Book Review: Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker

Steve Parker, Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker. Nottingham, UK: Black Library, 2019. ISBN: 9781781939635.

Genre: science fiction

Series: Warhammer 40,000, Deathwatch

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington Public Library 

"The blade that kills you is the one you least expect" (56).

Codicier Lyander Karras leads Talon Squad of the Deathwatch. Deathwatch are elite small teams of Space Marines drafted by the Imperial Inquisition for extremely dangerous missions. As the novel opens, Karras is recuperating from wounds sustained in a previous mission. He is barely recuperated when Talon Squad's handler, the mysterious Inquisitor Sigma, has a new mission for them. An inquisitor, Epsilon, has gone missing, perhaps gone rogue. Her location? A T'au held world. Talon Squad's orders are to find her and bring her back alive by any means necessary. The challenges are not only getting in and out of an enemy held planet but also surviving the intrigues, internal politics, and machinations of the Inquisition. 

The basic premise of the novel sounds great. However, the novel's pacing is fairly slow. The pace does not really pick up until about halfway into the story. Once the pace picks up, there is plenty of action for the fans. Along the way we learn of Epsilon's scheme, a complex scheme she claims can be good but is highly questionable and full of risks to put it mildly. 

For folks who like intrigue and schemes, you get a good dose of that. The Inquisition has various schemes going, rivalries and politics within, and at times one wonders who the imperial servants really serve. There are layers of conspiracies that Talon Squad has no idea exist. They just do their jobs and keep fighting on, hoping for the day when, if they survive, they can return home to their Space Marine chapters. 

Overall, I liked the novel, but I feel it was a bit too long at times. Some earlier elements could've been trimmed a bit. Once the pace picks up, it's a good Space Marines action story. Like many conspiracy tales, the ending is somewhat open. Hardcore fans will likely enjoy it. More casual readers may find the first half or so a bit slow and dragged out at times. Still, it was worth it once it gets moving. 

I'd say 3 out of 5 stars.