The Emperor's Finest

Ciaphas Cain #7

by Sandy Mitchell

Commissar Cain is called to duty once more, saving a governor’s daughter from a planet over-run by rebels. The uprising hides something far more sinister however – genestealer hybrids! The search for the source of the alien threat leads Cain to a drifting space hulk – a far safer place than beside the obsessed governor’s daughter. But when the Reclamator Space Marines suffer devastating losses at the hands of the Great Devourer, Cain and his trusty aide Jurgen must go it alone. With the tyranids waking and a group of stow away orks on the loose, there are no safe places to run or hide, and Cain must use all his ingenuity and cunning to escape the space hulk alive.

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

315 pages, Hardcover

First published November 20, 2010

About the author

Sandy 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.

Reviews

[Douglas Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

By far the weakest of the Ciaphas Cain novels I've read so far. Still entertaining, but lacking the elements that make the other volumes a joy.

Part of the problem is the settings. At first Cain is working with a company of Space Marines, who are frankly dull as dirt. Bio-engineered fanatics with no senses of humor are hardly a good foil for the Hero of the Imperium! Then the last third of the book has Cain and Jurgen cut off and fighting without any contact with allies, meaning all of Cain's sarcasm ans biting observations about everyone in the galaxy are replaced by lots of running and shooting.

The subplot about an ambitious governor's daughter with designs on Commissar Cain felt tacked on and trite.

If you're a Black Library Completest, read this. It has some fun bits about the Redeemers chapter of the Space Marines and some fun information about space hulks. Otherwise, give it a pass.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely the weakest of the series thus far. It takes place during Cain's time with the Reclaimers, and there is a lot of both downtime and flat characters. The Reclaimers themselves, I didnt mind too much, though I can't say they have the same depth as any of the key Valhallans Cain interacts with throughout the series like Kasteen or Divas. Overall, they're okay. The mission itself doesnt really pick up til much later, and even then, it doesnt have the same kind of energy as previous books. The middle of the book is largely downtime until the real mission takes off. It has its interesting or amusing moments, with some kind of big fight, but it's definitely a bit of a slog to get through.

My biggest gripe with this one is the unnecessary inclusion of a planetary governor's daughter, Mira, who is about as stereotypical of a noble as she can be. Clingy, toxic, stupid, whiny, annoying, I developed a deep hatred for this character (not to mention, Cain's naivete of her true intentions was slightly annoying too, considering how stupidly obvious it was). Honestly, it got to a point where I wanted to sort of finish this book quickly so she wouldn't be a part of it anymore. And shes in it for most of the book, which makes her feel really tacked on. She has no real reason to be around after they leave the planet, except to be a bitchy, flat, unlikable character with very few moments of being useful (outside of Cain's plaything). So much so, that when she leaves in Chapter 18, and doesnt come back until the final chapter (which is thankfully short), it's a RELIEF to me. I actually looked forward to reading again because this character I hated was no longer a part of it.

With that said, the final part of the book is...okay? I personally enjoy the banter between Jurgen and Cain, but I can see why others might not enjoy it as much. Much of it drags on, and it just doesnt feel like the same epic conclusion as previous ones.

Overall, it's a much weaker story in comparison to the others. I didnt gain as much enjoyment as I have before. I wouldn't necessarily say skip it, since I'm sure his time with the Reclaimers will come into play again in later books, or be referenced in one way or another. And who knows, maybe it wont bother you as much as it did me. Maybe Mira wont be one of the big things that really drags this down. But if you dont care for a total completion of the series, or getting a more in-depth look into his time with the Reclaimers, it's a safe skip.

[Adam Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having narrowly escaped from an encounter with the feared necrons, Commissar Ciaphas Cain finds himself assigned as liaison to the Reclaimers Space Marine chapter, noted for their formidable weaponry, immense bravery and sometimes over-eager interest in technology. When rebel insurgents launch an uprising on Viridia against the local government, Cain fancies they are in for an easy campaign against an inferior foe. Of course, it's not long before genestealers abound, and Cain finds himself stuck with an overeager noble lady keen to ensnare him in political games, and a hellbound pursuit of a rogue hulk through deep space.

