Vaults of Terra 2: The Hollow Mountain

[Marshal Vespasian]

Out now.

 

Just started it on audible. Who's with me?

[DarkChaplain]

Negative. I spent my credits on Kim Newman's Genevieve audiobooks and the long-awaited next Michael J. Sullivan novel, so this time I'll be late to the Vaults of Terra. Summer really is overcrowded with exciting releases.

 

I wonder if or how it sets the stage for The Emperor's Legion, seeing how this is very close to the events of that novel, with the rift close to opening.

[Marshal Vespasian]

Havent gotten much listening done because people on my train are incredibly loud.

 

 

But: The book starts with cowl et al doing an after Action report on book one and planning how to continue their Investition. So I can see cooperation with the custodes coming down the line.

[Marshal Vespasian]

Havent gotten much listening done because people on my train are incredibly loud.

 

Spoiler for the setup of chapter one:

 

 

The book starts with cowl et al doing an after Action report on book one and planning how to continue their Investition. So I can see cooperation with the custodes coming down the line.

 

 

Edit well someone can kill this double Post. Sorry Im on a train with horrible mobile connection.

Edited July 20, 2019 by Marshal Vespasian

[Knockagh]

I’m not buying this as a limited ed is likely to appear at some stage, if not I will paperback it. Maddeningly as I have a mighty itch to read this. So I’m stearing clear of this tread.... or try to anyway

[Xisor]

Read it a few weeks back (BLL!), and I thought it was incredible.

 

But then my tastes have led people (certainly not me!) astray before.

 

Yes, a very good book indeed.

[b1soul]

Anyone care to share some spoilers of the overall plot? Last time they foiled an Inquisitorial conspiracy to have a Dark Eldar tinker with the Golden Throne. What's the gig this time? 

[Morovir]

It's basically a follow-up to the previous book. While the Dark Eldar were technically stopped, the conspiracy is still very much alive, and this book is essentially focussed on Crowl trying to find the parties in the High Lords responsible, with investigations into the hearts of power of the Chartist Fleets, the Adeptus Astra Telepathica and the Adeptus Arbites.

 

While the Speaker of the Chartist Captains and the Fabricator General were obviously two of the three High Lords involved in the conspiracy, the last is revealed to be the Master of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica.

 

As the investigations take place, Courvain is attacked by unknown forces who have been mind-wiped. Overwhelmed, they are forced to seal off the upper levels and enact what is referred to as the Corvus Protocol

 

which essentially floods the lower levels with poison gas, and though this kills all of the attackers, it also kills one-third of those who served Crowl who were not able to be evacuated in time.

Crowl, who as absent at the time, is furious that this occurred.

 

The climax of the book occurs in the eponymous Hollow Mountain, a stronghold of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, where

 

because of the extremely high concentration of psychic energies permeating the structure, the opening of the Cicatrix Maledictum has corrupted or driven insane the vast majority of the occupants. Crowl confronts the Master in the heart of the Mountain, who reveals that despite the setback, a delegation been sent to an unknown location. During the fighting, the Beacon is destroyed, causing the blackout of the Astronomican.

 

The power of the Emperor has not been enough to power the Astronomican for ages at this point, with the Hollow Mountain essentially becoming a greater and greater psionic amplifier for the Throne to continue having the same effect as the Emperor used to have by himself during the Great Crusade.

 

There are no Custodians in the book.

 

 

This is a basic rundown of the events of the book, though there are some parts that I have most likely missed out.

Edited July 20, 2019 by Morovir

[Xisor]

Anyone care to share some spoilers of the overall plot? Last time they foiled an Inquisitorial conspiracy to have a Dark Eldar tinker with the Golden Throne. What's the gig this time?

Use them.

Edited July 20, 2019 by Xisor

[b1soul]

Didn't Guilliman say the Emperor's psychic might is actually feels greater now?

[Moonreaper666]

Didn't Guilliman say the Emperor's psychic might is actually feels greater now?

But the strain of maintaining the Golden Throne has also increased throughout the millenia and it is outpacing his power growth

[SkimaskMohawk]

Slight correction:

 

it's the master of the astronomicon, not telepathica and all that entails.

 

I find I liked the first one more. The character work, investigation, and atmosphere of decaying terra were superior imo. The setting and events lend themselves better to his Watchers of the Throne series instead of Vaults of Terra. It really read as a book in a part of a series too, with multiple characters having arcs that need to be resolved next book: Carrion Throne was a very satisfying self contained book.

 

Also, I'd have liked more insight into rassilo's decision

she's an inquisitor lord backing a move made by three High Lords, but didn't want to go through it and argued against it. But it's not like she was forced into it by Arx; she wasn't one of the conspirators, so why did Rassilo accommodate the plan? It's hard to imagine there was leverage against her, as Quantrain was her public facade in the palace. It's hard to imagine an inquisitor lord so good at subterfuge that they made a fake identity that gained even more acclaim than them, being blackmailed or forced into a decision.

