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Ciaphas Cain #3
The Traitor's Hand
Pseudo-heroic Imperial Commissar Ciaphas Cain and his unit, the 597th Valhallans, must defend the planet Adumbria from an invasion of the vile forces of Chaos.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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About the author
Sandy Mitchell
103 books421 followersSandy Mitchell is a pseudonym of Alex Stewart, who has been a full-time writer since the mid nineteen eighties. The majority of his work as Sandy has been tie-in fiction for Games Workshop's Warhammer fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 science fiction lines. The exceptions have been a novelisation of episodes from the high tech thriller series Bugs, for which he also worked as a scriptwriter under his own name, some Warhammer roleplaying game material, and a scattering of short stories and magazine articles.
His hobbies include the martial arts of Aikido and Iaido, miniature wargaming, role-playing games, and pottering about on the family allotment.
He lives in the North Essex village of Earls Colne, with his wife Judith and daughter Hester.
His hobbies include the martial arts of Aikido and Iaido, miniature wargaming, role-playing games, and pottering about on the family allotment.
He lives in the North Essex village of Earls Colne, with his wife Judith and daughter Hester.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
May 15, 2016
Meh. I'm really sad because Sandy Mitchell's awesome Ciaphas Cain series has devolved into a repetitive, dull plod through the 40K universe rather than the fresh, exciting, FUNNY material it started out as.
My problem isn't that Cain keeps getting stuck in situations where he picks what seems like the least dangerous path & of course winds up winning the glory; I bought into that. What frustrates me is that every interaction gets raked through four times. A non-real-but-illustrative example:
----
'I will lead the charge,' I said, presenting the front that I assumed someone with my reputation would present. Of course, in reality, I knew that the charge would never get off the ground, and would remain in cover and safe hiding throughout this entire campaign. (1) Had I known what would really happen, I might have instead just put a bolter pistol against my head and pulled the trigger.
(1) I am a footnote where Amberley, the editor of this document, explains why this is, and all the minutiae surrounding this piece of Imperial Guard rules, even though we don't need any of it.
----
UGGGGH. JUST STOP. STOP, PLEASE.
Amberley's notes used to be flirtatious, useful, and amusing. Now I just wish she'd shut up. Even the snippets from other sources she includes (yes, I know she's fictional, too, but I don't know how else to talk about this) have become less amusingly bombastic and ... actually BETTER than Cain's account of events.
Was the mere idea of Cain so good that it colored that first story & novel w/rosy-tinted glasses? I'm not sure, but after skimming through most of this & still getting the main gist of the story, I'm not sure if I'll give the next book more than a chapter or two to actually hook me before giving up on the series altogether.
My problem isn't that Cain keeps getting stuck in situations where he picks what seems like the least dangerous path & of course winds up winning the glory; I bought into that. What frustrates me is that every interaction gets raked through four times. A non-real-but-illustrative example:
----
'I will lead the charge,' I said, presenting the front that I assumed someone with my reputation would present. Of course, in reality, I knew that the charge would never get off the ground, and would remain in cover and safe hiding throughout this entire campaign. (1) Had I known what would really happen, I might have instead just put a bolter pistol against my head and pulled the trigger.
(1) I am a footnote where Amberley, the editor of this document, explains why this is, and all the minutiae surrounding this piece of Imperial Guard rules, even though we don't need any of it.
----
UGGGGH. JUST STOP. STOP, PLEASE.
Amberley's notes used to be flirtatious, useful, and amusing. Now I just wish she'd shut up. Even the snippets from other sources she includes (yes, I know she's fictional, too, but I don't know how else to talk about this) have become less amusingly bombastic and ... actually BETTER than Cain's account of events.
Was the mere idea of Cain so good that it colored that first story & novel w/rosy-tinted glasses? I'm not sure, but after skimming through most of this & still getting the main gist of the story, I'm not sure if I'll give the next book more than a chapter or two to actually hook me before giving up on the series altogether.
June 6, 2021
Eh, not bad but far from good. This was the slowest of the first 3 CC books. Pretty straightforward, no crazy twists and below average action. It moves the series on, but that's about it.
May 20, 2016
Ciaphas Cain, Hero of the Imperium!
July 14, 2022
Sandy Mitchell proves his steady quill once again. This was another enjoyable chapter in the adventures of the heroic Ciaphas Cain (at least that's what he wants you to think) and his trust-worthy adjutant, Jurgen.
This novel featured some more interesting villains from across the 40K universe. I got to see chaos worshipers and some manifestations of chaos for the first time alongside my first traitor Legion, the World Eaters and the first mentions of Horus. This series is truly the best introduction for anybody into the 40K universe as each novel introduces different elements of the world slowly.
This novel featured some more interesting villains from across the 40K universe. I got to see chaos worshipers and some manifestations of chaos for the first time alongside my first traitor Legion, the World Eaters and the first mentions of Horus. This series is truly the best introduction for anybody into the 40K universe as each novel introduces different elements of the world slowly.
September 22, 2024
For a book that is about the imperium of man fighting against the slaanesh cult it should have been a lot better, instead it was very very slow and quite uninteresting. Found myself rushing through parts, hopefully the 4th book is better.
May 25, 2025
Caiphas Cain, you’ve done it again. Cultists are my fav (sub)faction so was great to see them here. These stories are just so fun. I don’t know what else to say. This series is great!
February 15, 2022
3.5 stars.
These would be such a guilty pleasure except I feel no guilt whatsoever. Not the best book in the series but not bad and genuinely funny at times, story just a little on the bland side.
These would be such a guilty pleasure except I feel no guilt whatsoever. Not the best book in the series but not bad and genuinely funny at times, story just a little on the bland side.
May 24, 2025
love the random quotes like "revenge best served with mayonnaise and those little cheesy things served on stick"
May 30, 2012
Traitor Hand's is the third installment on the Commissar Ciaphas Cain Series.Commissar Ciaphas Cain of the Valhallan 597th was sent to help a peculiar world where the one part of the world is in darkness and cold and the other part in light and hot. This world is going go to have a rough time since a chaos fleet are inbound towards it.The books of Ciaphas Cain in general and The Traitor's Hand in particular do not read like other Warhammer 40k novels Rather than reading a simple story told via the traditional first person perspective the reader is immersed in an historical record. The escapades of Cain are told not by the author but by the Commissar himself in the form of his memoirs. Throughout the work we are also treated to the comments, in the form of footnotes, of an Imperial Inquisitor who has taken it upon herself to provide additional detail, sub-text, and explanation of key points. Additionally there are occasionally comments from other characters from Cain's story gleaned from their own memoirs or journals and presumably corralled by the aforementioned Inquisitor. Through the use of this style Sandy Mitchell slickly gives us the perspectives of numerous characters on the events transpiring all the while keeping the focus of the work tightly and seamlessly placed upon the shoulders of Commissar Cain.
However, our misunderstood hero, Imperial Commissar Cain in this book, where his only motivation seems to be to preserve his over-inflated reputation, he isn't terribly cowardly at all, since regardless of inspiration he virtually always does the right thing. As one definition of bravery is doing the right thing even in the face of fear, his continual protestations of his own cowardice wear thin by the end of the book. This time Cain must also deal with an old classmate, Commissar Tomas Beije. The two were never friends. Beije is still as pig-headed and stupid as always, but his jealousy of Cain's career makes things much worse.
It soon becomes apparent that a sinister cult has formed and is summoning something so horrible that the entire universe is in peril. Thats nothing unique.... But this book has several things that make it unique. First They are sent to defeat a chaos cultist there. Second they encounter cultists of chaos in the planet already. Third they discover that the chaos cultist in the planet are Slaneshi and the inbound fleet is from Khorne. In the end we are able to conclude that the "Khornes" are as much trying to destroy the humans and probably with more intensity to destroy the Slaneshi. That thing was something of interesting. In the end the Imperial Guard has as much to thank them to stop the menace than to thank the Khorne cultists.It's a good book, probably with the best plot that the other two books.