The misadventures of Ciaphas Cain are probably among the most purely entertaining in the Warhammer 40,000 canon. Whilst most books focus more on the "grim darkness" and "only war" bits of the setting, Sandy Mitchell's signature series instead tries to lighten things up, at least relatively. Commissar Cain believes himself to be blustering, cowardly and too eager to run at the first sign of trouble, but is constantly manoeuvred by fate into positions where he has no choice but to apparently-eagerly run to the front lines or into the most dangerous area possible, often surviving by the skin of his teeth and sometimes unexpectedly saving the day in such an outrageously public way. By this seventh novel in the series, things have gotten ludicrous enough that Cain is now getting full honour salutes from squads of Terminator Space Marines for his bravery (roughly akin to an angel saluting a particularly tenacious chimpanzee).

Of course, Cain's complaints about his cowardice and self-serving needs do seem to be contradicted by his actual proven ability to get tasks achieved and his impressive combat skills, and his constantly-present (via footnotes of varying degrees of bewilderment) editor-confessor, Inquisitor Amberly Vail, seems unsure about to what degree his "confession" is actual modesty, or even some psychological defence mechanism to rationalise a deeper-seated need to face death on a daily basis. This deep in the series it's a still a mystery (one I doubt will ever be solved), so it's probably best to move on and enjoy the ride.

The Emperor's Finest is, like most books in the series, fairly short but also packs a ton in. The book has three distinct sections, which less-disciplined authors might have tried to expand into a whole novel by themselves. The battle for Viridia is entertaining, with Cain acting as a liaison between the superhuman Space Marines and the ordinary human defenders, and getting into a Warhammer 40,000 meetcute (which means moderate flirting over the roaring exchange of bolter fire) with the governor's daughter, Mira. A slightly more interminable middle section follows as the Reclaimers try to track down the origin of the tyranid infestation, a space hulk cheerily named the Spawn of Damnation, whilst Cain tries to both win the respect of the Reclaimers and fend off Mira's attempts to lure him into political intrigue. The final section sees Cain, Jurgen (Cain's aide, think of the product of an unholy union of Baldrick and Gregor Clegane) and the Reclaimers let loose aboard the space hulk and finding things are far more complicated then they first imagined.

Mitchell delivers this with typical panache, with moments of humour and levity mixed in with above-competent action sequences and Vail's wry footnote interjections. However, the formula feels a tad off this time around. After a promising start, Mira never really develops into an interesting character and her storyline feels a bit rote. Cain's interactions with the Reclaimers and their crewmembers also hold a lot of promise but again are not fleshed out well: Cain's achievements in the book (from an outside POV) are highly impressive but I'm not sure he's done enough to earn the Reclaimers' overwhelming respect at the end. Cain is also at his best when in circumstances with lots of options for his natural self-serving tendencies to emerge and the reader to be left in doubt about his selfish/brave motivations. Here he spends a third of the book trapped on a space hulk with his back to the wall and no choice but to proceed to survive, which makes for a solidly tense adventure but doesn't service the character's best attributes.

Still, the book is short, to the point, has good action and some doses of light humour that the setting rather badly needs at time, so it's hard to complain too much. The Emperor's Finest (***½) delivers the required entertainment, but doesn't go above and beyond like the better books in the series. The novel is available now as part of the Ciaphas Cain: Saviour of the Imperium omnibus, along with its two succeeding novels and several short stories.

[Max Shammall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not the strongest of the Ciaphas Cain series, but still a good book.

Touched on some lore points I always wondered about (a specific faction and their "influence" on other Xenos races), and the interaction between Cain and the Reclaimers was nice.
Was waiting for a twist that never really came along, but that may have been me expecting too much.

[Charley Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slightly more politics, and surprisingly lower body count - a bit of a break from the standard fare, but I really enjoyed it. Mira is delightfully crafty and awful, and Mr Mitchell is to be praised for successfully giving Space Marines identifiable personalities as well as making use of the inherent comic and dramatic potential that is often lost in other 40k stories.

[Bookcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh, Reclaimers 😁 It really does seem like the Space Marines show up just in time to get credit 😑 Loved this!

[Ian James Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of craic but didn't grab me as much as the last few.

[Chris Bowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best Ciaphas Cain from the previous few books.

[Vigneswara Prabhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first, and most obvious criticism I can foresee from those who’ve finished the story, is despite how we finally get the story where Cain works alongside a space marine chapter (an event that has been alluded to multiple times in previous books; in fact, mentioned whenever Cain encounters a genestealer cult), it is largely underwhelming.

Despite best efforts, from the good commissar, the Astartes simply don’t have enough of a personality to make them engaging. Part of that might be due to the particular proclivities of their chapter. The reclaimers, as the name indicates, are quite obsessed with reclaiming Archeotec from the voids of space. In that sense they’re quite similar to how your average admech acolyte works. But whatever that spark is, which sets them apart as humanity’s finest warriors is missing.

I would’ve imagined a character arc, where they view the good commissar with skepticism, particularly because of his propagandist title of ‘The hero of the Imperium’. Which, as they completed missions side by side, Cain having proven himself through the absurd victories he’s prone to pulling out of his hat. This, plus his steel stealing smile and the charm of a bard maxed out on charisma, he would’ve earned the professional recognition of the space marines.

It would be delusional to assume that your rank-and-file soldier would be able to gain the respect of an Astartes. The only one who can, is someone of legendary status like that of Commissar Yarrick. So, a validation of Cain’s hyped-up reputation would’ve been sufficient.

While he does gain a healthy acquaintance of the Reclaimers techmarine Druman, being able to serve as a respectable sparring partner to the Astartes (Again, the notion that an unaugmented human making an Astartes break a sweat, even in training, is quite ludicrous). Beyond that, there is little chemistry.

Worse part is, I could’ve easily imagined Cain being embedded with someone like the Black Templars or the Salamanders, while impressing upon them his abilities using 90% luck and 10% horse apples.

Scenario 1: The Black templar taking the law to some disobedient guardsman or PDF who had the gall to break or run away from the enemy. In comes Cain, weaving his magic to protect the men, with some hogwash about spending their lives in service of the emperor. Earning the admiration of Space marine and enlisted alike.

Scenario 2: Cain taking great pains to reduce the casualties amongst the soldiers and general populace, when facing some Xenos/ chaos enemies. Seemingly taking near suicidal actions to avert disaster (while it just being his misfortune kicking in at the worst time). Thus, earning a stoic nod from the green pyromaniac teddy bears.

But, likely GW didn’t want to associate any major name chapter to this particular campaign, and they had to develop a homebrew hodgepodge as a placeholder. I Hope there are better instances of this collaboration in the future.


Most of my major grievance with the story is the inclusion of perhaps the most annoying character so far mentioned in this series. Mira, the arrogant, haughty, self-important daughter of a planetary governor. Who picked up some rifles and went hunting in Dad’s summer mansion and thought that qualified her to face battle hardened enemy combatants on the field. And decided to ingratiate herself with the self-serving, yet capable commissar, jeopardizing the mission and his life.

Worse, she has the gall to look down upon and insult the Commissar loyal and resourceful right hand man. You don’t get far in this story, after insulting Jurgen. But here me out. After pondering about it for a bit, I seem to be of the notion that this character does serve a purpose. Not directly to the story; rather, to explore the nature of our protagonist.

From the very beginning, we’re told by Cain himself, as to what his first and only priority is in life. To not die, a terrifying, horrifying, pain-filled death, at the hands/ talons/ claws/ tentacles/ pincers of whatever week’s monster the unfeeling galaxy throws at him. Everything he does, is towards this goal; with the ultimate endgame of retiring in peace, and in one piece, to some cushy behind the desk job, far, far away from conflict. It’s just his luck that his exploits tend to more often than not turn the tides of battle and get them sufficiently inflated to saddle him with worse dangerous assignments.

So here, we see Cain being offered a rare chance; to be the trophy husband of the heir to a planetary governor, with direct line to ruling the entire planet. Yet, he seems almost reluctant at the prospect of saying adios to fighting and essentially being the kept man to the queen.

