What do you think?
Rate this book
Bequin #2
Penitent
Book 2 in the Bequin series
Alizebeth Bequin's world has been turned upside-down. Now she must choose who she will follow as Inquisitors Eisenhorn and Ravenor battle to discover the secrets at the heart of Queen Mab.
READ IT BECAUSE
The latest chapter in Dan Abnett's Inquisition saga is here, and it's packed with shocking twists and stunning revelations that will change the way you look at the Warhammer 40,000 universe forever.
THE STORY
In the mysterious city of Queen Mab, the forces of light and darkness are locked in a murderous struggle for truth. The dedicated agents of the Holy Inquisition battle with their shadowy counterparts, the infamous Cognitae, to discover the encrypted identity of the enigmatic, all-powerful King in Yellow. Caught at the heart of this struggle is the pariah Alizebeth Bequin. Will she stand with the Inquisition or with the Cognitae that raised her? And if she chooses the Inquisition, will it be the wise but ruthless Ravenor or his rival, the denounced heretic Eisenhorn? Bequin must withstand an onslaught of angels, daemons, and even the monstrous warriors of the Traitor Legions, to unpick the greatest riddle of her life.
The beloved characters of Eisenhorn and Ravenor return, as implaccable adversaries in a novel of esoteric mystery, macabre intrigue, and vivid action, where the revelation of true identity could mean death… or might shake the Imperium to its very foundations.
Alizebeth Bequin's world has been turned upside-down. Now she must choose who she will follow as Inquisitors Eisenhorn and Ravenor battle to discover the secrets at the heart of Queen Mab.
READ IT BECAUSE
The latest chapter in Dan Abnett's Inquisition saga is here, and it's packed with shocking twists and stunning revelations that will change the way you look at the Warhammer 40,000 universe forever.
THE STORY
In the mysterious city of Queen Mab, the forces of light and darkness are locked in a murderous struggle for truth. The dedicated agents of the Holy Inquisition battle with their shadowy counterparts, the infamous Cognitae, to discover the encrypted identity of the enigmatic, all-powerful King in Yellow. Caught at the heart of this struggle is the pariah Alizebeth Bequin. Will she stand with the Inquisition or with the Cognitae that raised her? And if she chooses the Inquisition, will it be the wise but ruthless Ravenor or his rival, the denounced heretic Eisenhorn? Bequin must withstand an onslaught of angels, daemons, and even the monstrous warriors of the Traitor Legions, to unpick the greatest riddle of her life.
The beloved characters of Eisenhorn and Ravenor return, as implaccable adversaries in a novel of esoteric mystery, macabre intrigue, and vivid action, where the revelation of true identity could mean death… or might shake the Imperium to its very foundations.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published February 27, 2021
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
January 7, 2022
Ever wondered what Dan Abnett patting his own back and calling himself a genius looks like in book form?
Trying to spin gold from an old beaten horse and failing to leave well enough alone?
Good thing then that there's a new book from the man who ruined the entire concept of null psykers, one inquisition novel at a time.
Because yes, Dan Abnett was great. Double Eagle, Eisenhorn, Titanicus all that older stuff, absolute gold.
But then the worship apparently got to him and now he just shits out terrible characters and concepts, all the while giving not a fuck about established lore AND being hailed as some kind of literary god by the community for it.
I personally see quite clearly that this emperor is naked, no matter how the neckbeards try to force me to talk about the beautiful tailoring.
The thin "references" to Lovecraft and Chambers doesn't do anyone any favours. As if they hadn't namedropped "Leng" enough, here comes straight up The King in Yellow. Not the Amber Monarch or the Golden Ruler, no, just a direct insert.
He's not even trying anymore, is he? *sigh*
This book has too much Heresy era. There's hardly any Space Marines in the other two trilogies, but here they are full force, everywhere, making references to Abnett's own works. Even though it's ten thousand years ago, apparently it just pops up wherever 🤷♀️
Eisenhorn and Ravenor show up, vague and crappy shadows of themselves, because this needs a thin tie back to the first books.
So much better if it didn't have to fit into the Eisenhorn thing. But still pretty much crap.
Thats right, I dared call a book by Dan Abnett crap. And I'll do it again.
This book and its plot is only amazing and creative if you've never read a real book.
I suggest Dune or something by Philip K. Dick.
Trying to spin gold from an old beaten horse and failing to leave well enough alone?
Good thing then that there's a new book from the man who ruined the entire concept of null psykers, one inquisition novel at a time.
Because yes, Dan Abnett was great. Double Eagle, Eisenhorn, Titanicus all that older stuff, absolute gold.
But then the worship apparently got to him and now he just shits out terrible characters and concepts, all the while giving not a fuck about established lore AND being hailed as some kind of literary god by the community for it.
I personally see quite clearly that this emperor is naked, no matter how the neckbeards try to force me to talk about the beautiful tailoring.
The thin "references" to Lovecraft and Chambers doesn't do anyone any favours. As if they hadn't namedropped "Leng" enough, here comes straight up The King in Yellow. Not the Amber Monarch or the Golden Ruler, no, just a direct insert.
He's not even trying anymore, is he? *sigh*
This book has too much Heresy era. There's hardly any Space Marines in the other two trilogies, but here they are full force, everywhere, making references to Abnett's own works. Even though it's ten thousand years ago, apparently it just pops up wherever 🤷♀️
Eisenhorn and Ravenor show up, vague and crappy shadows of themselves, because this needs a thin tie back to the first books.
So much better if it didn't have to fit into the Eisenhorn thing. But still pretty much crap.
Thats right, I dared call a book by Dan Abnett crap. And I'll do it again.
This book and its plot is only amazing and creative if you've never read a real book.
I suggest Dune or something by Philip K. Dick.
March 1, 2021
This is probably one of the best Warhammer 40k books written so far. At least for me, it's at the very top with Requem Infernal by Peter Fehervari.
Why is it so good? The prose, the characters and the batshit insane stuff that happens. The Lovecraft's influences, the old mythos of our past, the sheer amount of little details hiding in words! I can't wait the see the theories that people will come up with!
This is peak Warhammer! Definitely worth the price of admission that is the Eisenhorn and Ravenor books!
Why is it so good? The prose, the characters and the batshit insane stuff that happens. The Lovecraft's influences, the old mythos of our past, the sheer amount of little details hiding in words! I can't wait the see the theories that people will come up with!
This is peak Warhammer! Definitely worth the price of admission that is the Eisenhorn and Ravenor books!
March 23, 2021
Excellent. Worth the long wait, no doubt about it. I’m already looking forward to re-reading this and enjoying it once again! Roll on Pandaemonium...
March 27, 2024
¡Glorioso!
Aunque... ahora que lo leí por segunda vez, me cambio un poco la perspectiva y veo unos errores muy tontos, errores que seguro Abnett vio y los puso por el bien del espectaculo.
Donde Eisenhorn es un tipo inteligente y maquiavelico, Ravenor es un tullido omnisciente, Bequin es un poco boba, sobre todo cuando la intentan poner al nivel de los otros dos.
Aun así, el libro está genial y hace que haber leído Paria valga la pena, esperando con ansias Pandemonium.
Aunque... ahora que lo leí por segunda vez, me cambio un poco la perspectiva y veo unos errores muy tontos, errores que seguro Abnett vio y los puso por el bien del espectaculo.
Donde Eisenhorn es un tipo inteligente y maquiavelico, Ravenor es un tullido omnisciente, Bequin es un poco boba, sobre todo cuando la intentan poner al nivel de los otros dos.
Aun así, el libro está genial y hace que haber leído Paria valga la pena, esperando con ansias Pandemonium.
March 3, 2021
Voice. Dan Abnett's voice in this is so very different; maybe it was similar to Pariah (should have reread that instead of Eisenhorn) but it fits Beta wonderfully. It was a bit of a slow start, a few things happened that I took small issue with, mistakes that seemed too sloppy for the characters to make. But given the length of time its been between Inquisitor books I can expect a bit of rustiness and he makes up for it with even more skill.
Abnett does good stories but his skill is always in the ability to show how (in)human these lowly creatures are in the grandscope of 40k. He does it better than anyone else on the BL Staff imo and Pentient is more of what you've come to expect from him. The details and how he describes xenos technology, the warp, everything that much of the genre takes for granted is really refreshing. The bit about the numbers is truly impressing as well, the 1800s esotericism is completely my wheelhouse and I'm embarrassed to say I would have ended up one of the characters at the bar but the level of detail and effort involved with the numbers themselves is insane. I didn't even bother trying to fact check it as I tend to do, you'll know it when you get to it.
And get to it you should, even for my non 40k friends I'll recommend this one which I am loathe to normally do. I apologize for how all over the place this review is, I just finished it up and wanted to get my thoughts down because honestly, if you are remotely interested in this one just go ahead and snag it.
Snag it and be pissed off with me we gotta wait god knows how long for the next book.
I had notes written down but the way goodreads works it seems to have nuked them.
Abnett does good stories but his skill is always in the ability to show how (in)human these lowly creatures are in the grandscope of 40k. He does it better than anyone else on the BL Staff imo and Pentient is more of what you've come to expect from him. The details and how he describes xenos technology, the warp, everything that much of the genre takes for granted is really refreshing. The bit about the numbers is truly impressing as well, the 1800s esotericism is completely my wheelhouse and I'm embarrassed to say I would have ended up one of the characters at the bar but the level of detail and effort involved with the numbers themselves is insane. I didn't even bother trying to fact check it as I tend to do, you'll know it when you get to it.
And get to it you should, even for my non 40k friends I'll recommend this one which I am loathe to normally do. I apologize for how all over the place this review is, I just finished it up and wanted to get my thoughts down because honestly, if you are remotely interested in this one just go ahead and snag it.
Snag it and be pissed off with me we gotta wait god knows how long for the next book.
I had notes written down but the way goodreads works it seems to have nuked them.
December 27, 2023
Every time I think Dan has peaked (Saturnine), he just keeps getting better. Beta grows into her power and strength of character. These series are great for the human elements and moral situations. Also excellent for so many tie-ins to throw away lines from decades of Dan's writing. Here's hoping we don't have to wait 9 more years for the last book!
March 9, 2021
Well. I did not see that coming.
May 19, 2022
An absolutely stellar entry into the series.
Made me think of Xenos in structure by the end, how the tale started and somehow kept escalating with each development.
Pro tip; I had been advised of major in universe implications for the very last line so I’d say cover the bottom of the page with hand or bookmark so that you don’t spoil the thing yourself!
Made me think of Xenos in structure by the end, how the tale started and somehow kept escalating with each development.
Pro tip; I had been advised of major in universe implications for the very last line so I’d say cover the bottom of the page with hand or bookmark so that you don’t spoil the thing yourself!
August 22, 2022
Like The Infinite and the Divine, I saw this about a year ago during my hype. When I was searching through the Black Library site for the first time, I saw 2 new releases with captivating covers and hardbound format: Pariah and Penitent. Well, those were not the only reasons that had me looking at those 2 specific books but because they are related to the Eisenhorn series— a highly recommended novel series by Dan Abnett. After a year following the series, I have finally caught up to the latest book in the Eisenhorn series, and I cannot state how hyped I was to finally read it.
Unfortunately, the rating I will give will be lower than my expectations/
Beginning with the positives, I liked some of the locations as they were described vividly.
Now discussing the issues I had with this book. I really like Alizebeth Bequin in her first book but sadly, she has flaws in Penitent. She just stumbles on significant points needed without seeing real effort put in finding those points. I also disliked how easily Patience agreed with Bequin on a separate quest.
Eisenhorn and Ravenor felt too incompetent and shadowed in this book and not like in their respective trilogies.
Meanwhile the prose used in the book was too heavy, and 'smart' made me confused and slow at some times. I also thought the introduction of a larger scale narratives (i.e. Horus Heresy related things) into this book made me sad; because the smaller scale of the Eisenhorn series is what made it charming.
Lastly, the most talked about scene that had me rethinking my thoughts was the numerology chapter—also known as the plot reveal thread. Every paragraph slowly revealing the importance of the number Bequin needs really had me mouth watering and gawping. Once I reached the final line of that chapter, I was in shock. But after recollecting my thoughts on the entire book, I think that scene tried way too hard to be smart, and the revelation from that specific character was really doubtful. It was overly complicated for the sake of being complicated
I would have given this book a 5/5 just because it gave me hype for the series' tie-in to the larger setting of WH40k, but I realized this book has some flaws. I give Penitent a 3.75/5.
Unfortunately, the rating I will give will be lower than my expectations/
Beginning with the positives, I liked some of the locations as they were described vividly.
Now discussing the issues I had with this book. I really like Alizebeth Bequin in her first book but sadly, she has flaws in Penitent. She just stumbles on significant points needed without seeing real effort put in finding those points. I also disliked how easily Patience agreed with Bequin on a separate quest.
Eisenhorn and Ravenor felt too incompetent and shadowed in this book and not like in their respective trilogies.
Meanwhile the prose used in the book was too heavy, and 'smart' made me confused and slow at some times. I also thought the introduction of a larger scale narratives (i.e. Horus Heresy related things) into this book made me sad; because the smaller scale of the Eisenhorn series is what made it charming.
Lastly, the most talked about scene that had me rethinking my thoughts was the numerology chapter—also known as the plot reveal thread. Every paragraph slowly revealing the importance of the number Bequin needs really had me mouth watering and gawping. Once I reached the final line of that chapter, I was in shock. But after recollecting my thoughts on the entire book, I think that scene tried way too hard to be smart, and the revelation from that specific character was really doubtful. It was overly complicated for the sake of being complicated
I would have given this book a 5/5 just because it gave me hype for the series' tie-in to the larger setting of WH40k, but I realized this book has some flaws. I give Penitent a 3.75/5.
October 21, 2021
What to say about this one without being a biased fanboy... well, I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed this second outing in the "Bequin" series by my favourite Black Library author, Dan Abnett.
It picks up nicely from the events of "Pariah" and has a big reveal right at the end of the book. I shall not spoil it for anybody, but the ending really does leave a big cliffhanger that gets me really excited about the third and final book of the series.
And if goes without saying, I am a big fan of both Eisenhorn & Ravenor, based on what I have learnt about them on their individual journies from the previous two trilogies. What I love about Abnett's storytelling genius is that even though at times both of the titular characters go on their separate paths in the story, you just know that their paths will eventually collide again to culminate in some sort of crazy & exciting conclusion to this epic adventure of theirs...
Can't wait for the third & final book of the series!
It picks up nicely from the events of "Pariah" and has a big reveal right at the end of the book. I shall not spoil it for anybody, but the ending really does leave a big cliffhanger that gets me really excited about the third and final book of the series.
And if goes without saying, I am a big fan of both Eisenhorn & Ravenor, based on what I have learnt about them on their individual journies from the previous two trilogies. What I love about Abnett's storytelling genius is that even though at times both of the titular characters go on their separate paths in the story, you just know that their paths will eventually collide again to culminate in some sort of crazy & exciting conclusion to this epic adventure of theirs...
Can't wait for the third & final book of the series!
June 7, 2022
One of the things I disliked about Pariah is that much of it seemed like the set-up for a much longer novel. There was barely any payout or resolution for the entry in itself. The book just up and ended at a more or less semi-awkward point.
Penitent ups the ante in that regard, doing exactly the same thing as far as just randomly ending without any sort of satisfactory resolution but with the added malus of feeling even more rambling.
The ramblingness manifests in how some sections of the plot feel a littl bloated, but specially in Bequin's inner thoughts, when she starts trying to wax philosophical about how life in Queen Mab is never what it seems and so on and so forth. These tirades felt really flat, or perhaps just a tad overlong, to me.
All in all, however, I have enjoyed the series. It was interesting seeing so many different players from the universe show up,speciqlly Astartes. Will be intriguing to see where it all ends.
Penitent ups the ante in that regard, doing exactly the same thing as far as just randomly ending without any sort of satisfactory resolution but with the added malus of feeling even more rambling.
The ramblingness manifests in how some sections of the plot feel a littl bloated, but specially in Bequin's inner thoughts, when she starts trying to wax philosophical about how life in Queen Mab is never what it seems and so on and so forth. These tirades felt really flat, or perhaps just a tad overlong, to me.
All in all, however, I have enjoyed the series. It was interesting seeing so many different players from the universe show up,speciqlly Astartes. Will be intriguing to see where it all ends.
December 24, 2021
Despite being a big fan of this series, 40k and the author, this book failed to captivate me. Several parts were actually a chore to push through (as opposed to enjoying mr. Abnett's spectacular world building skills), several things didn't make sense cannon-wise and in general it was a frustrating experience.
Hopefully the next book will be back on track.
Hopefully the next book will be back on track.
March 16, 2023
All in all a wonderful progression of the Bequin story. I've somewhat acclimated to the power-level of parties involved and the general magnitude of things. And I say that after Abnett had taken us literally to the end of the universe and beyond at least two times in previous Inquisition sagas! To think it all started with an ork in a thunderstorm....
Beta Bequin remains a unique character in an extraordinary setting. Queen Mab, the city where all this is playing, is painted in all the shades and hues of what I would call Imperial, Victorian, a dash of Steampunk and even Gothic. The feeling of clockwork probably comes from how the whole plot is build from pieces within pieces, everything interlocked and interlaced with one another - while the heroine has to quiz the puzzle of the city as much as that of her very identity.
To my taste, Abnett has forged an intriguing plot, delivered to us brimming with mystery and action, but also that certain subtlety that keeps one thinking ahead of events, and trying at the riddles the characters face. Specifically the numerological unraveling must have consumed a stunning amount of preparation or an equally astonishing level of ingenious whimsy of authorship, for it convinced.
The ending did not surprise me as much as it did the heroine, but what an ending! Not the cliffhanger I feared, but a soothing moment of suspension, sliced with apprehension of coming events , yet not enough to keep me "hanging". I'm very much looking forward to the publishing of "Pandaemonium", the third and I-don't-think-so final part of this trilogy.
Beta Bequin remains a unique character in an extraordinary setting. Queen Mab, the city where all this is playing, is painted in all the shades and hues of what I would call Imperial, Victorian, a dash of Steampunk and even Gothic. The feeling of clockwork probably comes from how the whole plot is build from pieces within pieces, everything interlocked and interlaced with one another - while the heroine has to quiz the puzzle of the city as much as that of her very identity.
To my taste, Abnett has forged an intriguing plot, delivered to us brimming with mystery and action, but also that certain subtlety that keeps one thinking ahead of events, and trying at the riddles the characters face. Specifically the numerological unraveling must have consumed a stunning amount of preparation or an equally astonishing level of ingenious whimsy of authorship, for it convinced.
The ending did not surprise me as much as it did the heroine, but what an ending! Not the cliffhanger I feared, but a soothing moment of suspension, sliced with apprehension of coming events , yet not enough to keep me "hanging". I'm very much looking forward to the publishing of "Pandaemonium", the third and I-don't-think-so final part of this trilogy.
January 30, 2023
Bequin is a null, psionically a powerful dampener. She works with the rogue Inquisitor Eisenhorn in a place where dark and apocalyptic things are going to occur. This boom follows Pariah which introduces this character. This is a wonderful book, written by my favorite author. In this second book in the trilogy we find Bequin working heavily in her inquisitor's employ and delving deeper into the mysteries of the Spire. The pages reveal the group meeting with the upper crust of the spire, actors and drug dealers, cultists and seers. All these figures are connected to the Yellow King, a powerful underworld (otherworld) force that affects the reality of the spire.
Tragedy strikes in multiple ways and the danger involved is monumental, and yet Bequin finds those and other resources that cannot be believed, to assist her. To wrap up this review and spoiler free, the lengths that are gone to here to find access to the Yellow King is very interesting. I love this book and cannot wait for the last in the trilogy to be written.
Danny
Tragedy strikes in multiple ways and the danger involved is monumental, and yet Bequin finds those and other resources that cannot be believed, to assist her. To wrap up this review and spoiler free, the lengths that are gone to here to find access to the Yellow King is very interesting. I love this book and cannot wait for the last in the trilogy to be written.
Danny
May 23, 2023
Wahnsinnig gut geschrieben, zeitgemäß und spannend. Leider fehlt bisher der dritte Teil der Trilogie aber das Buch ist verdammt gut und das beste in der Eisenhorn/Ravenor/Bequin Geschichte.
December 21, 2023
Cheff Kiss.
Ahora a soportar la espera hasta la tercera parte.
Ahora a soportar la espera hasta la tercera parte.
June 16, 2022
Co na to říct. Dan Abnett, Warhammer 40.000 – záruka kvality.
Tady už člověk začíná chápat, proč souboj dvou fanatických inkvizitorů, Eisenhorna a Ravenora, kteří měli v minulostí své vlastní série, začal brát najednou z pohledu jiné osoby. Díky tomu si může jak zachovat odstup a nezaujatě hodnotit obě postavy, tak něco nedoříkat a neprozrazovat.
Kdybych měl začít problémy, jaké s knihou mám, tak jsou dva. Jedním je, že je to druhý díl a tudíž sice končí odhalením, ale nikoliv vyřešením problémů. Na souboj s Králem ve žlutém si budeme muset počkat ještě díl. A druhý je, že kniha vyžaduje o něco větší znalost světa Warhammeru 40.000. Jasně, člověk si to užije i tak, ale na plné pochopení některých scén je třeba mít, aspoň trochu, načtenou Horovu herezi. Možná mě někdo opraví, ale přijde mi, že aby člověka víc zasáhlo finále, měl by toho mít načteno víc, než zatím vyšlo česky.
Jinak ale, klobouk dolů. I když to, co Abnett píše, je opravdu spotřební literatura, o to víc člověk obdivuje, že se snaží, aby každá kniha… a někdy i každá scéna… přinesla něco zajímavého, nějaký nápad. Tady se navíc hodně inspiruje Lovecraftem… ale najdeme tu probíjení se podzemím plným kostí a šílených funebráků, vyvolávání mrtvých, při kterém na dveře buší tajemné temné síly, vstup do magií zabezpečeného „paneláku“, a samozřejmě, sekty, šílence a tajemné obřady. A jiný vesmír s jinými hvězdami.
I tak je to spíš komornější příběh (odehrává se celý nejen na jedné planetě, ale i v jednom městě), což je podtrženo tím, že je napsaný z pohledu normálního… no, celkem normálního (ve srovnání s Eisenhornem či Ravenorem, který je v podstatě křeslo) člověka, a více detektivka než globální řežba, pořád je to čtivá jízda s několika pěknými scénami. Do toho ještě Abnett zvládl dát téma identity. Lidí, kteří se ji snaží získat a lidí, kteří se ji vzdali… a samozřejmě, spoustu akce.
Což mi připomíná třetí a největší problém. Třetí díl ještě není napsaný, takže si na něj budeme muset chvíli počkat.
Tady už člověk začíná chápat, proč souboj dvou fanatických inkvizitorů, Eisenhorna a Ravenora, kteří měli v minulostí své vlastní série, začal brát najednou z pohledu jiné osoby. Díky tomu si může jak zachovat odstup a nezaujatě hodnotit obě postavy, tak něco nedoříkat a neprozrazovat.
Kdybych měl začít problémy, jaké s knihou mám, tak jsou dva. Jedním je, že je to druhý díl a tudíž sice končí odhalením, ale nikoliv vyřešením problémů. Na souboj s Králem ve žlutém si budeme muset počkat ještě díl. A druhý je, že kniha vyžaduje o něco větší znalost světa Warhammeru 40.000. Jasně, člověk si to užije i tak, ale na plné pochopení některých scén je třeba mít, aspoň trochu, načtenou Horovu herezi. Možná mě někdo opraví, ale přijde mi, že aby člověka víc zasáhlo finále, měl by toho mít načteno víc, než zatím vyšlo česky.
Jinak ale, klobouk dolů. I když to, co Abnett píše, je opravdu spotřební literatura, o to víc člověk obdivuje, že se snaží, aby každá kniha… a někdy i každá scéna… přinesla něco zajímavého, nějaký nápad. Tady se navíc hodně inspiruje Lovecraftem… ale najdeme tu probíjení se podzemím plným kostí a šílených funebráků, vyvolávání mrtvých, při kterém na dveře buší tajemné temné síly, vstup do magií zabezpečeného „paneláku“, a samozřejmě, sekty, šílence a tajemné obřady. A jiný vesmír s jinými hvězdami.
I tak je to spíš komornější příběh (odehrává se celý nejen na jedné planetě, ale i v jednom městě), což je podtrženo tím, že je napsaný z pohledu normálního… no, celkem normálního (ve srovnání s Eisenhornem či Ravenorem, který je v podstatě křeslo) člověka, a více detektivka než globální řežba, pořád je to čtivá jízda s několika pěknými scénami. Do toho ještě Abnett zvládl dát téma identity. Lidí, kteří se ji snaží získat a lidí, kteří se ji vzdali… a samozřejmě, spoustu akce.
Což mi připomíná třetí a největší problém. Třetí díl ještě není napsaný, takže si na něj budeme muset chvíli počkat.
March 30, 2023
Best 40k book I've read to-date; and surprise, it's by Dan Abnett. So good in so many ways, and bolstered by the superb quality of the Eisenhorn/Ravenor/Bequin books before it. Dear Mr. Abnett: Please give us the final book soon (and thank you!).
December 20, 2023
What an adventure. Bequin is such an interesting character, and the story unfolds and surprises throughout. A great series combining so many characters from the previous series. Love it!
November 5, 2021
The end is just amazing. I’ve got so many questions. Can’t wait for the third book 10/10
September 2, 2023
El ambiente en el que transcurre la novela sigue siendo tan interesante como en el tomo previo, pero en éste sí parece que la acción se encamina en alguna dirección.
July 10, 2021
2.5 stars, rounding up because it has some good parts and I reserve 2 stars ratings and below for truly bad books.
There's a good book in here somewhere, but is buried under so much tedium and unnecessary...I hesitate to call it filler as it's part of the book, but I could easily have done without A LOT of this and come outt having a much more enjoyable experience. Midway through it I put it down several times, and by the end was just barely reading the overly descriptive explanations about the City in a mad dash for the end.
The first 100 pages (digital edition, so it may vary) are mindnumbingly dull (for god's sake, there's literal dungeon crawling, complete with a expendable set of "enemies" from a subterranean cult that is never mentioned again), the characters act like idiots (Beta stepping into the aforementioned dungeon in search of a character whom she knows has no memory of her, the inquisitors somehow dismissing the information about the book because they HAD to argue and act like 15 year olds and calling Bequin in just to have her wait (no reason for her to be there at the Eldar meeting), Bequin being outplayed by Ravenor having 1 extra person, like she could never see that coming?? Deciding she HAD to travel to the city on her own first, not answering a call so inmediately a daemonhost attacks them to take her by force??), Comus-Ex-Machina quickly solving all issues, the Eisenhorn fake-death that anybody over could see coming a mile away, the numerology bit...the more I think about, the more I realize this books had very few parts I actually enjoyed. It's good when it's an investigation/inquisition novel, but it goes off the rails so much I can't recommend it.
There's a good book in here somewhere, but is buried under so much tedium and unnecessary...I hesitate to call it filler as it's part of the book, but I could easily have done without A LOT of this and come outt having a much more enjoyable experience. Midway through it I put it down several times, and by the end was just barely reading the overly descriptive explanations about the City in a mad dash for the end.
The first 100 pages (digital edition, so it may vary) are mindnumbingly dull (for god's sake, there's literal dungeon crawling, complete with a expendable set of "enemies" from a subterranean cult that is never mentioned again), the characters act like idiots (Beta stepping into the aforementioned dungeon in search of a character whom she knows has no memory of her, the inquisitors somehow dismissing the information about the book because they HAD to argue and act like 15 year olds and calling Bequin in just to have her wait (no reason for her to be there at the Eldar meeting), Bequin being outplayed by Ravenor having 1 extra person, like she could never see that coming?? Deciding she HAD to travel to the city on her own first, not answering a call so inmediately a daemonhost attacks them to take her by force??), Comus-Ex-Machina quickly solving all issues, the Eisenhorn fake-death that anybody over could see coming a mile away, the numerology bit...the more I think about, the more I realize this books had very few parts I actually enjoyed. It's good when it's an investigation/inquisition novel, but it goes off the rails so much I can't recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2023
DAN ABNETT JE KRÁL.
Obdivuju, jakým způsobem si z nějaké warpem olíznuté paty tahá naprosto uhozené příběhy svých hrdinů, které navíc s naprostou elegancí, která štípá zdi na prach a láme světy vejpůl jako dobře upečenou bagetu, dávají smysl.
Zbožňuju, jakým způsobem a jak dlouho buduje po mnohé svazky komunitou uznávané kulty postav, aby je nechal střetnout na neutrální půdě pár snadno přehlédnutelných knih – protože ďábel je v detailu tam, kde byste ho nehledali.
A úplně miluju, jak si otevřel vrátka z úplně jiné části toho naprosto pošahaného universa a narval skrze ně to, co se snad dokupy ani nacpat nedá, do pár stovek stran. Ať už mě první části Abnettových ság nebo drobné chybky nechávají na vlnách pochyb, vždycky v dalších dílech přijde s něčím, co mi na rtech zanechává opravdu kvalitně vytesaný úšklebek hořkosladkého pobavení.
Hats down, Abnett je grafoman a magor – ale naprosto geniální. Zvedám proto na znamení vděku a úcty, že tyhle praštěné akčňárny tvoří, panáka sacry, amaseku a joiliqu najednou. Na krále warhammeru a ať dovalí další díly, hurá a třikrát sláva!
Obdivuju, jakým způsobem si z nějaké warpem olíznuté paty tahá naprosto uhozené příběhy svých hrdinů, které navíc s naprostou elegancí, která štípá zdi na prach a láme světy vejpůl jako dobře upečenou bagetu, dávají smysl.
Zbožňuju, jakým způsobem a jak dlouho buduje po mnohé svazky komunitou uznávané kulty postav, aby je nechal střetnout na neutrální půdě pár snadno přehlédnutelných knih – protože ďábel je v detailu tam, kde byste ho nehledali.
A úplně miluju, jak si otevřel vrátka z úplně jiné části toho naprosto pošahaného universa a narval skrze ně to, co se snad dokupy ani nacpat nedá, do pár stovek stran. Ať už mě první části Abnettových ság nebo drobné chybky nechávají na vlnách pochyb, vždycky v dalších dílech přijde s něčím, co mi na rtech zanechává opravdu kvalitně vytesaný úšklebek hořkosladkého pobavení.
Hats down, Abnett je grafoman a magor – ale naprosto geniální. Zvedám proto na znamení vděku a úcty, že tyhle praštěné akčňárny tvoří, panáka sacry, amaseku a joiliqu najednou. Na krále warhammeru a ať dovalí další díly, hurá a třikrát sláva!
March 26, 2021
Bequin is soooooo boring
The overall arc is interesting, we know the characters and love them, the city is a fresh new thing unique in the 40k universe, Eisenhorn's brief appearences only make him better, and both warbands are great.
So why does is this book such a boring slog to get through? I found my answer after I finally finished this. It's Beta. Everything is allegorry, everything is reminicient, everything is flourish and pompous decorum and previous training and everything is significant. She exposes all her previous life over and over in each memory she has.
So while it has fun enemies, an intriguing premise, it also puts together the two least interesting and most boring characters Dan has ever written, Patience and Beta.
It's a boring slog, despite how cool the area around that slog is. It's only in the very final chapter when things become interesting, when it stops being about the allegories and myths of the Queen Mab and we realIize what they are facing, and then as suddenly as it became interesting, it ends.
The overall arc is interesting, we know the characters and love them, the city is a fresh new thing unique in the 40k universe, Eisenhorn's brief appearences only make him better, and both warbands are great.
So why does is this book such a boring slog to get through? I found my answer after I finally finished this. It's Beta. Everything is allegorry, everything is reminicient, everything is flourish and pompous decorum and previous training and everything is significant. She exposes all her previous life over and over in each memory she has.
So while it has fun enemies, an intriguing premise, it also puts together the two least interesting and most boring characters Dan has ever written, Patience and Beta.
It's a boring slog, despite how cool the area around that slog is. It's only in the very final chapter when things become interesting, when it stops being about the allegories and myths of the Queen Mab and we realIize what they are facing, and then as suddenly as it became interesting, it ends.
July 15, 2021
I love Dan Abnett's writing style and stories, and in general i love this book too, but the plot really goes to hell in a handbasket in the last 2-3 chapters and seems to have crawled so far up the 40k universes ass as to be looking out between the Emperor's teeth.... Meaning 5-6 traitor legion, 4-5 loyal chapters, the eldar, AND the castodies have been dragged screaming into the plot... The last book might change my mind, but the last chapter of this book made me very, very worried about where it is going.... We look to be going past Belisarius Cawl levels of stupid plot
April 8, 2021
I didn’t much like it’s predecessor, but this is probably the most interesting 40k novel and amongst the best warhammer books that I have read.
It’s cliffhanger ending sells it short. This is my first trilogy, and I only picked it up with its predecessor when they recently became available as audiobooks, but I sure hope it doesn’t take 8+ years before we get an ending.
It’s cliffhanger ending sells it short. This is my first trilogy, and I only picked it up with its predecessor when they recently became available as audiobooks, but I sure hope it doesn’t take 8+ years before we get an ending.
March 14, 2021
Well I certainly didn't see 'that' coming
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2024
Amazing book as always Dan Annett. The ending gave me goosebumps. The implications are wild. I can't wait for the next book.
July 2, 2022
This is good (as long as you've read the rest in the series let's be honest) but I'm a bit conflicted.
It's good that it keeps moving along. It's good to see characters we know get tested. It's interesting to see Abnett bring really classic macabre/Gothic elements into the 40k universe (which, quite often, can be some farcical blend of mock-jingoism and seen-it-better-before sci-fi tropes). I also really like the scope of the mystery it's building towards and I do think it pays off -- I didn't have a deflated sense of "oh, is that it?" once things were revealed. I also think it's bold that there are some well-established (and I thought deliberate) parts of Warhammer 40,000 lore that this is threatening to tear up.
But. I felt there was a bunch of padding. Lingering on details of scene, protracted introspection. These stretches of flabby writing are further engorged by the very... Victorian(?) voice that the narrator has (which is a conscious choice on the author's part). Plus I think there are just weird choices. The character of Comus really stuck out to me as so... unusual. Maybe this is just how it has to be when an actual author is told to do what he can with some background material invented on the back of an envelope by some wargaming execs in the 80s.
My other gripe -- and this I fully admit is a nit-pick -- is that this novel is rife with characters talking about, like, words and ideas from our history or present. They mention French ("maison de dieu" and "d'or"), the Greek language (whose name is corrupted to Eleniki) and the Ancient Egyptians. I just can't stand this! Present day culture will be incomprehensible to our descendents 38000 years hence. I know a novel has to compare to things the audience will understand and I know that I'm just like those "I'm don't mind Superman flying and shooting lasers from his eyes but how can he hide his identity behind just a pair of specs" people. But, without fail, this trope takes me out of the moment.
And let's not even talk about the extended maths tripe in Chapters 25 and 26.
I did enjoy this book. It is doing cool and fun things. There's no resting on laurels from the author. I raced through it (which is very uncharacteristic for me and is a real seal of approval). I will gladly read the next book -- as well as the extra book in this series (The Magos) that I only discovered by accident when I was skimmimg the "Other books by this author" page in the frontmatter. If you've already read the Eisenhorn and Ravenor trilogies and you've read Pariah then of course you should read these. If you haven't but you still fancy a good time and want to just plunge into the Warhammer 40,000 universe... read Xenos by Dan Abnett and catch up with me.
Until then: it's on to... whatever book was my next Christmas gift. Stay safe kids!
It's good that it keeps moving along. It's good to see characters we know get tested. It's interesting to see Abnett bring really classic macabre/Gothic elements into the 40k universe (which, quite often, can be some farcical blend of mock-jingoism and seen-it-better-before sci-fi tropes). I also really like the scope of the mystery it's building towards and I do think it pays off -- I didn't have a deflated sense of "oh, is that it?" once things were revealed. I also think it's bold that there are some well-established (and I thought deliberate) parts of Warhammer 40,000 lore that this is threatening to tear up.
But. I felt there was a bunch of padding. Lingering on details of scene, protracted introspection. These stretches of flabby writing are further engorged by the very... Victorian(?) voice that the narrator has (which is a conscious choice on the author's part). Plus I think there are just weird choices. The character of Comus really stuck out to me as so... unusual. Maybe this is just how it has to be when an actual author is told to do what he can with some background material invented on the back of an envelope by some wargaming execs in the 80s.
My other gripe -- and this I fully admit is a nit-pick -- is that this novel is rife with characters talking about, like, words and ideas from our history or present. They mention French ("maison de dieu" and "d'or"), the Greek language (whose name is corrupted to Eleniki) and the Ancient Egyptians. I just can't stand this! Present day culture will be incomprehensible to our descendents 38000 years hence. I know a novel has to compare to things the audience will understand and I know that I'm just like those "I'm don't mind Superman flying and shooting lasers from his eyes but how can he hide his identity behind just a pair of specs" people. But, without fail, this trope takes me out of the moment.
And let's not even talk about the extended maths tripe in Chapters 25 and 26.
I did enjoy this book. It is doing cool and fun things. There's no resting on laurels from the author. I raced through it (which is very uncharacteristic for me and is a real seal of approval). I will gladly read the next book -- as well as the extra book in this series (The Magos) that I only discovered by accident when I was skimmimg the "Other books by this author" page in the frontmatter. If you've already read the Eisenhorn and Ravenor trilogies and you've read Pariah then of course you should read these. If you haven't but you still fancy a good time and want to just plunge into the Warhammer 40,000 universe... read Xenos by Dan Abnett and catch up with me.
Until then: it's on to... whatever book was my next Christmas gift. Stay safe kids!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews