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Amazingly we don't seem to have a general thread for Dan Abnett's Guant's Ghosts, so here we go. I read Warmaster last year and was disappointed, it shook up the status quo but then ended abruptly, like in mid scene. I've seen this happen before in Abnett's books but this was the most egregious example.

But Anarch picks up right where Warmaster left off and really the two books could have been one.

My spoiler free review:

I was pretty disappointed in Warmaster - the last Gaunt's Ghosts book - which drastically changed the status quo and then ended very abruptly, with a battle ending so suddenly even the characters commented on it. But this book, starting just hours after the last one ended, does a lot to address those issues.

Gaunt has been promoted to a General, serving as the Warmaster's right hand, and now has to divorce himself from his regiment and life on the front lines. Meanwhile the enemy has a new and devious plan to undermine the Imperial defenders, and a character believed lost has to fight his way home.

As usual in these books there's a huge sprawling cast (the book really needed a character list and a map) and follows the Ghosts across multiple battles and crises against new foes. For a bit I thought Chaos' newest soldiers and weapons were a bit over the top but Abnett manages to sell them well. And, for once, it felt like the book built to a natural conclusion rather than just running out of pages.

I'll be back for the next book!

After this spoilers for Anarch (and any other books in the series).

I think The Warmaster will fit better when it’s read in an anthology without any breaks. More so than any other two, The Warmaster and The Anarach were meant to be very close to each other. Even the titles were very linked together.

I enjoyed The Anarch a lot though. It tidied up several plot arcs and I guess we’re onto the next arc in book 16.

Still waiting on my copy...
I thought I had read Abnett say that this book concludes the entire story, I guess I must have dreamt that.

 ingtaer wrote:
Still waiting on my copy...
I thought I had read Abnett say that this book concludes the entire story, I guess I must have dreamt that.

I think it ties up an arc, but I saw no sign this was THE END (kiss the girl)

Though come to think of it Gaunt does kiss the girl...

SPOILERS HO!

The bit with the Woe Machines was something I was shaky on, I think Abnett sold it, and I liked the subversion of the old "I know there's still good in you" cliche (two subversions!). Makes me want to reread Necropolis to see if he was really planning this all along or if it's an enormous @$$ pull. Of course Necropolis is damn good so I always feel a need to reread it.

I really liked the bit with Mkoll (oh he's not dead, anyone shocked, good). The start was laughably over the top with Sons of Sek members standing waist deep in a pool of blood giving Imperials the join or die choice. How is the entire army not dead from infections? I'll just assume warp magic.

But as it went on it developed them beyond evil (EVIL) blood and skull wearing bad guys. They're not from an Imperial world that fell to Chaos they're Chaos natives and they're out to liberate the Imperium. Oh and wear skulls and drink blood too. Of course.

And it was a good balance of Mkoll being skillful and lucky without him becoming Death God the Invincible.

I wonder how many Ghosts are left now? Numbers, an org chart or a character list would be very welcome. No doubt some wiki somewhere has a guess.

Loved the book thouroughly, although Abnett was being very liberal with killing off characters. Not complaining, just an observation.

Like you said before though, a character list and a map would have been especially welcome, or even just a map of the main battle scenes.

My copy arrives tomorrow! Is it worth rereading Warmaster before diving into this one?

You don't need to honestly

Thanks, that's good to hear (read...), I hope this book is good.

Fantastic arc finish, I could not put it down.

I only read the first two books (First and only, ghostmaker) but didn't really find them to my liking. I'm really not sure why but something about Gaunts Ghosts rubbed me the wrong way and didn't make me want to continue the series. I'd have to admit that they're well written though.

Fantastic read, much better than the last four or five. Really enjoyed the horror elements before the muderfest. Where next for the story though?

 Nerak wrote:
I only read the first two books (First and only, ghostmaker) but didn't really find them to my liking. I'm really not sure why but something about Gaunts Ghosts rubbed me the wrong way and didn't make me want to continue the series. I'd have to admit that they're well written though.

I agree that the writing in the first two was a little touch and go. BUT, his writing style changes completely for GG Book 3 (Necropolis). No more extended flash backs and it really can be considered a cohesive story for the next 6-10 books.

SPOILERS

I feel these last two have really exceeded my expectations with only a few minor caveats:
1. I was expecting something like this for Yoncy since he magically changed into a she. At first I thought it was sloppy writing but then all of the creepy cues...
2. Gol & Dalin really threw me through a loop. I was expecting Gol to become Colonel and at first I thought the lead up to Dalin's transformation was a little clumsy.
3. WHY THE HELL IS MKOLL STILL JUST A SERGEANT! - 2 major Chaos Warlords notched on his belt...promote this guy to captain or major immediately!

And I can't wait for the Gaunt - Milo reunion; I expect I'll be blinded by tears

 Lord Clinto wrote:

1. I was expecting something like this for Yoncy since he magically changed into a she. At first I thought it was sloppy writing but then all of the creepy cues...

Did the change happen in Necropolis? I may have to reread it.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:

 Lord Clinto wrote:

1. I was expecting something like this for Yoncy since he magically changed into a she. At first I thought it was sloppy writing but then all of the creepy cues...

Did the change happen in Necropolis? I may have to reread it.

Always worth rereading that book! Think the first we heard of the change was in Salvations Reach though, before that it was always a son and daughter (or unspecified as just Gol's kids).

 ingtaer wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:

 Lord Clinto wrote:

1. I was expecting something like this for Yoncy since he magically changed into a she. At first I thought it was sloppy writing but then all of the creepy cues...

Did the change happen in Necropolis? I may have to reread it.

Always worth rereading that book! Think the first we heard of the change was in Salvations Reach though, before that it was always a son and daughter (or unspecified as just Gol's kids).

I'd have to reread the series, for the 7th or 8th time =), but I think it was The Armour of Contempt. They return to Gereon, Dalin is inducted into RIP. If I recall correctly this is the first instance that Yoncy is referred to as female.