The Triumph of Saint Katherine

Adepta Sororitas

by Danie Ware

An Adepta Sororitas Novel

Follow the ritual funerary procession of the most honoured of all Sisters of Battle, as the young Sister Avra faces a war both without and within.

READ IT BECAUSE
Discover how the Triumph of Saint Katherine inspires faithful warriors across the galaxy, in a tale of courage and shame from the perspective of a young Sister of Battle.

THE STORY
Carried by six Sisters of Battle, each the embodiment of a revered saint, the funerary procession known as the Triumph of Saint Katherine marches from world to world, battlefront to battlefront. Where darkness and heresy are rampant, it brings faith, hope and courage to the warriors of the Imperium.

Sister Avra of the Order of Our Martyred Lady is honoured beyond measure to battle alongside the sacred procession in defence of the beleaguered world of Kiros. However, this bold young warrior holds a secret shame in her heart, one she believes can only be redeemed in death. As the darkness closes in on Kiros, Avra is overcome by a vision – and soon realises that the Emperor has far greater plans for her.

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Fantasy

194 pages, Hardcover

First published January 29, 2022

About the author

Author of the Ecko trilogy (CyberPunk/Fantasy mashup) and Children of Artifice (queer science fantasy). Writer of Sisters of Battle (and other things) for WarHammer 40k, Judge Anderson for Rebellion, Twilight Imperium for Aconyte Books, and numerous short stories.

Reader, writer, crusader geek, re-enactor (retired) and role-player. After seventeen years conjuring PR, events and social media for Forbidden Planet (London) Ltd, you can now find me in the Manga/GNs at Waterstones Piccadilly.

Follow me on most Social Media channels as @Danacea

Reviews

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually really good, very medieval, Chaucer-inspired collection of tales about one of the foundational figures in the Warhammer universe.

The battle sisters induct a new member to their special unit, where they all take the names of the great soldiers and leaders that founded their unit. And the new recruit, Avra, will become the new Saint Katherine - and carry the ancient sword and shield as her companions carry the stone sarcophagus of the real Saint behind her.

As I started reading it I felt like it was going to be a "just lore" story, but Danie Ware knits together a nice atmosphere and an examination of faith with the apocryphal stories of a wandering saint. The more I read it, and with the penultimate chapter, the more I doubted the "lore accuracy" of the stories. They may be parables, moral tales, or my guess descriptions of the lives of the storytellers with the Saint Katherine in their place as main character.

It ends in bittersweet triumph, because Saint Katherine triumphs. She has no other choice.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was my husbands choice for my next read. He’s very in to Warhammer and will sometimes select books he thinks I’d like.

He was right about this one.

I have never read a Sisters book, and I found this one to be fascinating. It was so interesting to see how they worked, how they came in to their position, and the bond between them all. I definitely will look more into the Sisters and potentially read more of their stories, should my husband find me some that I would enjoy.

[Lorenzo Di Loreto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Danie writes a fantastic story of faith and strength , we also get to learn about each of the Sister Orders, there is not a lot of lore/books regarding them and it is refreshing! I hope we can get more stories and books , because I'm left wanting for more! I would recommend this book to anyone

[David Colwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook, not such a bad book but not great either. 2.5 stars for me and rounding up because it had some good interesting insight into the sisters and their saints but I wish I just had a bit more oomph. There could be some cool galaxy defining insight into the emperor and his saints and how and why they manifest but really it just touched the surface of what this all means and thus some missed potential.

The biggest issue I have with the sisters audiobooks is the singing. Please just tell me they’re singing I don’t want to have this super serious singing blaring in my ear. You’re an audiobook reader not a singer. Anyway the singing wasn’t that bad but I just don’t enjoy the way it makes me feel uncomfortable so I just skipped forward those sections.

[Alesha Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good. Its a must if your into Sisters of Battle faction, but its still really good if they aren't a favorite. Ware excels at showing a human weakness in the characters while not making the characters come off as weak. The book has sisters from each of the orders telling a tale about the saint. This highlights the differences between the orders, but the banter during the stories is great for helping define how each order thinks of the other. Its kind of like the context of everyone's view of others helps define things even better. Good stuff, I highly recommend.

[Jack Volante · Rating 4 out of 5]

A juicy little story about a young sister being selected to become the replacement, shield-bearing, 'Katherine' on the eve of a great battle. The other five, relic-bearing, sisters each have a chapter to explain to the new recruit a tale from Saint Katherine's life from their order's viewpoint.

Thankfully, the final chapter is about the six sisters leading the Imperial forces into battle against the chaos forces. I was worried the book was going to be one of those stories where it ends just before the battle begins.

Another must-read for all Adepta Sororitas fans (hopefully they'll bring out a softback version.)

