This was an excellent read. In my opinion, entire plot is like this SF thriller was written by Follett or Forsyth [of old, newer stories being a big disappointment]. It is such great world building novel, I say we definitely need third book in the series.

So, how to approach the review without ruining the experience for others......

Let me tell you just the basics - Guilliman is venturing off Earth with his armies. Behind he leaves a mish-mash of political actors on various levels to govern the Throne World. He has made the initial steps for reforms but doubt remains if his reforms will survive without him present. After all Terra has managed to calcify political-wise so any change is suspicious at best, especially when one considers many enforcement, religious and political bodies vying for dominance and operating in the balance of power where no-one is given an edge over the others, they are forced to live and work together.

So, Gulliman's departure to battlefields amongst the stars leaves everybody thinking and plotting. And in the middle of all of this we find the Custodes, still trying to find their place under new regime where they are more active [and in some places proactive than before], and Sisters of Silence, reactivated by Guilliman's decree and rebuilding their order on the dark side of the Moon.

And this is where I will stop..... Although I can mention shadowy Space Marines chapter acting like I would expect Alpha Legion to act in pre-Heresy period....... now I will stop :)

Story is told by three main characters - Jek (new Imperium Administration Chancellor appointed by Guilliman), Valerian, member of Custodes, and Aleya, member of Sisters of Silence.

Narrative is broken up in blocks of chapters where we first follow the first, then second and then third character [followed then by next chapter by Jek etc] as they chase up their clues and execute missions on war-torn Terra, place completely shaken by multiple insurrections after Lions Gate battle and on Luna that has its own share of turmoils to handle.

Best part if you ask me? All narrations are in past tense, with lots of hints about how events moved on after the events from this book. This opens so much more space for more truly beautiful stories about Talons of the Emperor and in general political development and infighting on Terra and Sol system, under influence of Guilliman.

This is second book in series, and I highly recommend to read the first one first just to be able to comprehend what is going on.

Excellent action thriller, highly recommended to fans of W40K and action thriller SF in general. ( )