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Shadowsun: The Patient Hunter
A T'au Empire Novel
Commander Shadowsun is an ice-cold military genius – but will her patient stratagems be enough to protect all she holds dear from the Death Guard's infectious touch?
READ IT BECAUSE
See an iconic t'au hero tested like never before, as she strives to confront a horrifying Legion empowered by eldritch forces beyond her logical understanding.
THE STORY
Commander O’Shaserra, better known as Shadowsun, is an ice-cold military genius celebrated across the Chalnath Expanse. She is the master of the stealth battlesuit assault and the Kauyon metastrategy – a philosophy of war that emulates the Patient Hunter. But how to lay a trap for the Chaos-worshipping warriors of the Death Guard, whose ancient technology allows their fleet to rip holes in space? And how to deal with their daemonic patrons, who defy the laws of physics and shatter the logical methods that Shadowsun holds so dear?
With her forces spread far and wide on the dark side of the Great Rift, Shadowsun must respond to a surprise attack on the Startide Nexus wormhole portal. Worse yet, as hidden atrocities and treacheries are laid bare, the threat of civil war simmers between the t'au and their allies.
If she is to stand a chance, the t'au's finest commander will have to improvise, trust to instinct, and face the unnatural echoes of her empire's own dark secrets.
Commander Shadowsun is an ice-cold military genius – but will her patient stratagems be enough to protect all she holds dear from the Death Guard's infectious touch?
READ IT BECAUSE
See an iconic t'au hero tested like never before, as she strives to confront a horrifying Legion empowered by eldritch forces beyond her logical understanding.
THE STORY
Commander O’Shaserra, better known as Shadowsun, is an ice-cold military genius celebrated across the Chalnath Expanse. She is the master of the stealth battlesuit assault and the Kauyon metastrategy – a philosophy of war that emulates the Patient Hunter. But how to lay a trap for the Chaos-worshipping warriors of the Death Guard, whose ancient technology allows their fleet to rip holes in space? And how to deal with their daemonic patrons, who defy the laws of physics and shatter the logical methods that Shadowsun holds so dear?
With her forces spread far and wide on the dark side of the Great Rift, Shadowsun must respond to a surprise attack on the Startide Nexus wormhole portal. Worse yet, as hidden atrocities and treacheries are laid bare, the threat of civil war simmers between the t'au and their allies.
If she is to stand a chance, the t'au's finest commander will have to improvise, trust to instinct, and face the unnatural echoes of her empire's own dark secrets.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 12, 2022
22 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Phil Kelly
84 books60 followersPhil Kelly (born 1977) is the Creative Lead for 'Warhammer: Age of Sigmar' in the Games Workshop design studio.
He has written over 60 gaming books in the last twenty years.
He has also written several Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar and Warhammer Horror books and audio dramas for Black Library.
Librarian Note: there is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
He has written over 60 gaming books in the last twenty years.
He has also written several Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar and Warhammer Horror books and audio dramas for Black Library.
Librarian Note: there is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 27, 2022
The T’au popped up during one of my hiatuses from 40k, so despite being around for 20 or so years, they’re still ‘new’ to me. I’m pretty sure I read the ‘Fire Warrior’ novelisation, but can’t remember much of it and Fehervari’s Fire Caste doesn’t give us much from their perspective so this is, as far as I can tell this is my first proper T’au novel, and going in to it, I only could have told the barest of bones about the faction. There is a glossary of T’au terms in the back of the book, and I’m glad of that as they are liberally, but not exclusively, used throughout the text, which does a decent job of immersion.
As an introduction to the T’au, I’d say that this is pretty good, and as well as setting out the basics of them and their allies it gives a good idea of how they’re handling post-rift life. Shadowsun is an interesting protagonist, and exploring a faction in the company of a named and established character makes sense. Shadowsun’s first encounter with Plaguebearers is a refreshing take on the viscerally deeply disturbing nature of chaos, and the occasional Chaos PoV chapter have great design touches (somewhat unpleasant maggot and fly illustrations) as well as introducing nicely moustache-twirling antagonists, who age and cynicism contrasts nicely with the young and guileless T’au.
