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asoutter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
4.0
lozymandias's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
itcamefromthepage's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
IT feels weird to have reached the final short story collection in The Horus Heresy series, this one is quite entertaining with some great character wrap-ups, and the stage is set for the final arc of the series.
Will miss these.
Will miss these.
thepattyshack's review
5.0
It's weird how many hours I think I could spend listening to Malkador and the big E play a board game.
Once again, such great short stories that pad out and humanise the post human or cover the darkness over the imperium
Once again, such great short stories that pad out and humanise the post human or cover the darkness over the imperium
drwilko's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Heralds of the Siege is a tie-in anthology in the Warhammer 40K universe and part of a huge body of collaborative work (novels, short stories, game lore) published in association with the tabletop game by Games Workshop. Released 31st March 2020 by Games Workshop as part of the Black Library, it's 432 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's unclear from the publishing info available online, but the eARC I received has a handy interactive table of contents. I hope the ebook release version does also. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Presumably that feature will carry through to the final release version.
The quality of the stories is very high. They are well written, varied, and well curated. Of the 16 included works, only a few were from authors familiar to me. The book also includes extra lore material and background/world building history. This is a -gloriously- niche book and although some of the stories will probably bewilder non-40k-gamers, there are a number which are surprisingly accessible to readers unfamiliar with the fandom and world.
I've always had a particular fondness for collections/anthologies because short fiction is spare and technically challenging, so you get a better feel for an author's expertise with the form. Short fiction is less of a time commitment as well, so if one story is not working for you, there's another piece readily available in a few pages. Short fiction anthologies are also a rich source for finding new authors so you can search out their other works.
I really found a lot to love here and although it made me wistfully nostalgic for my hopefully temporarily vanished tabletop group (covid-19 and all), I liked being able to fill in a *LOT* of detail from the lore.
Four stars. Strong stories, generally strong writing, and good background lore.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Heralds of the Siege is a tie-in anthology in the Warhammer 40K universe and part of a huge body of collaborative work (novels, short stories, game lore) published in association with the tabletop game by Games Workshop. Released 31st March 2020 by Games Workshop as part of the Black Library, it's 432 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's unclear from the publishing info available online, but the eARC I received has a handy interactive table of contents. I hope the ebook release version does also. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Presumably that feature will carry through to the final release version.
The quality of the stories is very high. They are well written, varied, and well curated. Of the 16 included works, only a few were from authors familiar to me. The book also includes extra lore material and background/world building history. This is a -gloriously- niche book and although some of the stories will probably bewilder non-40k-gamers, there are a number which are surprisingly accessible to readers unfamiliar with the fandom and world.
I've always had a particular fondness for collections/anthologies because short fiction is spare and technically challenging, so you get a better feel for an author's expertise with the form. Short fiction is less of a time commitment as well, so if one story is not working for you, there's another piece readily available in a few pages. Short fiction anthologies are also a rich source for finding new authors so you can search out their other works.
I really found a lot to love here and although it made me wistfully nostalgic for my hopefully temporarily vanished tabletop group (covid-19 and all), I liked being able to fill in a *LOT* of detail from the lore.
Four stars. Strong stories, generally strong writing, and good background lore.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
gabe_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, my favourite 40k anthology by a long shot. It was all pretty tightly framed around the approach to Terra and really built up the tension for Horus' arrival. I also liked the contrast between the loyalists, who are in a race against time and trying to hold back the tide; and about the traitors who are dealing with the slow but inevitable slide into Chaos. Mean score was 3.6/5, but I also think it worked very well as a whole.
Myriad - Rob Sanders 4/5
About a rebel group on Mars, who recover the Tabular Myriad, an AI who can purge the corruption of chaos and wants to take over Mars. I like seeing snapshots of what's happening beyond the big battles. Also fits with Cybernetica nicely.
The Grey Raven - Gav Thorpe 5/5
One of the best Knights Errant stories. About a Raven Guard who's been sent to Terra by Corax to ask Malcador if the Nikkean verdict stands. When he arrives on an Imperial Fist's ship, the Custodes aboard tries to kill him. It turned out to be a test to see if he was worthy to be recruited by Malcador. One of my favourite portrayals of the Fists and Custodes. Characters felt realistic and the confusion was logical.
