Sea of Souls - Chris Wraight

[cheywood]

Since this is officially up for download (as of 28 minutes ago) I thought I’d help out the insatiably curious and post the Dramatis Personae. It’s very small, and it’s clear that Wraight has backdoored an Imperial Navy novel into DoF. Bless him for doing so. Can’t wait to dive in. 
 

DRAMATIS PERSONAE
         

 CREW AND PASSENGERS OF HIS BATTLE CRUISER, JUDGEMENT OF THE VOID
            Iannis Kiastros – Captain
            Leroa Avati – First lieutenant, Master of Astrogation
            Nevus Boroja – Second lieutenant, Master of Signals
            Heriof Spleed – Second lieutenant, Master of Gunnery
            Magda Kuhl – Third lieutenant, Master of Engines
            Mergaux Santalina – Navigator
            Garg Vandia Ortuyo – Astropath Senioris
            Slavo Jep – Medicae
            Aris Garrock – Captain of Armsmen
            Refad – First lieutenant, Armsmen
            Hobes – Communications officer, Armsmen
            Herj – Lieutenant, Armsmen
            Arfo-5 – Enginarium tech-priest
            Krujax – Enginarium furnace master
            Tuo Maizad – Sergeant, Akaida Squad, Iron Shades Chapter, Adeptus Astartes

Miriam Isobel – Sister Hospitaller
            Hastin il-Moro – Interrogator, retinue of Inquisitor Gertruda
            Xinarola – Navigator’s menial
            Chatak – Captain’s adjutant
            
OTHERS OF FLEET SECUNDUS
            Rasmatin Olythaddeus Samil – High Admiral 
            Heila Jovanjiar – Groupmaster, Battle Group Dominus
            Juleis Hekaon – Commodore, Squadron Acertus”

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by cheywood

[Lord Nord in Gravis Armour]

Sounds like it's almost completely disconnected from the overall series.

 

Now I REALLY want to read it.

[Arguleon Veq]

Great start…descriptive without being florid, interesting characters - it’s been awhile since I’ve read a 40k book that is such a pleasure to experience- Wraight is a first-rate words smith 

[theSpirea]

8 hours ago, Lord Nord said:

Sounds like it's almost completely disconnected from the overall series.

 

Now I REALLY want to read it.

Now that might actually bring me back

[caladancid]

On 12/1/2023 at 6:06 PM, Lord Nord said:

Sounds like it's almost completely disconnected from the overall series.

 

Now I REALLY want to read it.

 

It actually ends up being very connected, but not until the end.

 

Also, Wraight continues his quest to bring the grimdark back. This one is DARK.

[Arguleon Veq]

I would definitely second that…it’s got a bit of everything, works very well together. As far as an expression of the writers art, I would rank this with the very best of C.W.

ship of line style of combat? Check.

excellent character development? Check.

existential terror and horror on a slow burn? Oh yah.(until it isn’t)

plot twists that are earned? Like a cold slap in the face.

 

its my Black Library book of the year

Edited December 3, 2023 by Arguleon Veq

[Scribe]

2 hours ago, caladancid said:

 

It actually ends up being very connected, but not until the end.

 

Also, Wraight continues his quest to bring the grimdark back. This one is DARK.

 

Then purchase it I must.

[caladancid]

3 hours ago, Arguleon Veq said:

I would definitely second that…it’s got a bit of everything, works very well together. As far as an expression of the writers art, I would rank this with the very best of C.W.

ship of line style of combat? Check.

excellent character development? Check.

existential terror and horror on a slow burn? Oh yah.(until it isn’t)

plot twists that are earned? Like a cold slap in the face.

 

its my Black Library book of the year

 

Yeah its a wild novel. He does a really excellent job of making the reader feel unsettled. It could almost be a Horror book.

[Ubiquitous1984]

Right, once I’m done with Fall of Cadia I’m skipping DoF books 5 + 6, and jumping straight into this one.  The audiobook is Banks and him + Wraight is always a winning combo for me.  

[Nephaston]

Just finished it, absolutely dreadful.

 

As in it was full of dread. Absolutely recommend it.

[Blood Angel Scout]

Just finished it and echo the comments re horror elements, was definitely not what I was expecting and all the better for it, pure Grimdark. 

 

 

[Nagashsnee]

About 1/3 in and its so refreshing to hit a DoF book i did not want to put down! The naval action is tight and well paced, the characters all feel three dimensional and the plot is actual not only self contained but informing me about the crusade at large. 

 

It feels like a different series!

[DukeLeto69]

8 hours ago, Nagashsnee said:

About 1/3 in and its so refreshing to hit a DoF book i did not want to put down! The naval action is tight and well paced, the characters all feel three dimensional and the plot is actual not only self contained but informing me about the crusade at large. 

 

It feels like a different series!

The reviews on this book are starting to give me “oh what could have been” vibes!

[Nagashsnee]

13 hours ago, DukeLeto69 said:

The reviews on this book are starting to give me “oh what could have been” vibes!