As an introduction to the T’au, I’d say that this is pretty good, and as well as setting out the basics of them and their allies it gives a good idea of how they’re handling post-rift life. Shadowsun is an interesting protagonist, and exploring a faction in the company of a named and established character makes sense. Shadowsun’s first encounter with Plaguebearers is a refreshing take on the viscerally deeply disturbing nature of chaos, and the occasional Chaos PoV chapter have great design touches (somewhat unpleasant maggot and fly illustrations) as well as introducing nicely moustache-twirling antagonists, who age and cynicism contrasts nicely with the young and guileless T’au.
April 14, 2023
This is a hard one to review because it’s quite good, but it’s also sort of a repeat of the farsight novels in terms of the inner workings of Tau society. I think it’s better written this time, but also that the characters are more boring, at least as far as the Tau characters and their AI go. Because the non-tau characters are excellent, and this book is basically the best display of why the Kroot are the most awesome race in 40K.
I’ve given this book five stars because of the Kroot, the other tau allied aliens and because of the death guard, and because I feel it’s wrong to hold its repeat of “herp derp fire caste vs ethereal caste” against it.
I hope we’ll get more Kroot novels!
I’ve given this book five stars because of the Kroot, the other tau allied aliens and because of the death guard, and because I feel it’s wrong to hold its repeat of “herp derp fire caste vs ethereal caste” against it.
I hope we’ll get more Kroot novels!
July 3, 2023
Big fan of this!
I was gifted the limited special edition with the cool cover and the screen print pages and the detailed pages for certain chapters.
Short and fun read, nice to see the other philosophy of T’au after the tales of Farsight in Phil kelly’s other books.
I’d only had a brief forewarning of the plot from the codex rulebook which mentioned the 4th and 5th sphere expansions, and Shadowsuns role in the empire as a whole.
I was gifted the limited special edition with the cool cover and the screen print pages and the detailed pages for certain chapters.
Short and fun read, nice to see the other philosophy of T’au after the tales of Farsight in Phil kelly’s other books.
I’d only had a brief forewarning of the plot from the codex rulebook which mentioned the 4th and 5th sphere expansions, and Shadowsuns role in the empire as a whole.
May 15, 2023
An excellent look at how tau work and some big shocks at the end. Really interesting and a good read.
March 13, 2024
I'm slightly perplexed by this book. And maybe working my ideas into shape hear will help me come to a consensus.
I think the plot is the best place to start. Because I think it was fairly good, if limited by the page count. Seeing Death Guard plague ships attack tau worlds was lovely, because the tau having to find solutions vs disease, something the book established well that they had completely eradicated in a prior generation, was enjoyable. Watching Shadowsun try and plan around a pox walker infestation, later paying off with a creative solution to short out the zombies neural lock, was actually nice to see.
The sub conflict with the tau sphere that, to me, arbitrarily turned racist vs the auxillary races felt unresolved. Either I missed something, or it went unexplained why they did this. Serving it as a set up for Shadowsun taking an alien-Expendables crew onto a plague ship felt like it tried proving a point without a fully developed thesis. I really liked the execution of that mission and it hits the theme of "stronger together" well. It just felt like it didn't pay off due to ineffective set up. And we don't even see any reward or acknowledgement of the auxiliaries that survived, other than stating that they did. Couple negative points here.
Lastly, I simply do not like the ending. Or, at least 70% of it. The Death Guard ship not being defeated felt like a cool win moment for the villain faction present, but the ship not arriving through the wormhole because the TAU HAVE A gOD NOW. Or always did or was called into minor existence from concentrated prayers drawn attention to earlier or whatever. Point is, hugely confusing deus ex machina, even if the 30% I liked was the reveal of the tau having a god. Super cool idea, massive implications, ravenously want to learn more, still kinda ass-pully to me.
