Grey Knights [Paperback]

Ben Counter (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: GAMES WORKSHOP (ABS) (June 1, 2004)
• ASIN: B000K4TRQY
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good intro to a new 40K series, August 11, 2004

By 

A. Sandoc "sussarakhen" (San Pablo, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Grey Knights (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Ben Counter starts off his new Warhammer 40,000-based series with a bang. Already known for his excellent Soul Drinkers series set in the same universe, Counter introduces his readers to a new fighting unit called the Grey Knights Chapter. This fighting unit would be considered the elite of elites. They're Space Marines just like the Soul Drinkers Chapter in his other series, but they're training, fighting prowess and mission directive puts them even above the other Space Marine Chapters. Grey Knights act as daemonhunters for the Imperium and as such they're seconded to the Inquistorial Order that deals with all things daemonic and Chaos: the Ordo Malleus.

The book centers on one specific Grey Knight Justicar (a veteran leader title) by the name of Alaric. In addition to being a hardcore and dedicated soldier for the Imperium, Counter has fleshed out the character by making Alaric act and behave beyond the psycho-conditioning and training given Space Marines. Alaric never expresses any doubts about his role as a Grey Knight but he does contemplate the role Grey Knights must perform to keep humanity safe from the daemonic and its allies. Alaric acts beyond his training and shows initiative that Space Marines are not well-known for.

The story itself centers on Alaric, his men and the Inquisitors who command them fighting a side, but pivotal battle to the raging Black Crusade currently being waged in the 40K universe. The battles scenes are well-written and action-packed. Counter doesn't pull his punches in describing the horrific consequences of these battles on the human body and even on the superhuman physiques of the Grey Knights.

There is a lacking of deeper characterization in the supporting characters around Alaric, but as an introductory novel to this series I'm willing to let it slide abit. In the end, the book is about Alaric and the Grey Knights. Counter does a gret job in introducing both to the fans and readers of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another superb book by Ben Counter, July 28, 2004

By 

T. Coolidge - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Grey Knights (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you ever played the game Warhammer 40,000 or read any of the books based on the game then this book is an excellent read. This book just isn't about your run of the mil Space Marines, its about the Grey Knights. These guys are the elites of the elite. Psycho doctrinated from youth to be the unwaivering servants of the Imperium, to right the most grevious of wrongs, to kill the most foul things that ever existed... Deamons. To anyone who knows the game, Deamons were the meanest thing to exist untill these guys came along.

Written like his previous books (Soul Drinkers and its sequel Bleeding Chalice) this has all that any Warhammer 40K fan will want. Action, adventure, mystery, gory details, and the triumph of good over evil no matter the costs. It begins with a epic battle and ends with an epic battle. It gives you the run down on the Ordo Malleus and what their job is in the grand scale of the Imperium. It keeps you on your toes with a few twists and turns that while are almost expected are suprising at the same time. All in all a very good book. I had a hard time putting it down.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ben Counter Delivers, June 10, 2004

By 

Happy Trails - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Grey Knights (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Any fan of the Warhammer 40k universe should already be familiar with the Grey Knights. And to most of us, they are one of the most interesting yet mysterious Space Marine Chapters in the Imperium. With this in mind, one's expectations would be pretty high when beginning this novel, but once again, Ben Counter delivers a solid and impressive story. Well, for those of you benighted souls who don't recognize the Grey Knights Space Marine Chapter, the Grey Knights are the Chamber Militant of the Inquisition's Ordo Malleus. Translation: They kill daemons for a living! Yes, that's right. Grey Knights are Marines specially trained and outfitted for the sole purpose of killing anything that comes out of the warp. So, of course, any novel about the Grey Knights should have, say, inquisitors? Check. Daemons? Check. Intrigue? Check. Psykers? Check. Ferocious, bloody, detailed, all-out warfare? Check. Yes, that's right, this novel has it all. Ben Counter provides, in my opinion, his best work yet, giving Warhammer 40k fans almost everything they could ask for in one nice, long (400 pages!) novel. Now you might have noticed that I really haven't gone into the details of the plot, but really, think about it. What do you think a novel about the Grey Knights should have? Make a wish list. Then keep it with you while you read this novel, because you're gonna get everything you asked for.