By Justin D Hill

This week our book review returns to the world of Warhammer 40k and the cutting edge of the ongoing story – the Fall of Cadia! This is the second book in the series, and whilst the first tried for an all-spanning global conflict this one is much more about the hero – Minka Lesk.

For ten thousand years, Cadia stood as a bastion against the daemonic tide spewing forth from the Eye of Terror. But now the Fortress World lies in ruins, its armies decimated in the wake of Abaddon the Despoiler and his Thirteenth Black Crusade. Those who survived, though haunted by the loss of their beloved homeworld, remain bloodied and unbarred, fighting ruthlessly in the Emperor’s name.

Amongst them is the indomitable Sergeant Minka Lesk. Sent to the capital world of Potence, Lesk and the Cadian 101st company soon discover that a rot runs through the very heart of the seemingly peaceful world. Lesk knows she must excise this taint of Chaos, for it is not only her life and those of her company at stake, but also the honour of Cadia itself.

The story of Cadia’s soldiers continues despite the destruction of Cadia. Cadian Honour follows Minka Lesk and the world of Potence.

This is more of the same from the Warhammer 40k universe, but there’s is nothing wrong in knowing that the story is mostly the same as it’s like a new coat in the same design as the old one!

What makes this stand out is having a female lead for the story – which is great – and many of the Cadian Astra Militarum being females as well. It does look like Black Library is trying to get a broader range of characters (as opposed to white male) into their books and this is a good example of it working.

Minka Lesk is a believable hero and I found myself engaged in her story to survive and possibly lead the Cadian troops to some sort of victory – even in the Galaxy spanning war. Games Workshop & Black Library do seem to be bringing us more female leads and this can only be a good thing – more of the same please!

One of the benefits of this book is you don’t have to have read Cadia Stands either – my advice, just dive straight in here!

— Declan

By Justin D Hill

This week our book review returns to the world of Warhammer 40k and the cutting edge of the ongoing story – the Fall of Cadia!

The problem with Galaxy defining novels, which include a major change in the story, is that they are difficult to write. There are so many characters to include, so many people who are very likely to die, and a bad guy – Abaddon – throwing a space station at a planet…

Hill makes a good stab at bringing together the story of the Fall of Cadia and the attack of Abaddon, but it is too much for one book… starting on the planet with Cadian regiments returning, it takes the reader through the initial attacks, the orbital fights, the invasion of the Black Legion, the fall of Cadia, the flight and start of New Cadia… phew.

A good attempt, but ultimately the scope was just too grand, I struggled to follow the story (and I’ve read the crib-notes from other Warhammer 40k publications), and I’m a fan of the setting. Definitely not one that casual readers will be wanting to pick up.

— Declan

Check out the Woehammer Book Review Archive for more reviews!