A solid return to the brisk action, pure tension, and hilarious backstory comedy of the reluctant hero, Ciaphas Cain, as Cain and his band of protagonists set out to wipe out a band of orks invading a desired planet and sector of the galaxy and discover a much larger and more dangerous foe has set up residence (tyranids!!). This is the book that Cain's Last Stand wanted to be, and I really enjoyed the author's stepping up and slamming the story in a format that was easy to read and exciting as well. Cain as a main character has never been better than in this story, and I dare say this may have been the best of the Cain books to date, excepting the first, which had a powerful effect on this reader. ( )