However, our misunderstood hero, Imperial Commissar Cain in this book, where his only motivation seems to be to preserve his over-inflated reputation, he isn't terribly cowardly at all, since regardless of inspiration he virtually always does the right thing. As one definition of bravery is doing the right thing even in the face of fear, his continual protestations of his own cowardice wear thin by the end of the book. This time Cain must also deal with an old classmate, Commissar Tomas Beije. The two were never friends. Beije is still as pig-headed and stupid as always, but his jealousy of Cain's career makes things much worse.
It soon becomes apparent that a sinister cult has formed and is summoning something so horrible that the entire universe is in peril. Thats nothing unique.... But this book has several things that make it unique. First They are sent to defeat a chaos cultist there. Second they encounter cultists of chaos in the planet already. Third they discover that the chaos cultist in the planet are Slaneshi and the inbound fleet is from Khorne. In the end we are able to conclude that the "Khornes" are as much trying to destroy the humans and probably with more intensity to destroy the Slaneshi. That thing was something of interesting. In the end the Imperial Guard has as much to thank them to stop the menace than to thank the Khorne cultists.It's a good book, probably with the best plot that the other two books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2020
Traitor's Hand is the third instalment in Warhammer 40k's answer to The Flashman Papers and, true to form, it continues to be incredibly easy to pick up and enjoyable to read. I do feel that, of the three read so far, this is probably the weakest. It's by no means a bad book and, those who enjoy the series (myself included) will still enjoy this. Just maybe not as much as the previous two.
My first 'meh' moment is the rivalry between Cain and and the commissar of the Tallarn Desert Raiders, and the infighting between the two regiments that was billed in the blurb, just feels unimportant and, to be honest, as though it barely happens. The soldiers don't really have too much of a back and forth and the commissars rivalry seems based on petty point scoring and school yard stuff. It tries to get a bit serious nearer the end but, by that point, my interest in that little subplot (not to mention the lacklustre reason for the infighting at the time) just wasn't there.
The coincidental link between Cain and the main villain felt a bit dull as, if I'm honest, we've already seen it done in Eisenhorn and I feel it's too big a coincidental meeting for it to happen to two Imperial servants in the vastness of the Imperium. I also feel like it was done better in Eisenhorn so this just felt a bit like a poor man's equivalent of that. Would have been nice for it to have had a fresh approach. I also feel that, were the author to stick with one force of chaos rather than the diluted skirmishes between two, it might have made for a tad more dynamic story.
Other than that, Cain's desperate attempts to keep himself out of harm's way and inadvertently throwing himself into it will never get old. Sandy Mitchell was born to write this character and I look forward to many more Cain stories. Jurgen, as always, was a great character and I look forward to any part he's in. He only adds minor aspects to whatever scene he graces, but he is one of the foundations that make the building that is the Cain series so strong.
Although this is the third book, Mitchell writes in a way that you could literally pick up any in the series and not feel as though you had to have read all that came before it. That is one of the great strengths of this series. The characters are all easy to get to know and easy to enjoy the ride with. I look forward to seeing where Cain's misadventures take him and his Valhallans next.
My first 'meh' moment is the rivalry between Cain and and the commissar of the Tallarn Desert Raiders, and the infighting between the two regiments that was billed in the blurb, just feels unimportant and, to be honest, as though it barely happens. The soldiers don't really have too much of a back and forth and the commissars rivalry seems based on petty point scoring and school yard stuff. It tries to get a bit serious nearer the end but, by that point, my interest in that little subplot (not to mention the lacklustre reason for the infighting at the time) just wasn't there.
The coincidental link between Cain and the main villain felt a bit dull as, if I'm honest, we've already seen it done in Eisenhorn and I feel it's too big a coincidental meeting for it to happen to two Imperial servants in the vastness of the Imperium. I also feel like it was done better in Eisenhorn so this just felt a bit like a poor man's equivalent of that. Would have been nice for it to have had a fresh approach. I also feel that, were the author to stick with one force of chaos rather than the diluted skirmishes between two, it might have made for a tad more dynamic story.
Other than that, Cain's desperate attempts to keep himself out of harm's way and inadvertently throwing himself into it will never get old. Sandy Mitchell was born to write this character and I look forward to many more Cain stories. Jurgen, as always, was a great character and I look forward to any part he's in. He only adds minor aspects to whatever scene he graces, but he is one of the foundations that make the building that is the Cain series so strong.
Although this is the third book, Mitchell writes in a way that you could literally pick up any in the series and not feel as though you had to have read all that came before it. That is one of the great strengths of this series. The characters are all easy to get to know and easy to enjoy the ride with. I look forward to seeing where Cain's misadventures take him and his Valhallans next.
November 8, 2024
Summary
Commissar Caiphas Cain, hero of the Imperium, returns; this time to face the vile heretics who worship the ruinous powers of chaos. Assigned to the Imperial planet Adumbria, with no gravitational spin, and thus each hemisphere is stagnant in its orientation. Where one side is always facing the sun and is scorched, but habitable. While the side, facing the darkness of space, is perpetual Winterland.
The caveat being, a narrow stretch of land in between, in the equatorial region, called the shadow belt, where the climate is barely habitable, and where most of the populace resides. It’s quite a unique geography this planet has, reminiscent of some of the wackier islands from One piece. I bet there is some point in the shadow belt, some mountain, where you could stand on, and see the contrasting land masses; the desert on one hand, and a frozen tundra on the other.
Suspected heretical activity in the planet, leads to Cain and his ever-trusted aide Jurgen, not to mention his faithful Valhallan 597th regimen to make themselves busy, investigating the possible threat, and fortifying themselves against any possible traitor incursions from space.
Over the course of which, he
Personally, I found ‘The Traitor’s Hand’ to be more engaging than the previous book, ‘The Caves of Ice’. You get much more gags, comical misunderstandings, and more instances of Paradoxical heroism, which make Cain such an engaging character to follow.
Also on display, are his immensely personable nature, a rarity amongst commissars, his rapport with the Valhallan Regiment, his gifted tactical mind, astute deductions when unraveling mysteries, not in the least the ungodly amount of luck which in his case, is a double-edged sword. His perilous fortune often makes day to day happenings go in his favor. But like a karmic balance, in turn puts him front and center when shit hits the fan, and then turns all the way back, giving him regular deus ex machina to get out of that jam. Truly something hilarious to observe.
Someone who finds himself on the other side of Cain’s phenomenal luck, is Tomas Beije, fellow Commissar, and a jealous rival, who is constantly consternated with Cain’s popularity and achievements. Trying his level best, to be a fly in the ointment, to undermine Cain at every possible juncture; often with hilarious blowback.
Characters & their interaction
What the story does exceptionally well, is developing several of the supporting characters, some of whom were introduced back in Book 1. In particular, Cain’s rapport with members of his regiment, from the top leaders Colonel Katheen, Major Broklaw, all the way to the rank-and-file troopers, many of whom idolize him to a pathological decree. Especially future General Sulla, who seems to have a bit of hero worship which comes to the Commissar, while being oblivious to how irritating said hero finds her reckless tactics.
Then there is the ever-present, taciturn, capable aide and right-hand man to the Commissar, Ferik Jurgen. His loyalty to Cain is unquestioned, and is always ready as his shadow, whether it be to deal with day-to-day paperwork, or to save his skin for the 10th time with his trusty Melta, and his concealed ability of being a blank.
It is said that the measure of a person can be gauged based on how they treat those below them. Cain has immense power over Jurgen, partly due to being his superior, and partly because Jurgen is quite literal-minded. A trait desirable for a soldier, but not when it comes to social interactions. There is also his, (quite literal, no insult intended) ungodly odor, which makes most people uncomfortable in his presence. Now, this may just be a manifestation of his effect as a blank, but this does tend to leave Jurgen with few friends.
