The Founding (Gaunt's Ghosts Series) Book

I read this book not as a warhammer fan, but as a spouse to one. Keep that in mind as you read this review.[return][return]Gaunt's Ghosts, for those unfamiliar is about a regiment of Imperial Guard, led by a colonel commissar. What makes this band special is that the night they were commissioned, their commander saved them from the destruction of their homeworld. Viewed as homeless, barbaric and useless, this band is the underdog, striving through each war to win a new planet for themselves, usually undercut by dirty handed politics.[return][return]The first book had a good plot, but characterization was weak. Abnett developed rivalries that lasted through the entire omnibus, and I assume into the following ones. The history of the Ghosts was hinted at, briefly explained, but characterization was weak.[return][return]The second book brought the characterization deeply needed in the first book, but was composed mainly of flashbacks, finally detailing the death of Tanith, and the major 8 or 9 characters got their own chapters detailing their strengths and weaknesses. However, once the flashbacks ended, it took a couple of pages to realize there was a present tense to the story in the last few chapters.[return][return]The third book had a good mesh of characterization and plot, though suffered from starting 30 pages too early. While not spoiling anything, Abnett gave five or six secondary characters two chapters to be introduced, while explaining their planet was under attack.[return][return]The ending story was a nice way to end the book, with a remembrance for the characters, so rarely thanked for their work.