RatGrrrl’s Reviews > The Unburdened > Status Update

This was TRASCENDENT!
A perfect end to my Shadow Crusade I-II reading
I'm literally buzzing & euphoric from how brilliant this, especially the complicated feelings of betrayal, shame, the paranoia that divine retribution might befall you & the thrill of what it means if it doesn't
How this doesn't get more love, I'll never understand
This truly did the opposite of every issue I had with the last book
*chef's kiss*

You don't get it! Annandale's writing has my mind racing with possibilities & convinced that after nearly 40 hours of audiobooks & audio dramas focused on Calth & its arcologies, so ready for a new narrative, I'm convinced there's still so much potential in the depths! Horrors feeding on fear/ paranoia, Pockets of the Realms of Chaos, a Bullgor Labyrinth, Divinitas extremists driven to starving/ entombing themselves

I feel the Warp overtaking me. It is a good pain!

Someone needs to explain to me how the first book in this duology ranks among my least enjoyed without being explicitly problematic Black Library books, while the second is among my favourites, & IMHO is genuinely one of the best stories of the Underworld Wars, as well as having some of the greatest scenes of Monarchia, Renegade Guilt/ Torment & Chaos rituals, period

I feel like I need to pinch myself to wake up from a sweet, but deadly dream granted by She Who Thirsts that could become a nightmare at any moment.

This...is literally some of the best Word Bearers & Monarchia scenes & vibes from the whole Shadow Crusade I-II! In no way does Kurtha Sedd feel like a hastily throw together backstory for a box set, in fact, save for Argal Tal, he's one of the most vividly realised