Deathwatch: Shadowbreaker (Warhammer 40,000)

As a huge fan of the Deathwatch team the author created a few years ago, it was so awesome to finally get a full-fledged sequel! Building right on the first novel, a lot of plot threats are revealed, with many new, unanswered questions! Loved the pacing, and once again, the characters are unique and likable, or at least interesting in the baddies case. Glad these are on Kindle now too, so I don't have to deal with iTunes anymore (and RIP brick and mortar bookstores near me.) If you're a fan of Talon, and Deathwatch in general, this book is for you! Fingers crossed the next installment comes soon!

The first Deathwatch novel was a rollercoaster action read, fired by an intriguing back story of Inquisitorial double-dealing and Space Marine secrets. Shadowbreaker picks up right where it leaves off, and unravels many of the plot points revealed at the end of the original Deathwatch, providing plenty of twists to keep dedicated 40K loreseekers happy. Meanwhile Parker ramps up the action by a few octanes, introducing the rising T'au Empire, other Deathwatch Kill-Teams, and a company of human Astra Militarum special operatives into the mix as Talon Squad hunts down an Inquisitor gone rogue. My only quibble on why this doesn't get the full five stars is how the characters still feel like caricatures of a "standard characters" you'd find in a special forces squad - the demolitions nut, the arrogant sniper, the close combat junkie. Given this is the second book, I expected a deeper look at Talon Squad members outside of Alpha, and how they've grown/changed from their experiences together. New characters such as the Human and T'au POV ones got much better characterization, proving that Parker can do it well if he chose to. I hope that gets addressed by the third book.

Got into the Warhammer Universe a few months ago and can’t stop reading the books. The Deathwatch series is fantastic and by far my favorite thus far. Talon squad is awesome and the way they all work together is awesome. A sense of brotherhood. The action and character building is fantastic.

It's rare to find a 40k author that is this good, this guy can write, no constant bland bolter porn here, only when it serves the plot and its usually well done. even rarer is that the price is worth paying for the book you get, don't fret, make the purchase, the first one was very good too this being the second it holds up, There are a few places he lays it on too heavy by a few lines 2-3 quite small when considering how enjoyable the book was. I really really really hope he writes a third and i desperately want a book about the exorcist chapter. I don't often review 40k books but this one deserves me taking the time to review it easily.

It's great that the author decided to continue the story of talon squad of the death watch. They are my favorite among the space Marine books I've read. Always non stop action. Plus talon squad is just all around an epic line up of characters that kick ass under the most extreme of circumstances. Like how the think out side the codex.

Well checked the mailbox and there is my package. Had to change my rating. It usually is dropped off at the door. This time it was placed in the mailbox. I have my package, so I am happy

Well written, kept me entertained the whole way through

The Good: -Talon Squad is back, the character interactions and personality is all there, you get to see a good bit more of how the various squad members work with/off of one another, and how their relationship has developed thus far. -A deeper look into the T'au. This book shows us the T'au from the inside, and it's a rather interesting dive, we see T'au culture and ideals and how they differ from those of the Imperium -There is a great amount of "moral gray zone" in the book, and it fits the 40k setting perfectly. -The action is largely well written. -The book has good pacing, with the first half of the pages used for set-up and the second half being almost entirely action. The Bad: -Copley: This character doesn't need to be in the book. I don't know how/why Steve Parker imagined a Space Marine novel would be enhanced by the addition of a "healthy" dose of "girl power feminism" into it. It's particularly cringy when this character is played against what I suppose the readers are meant to see as a "backwards" traditional culture of the rebel natives of the planet the book takes place on. At the very least she is never given the "Gaunt's Ghosts Treatment" and shown to have super-human powers or something. But over all, a pointless and detrimental addition to the cast of the story, which could have been replaced by a decent pre-op breefing/indoctrination honestly. -There is a decent bit of "plot armor" when it comes to some of the characters. Particularly Karrass. But it only stands out as it was not REALLY an issue in the previous novel. -Lots of incorrect lore: +Shield Drones can stop Turbo-Laser Destructors, without overloading. +T'au Rail Guns and Ion Cannons are interchangeable/one and the same(this could just be a writting error, but still) +Riptide has a grand total of 13 missiles and a Ion Accelerator as it's armament. +The Sons Of Antaeus Chapter do NOT have their lore mutation of absurd resiliency and regeneration, but are instead a chapter that "has never been defeated while standing on solid ground". Yes, this is actually a thing in the book, why, like, seriously, why? +He keeps referring to what is meant to be a shield generator(never specified what kind, maybe refractor, or conversion) worn by several marines as being Storm Shields, when the said space marines are clearly described as not carrying any kind of Storm Shield. And the device is described as a small object on their pauldron. I think this is Parker getting the Terminus Crux confused with an actual Storm Shield. Although 2 out of the 3 characters which are said to have this, are not in Terminator Armor. Conclusion: It's great to see Talon Squad back, and it was very cool to see them interact with other DW Squads. But the story had some needless additions, bad choices and convenient plot twists it could have done without. Parker, while a great penman, should read up a bit more on 40k lore, as he seems to be getting things wrong here and there, which is not a problem he has ever had in his other 40k novels(which I have read and loved). I would give 3.5 if I could. And would still recommend reading.

Great book. The characters are wrote in a way that you just fall in love with them. It sucks you right in the story. I've finished in a week! Highly reccomended to any DW 40k fans.

Such a great read, again we fol low the exploits of scholar, ghost, Omni, prophet, watcher and the dreadnought brother. This time lead by major Copley and her elysian drop troops. Brilliant read, highly recommended.

I am a newbie at 40k books, but a long time reader in general. This - the deathwatch series, of which this is part two - is a great fun, great setups, great fights, great mysteries. Very well done and a LOT going on. Great stuff! Highly recommend.

Without a doubt one of the best WH40K novels I've read. Great characters and a great story further develop The Death Watch plotline.

Great book & story around Kill Team Talon