And then Shadowsun herself. There was a certain amount of work done to make her feel distinct from Farsight. I think the attempt to layer in that they also share a fair bit in common ultimately undermined the effort. Particularly when this book already hit a lot of the same notes as the Farsight books, Shadowsun felt like her identity as a character within the IP just wasn't cast well enough. And maybe that's just because she's one of many 40k characters that exist right where they need to in the universe and can't make too many ripples. Would make for better fiction if they did though ...
Lastly, holy hell do I continue to ravenously want nicassar models. The kroot always seem to come off well in fiction, and so do the nicassar. Give us psyker bears pls.
Overall, I didn't hate the book. Fairly worth the short read, but really didn't satisfy enough. Makes me wonder if a better version arrived at an editors desk, then this version hit the shelves.
Farsight is so beloved by tau fans, I wish this book did more to prop up Shadowsun in a similar height for more people. Because I think she's great, her skills and legitimate grit are on display. Unfortunately, also with a hint of plot armor as well. I could've done with another 100 pages to show her having fever dreams of nurgle, then one of the others recovering from the warfront turns into a pox walker after saying yes to nurgle in a dream. THAT would have supplied more of what I was looking for. Because then she's sick with more at stake than slightly nerfing her, but not really.
I think the plot is the best place to start. Because I think it was fairly good, if limited by the page count. Seeing Death Guard plague ships attack tau worlds was lovely, because the tau having to find solutions vs disease, something the book established well that they had completely eradicated in a prior generation, was enjoyable. Watching Shadowsun try and plan around a pox walker infestation, later paying off with a creative solution to short out the zombies neural lock, was actually nice to see.
The sub conflict with the tau sphere that, to me, arbitrarily turned racist vs the auxillary races felt unresolved. Either I missed something, or it went unexplained why they did this. Serving it as a set up for Shadowsun taking an alien-Expendables crew onto a plague ship felt like it tried proving a point without a fully developed thesis. I really liked the execution of that mission and it hits the theme of "stronger together" well. It just felt like it didn't pay off due to ineffective set up. And we don't even see any reward or acknowledgement of the auxiliaries that survived, other than stating that they did. Couple negative points here.
Lastly, I simply do not like the ending. Or, at least 70% of it. The Death Guard ship not being defeated felt like a cool win moment for the villain faction present, but the ship not arriving through the wormhole because the TAU HAVE A gOD NOW. Or always did or was called into minor existence from concentrated prayers drawn attention to earlier or whatever. Point is, hugely confusing deus ex machina, even if the 30% I liked was the reveal of the tau having a god. Super cool idea, massive implications, ravenously want to learn more, still kinda ass-pully to me.
And then Shadowsun herself. There was a certain amount of work done to make her feel distinct from Farsight. I think the attempt to layer in that they also share a fair bit in common ultimately undermined the effort. Particularly when this book already hit a lot of the same notes as the Farsight books, Shadowsun felt like her identity as a character within the IP just wasn't cast well enough. And maybe that's just because she's one of many 40k characters that exist right where they need to in the universe and can't make too many ripples. Would make for better fiction if they did though ...
Lastly, holy hell do I continue to ravenously want nicassar models. The kroot always seem to come off well in fiction, and so do the nicassar. Give us psyker bears pls.
Overall, I didn't hate the book. Fairly worth the short read, but really didn't satisfy enough. Makes me wonder if a better version arrived at an editors desk, then this version hit the shelves.
Farsight is so beloved by tau fans, I wish this book did more to prop up Shadowsun in a similar height for more people. Because I think she's great, her skills and legitimate grit are on display. Unfortunately, also with a hint of plot armor as well. I could've done with another 100 pages to show her having fever dreams of nurgle, then one of the others recovering from the warfront turns into a pox walker after saying yes to nurgle in a dream. THAT would have supplied more of what I was looking for. Because then she's sick with more at stake than slightly nerfing her, but not really.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2024
it's a modern setting book (post rift), that covers some events relevant to the Psychic Awakening sourcebook 'The Greater Good'.
It looks at some of the tensions between the Tau of the 4th sphere and 5th sphere and their allies against the back drop of the Psychic awakening and a Death Guard threat.
