Vaults of Terra: The Hollow Mountain: Warhammer 40,000

This was a solid follow-up that continues to have the most interesting inquisitorial characters outside of Dan Abnett's books. Inquisitor Crowl represents an element of the Inquisition not often seen: an inquisitor introduced when they're already nearing the end of their career. He has a long string of allies made and lost, victories won and defeats suffered - all in the past, and largely beyond the reader's sight and knowledge outside of their remaining consequences. That could have been frustrating, but it felt like such a core, necessary element of the character and how he's represented that I really didn't mind (though I'd certainly still be interested to learn more, if that comes up in future). It really gives something of an elegiac air to the character that seemed very fitting.Spinoza by contrast remains something of a blunt instrument as always, but watching her grapple with the challenges she's encountering to her simple, clear-cut perspective was still interesting. In particular, there's a pretty brutal sequence in sort of the late middle of the book (it wraps up just before the start of what leads into the climax) that culminates in the necessity of making an awful choice. The author did a really good job of highlighting the costs and consequence of something that from the reader's perspective could have felt too easy to carry the weight that it needed to in the story. As it is, when it seems like it's left a mark on our viewpoint characters you can actually feel why it would.Also, Niir Khazad survived the last book (no spoilers as to whether the same is true here, mwahaha), which was a solid HECK YEAH for me right there. So definitely very much recommended overall.

Good book, but there is something about how the author writes that sometimes causes lulls and the reader to lose track of the subject. It is still a good read if you can get past that. Hoping for improvement in book 3.

A continuation of the mystery unfolds further. Highly recommended if you like Crowl's style and the messy world of Terra.

Chris Wright does a superb job of painting the dieing world city of Terra, both with its aged foundations and rusting infrastructure. There is just enough hope to keep you reading more, desperate to know that everything will be alright in the end.

A brilliant addition to a great series. Inquisitor Crowl has earned his place alongside other classic Black Library characters. The next book can't come soon enough.

I enjoyed Chris Wraight's first book in this series "The Carrion Throne" for it's depiction of an overcrowded Earth that is the capital of a vast Empire but also choking on its own filth. His depiction of Warhammer 40k's Holy Terra just made you feel the grime and smell the stench.With this second book things start quietly as Inquisitor Crowl and Interrogator Spinoza continue their investigation. We see more of the corrupt and twisted souls who rule the Imperium of a million worlds. Then, about halfway through, things are thrown into high gear as riots turn into urban war and the main characters must fight their way through a landmark of Terra that has been taken over by corruption. Wraight has a talent for fleshing out otherwise minor characters, and an impressive willingness to dispose of them when the plot calls for it.I liked it, but felt the second half of the book was too abrupt a change, and not well fleshed out. It basically requires that a major location on Terra be cut off and no one notice until the heroes arrive. It really felt like I missed a chapter, or that major things happened in another book (which is possible since Wraight has a second series also set on Terra).But overall it was a cut above most Black Library books and I immediately picked up book 3.

Hallow Mountain was a formidable read to me. Chris Wright tells a good story. Also, I enjoyed this book because it was good science fiction, and believable nonetheless.

It was an enjoyable read. It can be really hit or miss with black library books but I enjoyed this one. It filled in a nice little spot about the failure of the astronomicon that I had been wondering about. As always there are some discrepancies in this story with other stories by different authors happening at the same time (high lords don’t match up between different author stories and imperial fists on planet between this one and another book). Not big issues and common with the canon but overall it lines up.

Spinoza is very much a Mary Sue, shes great at everything, far better then an inquisitor, even comperable to a space marine. The book keeps praising her, telling us how great and flawless she is. That really annoyed me.The funny thing is, the author is very capable of portraiing characters who are great at what they do, better then most but still relatable and flawed in some way. So why he decided to turn spinoze into a full blown Mary Sue is beyond my understanding.I still recommend this read.

- characters, enemies, and lore are often obfuscated to the point of intentional vagueness, I would argue beyond what a thriller should need.+ On the other hand, brilliantly mysterious. Haven't read a book this quick in years.+ Story builds towards a breakneck conclusion that engages multiple threads from this and the previous book, and then drags them through a blistering action set piece that is unbelievably '40k.'+ Excellent and natural progression of characters over multiple books+ Fantastic and engaging cast of cliche yet immensely likeable characters

Got so wrapped up in the story that the ending was a surprise. Need more. When's the next chapter out?Best inquisition themes book I've read since Dan Abnet's work.

This book is well worth every penny, it has a fast paced story with lots of action and a great twist.

Brilliant stuff. Tense, oppressive and awe inspiring by turns. This is Terra and the world of 40k brought to life the way it should be- full of shades of grey. Part detective thriller, part combat fest. Couldn’t put it down.