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A review by gabe_reads
Heralds of the Siege by Nick Kyme, L.J. Goulding
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.