Y’all, I am why I can’t have nice things. Back in 2022 I purchased the Blackstone Fortress: Ascension limited edition because it was gorgeous and because I was absolutely going to finally sit down and read the first book. The LE sequel would FORCE me to sit and read the first one, right? RIGHT? Riiiiiiiiiiight. Much like the Titanic, better late than never, so here I am, two years later, reviewing Darius Hinks’s Blackstone Fortress: Ascension. I’m generally skeptical about direct campaign/quest tie-ins, but Darius Hinks exceeded my expectations. And my obsession with the Blackstone.
Another day, another venture into the Blackstone Fortress for Janus Draik. Things have been rather chaotic since the last go around, and everyone in Draik’s party are trying to forge their path the best they can. With Draik’s father finally cutting him out of the family coffers, he’s forced to make his own way. Fortunately, the Blackstone is full of potential money to be made. Despite no longer being Terran nobility, Draik’s band of friends decide to continue following him: Grekh because his is duty-bound, Audus because Draik is her best chance at freedom, and Isola because she sees a chance to finally be her own person.
Taddeus continues to believe in Draik’s quasi-divinity, and has elevated Corvel into sainthood in the months since his passing. Last book, we really didn’t learn much about Taddeus and Vorne, and this book “fixed” that issue. I was kind of of neutral on Taddeus and Vorne last book, but through Hinks’s crafted arcs, I don’t like what I see. And I don’t think we’re supposed to. They are cautionary tales of zealotry.
Draik and crew are joined by three new characters, Quintus, the mysterious valet with a questionable past, and the rattling brothers, Raus and Rein. All three are linked by the mysterious Archivist who has plans for Precipice, the Blackstone Fortress, and Draik. Sprinkle in a tech priest, some Jokaero, and some traitor guardsmen and you have a fine siege story.
Last book, our characters were united by a common desire to reach a central destination. They had their own reasons, but they were on the same path. Blackstone Fortress: Ascension sees everyone out for their own ends. Initially, they’re all trying to reach the same chamber, but it quickly dissolves as the Blackstone has different plans.
Darius Hinks creates an interesting parallel between the Blackstone and the Imperium. Everyone within the book has their own cross to bear, and their own goals, but they all share a common theme of trying to overcome their personal circumstances. The Blackstone may literally chew up explorers and spit them out, but the Imperium does it just the same. Some chose their own circumstance (Raus and Rein), while others had it forced upon them (Quintus, Audus), but they all choose to be survivors.
Rather than treating this as a group of downtrodden victims, Draik recognizes the people of Precipice as the fierce pioneers that they are. Yes, the Blackstone and Imperium may have tried to kill them, but they’re not taking it laying down. These are the cowboys of the WH40k universe, and they’re delightful for it.
Yet again, the Blackstone Fortress has a need for Janus Draik. The zoat Archivist’s path of destruction of both Precipice and the fortress itself is not in the Blackstone’s best interest. The poor, misguided Chaos cultists are definitely not within the fortress’s plans, and yet again it needs Draik’s ragtag group to expel these ne’er-do-wells.
It’s a shame that yet again, Darius Hinks has created an interesting and compelling villain concept with this book. I say “concept,” because the Emperor (as she calls herself), similar to our previous fallen guardsman, occupies a fascinating form of Imperial belief. Taddeus may have lost the plot of his Imperial faith, but his path has taken him to a self-sanctimonious, fire-and-brimstone style that while not good, is not full-on heresy. In some ways the so-called Emperor is a cautionary tale for Imperial faith bent to Chaos’s whims. It’s disappointing then that she plays such a small role in the overall narrative. Aside from “Chaos is bad, mmmmmkay,” her purpose within the Blackstone Fortress is never effectively used. Again, when you have a murderous construct, and a zoat who is interesting simply by being a ZOAT, a delusional Chaos cultist feels unnecessary.
Especially since, in the end, it appears Taddeus’s prophecy may be true. The Blackstone’s obsession with Draik goes well beyond pest removal, but to what end? IS the Emperor really working through the Blackstone? Is Draik destined to actually control the fortress? I’m maddened that I don’t know, but dying for the next entry to this series.
Blackstone Fortress; Ascension might be my new favorite Darius Hinks book. His managed to fulfill the sequel promise of bigger, and better. Draik’s cast of rogues are fun as hell, the Blackstone remains as mysterious as ever, and it felt like an effective tie-in to the game. The book ends on a helluva cliffhanger, and I DO have questions about the fate of some characters, but the ride is no less fun for them.
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