The most interesting things with the Tau are how they treat allies and seeing them figuring out how the universe works. We got a bit of both here.
The Death Guard, whilst not my thing, got a good showing too.
Yes, there are a couple of battles but it felt the right balance rather than something that sucked space away from the actual plot. It helped that in one fight the focus was the characters and their interactions and not the mechanics or the physicality of the fight.
Finally, the author, something of a mainstay and loremaster at GW (like Gav Thorpe) does seem to have his haters. This seems often be presented as the writing not being the desired manifestation of their knowledge and ideas. Personally, I have no complaint here.
For a BL novel I'm giving it 4.5/5
It looks at some of the tensions between the Tau of the 4th sphere and 5th sphere and their allies against the back drop of the Psychic awakening and a Death Guard threat.
The most interesting things with the Tau are how they treat allies and seeing them figuring out how the universe works. We got a bit of both here.
The Death Guard, whilst not my thing, got a good showing too.
Yes, there are a couple of battles but it felt the right balance rather than something that sucked space away from the actual plot. It helped that in one fight the focus was the characters and their interactions and not the mechanics or the physicality of the fight.
Finally, the author, something of a mainstay and loremaster at GW (like Gav Thorpe) does seem to have his haters. This seems often be presented as the writing not being the desired manifestation of their knowledge and ideas. Personally, I have no complaint here.
For a BL novel I'm giving it 4.5/5
August 1, 2023
GODDESS T'AU'VA?!?!?!?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2023
Rating of 4.25.
Veteran Warhammer 40,000 author Phil Kelly once again dives into his favourite topic, the T’au, with this new fast-paced and intense novel focused on the intriguing figure of Commander Shadowsun, Shadowsun: The Patient Hunter.
Commander Shas’O Shaserra, better known to her foes as Shadowsun, has long led the forces of the T’au into war against all manner of foes. A former contemporary of the legendary Commander Farsight, Shadowsun has since earned her own substantial reputation across various theatres. Her latest action sees her leading the T’au Empire’s Fifth Sphere Expansion on the other side of the Startide Nexus, capturing many former Imperial worlds and bringing them under the sphere of the T’au’s influence.
A calculating tactician and a master of the philosophy of war that emulates the Patient Hunter, Shadowsun has known only success during this new phase of expansion. But the surprise appearance of a massive fleet of decaying and indestructible warships soon throws all her plans into turmoil as she faces an enemy unlike anything T’au have dealt with before, the Chaos Space Marines of the Death Guard.
Ancient and deadly warriors sworn to the Chaos God of disease and decay, Nurgle, the Death Guard are a force unlike any other in the galaxy. Employing deadly diseases, unstoppable daemons and other deranged horrors that defy all laws of physics and sanity, the Death Guard effortlessly brush through the T’au resistance. Unable to counter their terrible tactics, Shadowsun desperately looks for a way to strike back against the Death Guard. But with her own body consumed with disease and rivals within the T’au seeking their own sinister objectives, can even the great Commander Shadowsun succeed against these relentless opponents?
This was a pretty fun and intense Warhammer 40,000 novel from Phil Kelly, who had a great time really showing off two very different factions from the game. Shadowsun: The Patient Hunter was a very interesting and action-packed read that will really appeal to fans of the Warhammer 40,000 franchise.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/06/04/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Veteran Warhammer 40,000 author Phil Kelly once again dives into his favourite topic, the T’au, with this new fast-paced and intense novel focused on the intriguing figure of Commander Shadowsun, Shadowsun: The Patient Hunter.
Commander Shas’O Shaserra, better known to her foes as Shadowsun, has long led the forces of the T’au into war against all manner of foes. A former contemporary of the legendary Commander Farsight, Shadowsun has since earned her own substantial reputation across various theatres. Her latest action sees her leading the T’au Empire’s Fifth Sphere Expansion on the other side of the Startide Nexus, capturing many former Imperial worlds and bringing them under the sphere of the T’au’s influence.
