-tense YA style. (At least it's not first person. At least it's not that.) (2) Not really ridiculous enough. Some vague descriptions of terrible cultist sacrifices, but and the very occasional description of a cog-adorned cathedral vault, but both the praeterhumanly sized space goth decor and the grim dark "wait are these actually the bad guys?" characterization were a bit lacking. Severina's sister was just executed by firing squad for being discovered to be a traitor at the highest levels? Possibly that could be explained by .
Anyway: it was fine, I guess. I'm not saying that I won't read another Severina Raine book the next time I want to read a book of this type, should one be published.
August 13, 2020
Commissar Severina Raine is attached to the 11th Antari Rifles a regiment recruited from a semi-feral world fighting in the Bale Stars Crusade. Their enemy is the Sighted a chaos cult that has corrupted a swathe of Imperial worlds. But the war has changed and Raine want's to know why the Sighted seem to be more professional. Who's helping them and why?
Raine is not the Commissar to be a 40K star. Commissar Yarrick saved Armageddon, Colonel-Commissar Gaunt leads his Ghosts while Cain is alongside is Valhallans. But each of them is a little odd. Yarrick never seems to be attached to a single regiment but a whole planet. But Raine is a commissar as they are more often presented in the background, there to oversee on specific regiment, not to command it.
And she's a very good character, properly grimdark (she's not nice at all) but still someone you're interested in. And she's supported by a well written collection of Guardsmen and women who are a mixture of heroic and deeply flawed, usually both.
But. One thing I couldn't get away from is that shadow cast by Gaunt and his Ghosts. While Raine is nothing like Gaunt her regiment is not entirely different from the Tanith, the Sighted not so different from the Archenemies troops and the warzone is similar to the Sabbat Crusade. Which is not to say this book didn't have new and interesting things to say, far from it. Nor that i'm saying Harrison is cribbing off of Abbnett either. His work covers so much of the 40K universe that it's hard not to be influenced by him one way or the other.
I would certainly recommend this book to any 40K fan or military sci-fi fan, particularly, but not only, those looking for strong and well rounded female characters.
Raine is not the Commissar to be a 40K star. Commissar Yarrick saved Armageddon, Colonel-Commissar Gaunt leads his Ghosts while Cain is alongside is Valhallans. But each of them is a little odd. Yarrick never seems to be attached to a single regiment but a whole planet. But Raine is a commissar as they are more often presented in the background, there to oversee on specific regiment, not to command it.
And she's a very good character, properly grimdark (she's not nice at all) but still someone you're interested in. And she's supported by a well written collection of Guardsmen and women who are a mixture of heroic and deeply flawed, usually both.
But. One thing I couldn't get away from is that shadow cast by Gaunt and his Ghosts. While Raine is nothing like Gaunt her regiment is not entirely different from the Tanith, the Sighted not so different from the Archenemies troops and the warzone is similar to the Sabbat Crusade. Which is not to say this book didn't have new and interesting things to say, far from it. Nor that i'm saying Harrison is cribbing off of Abbnett either. His work covers so much of the 40K universe that it's hard not to be influenced by him one way or the other.
I would certainly recommend this book to any 40K fan or military sci-fi fan, particularly, but not only, those looking for strong and well rounded female characters.
April 17, 2021
За Горькие звезды, за Императора.
Роман "Оковы Чести" за авторством Рэйчел Харрисон - это отличная история, даже за рамками сеттинга 40K.
Динамичное повествование начинается в гуще боя и не теряет темп, обрастая драматичными линиями интересных и действительно раскрытых персонажей. А сюжет начинает заворачиваться вокруг интриги и почти детективного расследования.
Если смотреть на произведение по частям, то как детектив, как боевик или драма в отдельности "Оковы Чести" не являются откровением. Но объединяясь, эти элементы образуют целостный, захватывающий и довольно интересный сюжет, написанный так же неплохо.
(Стоит отметить, что всё повествование в книге происходит в реальном времени, например "Когда Рейн добирается до своей палатки, уже постепенно начинает светать, но уснуть Северина не может."
Предполагаю, что не каждому придется такой подход по душе, но для меня книга читалась легко.)
"Оковы Чести" я советую всем фанатам "Warhammer" и просто любителям фантастики, готовым прогуглить несколько терминов и общую информацию о сеттинге, благо порог вхождения для этой книги очень низкий.
P.S. Очень надеюсь, что следующий роман Рэйчел Харрисон под названием "Mark of Faith" переведут и издадут в наших просторах.
