The Victory

Gaunt's Ghosts #12-13

by Dan Abnett

The saga of Gaunt's Ghosts continues in this two-book collection charting the first half of the Victory story arc. Gaunt’s Ghosts is Black Library’s longest-running single author war series; military science fiction at its visceral best, beloved by fans for its gritty realism, superb storytelling, and humanity of its characters.

After twenty-five hard, blood-soaked years, Warmaster Macaroth’s crusade to free the Sabbat Worlds from the clutch of Chaos has ground to a halt. The Warmaster’s forces are split and deadlocked on two separate fronts, haemorrhaging momentum, men and materiel. A series of ambitious covert operations is planned across the sector – their aim to break the stalemate so the Imperial forces can move forward once more. Key players in this shadow war are Colonel-Commissar Gaunt and the Tanith First-and-Only. Will the bravery and cunning of this infamous regiment tip the balance in the Imperium’s favour?

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

595 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2018

Reviews

[Claire Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book as much as The Emperor's Children love nipple piercings.

[Northern One · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? Abnett brings it yet again. As usual, this is not for the faint hearted. The amount of death and violence is immense, as is the psychological hurt. I'd say though, that this one packs a bit less of a punch than the last omnibus - but then again, this is only Part 1. I would assume the end of Part 2 will offer a higher emotional impact than this one did. Just gotta wait for it to be published...

[RobLovesBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd time reading this.

[Guinevere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I assume that if you have found yourself here, and you have not already read this series, it is because you are interested in the Warhammer: 40k setting. No matter what your level of knowledge, I would say congratulations! you have found likely the best WH40k novels yet written (which is saying something, with as many books as have been published by the Black Library), and you will be happy to read them. You would be doing yourself a disservice to start here, though, so please start with The Founding omnibus instead.
However, if you aren't already predisposed to enjoy these books by virtue of familiarity with the setting, it's fairly simple: these are great action books that are, admittedly, perhaps a little pulpy. The four star rating is for you. Again, though, you really need to start with The Founding.

For the Warhammer reader, seasoned or novice, I have this: a tier list of the Gaunt's Ghost series up to and including The Victory: Part One omnibus. Ratings are therefore relative to each other; suffice to say that even the worst GG is better than a lot of other WH40k. The bolded below are the novels featured in this omnibus, each having their own short write-up after the list.

S Tier - Traitor General, Only In Death
A Tier - Necropolis, Blood Pact
B Tier - First and Only (I do need a reread tbh), Straight Silver, His Last Command, Salvation's Reach
C Tier - Honour Guard, Guns of Tanith, Armour of Contempt
D Tier - Sabbat Martyr
F Tier - Ghostmaker

The prognostications are good! Blood Pact (A Tier) is an interesting retread of Traitor General - this time swapping the roles of the cat-and-mouse game. While the side-adventures of the Tanith First's ensemble make for an amusing sideshow, they make the story less focused than Traitor General was. In spite of this, the two main perspectives (that following Gaunt & co., and the much appreciated Blood Pact) remain engaging and tense.
Salvation's Reach (B Tier) is another tricky rate because it has truly excellent moments alongside some somewhat subpar (for Abnett) action sequences. The story peaks with the infiltration of the titular Salvation's Reach, with the shocking entry mishaps and the extraordinarily tense booby-trap disarming. However, much of the journey to that point is lacking that certain je ne sais quoi that keeps GG fun to read after over a dozen novels. Additionally, the shootout in the hangar is rather confused (again, for Abnett - so it's far from unintelligible). Further, the objectives of the mission are left deliberately muddled for the reader (to reflect the confidentiality of the action, I suppose) and do not really pay-off by the end - not in the sense that the mission didn't matter, but in that the obfuscation was far more confusing than it was effective. Its strengths buoy it to B, where it's weaknesses may have landed it in C.

As you likely noticed, The Victory is shorter than any other omnibus - two novels fewer than The Lost, which kind of gives you a bit of whiplash. If I had to guess, this has more to do with the money-grubbing practices of Games Workshop (and perhaps the Black Library, but I'm not ready to throw them under that bus yet) than anything else. Abnett tries to make up for it with more short stories than usual; some are standard fare, one is gleeful fanservice, and one has left me genuinely nervous for what is to come. Thumbs up!

[Douglas Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit that when at the end of the last omnibus, having Colonel-Commissar Gaunt rescued kind of disappointed me. I thought the series had reached an appropriate ending, with the 1st Tanith entering a new phase of existence, beyond the legacy of being Gaunt's Ghosts.

I was wrong.

We pick up two years after the events in Only in Death, the Tanith 1st has finally been sent for rest and refit, But two years of inactivity are wearing on them. The planet Balhaut was the site of the Famous Victory some fifteen years prior, and Gaunt gained fame as the Commissar of Hyrkan 8th, rallying them to a crushing victory in the final battle. in the city of Balopolis. Gaunt is ready to be redeployed, ready to get back in the war. . . then a very special prisoner arrives, and he will on;y speak to Gaunt. A prisoner that the Archenemy will do anything to silence.

