Faith & Fire

I went into the novel with no expectations beyond familiarizing myself with the Battle Sisters lore. I was impressed with Swallow’s writing here as with his more recent works in the Horus Heresy and the Siege of Terra series. A highly recommend read for the 40k Universe.

A solid story with some good action. No regrets but wish there was a little more. So much info that could have been expanded upon, but still very enjoyable.

Faith and fire is, as far as this author is aware, the only foray into the Sisters of Battle in 40k fiction so far, which is rather sad. The Sisters of Battle, also called Daughters of the Emperor, are front line combat forces that frequently work with the Ecclesiarch and the Inquisition to hunt down rogue psykers, heretics, and "witches" (any psyker not under Imperial control). This novel follows Sister Superior Miriya and Hospitaller Verity as they pursue Torris Vaun, an escaped pyrokinetic. The novel quickly delves into the political intrigue of the planet Neva, and leads Miriya and Verity to uncover a plot that threatens not only all life on Neva, but the entire Imperium. The storyline is well written, with enough wiggle room to make the plot plausible, without requiring use of any deus ex machina or unbelievable technology. The story follows Miriyas faith as her orders and her very faith and beliefs are questioned. It exposes the dark side of the zealotry that plagues the Imperium and could quickly turn against it: if you serve a force that is evil, but questioning that force is also evil, how will you ever defeat it?

I'm a newcomer to the "Warhammer" universe and Janes Swallow is the first author I've read, and I must say, his novel "Faith and Fire" was awesome. What an introduction to the complex, multi-layered universe of the Imperium! Swallow's use of Roman Catholic terms/symbols for the Imperial Church, its many religious orders and saints' cults, such as the Sister Sorititas, the Sisters Repentia, the Adeptus Mechanicus, etc., as well as his use of archaic phrases and words give this novel a wonderful Gothic feel. It's the Gothic High Middle Ages in space. You can feel the enormity, grandeur, the self-righteousness, and ultimately the decadence of the Imperium. Swallow does a masterful job of portraying the piety and zeal of the Battle Sisters, casting their extreme religious devotion in a very sympathetic light-we understand why they serve the God-Emperor with such unquestioing loyality, even to the point of slaughtering all who oppose his divine will. They come across as sympathetic characters and we cheer them on as they stride into battle. The Sisters Repentia are just a really cool idea! I could not put this novel down, and hope Swallow will write many more. Now I've got to read the other "Warhammer 40,000" titles. Pax vobiscum.

Sister Superior Miriya of the Adepta Sororitas and her Battle Sisters are part of the Order of our Martyred Lady. Miriya's group is a Celestian squad. They are usually deployed for front line combat operations. Even though they are used to fighting at the heart of heretic confrontations and mutant uprisings, they do not balk when they are given a simple duty such as this one, a prisoner escort. Miriya's elite squad is the deliver Torris Vaun, a dangerous psychic heretic, to Lord Viktor LaHayn on the planet Neva. Vaun had been locked up tight, sealed up, automatic gun mounts at ready, and guards placed around him, yet he still managed to escape. Seraphim Miriya is disgraced in the eyes of her fellow sisters and superiors. Miriya and her sisters follow Vaun to Neva with thoughts of capturing him and perhaps wreck a bit of vengeance. They end up uncovering a dark and horrible plot that could very well destroy the Imperium. ***** This is the only novel I have found that stars the Sisters of Battle. I certainly hope there will be more forthcoming. Battle is joined and blood has spilled before I even reached the second chapter. It remained full of action until the very end. Author James Swallow paints a vivid picture that pulled me in quickly and brought the story to life. Stellar novel! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.