Despite him asserting to keep Jurgen around for his usefulness, through the stories, we can see how Cain treats Jurgen well and doesn’t outwardly insult or treat him with revulsion. He is keenly aware of how valuable Jurgen’s loyalty is and treats it with respect. It’s some of the small things really, how Cain thanks Jurgen each time he brings the commissar his preferred drink, or when he shares his nightmares with the aide, without having to put up a front.
As well as some of the body language he exhibited when interacting with the Valhallens in general. Cain accepts constructive feedback, and in turn his soldiers defer to his skills and expertise. There is trust there, one which runs both ways.
Negatives and Criticism
One concerning thing I’ve noted is how, other than well written characters, the plot itself has become quite repetitive. It goes something like this:
1. Cain & Co arrive on a hostile planet.
2. They encounter hostile enemy faction #1, engage in minor skirmishes, while Cain gains favors.
3. Things Escalate, as they encounter hostile enemy faction #2
4. #1 & #2 are then pitted against one another, while the imperials take advantage of the chaos (pun intended).
5. Cain & a smaller co, end up going underground, crawling through tunnels (Did I mention for the nth time how Cain is a tunnel rat?), encounter the final boss/ conflict
6. Jurgen; Blank; Melta. Nuff Said.
With healthy doses of Amberley Vail repeating the same comments about Cain not caring about any engagements but the one he participated in. At the same time throwing shade at an overzealous Sulla.
For the most part, I understand the encounters and plot serve as backdrops for building the ‘hero of the imperium’. And this is Warhammer 40000 we’re talking about. Almost every story is a war or invasion of some kind. Nonetheless, some variety would be appreciated. Seeing as how there are like 6-7 or more entries in this series, I’m really hoping there is something more as the legend progresses.
This didn’t of course reduce my enjoyment as I was chewing through pages trying to reach the end though. So, the reading value is there; but it could be improved.
Commissar Caiphas Cain, hero of the Imperium, returns; this time to face the vile heretics who worship the ruinous powers of chaos. Assigned to the Imperial planet Adumbria, with no gravitational spin, and thus each hemisphere is stagnant in its orientation. Where one side is always facing the sun and is scorched, but habitable. While the side, facing the darkness of space, is perpetual Winterland.
The caveat being, a narrow stretch of land in between, in the equatorial region, called the shadow belt, where the climate is barely habitable, and where most of the populace resides. It’s quite a unique geography this planet has, reminiscent of some of the wackier islands from One piece. I bet there is some point in the shadow belt, some mountain, where you could stand on, and see the contrasting land masses; the desert on one hand, and a frozen tundra on the other.
Suspected heretical activity in the planet, leads to Cain and his ever-trusted aide Jurgen, not to mention his faithful Valhallan 597th regimen to make themselves busy, investigating the possible threat, and fortifying themselves against any possible traitor incursions from space.
Over the course of which, he
Personally, I found ‘The Traitor’s Hand’ to be more engaging than the previous book, ‘The Caves of Ice’. You get much more gags, comical misunderstandings, and more instances of Paradoxical heroism, which make Cain such an engaging character to follow.
Also on display, are his immensely personable nature, a rarity amongst commissars, his rapport with the Valhallan Regiment, his gifted tactical mind, astute deductions when unraveling mysteries, not in the least the ungodly amount of luck which in his case, is a double-edged sword. His perilous fortune often makes day to day happenings go in his favor. But like a karmic balance, in turn puts him front and center when shit hits the fan, and then turns all the way back, giving him regular deus ex machina to get out of that jam. Truly something hilarious to observe.
Someone who finds himself on the other side of Cain’s phenomenal luck, is Tomas Beije, fellow Commissar, and a jealous rival, who is constantly consternated with Cain’s popularity and achievements. Trying his level best, to be a fly in the ointment, to undermine Cain at every possible juncture; often with hilarious blowback.
Characters & their interaction
What the story does exceptionally well, is developing several of the supporting characters, some of whom were introduced back in Book 1. In particular, Cain’s rapport with members of his regiment, from the top leaders Colonel Katheen, Major Broklaw, all the way to the rank-and-file troopers, many of whom idolize him to a pathological decree. Especially future General Sulla, who seems to have a bit of hero worship which comes to the Commissar, while being oblivious to how irritating said hero finds her reckless tactics.
Then there is the ever-present, taciturn, capable aide and right-hand man to the Commissar, Ferik Jurgen. His loyalty to Cain is unquestioned, and is always ready as his shadow, whether it be to deal with day-to-day paperwork, or to save his skin for the 10th time with his trusty Melta, and his concealed ability of being a blank.
It is said that the measure of a person can be gauged based on how they treat those below them. Cain has immense power over Jurgen, partly due to being his superior, and partly because Jurgen is quite literal-minded. A trait desirable for a soldier, but not when it comes to social interactions. There is also his, (quite literal, no insult intended) ungodly odor, which makes most people uncomfortable in his presence. Now, this may just be a manifestation of his effect as a blank, but this does tend to leave Jurgen with few friends.
Despite him asserting to keep Jurgen around for his usefulness, through the stories, we can see how Cain treats Jurgen well and doesn’t outwardly insult or treat him with revulsion. He is keenly aware of how valuable Jurgen’s loyalty is and treats it with respect. It’s some of the small things really, how Cain thanks Jurgen each time he brings the commissar his preferred drink, or when he shares his nightmares with the aide, without having to put up a front.
As well as some of the body language he exhibited when interacting with the Valhallens in general. Cain accepts constructive feedback, and in turn his soldiers defer to his skills and expertise. There is trust there, one which runs both ways.
Negatives and Criticism
One concerning thing I’ve noted is how, other than well written characters, the plot itself has become quite repetitive. It goes something like this:
1. Cain & Co arrive on a hostile planet.
2. They encounter hostile enemy faction #1, engage in minor skirmishes, while Cain gains favors.
3. Things Escalate, as they encounter hostile enemy faction #2
4. #1 & #2 are then pitted against one another, while the imperials take advantage of the chaos (pun intended).
5. Cain & a smaller co, end up going underground, crawling through tunnels (Did I mention for the nth time how Cain is a tunnel rat?), encounter the final boss/ conflict
6. Jurgen; Blank; Melta. Nuff Said.
With healthy doses of Amberley Vail repeating the same comments about Cain not caring about any engagements but the one he participated in. At the same time throwing shade at an overzealous Sulla.
For the most part, I understand the encounters and plot serve as backdrops for building the ‘hero of the imperium’. And this is Warhammer 40000 we’re talking about. Almost every story is a war or invasion of some kind. Nonetheless, some variety would be appreciated. Seeing as how there are like 6-7 or more entries in this series, I’m really hoping there is something more as the legend progresses.
This didn’t of course reduce my enjoyment as I was chewing through pages trying to reach the end though. So, the reading value is there; but it could be improved.
December 7, 2015
Commissar Ciaphas Cain was again trying to be on the safe side of the war, which lead him to the most dangerous situation known to man and xeno and Chaos creature. It seemed like nice hunting for vile cultist while things started to go from easy to difficult to "nope nope I want out of here".
The things were complicated and commissar Cain proved his heroism over and over, while being modest and thinking about running as far as possible, when the vile enemy struck again this time it was his old classmate who decided to uncover his cowardice. Well played But it went gaga when commissar went hand to hand with Chaos marine and killed that thing plus did other utterly heroic and insane acts. He even became prophet of the emperor as was claimed by one sect. Simply win win situation for THE HERO OF THE EMPIRE.
