(No spoilers) Hive by Dan Abnett is an extremely good book. It has a very slow, somewhat indulgent first half that takes great pains to establish the setting, lay out characters and explore the cultural norms of the hive city in which the narrative unfolds. It will be, I think, obtuse at times for some, but the payoff is a second half whose drama and conflict is significantly amplified by the passive information given to you beforehand.
It's a novel written with great precision, to the point I think it's genuinely an accomplishment on Abnett's part. It very precisely sequences events and wields perspectives to play off of the out-of-universe knowledge of the reader, heightening those moments when story beats and events click into place. I don't often get a 40k novel that makes me think oh fuck, but this one managed it more than once.
I've seen some outlets and people suggest Hive is a good starting novel for 40k fans. I disagree with this. I think for some, perhaps, it could be, but the initial pacing and setup will be off-putting for more than a few people. It also, in my opinion, functions far more effectively when you have informed preconceptions about 40k as a setting and a bit of familiarity with Abnett's writing style. There are more suited books for general first-timers.
Nonetheless, it is a very good book. I fully endorse the reading of this book. Indulge the book in indulging itself, and you will be rewarded. To be metaphorical, Hive is watching Abnett lovingly and carefully paint an extremely detailed painting and then, when you politely clap, he pulls out a can of gasoline, matches and a scalpel and asks you if you want to see something interesting.
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