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arsenic094's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
frostedcelt's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
itcamefromthepage's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I LOVED this, another win from Mike Brooks. This is a very unique perspective to tell a story and while yes it does end in the trope of Demonic ritual, the stakes are much higher given the power levels of the characters involved.
ONLY in Warhammer would our protagonist be someone who murdered her husband (who was actually quite nice apparently).
ONLY in Warhammer would our protagonist be someone who murdered her husband (who was actually quite nice apparently).
midwesternreads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Not my favorite, but not my least favorite 40K book that I’ve read.
This book was paced pretty well, and I honestly loved the cranky old lady that we followed around throughout the entire time. It definitely took some turns I wasn’t expecting, but I think that was because I was focused on one aspect of things and then a new thing would show itself.
My biggest complaint is that switching POVs was a bit tricky, and sometimes I felt like this switched in the plot in weird ways. I dunno how to explain it. Like I thought I knew what was happening and then out of nowhere something new happened that didn’t feel like a plot twist, just like a sudden change? Not sure.
Despite that it was an enjoyable and quick read, which I definitely appreciate lately.
This book was paced pretty well, and I honestly loved the cranky old lady that we followed around throughout the entire time. It definitely took some turns I wasn’t expecting, but I think that was because I was focused on one aspect of things and then a new thing would show itself.
My biggest complaint is that switching POVs was a bit tricky, and sometimes I felt like this switched in the plot in weird ways. I dunno how to explain it. Like I thought I knew what was happening and then out of nowhere something new happened that didn’t feel like a plot twist, just like a sudden change? Not sure.
Despite that it was an enjoyable and quick read, which I definitely appreciate lately.
midrel's review against another edition
5.0
Summary: A highly-enjoyable book from start to finish. Definitely one of the better entries in the 40k universe, and one that shows there is a lot that one can write about within the setting and that can be made to fit seamlessly inside it without having to churn out the same things over and over.
Prose: The book is excellently written. Neither dry, nor overwrought. There was no point at which I found myself blinking at some absurd choice of word, relentless barrage of typos, or endless wall of stilted text, which is more than can be said for many other books. 5/5
Plot: The plot made for an interesting story. If you pull out all the dressing, then at its core it is a save-the-world story, but it never really feels so... cliched? Perhaps because of the setting, or because of the way everything is presented, but the author makes a great job of assembling all the elements together so that nothing ever feels extraneous to the story, or like a sloppy implementation of some well-known trope.
At the same time, if there was one element that I was not entirely satisfied with, then that is how the confrontation at the very climax was resolved. 3/5
Pacing: One thing I really enjoyed about the book is that the chapters are almost perfectly-sized for whatever scene they wish to portray. They never drag, and they hardly ever lull. You are constantly and inexorably pulled forward because something interesting is always going on or is about to go on. 5/5
Characterization: This book had one hell of a main character, and an excellent cast of supporting characters to boot. Chetta might well be among my all-times favorites, so fleshed out and interesting she is. The villain was a little less memorable, but was still well above generic, and decently fleshed-out. 4/5
World-building: The story is presented within a setting connected but different to the face of the 40k universe that most often gets portrayed in novels and stories alike. Despite this different, the author manages to make it feel an inherent part of the wider universe in a way that is not reliant simply on using the correct terminology and the like, but that is part of every action sequence and plot point. 5/5
Final score is properly 4.4 stars, but I'll make it five since people review-bombing things out of political spite annoys me.
Prose: The book is excellently written. Neither dry, nor overwrought. There was no point at which I found myself blinking at some absurd choice of word, relentless barrage of typos, or endless wall of stilted text, which is more than can be said for many other books. 5/5
Plot: The plot made for an interesting story. If you pull out all the dressing, then at its core it is a save-the-world story, but it never really feels so... cliched? Perhaps because of the setting, or because of the way everything is presented, but the author makes a great job of assembling all the elements together so that nothing ever feels extraneous to the story, or like a sloppy implementation of some well-known trope.
At the same time, if there was one element that I was not entirely satisfied with, then that is how the confrontation at the very climax was resolved.
