Review: Penitent

Hardcover edition. 

 Penitent, A Bequin Novel,  by Dan Abnett. This is the 2nd Bequin novel, the first one being Pariah. Originally this was going to be called PENITENT: Ravenor VS. Eisenhorn: Volume two of the Bequin Trilogy. I guess it was decided that was a bit of a mouthful and we're just going with 'A Bequin Novel' now for the name of this series. After all the vs. aspect of this story isn't that intense. That minor observation aside, this novel is incredible. 

This is a direct sequel to Pariah picking up where we left off but a few months have gone by. Beta is staying with Eisenhorn's crew and it's interesting to see how she has grown to know his crew and how well she has fit in with them.

The book is a big departure from all the Imperial Guard and Space Marine warporn that the Black Library has been cranking out lately. It starts off humbly enough in a cthulu mythos way with Eisenhorn and Bequin mingling undercover among the intellectuals and elitists of Queen Mab who are dabbling in secret occult knowledge and brews.  All this is an effort to find someone who can decipher the book she recovered in Pariah. The crap hits the fan pretty quick when a channeling performance they are witnessing is assaulted by a graal, one of the energy assassins dispatched by the King In Yellow, appears and eliminates the woman performing the channeling. It's all a bit freaky, and Dan Abnett does a splendid job creating the atmosphere to induce fear in the reader. But this is nothing compared to what is to come. 

A lot happens in this book, too much to easily summarize. So I will touch on some highlights without throwing out major spoilers. Needless to say, there may still be some spoilers forthcoming.

++++SPOILERS AHEAD++++

In search of Renner Lightner,  the burdener, that assisted her last time, she is deep in the under layers of the city of Queen Mab when she and Renner discover what we are led to believe could be a clone of Sanguinius!  Regardless Bequin gains a handy new ally. 

The scene when we are introduced to the Immaterial College was haunting, creepy and damn well written. A few chapters later who they are is (kind of ) revealed (I shall not spoil this, but trust me, these guys are rad!) but as creepy, unique and powerful as they are it is chilling to discover that they are just one of many factions coming to Queen Mab to fight against the King in Yellow. Clearly that guy has pissed off a lot of people.

It's later revealed that there are five Aeldari Craftworlds waiting to sack Queen Mab in an effort to keep the King in Yellow from transitioning into our realm. And that Ravenor has bought limited time with them in the hopes that his team can deal with the King first. This threat brings Ravenor and Eisenhorn together to let go of their issues long enough to try and thwart the King In Yellow. Only by the book's end Bequin discovers that they are all so grossly out matched. 

I think I touched on enough points without spoiling too much. And this books is just crammed full of revelations. It's the kind of novel that after you read it you seek out others who have read it so you can talk it over with them. And everyone else who hasn't read it you try to convince them that they should do so ASAP. And you would be right, because they should. 

I just hope we aren't waiting long for the next installment, Pandemonium, and the stage is very much set and we can't wait nine years for it!

• Did I like it? Loved it! 
• Was it hard to put down? This was a tough one to put down. I burned through this one pretty fast (for me). 
• Could I care about the characters? Abnett is masterful at getting his readers invested into his characters. In this one he has created some  charming characters meshed wonderfully into a world of intrigue and mystery.
• Was I being talked down too? Written in 1st person it's difficult not to like Beta. She is telling a story as honestly as she can recall it and from her worldview. As the layers of mystery are peeled back and the revelations surge forth, you are with her in sharing these surprises. The surprises are definitely many, and epic in scope. One take away when I finished was that I would love to see a spin off featuring Beta Bequin and Patience Kyss as a duo. It would work, and it would rock. 
• How predictable is this story? Not very. Which is why it was so very engaging. 
• Do I recommend this book? Highly. But you need to read Pariah first. I could argue that you need not read the previous two trilogies, but it would be much more enjoyable if you did. 

Limited Edition cover.