Bloody Books Reviews - The Beast Arises Book Three: The Emperor Expects
Gav Thorpe takes the reins for this third entry into The Beast Arises, and The Emperor Expects focuses mostly on The Imperial Navy. We are introduced and follow Captain Rafal Kulik of the imperial ship Colossus as he attempts to survive the bureaucracy and pig -headedness of career politicians and military leaders. Rafal finds himself in a unwinnable situation as two rival admirals bicker and ply for power whilst forming an assault one of the Ork attack moons that plague the imperium. Against that backdrop comes more political folly, as the High Lords of Terra continue to also battle amongst themselves to gain political position and leverage. Into this mix is the sole survivor of the Imperial Fists, who calls for allies to flock to his banner in manner unthinkable since the end of the Horus Heresy.
Thorpe appears to be enjoying his time picking up and playing the threads from Abnett's and Sander's entries into the series, with some serious work being placed into fleshing out the Navy and the population of that particular Imperial power. Kulik is a joy of a character, and it's difficult to remember ever seeing the Imperial Navy have this level of examination previously. Thorpe has managed to imbue the Naval chapters with something of a Oldhammer 40k feel in a manner I've not fully worked out yet. The highlight of these chapters is absolutely the Ork boarding actions that is genuinely brutal to behold. The chapters that focus back on Terra are also full of wonderful character moments with the continuous building of Vangorich's plans and schemes, whilst Wienand's Inquisitor journey lands her in ever heating water.
However, these moments do not make a whole, and there is a sense of the book bridging between what came before rather than being a novel in it's own right. I would not call this book a bad release by any stretch but it falls short of what came before. The plot threads are picked up in a well thought out manner and attached to what will come next next in a well made and workmanlike fashion, but it does feel a step down. That's all being said, it's full of punch the air, jaw dropping moments, holds a marvelous cliffhanger in the wings until the right moment for it have maximum impact and most importantly of all, lets the reader know just hot downright terrifying the Orks are in the current timeline, despite being little more than a prescence in the book, with various characters staring slack jawed at what they know to be true to be upended again and again.
It's a quick one as well, a speedy ready and a surprisingly small page count considering. Maybe a larger book that could have gone into the details further could have helped gain it's identity further and feel more like someone to be enjoyed on it's own merits, rather than a well written example of moving the pieces to the correct position.
Still well worth a read however.