The things were complicated and commissar Cain proved his heroism over and over, while being modest and thinking about running as far as possible, when the vile enemy struck again this time it was his old classmate who decided to uncover his cowardice. Well played But it went gaga when commissar went hand to hand with Chaos marine and killed that thing plus did other utterly heroic and insane acts. He even became prophet of the emperor as was claimed by one sect. Simply win win situation for THE HERO OF THE EMPIRE.
July 19, 2019
It seems that I jumped into the series a few books in, luckily the story progresses without requiring too much knowledge of previous events. The story itself is a fairly typical affair with chaos cultists infiltrating an Imperial world. In that respect it's a predictable plot, well written, but nothing special in that respect.
The positive side of the book is the lead character - a commissar with an Imperial Guard regiment. He's an interesting character in that he's a coward in a very dangerous job. As such he performs acts of courage without meaning to, which does cast an interesting aspect to the tale. This does feel a little forced at times, but not too excessively.
Overall this is a decent 40K read, but didn't add too much to the lore for me.
The positive side of the book is the lead character - a commissar with an Imperial Guard regiment. He's an interesting character in that he's a coward in a very dangerous job. As such he performs acts of courage without meaning to, which does cast an interesting aspect to the tale. This does feel a little forced at times, but not too excessively.
Overall this is a decent 40K read, but didn't add too much to the lore for me.
February 12, 2018
The Cain series while not uproariously funny does elicit a few chuckles. Fans of Blackadder will find a fair bit to enjoy in Cain and while he's not as cynical as Edmund Blackadder, his matter of fact approach to the Imperial Truth, Chaos and impending doom is remarkably similar.
A fairly fast paced novel though the constant references to Jurgen's stink do get tedious after a while.
A fairly fast paced novel though the constant references to Jurgen's stink do get tedious after a while.
August 17, 2012
The story is good, fast paced and keeps you interested. The format is unusual, personal memoirs shared be a colleague who inject high lights, footnotes and clips from other peoples memoirs who were there. I liked it.
January 20, 2024
Troisième tome de la série sur Ciaphas Cain, l'un des commissaires les plus de l'Imperium. L'ouvrage débute toujours avec quelques mots d'Amberley Vail de l'Ordo Xenos sur Ciaphas Cain. L'ouvrage est également entrecoupé de petites histoires racontées par des soldats qui ont servi sous les ordres de Cain.
On se retrouve donc dans un autre système, sur la planète Adumbria. En y allant avec son régiment, Ciaphas Cain y est rejoint par le seigneur général que l'on avait déjà croisé lors des deux tomes précédents ainsi que de plusieurs pelotons de Tallarn, une partie de l'Armée Impériale plus habituée aux parties chaudes. En effet, la planète sur laquelle ils se situent est constituée d'une partie très froide, idéal pour les troupes du commissaire et d'une partie chaude, parfait pour les Tallarn.. Les Tallarn sont menés par un autre commissaire qui a connu Ciaphas Cain à la Schola et j'avoue que ce personnage a largement dépassé les bornes au fur et à mesure de l'ouvrage et qu'il est assez hautain ainsi que très voire trop religieux.
La planète est sous la menace d'une invasion du chaos. Des adaptes de Slaanesh tentent d'invoquer un portail vers le Warp, la planète servent de portail vers et en dehors du Warp. Mais ce n'est pas tout ! Des rebelles et hérétiques ont volé des armes, assez que pour inquiéter les autorités. Et si cela ne suffisait pas, des cultistes de Khorne ainsi que quelques World Eaters sont leurs apparitions. Voilà qu'ils doivent se battre sur plusieurs fronts. Les combats et les descriptions sont bien écrites, il n'y a pas de descriptions trop WTF ni quoi que ce soit, tout est bien écrit, tout est bien monté.
Concernant l'histoire, elle est assez intéressante, on continue de suivre Ciaphas dans ses pérégrinations, ses aventures ainsi que son désir de se mettre à l'abri mais du coup, cela le met dans des situations où il est encore plus en danger de là où il venait. Il peut néanmoins compter sur l'aide du bon Jurgen ainsi que des quelques hommes et femmes qui sont sous ses ordres. Il a toujours son humour à lui, pour ne pas changer et je trouve que, dans l'ensemble, l'histoire est bien plus intéressante que dans le tome 2, c'est mieux raconté, même s'il s'agit du même auteur. Au début, je pensais qu'il s'agissait d'une trilogie mais je vois qu'il y a encore au moins deux tomes donc on verra bien ce que donnera la suite, tout en espérant que cela n'arrive pas à bout de souffle, comme une corde que l'on aurait trop tirée.
En conclusion, une histoire bien écrite, bien menée, avec un Ciaphas Cain toujours aussi efficace, avec des troupes toujours aussi courageuse et je suis assez satisfait de ce qu'il arrive à l'ancienne connaissance du commissaire vers la fin de l'ouvrage car je trouve qu'il a largement dépassé les bornes. Pour finir, il y a une citation que j'ai bien aimé dans l'ouvrage : « La vie est un voyage. Dommage qu'il y ait une destination ».
On se retrouve donc dans un autre système, sur la planète Adumbria. En y allant avec son régiment, Ciaphas Cain y est rejoint par le seigneur général que l'on avait déjà croisé lors des deux tomes précédents ainsi que de plusieurs pelotons de Tallarn, une partie de l'Armée Impériale plus habituée aux parties chaudes. En effet, la planète sur laquelle ils se situent est constituée d'une partie très froide, idéal pour les troupes du commissaire et d'une partie chaude, parfait pour les Tallarn.. Les Tallarn sont menés par un autre commissaire qui a connu Ciaphas Cain à la Schola et j'avoue que ce personnage a largement dépassé les bornes au fur et à mesure de l'ouvrage et qu'il est assez hautain ainsi que très voire trop religieux.
La planète est sous la menace d'une invasion du chaos. Des adaptes de Slaanesh tentent d'invoquer un portail vers le Warp, la planète servent de portail vers et en dehors du Warp. Mais ce n'est pas tout ! Des rebelles et hérétiques ont volé des armes, assez que pour inquiéter les autorités. Et si cela ne suffisait pas, des cultistes de Khorne ainsi que quelques World Eaters sont leurs apparitions. Voilà qu'ils doivent se battre sur plusieurs fronts. Les combats et les descriptions sont bien écrites, il n'y a pas de descriptions trop WTF ni quoi que ce soit, tout est bien écrit, tout est bien monté.
Concernant l'histoire, elle est assez intéressante, on continue de suivre Ciaphas dans ses pérégrinations, ses aventures ainsi que son désir de se mettre à l'abri mais du coup, cela le met dans des situations où il est encore plus en danger de là où il venait. Il peut néanmoins compter sur l'aide du bon Jurgen ainsi que des quelques hommes et femmes qui sont sous ses ordres. Il a toujours son humour à lui, pour ne pas changer et je trouve que, dans l'ensemble, l'histoire est bien plus intéressante que dans le tome 2, c'est mieux raconté, même s'il s'agit du même auteur. Au début, je pensais qu'il s'agissait d'une trilogie mais je vois qu'il y a encore au moins deux tomes donc on verra bien ce que donnera la suite, tout en espérant que cela n'arrive pas à bout de souffle, comme une corde que l'on aurait trop tirée.
En conclusion, une histoire bien écrite, bien menée, avec un Ciaphas Cain toujours aussi efficace, avec des troupes toujours aussi courageuse et je suis assez satisfait de ce qu'il arrive à l'ancienne connaissance du commissaire vers la fin de l'ouvrage car je trouve qu'il a largement dépassé les bornes. Pour finir, il y a une citation que j'ai bien aimé dans l'ouvrage : « La vie est un voyage. Dommage qu'il y ait une destination ».
