Assassinorum: Kingmaker

Warhammer 40,000

De: Robert Rath

Narrado por: Gareth Armstrong

An Officio Assassinorum story.

On the Knight World of Dominion, a Vindicare and a Callidus Assassin are tasked with eliminating a seditious leader and safely steering a pro-Imperial candidate to the throne.

Listen to it because....

Kingmaker shows the fascinating relationship between two very different temples of the Assassinorum, as two agents navigate the complex social hierarchy of a Knight World. The stakes are high and the pressure is on, for an Imperial war effort hinges on them executing their duty before disaster strikes.

The story:

The Officio Assassinorum safeguards the future of humanity. Its agents are the bloody-handed, secret saviours of the Imperium, killers charged with achieving the impossible...and Vindicare assassin Absolom Raithe has just been handed the most difficult assignment of his career.

The Knight World of Dominion is on the verge of seceding from the Imperium, its court riven by factionalism and ruled by an increasingly unhinged monarch. With the aid of the shapeshifting Callidus assassin Sycorax, Raithe must remove the king from his throne—and safely steer a pro-Imperial candidate to victory through the brutal succession crisis that will inevitably ensue. His team will need to infiltrate a world steeped in chivalric codes, where every move risks discovery and every threat pilots an adamantine monster...for if the assassins fail, and Dominion falls, the entire sector will be plunged into darkness.

©2022 Games Workshop Limited (P)2022 Games Workshop Limited

a great story from a fresh perspective

If you're no stranger to Warhammer 40k novels, you know the standard format. Big battles, Space Marines, Bombastic action.

This time however, we're approaching the standard problems from new angles and from differing schools of thought. Robert Rath's take on the imperial assassin's operatives, their thoughts, and social interplay, are really enjoyable. I wish that he'd been given more space and time to work with for this novel, but failing that, I certainly wouldn't argue with just more of these operatives period.

One of the Best 40k books I've ever read

Wow just wow! Everything from the storyline to the narrator was extremely good! I would give 10 stars if I could. I would love to see a sequel to this if possible.

Knights and Assassins

Wonderful book about the loyalties of knights and their organization as well as the assassinorum. Kept me gripped and gussing throughout the book.

Great Insight into Assassins and Knights

I got this primarily for the assassins, but it was also a surprisingly fun look at Knight Households as well. The politics between two feuding families is the engine behind their story, and it doesn't disappoint. There's not a dull moment with them.

The assassins always surprise me with how human they are, looking between this book and Nemesis. They're inspiring as well as relatable. Wraith for example, is a veteran Vindicare. He's the best of the best, but he's showing a bit of his age. Muscles and bones wearing down after decades of doing what vindicares do best, on top of a grizzled character.

I hope this is the start of some more assassins stories. We don't get to see them very much so this was a great treat.

Mission Impossible meets Warhammer 40K

I really enjoyed this book. It was like a grimdark Mission Impossible and I mean that in a great way. Combining elements including imperial assassins, a medieval society, and imperial knights, made for a very interesting read. Definitely recommend it for fans of 40K looking for a new story.

A book for any fans of literature

NON-SPOILER REVIEW:

This is my second Warhammer and my second Robert Rath title - and I genuinely am speechless.

I went into this out of a love of spy novels from the mind of authors like John Le Carre, and friends insisting Warhammer would be an enjoyable experience.

What I found instead was an utterly gripping narrative that transcended genre, character development that exceeded past some actual human lives, and an attention to detail so robust it would make an archaeologist flush with professional envy. Rath takes the best of Warhammer, spy thrillers, and chivalric fantasy stories and weaves them together in a flawless, page-turning adventure that gripped my imagination long after I put it down.

The book is called Kingmaker. I think that’s appropriate, since, to my eyes, it made Rath a literary king.

12/10. Recommended for any fans of books - love of Warhammer not required.

Rath does it again.

If you liked The Infinite and the Divine, you’ll appreciate this. Come for the knight lore, stay for the assassin antics.

Mission impossible meets James bond meets 40k

Imperial assassins have long been used as plot devices on others stories, along with the Imperial Knights of the feudal realms, with this book Robert Rath has not only given us a easily digestible introduction to assassins and Knights but also a cleverly written spy plot, along with memorable characters, wonderful plot twists and engrossing intrigue and mysteries. Munitorial Stamp of approval!

A top ten choice for 40k books

It was a great story with engaging character development. Sycorax is instantly on my top ten list of 40k characters along side Commissar Ibram Gaunt and such. I hope to see more of her in future books. It was a nice story that showed that assassins are more complex than just random killing machines. It was also nice to see how Imperial Knights are and how a world of them acts.

Amazing

Loved every second, there wasn’t any part of the book that was boring. 2/3 main characters are cool and the 1 who isn’t just isn’t my type of character.