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2 internautes sur 2 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
4.0étoiles sur 5
4 stars total, Juil 20 2009
RAVENOR (Book 1 of trilogy)
Prompted by this ordo masters, Imperial Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor has undertaken an investigation into the nature and origin of the addictive substances known as "flects." (They are actually tainted artifacts; xenos in nature.) Their abuse has spread in the last two years. The root of its trade seems to be on Eustis Majoris, the capital-world of the Angelus sub-sector. Ravenor's body is useless. It is a knotted, bulging sack of scar-tissue and old burn-smears. The limbs are but stumps. He maneuvers around with the aid of a force chair (a metal box) and verbally speaks with the equivalent of speakers. He is one of the Imperium's best psykers. Each member of his small team wears a wraithbone pendant which allows Ravenor to "ware" (enter and take over) their bodies in an emergency.
As this story begins, Ravenor and his team are at the world of Eustis Majoris. It is on this bloated sphere that they find a young boy named Zeal. They are not sure if Zeal is even a teenager yet, but his psyker powers are extremely interesting to Ravenor. So Zeal is basically adopted by the team. Once Ravenor's investigation is over, he will turn his full attention to the boy. It is also on this planet that clues and possible allies will be found. These lead the team to Lucky Space, where pirates, death-worlds, and worse reside. But in Lucky Space, the team's luck finally runs out.
**** FOUR STARS! Many of these characters were introduced in the Eisenhorn Trilogy; however, if you have NOT read that trilogy you will have no real trouble what-so-ever. (I have yet to read the Eisenhorn Trilogy, so I speak from experience.) Eisenhorn is mentioned only in passing and the author does a wonderful job of keeping this story totally separate from the other trilogy.
I found it a bit distracting when the story switches back and forth from First person (Ravenor's view) to Third person. Fortunately, this does not happen too often ... usually when Ravenor is in someone else's mind/body. A very good beginning to this trilogy. ****
THORN WISHES TALON (Short story)
This short story takes place as Ravenor's team is heading back to Eustis Majoris. The tale not only bridges books one and two, but also gives readers a small glimpse into a possible dark daemon manifestation in the future. Eisenhorn fans will especially enjoy this short interlude.
RAVENOR RETURNS (Book 2 of trilogy)
The Divine Fratery is concerned with the manifestation of a daemon called Slyte, whose occurrence they had foreseen. Orfeo Culzean, one of their foremost expediters, is employed to make the manifestation happen. The manifestation is tied into the activities of Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor. Either Ravenor or someone close to him would trigger the event which would bring Slyte into being. Even though Ravenor had been warned (by Thorn), he must still do his duty. Thus Ravenor and his warband return to Eustis Majoris.
Since their enemies believe they are dead, Ravenor and his team re-enter Eustis Majoris clandestinely. They plan to infiltrate the upper levels of the Administry on the capital-world and attempt to reveal how high the corruption reaches. The team now operates under the terms of Special Condition status: rogue, driven to independence by extremis, who will act with singular devotion, and recognize no law or master save the God-Emperor himself.
**** FOUR STARS! This story holds many surprises. There is very little I can say without major spoilers. To give a small teaser, not all of Ravenor's warband will survive this mission. The team will also expand in numbers. As with book one, there are still distracting jumps in First and Third person views. ****
PLAYING PATIENCE (Short story)
This short story reveals how Patience Kys was located by Ravenor and joined his warband.
RAVENOR ROGUE (Book 3 of trilogy)
Zugmunt Molotch is a genius. He is also psychotic. His ambition is to recover enough elements of Enuncia from xenoarchaeological sites in the outworlds to master a rudimentary command of it. Ravenor and his team have been after his for quite some time now. To continue their hunt, Ravenor's group has gone rogue.
The time span of the daemon manifestation prophecy has passed. Ravenor has no idea if it came true or not. The young boy, Zeal, has been in a catatonic state since he collapsed from a psychic assault at Miserimus. Ravenor's blunter/untouchable, Frauka, sits by Zeal's side waiting for the boy to waken. Should Zeal waken and show any signs of being the daemon's host, Frauka is to immediately execute him.
Since they are already rogue, Ravenor agrees to use a source his masters would have normally punished him for even considering. They travel to Utochre and locate the Wych House. With the help of one of the housekeepers, the group will travel several times via a portal (that resembles a door) in hopes of learning where Molotch is hiding. But will the team succeed in their quest? Is Zeal hosting the daemon, if the prophecy ever came to pass? And when it is all over, will Ravenor be able to make the ordos understand why he's had to take the course he has?
*** THREE STARS! Book three begins about six months after book two ends. The team's numbers grow again, but as with the last book, not all will survive. I have to admit that I am a bit disappointed in this episode. Some questions were not answered. (And did I miss something or was the character of Alizebeth Bequin mentioned for only half a page in book one and then dropped?)
All-in-all, I believe the entire omnibus deserves a rating of four full stars out of a possible five. The author swerves away from typical battles in order to give his readers some unique methods, twists, and a few surprises. Very well done. ***
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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