Shroud of Night Book review spoiler free...ish

 

Shroud of Night by Andy Clarke.

The Alpha Legion wages war in ways most other Legions find distasteful: sabotage, shadow operations, and precise strikes against key leaders. By contrast, the Emperor’s Children have spiralled ever deeper into excess since the Heresy, plunging into levels of depravity that even their former allies can barely comprehend. Between the two Legions lies an immense gulf in ideology, purpose, and method. Despite being raised to resist the worship of the Ruinous Powers, the Alpha Legion has not escaped the warp’s influence. This novel follows the Harrow, the Unsung, an Alpha Legion warband stranded on a world within the Eye of Terror. To earn their escape, the warband is tasked with escorting a cultist of the Youngest God into an Imperial hive. The hive has established a rare beacon of light, one that guides Imperial vessels through the fractured sub‑sectors left in the wake of the Great Rift. The cultist’s mission is simple in theory: corrupt the beacon and extinguish a spark of hope for the Imperium in this region. Naturally, nothing is ever that straightforward. A vast horde of the Blood God’s followers is converging on the same target, driven by a similar goal but with far more brutal intentions. And to make matters worse, among them marches the embodiment of rage and slaughter himself, Khârn, eager to do what he does best.

I really enjoyed this book about the Alpha Legion unit known as the Unsung. It does a fantastic job highlighting how their methods of war differ from those of other Legions, and the pacing keeps the action moving without ever feeling rushed. Andy Clarke has crafted a strong novel here; his descriptions of Kassar and his brothers are vivid, bringing each character to life with real personality. I especially appreciated how the story showcases the Alpha Legion’s ruthless efficiency, even as some of its members struggle with feelings of impurity and the lingering effects of their time on the Daemon world of Bloodforge. There’s something brilliant about seeing such a secretive, subtle Legion, masters of shadows and misdirection, pitted against Khârn, the Champion of Khorne, who is essentially the embodiment of a blunt instrument. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for something a little different. It’s not the longest read, but every page earns its place. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.