Part of this might be his skepticism and revulsion to anyone remotely nobelite (I’m not sure if that’s a word, but I’m gonna use it). Also, a smart man like Cain knows, in the world of 40k, the next galaxy ending threat is always around the corner. And no matter how far one can run, the war has a habit of finding you. So, when it does, the best bet is to have an entire army’s worth of highly trained, highly motivated, bloodthirsty killers on your side, and looking up to in adulation, to then use as protection against said galactic horrors. In the same vein, in this world, planetary rulers are a dime a dozen. Considering how the Imperium holds dominion over more or less a million words, each with their own brand of insufferable bluebloods.

The Imperial war machine can and has bulldozed over entire sectors who made the mistake of sneezing the wrong way. So, again, why won’t you side with said juggernaut, rather than risk being the ones trampled in its wake.

But maybe, just maybe, there is this small part of him, one which even he denies, which likes this life. The one filled with thrills and near-death ordeals. Where Cain’s particular skill set, keen intellect and killer instincts shine in abundance. Sometimes, it feels good to be wanted and appreciated.

Then finally, there is the case of Jurgen. Despite treating almost everyone as tools for his own survival, even the arguably self-centered Commissar recognizes the worth and value of a right hand man like Jurgen. Who is resourceful, quite handy with a weapon, and is staunchly loyal to the good commissar, treating his words as gospel. Also, someone who has faced the worst the galaxy has to offer side by side with Caiphas, no questions asked. Truly, more often than not, the last-minute intervention of the malodorous valhallan has been the difference between life and death for the Commissar.

The way in which Cain's almost intended treats others, those she sees below her, is typical of the aristocracy of Warhammer; might be typical of aristocracy anywhere. But that just cements in him, and in us as readers, this person is not one who believes in common human decency or values. Cain’s prestige and usefulness has made him alluring to her at the moment, but once that comes to pass, he’ll be thrown aside like a used condom.

Ironically, facing the vile monstrosities of the warp, might be for Cain a more assured gamble, compared to throwing his lot amongst the nobles.

But I’ve meandered quite a bit, from the intended point. TLDR, she basic, but she reveals the better characteristics in our protagonist.

A final tail end of the actual structure of the story. The last act is set entirely inside the dark, derelict, warp-ed corridors of the space hulk. The whole atmosphere, where the duo of Cain & Jurgen are running around trying to evade the Tyranids, then the Orks, then the Tyranid infected Orks, all is quite reminiscent of the same sense of horror and claustrophobia as invoked by movies such as the Alien (at least the first one). Combat is again taking a backseat for survival horror, but it works for the most part.

The final conclusion felt a bit too rushed and was one which was ‘said rather than shown’, as if the author had run out of pages. I really would’ve liked some more detail, as to how the Space marines and the Imperial forces dealt with the dual Xenos threat. Preferably by blowing it up in spectacular fashion or dragging it into the sun’s gravitational pull to be burned to crisp.

This is a recurring theme I’m seeing, even in the previous entry of ‘Cain’s Last Stand’. Only in book 4, ‘Death or Glory’ did I find the wind down and exposition after the climax satisfactory.

But I’m two thirds done with the glorious tales of our heroic commissar. Can’t wait to pick up the next iteration. Or perhaps I’ll mix it up and get started with Gaunt’s Ghosts, which from what I gather, has a decidedly more fatalistic tone.

[Ross Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two things that I believe are absolutely essential to making a good military sci fi novel: believable battle scenes and humanised characters. Battle scenes that are hard to follow or visualise leave the reader lost sooner or later. Primary characters who are heroic, blaster-toting supermen are just too superficial, leaving the character uninspiring and once more losing the reader.

In Ciaphis Cain, we have a bit of a rogue. He isn’t going to go out into danger if he can help it, especially if he has the bulk of some Space Marines to get between him and any threat. He simply doesn’t believe in risking his skin if he doesn’t have to. Nor is he beyond letting others believe he is something that he isn’t, be it hero or pious follower of the Emperor.