A calculating tactician and a master of the philosophy of war that emulates the Patient Hunter, Shadowsun has known only success during this new phase of expansion. But the surprise appearance of a massive fleet of decaying and indestructible warships soon throws all her plans into turmoil as she faces an enemy unlike anything T’au have dealt with before, the Chaos Space Marines of the Death Guard.
Ancient and deadly warriors sworn to the Chaos God of disease and decay, Nurgle, the Death Guard are a force unlike any other in the galaxy. Employing deadly diseases, unstoppable daemons and other deranged horrors that defy all laws of physics and sanity, the Death Guard effortlessly brush through the T’au resistance. Unable to counter their terrible tactics, Shadowsun desperately looks for a way to strike back against the Death Guard. But with her own body consumed with disease and rivals within the T’au seeking their own sinister objectives, can even the great Commander Shadowsun succeed against these relentless opponents?
This was a pretty fun and intense Warhammer 40,000 novel from Phil Kelly, who had a great time really showing off two very different factions from the game. Shadowsun: The Patient Hunter was a very interesting and action-packed read that will really appeal to fans of the Warhammer 40,000 franchise.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/06/04/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
February 15, 2025
Another Black Library book. Fairly short and easy to read.
In terms of Warhammer 40,000 lore, this book focusses on a fairly significant moment in the history of the Tau Empire. The Tau are a culture very similar to the Imperium at the beginning of the Horus Heresy series, a deeply secular, enlightened culture that believe they are destined to conquer the galaxy in the name of reason and progress. Much like the Imperium at the beginning of the Horus Heresy, they are about to realise they are not in a grounded sci-fi setting where things make sense and scientific knowledge solves everything, but a ridiculously over the top, horrifying to the point of hilarious setting for a tabletop war game.
The main plot is basically two set piece fight scenes, pitting the modern and shiny Tau against the crusty, slimy, deeply disgusting Death Guard. The Death Guard make a good thematic contrast, standing against everything the Tau Empire believes in, with their entire religion and approach to war revolving around spreading rot, stagnation and disease. I feel like reading a few of the early Horus Heresy books made me appreciate this one more, because there's a lot of similar themes. But more than that, it's a fun read. Lots of fights, lots of explosions, buckets of gore getting flung around as various aliens and daemons rip and blast each other apart.
If you're looking for some deep psychological character study and intricate plotting then you might be missing the point, but there isn't nothing here. Mostly the characters do just exist to fight as you'd expect, and the plot as I've said is pretty much one battle after another, but there is quite a bit here about the power of faith, and the importance of people from different cultures coming together to fight a greater threat rather than turning on each other. I liked it. I preferred it to the last Black Library book I read.
In terms of Warhammer 40,000 lore, this book focusses on a fairly significant moment in the history of the Tau Empire. The Tau are a culture very similar to the Imperium at the beginning of the Horus Heresy series, a deeply secular, enlightened culture that believe they are destined to conquer the galaxy in the name of reason and progress. Much like the Imperium at the beginning of the Horus Heresy, they are about to realise they are not in a grounded sci-fi setting where things make sense and scientific knowledge solves everything, but a ridiculously over the top, horrifying to the point of hilarious setting for a tabletop war game.
The main plot is basically two set piece fight scenes, pitting the modern and shiny Tau against the crusty, slimy, deeply disgusting Death Guard. The Death Guard make a good thematic contrast, standing against everything the Tau Empire believes in, with their entire religion and approach to war revolving around spreading rot, stagnation and disease. I feel like reading a few of the early Horus Heresy books made me appreciate this one more, because there's a lot of similar themes. But more than that, it's a fun read. Lots of fights, lots of explosions, buckets of gore getting flung around as various aliens and daemons rip and blast each other apart.
If you're looking for some deep psychological character study and intricate plotting then you might be missing the point, but there isn't nothing here. Mostly the characters do just exist to fight as you'd expect, and the plot as I've said is pretty much one battle after another, but there is quite a bit here about the power of faith, and the importance of people from different cultures coming together to fight a greater threat rather than turning on each other. I liked it. I preferred it to the last Black Library book I read.
May 16, 2025
Review by Geralt of Rivia
Shadows in: The Patient Hunter tries to cloak itself in mystery, but what it delivers is a slow, uneven tale that lacks both bite and purpose. The premise has promise—shadowy operatives, a creeping threat, and the idea of a predator who waits, who watches. Sounds like the kind of hunt I’d be interested in. Unfortunately, this one drags its feet.
The pacing is its greatest flaw. You wait, and wait, and wait—for the twist, for the tension to boil, for the hunter to truly strike. But when things do happen, they come too late, and without the weight the story seemed to promise. The characters are hollow, built more from tropes than flesh and blood. Motivation is murky, not in a mysterious way, but in an underwritten one.
And honestly? Halfway through, I started rooting for the Death Guard. At least they do something—there’s more presence, menace, and purpose in their rot than in all the whispering shadows this story offers. When the so-called “heroes” are this forgettable, plague and decay start to look like justice.
2 out of 5 stars. There’s a good story somewhere in the dark—but this one never quite steps into the light.
Shadows in: The Patient Hunter tries to cloak itself in mystery, but what it delivers is a slow, uneven tale that lacks both bite and purpose. The premise has promise—shadowy operatives, a creeping threat, and the idea of a predator who waits, who watches. Sounds like the kind of hunt I’d be interested in. Unfortunately, this one drags its feet.
The pacing is its greatest flaw. You wait, and wait, and wait—for the twist, for the tension to boil, for the hunter to truly strike. But when things do happen, they come too late, and without the weight the story seemed to promise. The characters are hollow, built more from tropes than flesh and blood. Motivation is murky, not in a mysterious way, but in an underwritten one.
And honestly? Halfway through, I started rooting for the Death Guard. At least they do something—there’s more presence, menace, and purpose in their rot than in all the whispering shadows this story offers. When the so-called “heroes” are this forgettable, plague and decay start to look like justice.
2 out of 5 stars. There’s a good story somewhere in the dark—but this one never quite steps into the light.
December 27, 2022
Commander Shadowsun faces a completely unfamiliar and grotesque new enemy in the form of Death Guard.
The comparison between the high technology, anti theistic greater good of the Tau’va and the pestilent, archaic nurgle worshipping Death Guard is a great focal point for the story.
Shadowsun is, at times, an unlikable ‘hero’ for her unwillingness to work with others and her overall stubbornness. However, her growth over the course of the story is a real highlight.
The combat is clear and action packed, the characters have enough depth to make them meaningful, it most importantly it fits within the immediate ‘now’ of the 40K universe.
A solid read; it would be great to see a sequel pick up where this left off.
The comparison between the high technology, anti theistic greater good of the Tau’va and the pestilent, archaic nurgle worshipping Death Guard is a great focal point for the story.
Shadowsun is, at times, an unlikable ‘hero’ for her unwillingness to work with others and her overall stubbornness. However, her growth over the course of the story is a real highlight.
The combat is clear and action packed, the characters have enough depth to make them meaningful, it most importantly it fits within the immediate ‘now’ of the 40K universe.
A solid read; it would be great to see a sequel pick up where this left off.
December 29, 2022
Possibly the worst BL book of all time. Reads like an anime novel and none-stop bolter porn that doesn't make any sense half of the time with characters demolishing super tanks with hand grenades. It doesn't fit in the universe at all and I don't understand why they keep letting the author write T'au centric stories when he clearly doesn't care to invest in the time that other authors have put into creating them.
T'au don't get many books and to see yet another opportunity to flesh them out or at least make them halfway decent characters amidst the dozens of space marine novels we get makes me want to start reading battletech again. Looks like we'll be waiting another few years. Hopefully they'll change the guard by then.
T'au don't get many books and to see yet another opportunity to flesh them out or at least make them halfway decent characters amidst the dozens of space marine novels we get makes me want to start reading battletech again. Looks like we'll be waiting another few years. Hopefully they'll change the guard by then.
August 12, 2024
I'd rate it 3.5 stars but that wasn't an option.
It was a really enjoyable boom and my first from the Warhammer universes. Personally I quite enjoy the Tau and their lore and the depth into it here was interesting as well as what it suggests about Tau culture and the future of it.
While at times it could be slow the chapters were rarely too long and writing rarely hard to read. With my ADHD it was honestly one of the easier books I've read and I'm glad about that.
I definitely reccomend it if you enjoy Warhammer and are looking for a short read that contains some lore and visceral descriptions.
It was a really enjoyable boom and my first from the Warhammer universes. Personally I quite enjoy the Tau and their lore and the depth into it here was interesting as well as what it suggests about Tau culture and the future of it.
While at times it could be slow the chapters were rarely too long and writing rarely hard to read. With my ADHD it was honestly one of the easier books I've read and I'm glad about that.
I definitely reccomend it if you enjoy Warhammer and are looking for a short read that contains some lore and visceral descriptions.
April 4, 2023
I have to admit to really enjoying this story, I have read all Phil Kelly’s Tau books and this is a great addition, I did feel that certain parts stretched disbelief such as the raid on the Death Guard ship, a few intriguing loose ends …. The aforementioned ship stranded in the warp hole and the Goddess of the Tau Va?? What the actual F…….
On a negative point the narrator was a poor choice, she made Shadowsun sound like a panicked teenager not a Tau war leader and her interpretation of Death Guard !! Noooooo
On a negative point the narrator was a poor choice, she made Shadowsun sound like a panicked teenager not a Tau war leader and her interpretation of Death Guard !! Noooooo
February 19, 2024
Tau vs. The Death Guard is such a great concept and it is executed excellently here.
There are some interesting new lore aspects of the Tau presented in this book and I hope those aspects continue on!
Shadowsun is a compelling lead and I LOVE the other weird Tau auxiliary forces we meet near the end of the book.
Props to the audiobook narrator on this one as she picked out some amazing voices.
There are some interesting new lore aspects of the Tau presented in this book and I hope those aspects continue on!
Shadowsun is a compelling lead and I LOVE the other weird Tau auxiliary forces we meet near the end of the book.
Props to the audiobook narrator on this one as she picked out some amazing voices.
January 26, 2026
A solid T’au-focused read that highlights Shadowsun’s calm, methodical style of war—more strategy and precision than brute force. The action is sharp when it hits, and it’s fun seeing how the T’au operate when everything depends on patience and planning. That said, the pacing can feel uneven at times and some sections drag, but overall it’s a good pick if you want more lore and a closer look at one of the T’au’s most iconic commanders.
July 11, 2023
Phil Kelly has always been a favorite of mine at GW due to his batreps in White Dwarf. I enjoyed the book, with maybe my only criticism being with some of the action. While I thought it was quite good and depicted the Tau in a nice way akin to their play style. Some points felt vague and confusing on what was happening.
February 5, 2024
Commander Shadowsun is a pretty well written character and I enjoyed the story without feeling like it dragged. All the other characters were also pretty interesting and I thought the plot was well written. There was a bit of intrigue that makes me want to read more Tau books and overall I think Phil Kelly did a great job with this one.
September 14, 2024
This book grabs you so quickly with the alien grace but human esk politics and ego stroking
The combat is vivid and quick paced
Shines a light on some of the most interesting but hidden 40k faction members
The combat is vivid and quick paced
Shines a light on some of the most interesting but hidden 40k faction members
April 30, 2025
It's cool to see Shadowsun front and centre. Unfortunately, the book is very short, and I feel like it needed longer to really get into the fifth sphere of expansion, but it is still an enjoyable read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2023
Death guard stuff is fun, tao perspective though? Not so much
August 28, 2023
That was an entertaining short and sweet Shadowsun adventure. It shows the Tau, their allies, and Chaos interacting and fighting. It was good.
October 24, 2025
great story, beautifully shows the connection between the tau and their allies and their first encountering with chaos. some area felt rather dragged on but I was always happy I kept reading!
August 2, 2024
Dnf at 30%. Long boring drawn out action sequences. Botlerporn. I wanted to like this book, if that counts for anything.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews