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[Felix Antipodes]

I was also excited when I read that The Guns of Enth would feature the Howling Griffins, it was pretty obvious in the end that they were only there to play the adversarial role and not Wilt’s main focus within the story.  I came away feeling the Chapter were short changed within their own story.  And this from someone who enjoys his stories overall.

[darkhorse0607]

Audible put both Spear of Ultramar and Dreadwing up this morning for those waiting. No sign of Dropsite Massacre, but Amazon doesn't list the hardback as releasing in the US until November 18th, and there's no listing of the audio version on BL's website (even though in theory it should have the same release as the other two, which are already up) so who knows what's going on with that

[wecanhaveallthree]

I highly recommend both of those stories, but if I had to pick, it'd be Spear of Ultramar. The deployment of the Destroyers, Guilliman getting the what-price-victory treatment, the Iron Warriors showing why they were the Heresy MVPs. Stopping a Primarch and his vengeance fleet with a single depleted Grand Company is Iron Within-tier, and the way they do it - not because they actually give a damn about Horus or Perturabo, not because they're big jerks and just like being jerks, but because they're Space Marines and they're made to fight and win is just beautiful. There really weren't enough 'standard' engagements between the Traitors and Loyalists, and Spear gives us them in spades: two highly skilled and intelligent forces facing off.

 

Dreadwing does have Farith 'Oh no, he's hot!' Redloss, though...

[DarkChaplain]

Spear of Ultramar also works as an extension of the Guilliman Primarchs novel, with the Destroyer theme and characters.

[Alpharius902]

On the topic of Dropsite Massacre, the dramatis personae was recently posted:

Spoiler

THE PRIMARCHS

• Fulgrim - The Phoenician
• Rogal Dorn - Praetorian of Terra
• Horus - The Warmaster
• Angron - The Red Angel
• Mortarion - The Reaper
• Corvus Corax - The Raven
• Ferrus Manus - The Gorgon
• Vulkan - The Promethean
• Perturabo - The Lord of Iron
• Lorgar Aurelian - The Urizen
• Alpharius/Omegon - The Hydra

THE LEGIONES ASTARTES

The III Legion 'Emperor's Children'

• Fabius - Lieutenant Commander, Chief Apothecary
• Appius Calpurnius - Kakophoni Orchestrator

The IV Legion 'Iron Warriors'

• Forrix - First Captain
• Grelth - Delegatus

The VIII Legion 'Night Lords'

• Scarrix - Strike Fighter Squadron Commander

The X Legion 'Iron Hands'

• Castrmen Orth - Spearhead-Centurion of Clan Avernii

The XII Legion 'World Eaters'

• Khârn - The Bloody, Captain of the Eighth Company, Equerry to the primarch
• Kargos - The Bloodspitter, Apothecary, Eighth Company

The XVI Legion 'Sons of Horus'

• Abaddon - First Captain
• Maloghurst - The Twisted, Equerry to the Warmaster
• Kalus Ekaddon - Captain of the Catulan Reavers
• Horus Aximand - Captain of the Fifth Company

The XVII Legion 'Word Bearers'

• Kor Phaeron - First Captain, Master of Faith

The XVIII Legion 'Salamanders'

• Cassian Dracos - The Dragon Revenant
• Orasus - Legionary
• Xaliscus - Launch Master of the Dracosian
• Tiamastus - Saturnine Cadre
• Vort - Saturnine Cadre

The XIX Legion 'Raven Guard'

• Alvarex Maun - Strike Captain, Master of Descent
• Acronis - Commander of the Ad Temperesta
• Pseudus Vex - Lieutenant, Pilot Prime
• Kaedes Nex - Moritat Prime, 'Blood Crow'

The XX Legion 'Alpha Legion'

• Ingo Pech - First Captain
• Hesperides - Legionnaire, Liason to the XVIII Legion warship Dracosian
• Exodus - The One Who Is Many
• Korbesha - Operative
• Ada Cam Li Hysen - Operative

THE IMPERIAL ARMY

• Astraea - Cohort Marshal, Solar Auxilia, Saturnyne Rams, Ground Commander Auxiliary Battle Group Novus Solar
• Kengrace - Sub-Commander, Solar Auxilia, Saturnyne Rams, Auxiliary Battle Group Novus Solar
• Klave - Admiral of the Auxiliary Battle Group Novus Solar
• Gemenis - Commander, Executive Officer, Battleship Catura

THE MECHANICUM

• Sota-Nul - Ambassador of the Fabricator General of Mars

THE LEGIO TITANICUS

• Jonah Aruken - Legio Mortis, Princeps Herald of Penumbral Reaper

THE ADEPTUS ASTRA TELEPATHICA

• Armina Fel - Astropath-adjutant to Rogal Dorn
• Callus Zane - Principal Astropath attached to Corvus Corax

OTHERS

• Malcador - The Sigillite, Regent of the Imperium
• Constantin Valdor - Captain-General of the Legio Custodes
• Jenetia Krole - Knight-Commander of the Silent Sisterhood
• Thoros - Davinite, High Priest of the Serpent Lodge

 

Thoughts on their contents, as well as associated preview chapters:

Spoiler

• Dorn still being apprenshive about declaring war is a bit of an odd choice, after he more or less came to terms with it in The Flight of the Eisenstein
• Khârn's Nails occassionally misfiring/turning themselves off will probably get corrected over the course of the book if I had to assume
• Nice to see some Forge World callbacks (Castrmen Orth, [Maraeus] Orasus)
• Solar Auxilia are actually being acknowledged in a Legion conflict, wonder if we'll get to see the other cohorts present (Ambaxtoi, Headhunters, Janizars, Chainshroud) or just the Rams, but I'm happy to see their inclusion
• Nice to see a callback to the original "trilogy" of novels with Jonah. We know that the Penumbral Reaper survives up till at least Beta-Garmon, so it'll be interesting where his story might go from here

 

[darkhorse0607]

1 hour ago, DarkChaplain said:

Spear of Ultramar also works as an extension of the Guilliman Primarchs novel, with the Destroyer theme and characters.

 

Yeah, if you read the Primarch novel, then Ruinstorm and finish with Spear of Ultramar it makes a cohesive story for the 22nd Chapter. Wasn't a fan of the Primarch novel all things considered, but the Destroyers/their themes were good

[Bestkeptsecret]

2 hours ago, Alpharius902 said:

On the topic of Dropsite Massacre, the dramatis personae was recently posted:

  Reveal hidden contents

THE PRIMARCHS

• Fulgrim - The Phoenician
• Rogal Dorn - Praetorian of Terra
• Horus - The Warmaster
• Angron - The Red Angel
• Mortarion - The Reaper
• Corvus Corax - The Raven
• Ferrus Manus - The Gorgon
• Vulkan - The Promethean
• Perturabo - The Lord of Iron
• Lorgar Aurelian - The Urizen
• Alpharius/Omegon - The Hydra

THE LEGIONES ASTARTES

The III Legion 'Emperor's Children'

• Fabius - Lieutenant Commander, Chief Apothecary
• Appius Calpurnius - Kakophoni Orchestrator

The IV Legion 'Iron Warriors'

• Forrix - First Captain
• Grelth - Delegatus

The VIII Legion 'Night Lords'

• Scarrix - Strike Fighter Squadron Commander

The X Legion 'Iron Hands'

• Castrmen Orth - Spearhead-Centurion of Clan Avernii

The XII Legion 'World Eaters'

• Khârn - The Bloody, Captain of the Eighth Company, Equerry to the primarch
• Kargos - The Bloodspitter, Apothecary, Eighth Company

The XVI Legion 'Sons of Horus'

• Abaddon - First Captain
• Maloghurst - The Twisted, Equerry to the Warmaster
• Kalus Ekaddon - Captain of the Catulan Reavers
• Horus Aximand - Captain of the Fifth Company

The XVII Legion 'Word Bearers'

• Kor Phaeron - First Captain, Master of Faith

The XVIII Legion 'Salamanders'

• Cassian Dracos - The Dragon Revenant
• Orasus - Legionary
• Xaliscus - Launch Master of the Dracosian
• Tiamastus - Saturnine Cadre
• Vort - Saturnine Cadre

The XIX Legion 'Raven Guard'

• Alvarex Maun - Strike Captain, Master of Descent
• Acronis - Commander of the Ad Temperesta
• Pseudus Vex - Lieutenant, Pilot Prime
• Kaedes Nex - Moritat Prime, 'Blood Crow'

The XX Legion 'Alpha Legion'

• Ingo Pech - First Captain
• Hesperides - Legionnaire, Liason to the XVIII Legion warship Dracosian
• Exodus - The One Who Is Many
• Korbesha - Operative
• Ada Cam Li Hysen - Operative

THE IMPERIAL ARMY

• Astraea - Cohort Marshal, Solar Auxilia, Saturnyne Rams, Ground Commander Auxiliary Battle Group Novus Solar
• Kengrace - Sub-Commander, Solar Auxilia, Saturnyne Rams, Auxiliary Battle Group Novus Solar
• Klave - Admiral of the Auxiliary Battle Group Novus Solar
• Gemenis - Commander, Executive Officer, Battleship Catura

THE MECHANICUM

• Sota-Nul - Ambassador of the Fabricator General of Mars

THE LEGIO TITANICUS

• Jonah Aruken - Legio Mortis, Princeps Herald of Penumbral Reaper

THE ADEPTUS ASTRA TELEPATHICA

• Armina Fel - Astropath-adjutant to Rogal Dorn
• Callus Zane - Principal Astropath attached to Corvus Corax

OTHERS

• Malcador - The Sigillite, Regent of the Imperium
• Constantin Valdor - Captain-General of the Legio Custodes
• Jenetia Krole - Knight-Commander of the Silent Sisterhood
• Thoros - Davinite, High Priest of the Serpent Lodge

 

Thoughts on their contents, as well as associated preview chapters:

  Reveal hidden contents

• Dorn still being apprenshive about declaring war is a bit of an odd choice, after he more or less came to terms with it in The Flight of the Eisenstein
• Khârn's Nails occassionally misfiring/turning themselves off will probably get corrected over the course of the book if I had to assume
• Nice to see some Forge World callbacks (Castrmen Orth, [Maraeus] Orasus)
• Solar Auxilia are actually being acknowledged in a Legion conflict, wonder if we'll get to see the other cohorts present (Ambaxtoi, Headhunters, Janizars, Chainshroud) or just the Rams, but I'm happy to see their inclusion
• Nice to see a callback to the original "trilogy" of novels with Jonah. We know that the Penumbral Reaper survives up till at least Beta-Garmon, so it'll be interesting where his story might go from here

 

I do not like that Julius Kaesoron is missing from the character list.  When was the last novel or short story in which Julius Kaesoron appeared as a character with dialogue? His absence from the recent Emperor's Children novels indicates that his rumoured ascension to Daemon Prince status in 40k is not going to be discussed anytime soon.

 

Regarding 40k Chaos novels, Valrak was saying in one of his YouTube videos that in 40k we still do not have a novel where the god-aligned Chaos faction primarchs speak with each other, so there is no mention of Fulgrim speaking with Magnus or Mortarion interacting with Angron in 40k yet, not even in the campaign books.

 

You know what, friends, I think I have made my mind up about 40k book purchases. The Dropsite Massacre is fine because it is in the Horus Heresy series, so I did indeed pre-order the hardcover; however, concerning 40k novels, I have decided after having very average reading experiences with Lords of Excess, Remnant Blade, Harrowmaster, etc., that from now on I will only buy those 40k novels that are explicitly part of a planned trilogy like the Dark Imperium books. I will not buy the standalone 40k novels. As others have expressed the opinion, to which I completely agree, that the Dawn of Fire series was lacklustre and not an engaging series. I think for 40k novels, the books that are part of a longer series, for example, more than 8 books in a series, are those I am not going to buy. But for books like the Blood Angels Mephiston series, the Dark Imperium series, the excellent Fabius Bile trilogy, or the 2 series by Chris Wraight, which are part of shorter series (most often trilogies), those I am definitely going to pre-order and buy.

Edited October 20 by Bestkeptsecret
grammar

[Fedor]

Are Spear of Ultramar and Dreadwing getting a standard paperback release?

[darkhorse0607]

53 minutes ago, Fedor said:

Are Spear of Ultramar and Dreadwing getting a standard paperback release?

Went back and looked, just audio

[Tolmeus]

11 hours ago, Bestkeptsecret said:

I do not like that Julius Kaesoron is missing from the character list.  When was the last novel or short story in which Julius Kaesoron appeared as a character with dialogue?

 

I agree 100%. I found him a fascinating character even during ‘Fulgrim’, especially his transformation from a loyal servant to a champion of the Chaos Space Marines. I had hoped that a book in the Heresy character series would feature him (unfortunately, it was Eidolon). It's a shame that he will probably not receive any more attention.

 

12 hours ago, Bestkeptsecret said:

Regarding 40k Chaos novels, Valrak was saying in one of his YouTube videos that in 40k we still do not have a novel where the god-aligned Chaos faction primarchs speak with each other, so there is no mention of Fulgrim speaking with Magnus or Mortarion interacting with Angron in 40k yet, not even in the campaign books.

 

Well, we still really miss the part where Big G meets the Lion. I mean, if there were to be a story in 40k about a meeting between two Primarchs, it would have to be these two, wouldn't it? Hadn't even thought about a potential meetign of the Demon Primarchs, probably because they written mostly boring and following their own great agendas (ergo, their patron gods) (Angron rages and gets killed mutliple times, Fulgrim endulges himself in excess, Magnus in revenge against Wolves or mysteries, only Mortarion had a somewhat interesting plot due to Guy Haley in Dark Imperium or Chris Wraight in The Lords of Silence)
 

12 hours ago, Bestkeptsecret said:

I have decided after having very average reading experiences with Lords of Excess, Remnant Blade, Harrowmaster, etc., that from now on I will only buy those 40k novels that are explicitly part of a planned trilogy like the Dark Imperium books

 

Good choice. I'm still not convinced, as I often hope for a better experience before reading a purchased book, but most of the time I'm disappointed. I agree with you that there have been few books that have really surprised me in a positive way, and there are hardly any books that come close to the level of, for example, Night Lords, Spear of the Emperor or Devestation of Baal.

[Lord Marshal]

Eisenhorn: Hereticus gets an illustrated edition. Feels like that took a while.

 

Edited October 21 by Lord Marshal

[The Scorpion]

On 10/19/2025 at 9:29 PM, Felix Antipodes said:

I was also excited when I read that The Guns of Enth would feature the Howling Griffins, it was pretty obvious in the end that they were only there to play the adversarial role and not Wilt’s main focus within the story.  I came away feeling the Chapter were short changed within their own story.  And this from someone who enjoys his stories overall.

They did the Griffons... ok. It shows how they think by placing them face to face with the more "contemporary" Fire Angels, and it touches an issue they've always had about how they tend to swear oaths they cannot keep.

 

But this story was obviously a play by Wilt to demonstrate he can be trusted to write a faction that unfortunately already has many quality writers competing for it.

[Taliesin]

On 10/21/2025 at 4:55 PM, Lord Marshal said:

Eisenhorn: Hereticus gets an illustrated edition. Feels like that took a while.

 

Will get that one. I like the artwork.

[theSpirea]

Let's hope the third book is also going to be slightly different size because consistency is no friend of BL.

[The Praetorian of Inwit]

That is some lovely black and white artwork. I hope people that really want it can actually get it but I fear scalpers will be on it.

 

I didn't realise until it was pointed out but yeah it is a huge shame there has been no interaction between the Daemon Primarchs. 

 

 

[FabiusV4lcoran]

 

On 10/20/2025 at 2:00 PM, Bestkeptsecret said:

I have decided after having very average reading experiences with Lords of Excess, Remnant Blade, Harrowmaster, 

 

Man this is a letdown; I was really hopeful about Remnant Blade, and Harrowmaster is on my shelf.  Lords of Excess was definitely mediocre.

[Bestkeptsecret]

It could be that for books that are part of planned trilogies, BL is putting more competent and highly experienced authors in charge, like Guy Haley or Chris Wraight. I did not like the last book in the Dark Imperium series. I thought Godblight was pretty average. However, the first and second books (Dark Imperium, Plague War) had quite solid writing. I also think that the first two books in John French's second Ahriman trilogy were not too decent. The Ahriman books by John French focus too much on enmity and rivalries between Thousand Sons sorcerer factions rather than on Tzeentchian corruption of baseline humans or Imperial Space Marines becoming influenced by Tzeentch and turning to Chaos. I know that the Mephiston Blood Angels series had a way better focus on Tzeentch's malicious influence on humans in comparison to the Ahriman series by John French.

