Innocence Proves Nothing

This book literally begins where Scourge the Heretic (Dark Heresy) left off, with the burning mansion on Sepheris Secundus. Tancred, Vogen and Drusus were late for the meeting of heretics, so they avoided capture. Tancred uses his powers as a psyker to find a starship to take them through the Warp. Meanwhile, techpriest Vex is studying the artifact and papers from the raid, hoping to uncover more clues. Drake, Keira and Horst try to plan a rendevous with Kyrlock and Elyra. The four team members board the Misericord to travel through the Warp to Hive Sibellus, where their luggage is immediately stolen, including the artifact and paperwork. While tracking down their missing property, they cross paths with trio of psykers, also hunting for the artifact. Kyrlock and Elyra are traveling through the Warp with the three young psykers they met in the first book: Zusen, Trosk and Ven. En route, the two undercover agents are offered a job with the Franchise. As they reach their destination, they have to improvise their mission plan without being able to consult the rest of the team. When Vex, Drake, Keira and Horst finally arrive at the Tricorn at Hive Sibellus, they receive a disturbing message from Inquisitor Carolus Finurbi, and go into hiding as their leader has, under "Special Circumstances." Inquisitor Grynner, monitoring the vox messages of Inquisitor Finurbi's team, instructs Pieter Quillem to assemble his own team: Rufio - feral offworlder, Malven - techpriest, Carys (only woman on team) - expert thief, and Arken - sanctioned psyker. Quillem's team, on Scintil VIII Void Station in the Scintilla System, try to unravel how mercenaries came into possession of Xenos technology. After their mission, Inquisitor Grynner decides that Order Hereticus needs help from Order Malleus. In this sequel, Kyrlock and Elyra's mission was given more story time than in the first book. Elyra has proven to be just as deadly and resourceful as Keira, without using her psyker power. It was also interesting to see how much both Kyrlock and Drake had changed from their days in the Imperial Guard, since being drafted by Inquisitor Finurbi. Horst and Vex, however, just can't seem to catch a break. The introduction of a new team, as well the third Inquisitor from the daemon-hunting order, added a new dimension to this thriller-mystery. If you're not sure you want to commit to the Dark Heresy series, but you love Warhammer 40K, I recommend Emperor's Mercy (Bastion Wars) by Henry Zou.

This is the second book in a series by Sandy Mitchell, a long time contributor for Black Library. Since this is the second book you will definitely want to read the first, Scourge the Heretic. With 40K novels the level of previous knowledge about 40K can often be an important factor in the enjoyment you get out of them. Many 40K novels don't require any previous knowledge but it always helps. Others may not require previous knowledge but they can often be confusing. When you first start reading 40K novels you will encounter bits that don't make sense. With each novel that you read you will encounter less and less confusing parts and then you will start to notice how each novel contributes to the overall 40K picture and often make the whole novel worth it alone. Innocence Proves Nothing deals with the Inquisition, quite possibly the most popular Black Library 40K subject only after novels about Space Marines. This is also a companion series for the Dark Heresy RPG. If you are a 40K fan like me you are trying to read all the novels regardless of reviews. If you are new to 40K or fairly new and want to get a better overall knowledge of 40K three great starters are the Dawn Of War Omnibus, the Inquisition War Omnibus and Gaunt's Ghosts The Founding Omnibus, that deal with Space Marines, The Inquisition and The Imperial Guard respectively. Innocence Proves Nothing is highly recommended to 40K fans. Others new to 40K will probably want to get a better 40K base knowledge before tackling it.

Sandy Mitchell should be considered as one of the great Warhammer 40,000 writers. This is one of the few 40K books that has in depth character development, a complex multi-tiered plot and very prosaic descriptions of the environment and structure of society without get boring or over bearing. This is not a book for those people looking for vast army action, bloody gore on every page and fast action. Sandy spends the time to build up the humanity of her characters. This book has some of the style of Isaac Asimov in that Asimov kept the reader interested in the story without any action. Sandy has been able to straddle the mix of action expected in Warhammer 40k books, and yet keep the reader interested in the plot and mystery of the Dark Heresy series. I personally cannot wait until her next book comes out. PS I did read this one without reading the first book. It was easy to follow, but somehow I am certain that reading the first book will add to the experience of reading this installment.

I've read and reviewed quite a few of the Warhammer and Warhammer 40k universe books. Most are one-off, cheesy pulp fiction good for a cold afternoon or a long plane ride. This one, however, struck me differently, and I couldn't put it down. The author relies far less on nonstop combat, and more on political intrigue, backstabbing, uncertainty, and *gasp* character development. I was shocked that the characters actually had personalities beyond "me big strong guy with sword" and "I'm a dainty woman but feisty!" It's not written to the level of Robin Hobb or Robert Jordan, but for an excellent, relatively quick read, in a well-developed universe, you can't go wrong with this book. I enjoyed it enough that I'm looking forward to the next book in the series - which comes out next year, it appears. That's too long to wait!