Cain's Last Stand (Ciaphas Cain) [Paperback]

In this sixth book of the Ciaphas Cain series, the reluctant Hero of the Imperium is enjoying his retirement teaching Commissarial cadets at the schola progenium facility on Perlia. His relatively peaceful life is shattered however when overspill from the Thirteenth Black Crusade threatens his adopted home and the secrets it contains.

This book somewhat finishes off the story of the Shadowlight which was recovered at the end of the previous book `Duty Calls'. The book is everything you would expect from a Ciaphas Cain novel being both funny and exciting while remaining compulsive to read throughout. All the characters are likeable and although some of them are a little underdeveloped you do feel sorry for some of them in places.

Personally I felt that while this book wasn't as laugh out loud funny as some of the previous novels in the series it was just as well written and had an interesting plot with some nice twists leading to a far better book overall than some of the previous ones. Having said this there were still a few very funny moments in the book, my particular favourite being the Dad's Army references.

Overall this was a very good book, definitely the best of the Commissar Cain series so far and one of the better Warhammer 40,000 books in general.

The latest installment to the Ciaphas Cain saga seen a maturer and wiser Commissar to his previous adventures. He's greying, over a hundred but fit and healthy, and now responsible for a class of fledgeling commissar within the Schola he now resides.

Not so much a coward looking to save his bacon, he's the true modestly reluctant hero. Traumatised by his experiences, out to save the world from chaos hordes and saving his own bacon in the process.

While this edition to the story is less comic in the portrayal if Cain the Cowardly Commissar, it does have its humourous moments. But there is a more mature nature to Cain now. Realising his responsibilities and his skills, he no longer shirks away from status as quickly as possible, but throws himself into the role fully.

His main motivation may still be to save himself, but its only through actually becoming the hero everyone else believes him to be that he can actually achieve that.

Cain is a true Hero of the Imperium now, skillful, motivated, wise and mentally and physically scared. He is no longer the unfortunate barer of the miss-awarded title, but brave and capable.

Excellent book, and for followers of the Cain series, a satisfying description of the characters evolution from coward, to miss-labelled Hero, to a true reluctant and modest Hero.

The Commissariat oversees all branches of the Imperial military, with the exceptions of the Astartes and the Adepta Sororitas. Somehow it seemed that by being talented in misdirection and keeping his pristine image (incorrect according to him) as a man who was brave and actually cared for those in his charge, Commissar Ciaphas Cain had earned his retirement and now considered the planet of Perlia to be his home base. Cain's malodorous gunner/aide, Jurgen, remained by his side, even in retirement. After all, they once saved Perlia from an invasion of greenskins. Cain no longer had to worry about being on the front line and getting himself killed. Cain found himself part of the schola progenium, playing the role of instructor to a small number of cadets. (As well as playing cards with various important people, such as Sister Julien with the Adepta Sororitas. She and her protégées watch his six and save his life more than once.) The locals named the first siege "Cain's Last Stand". Yet, it was only a matter of time before the forces of Chaos tried to invade again. Most do not know about the clandestine Inquisition research facility nestled within the Valley of Daemons. There, the Adeptus Mechanicus research a xenos device known as the Shadowlight. In the last few decades the magi staffing the facility have recovered several more artefacts and believe the Shadowlight to be part of a more complex mechanism and have been attempting to assemble it. (It would be an affront to the Mechanicus to even consider dismantling it.)

It seems as though Cain will be making his name even more legendary when he must step in and help stop a second Chaos siege in the planet's near future. There has been a massive incursion from the Eye of Terror. The Traitor Legions are massing for a full assault and the fighting has already engulfed most of the Segmentum Obscurus. However, Perlia seems to be the main target for Warmaster Varan, who may have some psykers in his dark army. Even worse, it seems Varan might know something about the Shadowlight. But when it becomes evident that an ancient race also seeks the Shadowlight, the chances of surviving the next few days drop from slim to negligible.

***** YES! I was thrilled to learn that book number six of the Ciaphas Cain series had been released!

First off, let me say that the author lives in the UK and I reside in the USA. Please forgive me for any mixing of the UK and USA spellings at times.

For those of you interested in looking up the previous novels in this series, the first three novels (For the Emperor, Caves of Ice, and The Traitor's Hand) are all together in the omnibus "Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium" and the ten digit ISBN is 1844164667. Book four is "Death or Glory" and the ISBN is 1844162877. Book five is "Duty Calls" and the ISBN is 1844164659.

This series has all the non-stop action of other W40K series, but is not all stiff and serious. The Ciaphas Cain novels tend to be a bit on the comical side. (I could never actually be scared of Freddie in the popular horror movie series because I was too busy laughing. This series is much the same except with futuristic military instead of horror. That is the best way I can describe it.) The author's writing style is exquisite! It is so easy to read and understand, even for the FNGs (frekking new guys) to the series. You do not have to read the previous novels to fully comprehend and enjoy the adventure (a.k.a. SNAFU). Outstanding, as always. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.