Review: Execution Force by Joe Parrino

Title Execution Force
Author Joe Parrino
Year 2015
Stand Alone or Series - There is also The Emperor's Judgement but I haven't read it so can say it part of this series...  Basically this is the boardgame's book...
Pages 128
Reading Time 22 to 25 May 2015

Sigh...

This is was a book that I read almost after it was released because it deal with the Officio Assassinorum and one agent from the most important factions within. Vindicare, Callidus, Eversor and Culexus.

I didn't enjoy it. 

I know this novel deals mostly with the boardgame that was released with it but in my opinion it shouldn't tread so far from the 40K world. So, the Crimson Slaughter have a way to do something horrific to mankind and the High Lords of Terra send only four assassins? One of each faction instead of Imperial Guard and Space Marines? Poor Judgment. Then choose one of each faction. Two of those factions are not even compatible to stand in the same place... Well we've got:

Vindicare Temple - sharpshooters, specialists in sniping and marksmanship.
Eversor Temple - berserkers, drug-fuelled killing machines.
Culexus Temple (Blanks) - Pariahs, psykers are their exclusive targets.
Callidus Temple - chameleons, specialists in infiltration and impersonation.
So, we've got one of each. I can understand a Culexus since they were trying to kill a Sorcerer. Maybe a Eversor to help. But one of each?

So, what we've got here is a good story, interesting but weak in terms of demonstrating the powers of each faction. We see almost nothing of most assassins - which was a shame.


The author really creates a neat plot (albeit a bit incredulous) and we got to see the assassins working for the... Greater Good Haha... In this case for the Emperor. 

There are several short stories that were released around the same time of this one but this story is self contain.

If you are a fan of 40K, the go for it. If you liked Nemesis or other Assassins stories, read it because it will give you a new impression. Don't expect a good tale in the same vein of other stories written in the same universe. As I read this book I read it with the same conscious that I read those book released for Warhammer Online Empire in Chaos ; Dark Storm Gathering and Forged by Chaos. They can be good but they don't represent our Warhammer Fantasy (or in this case 40K) in the purest form...