What follows is a game of one mouse and many cats, with suspicions on all sides. There is unexpected heroism, a stunning betrayal, and a satisfying conclusion. A very different entry in the series, and a very good novel. That's my view of Blood Pact, the first novel.

The second novel is Salavation's Reach and is a more traditional Ghosts story, but with a twist or five. The regiment is packed on a frigate centuries past the day when she should have been scrapped and sent on a raid that could tip the balance in the stalled Sabbat Worlds Crusade. Along for the ride are three Space Marines, and hidden among the regiment and crew is an assassin.

Abnett normally avoids big themes in his books, or rather he hides them very well, but here the theme is family. We have a woman from the previous book who is now adjusting to life as an officer's lady. Reunions both welcome and unexpected, and how close family ties can both help and hinder a unit. One thing I really like was how he showed the regiment preparing for the raid. They had floorplans of the target, and these were laid out in empty hanger spaces so the troops could rehearse every expected step, train on room-clearing, and learn the other guy's job as well as their own. This is what real units do. It was a nice touch.

There are the usual roadblocks, some quite threatening, and we do get a massive space battle, but the raid goes off as planned, and the regiment escapes, except we've lost some long-standing characters. Such is war.

After this, there are several short stories that both deepen mysteries and imply greater threats while showing different aspects of shipboard life. All in all, this is a great addition to the canon, and I shall be ordering Volume 2 of The Victory as soon as I have some spare cash.

[Paul Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Continuing Adventures of Gaunts ghosts

This is the fourth omnibus of Gaunt's Ghosts if you have read the previous books you will enjoy this .
A knowledge of the Warhammer 40k universe does help the reader visualise what is happening . As well as the authors descriptions
The second half of the book the second book first half describes life for those who tag along with a imperial guard regiment and makes a welcome but odd change of pace .
But it was always one of those questions at the back of one's mind
I for one enjoyed it especially as the core characters have changed over time

If you enjoy Gaunts Ghosts and the Warhammer 40k universe then this book is one for you

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

In another collection of the novels and stories of Gaunt's Ghosts - the regiment finds itself taking leave on the planet Balhaut. But the Imperium has captured an important prisoner, a traitor from chaos, who has info that could change everything.

Trying to unseat the powerful new army of the Anarch - The Sons of Sek - the Ghosts will chase them to the edge of space with Imperial traitors nipping at their heels. Infiltrated by chaos agents, the ghosts will fight a battle that's a far cry from the usual recon mission.

Always fighting at the edge of the Imperial advance, the legendary recon unit does its work in the shadows so that those shadows themselves will not fall over the Imperium. Full of suspense, violence, gore and loss - we are left as usual - wanting more.

[Rodney Payne]

These two books start the next cycle in the Gaunts Ghost Series. This is a series that maintains an incredibly high standard throughout and i don't think that any of these stories are less than 4.5 or 5 star books. Each book is an exquisite treat.

Blood Pact is quite similar to Traitor General, but don't let that put you off. It's a riviting read that's just filled with tension and risk. This may be my favourite GG novel.

Salvations Reach is also packed with action and had my heart racing throughout. Not only does Dan write excellent, (if not the best), action sequences and battles, he also writes compelling personal stories for his actors. Personally, i just cannot recommend the Ghosts enough.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd half-way house of a collection. Two novels, bulked out with a few after-action novellas that don't do much in the way of story or character.

Blood Pact is Traitor General in reverse, and not in a particularly inspiring way. Again, most main characters are sidelined, but other than a few great character beats, there's not much going on.

Salvation's Reach feels like a rework of Guns of Tanith, and again isn't among the best Ghost stories. Both of these novels feel more like a setup for what's to come, rather than the self-contained arc of the other ominbuses.

Really, they should've waited and added Warmaster and Anarch.

[Stephen Darroch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Victory in the making?

Yet another fine entry to the Gaunts Ghosts series as the nature of they rejoin the war. This omnibus contains Blood Pact and Salvation's Reach as well as a few short story's that show the aftermath.
Abnett is a stalwart author for Black Library and his novels always tend to leave the reader wanting more. The introduction of more characters to the Ghosts and the loss of yet more beloved Ghosts can be heart breaking and confusing to new readers so make sure you have read the rest of the series before starting

[David Toye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for a chance to read this!
This is an excellent warhammer 40k book, based around gaunts ghosts, the first and only infantry regiment from tanith. You follow them during the sabat crusade, as well as learning more about their origins.
I love the writing style and the plot. Things are well paced and the book keeps the tension high the whole time. Overall, an excellent read and excellent starting point for warhammer.

[Daren Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great read

I blazed through this book. These are all excellent and some of the best sci fi I’ve read recently. Love the characters and the action and the story. It’s just sad to be getting near the end.

[Ulzeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read. Highly recommended!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of this series is great

[Jakob Laux · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Emperor protects

[Damian Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why Gaunt's Ghosts Is More Than Warhammer: A Reflection on Memory, Meaning, and Masterful Storytelling

Introduction: The Long March of the Lost
If you’ve read Gaunt’s Ghosts, you know the truth:
This isn’t just military sci-fi.
It’s not just another campaign in the grimdark galaxy of Warhammer 40,000.
It’s a meditation on what remains when everything else is gone.
It’s a story about people who lost their home, and—against all odds—found a purpose worth dying for anyway.
And the deeper question the series asks is this:
How do we stay human in a universe designed to strip us of that very thing?

The Craft: Why This Series Works
Dan Abnett achieves something rare. With Gaunt's Ghosts, he doesn’t just write battles—he writes people living through battles.
✦ The Characters Feel Real
Across the omnibuses, the cast deepens and fractures. You can’t read the series without picking favourites—and dreading the moment they might fall. Whether it’s Larkin’s haunted genius, Rawne’s barely leashed fury, or Gaunt’s quiet, principled resolve, every character brings the weight of memory to the page.
✦ The Atmosphere is Tactile
You can hear the lasguns cooling after a firefight.
You can feel the dirt of Tanith underfoot, even centuries after the planet is gone.
You can smell the cordite and the damp, and somehow that sensory immersion makes the philosophy hit harder: This is what we fight to remember. This is what we lose when we forget.
✦ The Pacing is Relentless—but Gentle When It Needs to Be
Sure, there are siege breaks, doomed charges, and desperate defences. But Abnett gives us the quiet, aching spaces in between:
• The whispered campfire stories.
• The shared cigarettes before dawn.
• The moments when Gaunt writes letters to the families of the fallen, knowing he’s lying to make their deaths sound noble.

The Philosophy: Finding Meaning in the March
At its core, Gaunt's Ghosts is existentialist fiction wrapped in bolter fire.
• You will die.
• Your name will be forgotten.
• Your victories are grains of sand in a cosmic storm.
And yet... they march.
Like Camus’ Sisyphus pushing the rock up the hill, the Ghosts define themselves through action. Their world is absurd. Their Emperor is silent. Their cause is often suspect.
But they choose each other.
They choose to remember Tanith.
They choose to fight so the man next to them might see another sunrise.
In that, Gaunt’s Ghosts becomes quietly profound: it’s not the war that matters. It’s how we preserve our humanity despite it.

The Spiritual Undercurrent: Faith After the Fall
Religion in the series is subtle, yet potent. On one side, you have the oppressive, zealot-driven Imperium. On the other, the earthy, almost animistic beliefs of Tanith—omens in the wood, whispers in the dark.
This contrast asks us:
• What happens when institutional faith no longer serves the people?
• Can local, folk beliefs carry us through existential collapse better than empire-sanctioned dogma?
And there’s an answer in the Ghosts’ survival. They don’t pray because the emperor demands it. They honour the dead because someone must. They keep the old superstitions alive because they are the last threads connecting them to a home that exists now only in memory.

The Emotional Resonance: Why We Stay
By the end of the series (or even halfway through), you’re not there for the campaigns. You’re not even there for the Sabbat Worlds Crusade.
You’re there because you’ve become a Ghost yourself.
You want to see if Larkin finally conquers his demons.
You want to know if Rawne ever forgives Gaunt—or himself.
You want to sit one more night around the fire and hear one more story about Tanith.
And that’s the quiet genius of it:
Where most war fiction is about who wins, Gaunt’s Ghosts is about who endures.

Connections: What Other Stories Does It Echo?
If you love Gaunt’s Ghosts, you're hearing the same ancient drumbeat found in:
• The Things They Carried – the burdens of memory and loss.
• All Quiet on the Western Front – the futility of orders from above.
• Band of Brothers – the unbreakable bonds of those who fight side by side.
But it also reaches into deeper philosophical territory:
• Camus' defiance of absurdity.
• Tolkien’s lingering grief over lost homelands.
• The mythic resonance of the last survivors guarding the old songs.

Final Reflection: Why It Matters
When people say "Gaunt’s Ghosts is the best of Warhammer," they’re right.
But I’d go further:
It’s some of the best modern war fiction, period.
Because in a setting defined by endless death and darkness, Abnett found a story about life.
About holding the line.
About remembering what’s worth saving—even when you know it won’t last.
And that’s the quiet wisdom of the Ghosts:
We are all marching toward something inevitable.
But we don’t march alone.

[David Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan Abnett does it again with another amazing collection of novels. His action continues to be crammed to the gills with suspense, and his dialogue continues to be razor sharp. Looking forward to the next volume with great interest.

[catweaseloz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of stories written separately shows why Abnett gets published again and again. A pretty good example of the genre.