Tag Archives: Space Marine Battles

Accursed Eternity by Sarah Cawkwell – Novella Review [Shadowhawk]

December 28, 2011   AJ   No comments
Accursed-Eternity

Shadowhawk reviews the second eBook installment of the Space Marine Battles anthology coming out next year, The Architect of Fate, a collection of four linked novellas by various authors.

“Mystery, Horror, Thriller, Goosebumps, Action, Accursed Eternity has all of this and more in spades.” ~ The Founding Fields

Shadowhawk is a regular contributor to TFF. A resident of Dubai, Shadowhawk reads, reads and reads. His opinions are always clear and concise. His articles always worth reading.

  

Full Disclosure

The Gildar Rift by Sarah Cawkwell – Advanced Review [Bane of Kings]

November 06, 2011   Bane of Kings   3 Comments

Bane of Kings reviews The Gildar Rift by Sarah Cawkwell, her first novel,  published by Black Library.

 “A well-crafted debut that is clearly one of the better novels in the Space Marine Battles Series.” ~The Founding Fields

 Note: This is an advanced review for Black Library. The Gildar Rift will be released to the public in December 2011.

 

Bane of Kings is one our most senior book reviewers here at The Founding Fields, based in England. He’s a prolific reviewer that has contributed to many things here and around the internet.

 

Full Disclosure

Battle of the Fang by Chris Wraight – Review by Lord of the Night

June 27, 2011   Commissar Ploss   No comments

Lord of the Night reviews the latest addition to the Space Marines Battles series, the epic Battle of the Fang by Chris Wraight.

“Bjorn may be the hero of old, but he’s hardly the only hero here. When the Sons of Tizca lay siege to Fenris, heroes will be made and legends will be born.”
~The Founding Fields

It took me a while to finish reading the latest instalment of the Space Marines Battles series, which has to be one of the best ideas Black Library have ever had. Battle of the Fang is one of the best of the series, easily surpassing Hunt for Voldorius and Rynn’s World, whether it trumps Helsreach is another matter entirely but its definitely close. The Vlka Fenryka are quite fun to read, and even if I still don’t like them for Prospero I still enjoyed the novel.


Taunted by dreams of his rival, Great Wolf Harek “Ironhelm” draws the entire Rout together when Magnus the Red and the Thousand Sons are discovered on Gangava Prime. Leaving behind the 12th Great Company and its Jarl, the White Wolf Vaer Greyloc, the Rout makes its way towards Gangava with vengeance in their hearts. But when Fenris itself is sacked by the Thousand Sons Legion reborn Greyloc must utilize every weapon in their arsenal to defend against the hordes of sorcerous horrors that assault their walls. But something far more momentous is happening deep inside the Aett, and it will change the face of the galaxy forever.

This may be just a stand-alone novel but its definitely one of the better ones. I particularly enjoyed the chapters that focused on Wyrmblade and Blackwing, the Blood Claws Helfist and Redpelt were quite good too. I enjoyed the element of the last stand that is prevalent though this novel, a small force fighting against overwhelming odds and the potential that is still present in the 31st millennium. I enjoyed every moment with Magnus the Red enormously, especially his speech to the statue of Leman Russ and what he said to him, and the hints to where the Wolf King is now.

The novel features many characters in important roles like Vaer Greyloc, the White Wolf and 12th Jarl who believes in a future not rooted in tradition for the Rout. Wyrmblade, the chief Wolf Priest and master geneticist who is working on something that will forever alter the destiny of the Vlka Fenryka, and the galaxy at large. Redpelt and Helfist, two new Blood Claws in competition with each other as only the irreverent younglings can be. And Blackwing, the pilot and lone wolf of the chapter whose adventure was the most fun to read, at least for me.

And the Thousand Sons are not neglected either. The revenge seeking Aphael was a very interesting story, I was quite surprised at how it ended but I suppose it was necessary. Temehk was a much wiser character, one who cared little for revenge but rather looking to the future, but of course he’s a Corvidae. But Magnus the Red stole the show as he took his revenge on those who destroyed his home, Chris Wraight did a marvellous job writing about the Red Cyclops.

The action of the novel is breathtaking in its scale. The Rout face an enemy that outnumber them more than 100 to 1 and the battles show that very clearly, against constantly overwhelming odds the Wolves fight relentlessly and make the Sons pay for every inch in blood and lost souls. The differing battle styles of the Blood Claws, Grey Hunters and Wolf Guard make for very fun reading, roaring and howling Space Marines hacking off heads and taunting the enemy is just awesome after all.

The pacing was very good, I never felt rushed or slowed and the book moves along at a good speed, picking its moments to bring up the tension and action or to show the importance of what happens during this historic battle.

The ending was at the same time, inspiring and saddening. The Vlka Fenryka still have a future but the real question of this battle is which side lost more? The Thousand Sons or The Rout? But its inspiring to see the Wolves survive and know that they will keep surviving against the darkness and all its slaves.

I give Battle of the Fang an 8.5/10 for a grand story, characters whom I actually liked despite being the Space Wolves, and for a battle to rival Prospero in its sheer awesomeness. This is definitely one of the best Space Marines Battles novels, perhaps not as good as Helsreach but its definitely close to it.

Should you buy this book? The answer is yes. This is a must-read battle and contains a great story that will leave you amazed at how different the galaxy could have been if just a few things were different.

You can buy this book here, just click the picture below:


David Ploss

I’m a bit of an awesome person. :) I’m a semi-famous 40k Intellect and the Business Manager of Chique Geek Entertainment, LLC. www.chiquegeek.com. I’m a book reviewer and the owner of TheFoundingFields.com. Beware my wonky-ness…

Facebook  

Full Disclosure

Fall of Damnos by Nick Kyme – Advanced Review [LotN]

March 30, 2011   Commissar Ploss   No comments

Lord of the Night reviews the fifth installment of the popular Space Marines Battles series, Fall of Damnos by Nick Kyme.
Ultramarines vs. Necrons in an unwinable battle on a doomed planet. Damnos will fall, but who will fall with it?
~The Founding Fields
(Note: This is an advanced review of Fall of Damnos. It is scheduled for release in April 2011.)

Nick Kyme truly is great with the Space Marines, to him Space Marines are what the Inquisition is to Dan Abnett. But what he has done with the Necrons is nothing short of amazing, at first I didn’t even recognize them but now that I have finished the novel I think back to Dawn of War and all the other times the Necrons rose from their tombs, and I feel boredom as I compare them to the Necrons of Damnos. And in regards to the Ultramarines, I agree with Bane of Kings’s assertion that with only two books Kyme is challenging Graham for control of Guilliman’s own.
When miners on the world of Damnos unearth an artifact they unwittingly begin the destruction of their world. Freed from the Long Sleep the Necrontyr rise again to purge their world of the insects that dare invade their kingdom and defile their lands. The Ultramarines 2nd Company led by Cato Sicarius, the Master of the Watch and High Suzerain, eager for glory and to be the first Ultramarine to battle the undying Necrons. But Damnos may already be doomed, the Ultramarines must face the possibility that there is no victory waiting for them at the edge of the abyss.
For me the highest point of this novel is the Necrons, I enjoy innovation and bright new ideas quite a lot and the Necrons featured this heavily. It used to be that only a Necron Lord could hope to even have a voice, but now the Necrons have their own caste system, culture, their fears and hopes and even ambitions. I can only think that GW is hiding a new Necron codex, or at least a prototype version of one, and Nick Kyme wrote from it when he designed these new incarnations of the eldest of all xenos.
The characters are separated into two sides. Imperial and Necron. The Imperial characters range from the Ultramarines and the natives of Damnos. Sergeants Scipio Vorolanus, Iulus Fennion and Praxor Manorian return from Black Reach and their growth through the novel is interesting. But the biggest growth must be Scipio shaken from an event in-between Black Reach and Damnos, which was very surprising for me. Human characters like Falka Kolpeck, Zeph Rancourt and Adanar Sonne show the darker side of the war, the displaced and the grieving, and the fatalism that comes from fighting a foe that may very well be immortal.
With all kinds of Necron royals leading the way from The Undying One at the head of the phalanx, the cunning cryptek Ankh the Herald of Dismay, the ambitious Tahek the Voidbringer and the ghoulish Sahtah the Enfleshed, the Necrons have gained a wide range of characters that are not only cool but actually sympathetic in some cases, Sahtah mainly. Eternity has not been kind to the Necrons, and their cruel existence is shown very well in the book.
The action portrayed is visceral and brutal, the Ultramarines strength is great but the Necrons are a foe like no other, death means nothing to them. When facing enemies that can repair from mortal wounds and who simply disappear upon defeat, even the absence of corpses can unnerve a man. But the Ultramarines fight on heroically, earning glory and honor with every kill. The Necrons own fighting style has been very well depicted, disintegrations and flayed corpses are everywhere as it should be.
The novel’s pacing is well-written. Running multiple plots alongside each other with different characters in different parts of Damnos can’t be easy but Kyme does it and weaves them together to affect one-another to create the first battle between Guilliman’s chosen and one of the oldest of all alien races. Be it Scipio’s story, Fennion’s, Praxor’s or even Cato Sicarius’s each story melds together very well to create an overall tale that is definitely worth the time.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, halfway through the battle. The situation is grim but there is hope yet for the defenders of Damnos. I eagerly await the sequel to the novel that Ser Kyme will hopefully start writing very soon, the Damnos duology is shaping up to be a great tale, one that may reshape the image we hold of an entire xenos race.
I give Fall of Damnos a 9/10, on its own the novel is definitely a clear second amongst the Space Marines Battles series but it cannot match Ser Dembski-Bowden’s epic Helsreach. But perhaps the sequel, once the whole story is together a new champion amongst the series shall rise.
Now I move onto the dark world of Warhammer Fantasy, into the land of chivalrous knights and hunchbacked peasants. Knights of Bretonnia is next, the tale of a knight and his quest for glory.

 

David Ploss

I’m a bit of an awesome person. :) I’m a semi-famous 40k Intellect and the Business Manager of Chique Geek Entertainment, LLC. www.chiquegeek.com. I’m a book reviewer and the owner of TheFoundingFields.com. Beware my wonky-ness…

Facebook  

Full Disclosure

Sarah Cawkwell to write new Space Marine Battles novel.

September 27, 2010   Commissar Ploss   No comments

It has been announced that Sarah Cawkwell, newest author in the Black Library lineup, will be writing a new Space Marine Battles novel.  Titled Gildar Rift it will feature the Silver Skulls Space Marine chapter.

Based on this passage from the Space Marines codex:

“The Silver Skulls Chapter fleet destroys a Red Corsair strike force comprising several Executor-class grand cruisers. The surviving renegades make planetfall on several worlds in the Gildar system, but the Silver Skulls are not to be thwarted so easily. In a matter of weeks, the Gildar system is declared free of the Red Corsair’s influence.”

Sarah Cawkwell has recently joined the ranks of the Black Library authors with her short story in the first issue of Hammer & Bolter magazine. A new digital publication from the black library.  Her story Primary Instinct was her first published work.  Featuring the Silver Skulls, it is a wonderful story, and i hope that all of you will read it here in the near future.

My review of the short story is forthcoming.

CP

David Ploss

I’m a bit of an awesome person. :) I’m a semi-famous 40k Intellect and the Business Manager of Chique Geek Entertainment, LLC. www.chiquegeek.com. I’m a book reviewer and the owner of TheFoundingFields.com. Beware my wonky-ness…

Facebook  

Full Disclosure

  • Reviewed Books

  • Subscribe by email!

    • Wolfsangel by MD Lachlan - Book Review [Bane of Kings]:
    • Social Media!:
    • I wipe my arse back and forth, i wipe my arse back and forth. #misheardlyrics
    • Thank you everyone who has been telling their friends about the Facebook page that supports the website. In case...
    • lol i'm good at pretending. ;)

    WordPress SEO fine-tune by Meta SEO Pack from Poradnik Webmastera
    Stop SOPA
    The Founding Fields - Blogged