Оценка книги:
9/10
Рейтинг "goodreads" - 4.24/5
Моя группа Вконтакте - https://vk.com/ashborndetv
Роман "Оковы Чести" за авторством Рэйчел Харрисон - это отличная история, даже за рамками сеттинга 40K.
Динамичное повествование начинается в гуще боя и не теряет темп, обрастая драматичными линиями интересных и действительно раскрытых персонажей. А сюжет начинает заворачиваться вокруг интриги и почти детективного расследования.
Если смотреть на произведение по частям, то как детектив, как боевик или драма в отдельности "Оковы Чести" не являются откровением. Но объединяясь, эти элементы образуют целостный, захватывающий и довольно интересный сюжет, написанный так же неплохо.
(Стоит отметить, что всё повествование в книге происходит в реальном времени, например "Когда Рейн добирается до своей палатки, уже постепенно начинает светать, но уснуть Северина не может."
Предполагаю, что не каждому придется такой подход по душе, но для меня книга читалась легко.)
"Оковы Чести" я советую всем фанатам "Warhammer" и просто любителям фантастики, готовым прогуглить несколько терминов и общую информацию о сеттинге, благо порог вхождения для этой книги очень низкий.
P.S. Очень надеюсь, что следующий роман Рэйчел Харрисон под названием "Mark of Faith" переведут и издадут в наших просторах.
Оценка книги:
9/10
Рейтинг "goodreads" - 4.24/5
Моя группа Вконтакте - https://vk.com/ashborndetv
November 21, 2019
Quirky but thoroughly enjoyable book. The constant present tense was odd, but quickly adjusted to. More jarring and in some ways damning was the heavy telling as opposed to showing when it came to the characters' thoughts.
The premise of the story is really simple, as another reviewer notes. It's basically about rooting out traitors in the rank, but the execution of said simplicity is where this book really shines: There are interesting characters, fluid action, and enough propelling intrigue and neat writing to keep me turning pages over and over, always on the edge as to what would come next.
There were also some few scattered moments that made me groan a bit because they felt a bit too hammy or artificial. The first that comes to mind is when Wyck is thinking about how it is impossible to escape the judgement of a commissar like Severina Raines. On its face there's nothing wrong with it, just the way it is written really reads a bit clichéd and awkward and while doing no favours to the main character.
Overall, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys the setting or military fantasy in general.
The premise of the story is really simple, as another reviewer notes. It's basically about rooting out traitors in the rank, but the execution of said simplicity is where this book really shines: There are interesting characters, fluid action, and enough propelling intrigue and neat writing to keep me turning pages over and over, always on the edge as to what would come next.
There were also some few scattered moments that made me groan a bit because they felt a bit too hammy or artificial. The first that comes to mind is when Wyck is thinking about how it is impossible to escape the judgement of a commissar like Severina Raines. On its face there's nothing wrong with it, just the way it is written really reads a bit clichéd and awkward and while doing no favours to the main character.
Overall, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys the setting or military fantasy in general.
January 2, 2020
One of my favorite Warhammer 40K books, initially I was afraid this was going to be drenched in overtly feminist themes but thankfully it wasn’t and because of that fact it aided in the credibility of the writing . This book is definitely one to read if you are just entering the Warhammer 40k universe because it does handle more “human” themes, the military structure and equipment is more relatable, as well as the enemy (cultists). Severina Raine is an amazing main character, she was both relatable and also gave credit to the “commissar” profession and reputation. She was hard when her job required but also inquisitive and relatable enough that as a reader you rooted for her throughout the novel. Side characters also added another dimension to the story and gave more insight to the actual world building and culture. Most side characters even had their own plot aside from that of Severina’s. The novel flew by and kept me engaged, between the large personalities of the characters and the expansive world the plot thrived and enraptured the reader. I don’t have anything negative to say about this novel and I am hunting down more of Sandy Mitchell’s 40K novels right now.
November 9, 2022
I have read a multitude of imperial guard books over the years. But to this day I have not read one that beats this book. This has stayed as my all time favourite, even though it's not even based on my favourite regiment. As I've just started leaving reviews on books I've read. I am obligated to leave a quick one for Honourbound.
I've definitely had a great experience with this book. And because of this experience I've had a blast reading it. Though I can't say the same for others. But I really enjoyed all the different aspects this book tackles. War, detective investigations, discrimination, drug abuse and even some subtle romance (which I'm shamefully a sucker for)
I think I've enjoyed this book so much because I guinely love the characters. It reads from many perspectives and somehow Rachael Harrison has made them equally compelling.
I really would recommend this book, the story is so gripping. The dialogue is what makes this book and the combat is riveting. I really cannot criticise this novel.