Valerius - Gav Thorpe 2/5
About Loyalists holding back a rebel attack at Beta-Garmon. I wasn't hugely sure what was going on. The POV seemed to switch between army and raven guard, and I wasn't sure who was doing what. The
Ember Wolves - Rob Sanders 4/5
About a pack of chaos warhound titans taking on a much larger loyalist warmonger titan. I liked the fight between titans, though it seemed very short. And I'm surprised the warmonger had no targeting missiles or anything that it could use while pinned. I liked the conclusion though, and the issues with chaos and the pride and power of the war machines.
Blackshield - Chris Wraight 4/5
About two groups of loyalist Death Guard who fight almost to the death without knowing who the others are. The last of the smaller group ends up dying because the other group contains a psyker, who he tries to kill. I like the ideas of stubborn commitment and zeal. Also hints to more.
Children of Sicarus - Anthony Reynolds 3/5
About Kor Pharon and some word bearers arriving on a world. A prophecy told of Pharon sacrificing himself to save the world and reunite his men with Lorgar. He ignores this because he's a selfish git. One of the better looks at an actual chaos world I've seen, especially in a short story.
Exocytosis - James Swallow 3/5
About Lord Typhus learning to accept what he is as a vessel for Nurgle. Also had stuff about the Fallen Dark Angels, which was interesting. Not a huge amount of consequence but set some things up for The Buried Dagger.
The Painted Count - Guy Haley 3/5
About a Night Lord called Skraivok who was contending for command of a section of the legion, and a funky sword that was following him around. I quite liked it, fun characters and some of that slow sliding towards chaos.
Last Son of Prospero - Chris Wraight 5/5 The satisfying conclusion to Revuel Arivda's story. Had Malcador trying to turn him into a host for Magnus. The Kharn interrupts. It fails and Jaghatai prevents Malcador from killing Arivda, who reveals himself to now be Janus. Great characters and lore, interesting story.
The Severed Soul - Chris Wraight 2/5
About some infighting between the Emperor's Children on a toxic world. Wasn't anything special for me though.
Dark Compliance - John French 3/5
Horus completely dominates a battle against a loyal Mechanicum world. However it would still take months to take the world fully, so he unleashes a daemon plauge on it instead. This story is then used to convince others to join his caused. I liked the perspectives of Horus and the Mechanicum commander.
Duty Waits - Guy Haley 4/5
About how grating the long calm before the storm is on the Imperial Fists and Terra. Also looks at the beuracracies and scale of the defences. Quite a good look at the impact of the mundane. Less exciting but pretty interesting.
Magisterium - Chris Wraight 3/5
About the Custodes, particularly Valdor. How they suffered and are repairing themselves after the war in the webway, and what they think of the primarchs and legions. Interesting stuff, but a lot was quite abstract.
Now Peals Midnight - John French 3/5
Has Dorn and the palace wait as seemingly the forces of the Warmaster actually approach Terra. They detect a shadow in the warp signalling the oncoming tide. A good build up.
Dreams of Unity - Nick Kyme 5/5
About Thunder Warriors trying to carve out a living long after they've been discarded by the Imperium and long afte they were meant to last. Also has a Custodes hunting a chaos creature. Really touching and sad, I really felt for the Thunder Warriors.
The Board is Set - Gav Thorpe 5/5
Malcador and the Emperor play a game of Regicide that is the Horus Heresy. Really interesting look at the two characters and how they see the world. I thought the stuff about Malcador, what he thinks and feels, was great. Big E is always a bit too inscrutable to be a good character for me, but was definitely interesting, especially through the eyes of his closest companion.
Myriad - Rob Sanders 4/5
About a rebel group on Mars, who recover the Tabular Myriad, an AI who can purge the corruption of chaos and wants to take over Mars. I like seeing snapshots of what's happening beyond the big battles. Also fits with Cybernetica nicely.
The Grey Raven - Gav Thorpe 5/5
One of the best Knights Errant stories. About a Raven Guard who's been sent to Terra by Corax to ask Malcador if the Nikkean verdict stands. When he arrives on an Imperial Fist's ship, the Custodes aboard tries to kill him. It turned out to be a test to see if he was worthy to be recruited by Malcador. One of my favourite portrayals of the Fists and Custodes. Characters felt realistic and the confusion was logical.