December 12, 2017
When a Chaos fleet breaks through Imperial lines and heads for Adumbria, the Valhallan 597th (and its increasingly famous commissar, Ciaphas Cain) and several other regiments are rapidly mobilised to intercept them. On Adumbria - a world tidally locked to its star and characterised by burning deserts and freezing icy conditions - Cain and his troops are spread thin, so they must bolster the morale of the native Planetary Defence Force. Cain, as usual, decides to find a nice rear-echelon position where he can avoid most of the combat. Also as usual, his luck doesn't quite work out as he finds himself battling Chaos Marines, unearthing secretive cults and pitting his wits against a rival commissar out to ruin him.
This third Ciaphas Cain novel sees the titular semi-hero once again thrust unwillingly into danger and adventure, and his every attempt to avoid it goes hideously wrong, once again leaving him festooned with medals and plaudits (despite the number of times that it his extremely smelly aide, Jurgen, who actually saves the day). The Traitor's Hand is a step-up from the claustrophobic, repetitive Caves of Ice by having Cain play a larger role in the defence of an entire planet from a Chaos army, with him moving from defending the capital to consulting the army's commanding officers to fighting in the field with his troops to storming enemy bases. It is with this book that the Flashman-in-space label starts to look even less appropriate, with Cain's reluctance to rush into the most dangerous places becoming less convincing (the occasional footnote interjection by Inquisitor Veil seems to agree with this) given the number of extremely hazardous scrapes he gets into here.
The book is well-paced, with a good mixture of humour (including the best bomb-defusing scene I've ever seen), action and character-building elements (the introduction of a nemesis for Cain within the commissariat is a nice touch). It's a busier and more impressive novel than its immediate predecessor, although it also arguably loses a little of the cynicism and cowardice that Cain is constantly trying to project as his heroics in this book become pretty bonkers (including spawning a cult that comes to worship Cain as a prophet and the Divine Will of the Emperor made flesh!).
The Traitor's Hand (****) is available now in the Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium omnibus in the UK and USA.
This third Ciaphas Cain novel sees the titular semi-hero once again thrust unwillingly into danger and adventure, and his every attempt to avoid it goes hideously wrong, once again leaving him festooned with medals and plaudits (despite the number of times that it his extremely smelly aide, Jurgen, who actually saves the day). The Traitor's Hand is a step-up from the claustrophobic, repetitive Caves of Ice by having Cain play a larger role in the defence of an entire planet from a Chaos army, with him moving from defending the capital to consulting the army's commanding officers to fighting in the field with his troops to storming enemy bases. It is with this book that the Flashman-in-space label starts to look even less appropriate, with Cain's reluctance to rush into the most dangerous places becoming less convincing (the occasional footnote interjection by Inquisitor Veil seems to agree with this) given the number of extremely hazardous scrapes he gets into here.
The book is well-paced, with a good mixture of humour (including the best bomb-defusing scene I've ever seen), action and character-building elements (the introduction of a nemesis for Cain within the commissariat is a nice touch). It's a busier and more impressive novel than its immediate predecessor, although it also arguably loses a little of the cynicism and cowardice that Cain is constantly trying to project as his heroics in this book become pretty bonkers (including spawning a cult that comes to worship Cain as a prophet and the Divine Will of the Emperor made flesh!).
The Traitor's Hand (****) is available now in the Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium omnibus in the UK and USA.
April 17, 2024
Rating of 4.75.
After updating my list about my favourite Warhammer 40,000 novels this week, I was keen for more action from this awesome franchise, so I decided to quickly listen to the entertaining and fun novel, The Traitor’s Hand by Sandy Mitchell.
Commissar Ciaphas Cain, hero of the Imperium or unrepentant coward? Constantly forced into the direst of circumstances despite doing everything in his power to avoid them, Cain has built up a reputation he considers entirely undeserved, especially as being known as a hero always seems to get him into trouble. His latest assignment will test him like none other, especially when he is forced to go up against the great archenemy of the Imperium, the forces of Chaos.
With a Chaos fleet approaching the tidally locked planet of Adumbria, Cain and the soldiers of the Valhallan 597th are rapidly redeployed towards the planet to aid in its defence. Despite wishing to stay off the frontlines, Cain’s experience and uncanny ability to find trouble forces him to join in the hunt for a Chaos cult hidden throughout the planet that has awakened in advance of the coming fleet. However, the more he digs, the more he discovers that there is something far more sinister going on within the planet than anyone realises.
As the invading enemy arrives on the planet, it soon becomes apparent that two rival bands of Chaos worshippers are attacking Adumbria with very different goals in mind. Leading the fight against the enemy, Cain needs to work out just what their objectives are before the world is destroyed in the Chaos crossfire. However, with deadly enemy forces all around and a rival commissar determined to undermine him, can even the terminally lucky Cain stop them, especially when an old nightmare returns seeking revenge against him.
The Traitor’s Hand was an extremely awesome book from Mitchell that I had so much fun getting through. Containing the outstanding blend of action, humour and intriguing characters that the Ciaphas Cain series is known for, The Traitor’s Hand was pretty damn epic, and I managed to power through it in about a day of intense listening.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/04/17/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
After updating my list about my favourite Warhammer 40,000 novels this week, I was keen for more action from this awesome franchise, so I decided to quickly listen to the entertaining and fun novel, The Traitor’s Hand by Sandy Mitchell.
Commissar Ciaphas Cain, hero of the Imperium or unrepentant coward? Constantly forced into the direst of circumstances despite doing everything in his power to avoid them, Cain has built up a reputation he considers entirely undeserved, especially as being known as a hero always seems to get him into trouble. His latest assignment will test him like none other, especially when he is forced to go up against the great archenemy of the Imperium, the forces of Chaos.
With a Chaos fleet approaching the tidally locked planet of Adumbria, Cain and the soldiers of the Valhallan 597th are rapidly redeployed towards the planet to aid in its defence. Despite wishing to stay off the frontlines, Cain’s experience and uncanny ability to find trouble forces him to join in the hunt for a Chaos cult hidden throughout the planet that has awakened in advance of the coming fleet. However, the more he digs, the more he discovers that there is something far more sinister going on within the planet than anyone realises.
As the invading enemy arrives on the planet, it soon becomes apparent that two rival bands of Chaos worshippers are attacking Adumbria with very different goals in mind. Leading the fight against the enemy, Cain needs to work out just what their objectives are before the world is destroyed in the Chaos crossfire. However, with deadly enemy forces all around and a rival commissar determined to undermine him, can even the terminally lucky Cain stop them, especially when an old nightmare returns seeking revenge against him.
The Traitor’s Hand was an extremely awesome book from Mitchell that I had so much fun getting through. Containing the outstanding blend of action, humour and intriguing characters that the Ciaphas Cain series is known for, The Traitor’s Hand was pretty damn epic, and I managed to power through it in about a day of intense listening.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/04/17/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
October 22, 2024
Imperial Commissar Ciaphas Cain returns for a third round of bumbling semi-accidental (anti?) heroics as the 597th Valhallan regiment is dispatched as part of the vanguard of a relief force sent to head off a Chaotic invasion of a remote Imperial world. Fortunately, they're able to beat Chaos there. Unfortunately, they're also badly outnumbered and a sudden fluctuation in the warp has delayed their reinforcements. As if that wasn't bad enough, the incoming invasion isn't the only manifestation of chaos busy on this unfortunate world as Cain and his troopers find themselves dealing with a series of grotesque incidents, potentially part of some nefarious Chaos ritual, and if all that wasn't bad enough, this world is tidally locked, so 90% of it is either a hellish desert or a frozen wasteland and given his troops' origins on an ice-world, his regiment is only too happy to get assigned to guard a remote outpost in the frozen wastes, which is not at all what city-boy Cain would consider an acceptable posting, which is why the normally risk-averse Cain is only too happy to lead the charge to find out what the cultists are up to so long as it keeps him in the temperate twilight region of the planet.
