dobbykroket's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nightshade_novels's review
4.0
Another wonderful story following the ever amusing Ciaphas Cain. Although at the beginning of the book I was missing the members of the 597th, there were plenty of interesting new characters to make up for it. It was also interesting to see Cain and Jurgen surviving on their own for a while. It was fun to see Cain much earlier in his career before he has all the experience that he does in the earlier books. You get to see him training with his chainsword which was nice. This was his first ever encounter with orks, which you see him vastly underestimating at the start of the book. It also shows him beginning to build up his reputation as the locals brand him as a hero and his accidental allowing the rest of the galaxy to see how incredible he is and sets him up as the well known figure you see in the earlier books.
In general I really like the writing style, the humour is great but, although I like the joke, I think the phrase "If he'd know x he never would have done y" was a bit overused in this book.
Overall this was another great book from Mitchell and I look forward to the next one.
Spoiler
one-on-one fight with the leader of all the orks, which he won, was caught on filmIn general I really like the writing style, the humour is great but, although I like the joke, I think the phrase "If he'd know x he never would have done y" was a bit overused in this book.
Overall this was another great book from Mitchell and I look forward to the next one.
bloodravenlib's review
5.0
Another entertaining tale of the adventures of Commissar Cain. This tale is interesting because it goes back to an earlier period of his career. He is starting out, but he is still the rascal and hero (sure, it may at times be mistaken heroics, but the guy always does the right thing. I think that definitely defines a hero). This time, Cain falls behind enemy lines, and he pretty much has to fight his way back to the Imperial forces. The novel has the good amounts of humor to go with the military science fiction action, making this an entertaining read. I personally enjoy the Cain novels also because they are written as memoirs, so the editor of the memoirs comes into the narrative with comments, observations, so on that I find interesting and entertaining as well. This series is definitely very good, and it is one I recommend. I am already looking forward to the next novel in the series.
arthurbdd's review
3.0
Formulaic stuff, though a decent enough application of the formula. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2013/09/08/commissar-stuck-in-a-rut/
paulopaperbooksonly's review against another edition
3.0
The first book For the Emperor, then Caves of Ice, The Traitor's Hand then Death or Glory, the fifth Duty Calls, the sixth Cain's Last Stand and the latest The Emperor's Finest. There are also three short stories. First The Beguiling (What Price Victory anthology), Fight or Flight (Crucible of War),last Echoes of the Tomb and Sector Thirteen (Bringers of the Death). There is also a chapbook called Traitor's Gambit.
This character is one of my favourite in the Warhammer 40k universe and of course I read a way back but never find out time to review it. Since I am trying to get into 40k again I will review this book that I still remember. This book we get him back to his past when he was assigned to 12th Valhallan Field Artillery and as they travel to Perlia. A planet on a war with the orks. Cain and his army are part of reinforcing but because of a trap they are laid thousands of miles behind enemy lines with thousands upon thousands of Orks between them and safety. He must cope with rebels, planetary defence (for what they are worth of it) and escort train of civilian refugees through some rough battles.
In this novel we are back to his first years (with only Jurgen from other books) where he wasn't so famous. This book follows the same writing as the previous with all black humour that Sandy Mitchell as accoustement us. This book we learn more about Cain and by far the best character driven of all series. How can a coward can inspire demoralised defenders.
Strangely enough we learn that he is reported KIA due to bureaucratic controversy and then there is a order that Cain is never to be reported KIA and so after he is long dead by old age he is still on active duty roster.
We also learn a lot about Orks. One thing is that they have a belief that any vehicle painted red or given red strips will go faster than normal.
In the end it was another good story about Cain as the previous books but it lack something that the other books had. I can't say what...
This character is one of my favourite in the Warhammer 40k universe and of course I read a way back but never find out time to review it. Since I am trying to get into 40k again I will review this book that I still remember. This book we get him back to his past when he was assigned to 12th Valhallan Field Artillery and as they travel to Perlia. A planet on a war with the orks. Cain and his army are part of reinforcing but because of a trap they are laid thousands of miles behind enemy lines with thousands upon thousands of Orks between them and safety. He must cope with rebels, planetary defence (for what they are worth of it) and escort train of civilian refugees through some rough battles.
In this novel we are back to his first years (with only Jurgen from other books) where he wasn't so famous. This book follows the same writing as the previous with all black humour that Sandy Mitchell as accoustement us. This book we learn more about Cain and by far the best character driven of all series. How can a coward can inspire demoralised defenders.
Strangely enough we learn that he is reported KIA due to bureaucratic controversy and then there is a order that Cain is never to be reported KIA and so after he is long dead by old age he is still on active duty roster.
We also learn a lot about Orks. One thing is that they have a belief that any vehicle painted red or given red strips will go faster than normal.
In the end it was another good story about Cain as the previous books but it lack something that the other books had. I can't say what...
utbw42's review
4.0
Not quite as humorous as the first three, but no less intelligently written, this novel takes Cain from a crippled transport ship down to the surface of Perlia in a series of death-defying circumstances. Cain (again, reluctantly) finds himself heroically leading a ragtag group of dishevelled Imperial troops and native Perlians against masses of invading and conquering Korbul orks. Pleasurable reading ensues as the reader is once again treated to some golden moments of Cain battling and succeeding against all odds, all the while trying to avoid conflict and get the heck out of Dodge. This one does seem to have more of a straightforward, serious tone, but it's no less enjoyable.
andrew23825's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
allison_on_a_book_break's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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