Blood Pact – Dan Abnett
Hi all, firstly anyone that knows me will know that I am a total DanFan when it comes to Mr.Abnetts work, as far as I am concerned he can do no wrong…
After buying the hardback version of the book a few months ago (pretty much as soon as it hit the shelf!), I have been kind of putting off this reading this book and treating a little like pleasure delaying tactics, as I knew it was going to be a real treat, so I intentionally worked my way around some other black library novels first.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Black Library stuff, love it. But the recent crop has not worked for me, with a few notable exceptions (Aaron Dembski-Bowden), they have all been a little flat and lacklustre.
I have tried reading Innocence Proves Nothing, Emperors Mercy, Legends of the Space Marines and Sons of Dorn to name but a few, and all of them have been a little…lacking in the essential spark that keeps me interested. Sorry.
So it came to a point where I was going to have to hit the little glass box with the label that says “Break Glass in Entertainment Emergency!”, that contains Blood Pact. Boy, am I glad I did…
Like a life ring thrown to a drowning man, this book had me secure and safe within the first few pages. The opening paragraphs had me transported immediately to the 40k universe without even trying, Abnett has clearly perfected the art of timetravel AND teleportation!
It had me gripped, the whole way through the book. A few people, and I believe even Dan himself has mentioned this being a change of pace for the Ghosts, that’s as maybe, but the story does not share that at all, gripping stuff and a real treat to get a few insights into the Ghosts.
The Blood Pact=Competent Bad Guys… Now this is something that I like to see, for all the times we are told that Chaos etc. is the ultimate foe, we seldom see them portrayed as a serious enemy. Either they are portrayed as debased monsters that would frankly, implode on themselves rather than conquer anything, or hired goons that have little to no skills at all.
A great treat to see the blood pact team fleshed out with some real character and motivations. Almost like looking at a Tanith team working, but that level of skill being used by the enemy. Truly scary.
The book flows real well and the words fall into your head like watching a great film but with the intricacy one would expect from a book.
Recommended highly
10/10 for score!