I am 50% into it and keep thinking 'oh i hope x and y make it to the sequel'.   

 

Like i have learned more about the indomitus crusade in this one book then the last 3 combined. Naturally from characters talking and pondering and mission briefings.  You get a real feel for what the crew think about the crusade and their overall missions too which is also fantastic. 

 

I even finally understood what the Anaxean (sp?) line is and why its important. Where the Iron Kingdom just kept clubbing me over the head with statements like 'we must establish the line it is paramount'. This book thru its characters makes me understand the Anaxean line is where any solid form of Imperial control ends, anything after that is enemy territory, unknow space, near mythical territory to the younger crew, somewhere where reinforcement and recovery is not to be expected. To the crew its off the edge of the map, they speak about crossing the line like a WW1 soldier would about going over the top.  And its done organically and naturally. I actually WANT to go beyond the line with them, i want to know whats there, i want to see the crusade fleet secundus push chaos back and jam the emperors wrath down the despoilers throat! And so far the stakes are pretty low ( tho the hints for bigger things latter on are present), its about 1 ship, 1 crew and its struggles to complete the mission and survive. 

 

 

It helps that Chris Wraith has made the ship a world into itself. Different characters from different station live in different worlds, all within decks of each other. They all feel like part of the ship...just THEIR part of the ship not THAT other part of the ship thats where the losers live! Anyhow i am reading as much as i can each day after work but my hours have been crazy otherwise i would have burned thru the whole thing on saturday. Will do a full review on finishing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Gongsun Zan]

This is the best Peter Fehervari book not written by Peter Fehervari. 10/10 Chris Wraight wins book of the year for me. 

[DukeLeto69]

3 hours ago, Gongsun Zan said:

This is the best Peter Fehervari book not written by Peter Fehervari. 10/10 Chris Wraight wins book of the year for me. 

That is high praise indeed!

[tgcleric]

I enjoyed the first 2 DoF books a bit. But bounced off the 3rd. Can I just read this? Or do I gotta stick with the series?

[Arguleon Veq]

Definitely don’t skip this one, like you I read the first three, then skipped the rest. SOS is self contained to a large extent, I didn’t feel adrift at all

 

Even if you do, there an excellent summation/essay of Fleet Secundus role in the opening phase of Indomitus  in the Epilogue - I found it very illuminating 

[Nagashsnee]

Ok so i finished the book last night. Not much to say other then fantastic read, great job chris wraith its a great book and the fact that the DoF label has and will keep costing you sales is a injustice to the book. 

 

But.... i wanna talk about the book without talking about the book. Namely the marketing. 

''The mighty fleets of the Indomitus Crusade face terrors and dangers beyond imagining. As Guilliman’s crusade marches forth, bringing the Emperor’s light to thousands of worlds, Fleet Secundus is headed for the darkest dark: the Eye of Terror itself, where Secundus will execute a major offensive deep into the heart of the Archenemy. Along with warriors of the Adepta Sororitas and the Adeptus Astartes, the Imperial Navy battle cruiser Judgement of the Void pushes deeper and deeper into contested space. But as their journey unfolds, the greater schemes of the Indomitus Crusade begin to descend into treachery and intrigue. And as the forces of Chaos close in, a battle for survival is about to unfold, one which has ramifications not just for Fleet Secundus, but for the future of the galaxy itself.'

 

Is a complete and utter lie and symbolic of the key issues of the DoF series. There is a huge disconnect over what they keep telling us we are getting and what we are actually getting so lets talk shop.

 

Spoiler

The ship never gets into contested space, unless they mean space in which other forces stake claims in which case for 40k we call that space, any space, any where. A huge part of the first 20% of the novel is the build up to them FINALLY pushing beyond the anaxean line and them getting ready to strike out with the fleet, etc etc. Only it never happens, the fleet gets ambushed and the ship has to flee and try and reach safe port. Forget deeper and deeper into there is never even a push. 

 

Secondly the are no real crusade level schemes going on. No crusade level treachery and intrigue. Oh theres plenty of mystery and a rising sense of otherworldly wrongness and horror.  But at no point in this book is this due to crusade politics or intrigue. This book at its core is a run of the mill escort quest...gone horrible wrong of course.  I understand the need to keep the plot vague and mysterious but for me this goes way beyond that, the description posted above feels like a whole different book. A book marketing thought would sell better then a horror/mystery. 

 

And i DONT GET IT. The plot of this book is fantastic, describing it in a non spoiler way should be easy as eating cake.  You have it all, a loyal crew forced into escorting a vital inquisitorial cargo beyond their understanding while hounded by the powers of the great enemy must overcome forces both internal and external to complete their duty. Will the proud results of millennia of naval training and tradition find themselves the equal of the great enemy or will their own shadows and weaknesses show the weakness of the human spirit? etc etc. 

 

And while the book is FANTASTIC its part of the DoF series as much as half the marvel films are part of a cinematic universe. By dint of an end credits scene that will mean something when we FINALLY get to the finale of this phase (pick an avengers film).  

 

This book is a fantastic book set in the age of indomitus. But thats it, I have read all the DoF books so far and other then knowing the name Rostov i do not GAIN anything from having read them. This is not a series of interconnected stories, its just some books good or bad they be, that will all end up having some impact in the final book whose sole job will be trying to make you feel that there was a central story/plan/goal to DoF all along. 

 

But yeah 10/10 Grim dark literature. I did not see the ending coming, I honestly did not think it would go down like that. 

Edited December 6, 2023 by Nagashsnee

[DukeLeto69]

3 hours ago, Nagashsnee said:

Ok so i finished the book last night. Not much to say other then fantastic read, great job chris wraith its a great book and the fact that the DoF label has and will keep costing you sales is a injustice to the book. 

 

But.... i wanna talk about the book without talking about the book. Namely the marketing. 

''The mighty fleets of the Indomitus Crusade face terrors and dangers beyond imagining. As Guilliman’s crusade marches forth, bringing the Emperor’s light to thousands of worlds, Fleet Secundus is headed for the darkest dark: the Eye of Terror itself, where Secundus will execute a major offensive deep into the heart of the Archenemy. Along with warriors of the Adepta Sororitas and the Adeptus Astartes, the Imperial Navy battle cruiser Judgement of the Void pushes deeper and deeper into contested space. But as their journey unfolds, the greater schemes of the Indomitus Crusade begin to descend into treachery and intrigue. And as the forces of Chaos close in, a battle for survival is about to unfold, one which has ramifications not just for Fleet Secundus, but for the future of the galaxy itself.'

 

Is a complete and utter lie and symbolic of the key issues of the DoF series. There is a huge disconnect over what they keep telling us we are getting and what we are actually getting so lets talk shop.

 

  Hide contents

The ship never gets into contested space, unless they mean space in which other forces stake claims in which case for 40k we call that space, any space, any where. A huge part of the first 20% of the novel is the build up to them FINALLY pushing beyond the anaxean line and them getting ready to strike out with the fleet, etc etc. Only it never happens, the fleet gets ambushed and the ship has to flee and try and reach safe port. Forget deeper and deeper into there is never even a push. 

 

Secondly the are no real crusade level schemes going on. No crusade level treachery and intrigue. Oh theres plenty of mystery and a rising sense of otherworldly wrongness and horror.  But at no point in this book is this due to crusade politics or intrigue. This book at its core is a run of the mill escort quest...gone horrible wrong of course.  I understand the need to keep the plot vague and mysterious but for me this goes way beyond that, the description posted above feels like a whole different book. A book marketing thought would sell better then a horror/mystery. 

 

And i DONT GET IT. The plot of this book is fantastic, describing it in a non spoiler way should be easy as eating cake.  You have it all, a loyal crew forced into escorting a vital inquisitorial cargo beyond their understanding while hounded by the powers of the great enemy must overcome forces both internal and external to complete their duty. Will the proud results of millennia of naval training and tradition find themselves the equal of the great enemy or will their own shadows and weaknesses show the weakness of the human spirit? etc etc. 

 

And while the book is FANTASTIC its part of the DoF series as much as half the marvel films are part of a cinematic universe. By dint of an end credits scene that will mean something when we FINALLY get to the finale of this phase (pick an avengers film).  

 

This book is a fantastic book set in the age of indomitus. But thats it, I have read all the DoF books so far and other then knowing the name Rostov i do not GAIN anything from having read them. This is not a series of interconnected stories, its just some books good or bad they be, that will all end up having some impact in the final book whose sole job will be trying to make you feel that there was a central story/plan/goal to DoF all along. 

 

But yeah 10/10 Grim dark literature. I did not see the ending coming, I honestly did not think it would go down like that. 

Which all seems to back up the idea that these nooks should just be Era Indomitus setting novels rather than a DoF series.

[Urauloth]

Skipped this to the front of my reading queue, incredibly good so far.

Also, I think this is the most detailed ship combat has gotten in any WH40k novel, and it's refreshingly plausible in terms of the strategies and the enormous distances involved.

[DukeLeto69]

3 hours ago, Urauloth said:

Skipped this to the front of my reading queue, incredibly good so far.

Also, I think this is the most detailed ship combat has gotten in any WH40k novel, and it's refreshingly plausible in terms of the strategies and the enormous distances involved.

If it depicts shop combat as well or better than Execution Hour or Relentless then it going to be damn good!

[theSpirea]

The LE is back in stock for some regions on WH (EU, UK, but no NA, haven't checked the rest)

[Ubiquitous1984]

1 hour ago, theSpirea said:

The LE is back in stock for some regions on WH (EU, UK, but no NA, haven't checked the rest)

Hopefully the positive reviews will finally help this LE sell out.

[tgcleric]

Are there any good synopsis for the series so far? Love Wraight and wanna read this book. But after finally finishing HH/SoT I can't binge another batch of bad books to get to a good one.