[Elizabeth Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Adepta Sororitas are near and dear to my heart, and so I'm willing to slurp up whatever dregs Games Workshop is willing pump out for them, regardless of quality. But that doesn't mean that I'm always having a good time.

Unfortunately, The Triumph of Saint Katherine sits firmly on the negative side of things. For starters, the structure of the book is disjointed and disorientating. Perspectives often changed not just from chapter to chapter, but even going from paragraph to paragraph. It often took me a moment to go "oh, we're talking about something else now" because a story told from one character's perspective would be interrupted by another character chiming in with something unimportant for a single paragraph, before switching back to the original character's perspective again. It wasn't impossible to understand or follow, it was just a chore.

And it's not like the action or prose helped this book either. Sisters were explained with very repetitive descriptions that don't inspire any imagination or wonder. Worse still, the combat was given that typical Games Workshop treatment of sounding so plain and banal that your eyes start to glaze over. And while I don't doubt that Danie Ware has strengths as a writer, being forced to tell a story to the strict criteria imposed by the franchise leaves you with a very meekly written book.

But perhaps worst of all is how it takes the Adepta Soroitas, a faction that I have long admired as fierce and inspiring, and made them seem like bickering school girls with no sense of unity. An upsetting amount of this novel is dedicated to the characters having disagreements, undermining each other, and scolding each other. It presents them as a force that is deeply divided, more than a little incompetent, and lacking a clear direction. It makes them look weak and silly, which might have some merit as a critique of the imperium if it was at all written that way, but it's not, and it isn't. So instead we're left with a very unflattering representation that doesn't exactly feed my passion for the setting. Now, to the book's credit, this does eventually lead somewhere, and I did enjoy the final few chapters as it all came together, but I'm not convinced that the payoff was worth the cost of depicting the Adepta Soroitas this way.

It's not so terrible that I hated it, but I certainly didn't like it either, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone that wasn't already leaning towards buying it.

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the midst of a furious campaign, young Sister Avra finds herself chosen to take the place of a fallen Sister in the funerary procession of Saint Katherine. Over the course of the following night, each of her new sisters relates a tale of the saint that represents the ethos of each of the Major Orders of the Adepta Sororitas.

Structured as a sort of portmanteau, this is a little different to your average 40k novel. There are elements of a regular narrative from Avra’s perspective, but broken up as it is into individual stories told by different narrators it definitely feels like a bit of a campfire tale – leaning into the oral tradition, full of allegory and steeped in legend. For Adepta Sororitas fans who enjoy Ware’s powerful take on Battle Sisters and can appreciate the spoken word stylings (which probably work very well in audiobook format) this is definitely worth checking out.

Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2022/07/...

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book you can read that you don't need prior Warhammer knowledge to understand or appreciate. I love this one more because it's all kick ass women fighting awesome battles.

[Anibal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review contain some spoilers for beginners to the lore of the Sisters of Battle

The Triumph of St. Katherine" follows the epic tale of the triumph bearers, who tragically lose one of her members during a fierce battle against the followers of Nurgle, who are hell-bent (pun intended) on conquering the world of Kiros. This novel marks my first experience delving into Danie Ware's full-length book, though I have thoroughly enjoyed her previous short stories focused on the Sisters of Battle which are awesome.

The story commences with a significant event as Sister Avra, in a daring act of bravery, saves a fellow soldier from a demonic fiend. This act bestows upon her a divine vision of the saint, prompting the other bearers of the relic to acknowledge her as the new “St. Katherine” for the triumph procession. From here, the narrative unfolds into a captivating ritual, leading to a campfire storytelling session where each sister from various orders shares tales that reflect their personalities and delve into the mighty Saint's lore. However, it's worth noting that some of the stories might be embellished or historically inaccurate, as with Saint Katherine's alleged battle against the Tyranids, which might never have occurred (the first official contact with the tyranids was in Tyran in 741.M41, although there were some sporadic contacts before it is doubtful that Saint Katherine actually battled them).

Throughout the storytelling, the sisters' values and the unique approaches of their respective orders are showcased. Whether it's frontal assaults, cunning tactics, unwavering faith, or enduring pain, the diverse arsenal of skills displayed makes for an excellent introduction to the different Orders of the Sororitas. Despite the intriguing characters, they often embody more or less predictable archetypes tied to their respective orders.

One aspect of the book that struck me as odd was the abundance of bickering and lack of discipline among the esteemed and saintly Sororitas of the procession. Given their exalted status as the followers of Saint Katherine, one would expect more unity and harmony. Additionally, the final battle, though against an epic foe, felt somewhat lackluster, leaving me yearning for a more climactic showdown.

