Knowing how much you dislike descriptions of torture, brutality, etc, we’re all really proud of you for getting through this one, Mira!

BTW, the Chapter Master of the Celestial Lions (who was assassinated) was the *last* surviving member of the old Celestial Lions when his chapter got nearly wiped out by the Inquisition's schemes. So he was the last loose end for them, and they tied up that loose end in this book.

Note: "Helot" was the term used for the slaves of ancient Sparta. With Sparta being a militaristic quasi-fascist society it's obvious GW took the term from there. Great vid as usual!

For the record, I would absolutely buy an “another day, another rib cage” t-shirt.

Ah, Aaron’s book. He is one of their best pens, personally for me he is part of the holy trinity of Black Library, along with Abnett and McNeill.

Once again, an AMAZING review. I read the book (listened to the audiobook while painting) in anticipation of this video. Mira, as always, provides a very useful perspective as a newbie to the lore, and Ian as a veteran is (also as always) a very welcoming and accomidating voice. And I can't begin to explain how refreshing it is to finally have channels like yours explore the lore from the perspective of actually understanding the satire and social commentary of 40k. I think we all know of, and are very tired of the usual power fantasy worship, and out right fascist-apologia that some popular "lore communicators" out there indulge in. Thanks you guys! Can't wait for the next one!

The audiobook for the night lords trilogy is unbelievably good. Definitely the best one iv heard for warhammer besides maybe when Brian blessed was Gotrek.

I always look forward to Mira episodes - she makes me so happy when she shows up.

My one caveat with recommending this book would be that it's more an exploration of a faction and situation than it is a story. If you're looking for a well-rounded narrative with clear arcs that resolve in a satisfying manner, this isn't likely to scratch that particular itch (bar in the case of a few characters) - the novel spends most of its time investigating both the culture of the Emperor's Spears and the wider Imperium post-Fall of Cadia; it lacks a defined conflict with a central antagonist that ends in a complete way; and it is first and foremost a 40k fan's book, with its focus on expanding a particular sub-faction and incorporating lots of minute lore details. All that being said, I really enjoyed the read; the Spears are a neat take on how a successor Chapter could diverge so broadly from its progenitor in society and doctrine, and there were a number of scenes that had a strong emotional punch amidst all the 40k-isms (Tiberia surprised me when she got me all weepy).

ABD is my favorite 40k writer, he has that flavor the balances his work, you don’t get tired of his exposition

Great Book Club as per usual, I really appreciated the attention to detail in this book, I really like the intentional evoking of the Fall of Rome era British isles with regards to Nemeton and The Ultramarines of Macragge, quite a clever parallel to draw. 👍 Edit: Ah you actually mentioned my patreon comment! 😆

"Another day, another rib cage" is going to become the new motto of my Space Marine Chapter.

When I think about this a bit more I think the assassination of Dubaku has more to do with Inquisition wanting the loyalists to lose than simple pettiness. Why? Because it is easier to just declare that entire part of the galaxy lost and to wipe it clean when/if the Imperium returns than having it as a nominally loyal part of the Imperium which: a) hates the Inquisition; b) doesn't believe Guilliman returned nor recognise his authority; c)has several Astartes chapters which suborned local goverments, fleets and Mechanicus forces and rule the sector in all but name (smells like Badab 2.0 to me). Cleaning out Chaos worshippers creates much less questions and conundrums than reintegrating a wayward ''Imperial'' sector and there is always a chance that heretics will start killing each other after they clean out the loyalists and therefore make the job of reconquest even easier to the Imperium.

I've been waiting for another of these. Woot! And Mira is great. Have her on more, please. How about a series of teaching Mira to play 40K? Her on camera persona is super cool.

Another fantastic book club episode. It's genuinely joyful to see Mira getting more and more into the universe.

Aaron Dembski-Bowden is usually worth the price of admission. I've chucked this on the list.

I just got into 40K this year and this was the first book I've read. Personally I really enjoyed it, being told from the helot's point of view gave it worked really well for me as well as the contrast between the barbarian spears and regimented nature of the mentor legion. Ian your my goto when it comes to learning more about the 40K narrative 👍

Helot is what the Spartans referred to their slaves as

As someone who has listened to a lot of audiobooks over the past few years, I would never be able to just sit down and listen. Audio books to me are something you use while doing something else low-effort. Otherwise, as Ian says, I tend to tune out. They're great for low-effort physical tasks, like gardening, cleaning, or stuff like painting. That's where they really shine, much like podcasts or videos like these.

Hoping that Gaunt’s Ghosts is on the poll, though Ravenor also has to be done :)

Yesss !!!! Mira!!! Book club !!!! Just made my day ❤

I didn’t realise Anuradha was female until about page 60 when Tyberia was talking about her to Kartash :P

Great book club as usual, carry on chaps

Whoo! My question got read! Love this series!

Helots were the slaves of ancient Sparta, they were technically above slaves but the Spartans used to send out young people to murder them for the lulz, so slave is probably very accurate. I imagine the writer knew this thoguh.

I bit into my hotdog the *moment* before you described a “Corridor of Ribcages”. I don’t think I’ll ever look at a hotdog the same way.

I’ve waited and I’m so happy it’s here

Won't be long till Mira's playing 40k!

As always, a great book review. As a newcomer to 40K lore, I really appreciate what you do and use this channel for all of my next reading recommendations. May I also say that the two of you have great chemistry together!

You are great Ian, but Mira is superb!

I have said it in the past, and I will continue to say it: Easily the best GW content channel. I'm a big Mira fan too

I really want Mira to read the night Lords trilogy but good god, even I winced at parts of it.

Noooo! I'm supposed to go to bed but I really like watching you guys.

Love the 40k Book Club . Such great content by both of you.

Late to the party here but I read the book first, listened the audio book twice, and then read it again. I really enjoyed the audio version. I feel like Kelly Hotten did a great job and didn’t think anything of the accents until I read the reviews and saw people complaining about it. And the only reason I even bothered with the reviews is because I wanted to leave one myself, because I thought it was amazing. Well done ADB and well done Kelly.

I love your content. Best description of the realities of reading vrs audiobook. Such great charisma between you two.

In ancient Sparta, the helots were indeed slaves. So this term jives with their Empire,...er,...Imperium.

Loved this as usual, and glad I read it also (though like Mira and everyone else I found the middle section to be A Bit Much). Would like for Mira to actually see the difference between First Born and Primaris Space Marine models, throughout the first part I kept thinking about how Amadeus must constantly be looking up while talking to the other Marines.

I have collected Mentors for years. So may have to read this now, Tbh I just play them as a splinter faction. Have kept the Owl chapter badge. This is how I justify them rocking up in larger numbers. Think it was issue 98 of WD when they made there debut.

Re: ‘orror: fell asleep listening to the Guy Haley Plague War series audiobook once, only to wake up in a description of scrungy Nurglish-injured soldiers being transformed ickily into some planet-encompassing spore party. I’ve had nicer wake-up calls.

I loved this book quite a bit. But these two were lovely and engaging. I can listen to these guys chat about books all day.

Helots were the semi-slave/servants/worker-bees of the Greek city-state culture. While the citizens did the important work of yakking about the wonders of democracy, the helots kept the lavatories clean. Nothing changes.

Who else wants some Adeptus Ridiculous style content but with Ian and Mira? :)

I really like the Book club video ! You guys have a great dynamic !

Maybe this book was building up Miras stomach for "The Night Lords" series by ADB?

When it comes to audiobooks, I just find it a lot easier to pay attention to sound than text, so I like them. But I do find it very important to remember that it is an audio book, not an audio drama. The text is authoritative, the tone is a separate act of interpretation on behalf of the voice actor, and does sometimes subtract from the material. Take the Caphias Cain audiobooks in contrast for instance, there they actually have different narrators depending on the current narrator in the book, and I find a lot less editorializing on behalf of the listener is needed.

The Celestial Lions deserve restitution.

Long time 40K fan from 2nd edition here. I read this book on your recommendation Ian, and despite not being too in to the whole Primaris thing, I did enjoy it. Great review and great series. Looking forward to the next one.

I really enjoy the book club, really great to get a proper review of the books from the 40k universe. I have picked up Xenos after the first book review and really want to read Cane when I finish Xenos. I have also read Baneblade before, it was fun but more of a battlefield book, still had a interesting ending that was not as expected as when reading the first part.

Thank you Ian and Mira. Reminded me what a great book this was......time to hit uup more of ADB's bookss

I picked up this book following your review and really enjoyed it - I really would like a sequel!

Infinite and the divine. Good palette cleanser

In regards to the servants of the space marines, that reminds me of in The Devistation of Ba'al, the chapter master of one of the chapters that came to the Blood Angels' aid was remarking on this human servant on the bridge, who was at that moment having the gall to actually LOOK HIM IN THE EYE and TALK TO HIM, that he had no idea where this slave came from, and yet he's effectively second or third in command of the battle barge. For some reason I found that hilarious.

Almost 40k unrelated note. Very interesting to hear how you two who are obviously avid readers of books struggle with audiable and even have to speed it up! That seems crazy to me, I slow them down to give more time to digest the narrative. As a dyslexic person who really struggles with reading books the audio books have been a massive boon to me, thoroughly enjoyed this and many other stories because of it, can't recommend it enough. Been a good long while since I listened to spear of emp, forgotten how good it was, feel inspired to listen to it again after this video. Great listen as ever ian and mira, thanks both. X

Yay!!!!! More book club videos!! Please!

I never read any books from warhammer universe nor I intend to play the games. But after watching the summary of the wh40k I got very intrigued. What should I read first? Or where to start?

I was thinking about how you could represent the Mentor Legion on the tabletop rules-wise and I think you'd have to play them as Chaos. There's no real option for chapter helots in your regular imperial space marine army... but you can totally run a Black Legion list made up of loads of human cultist militia and mutants around a small core of chaos space marines. Not gonna do it because I hate painting white, but it could be a fun project for someone.

I can’t sit and listen to Audio Books either, but I find I enjoy listening to them if I’m doing something else. For example my job requires a lot of driving and I love listening to a book as I drive even though I can’t just sit and listen at home.

I love Mira's shirt she looks so cool.

Never read any 40k novels. But, this book I want to read.

Yay, return of one of my favorite series! Man I love the Spears. They're basically peak Conan in their way. All savagery but with honor to them. The MC being a slave (that's what helot means anyway in Greek) was also a great choice, really goes to show how fucked up the Imperium is.

finished the audio of this a month or so back, i loved it! the time is not right anymore with the new books so I "ignored" the whole 200 years and such. But the story was awesome!

It’s Easter so I’m just here to say that I *will* be watching this later and possibly coming back with more comments.

OK, I need to know where Mira got her shirt from. I need one.

I'd love to see you all read Helsreach

Was cool to hear in-depth descriptions of the rubicon primaris process in this book. The durasteel sinew reminded me of the weapon X program for wolverine.

Great! more bookclub!

I always enjoy when your partner collaborates on book club - it’s great to get the perspective of someone new to the setting. The Emperor’s Gift is a good read, also by ADB.

Just finished this, it was pretty damn good!

really great video! I'm late to the party but you have great content

I think we all know the correct pronunciations are Rowboat or Robot Seagullman

Can you start on Guants ghosts? Love that seris. It was my entrance to 40k

The Cain Audiobooks are great

If you want other books that focus more on character rather than battles and stuff, I've heard the Eldar books are good, I would imagine the Ciaphas Cain books as well as the Gaunts Ghosts series focus on that, if you want basically a straight up comedy then The Infinite and the Divine is focused around 2 Necron Lords who are kinda major Necron characters, as for other Space Marine books, Graham McNeill's Ultramarines omnibus about Captain Uriel Ventris is great, it does get pretty horror focused at times though, the 2nd story is Ventris and co plus some Imperial Guard vs Tyranids, but it also has like a side plot kinda thing of hunting a Lictor which is very well written and the 3rd story Dead Sky, Black Sun is a straight up horror story and introduces the infamous Daemonculaba, if you know you know

As a Celestial Lions player, yes Mira the Inquisition definitely suck 😄👍

You're literally the only KZfaqr who pronounces Roboute Guilliman correctly. It's frustrating as hell to hear everyone else say "Row-boot-ay Gilliman". But the stress on "Cicatrix" is on the first syllable.

Just watched the first 10 minutes of this has convinced my to give this book a go. I've recently been inspired to start building Necromunda tiles, despite not owning any rule books or gangs (yet). Does anyone have recommendations for good Necromunda novels, preferably ones available on Audible?

I've got a solid maybe 300hrs on it. Mostly while asleep, definite comfort read. For more slight trigger warning slice of life/slightly esoteric hard sci-fi there's the reverie and rites of passage.

I think Toby Longworth does a pretty decent job of all the voices in the audio books for the Eisenhorn novels. But - yes, I get what you mean in general about one narrator having to do a LOT of heavy lifting. A great book review/overview though - got me interested in the idea of doing ALL of these Chapters/Legions again haha.

On the topic of audio books. Stephen Fry's Harry Potter narration is spectacular. I am a paper purist but I've recently been listening to HP again and they have opened my eyes to the dramatic possibilities of the format. Although one could argue that you need a spectacular actor to make a spectacular audiobook narration.

Ian, "No one gets orders from the Emperor." Helot, "That's a stuffed-crust 12" deep pan with anchovies and pineapple for delivery to the Gold Throne, 1 Imperial Palace, Terra."

Re: No one having direct communication with the Emperor, I haven't read the source material myself, but didn't Guilliman have a Custodes-organized powwow with the Emperor after his "resurrection"?

Is an excellent book.

Oh guys you didnt mention how her brother died in the trials to become a Marine, and the boy that killed him received a commendation!

Celestial lions best chapter

Am I right that the Celestial Lions were a Chapter created in a White Dwarf competition? Would have bee back in the mid 90's.

holy shit, in the Infinite and the Divine audio book, he's supposed to be doing a middle eastern accent? I totally thought it was eastern european/russian

Even though i am a fan of horror I felt like the middle of the book verged on torture porn. Maybe it was because I didn't expect it and was expecting a space marine power fantasy.

I have a friend who keeps insisting I should try audiobooks and I'm like "I don't like having people read to me." (Unless it involves cuddling, because reading to your partner while you cuddle together is awesome.) For me, it's that having all the narration read aloud is tedious as hell. I do really enjoy radio plays (or "dramatic podcasts" as they've become) because that's storytelling that was always supposed to be audio. But audiobooks just don't work.

As I recall it. The people of the Spear's homeworld legitimately thought that the ghosts of their abducted boys were forever trapped in the Space Marine armor, animating it forevermore.

Read soul hunter!

Fuck the inquisition and the mentors, they did my boi Dubaku dirty. Blood and fire, the book where dubaku is introduced was my first 40K book so I gotta stand up for my boi. Amadeus is cool tho

The Cain audiobooks are good they have different voice actors for some of the characters

Oh my god, they killed Ekene!

100% with you on audiobooks. This novel was actually my very first experience with an audiobook and I just could not follow the story and completely lost focus. Not for me I guess!

I'm sure someone has organized at least the most recent books into a timeline, so I can read them in order. Black Library stuff is sort of like death metal -- it's a guilty pleasure. But, I often find myself going "What?" So I thought I would just buy all the recent books and that didn't work. lol Just trying to get caught up before, I don't know, the emporer wakes up or something lol

It's so weird that they would send a single marine on a job like that, any chapter worth their salt would send an entire company, at the very least a few squads

I hope there is a sequel …….

What to read next...hummm...a random book in the middle of the Siege of Terra? A "Warhammer Crime" book? The kids books? Something that's not actually generally considered "good," like The Beast Arises series?

"helot" means "slave" in Greek language, so, I guess, they are literally slaves of the Chapter.