Release Date: 14/03/13
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
On the nightmare world of Krieg, the elite Death Korps practise their killing arts against the only enemy they have available: those among the population unsuitable to join the regiments of the Imperial Guard. In the midst of a live-fire exercise, one of these human targets disobeys orders and follows the trail of a mysterious alien beast, one that could spell doom for all of Krieg if it is not stopped...
REVIEW:
I love a 40K story that takes the reader deep into the human side of the eternal wars of Mankind in the name of the Emperor and for me as a reader that’s exactly what this tale by Steve Lyons does well. Whilst this title has been out for a while, its great that some of the amazing back catalogue is being brought to the reader through their e-reader.
It’s solid, has a cracking pace and when added to characters that keep you not only grounded but moving towards the goal all round makes this a book that really helps bring the Imperial Guard to the fore. Great stuff.
Release Date: 04/08/11
SYNOPSIS:
Desperate and isolated, Sergeant Estabann and Brother Cordoba of the Crimson Fists Space Marines are hunting the daemon that destroyed their battle-brothers. Their only hope remains with a Librarian on the edge of sanity, a potentially tainted Astartes who they are forced to trust. His psychic abilities can lead them to the daemon, where Estabann and Cordoba can avenge their brothers' deaths. But is the greatest threat a foul denizen of the warp, or the power contained within a psyker's mind?
REVIEW:
I love a great audio book as it’s something that you can just place on your CD player (Or MP3 if you prefer), sit back and listen to a cracking adventure. Here in the latest offering from the Black Library, Steve Lyons (author of Dead Men Walking alongside Ice Guard as well as audio title Waiting Death) brings the Marines into combat against a daemon. It is cleverly written and whilst some of the titles go for heavy duty full scale battle battalions this one is a closer knit two hero title who have to track and kill their enemy.
Add to this that as well as being character driven theres a surprise of two, some great visual descriptions as well as a sting in the tale you have to acknowledge the skilled reading of John Banks who brings it to life with the heavy brooding atmosphere pulling you down. All in this was a most satisfactory excursion to the 40k Worlds and one that I’ll no doubt enjoy again shortly. Great stuff.
Release Date: 03/03/11
BOOK BLURB:
Across the war-torn galaxy, the Imperial Guard are a bastion against the enemies of mankind. From the punishing heat of Tallarn's deserts to the bonechilling tundras of Valhalla, these are soldiers who give their lives in the Emperor's name. Whether shoulder to shoulder or crushing their enemies in vast machines of war, they are unwavering in their devotion to duty. On a thousand stars, they repel the forces of Chaos and the foul xenos in an eternal conflict. This omnibus collects three tales of savage warfare and heroism in the frontline.
REVIEW:
There’s nothing more heroic in the 40K universe than the common man, his fear is higher along with need to run for his own mortality but to me it makes his deeds more heroic than that of the modified superhuman astartes. Brought together here are three Imperial Guard titles that will take you to all environments alongside extremes.
Whilst I personally didn’t rate one of the three books highly, the other two more than made up for it. The writing is snappy, the dialogue war torn and harsh with the prose sticking to the action thick and fast. All in it’s a good bit of fun and gives the reader something different to the norm especially when their troops take to the battlefield and the readers get a chance to slog it through the dangers as if they were there. Great stuff.
Release Date: 09/12/10
BOOK BLURB:
When the necrons rise, a mining planet descends into a cauldron of war and the remorseless foes decimate the human defenders. Salvation comes in an unlikely form – the Death Korps of Kreig, a force as unfeeling as the Necrons themselves. When the two powers go to war, casualties are high and the magnitude of the destruction is unimaginable.
REVIEW:
Everyone is starting to pay attention to the Necron’s so when it becomes the everyday trooper that has to fight these walking immortal undead then it’s a pretty hefty scary title. Here within this offering from the Black Library, the Death Korps are back and this time their dirty dozen face an enemy the like of which they have little hope of surviving. Beautifully written this charnel house of a story not only has a high body count but also presents the reader with a world where resistance is met head on with bullets and destruction. A cracking piece of writing from Steve and demonstrates why he’s a master of the Imperial Guards.
Whilst many others love the sheer power and abilities of the Astarte’s I love the average human tackling a job that even they would blanch at. A seriously cracking piece of writing and one that will keep you glued to the last page. Great stuff.
BOOK BLURB:
A legend amongst his own Catachan regiment, Colonel 'Iron Hand' Straken is the embodiment of the Imperial Guard hero, so much so that he literally puts his body on the line in the name of the Emperor every time he goes into battle.
Borealis Four has fallen under the sway of an insidious Chaos cult and its dense jungle terrain makes it the ideal battlefield for Straken and his platoon. After a particularly fierce firefight, the Catachans find themselves cut off from the rest of the Imperium forces and must seek refuge in a native village.
Before long, troopers being to hallucinate and warp-born horrors lay siege to the village. Even Straken himself falls under the sway of the Dark Powers. Can he break the psychic grip in time to save his men or will Borealis Four be Straken's last stand?
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of the Warhammer 40k Universe its always entertaining when a new offering lands. However at times, a reader can only get through so much material. So when an audio offering lands I absolutely love it as its an easy way to enjoy a book whilst being occupied with something else. (In this case I was working out at the Gym.) Beautifully written this script was definitely one, when combined with the voice talents of Toby Longsworth made this a tale that I’ll enjoy again soon. Add to this great value money and the fact that it’s an audio book will, in my opinion, will draw the listener deeper into the universe in such a way that they will demand other tales of their favoured Armies in any format that they can get their hands on.