Valerius - Gav Thorpe 2/5
About Loyalists holding back a rebel attack at Beta-Garmon. I wasn't hugely sure what was going on. The POV seemed to switch between army and raven guard, and I wasn't sure who was doing what. The
Ember Wolves - Rob Sanders 4/5
About a pack of chaos warhound titans taking on a much larger loyalist warmonger titan. I liked the fight between titans, though it seemed very short. And I'm surprised the warmonger had no targeting missiles or anything that it could use while pinned. I liked the conclusion though, and the issues with chaos and the pride and power of the war machines.
Blackshield - Chris Wraight 4/5
Children of Sicarus - Anthony Reynolds 3/5
About Kor Pharon and some word bearers arriving on a world. A prophecy told of Pharon sacrificing himself to save the world and reunite his men with Lorgar. He ignores this because he's a selfish git. One of the better looks at an actual chaos world I've seen, especially in a short story.
Exocytosis - James Swallow 3/5
About Lord Typhus learning to accept what he is as a vessel for Nurgle. Also had stuff about the Fallen Dark Angels, which was interesting. Not a huge amount of consequence but set some things up for The Buried Dagger.
The Painted Count - Guy Haley 3/5
About a Night Lord called Skraivok who was contending for command of a section of the legion, and a funky sword that was following him around. I quite liked it, fun characters and some of that slow sliding towards chaos.
Last Son of Prospero - Chris Wraight 5/5 The satisfying conclusion to Revuel Arivda's story. Had Malcador trying to turn him into a host for Magnus. The Kharn interrupts. It fails and Jaghatai prevents Malcador from killing Arivda, who reveals himself to now be Janus. Great characters and lore, interesting story.
The Severed Soul - Chris Wraight 2/5
About some infighting between the Emperor's Children on a toxic world. Wasn't anything special for me though.
Dark Compliance - John French 3/5
Horus completely dominates a battle against a loyal Mechanicum world. However it would still take months to take the world fully, so he unleashes a daemon plauge on it instead. This story is then used to convince others to join his caused. I liked the perspectives of Horus and the Mechanicum commander.
Duty Waits - Guy Haley 4/5
About how grating the long calm before the storm is on the Imperial Fists and Terra. Also looks at the beuracracies and scale of the defences. Quite a good look at the impact of the mundane. Less exciting but pretty interesting.
Magisterium - Chris Wraight 3/5
About the Custodes, particularly Valdor. How they suffered and are repairing themselves after the war in the webway, and what they think of the primarchs and legions. Interesting stuff, but a lot was quite abstract.
Now Peals Midnight - John French 3/5
Has Dorn and the palace wait as seemingly the forces of the Warmaster actually approach Terra. They detect a shadow in the warp signalling the oncoming tide. A good build up.
Dreams of Unity - Nick Kyme 5/5
About Thunder Warriors trying to carve out a living long after they've been discarded by the Imperium and long afte they were meant to last. Also has a Custodes hunting a chaos creature. Really touching and sad, I really felt for the Thunder Warriors.
The Board is Set - Gav Thorpe 5/5
Malcador and the Emperor play a game of Regicide that is the Horus Heresy. Really interesting look at the two characters and how they see the world. I thought the stuff about Malcador, what he thinks and feels, was great. Big E is always a bit too inscrutable to be a good character for me, but was definitely interesting, especially through the eyes of his closest companion.
yrrah's review against another edition
4.0
Myriad 3/5
Grey raven 3/5
Ember wolves 3/5
Blackshield 4/5
Children of Sicarus 4/5
Exocytosis 4/5
The painted count 4/5
The last son of prospero 5/5
The Soul, Severed 4/5
Dark Compliance 4/5
Duty waits 4/5
Magisterium 4/5
Now Peals midnight 4/5
Dreams of unity 4/5
The Board is Set 5/5
Grey raven 3/5
Ember wolves 3/5
Blackshield 4/5
Children of Sicarus 4/5
Exocytosis 4/5
The painted count 4/5
The last son of prospero 5/5
The Soul, Severed 4/5
Dark Compliance 4/5
Duty waits 4/5
Magisterium 4/5
Now Peals midnight 4/5
Dreams of unity 4/5
The Board is Set 5/5
jgcully's review
5.0
This book does exactly what it says on the tin, for the stories truly are heralds of the final epic siege of Terra. So many story threads are brought together, on both the loyalist and traitor side. Anyone following the series, particularly from the very beginning, will be very pleased. Well worth the read.
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