Spoiler
Things feel ever so slightly forced from the point our shadow-walker gets into the downed ship while the heroes are scarcely around the corner. The fact he has been so smart until now makes this seems even more stupid, and the fact he is surprised when the heroes subsequently chase him makes it even worse. Also, if Chetta could just broadcast for rescue like she did at the end, why didn't she the moment the ship crash-landed?Pacing: One thing I really enjoyed about the book is that the chapters are almost perfectly-sized for whatever scene they wish to portray. They never drag, and they hardly ever lull. You are constantly and inexorably pulled forward because something interesting is always going on or is about to go on. 5/5
Characterization: This book had one hell of a main character, and an excellent cast of supporting characters to boot. Chetta might well be among my all-times favorites, so fleshed out and interesting she is. The villain was a little less memorable, but was still well above generic, and decently fleshed-out. 4/5
World-building: The story is presented within a setting connected but different to the face of the 40k universe that most often gets portrayed in novels and stories alike. Despite this different, the author manages to make it feel an inherent part of the wider universe in a way that is not reliant simply on using the correct terminology and the like, but that is part of every action sequence and plot point. 5/5
Final score is properly 4.4 stars, but I'll make it five since people review-bombing things out of political spite annoys me.
piperkitty's review against another edition
5.0
Chetta is a super snarky character and the people around her are fantastically funny, it keeps you intrigued enough to care about what's about to happen next. My favourite character was Chetta by a mile, that old woman is adorably annoying beyond belief, and the Rouge Trader was super fun as well. Absolutely a must read for all fans of 40k fiction who enjoy stories that are set away from the grimdark battlefields. Rite of Passage is a great read and shows that Black Library is beginning to advance leaps and bounds in how it chooses to engage the dystopian gothic nightmare that is Warhammer 40k - an Imperium that does not care how you identify, because it's focus is far above such petty concerns.
arthurbdd's review
4.0
Decent 40K novel with a protagonist who's very different from the sort of character that's usually given the lead role in Warhammer novels. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2022/09/16/mini-review-the-third-eye-perspective/
trackofwords's review against another edition
5.0
Returning home to Vorlese after the death of her husband (which she herself arranged), Chettamandey Brobantis’ careful plans for the future of her house are interrupted by inter-house politics, mysterious disappearances and the looming threat of warp-based disaster. As danger builds, Chetta comes to realise that all of her meticulous planning and all her skill in diplomacy might not be enough to save her house, and Vorlese itself, from what’s coming.
It has the usual Brooks hallmarks of well-observed characters with a natural sense of variety and inclusivity, who feel real by virtue of dealing with relatable problems (like a dodgy hip, in Chetta’s case), and some genuinely fantastic dialogue…mostly from Chetta, who utterly steals the show. If you’re looking for a traditional action-heavy 40k story then look elsewhere – there are plenty of great examples, after all – but instead if you’re interested in inter-House politics, great female characters and a glimpse behind the scenes of the Imperium, then this should be right up your street.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/10/28/rites-of-passage-mike-brooks/
It has the usual Brooks hallmarks of well-observed characters with a natural sense of variety and inclusivity, who feel real by virtue of dealing with relatable problems (like a dodgy hip, in Chetta’s case), and some genuinely fantastic dialogue…mostly from Chetta, who utterly steals the show. If you’re looking for a traditional action-heavy 40k story then look elsewhere – there are plenty of great examples, after all – but instead if you’re interested in inter-House politics, great female characters and a glimpse behind the scenes of the Imperium, then this should be right up your street.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/10/28/rites-of-passage-mike-brooks/
agaddinggiraffe's review against another edition
5.0
This is a 4 star book, but giving it an extra to counteract some of the unwarranted hate.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of Rites of Passage through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Rites of Passage is the first novel in the Lady Chettamandey series by Mike Brooks. It also fits into the world of Warhammer 40,000, which should give you an idea of how much material its going to have to work with.
Lady Chettamandey is recently widowed. She's also a Navigator, and an exceptionally talented one at that. Her talent doesn't stop there, as she's also a quick mind and mind – meaning that she's got loads of plans for the Navigator House Brobantis. Namely, she wants to take charge.
But that was all before the disaster. Now she'll be content simply to save her people. And her planet. For there is a dark plan happening, one that involves using the warp as a weapon. Her unique skillset has put her at the forefront of this latest battle.
“It seems we're in agreement, then. I also don't wish to die a horrible, painful death, Tekoa, and I need your help to ensure that both of us, along with anyone we've ever loved, can avoid that.”