Edited July 20, 2019 by SkimaskMohawk

[caladancid]

I find I liked the first one more. The character work, investigation, and atmosphere of decaying terra were superior imo. The setting and events lend themselves better to his Watchers of the Throne series instead of Vaults of Terra. It really read as a book in a part of a series too, with multiple characters having arcs that need to be resolved next book: Carrion Throne was a very satisfying self contained book.

 

 

Disappointingly, I feel the same about liking the first one more.  This one did not have the same level of feeling to it.  I realize that isn't all that clear, but it is the best I can do.  

 

I am thinking maybe this novel suffers from being the middle novel in an obvious trilogy.  Honestly if any other author had written this I would say it was their best work, but I have come to expect brilliance from Chris Wraight and this isn't that, its just good.

[Hasoroth]

I got a little bit of a shiver with the revelation that the heretical text Crowl took was the Book of Revelations

[Marshal Rohr]

I got a little bit of a shiver with the revelation that the heretical text Crowl took was the Book of Revelations

I frigging love that.

[SkimaskMohawk]

I'm non religious, so it went right over my head lol.

 

My shiver was when he dropped his signature line of "say nothing, listen with utmost care" close to the end.

[DukeLeto69]

I am still looking forward to this but sad to hear a couple of brothers saying not as good as first one :-(

[SkimaskMohawk]

The machinery is clearly failing. The Golden throne; the hollow mountain, it's all breaking down as it's all been adapted away from its intended purposes and used for a different one after 10000 years. Doesn't matter how strong the emperor is if hes essentially just a battery inserted into a cobbled together adapter.

[DukeLeto69]

Finished this the other day. Wow what a book. IMO it WAS as good as the first. In fact for me it might have been even better. I really loved the lore and insights into the workings of different imperial institutions.

 

Obviously it was the middle / second act in a trilogy so finishes on cliff hanger and not a complete self contained book - but knowing it is a trilogy makes that fine.

 

The Vaults of Terra books are shaping up to be one of my favourite BL series.

Edited August 10, 2019 by DukeLeto69

[Taliesin]

Have decided to pick this up. The whole delving into institutions like Adeptus Telepathica and Adeptus Arbites, Astronomican as well as Dark Eldar and other factions involved almost can't go wrong.

[Apothecary Vaddon]

Loved this, as much as the first one. Going to definitely go against what other peeps were saying earlier - its very much a different novel to the first one. The first is more or less self-contained but does end with an obvious, if not critical, hook into the second. But the Vaults of Terra, in conjunction with the Watchers of the Throne, series are shaping up to be foundational works about Rift/Post-Rift Imperium and how things change. In the first, the themes were heavily centered around the decay of Terra. The second is less so, imo, delving deeply into how the Rift affected the world, and the scenarios and situations that led to it. And shows us, I believe, in no uncertain terms that had rote ritual and blind tradition continued as it had for 10,000  years, there would have been no Imperium post GS. As Francks rightly says; "A new alignment is coming, Inquisitor. A new age. We must expect birth pangs." VoT with WotT seem to me to thematically be that statement, but from the perspective of several critically key organizations.

 

You definitely couldn't, imo, pick this up without really having read the first one, and really appreciate it much, but not every novel has to be like that. 

 

Besides that, the look into the hidden masters of the Chartist Captains and trade in the Imperium, seeing the Arbites however briefly in action, and all the character moments we got with Spinoza, Khazad, and Revus really shined and made them grow in my eyes, shining even more light and informing on their motivations and desires. Bonus Imperial Fists, too, which was great. Can't wait to see where this ends, as it'll probably inform us on more details of the setting that people have long wondered about. As always, Wraight's descriptive powers are as vaunted as ever and I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the setting and where all of the characters went.

 

Also, don't think that a significant part of the novel wouldn't be out of place in the WH Horror line. I don't really get creeps or anything from literature, never really have, but the theme of the Hollow Mountain incursion definitely fit, as did the Nexus Axiomatic bits.

 

Just an incredible book all around.

Edited August 14, 2019 by Apothecary Vaddon

[Taliesin]

How much are the Dark Eldar involved in this one, and how much in the first one?

Is it multiple characters?

[Sete]

Dark eldar shadow is looming around the story, but no direct involvement per se.

It was a great book, and a good follow up to the previous one. Glad I bought it.

Edited August 14, 2019 by Sete

[Taliesin]

So they don't actually appear in book 2? Because I recall there was actual Dark Eldar in book 1.

Edited August 14, 2019 by Taliesin

[SkimaskMohawk]

Yea, they kill the only dark eldar on terra in book 1. No reason for there to be any more showing up in book 2.