Maybe it's because I was pondering a rewrite of Lord of the Rings with Jeeves and Wooster characters recently (I tell you, the more I think about it, the more I'm sure it would work SURPRISINGLY well), but while reading this I was struck by how Wodehousian Mitchell's humor is. Cain is much in the mold of Bertie Wooster, a well-meaning chap who doesn't really like to be bothered with other peoples' problems but can't very well say no (he may be a coward but he's got to protect his reputation) and always finds himself thrown into the thick of it but has the good fortune to have an unflappable (and seemingly unstoppable) sidekick to get him safely out the other side. It's not a perfect comparison (Jeeves would certainly find Jurgen's hygiene appalling), but setting aside the 40k elements, there's plenty of the same sort of over-the-top personalities and similarly absurd situational comedy. Anyway, this was a blast to read, I tore through it in basically a day, snickering the whole time.
Maybe it's because I was pondering a rewrite of Lord of the Rings with Jeeves and Wooster characters recently (I tell you, the more I think about it, the more I'm sure it would work SURPRISINGLY well), but while reading this I was struck by how Wodehousian Mitchell's humor is. Cain is much in the mold of Bertie Wooster, a well-meaning chap who doesn't really like to be bothered with other peoples' problems but can't very well say no (he may be a coward but he's got to protect his reputation) and always finds himself thrown into the thick of it but has the good fortune to have an unflappable (and seemingly unstoppable) sidekick to get him safely out the other side. It's not a perfect comparison (Jeeves would certainly find Jurgen's hygiene appalling), but setting aside the 40k elements, there's plenty of the same sort of over-the-top personalities and similarly absurd situational comedy. Anyway, this was a blast to read, I tore through it in basically a day, snickering the whole time.
November 5, 2025
I was in between 4 and 5 stars for this, but I think it's actually a bit underrated on here, so I decided to compensate.
By this point, Ciaphas Cain has become something of a comfort read series for me. I know what I'm getting, and I know it's going to be a good time regardless. That being said, I actually think this entry was better than the previous one.
We're not quite touching the heights that were book 1, but the story in this one flows a lot better than the one in Caves of Ice. It's more serious, the moments that need to hit harder do so (even though, again, there isn't anything quite as emotional as the final chapters in book 1), and the new characters are seriously welcome. The comedy relies less on puns and roasts, instead being more of a classic Warhammer satire taken to ridiculous extents. I find that it doesn't nearly overstay its welcome this way, and by the end of it, I found myself wishing it kept going for a couple of chapters more.
To my complete surprise, Ciaphas Cain seems to be undergoing character growth: this book continues the trend of relying less on Cain's (non-existent) incompetence, and it actually goes so far as to portray him as a proper badass. We also start to get Amberley Vale commenting on his seemingly out-of-character care for the men and women under his command, and it really does seem like he's living up to his "unwarranted reputation" more and more. It's a nice change of pace.
The villains of the book are also a welcome change. So far, the series has maintained a simple good guys - bad guys - crazy guys trio for its factions, and I find this works really well in here as well. Fighting not one, but two flavors of Chaos cultists, injects enough novelty for the story to feel like a new conflict for our protagonist to solve. Don't expect nuanced depictions of Chaos factions, though, this is still a Ciaphas Cain book.
By this point, Ciaphas Cain has become something of a comfort read series for me. I know what I'm getting, and I know it's going to be a good time regardless. That being said, I actually think this entry was better than the previous one.
We're not quite touching the heights that were book 1, but the story in this one flows a lot better than the one in Caves of Ice. It's more serious, the moments that need to hit harder do so (even though, again, there isn't anything quite as emotional as the final chapters in book 1), and the new characters are seriously welcome. The comedy relies less on puns and roasts, instead being more of a classic Warhammer satire taken to ridiculous extents. I find that it doesn't nearly overstay its welcome this way, and by the end of it, I found myself wishing it kept going for a couple of chapters more.
To my complete surprise, Ciaphas Cain seems to be undergoing character growth: this book continues the trend of relying less on Cain's (non-existent) incompetence, and it actually goes so far as to portray him as a proper badass. We also start to get Amberley Vale commenting on his seemingly out-of-character care for the men and women under his command, and it really does seem like he's living up to his "unwarranted reputation" more and more. It's a nice change of pace.
The villains of the book are also a welcome change. So far, the series has maintained a simple good guys - bad guys - crazy guys trio for its factions, and I find this works really well in here as well. Fighting not one, but two flavors of Chaos cultists, injects enough novelty for the story to feel like a new conflict for our protagonist to solve. Don't expect nuanced depictions of Chaos factions, though, this is still a Ciaphas Cain book.
April 26, 2019
Just like with Dan Abnett's WK40k series that I've also been reading, Sandy Mitchell's Commissar Cain series seems to have found its real groove with the third installment. This book, "The traitor's hand", follows the routine formula of Ciaphas Cain drinking his tanna tea, trying to stay out of trouble, and committing involuntary acts of epic heroism against any enemies of the Emperor (and Cain's skin) he happens to run into. This time around, it's not one, but two rival Chaos cults, that are trying to turn an entire peace loving planet of man into a portal to Hell, with only Cain, his chainsword, and Jurgen's melta (plus a few thousand Imperial soldiers but let's stay on track here), standing in the way of such major inconvenience.
What sets this book apart from other titles in this series, is the fact that it offers a bit more complicated plotline than usual, while also providing a lot of interesting additional lore about the Chaos cults, their goals, their enemies, and their way of work. In fact, what I learned about Chaos in this book, made my suddenly want to read some WH40k novels from the perspective of the Great Enemy, as I believe they could be even more fun than constantly following just one sided Imperial efforts. There is also a funny character of Cain's old frenemy from their Commissariat college days, who tries (and of course, miserably fails) to have Cain court martialed, ironically, for what turns out to be one of the few acts of genuine bravery, among numerous other (secretly) cowardly acts in Ciaphas' repertoire.
This book is light hearted, easy to read, and exciting enough, with a lot of combat, some well timed humor, and with a cool rare chance to watch some Chaos Marines in action, and (gasp!) even partially cheer for them, in a fight against common, and even more dangerous enemy.
Current score: 56/100
Current ranking: 335th on my all time list of novels, 96th on my list of SF novels, 2nd on my list of Warhammer 40k novels.
What sets this book apart from other titles in this series, is the fact that it offers a bit more complicated plotline than usual, while also providing a lot of interesting additional lore about the Chaos cults, their goals, their enemies, and their way of work. In fact, what I learned about Chaos in this book, made my suddenly want to read some WH40k novels from the perspective of the Great Enemy, as I believe they could be even more fun than constantly following just one sided Imperial efforts. There is also a funny character of Cain's old frenemy from their Commissariat college days, who tries (and of course, miserably fails) to have Cain court martialed, ironically, for what turns out to be one of the few acts of genuine bravery, among numerous other (secretly) cowardly acts in Ciaphas' repertoire.
This book is light hearted, easy to read, and exciting enough, with a lot of combat, some well timed humor, and with a cool rare chance to watch some Chaos Marines in action, and (gasp!) even partially cheer for them, in a fight against common, and even more dangerous enemy.
Current score: 56/100
Current ranking: 335th on my all time list of novels, 96th on my list of SF novels, 2nd on my list of Warhammer 40k novels.
May 30, 2024
If I'm not mistaken, this was the first Warhammer book I read, back when I was fourteen or fifteen years old in high school. This would be my third reading of the novel since then, but first time in over a decade (so I had forgotten a great deal of plot lines) and this time as an audiobook (which actually affected my feelings on the novel as a whole).
First off, I have always loved the way that Mitchell breaks up the narrative of his Ciaphas Cain novels, but it does have the unfortunate side effect of pulling the reader out of the story at certain points. That being said, the audiobook does a fantastic job with how these parts are delivered to the reader. They were funny, bringing out the more subtle aspects of the humor and flirtatious nature Amberley has regarding Ciaphas.
