Tag Archives: Warhammer 40k

QUICK REVIEW : None More Loyal – Mike Lee

Released on day fourteen of the 2014 Black Library Advent Calendar.

A standalone story, but also the prequel to the novel Legacy of Dorn, Mike Lee’s Crimson Fists short story None More Loyal follows Veteran Sergeant Galleas and his squad as they respond to an Inquisitorial request for aid and lay a trap for an infamous enemy of their chapter. Galleas prepares as well as he can for the coming conflict and the opportunity to exact revenge in the name of lost brothers, but as ever with the Inquisition, things are not quite what they seem.

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QUICK REVIEW : The Word of the Silent King – LJ Goulding

On the thirteenth day of Christmas, Black Library gave to us…a Shield of Baal short story by L J Goulding. In preparation for events taking place within the Shield of Baal campaign, The Word of the Silent King looks back to an unusual moment in the history of the Blood Angels. As Dante and Tycho lead them in battle against the necrons on Gehenna, a tyranid splinter fleet threatens both forces and leads to an unlikely alliance. Seen through eyes on both sides of the alliance this looks at some of the justifications each had for forming the alliance, and some of its implications.

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Ahriman: Sorcerer – John French

John French’s Ahriman series continues with the second novel, Ahriman: Sorcerer, in which the exiled Thousand Son sorcerer is still searching for knowledge, looking for a way to save his legion and repair the mistakes he has made in the past. Now firmly on this path after the events of Ahriman: Exile, he has gathered a vast warband to his banner as he seeks the Athenaeum of Kalimakus, a record made by Magnus the Red’s personal remembrancer, hoping to find a clue to where his rubric went wrong. A range of foes bar his path or dog his heels, from the Inquisition and the Grey Knights to a tireless pack of Space Wolves, not to mention his own treacherous allies.

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QUICK REVIEW : Brethren – Phil Kelly

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Black Library gave to us…a Space Marine Battles audio short by Phil Kelly. Brethren looks back to an early conflict between the Imperium and the Tau Empire and offers a comparison of sorts between the two. As the Ultramarines descend upon the world of Vespertine and battle the tau, sergeants Numitor and Sicarius lead their assault squads in vicious close-quarters fighting against the disciplined and technologically advanced xenos.

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QUICK REVIEW : Last Step Backwards – Justin D. Hill

On the eleventh day of Christmas Black Library gave to us…an Imperial Guard short story by Justin D. Hill. Set on the barren desert world of Besana, Last Step Backwards is a story of the Cadian Shock Troops, and the iconic Ursarkar E. Creed. With their armies retreating against the forces of the Archenemy, a vital route to the heart of the Imperial defences is defended by Cadian Whiteshields, cadet soldiers ill-suited to such a task. The situation looks bleak until the arrival of Creed.

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QUICK REVIEW : A Son’s Burden – Andy Smillie

On the ninth day of Christmas Black Library gave to us…a Flesh Tearers short story by Andy Smillie. A Son’s Burden follows Captain Temel as he leads a force of Scouts on a mission behind the Archenemy lines, while Chapter Master Seth and his closest advisors wait impatiently to attack. Outmatched by the Traitor marines they face, the Scouts are forced to rely on stealth instead of brute force, duty to the mission and to their brothers overriding their desire for blood.

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QUICK REVIEW : Blood Angels Short Stories – Black Library Advent Calendar 2014

On the eighth day of Christmas Black Library gave to us…no less than six Blood Angels short stories. With contributions from veteran authors (Dan Abnett and James Swallow), well-established names (Chris Wraight and David Annandale) and relative newcomers (Ray Harrison and Mark Clapham), between them these six 1000-or-so word stories illustrate various facets of this noble but flawed chapter, only really scratching the surface but hinting at what lies beneath.

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QUICK REVIEW : Enyalius, In Memoriam – Josh Reynolds

On the seventh day of Christmas, Black Library gave to us…a World Eaters short story by Josh Reynolds. Enyalius, in Memoriam follows the World Eater Marakitedes as he leads what’s left of his brothers in battle against the Ultramarines, in order to honour their fallen captain, the titular Enyalius. As they fight their way across the hull of the Ultramarines’ ship Marakitedes recalls what brought them there and considers what the future holds for him and his brothers, all the while taking skulls on behalf of Enyalius.

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QUICK REVIEW – Yarrick : Concordat – David Annandale

On the fifth day of Christmas Black Library gave to us…a Commissar Yarrick short story by David Annandale. Picking up threads from elsewhere in this growing series, Concordat sees still-young Yarrick on the hive world of Aighe Mortis, participating in a recruitment drive to replenish depleted Mortisian regiments. As some familiar faces unexpectedly appear and he’s forced into conflict with the Inquisition, he has to draw upon every weapon at his disposal to survive.

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QUICK REVIEW – Shield of Baal : Wraithflight – Guy Haley

On the fourth day of Christmas Black Library gave to us…a Shield of Baal short story by Guy Haley. Sitting within the wider Shield of Baal series but also tying in with Haley’s own novel Valedor, Wraithflight sees the eldar of Iyanden come to the aid of an embattled Imperial world against the might of Hive Fleet Leviathan. Spiritseer Iyanna leads a void attack, using the wrathful dead of the craftworld to combat the hive mind’s control over its fleet, but it remains to be seen exactly what the eldar are hoping to achieve with their intervention.

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