Dan Abnett kicks off yet another gripping story arc in the Gaunt's Ghosts series with Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel. Following the brutal mauling the unit took in the previous installment, the Ghosts are deployed back to Balhaut—a world 'liberated' by the Sabbat Crusade some 15 years ago and now safely tucked deep within Imperial territory. Gaunt himself required months of extensive medical attention, including receiving new eyes, and the Ghosts have been stuck in a holding pattern for near...

Twelve books into the series, Dan Abnett continues to find new and interesting ways to make life miserable for Gaunt and his Ghosts. In Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel, the regiment has been off the front line for two years with no immediate sign of redeployment to active service. Because of this, Abnett explores the internal troubles the Ghosts bring upon themselves while introducing a familiar external threat into a supposedly safe setting. Insightful, witty, and exciting as ever, the heart...

In the years between the previous novel Only in Death and this one, the Ghosts have been posted on Balhaut essentially as a garrison force and are struggling to adapt to their now relatively ‘normal’ lives away from facing death on a daily basis. That is until they are caught off guard by a highly elite enemy infiltration force on an assassination mission.In many areas, Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel is unlike any other in the series so far. It takes place over a very small geographic area i...

The most compelling installments of the Gaunt's Ghosts series usually feature a clear antagonist—typically some form of Chaos organization—alongside a more nuanced, internal conflict. In some books, the real enemy is stifling bureaucracy; in others, it’s institutional sexism or a deep-seated mistrust of leadership. You get the idea.In Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel, the true adversary is boredom. The Ghosts have been on shore leave for over a year, and they are growing restless. They are so ...

Abnett always does a remarkable job with franchise-based material.Genre: Science Fiction.The plot: Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel (originally published in 2009) follows Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and his Imperial Guard regiment as they bide their time on the planet Balhaut, awaiting their next combat assignment in the Sabbat Worlds Crusade. The handling of a high-value enemy prisoner and an unexpected assault by the Blood Pact on an Imperial world like Balhaut will push Gaunt’s tactical d...

Dan Abnett is a craftsman. And he’s the best kind of craftsman—the old-school, master-of-his-trade type. Even though he writes at an incredible pace, he pours genuine care into every book, adding that little something extra. A unique idea, a standout scene, or a twist that elevates the story far beyond typical, forgettable pulp. Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel is a bit of an outlier in the Gaunt's Ghosts series; it feels more like a gritty action thriller than a massive battlefield slaughter....

It’s controversial! But I think Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel is one of the very best books in the series—maybe even the best?Perhaps it’s because of the relative disappointment of The Lost arc, and its ending in particular, but Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel feels remarkably coherent, fun, and lacks most of the faults that have historically dogged the series. If you're looking for a gripping Warhammer 40k book review, this is a must-read entry.The book is basically the complete inverse...

Dan Abnett has hit another home run with his exceptional Gaunt's Ghosts series. Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel offers a refreshing change of pace from the rest of the series. You won't find epic battles, massive tank clashes, titan warfare, dogfights, or siege lines here. Instead, the Ghosts are cooling their heels on Balhaut—the site of Gaunt’s first major victory back when he was a Commissar with the Hyrkans. Little do they know, after two years of doing next to nothing but getting bored, ...

I finished Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel last night. Initially, it read a bit like Traitor General, but in reverse. Instead of Gaunt and his team infiltrating a Chaos-held world to take out a high-value target, they were tasked with protecting one on an Imperial world. Overall, I thought the book was solid, and Dan Abnett once again delivered in a series I truly love. However, it felt way too short and, how should I put this, a bit fluffy. There’s an overly lengthy description of Tona Criid...

So, Dan Abnett has written yet another Gaunt's Ghosts book. This one is called Blood Pact: A Gaunt's Ghosts Novel. Now, I have to admit, after reading Sabbat Worlds, I was a little worried about this one. Damn you, Dan Abnett (I love you, Dan Abnett), just when I think I have finally moved on, you prove that I just can't quit you! I read this book in three days, and for me, that's pretty quick. I usually sit down to read for about 30 minutes each night before bed; with some books, it's a strugg...