thedadsie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ajpop1212's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
count_thrashula's review against another edition
4.0
The first half of the book being a rehash of the previous book kind of ground the story progress to a halt, BUT after that it was absolutely excellent.
antkneeomonster's review against another edition
4.0
More space catholic murder nonsense from the 40k brand. This time around the pacing is a little off (the titular flight doesn't occur until a smidge past the halfway point), but it's nonetheless an entertaining deep dive into that tabletop game's singularly impressive, detailed lore.
I keep thinking 'this is the last book I'll read in my 40k jag' but then the next one grabs me and, well, what's a bloke to do?
I keep thinking 'this is the last book I'll read in my 40k jag' but then the next one grabs me and, well, what's a bloke to do?
dkrael's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
simonmee's review against another edition
5.0
It’s not the most fun of times for Nathaniel Garro. He’s an outsider in his own Death Guard Legion, with an assistant who manages to be the same.
‘I had one of those once. I think I lost it on an ice moon somewhere. It froze to death, weak little thing.’
…and it’s probably not an Imposter Syndrome when your enemies are rubbing both things in your face. Garro loses a lot in the Flight of the Eisenstein: his closest peer; his aforementioned assistant; and one of his legs. Garro kills a rival and then has to defeat that rival's resurrected, bloated corpse. Garro loses a talented up and comer, who’s (also resurrected) fly-ridden corpse Garro beheads on the surface of the Moon. A subordinate pulls a gun on Garro and a Primarch literally punches Garro's lights out.
Garro’s challenges and his reactions create a point of distinction between him and the otherwise very similar everymen Loken and Tarvitz. He’s stressed, he’s uncertain. He feels unjustifiably distrusted, even when there are pretty good justifications not to trust him. He clings to the rising Lectitio Divinitatus to keep faith when he runs out of good ideas and only has bad ones, like marooning the titular Eisenstein in space. Sure, he doesn’t get virus bombed like Loken and Tarvitz, but the latter two get a release in that, a finality. Garro’s messenger boy task is replaced with Garro paying for his indecision over the Lord-of-Flies-to-be, while bearing the burden of proving he is not a traitor to the EMPEROR OF MANKIND.
So Garro has limitations:
'You could have released him, Garro! But you let him live in agony, tortured him with every passing moment, and for what? Because of your ludicrous belief that he would be saved by your master…’
…which makes his climatic fight interesting, and his future path interesting. He could have just been a quick-witted super-soldier, which he is, but he’s also a loser. At least for now.
The other characters are good… …not exceptional but they don’t need to be, fulfilling their roles. Euphrati Keeler has the rest of her sharp edges shaved off so she can be a vehicle for a wider religious movement but I think it's fine, and it provides a link to Garro’s motivations and decision-marking.
Showing Emotion
‘We don’t rise to our ranks because of how well-liked we are. This is a crusade we are winning, not a popularity contest.’
Temeter sniffed. ‘Speak for yourself. I am extremely popular.’
‘I have no doubt you believe that.’
It’s unfair to say it is easy to write emotion into Warhammer 40K, but you generally have operatic style events to play off. You don’t have to pitch your emotional response at missing the winning goal or a rumour at an office party, instead it’s feeling sad about a galaxy wide rebellion, horror at maggots crawling out of necrotic zombie flesh, or the brutal decision to sever your own arm in the midst of battle. However, the dialogue picks its moments, and I feel Swallow is one of the stronger 40K writers in that regard:
‘Such tactical genius from the mouth of a whelp. I fear I may become giddy with surprise.’ Decius’s eyes flashed at the old veteran’s jibe, but Garro caught the moment and laughed softly, defusing it.
‘You must forgive Andus, Solun. At his age, his sharp tongue is the only blade he can wield with skill any more.’
Hakur clutched at his chest in mock pain. ‘Oh. An arrow to my heart, from my own captain. Such tragedy.’
Garro maintained an even smile, but in truth he could detect the weariness, the pain in his old friend’s forced jocularity. Hakur had lost men from his squad on the world-ship, and the pain of it was just below the surface.
…personally I consider it does the job, even with the cliches. The death of Garro’s colleague as he clings to a Dreadnought is another moment that is not a major narrative point but places a personal emphasis on the disaster unfolding. When Garro is rescued, Rogal Dorn’s rage and denial of Horus' uprising initially caught me off guard, as it might for someone in Garro’s desperate state pleading for help, but it then evolves in a natural way. In a vast galaxy where instantaneous communication is impossible, you place your trust in your brothers who have campaigned with you, meaning claims of betrayal are difficult to process.
Today you and I have broken a brother’s heart, and nothing will ever mend it.’
It’s all quite high-flown stuff but sometimes its good to read an emotional fantasy, in that the characters are given reign to express emotions that would be unlikely to happen in reality.
Anyway, space guns go “pow pow”, chainswords go “rhm rhm” and we all scream “Blood for the Blood God, Skulls for the Skull Throne”, etc etc.
‘I had one of those once. I think I lost it on an ice moon somewhere. It froze to death, weak little thing.’
…and it’s probably not an Imposter Syndrome when your enemies are rubbing both things in your face. Garro loses a lot in the Flight of the Eisenstein: his closest peer; his aforementioned assistant; and one of his legs. Garro kills a rival and then has to defeat that rival's resurrected, bloated corpse. Garro loses a talented up and comer, who’s (also resurrected) fly-ridden corpse Garro beheads on the surface of the Moon. A subordinate pulls a gun on Garro and a Primarch literally punches Garro's lights out.
Garro’s challenges and his reactions create a point of distinction between him and the otherwise very similar everymen Loken and Tarvitz. He’s stressed, he’s uncertain. He feels unjustifiably distrusted, even when there are pretty good justifications not to trust him. He clings to the rising Lectitio Divinitatus to keep faith when he runs out of good ideas and only has bad ones, like marooning the titular Eisenstein in space. Sure, he doesn’t get virus bombed like Loken and Tarvitz, but the latter two get a release in that, a finality. Garro’s messenger boy task is replaced with Garro paying for his indecision over the Lord-of-Flies-to-be, while bearing the burden of proving he is not a traitor to the EMPEROR OF MANKIND.
So Garro has limitations:
'You could have released him, Garro! But you let him live in agony, tortured him with every passing moment, and for what? Because of your ludicrous belief that he would be saved by your master…’
…which makes his climatic fight interesting, and his future path interesting. He could have just been a quick-witted super-soldier, which he is, but he’s also a loser. At least for now.
The other characters are good… …not exceptional but they don’t need to be, fulfilling their roles. Euphrati Keeler has the rest of her sharp edges shaved off so she can be a vehicle for a wider religious movement but I think it's fine, and it provides a link to Garro’s motivations and decision-marking.
Showing Emotion
‘We don’t rise to our ranks because of how well-liked we are. This is a crusade we are winning, not a popularity contest.’
Temeter sniffed. ‘Speak for yourself. I am extremely popular.’
‘I have no doubt you believe that.’
It’s unfair to say it is easy to write emotion into Warhammer 40K, but you generally have operatic style events to play off. You don’t have to pitch your emotional response at missing the winning goal or a rumour at an office party, instead it’s feeling sad about a galaxy wide rebellion, horror at maggots crawling out of necrotic zombie flesh, or the brutal decision to sever your own arm in the midst of battle. However, the dialogue picks its moments, and I feel Swallow is one of the stronger 40K writers in that regard:
‘Such tactical genius from the mouth of a whelp. I fear I may become giddy with surprise.’ Decius’s eyes flashed at the old veteran’s jibe, but Garro caught the moment and laughed softly, defusing it.
‘You must forgive Andus, Solun. At his age, his sharp tongue is the only blade he can wield with skill any more.’
Hakur clutched at his chest in mock pain. ‘Oh. An arrow to my heart, from my own captain. Such tragedy.’
Garro maintained an even smile, but in truth he could detect the weariness, the pain in his old friend’s forced jocularity. Hakur had lost men from his squad on the world-ship, and the pain of it was just below the surface.
…personally I consider it does the job, even with the cliches. The death of Garro’s colleague as he clings to a Dreadnought is another moment that is not a major narrative point but places a personal emphasis on the disaster unfolding. When Garro is rescued, Rogal Dorn’s rage and denial of Horus' uprising initially caught me off guard, as it might for someone in Garro’s desperate state pleading for help, but it then evolves in a natural way. In a vast galaxy where instantaneous communication is impossible, you place your trust in your brothers who have campaigned with you, meaning claims of betrayal are difficult to process.
Today you and I have broken a brother’s heart, and nothing will ever mend it.’
It’s all quite high-flown stuff but sometimes its good to read an emotional fantasy, in that the characters are given reign to express emotions that would be unlikely to happen in reality.
Anyway, space guns go “pow pow”, chainswords go “rhm rhm” and we all scream “Blood for the Blood God, Skulls for the Skull Throne”, etc etc.
peachy_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ehachers's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jaskovivich's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0