In action-based stories, I believe there are two particular traps to avoid – that of having too much happening and confusing the reader, and that of unrealistic battle that is over before you know it without any real consequence for the combatants. Chris Roberson has neatly threaded the path between those two extremes.

The core of the story is that of three new recruits to the Imperial Fists Space Marines. These three are essentially enemies from opposing tribal groups on their home planet before the arrival of the Imperial Fists on a recruiting mission. Their grudges and desire for revenge continue through their long training.

It has to be said that this is not the most original of storylines, having already been used in other Warhammer 40,000 novels.

The bulk of the story follows the recruits through their training. We get to learn more about this particular Chapter of the Space Marines and its specific canon. In particular we learn of their curious use of pain as a meditation and focussing exercise. In this respect, they seemed more like the powers of Chaos rather than the servants of the Emperor.

Roberson's fight scenes flow well and with sufficient realism to allow the reader to easily suspend disbelief and become immersed in the story.

Where I have some concerns is with the overall storyline itself. We start with a Captain of the Imperial Fists, upset that his request to go on a warrior pilgrimage to atone for perceived failures, being denied. He is instead placed in command of a recruiting mission. The captain's perspective does not really enter the story again until the very end, in what seems a rather soft approach to him resolving his own conflict. Similarly, our recruits also bear their grudges and desire for revenge right up to the novel's ending before losing them in one sweep of emotion that did not seem to warrant that degree of reaction.

We did not see enough of how the protagonists go through that change. In any situation of individuals being thrown together in adversity, a degree of bonding and change occurs. I was never really sold on this having occurred, leaving the end of the novel a little flat for me. However the setup is still there for possible further exploration in a later installment.

Fans of the Warhammer 40,000 who like their fights drawn well will enjoy the novel. Roberson's writing is strong enough to make me want to see what else he can do in this canon.

Ross the Repellent