Up next, the plot of the book was a little slower and harder to follow in some places than I remembered. This might have to do with the audiobook pacing, but it at times felt less like a story and more like a battle report or backstory prep for a tabletop adventure. When the action did hit, it was a fun ride, but it's clear Mitchell has a love of strategem and complex battle scenarios and while it's hard to fault him for it because he is great at coming up with those situations and covering a wide array of issues that can manifest across a planet-wide invasion, it's a hard story device to make work. If those parts had a little more action and a little less "textbook insertion" it would have been enough for five-stars for me.
I don't mind the repetitive themes to the other Cain stories, or the constant reminder of Jurgen's odor and hygiene. He's probably my favorite character and he's great in the audiobook so it never bothers me. At this point, all those tropes are just like the comfort of old friends.
From here, I'll probably continue the Cain series with either the audiobook of the short stories, or the novel of his latest book "Vainglorious".
First off, I have always loved the way that Mitchell breaks up the narrative of his Ciaphas Cain novels, but it does have the unfortunate side effect of pulling the reader out of the story at certain points. That being said, the audiobook does a fantastic job with how these parts are delivered to the reader. They were funny, bringing out the more subtle aspects of the humor and flirtatious nature Amberley has regarding Ciaphas.
Up next, the plot of the book was a little slower and harder to follow in some places than I remembered. This might have to do with the audiobook pacing, but it at times felt less like a story and more like a battle report or backstory prep for a tabletop adventure. When the action did hit, it was a fun ride, but it's clear Mitchell has a love of strategem and complex battle scenarios and while it's hard to fault him for it because he is great at coming up with those situations and covering a wide array of issues that can manifest across a planet-wide invasion, it's a hard story device to make work. If those parts had a little more action and a little less "textbook insertion" it would have been enough for five-stars for me.
I don't mind the repetitive themes to the other Cain stories, or the constant reminder of Jurgen's odor and hygiene. He's probably my favorite character and he's great in the audiobook so it never bothers me. At this point, all those tropes are just like the comfort of old friends.
From here, I'll probably continue the Cain series with either the audiobook of the short stories, or the novel of his latest book "Vainglorious".
September 20, 2024
A delightful return to form after a small dip with book 2.
Whilst Caves of Ice felt almost like an interlude, the Traitors Hand seems to feel more like For the Emperor. Granted it's a larger book so that may play into it but even taking that into consideration, the whole story feels ... meatier. Scenes feel richer, there's more back and forth dialogue and all in all it just draws you in more. Given this story takes place over several weeks, it's been allowed time to breathe.
All the usual tropes are still there. Cain's still Cain; Blackadder 40k, Jurgen's still rocking a melter. Sula's still insufferable. I felt by this point in the series I've become to grow attached to some of the side characters. They're no longer just random grunts who obey orders which in itself perhaps leads me to enjoy this book thoroughly
It isn't without it's faults however. It does fall into the same habits as before, where plot tends to happen to Cain almost effortlessly so there's almost no shocks, if that make sense. Part of me wonders whether this is by design, again leaning into the idea of the unreliable narrator with this being memoirs written by the main character themselves. The story is very much dictated by Cain trying to get away from somewhere only to find himself in the middle of it. I appreciate this is kind of the whole point. As the summary of another of the books state "His stories are celebrated as heroic propaganda pieces, but he's simply trying to stay alive in a hostile galaxy" and given he's the main character then of course plot will follow him like a puppy. It must be quite liberating for the author. There's no need to join up the plot to any great detail. All that's required is for Cain to meander somewhere and he'll fall upon Slaanesh right tit. Lazy? Maybe? But despite it seemingly happening twice a chapter, it's still funny.
Whilst Caves of Ice felt almost like an interlude, the Traitors Hand seems to feel more like For the Emperor. Granted it's a larger book so that may play into it but even taking that into consideration, the whole story feels ... meatier. Scenes feel richer, there's more back and forth dialogue and all in all it just draws you in more. Given this story takes place over several weeks, it's been allowed time to breathe.
All the usual tropes are still there. Cain's still Cain; Blackadder 40k, Jurgen's still rocking a melter. Sula's still insufferable. I felt by this point in the series I've become to grow attached to some of the side characters. They're no longer just random grunts who obey orders which in itself perhaps leads me to enjoy this book thoroughly
It isn't without it's faults however. It does fall into the same habits as before, where plot tends to happen to Cain almost effortlessly so there's almost no shocks, if that make sense. Part of me wonders whether this is by design, again leaning into the idea of the unreliable narrator with this being memoirs written by the main character themselves. The story is very much dictated by Cain trying to get away from somewhere only to find himself in the middle of it. I appreciate this is kind of the whole point. As the summary of another of the books state "His stories are celebrated as heroic propaganda pieces, but he's simply trying to stay alive in a hostile galaxy" and given he's the main character then of course plot will follow him like a puppy. It must be quite liberating for the author. There's no need to join up the plot to any great detail. All that's required is for Cain to meander somewhere and he'll fall upon Slaanesh right tit. Lazy? Maybe? But despite it seemingly happening twice a chapter, it's still funny.
April 16, 2022
Ciaphas Cain is back and at it again, saving the Imperium of Man (and his own scrawny backside) once more! The third book in the series may follow the tried and tested formula, but it works, and with a new set of threats to contend with, Cain's efforts to keep himself in one piece look even more dicey...
"The Valhallan 597th are deployed to the tidally locked planet of Adumbria; a heretic invasion fleet is making its way towards Adumbria, and the 597th are one of several regiments assigned to bolster the planet's defences. Unfortunately, there are Chaos cults running rampant on the planet below, seemingly trying to soften the defences ahead of the invasion, the 597th are butting heads with one of the regiments they're fighting alongside, the Tallarn 229th, whose regimental Commissar is Cain's old schoolboy nemesis, Tomas Beije, an Emperor-bothering pain in the backside determined to undermine Cain, and with growing signs of Chaotic sorcery rituals being performed and an old enemy from Cain's past returning to haunt him, Ciaphas has got his work cut out trying to keep his reputation and his scrawny hide (which he obviously values more) intact...
I advise people to read "The Beguiling", a short story set in the same universe which sets some of the events of this story in motion. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, particularly for its sitcom archnemesis vibe between Cain and Beije (you will be frequently rolling your eyes and wondering 'What is this idiot doing now?' every time Beije enters the story)...With its usual collection of action, dry wit, sarcastic rejoinders, all perfectly woven into the grimdark setting that is Warhammer 40,000, The Traitor's Hand is a perfect continuation of one of the best series published by Black Library.
"The Valhallan 597th are deployed to the tidally locked planet of Adumbria; a heretic invasion fleet is making its way towards Adumbria, and the 597th are one of several regiments assigned to bolster the planet's defences. Unfortunately, there are Chaos cults running rampant on the planet below, seemingly trying to soften the defences ahead of the invasion, the 597th are butting heads with one of the regiments they're fighting alongside, the Tallarn 229th, whose regimental Commissar is Cain's old schoolboy nemesis, Tomas Beije, an Emperor-bothering pain in the backside determined to undermine Cain, and with growing signs of Chaotic sorcery rituals being performed and an old enemy from Cain's past returning to haunt him, Ciaphas has got his work cut out trying to keep his reputation and his scrawny hide (which he obviously values more) intact...
I advise people to read "The Beguiling", a short story set in the same universe which sets some of the events of this story in motion. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, particularly for its sitcom archnemesis vibe between Cain and Beije (you will be frequently rolling your eyes and wondering 'What is this idiot doing now?' every time Beije enters the story)...With its usual collection of action, dry wit, sarcastic rejoinders, all perfectly woven into the grimdark setting that is Warhammer 40,000, The Traitor's Hand is a perfect continuation of one of the best series published by Black Library.
December 11, 2023
Another chapter in the Cain series. This book really hits home just how different this series is when compared to First and Only. Not only are the characters different, and the storytelling, but as I mentioned in my previous review, the combat.
Anyone looking for a grand, sweeping description of a war in the 41st millennium, you won't find it here. Instead, you get a very loose telling from Cain's point of view. (Something the Inquisitor in the story points out every so often, which is pretty funny) This is refreshing in many ways, but may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Now, the narrators are fantastic, and I absolutely never get sick of them talking. They are easily one of the best reasons to listen to this series. They add a lot to the story and help with the immersion.
As for the overall plot with this book. It's not bad. It involves a Slaanesh cult, which is not something you see a lot of. The fighting is so-so. The other commissar was an interesting choice, and a bit of a trope, but it did add to the story as who doesn't like a 'gets theirs in the end' kind of story.
In the end, this was a kind of average story. I would have given it three stars, but the narrators warrant another star.
Anyone looking for a grand, sweeping description of a war in the 41st millennium, you won't find it here. Instead, you get a very loose telling from Cain's point of view. (Something the Inquisitor in the story points out every so often, which is pretty funny) This is refreshing in many ways, but may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Now, the narrators are fantastic, and I absolutely never get sick of them talking. They are easily one of the best reasons to listen to this series. They add a lot to the story and help with the immersion.
As for the overall plot with this book. It's not bad. It involves a Slaanesh cult, which is not something you see a lot of. The fighting is so-so. The other commissar was an interesting choice, and a bit of a trope, but it did add to the story as who doesn't like a 'gets theirs in the end' kind of story.
In the end, this was a kind of average story. I would have given it three stars, but the narrators warrant another star.
May 5, 2024
Better than the second, but I can't say it captivated that me much. At least the odor references were in an acceptable amount. While the story tried to be somewhat mysterious, it remained rather simple but at least interesting regarding the background of the chaos forces. Cain's opponent in the Kommisariat was somewhat fun and annoying, which was its point, but the question remains how such people become Kommissars anyway.
So, overall decent book for scratching the 40k itch, but in comparison to good sci-fi books rather lacking.
SPOILERS
It's nice to read some more background info from earlier times in his life and how that impacts the story. The previous encounter with Emily made sense, but then again it feels a bit self serving in order to give this specific story some projected depth where otherwise it would've been something alike monster of the week. Still don't like the editorial notes by Amberly, but admittedly, the voice actress is a bit annoying to my ears. That's probably the main problem. (Don't know why I usually don't like female voice narration for audiobooks as much compared to male. It's not as if I dislike the female voice...)
So, overall decent book for scratching the 40k itch, but in comparison to good sci-fi books rather lacking.
SPOILERS
It's nice to read some more background info from earlier times in his life and how that impacts the story. The previous encounter with Emily made sense, but then again it feels a bit self serving in order to give this specific story some projected depth where otherwise it would've been something alike monster of the week. Still don't like the editorial notes by Amberly, but admittedly, the voice actress is a bit annoying to my ears. That's probably the main problem. (Don't know why I usually don't like female voice narration for audiobooks as much compared to male. It's not as if I dislike the female voice...)
December 2, 2021
Very disappointed with this one, though it still deserves a recommendation for fans of episodic, light reading in their favorite universe. While the previous books could act as a fancy introduction to the world of Warhammer, this one is only for hardcore fans.
My main problem with it is the formulaic plot and zero character development (compared to the previous installment). What's worse is that the plot is so formulaic you can practically predict the ending even from the middle of the book. And because we have lots and lots of ground and aerial battles in this one, even the writing style devolves into repeating the same thing. I like the snarky, whimsical nature of the Ciaphas Cain series, but too many action sequences can bring even that down.
Because I read it as part of the first omnibus, my opinion on the omnibus as a whole is still high and I feel obliged to write a review for every novel. So here it is.
My main problem with it is the formulaic plot and zero character development (compared to the previous installment). What's worse is that the plot is so formulaic you can practically predict the ending even from the middle of the book. And because we have lots and lots of ground and aerial battles in this one, even the writing style devolves into repeating the same thing. I like the snarky, whimsical nature of the Ciaphas Cain series, but too many action sequences can bring even that down.
Because I read it as part of the first omnibus, my opinion on the omnibus as a whole is still high and I feel obliged to write a review for every novel. So here it is.
September 22, 2018
Third book of the series of Ciaphas Cain.
This time it is on the planet Adumbria where a Chaos plot is threathening our hero.
It shows more sides of Cain and expands greatly upon his dealings with established Npcs in the story. I really like the new sides of Cain and the people he works with, he shows genuine feaer and resolve at the same time when it comes to his enemy. And while he has chances to weasel out, he sees the need to do the job even if it might cost him his life.
New insights into the relationship between Cain and Jurgen is interesting as well. All in all, the setting expands and has plenty of interesting dynamics which is superior to any of the Space Marine dram-... i mean story. I am not at all comparing the Space Marine drama to the Kardashians, not at all. >_>
But if you liked the first 2 books, you will like this.
This time it is on the planet Adumbria where a Chaos plot is threathening our hero.
It shows more sides of Cain and expands greatly upon his dealings with established Npcs in the story. I really like the new sides of Cain and the people he works with, he shows genuine feaer and resolve at the same time when it comes to his enemy. And while he has chances to weasel out, he sees the need to do the job even if it might cost him his life.
New insights into the relationship between Cain and Jurgen is interesting as well. All in all, the setting expands and has plenty of interesting dynamics which is superior to any of the Space Marine dram-... i mean story. I am not at all comparing the Space Marine drama to the Kardashians, not at all. >_>
But if you liked the first 2 books, you will like this.
November 28, 2019
So, the third Ciaphas Cain. This is again great fun.
The plot is once again interesting and Mitchell has the talent of writing about these characters and troops without it seeming like an add for the miniatures they are based on. These stories would be great even without the connection to the game. The only negative thing I have to say about these books after reading three short stories and three novels is that too often the solution to the problems is Cains aides special aura. The plots are varied and gripping and really fun to read but there should be some more variety in problem solving.
Be that as it may, I really enjoy these Cain books and am sorry that I only have the first three as hardback. Highly recommended.
The plot is once again interesting and Mitchell has the talent of writing about these characters and troops without it seeming like an add for the miniatures they are based on. These stories would be great even without the connection to the game. The only negative thing I have to say about these books after reading three short stories and three novels is that too often the solution to the problems is Cains aides special aura. The plots are varied and gripping and really fun to read but there should be some more variety in problem solving.
Be that as it may, I really enjoy these Cain books and am sorry that I only have the first three as hardback. Highly recommended.
February 7, 2024
-Repetir una fórmula puede generar cierto hartazgo.-
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro La mano del traidor (publicación original: The Traitor’s Hand, 2005), el comisario Cain se encuentra con el comisario Thomas Beije, antiguo compañero en la Schola Progenium cuando eran cadetes y nunca amigos, mientras viajan con sus regimientos del Astra Militarum hacia el sistema Adumbria donde, al parecer, hay actividad del caos que permea las instituciones políticas y sociales del imperio. Tercera novela de la saga Ciaphas Cain: Héroe del Imperium.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro La mano del traidor (publicación original: The Traitor’s Hand, 2005), el comisario Cain se encuentra con el comisario Thomas Beije, antiguo compañero en la Schola Progenium cuando eran cadetes y nunca amigos, mientras viajan con sus regimientos del Astra Militarum hacia el sistema Adumbria donde, al parecer, hay actividad del caos que permea las instituciones políticas y sociales del imperio. Tercera novela de la saga Ciaphas Cain: Héroe del Imperium.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
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