Book Review: Path of the Outcast by Gav Thorpe
It is time to finish the trilogy of The Path. We have had a fantastic adventure so far, and I hope we can finish strong with this series. Let's start with the commercial description:
Aradryan has chosen to leave his sheltered life on Craftworld Alaitoc and walk the Path of the Outcast, seeking the myriad pleasures and threats the wider galaxy offers. Still unfulfilled as a ranger, he is lured into the life of a star pirate, bringing him into conflict with the Imperium of Man. A chain of events is set in motion that could have catastrophic consequences for Alaitoc, forcing Aradryan to take drastic action if his old home is to survive.
Product details
Publisher: Black Library (Nov. 15 2016)
Print length: 290 pages
Where to begin? Maybe a recap will help. The trilogy follows three friends, with each book following their paths and how they are all intertwined in one another lives. Korlandril - Path of the Warrior. Thirriana - Path of the Seer and Aradryan - Path of the Outcast. In the first two stories, we watch as the two leads both become trapped on their unique paths and how the actions of the three friends lead to the eyes of the Imperium turning to watch the Craftworld.
But back to the novel. Aradryan, unlike his friends, hates the structure of the Path, he hates his home and through his life choices becomes an Outcast. This was a significant part of the novel as we explored all versions of the Aeldari, be it Exodites, Drukari, Harlequins and Corsairs. During this period, Aradryan rose through the ranks of the Corsair band to become a pirate prince. This phase of Aradryan's life proves his undoing, and he gains the attention of Commander De'Vaque.
Commander De'Vaque turns out to be a crucial military member of the Imperium and declares war on Alaitoc. He raises a massive force about him, including the Space Marine chapter: Sons of Orcar. The ending battle is pretty epic and ties up all the loose ends of the previous books. I feel bad to be finally leaving this series behind, I have enjoyed it so much that to finish it feels like an end of an era.
The ultimate goal of these books is to teach us the trap of hubris; all three characters, thinking they knew best, caused the death of untold hundreds of Eldar. Eldar that can now never find peace. Just like the other two books, this was hugely enjoyable. The Aeldari race is fascinating, and Gav Thorpe is the ultimate writer for Eldar stories I can't wait for more books by him to come out.