On a highly positive note, I must commend Alexandre Mokhov for the stunning cover art in the regular hard cover version, capturing the essence of the triumph's grandeur. The special edition cover is a piece of art inspired by prayer book covers.

"The Triumph of St. Katherine" by Danie Ware is a tale that allows readers to explore the rich world of the Adeptas Sororitas. Though some elements may feel familiar and the final battle might not live up to the expectations of an epic confrontation, the storytelling and character dynamics remain compelling. If you are a fan of Warhammer 40,000 lore and enjoy the Sisters of Battle, this book is definitely worth adding to your collection.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s roughness here, but when it works, it REALLY works. Ware has a real talent for writing action, and her characterization is efficient and good enough for this sort of thing. She has a tendency to reach for monster emotional beats, though. When these don’t land (and they often don’t), you’re left kind of trying to puzzle out why a character is crying or experiencing religious ecstasy or whatever. However, when they do, they’re astonishing. The final battle, in particular, hits the level of operatic high that the best 40k novels deal in. So, I would say read this (the fact that it’s so short doesn’t hurt), and I’m looking forward to other Danie Ware Sisters of Battle books.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected but still enjoyed it. It was a collection of stories that hallow the positions the sisters hold in the Triumph. The writing is solid, my only complaint is there were a few too many breaks from the stories where the sisters would discuss/debate the veracity or implications of the tale. Sometimes it felt like these simply existed to remind us of the coming morning which grew tedious. But these breaks also offered insight on how the sisters harmonize in spite of contrary natures.

Tbh it's a Sororitas story by Dani Ware, which is really all the recommendation you need. Read it.

[Brent Skinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't go in expecting a series of short stories, but I enjoyed what it gave me. I am excited to read more Danie Ware and see more about what's going on with the Adeptus Sororitas.

In this book, the reader is treated to a tableaux of character pieces told in the vein of the 100 candles game. Each shows a different facet of what war is like for the different arms of the sisters. We also get a nice little glimpse into the awe that the Everyman views them with. Holy pilgrims singing their way through battle.

[Amy Mischa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this, dripping with that perfect medieval/far-future atmosphere that defines the Sororitas. So much fun reading it with Decameron and Chaucer in mind, but also Gawain, Tasso... I could go on! Thrumming with those influences and nods and in a way that was so, so delightful. Tension of the ending was on two levels, the challenge of faith as well as the literal facing of the greater demon, lovely multilayered way for the MC to fail or succeed, so doubly tense. Ah I loved it. Terrific read!

[Barthel Loren · Rating 3 out of 5]

It features a great personification of each of the major Orders and gives a lot of insight into their ways. This is all done via a rather unique and enjoyable portmanteau-ish story structure. On the flipside the writing style is horrible at times and the story isn't at all what the back of the book suggests.

The full review can be watched here: https://youtu.be/eJNzLFcNhic

[Pedro Mendes · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book has two "storylines", not really two, but there are characters telling tales. I would have enjoyed to read more about the main storyline, instead of a majority of the book being about the tales.

That said, it was really good fun and a light read as opposed to what I usually read.

4.5/5

[Dropbear123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Read as part of the Saints and Martyrs omnibus)

4.25/5

Pretty good. Well written characters, good exploration of the feelings and motivations of the Sisters of Battle. All of the tales in the book are decent. However due to the style of the book (each sister telling a story) not a lot really happens.

Of the Saints and Martyrs collection this one was easily the best.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was an interesting look into the Sisters and their way of thinking. They are zealous and very introspective. The short stories detailing the aspects of the Triumph put one in mind of religious exemplar stories. Good short novel.

[Shane Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Interesting insight into the Sisters of Battle. Lots of action. Good evocative writing style. Enjoyed this book.

[Valtier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable story of an iconic character of the Sisters of Battle.

[Taika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pleasant and fun read, particularly for those interested in the Sororitas.

[sivel · Rating 1 out of 5]

really was a struggle to read this one - telling a story in a story mhmm worked alot better in other books like hyperion. Would really not recommend this one to anybody.

[Victoria V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful telling of just one ritual the Adepta Sororitas have to honor the fallen. Each part of The Triumph of Saint Katherine has such a beautiful message, I felt pride in playing this faction on the tabletop.

However, the back and forth between time lines is jarring at times and unexpected the first few times.

[Evil Kipper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic look at the Orders of the Sisters of Battle

Anyways. I just finished the Triumph of St Katherine by Danie Ware and the only bad thing I’d say is that I have no more of it left to enjoy!

Absolutely fantastic view into all the different orders of the Sisters of Battle, while also highlighting how they work together.

I particularly enjoy the little touches - the way the other sisters relate to those in the triumph, the way soldiers relate to the sisters.

Glorious story telling.