Friday, March 8, 2013

40k Book Review: Path of the Incubus


I don't know how, but Andy Chambers has done it again! Path of the Incubus is a fantastic and satisfying sequel to Path of the Renegade. If you haven't read the first book you're already missing out, but there are also several short stories that accompany both books in this series: Bellathonis and the Shadow King, Treasures of Biel-Tanigh, and The Curse of Shaa-Dom.

To give a brief summary (without spoilers), Path of the Incubus follows the story of the Incubus, Morr (originally introduced in Path of the Renegade) as he tries to stop the dysjunction that is destroying the dark city. However, it also features several side-plots that run parallel to the main plot with several other characters from the last book (whose names shall be omitted for spoiler-issues).

PROS:

  • Strong, satisfying writing
  • Features Dark, Exodite, and Craftworld Eldar (and Harlequins too!)
  • Provides a deep and intriguing insight into the structure of Dark Eldar society as it is falling to pieces around them.
  • Also provides a view of the striking difference in mindset between the many types of Eldar.
  • Decently long and full of delicious plot twists


CONS:

  • Some people might have problems following the multiple simultaneous plot-lines, but I think that the complexity reflects the pandemonium of Dark Eldar society nicely.
  • If your 40k universe revolves around the Imperium and its bland humanity, then this book is probably not for you.
To summarize, this book is a perfect follow-up to Path of the Renegade, maintaining the same dark, gritty feel of back-stabbing, treachery, and plotting that the Dark Eldar are so well-known for. In addition to this, it adds characters from the Craftworld and Exodite Eldar which set a great contrast to the Dark Eldar's malicious ways.

Thanks for reading!

-Symmaccus

(Hopefully there is another book in the series..)