Rites of Passage was a highly entertaining novel, and an absolute delight to read. Mike Brooks has successfully merged the world of Warhammer 40,000 with other storytelling techniques in order to create a compelling tale.
Honestly, there's a lot to love about this novel. To start with, let's talk about Lady Chettamandey. She's, simply put, amazing. I love that she's older and mostly incapable of physical fighting (due to the condition of her body) and yet she still kicks major butt. Just not in the way you'd expect. It made for a unique leading character, as did her grit and sass
.
The core of the plot was also fascinating. The Navigators do not have the best job when you consider the risks. And yet they are vital. It's not something I thought too much about if I'm being honest. This whole story opened my eyes to that world.
There's so much more to it than I expected. There's politics, backstabbing, rituals, and more. Rites of Passage contained a little bit of everything, proving that this group of families is just as complex as any other part of this franchise.
The main threat was epic in scale, which I'll admit I was a bit surprised about. Yet at the same time, it felt wholly organic. It felt like the sort of risk that would involve the characters we're reading about. More than that, it explained all of the scheming, as well as the alliances.
I also highly enjoyed the secondary characters, as well as the subplots they brought with them. They added a sense of richness to the world, making it fell all the more fleshed out.
I'm noticing a lot of less than stellar reviews about this book online (well, on Goodreads, I didn't check the other platforms). I'll confess some surprise about that, as I thoroughly enjoyed the read. As for the 'clunky pronoun' problem? I didn't even notice it until I saw the complaints, so clearly it didn't bother me. It seemed rather seamless, actually.
I'm really glad that I took the time to read Rites of Passage, as I loved the different perspective. This is marked as being the first in a series, so here's hoping there will be more in the future! In the meantime, it looks like there are two short stories I can check out.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Rites of Passage is the first novel in the Lady Chettamandey series by Mike Brooks. It also fits into the world of Warhammer 40,000, which should give you an idea of how much material its going to have to work with.
Lady Chettamandey is recently widowed. She's also a Navigator, and an exceptionally talented one at that. Her talent doesn't stop there, as she's also a quick mind and mind – meaning that she's got loads of plans for the Navigator House Brobantis. Namely, she wants to take charge.
But that was all before the disaster. Now she'll be content simply to save her people. And her planet. For there is a dark plan happening, one that involves using the warp as a weapon. Her unique skillset has put her at the forefront of this latest battle.
“It seems we're in agreement, then. I also don't wish to die a horrible, painful death, Tekoa, and I need your help to ensure that both of us, along with anyone we've ever loved, can avoid that.”
Rites of Passage was a highly entertaining novel, and an absolute delight to read. Mike Brooks has successfully merged the world of Warhammer 40,000 with other storytelling techniques in order to create a compelling tale.
Honestly, there's a lot to love about this novel. To start with, let's talk about Lady Chettamandey. She's, simply put, amazing. I love that she's older and mostly incapable of physical fighting (due to the condition of her body) and yet she still kicks major butt. Just not in the way you'd expect. It made for a unique leading character, as did her grit and sass
.
The core of the plot was also fascinating. The Navigators do not have the best job when you consider the risks. And yet they are vital. It's not something I thought too much about if I'm being honest. This whole story opened my eyes to that world.
There's so much more to it than I expected. There's politics, backstabbing, rituals, and more. Rites of Passage contained a little bit of everything, proving that this group of families is just as complex as any other part of this franchise.
The main threat was epic in scale, which I'll admit I was a bit surprised about. Yet at the same time, it felt wholly organic. It felt like the sort of risk that would involve the characters we're reading about. More than that, it explained all of the scheming, as well as the alliances.
I also highly enjoyed the secondary characters, as well as the subplots they brought with them. They added a sense of richness to the world, making it fell all the more fleshed out.
I'm noticing a lot of less than stellar reviews about this book online (well, on Goodreads, I didn't check the other platforms). I'll confess some surprise about that, as I thoroughly enjoyed the read. As for the 'clunky pronoun' problem? I didn't even notice it until I saw the complaints, so clearly it didn't bother me. It seemed rather seamless, actually.
I'm really glad that I took the time to read Rites of Passage, as I loved the different perspective. This is marked as being the first in a series, so here's hoping there will be more in the future! In the meantime, it looks like there are two short stories I can check out.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks