First and foremost, I feel I need to say, in order to avoid the wrath of the Emperor ‘s most pious, that I am at most a casual enjoyer of the vast and vivid universe that is Warhammer 40,000 so if I get something slightly wrong please feel free to cure me of my ignorance in the Emperor’s name.

 From the glorious monasteries of Macragge to the plague bearing cuddle bunnies of Nurgle, the scope of 40K is just about as unique of a setting than any that have come before or since. There are 200+ novels in the Black Library collection alone as well as a thriving and mercilessly addicting tabletop game on top of several successful video games. My own introduction to the endless war that is the 41^st millennium was the original Dawn of War. (a great RTS for those of you interested) Over the years I have considered diving into the books a few times but was never quite sure where to start. It was the release of the immensely brutal but brilliant Space Marine 2 that once more brought back the itch.  So after a not so thorough look into the options I settled on the tragic tale of one the Imperial’s Guard’s greatest heroes, Commissar Cain.

First published all the way back in 2003 by Sandy Mitchell For the Emperor introduces Commissar Ciaphas Cain. Famed throughout the Imperium for his incredible bravery, martial brilliance, and perhaps most impressive of all, his ability to stay alive for longer than six months in the face of the Emperor’s most vicious foes, Cain is one of the most heroic protagonists of the setting. If you believe the propaganda anyway. In reality, Cain reacts to the unfiltered chaos that engulfs his world the same way I probably would, with complete and abject horror. Stuck with a reputation of a selfless hero that he may or may not deserve, Cain performs something akin to unicycling across a wire 500 feet in the air while blindfolded as hurricane threatens to strike at any moment. For the Emperor is the first part of the memoir of this unfortunately blessed man and takes the Commissar to a backwater farming world called Gravalax. Assigned to a broken regiment that can be generously described as tumultuous Cain finds himself on a world where tensions between Imperial citizens and the mysterious alien Tau are reaching a boiling point. Tasked with maintaining order, Cain finds himself navigating political intrigue, conflicting loyalties, and the ever-present threat of horribly painful death.

As Cain navigates the dangerous situation, he must balance maintaining his own safety with fulfilling his duty to his regiment and the Imperium. His efforts are chronicled through his own dry and often self-deprecating perspective, making for an enjoyable read. The supporting cast of characters who accompany Cain on his unwanted adventure are themselves quite interesting. The moments where the story shines brightest come as its perspective shifts from the Commissar to his troops. They are, first and foremost, always chuckle worthy, while also adding important jewels of context that, by his own admission, the Commissar considers broadly irrelevant.

In fact, if I were to wish for anything else from this book, it would be greater development of its other characters. The grim camaraderie and gravestone humour shared among Cain’s staff was excellent and incredibly well written. Hopefully this will be built upon in the rest of the series. The book itself serves as a great introduction to 40k’s landscape, introducing several key factions without ever digressing into unbearable slog of lore.

To wrap up before you report me to inquisition for heresy, For the Emperor is a book for any of my fellow Pratchett admirers or if you’re simply looking for a pleasant cocktail of action, comedy and a smattering of intrigue.

The first in a series of 11 novels, there are plenty of books to sink your teeth into – all of which have been added to my to be read list(May the Emperor save me).  Would definitely recommend.

7/10

Those Damn Rogue Traders

If you’re looking to pick up a copy, you can find it here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emperor-Ciaphas-Cain-Book-ebook/dp/B01N906L3L/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/for-the-emperor-1

Warhammer: https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hero-of-the-imperium-pb (Omnibus edition paperback)