Edited October 23 by Bestkeptsecret
Words

[FabiusV4lcoran]

2 minutes ago, Bestkeptsecret said:

 I also think that John French's second Ahriman series was not too decent. The Ahriman books by John French focus too much on enmity and rivalries between Thousand Sons sorcerer factions rather than on Tzeentchian corruption of baseline humans or Imperial Space Marines becoming influenced by Tzeentch and turning to Chaos. I know that the Mephiston Blood Angels series had a way better focus on Tzeentch's malicious influence on humans in comparison to the Ahriman series by John French.

 

I just finished the original Omnibus and am reading the fourth one now.  Rivalries and enmities over Chaos gods also were the theme in the Night Lords omnibus.  It's a 40k book; the "influenced by Tzeentch and turning to Chaos" is more of a 30k story imo.

[theSpirea]

Remnant Blade isn’t that bad, especially for a debut; it’s fairly enjoyable. On the other hand, the Dark Imperium trilogy, mainly the last book, is, in my opinion, one of the worst BL books. It’s on the same level as Indomitus or Leviathan, pure product-placement crap, nothing more.

[wecanhaveallthree]

The Dark Imperium trilogy being rewritten before it was even finished clearly took the wind out of Haley's sales. Godblight very much feels like he's just trying to get it over with.

[NTaW]

1 hour ago, wecanhaveallthree said:

The Dark Imperium trilogy being rewritten before it was even finished clearly took the wind out of Haley's sales. Godblight very much feels like he's just trying to get it over with.

 

I own paperbacks the original releases, and was keeping up with things as released at the time. When I found out about this rewrite hijinks I lost interest in a big way. I'm only now sort of grudgingly coming back to the trilogy since I've read a bunch of Indomitus era books recently, but after seeing these comments on their quality (and reading Indomitus, and The Silent King's ending...jeeze what a name drop) I may have to circle back around in another couple years.

[skylerboodie]

I've not read Dark Imperium trilogy yet but have the original pre- retcon versions of the first two; should I read those versions, and just ignore any references to 100+ years timeshift, or is it a more signifcant rewrite and best to just read retconned versions (or worse, both)? thanks

[Orwell84]

Death and Duty and No Peace Among Stars are up for preorder at Black Library.

 

There's some doubling up on content. Of the twelve stories in Death and Duty, seven are published in other anthologies. Three* are also in No Peace Among Stars and four others^ have been published previously in Galaxy of Horrors. Makes me wonder if this anthology is worth getting, especially if the other five stories get published elsewhere too.

 

* "Those Without Mercy" by Callum Davis, "The Last Psyker" by Shauna Lawless and "Exterminator" by Mike Vincent

^ "Less Than Human" by Steve Lyons, "Blood Sands" by Victoria Hayward, "Hell Fist" by Justin Woolley and "The Sum of its Parts" by Rhuairidh James.

[grailkeeper]

Sum of its parts was an excellent short story.

 

Rhuairidh James has left twitter, which is a shame as his account was very entertaining and full of great 40k content. 

 

I'd love to hang out with him some day. He seems pretty cool. 

Edited October 24 by grailkeeper

[Taliesin]

18 hours ago, Bestkeptsecret said:

It could be that for books that are part of planned trilogies, BL is putting more competent and highly experienced authors in charge, like Guy Haley or Chris Wraight. I did not like the last book in the Dark Imperium series. I thought Godblight was pretty average. However, the first and second books (Dark Imperium, Plague War) had quite solid writing. I also think that the first two books in John French's second Ahriman trilogy were not too decent. The Ahriman books by John French focus too much on enmity and rivalries between Thousand Sons sorcerer factions rather than on Tzeentchian corruption of baseline humans or Imperial Space Marines becoming influenced by Tzeentch and turning to Chaos. I know that the Mephiston Blood Angels series had a way better focus on Tzeentch's malicious influence on humans in comparison to the Ahriman series by John French.

 

Interesting that you say the Mephiston books have a better display of Tzeentchian corruption of humans. Should give it a shot.