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thepattyshack's review against another edition
4.0
Great returning Characters, great pre-ludes to major novels, and great filler points.
Just all round good example of why anthology books are great appetite cleansers between the heavy stuff.
Just all round good example of why anthology books are great appetite cleansers between the heavy stuff.
itcamefromthepage's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A great and varied short story collection with the three ending stories presenting some essential answers to unresolved plot points in prior novels.
drwilko's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
gabe_reads's review against another edition
3.75
The Thirteenth Wolf - Gav Thorpe 1/5
This is affected by the fact that I just don't like the space wolves. I find their constant referencing to the allfather and the way they speak dumb. The story also just didn't do anything for me. I didn't know any of the characters, which may have made it better. But it didn't really add anything to the universe.
Into Exile - Aaron Demski-Bowden 4/5
Really enjoyed it. The moving back in time was creative and well-executed. It also quickly gave a sense of what the characters are actually like as people, which was good.
Cybernetica - Rob Sanders 5/5
A really, really good book. Introduced it's characters well, made me care a lot about them. I enjoyed learning more about the Mechanicum and Mars and the heresy. I also loved the bits with Malcador, Dorn and Kebor Hal, any insight into them is fun. I thought the story was fun, I quite liked the simple structure and quest format thing.
Ordo Sinister - John French 3/5
Very cool to hear more about one of my favourite groups. Felt kinda underwhelming though. Seemingly the titan sacrifices itself? Which seems wasteful. And I didn't care about how much time was dedicated to how he controlled it. I did like the main character though.
The heart of the Pharos - L J Goulding 4/5
I enjoyed this a lot. Gave some good hints at the tyrannids being signaled and the Pharos still remained spookily unknowable. I liked seeing bits of characters I already knew as well.
Wolf King - Chris Wraight 5/5
Wraight only went and made me like the Wolves. I really enjoyed this. I thought the Wolfy stuff was slightly toned down and felt more natural and organic. I really liked the perspective on Russ and how much he struggled with being on the run through the blood well, the conflict with the Alpha legion, what happened on Prospero, and the Heresy in general. The way his legion struggles is also a good reflection of that. A lot of them having to face their own limitations. I also liked the presence of the Dark Angels, particularly their spy. I didn't get why Bjorn is so important, but then I guess no one else does either.
The Binary Succession - David Annandale 5/5
A great story about the formation of the Adeptus Mechanicus. I really enjoyed the new characters, I thought the conflict was important and well done. I liked the glimpse at the council of Terra and how politics is done in the Imperium. It also expanded on what's going on with Mars, which I've always wondered.
Perpetual - Dan Abnett 4/5
Nice to see what Ollanius Pius is up to these days, hopping through time and space towards Terra. I liked learning more about him, thought the characters with him were done well, and liked the little conflict with John. Didn't have as much about being a perpetual as I'd thought though.
This is affected by the fact that I just don't like the space wolves. I find their constant referencing to the allfather and the way they speak dumb. The story also just didn't do anything for me. I didn't know any of the characters, which may have made it better. But it didn't really add anything to the universe.
Into Exile - Aaron Demski-Bowden 4/5
Really enjoyed it. The moving back in time was creative and well-executed. It also quickly gave a sense of what the characters are actually like as people, which was good.
Cybernetica - Rob Sanders 5/5
A really, really good book. Introduced it's characters well, made me care a lot about them. I enjoyed learning more about the Mechanicum and Mars and the heresy. I also loved the bits with Malcador, Dorn and Kebor Hal, any insight into them is fun. I thought the story was fun, I quite liked the simple structure and quest format thing.
Ordo Sinister - John French 3/5
Very cool to hear more about one of my favourite groups. Felt kinda underwhelming though. Seemingly the titan sacrifices itself? Which seems wasteful. And I didn't care about how much time was dedicated to how he controlled it. I did like the main character though.
The heart of the Pharos - L J Goulding 4/5
I enjoyed this a lot. Gave some good hints at the tyrannids being signaled and the Pharos still remained spookily unknowable. I liked seeing bits of characters I already knew as well.
Wolf King - Chris Wraight 5/5
Wraight only went and made me like the Wolves. I really enjoyed this. I thought the Wolfy stuff was slightly toned down and felt more natural and organic. I really liked the perspective on Russ and how much he struggled with being on the run through the blood well, the conflict with the Alpha legion, what happened on Prospero, and the Heresy in general. The way his legion struggles is also a good reflection of that. A lot of them having to face their own limitations. I also liked the presence of the Dark Angels, particularly their spy. I didn't get why Bjorn is so important, but then I guess no one else does either.
The Binary Succession - David Annandale 5/5
A great story about the formation of the Adeptus Mechanicus. I really enjoyed the new characters, I thought the conflict was important and well done. I liked the glimpse at the council of Terra and how politics is done in the Imperium. It also expanded on what's going on with Mars, which I've always wondered.
Perpetual - Dan Abnett 4/5
Nice to see what Ollanius Pius is up to these days, hopping through time and space towards Terra. I liked learning more about him, thought the characters with him were done well, and liked the little conflict with John. Didn't have as much about being a perpetual as I'd thought though.
yrrah's review against another edition
4.0
Perpetual by Dan Abnett - 4/5
The Binary Succession by David Annandale - 5/5
Into Exile by Aaron Dembski-Bowden - 5/5
Ordo Sinister by John French - 3/5
The Heart of the Pharos by L J Goulding - 4/5
Cybernetica by Rob Sanders - 4/5
The Thirteenth Wolf by Gav Thorpe -2/5
The Wolf King by Chris Wraight - 4/5
The Binary Succession by David Annandale - 5/5
Into Exile by Aaron Dembski-Bowden - 5/5
Ordo Sinister by John French - 3/5
The Heart of the Pharos by L J Goulding - 4/5
Cybernetica by Rob Sanders - 4/5
The Thirteenth Wolf by Gav Thorpe -2/5
The Wolf King by Chris Wraight - 4/5
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