I've definitely had a great experience with this book. And because of this experience I've had a blast reading it. Though I can't say the same for others. But I really enjoyed all the different aspects this book tackles. War, detective investigations, discrimination, drug abuse and even some subtle romance (which I'm shamefully a sucker for)
I think I've enjoyed this book so much because I guinely love the characters. It reads from many perspectives and somehow Rachael Harrison has made them equally compelling.
I really would recommend this book, the story is so gripping. The dialogue is what makes this book and the combat is riveting. I really cannot criticise this novel.
November 20, 2022
I really wanted to love this book, and I enjoyed it enough that if there's another full length severina raine book, I'll probably read it. That said, severina was somehow the least interesting character for me to read about. The sections from other character's perspectives were just vastly more involved and intricate to me, especially between Wyck and Zane. They had a complicated relationship that I wanted to keep exploring, and Zane had a tragic relationship with herself that felt like it had a sense of urgency. Severina, the main character, had a lot of good introspection and I felt like her drive as a character made sense, it just never felt like she took enough action, for me. She often felt passively involved in her own story, with things happening around her that she would think through, but her actions just never felt as meaningful as I would've liked. I am incredibly glad to see a woman on the cover of a 40k book and I enjoyed her story and her world, but I felt like she was lacking the same depth as some of the other crew.
February 15, 2020
Considering I was not expecting to like this at all, I am really happy with this book.
Severina Raine is a BADASS.
This was my first foray into Warhammer 40k fiction and I was pleasantly surprised. I’m not a reader of sci-fi in any way. I do find 40k lore fascinating, so that probably helped.
I have no idea if what I read was general sci-fi fodder or if it was really something unique, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The characters were enjoyable and less annoying than I expected, the scenery was terrifying and truly conveyed hopelessness in a never-ending war, and the story itself was engaging. I went to the Warhammer wiki a LOT (but in a good, interested way).
I did skim parts of it because there was a lot of discussions of war and technicalities that went on a little long and there were some characters whose arcs I just didn’t care about.
Recommended for people who like sci-fi ladies doing very cool things and nerdy Warhammer lingo.
Severina Raine is a BADASS.
This was my first foray into Warhammer 40k fiction and I was pleasantly surprised. I’m not a reader of sci-fi in any way. I do find 40k lore fascinating, so that probably helped.
I have no idea if what I read was general sci-fi fodder or if it was really something unique, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The characters were enjoyable and less annoying than I expected, the scenery was terrifying and truly conveyed hopelessness in a never-ending war, and the story itself was engaging. I went to the Warhammer wiki a LOT (but in a good, interested way).
I did skim parts of it because there was a lot of discussions of war and technicalities that went on a little long and there were some characters whose arcs I just didn’t care about.
Recommended for people who like sci-fi ladies doing very cool things and nerdy Warhammer lingo.
August 25, 2019
I received this book from NetGalley and Black Library for review.
Most 40k books you hit the action running,
Rachel Harrison has you hitting the action stumbling, scrambling, half-blind and smelling of a heady mix of singed las-fire and burning promethium that's not near enough to take the brutal edge off the shock of war, as you are thrust abruptly into the decades-long Bale Stars Crusade against The Sighted.
There's a story being told that's reminiscent of Dan Abnett's beloved Gaunts Ghost series with Commissar Severina Raine and the Celtic-fey influenced 11th Anatari Rifles replacing Commissar Gaunt and the Tanith First and Only. Just like Dan Abnett, Rachel Harrison has you quickly attached to a host of characters covering the spectrum from the morally grey and flawed to damn right heroic. The action is tight and the narrative flows. There's a story blossoming here and even though the book is a contained stand-alone novel the seeds for a series are planted and if the debut full-length novel is representative of what's to come, I want more.
Most 40k books you hit the action running,
Rachel Harrison has you hitting the action stumbling, scrambling, half-blind and smelling of a heady mix of singed las-fire and burning promethium that's not near enough to take the brutal edge off the shock of war, as you are thrust abruptly into the decades-long Bale Stars Crusade against The Sighted.
There's a story being told that's reminiscent of Dan Abnett's beloved Gaunts Ghost series with Commissar Severina Raine and the Celtic-fey influenced 11th Anatari Rifles replacing Commissar Gaunt and the Tanith First and Only. Just like Dan Abnett, Rachel Harrison has you quickly attached to a host of characters covering the spectrum from the morally grey and flawed to damn right heroic. The action is tight and the narrative flows. There's a story blossoming here and even though the book is a contained stand-alone novel the seeds for a series are planted and if the debut full-length novel is representative of what's to come, I want more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews