Book Review: The Last Ditch - Sandy Mitchell

This was an interesting take on the 40K universe but after reading 7 novels of Ciaphas apart from two of them they are pretty similar. Nothing was learn and nothing was given as extra. We learn nothing more. The only thing we learn is that Tyranids have been in the know-galaxy far longer than humans thought. Amberley was only seen for one page; Sulla a couple of pages.

Well Ciaphas is yet again in a world being invaded not one BUT two enemies. The next novel will feature tyranids & tau. Let us see if it's better. This is not bad by all means. I only think that's more the same...

Book Review: Duty Calls by Sandy Mitchell

Duty Calls by Sandy Mitchell
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

This is the fifth book I read from Sandy Mitchell and Commissar Ciaphas Cain and his fateful sidekick Jurgen.

Again he returns to kick some Tyranids butts...
You've got Cain and Jurgen in Periremunda to quench a supposedly chaos riot. BUT because one enemy is not enough they soon discover that they are in the route of an invasion of Tyranids. OF COURSE, this was not enough and Cain and Jurgen have to deal with the Inquisition as well.

Not as fast as other books in my opinion and after reading 6 books by him I must say that my favourite one was also the smaller one. Caves of Ice.

I think that most of this story could have been told with 256 pages or something like that. Too much fillers and at times it feel I was reading things that happened in other books.

Nevertheless, a good adittion if you like Ciaphas Cain and Jurgen. If you have read the last four books you are by now used to him (Ciaphas) and the author way of telling stories so you will enjoy this one as well. If you are new to this... you will not be lost but in my opinion start with Caves of Ice (even if it the second published).

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Review: Traitor's Gambit - Sandy Mitchell

Title - Traitor's Gambit

Author - Sandy Mitchell

Year - 2009

Stand Alone or Series - Commissar Ciaphas Cain VII

Pages - 32

Reading Time - 1 day October 2011

This is a short story released by Black Library in one of their events. You won't get anything more here than other Ciaphas Cain novels. The plot was simple and direct (with only 32 pages we get only a small amount of information). We follow Ciaphas as Commissarial Liaison Officer to the staff of the Lord General as they arrive at the Deepwater System. Not a warzone but as to show all imperial citzens that they could count on the Imperial Guard. This is an almost mystery novel as we follow him to find out who the really enemies are and who's ploting against the IG. It's quite good but as I said before. Too small. 6.5/10

Review: Dead in The Water(Audio) - Sandy Mitchell

Title - Dead in the Water

Author - Sandy Mitchell

Year - 2011

Stand Alone or Series - Ciaphas Cain VIII

Pages - 80m

Reading Time - May 2011

Review

This was my 6th story by Ciaphas Cain. First was For the Emperor, Caves of Ice, Traitor's Hand and Death and Glory. I read Duty Calls but I have yet to make a review. It's one of the most interesting characters out there.

This is yet another tale by Ciaphas Cain and my opinion of the books mantain. It's neither the best nor the worst book released by BL. I heard it twice  and still it doesn't gave anything new or interesting. I have heard four audiobooks from BL and this is the worst yet.

It starts like other books with a prologue or introduction by Amberly Vein and then the tale itself. Commissar Ciaphas Cain is a renowend hero of the imperium and at the same time one of the most cowards commissars in service. The tale begins with the introduction of the setting. A feral river world who needs to be pacified. Of course Ciaphas is on the back of the army and thinking he saw a way out he chooses yet he choose wrong. (Typicall on most books). What a bad decisor guy. The mission is that something is stirring on one of the many islands and he thinks it's easy way out of trouble... By his own words

The part when he travels in a boat is quite good (the sound of Jurgen vomiting and the sound of the boat give someting good) but the battle itself was not that good. There are some parts that make you think/smile (laught is a too strong feeling) like:

"If I had know what I was getting into I would grab my chainsaw and shout "FOR THE EMPEROR" to the nearest enemy fortification".

"Trusting on him on earth but He has more pressing work and he counts only on himself and that's why more pious man are dead and I am writing my memories"

The plot itself is one of the straightforwardest I have ever read on any warhammer or 40k world so nothing suspense there. The reading is quite good and for an non-english native I could understand easily enough. Usually this kind of audio dramas I read them twice (just in case). The voices are good and there is a difference from the older Ciaphas (who is telling the story) and the new ciaphas (who is in the tale) and for that a couple of points.

If you are a long time reader from Black Library and enjoy the warhammer 40k then it is good choice to hear but if you are new I must advice other audio dramas. Thunder from Fenris is a good start.

Unfortunally for me, I prefer books. These audiodramas are acceptable but usually I detest all this modern things. Computer books and such are completly forbidden in my computer. I won't reading it. 

Rating: 4/10

Review: Death or Glory - Sandy Mitchell

Title - Death or Glory

Author - Sandy Mitchell

Year - 2006

Stand Alone or Series - IV of ongoing series

Pages - 416 (Mass-market paperback)

Reading Time - 5 days, March 2008

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...

Rating: 6/10



Book Review: Caves of Ice - Sandy Mitchell - Ciaphas Cain II

Book : Caves of Ice

Author : Sandy Mitchell

Pages : 256

Publisher : Black Library

Caves of Ice is the second novel in the Ciaphas Cain series by Sandy Mitchell. Mitchell does a great job in putting the reader right in the middle of Cain and his Valhallan regiment's latest adventure without backtracking too much to explain the events of the previous book. If you haven't read the first book it is not important for the story. But would increase the level of understanding of the characters. In this episode, Commissar Ciaphas Cain, Jurgen is sidekick, and his regiment of Valhallan Guardsmen are deployed to the ice world of Simia Orichalcae. The orks intend to overtake the precious promethium plant and use the current mine workers as slaves. When Cain arrives, he has only a single day to set up the defenses before the orks reach the plant. As Cain arrives he must deal with another problem. Five mine workers have mysteriously disappeared in the underground tunnels. Cain, having been a born and bred tunnel rat, is best suited to investigate (even though he wishes otherwise). The creature he finds is worse than the ork problem. Unfortunately, something worse than either of those is dormant in the ice caves and it is beginning to stir. I have to say that the creature they had to face is one of my favourite of the W40k universe, the Necrons. As all books that Cain features there are footnotes, some of them are intereresting and there are a prelude in each chapter that tells us what is happening elsewhere. Most people don't like the prelude or/and the footnotes but Ilike it. If you read it straightway you wouldn't miss it and you would still enjoy the book. With the footnotes and preludes you enrich the enviroment and gives a depth to other characters. In the end I liked the book. I was eagearly waiting the progress of Jurgen even above the Commissar, and I was not dissapointed. This book as a serie of good fortunes and gives just to the phrase, being on the right spot and the right time, things will be allright.