Ashes and Oaths

Agent of the Throne: Warhammer 40,000, Book 3

By: John French

Narrated by: Beth Chalmers, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Gesella Ohaka, Colleen Prendergast, Richard Reed

An Inquisition audio drama.

When a mission goes badly wrong, Inquisitorial agent Ianthe and her associates are forced into an alliance with a dangerous and unscrupulous figure that could have dire consequences for them all.

Listen to it because:

It's the third act in John French's Scribe award-winning audio drama series, and it sees Ianthe make her most difficult decisions yet, in the name of her mission and her Inquisitorial masters.

The story:

Subterfuge and compromise walk hand in hand for an agent of the Throne. On the blighted world of Dustcorn, an assault on an Inquisitorial target goes badly awry, forcing Ianthe and her associates into a pact with an unscrupulous ally, the mysterious Zand. With her mission in tatters, Ianthe has little choice but to agree to Zand’s terms, the assassination of a perfidious traitor. But nothing is simple where Zand is concerned, and Ianthe soon finds herself in a situation that will have far-reaching consequences for her and her team.

Written by John French. Running time 74 minutes. Performed by Beth Chalmers, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Gesella Ohaka, Colleen Prendergast & Richard Reed.

©2019 Games Workshop Limited (P)2019 Games Workshop Limited

Not perfect but still awesome 40k super-spy action

John French understands what makes 40k exciting and interesting - the conflict between truth and loyalty (sometimes called "faith," but really about commitment rather than eschatological concerns). Ianthe is such a good character, and the narrative conceit of the cigarette-smoking spy telling you her tales is perfect. This entry is slightly weaker than the previous by virtue of a somewhat formulaic plot (see: Eisenhorn book 1), and I didn't love all the sound design choices (I don't seem to recall Ianthe gasping/groaning so loudly in previous stories). Despite those minor critiques, it's still a great "movie for your mind" which I would highly recommend.

The best episode so far made me hyped for more

Loved the writing and the doubt it gives the reader about what is actually happening.

The Dilemma of Being a Tool For a Higher Power

Interesting story. When you are the blunt instrument used by the inquisition, what happens when you are used against your own? This is the problem with blindly following any not questioning. Great story.

Love it

The voice acting is superb, it feels like watching a full production play and is a pleasure to listen to.

Don’t buy

This has nothing to do with the previous books in the series. It’s 10% the length and costs the same as the previous entries. The audio mix is awful. The music drowns out the dialogue.