Last Legion - Conquest (German edition)

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at first: *another* ‘elite soldiers vs. the universe’ story? But *Last Legion – Conquest* disarmed me in the first chapter by making its legionnaires feel like actual *people*—flawed, superstitious, and terrifyingly competent. Thariot’s real trick is weaving Norse mythology into the sci-fi fabric without it feeling like a gimmick. When Roux carves a rune into his rifle mid-firefight, it’s not just ‘cool worldbuilding’; it’s a desperate prayer from a man who knows the gods are listening (and probably laughing). Gössler’s performance is *almost* flawless. His rough-edged baritone sells the legion’s hardened camaraderie, and he nails the dry humor that keeps the story from drowning in its own grimdark. My only gripe? The female characters occasionally slip into a slightly too-breathy register, which clashes with the otherwise grounded tone. Pacing-wise, the middle act drags during a protracted siege—Thariot’s tactical details are immersive, but even I (a glutton for military sci-fi) found myself fast-forwarding through a 20-minute ammunition inventory. Still, the payoff—a climax that blends zero-G combat with a literal ride to Valhalla—is worth the slog. If you love your sci-fi with mythic weight and narrators who sound like they’ve seen things *no one* should, this is your next listen.