While reading, I was reminded a little of George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman. But without all the sexual escapades. Or quite the same degree of blatant cowardice. Or being an outright cad. Unlike Flashman, Cain will fight and fight hard when he has to. It is this attitude that really becomes the character.

Also like the Flashman series, the Ciaphis Cain stories are related as Cain’s memoirs, not ‘written’ in any expectation of anyone reading them. The ‘editor’ therefore inserts the occasional footnote.

The novel opens with Cain having just survived an encounter with the necrons, only saved by the timely arrival of a ship from the Reclaimers Astartes Chapter of Space Marines. He has now resumed his journey to Viridia where he is to act as Imperial Guard liaison officer with the Reclaimers.

Viridia is in the midst of revolution. The role of the Astartes, supported by elements of the Imperial Guard, who are scheduled to arrive after the Astartes, is to put the revolution down as quickly as possible, returning the Imperial Governor to power. Cain seems fairly confident, or at least hopeful, of this happening without having to risk his own skin too much.

Of course, being a Ciaphis Cain novel, things do not got quite as planned. Beyond the rebels, Cain finds himself tangling with not one but two thoroughly unpleasant xeno species.

There is plenty of battle and bloodlust that are believable and readily able to be followed without the story becoming just another gore fest. Having to deal with the arrogant daughter of the Governor adds a nice counterpoint to Cain.

The edition I received is an impressive looking hardcover booking, making it look the way that a little part of me still thinks a book should look and feel.

Fans of Sandy Mitchell and Ciaphis Cain will enjoy this novel. The story is sufficiently self-contained to enable new readers to follow events without much difficulty.

Highly recommended for fans of military sci fi and good adventure.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ciaphas Cain is back, full of explanations of why all his heroic behavior is really just his being pragmatic and unlucky about things. Really. You believe him, don't you? It's just coincidence when he does something of considerable danger and no benefit to himself; he didn't happen to think of the safer route, really.

In this book, he leans rather heavily on the excuse "but it would ruin my reputation if I did that" -- though he does not go into depths on why, exactly, his reputation inspires him to risk his life.

Those who have read the first omnibus will recognize it picks up right after a short story in it, but it stands alone, I think. (Can't really judge since I read this series from beginning to end.) It opens with Cain on-board with the Reclaimers, the super-human soldiers of the Imperium, heading off to deal with a planetary system in revolt against its governor. Cain and Gries, the captain leading the Reclaimers, see that apparent factions were a ruse -- the rebels have set things up to confine them. So they lead missions to eliminate the heavy artillery that would have prevented troops from landing -- Cain being in charge of one because, of course, the Hero of the Imperium would want to lead one. Even with Mira, the daughter of the planetary governor, attaching herself to the mission as the colonel-in-chief of the household regiment. (Governors are aristocrats in this universe, usually.)

Plenty of action and adventure there, but the mission turns up that the rebels are, in fact, genestealers, alien-human hybrids that the tyrannids use in their plots to take over planets. Rooting them only raises the question of where they came from, and Cain finds himself brought along on the hunt for the space hulk that appears to be the source. Mira attaches herself too -- I have to say that I found Cain a little too naive about figuring out her intent. It was too obvious before he twigged.

The story goes on, with action, adventure, the unsettlingly weird space hulk, spaceships stuck together after they materialized in the same location, and Cain, predictably enough, getting into the worst situations by accident and getting out more by luck and love of self-preservation than anything else -- really. He says so. Don't you believe him?

[Luke Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie, I did struggle to get through this one: it's probably my least favourite of the Ciaphas Cain series, though the tried and tested formula of dry wit and sarcastic humour against the backdrop of the 41st millennium still holds up...

"Rescued from the aftermath of a disastrous mission gone wrong by Space Marines of the Reclaimers Chapter, Ciaphas Cain finds himself travelling with the Astartes to help deal with an insurrection in the Virdidian system. When what seems to be a minor rebellion transpires to be the work of a xenos infestation, its source a derelict space hulk passing through the system, Cain finds himself roped up with the Space Marines to put an end to the potential threat of the hulk's cargo infecting other worlds, all while fending off the amorous attentions of the planetary governor's daughter... "

Cain and Jurgen are brilliant as always, but this book suffers in my opinion for the lack of familiar faces. Despite my usual liking for the Adeptus Astartes, I just could not find myself liking the Reclaimers characters, they felt somewhat out of place and Mira is a shrill, irritating nuisance whose pursuit of Ciaphas was annoying, rather than entertaining. It's still a gripping story, with plenty of action, Cain's sarcastic repartee and unexpected twists, but this is one in the series I'm unlikely to reread...

[Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit slow for a Ciaphas Cain novel, but when the action starts, it doesn't stop!

The novel take place directly after the short story Echoes of the tomb and for the first few chapters we get to follow our daring commissar as he heals, rests and train together with the space marines of the Reclaimers chapter. This is the slow part, but it is well written, witty and interesting so it hardly matters.

Ciaphas & Co are on their way to the planet of Viridia to put down some minor rebellion, but by the time they arrive it has escalated into a civil war. Nothing a few Space marines and a HERO OF THE IMPERIUM can't handle After a run in with corrupted PDF-troopers things turn to the worse and our commissar finds himself in the middle of a free for all between two equally ferocious xenos species and the Reclaimers... not to mention a rather eccentric noble woman.

If other Ciaphas Cain stories are mostly centred on the battlefields from the warhammer 40K game, then this is the authors take on the Space hulk board game.

Lots of humour, action and wit. Just as we've came to expect of the author!

[Liam Tondeur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better the second time around but I still felt the sense of time passing when Cain and Jurgen were on the space hulk could have been written in better.

[Unseen Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating of 4.75 stars.

Dive once again into the crazy adventures of the Warhammer 40,000 universe’s most undeserving hero, with the awesome Ciaphas Cain novel, The Emperor’s Finest by Sandy Mitchell.

A dangerous and terrible foe stalks several human worlds in the galaxy, and only one man is unlucky enough to face it: Commissar Ciaphas Cain. Despite being relatively early in his illustrious career, Cain has already gained a reputation for heroics and bravery, a combination that conspires to get the Commissar into far more trouble than he wants. However, one of his most dangerous adventures occurs when he is surrounded by the finest warriors humanity has to defend them.

Rescued from an exploding Necron ship, Cain finds himself in the care of Space Marines of the Reclaimers chapter and soon becomes their Imperial Guard liaison as part of a new campaign. Assigned to supress a civil war on the important agricultural world of Viridia, the Reclaimers are keen to engage the enemy, and Cain finds himself reluctantly dragged in their wake, forced to once again play the rousing hero and bring the loyalists of Viridia into line. However, as the Reclaimers begin their bloody work, it soon becomes apparent that the traitors of Viridia are far more deadly than expected, when a nefarious genestealer cult is revealed at the heart of the warring factions.

As the Space Marines engage the genestealers, the defenders of Viridia determine that they must have snuck into the system when a massive, drifting space hulk briefly appeared. Determined to eradicate the source of this unholy threat to the Imperium, the Reclaimers lead an ambitious expedition into the warp to track down the space hulk and obtain its secrets, and Cain is naturally required to follow along. With murderous genestealers and ravaging orks in front of him, and the far more terrifying threat of an ambitious husband-seeking noblewoman at his back, Cain and his trusty aide, Jurgen, are flung once again into the fray and must find a way to extricate themselves from the new dangers all around them. But if anyone can survive the oncoming terrors of the space hulk, it’s the soon to be legend of the Imperium.

Sandy Mitchell continues to delightfully show just how ridiculous and entertaining the Warhammer 40,000 universe can be with this outstanding entry in his Ciaphas Cain series. Featuring an intense plot loaded with some fantastic characters, The Emperor’s Finest takes Cain on a grand adventure filled with action, questionable heroics, and boundless fun.

To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/06/02/...

For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/

[Daniel Shellenbarger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oddly, this book in the Ciaphas Cain series had really strong old school Dr. Who vibes for me. One of those longer serials in the Tom Baker era where the Doctor ends up on somebody else's spaceship at the start because the Tardis is malfunctioning (when isn't it) and they drag him into a problem and then that problem leads to another problem which doesn't really seem that connected to the first problem and there's some bizarro situational humor to make it clear that Douglas Adams was one of the writers and we've got a dispensable and somewhat annoying extra companion along for the episode. Pretty much that.

So at the beginning of this book, Cain has gotten stationed aboard a Space Marine vessel as an Imperial Guard liaison as they've been sent to help quell a rebellion on a major agriworld in the sector ahead of Guard reinforcements. That being the case, Cain is pretty much at loose ends since the 7+ foot tall superhuman power armor-wearing warrior monks don't really need Commissars to keep them in line (much less advise them how to do their job), particularly when there's not really any Guardsmen around for him to do his liaising job with. So he basically gets volunteered into serving as their contact with the local government, keeping the governor's gung-ho daughter in line, and the usual heroic hijinks which a reputation like his makes it impossible for him to refuse (no matter how much he wishes he could). Of course, what seems like a bog-standard popular rebellion turns out to be a bit more serious than that and this in turn leads to the Space Marines going on a quest to intercept (and pillage) an ancient Space Hulk (so... imagine if two ships got splinched... and then that just kept happening dozens if not hundreds of times (because warp travel in Warhammer is... dangerous at best (nearly suicidal at all other times)), that's a Space Hulk), which the Space Marines know to be perfectly safe, why even worry about it, even if it's name is the Spawn of Damnation and it's been floating through the warp for millennia, WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

So yeah, that's pretty much it. The various acts of the story are less coherent than is usual in prior Ciaphas Cain books, but given that we're really here for Cain's amusing efforts to avoid being a hero... usually by being a hero (to comedic effect) and Jurgen's unflappable Jurgen-ness, that's fine, even if it does make the main story feel less interesting than some of the previous entries. Still, another very enjoyable entry in the series.

[Gordon Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 41st millennium's answer to Bertie Wooster returns to face familiar foes of the scything talon and rending claw variety, and discovers an even greater new terror; governor's daughters.

All the usual elements are present; Cain remains determinedly resolute in standing up for the less fortunate, finds inventive new ways to describe his aide's hygiene problems, and generally tries to stay alive at all costs. Meanwhile Amberley Vail continues to mark Cain's homework with acerbic fondness.

There are just enough new elements to keep things interesting, including new settings and new allies. The title references the elite Space Marines whose reputation for implacable dullness doesn't necessarily lend itself to a comedy novel. Mitchell goes for perhaps the obvious solution and has Cain largely ignore all but a small number of Marines (including the eccentric Techmarine) until the time comes to hide behind them, and it works but feels like a small extent like a missed opportunity.

Overall Mitchell continues to refine a winning formula and produce the best laughs in the grimdark.

[Nightshade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Cain story with a very slow start which meant it took a long time for me to get into it. I was also a bit thrown as normally each book will see Cain arrive on a new world and the story develops from there. However, this time 100 pages in Cain leaves the world that has been established for this book and sets off on a journey through the warp.
Mira was an incredibly annoying character that I was very happy to see the back of when her and Cain finally parted ways for a while.
For me this book only got really good, and to the standard expected from the previous books, when Cain entered the spawn. From then on it felt much more like a traditional Cain novel and was very enjoyable, meaning the last part of the book was a very quick read.

[Gareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere between a 3 and a 4 for me. We finally get to see what happened in one of Cain's more memorable events in his life, which had frequently been mentioned in prior novels. We also get to see a good view of Space Marines here, and what they are like for more 'normal' citizens of 40k. However, the pacing was quite different compared to previous books here, and I am somewhat used to the faster pacing of the previous novels, so the slow downs at points were a bit off for me, plus one of the main plot threads in the novel I didn't enjoy so much either. But was still a fun read, just not as strong as prior novels.

[Fernando D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cain shirks and shines aa ever

Despite following the same (tried and true!) format, Ciaphas Cain remains a pleasurable read in this 7th installment of the beloved series. The Emperor’s Finest is a fine edition to the Space Marine’s anthology as the reluctant hero and his pungent sidekick desperately try to survive aboard the the derelict Spawn of Damnation while seeing of ‘stealers, Orks and an even more insidious - if unexpected - threat to Cain’s wellbeing. Let the tanna and amasec flow!

[Bernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes Cain just can NOT get a break!

Escape from the Necron tomb on Inheritus Prime? Sounds good! Save the governor's daughter. Sounds like a good thing... Until you end up having to deal with the governor's daughter and Reclamator Space Marines and a genestealer invasion force, or two...

Cain and his aide Jurgen work overtime in this one. It balances Cain's thinking with the combat sequences perfectly. Learning a little about the Reclamator Space Marines is also interesting. Reading about his interactions with them added a lot to the book.

[Vlad G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an especially fun listen since it wasn't quite sure what Cain would prefer - face waves of Orks and Tyranids or be in the same room as Mira DuPanya. Fortunately, Jurgen has his back through most of the story along with the Commisar's new acquaintances in the ranks of the Adeptus Astartes. It was really interesting to see how the Reclaimers and Cain interacted and the conclusion was most satisfying. I can't help but hope that they will all stay in touch across oceans of the Warp, penpals to the very end of their adventures.

[Nyarlathotep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cain & Jurgen - the Dynamic Duo

I love the entire Comissar Cain series of novels. It brings a little levity to the GrimDark of the 40K universe. I've read them all and think they each deserve a 5 star rating.

Not to give spoilers, but in this installment, Cain has to suppressed a planetary rebellion, fight two different Xeno bands and, more dangerous, evade a marriage trap !

I highly recommend this and all the other Cain novels.

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick impressions: The big minus is the character of Mira, the governor's daughter, who is more irritating than anything else. To be honest, the character feels tacked on to the story, and the rest of the story likely works without her just fine. On the plus side, I liked seeing Cain's relationship with the Space Marines, especially with the techmarine. Overall this was good, but not great.

(Full review on my blog later)

[Nathaniel Rawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing and entertaining as ever. I noticed a reviewer prior to my writing this who felt this was the weakest Ciaphas Cain novel so far and I’m not sure I entirely disagree. It is by no means poor, as I said I found it as amusing and entertaining as always, but perhaps it just didn’t stand out for me as much as the others. The formula was all there but it was just missing some special something.

Either way, it was still a good read, just not quite as good as some of the other instalments.

[Dev S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never been a particularly big fan of space marines and so I guess it shouldn't surprise me that their inclusion in this volume of Cain's story put a damper on the overall narrative. My favourite period remains that is the 597th and I think the anscillary cast is a major element of that. This story lacks any interesting secondary characters aside from Mira and left me enjoying the story less. Still fun with fun fight sequences but not my favourite of the series.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really feels like the 2006 Casino Royale movie where there is a series of shorter plots that are tied together, instead of one full story that stays contained.

That's not a bad thing, as it allows both more time to pass between engagements, build up some supporting characters, and let Cain deal with different enemies.

Also, I really love the audiobook versions of the Ciaphas Cain novels

[Tzurky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rip-roaring fun, as always, and over far too soon, even though I did my best to stretch it. I liked the new characters, they provided an interesting change of pace from the usual Valhallans. The fear and claustrophobia of the final chase were also very well described and this made the book very immersive.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice and unassuming page-turner. I'd say it is the best Ciaphas Cain book I've read yet. Lots of action, logical progression of the story, no loose ends, a refreshingly annoying love interest, a frequent change of scenery, and another glimpse into WH40K universe. The only thing that stops it from being a 4-star is the utterly forgettable nature of such books (yeah, yeah, I know - snobbery).

[Lizzy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who knows next to nothing about Warhammer and who hasn’t read the first six books - this was fun! Classical adventurous romp with some romance and fun villains to fight. I liked the footnotes that added context and hinted at both Ciaphas’s and the editor’s unreliability. The audiobook did a great job, especially the main reader, who conveyed Ciaphas’s long-suffering narration so well.