The Emperor's Legion (1) (Watchers of the Throne) Hardcover – September 26, 2017

After recently reading and reviewing Chris Wraight's The Carrion Throne, I would have thought such a significant novel would not be published until the Horus Heresy conclusion. But this book is unprecedented. I am half through the story, and already the culmination of every prior Warhammer 40,000 publication has led to this book's events. Descriptions of the Golden Throne, Custodians, Null Maidens and a demonic assault on Terra are complex in detail and captivating. I simply can't compliment this novel enough, nor will I spoil the experience for committed Warhammer enthusiasts.I have invested myself in a library largely comprised of Black Library publications and complimented by decades of Warhammer scale modeling. The Emperor's Legion has earned a keystone display amongst my favorites of a lifetime. Read it ... 'For the Emperor!'

Overall a first person book recounting a brief period of time in the new imperium. Three perspectives that fit and flow well, I think it speaks to those of us who have read both 40k and Horus Heresy novels as it’s a good bridge.This book combined with dark imperium and the devastation of Baal have signaled a sea change in the 40k universe. I like the change, for a long time the universe was on the verge of collapse with humanity straining to hold it together. These books reflect on how that has shifted.Waiting for the next loyal primarch to join his brother.

This was honestly pretty great all around. The Custodes were convincingly portrayed as something more interesting than just "Space Marines, but more so" (warrior-philosophers in power armor HECK YEAH), the sister of the Anathema Psykana (AKA the Sisters of Silence, except she actually hates that name) was an angry murder-bae with the 40K trademark Will of Iron, and somehow even the chamberlain to the High Lords was an interesting POV?? I really liked Chris Wraight's last Terra novel and honestly was wary this would be a step down since normally I tend to find the Inquisition more interesting than most other factions, but this was actually even better. Very much recommended and am hoping for a sequel.

This was a GREAT book! It definitely started slow and I had trouble getting into it until I saw where it was leading, the End of the Imperium as We knew it but The Beginning of the New Imperium.(Bit of a Spoiler by the way....)This was a great way of telling and showing the corruption and stagnation the Imperium had become, and how all of that came to an end thanks too and at the hands of Chaos!?! To have Chaos with all of its Evil and Bad intentions actually be the main cause and reason behind the Imperium growing, changing, and casting away its old ways in favor of the New ways(which is a combination of the old glory days ways and what the Imperium had become) casting out and restructuring how everything is done and seen. Basically it’s how the Imperium is able to see and cast off all of their ways that caused and allowed for all of the corruption and stagnation, and how they’re able to grow past the old ways and teachings and start doing what they know to be Right and Good and gain back their humanity! Oh and too lead this dawn into a New Age the return of a mighty individual and leader returns to take the reins, from what used to be lead by “The 12” who all fought for their own gain as well as the Imperium’s, and He now takes over as the one true leader and focus of the Imperium!Read the book and see how all the things that used to annoy me about the Imperium is changed all for the good and the start of something truly great is accomplished! Hopefully.....

I only recently started reading books from the Warhammer 40K universe after a long time reading up on the lore online, and found Emperor's Legion a fascinating look at life on the Throneworld through the eyes of three less common POVs in the universe: a Captain of the Adeptus Custodes, the Chancellor of the Imperial High Council, and a member of the Sisters of Silence. Each bring a really distinct voice to the story, giving readers a ringside seat to one of the pivotal events of the 41st millennium.Only niggling issue is the author's style of writing can sometimes feel overly ornate and cluttered. Otherwise, if you're looking to get deeper into Warhammer 40K, this is a great book to see it from different perspectives to the usual protagonists in the novels.

A new story arc for Chris Wraight to write and its a difficult one because GW has messed so much up with its Indomitus Crusade which takes place right after this novel. Their rollout was so sloppy this book must have been nearly impossible to write but he still did a fine job in a tough position. If you love the Custodes and the Sisters of Silence, you'll want this book and its sequel.

What I really enjoyed about this book wasn't just the back story on some of the less investigated groups in the 40k lore but the faint bit of hope that these books put into the imperium of man. While the grimdark is fun and all, it gets awfully tiresome after a while and ever so often it is nice to get a glimpse of the imperium as it was dreamed to be. I hope to see more of this 'not so grim' dark

I purchased this novel on Kindle a while back, and after reading it I'm upset I waited so long to do so! Fantastic 40K novel. Really shows off some of the political wrangling around the Indomitus Crusade, or more precisely the creation thereof. If you're a Warhammer 40K fan this is a must read! I'm starting on the second novel tonight and I really hope there's going to be a third one coming out!

This is a rather superb title that I will rate five stars for a number of reasons. The first is that most of the action takes place on Terra and in and around the Imperial Palace in particular, with the Custodes taking centre stage. The author has, in this respect, very well rendered an atmosphere of decay and decadence, with large parts of the Palace Complex having been abandoned and areas of the megalopolis where the enemy plots, bids its time and attempts to penetrate the Palace.A second set of interesting features is the way the story is told by and through the perspective of its three main characters.First there is Tieron, the human, ageing and cynical Chancellor of the Council of the Lords of Terra, who finally drops his traditional neutrality and conservatism and becomes an agent of change. The character with all his doubts and uncertainties, but also his moral and physical courage despite being no warrior was, in my view, particularly well-drawn with all his human flaws and strengths in such a way that he appears to be perhaps the most sympathetic.Then there is the Custodian and Shield-Captain Valerian, with his own set of values as one of the Ten Thousand guardians of the Throne who also sees the growing need to break the centuries old routines as he and his brethren are faced by the increasing pressures and menace of an invasion by the forces of Chaos. A rather good feature is a night assault by these forces against the Gates of the Palace. Another one is Valerian’s hunt through the empty corridors and rooms of the half-abandoned Palace and his fight to the death against a Chaos Space Marine who has managed to get in despite all the security measures. Valoris – the Captain General – and his two Tribunes are also particularly impressive in their golden and shining armour and might, even if they are somewhat less original and complex characters.The third character and narrator is the unyielding Aleya of the Silent Sisterhood, exiled from Terra long ago and which, at the beginning of the book, returns to her secret convent to find it raided, destroyed and full of the dead bodies of her Sisters. Both she and the Custodian, with the help of Tieron, will become the vanguard of the Empire’s counter-strike lead by the Emperor’s Avenging Son against the last Black Crusade of Abbaddon whose fleet advances on Terra through the Warp.

Definitely one of the best 40K books I have read for ages. It does a great job of ushering in a new age for the imperium and kicking off the new crusade from the homeworld. Both books in this series are excellent thoroughly recommended.

Great read, it has fleshed out the background of the Custodians and the Sisters of Silence (in the 40K timeline rather than 30K). I found the pacing and characters kept me hooked. If you are looking for more fluff on "current" 40K, after the launch of the 8th edition of the wargame-buy this book.

This well crafted story form Chris Wriaght shows why he is so highly thought of as an author.The story is told by three POV characters and is written in the first person to give the book a personal feel and encourages the reader to feel like they are part of the action.The story is set during the Gathering Storm and shows how those on Terra react to the events that unfold.Any fan of 40K and the new timeline and events should make this the top of their To Read pile.

Not what I expected at all by the title. The different perspectives really help bring the story alive. I can't wait for the next