What do you think?
Rate this book
Space Marine Battles #8
Legion of the Damned
Following the trajectory of a blood-red comet, the berserk World Eaters blaze a path of destruction across the galaxy in its wake. The small cemetery world of Certus Minor appeals to the Space Marines of the Excoriators Chapter for protection, but the force dispatched to deal with this grim threat is far too small and their losses against the renegades are high. Just as all seems lost, salvation is borne out of legend itself as sinister spectral warriors descend upon this planet of the dead, and the enemies of the Imperium come face to face with those who have already travelled beyond the realm of the living...
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
30 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Rob Sanders
114 books86 followersRob Sanders is the author of twelve novels, as well as numerous anthologised short stories, novellas, audio dramas, computer games and comics. His fiction has won national writing competitions, been featured on the BBC and appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. His poetry has been short listed in national contests. He lives off the beaten track in the small city of Lincoln, UK.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 21, 2019
Best Rob Sanders' 40k novel I've read, a great violent and sheer visceral tale about Imperial Fists and their successor Chapters that reminded me a lot, in the first part about The Feast of Blades, the classic Ian Watson's "Space Marine" novel.
Loved almost everything here: the build up, the Excoriators psicology and uses, the almost non stop action and violence, the impending feeling of doom, all the references to the Horus Heresy (the Keeler Comet was a real great one), and Corpus Captain Kersh, former Scourge of the Excoriators, is an awesome main character, a real different one from other Warhammer 40000 heroes like Uriel Ventris, Ragnar Blackmane & co.
And the Cholercaust Crusaders parts are just my most favourite description of World Eaters ever.
If this book was titled "Corpus Minor", "Cholercaust Crusade" or else, this was going to be a 5 stars review, instead the ghost legion appears in all its glory just in the last 20 pages of the book (besides previous sporadic visions and events), so what could be a great surprise ending seems a bad case of fake publicity instead.
Besides that, this is one of the best Space Marine Battles novels and I had a blast reading it, just be warned:
Dear reader, this is an Excoriators novel, fans of Legion of the Damned thinking to read a whole book about them are going to be disappointed for good.
September 17, 2015
This is a stand-alone novel in a series based on the exploits of the demi-god Adeptus Astartes. I'll start off by saying that I purchased this book with the expectation that I may learn something about the long fabled Legion of the Damned, a group of ethereal warriors supposedly caught in eternal limbo but still taking names on behalf of the undead Holy-Emperor of Mankind. However, I found myself constantly checking to see if I had somehow got hold of a faulty misprinted copy where the wrong book was bound within the cover of another.
The book actually focuses on the Excoriators Chapter, an Imperial Fist successor, and their quest for redemption on a cemetery planet that's in the path of a Khorne armada with a possessed comet at its core. A key point raised throughout the book is a thing all offspring of Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists, may be afflicted with known as 'The Darkness'. The Blood Angels have the Black Rage where they can turn into berserk furies. The Space Wolves have the Wulfen where they can turn into smelly wolf-men. The Salamanders get pitch-black skin and bright red eyes that make them look awesome. The World Eaters get implants that make them shake with rage if they're not killing. But the Imperial Fists get sad, so sad in fact that they could lose conciousness. I wish I were joking.
So we find ourselves with the Excoriators, more specifically the remnants of the 5th Company with some 10th Company scouts. The newly appointed leader of the 5th, Zack (again, not joking), has just woken up from being extremely sad because he lost a flag and now everybody hates him. But he proves he's an alright bloke by fighting a few other blokes and losing an eye. So we now have Zack the sad pirate. Okay, I'm getting a little silly with this but none of the story was grabbing me so far. It starts to get interesting as Zack wants to lead the 5th on a penance mission to recover the flag from none other than the Alpha Legion. I say, that should be good! This, however, doesn't happen as they're sent to see an Imperial demi-Pope before they can set off. The demi-Pope wants the 5th to go to a cemetery planet (a world dedicated to burying the rich and famous - and you thought George Lucas was one-dimensional with his worlds) to help protect it from a big space gang of marauding Traitor Marines and cultists lost in blood-lust. All the while Zack is being stalked by an apparition that is sort of described as a ghostly Space Marine but the author doesn't really say.
Needless to say, things go a bit pear-shaped for Zack and his lads as there are about sixty of them against what is basically the whole West-Coast fraternity of killings dudes (and dudettes) led by 'The Pilgrim'. I would like to talk about 'The Pilgrim' some more but there's not a lot to say as not a lot is said; roughly four pages are dedicated to him so you don't consider him a big deal. He's a bit like Jasper Carrott at a Hollywood A-list party as far as the author is concerned which is amazing as the author spends a good three-hundred and seventy pages banging on about Zack. I can see what the author was doing; he was trying to make you feel for the Excoriators, their path to redemption, and the utter hopelessness of their predicament in the build up for a grand Deus Ex Machina. He fails. Mr Sanders fails. Throughout I found that Rob Sanders was very adept at describing things, describing feelings, and describing sights but he fell a bit flat with weaving the bigger picture. Epic things were happening but it all lacked drama. A great deal felt very glossed over and rushed which is exceptional considering that many pages were dedicated to Zack and his inner-feelings. As an example the combat always felt like an afterthought and almost always lacked adequate description. A fight between two superhuman warriors in a grand battle would be written into a single line in the vain of "He slashed down, killing the World Eater outright." You read it and you know that other Black Library authors would have at least made that a paragraph that paints a vivid picture in your mind. Well, Nick Kyme wouldn't (read - couldn't).
So this plucky group of sixty-odd Space Marines, with some Imperial Guardsmen and Sisters of Battle (yes, they're in it but not much), fight hundreds of thousands of Khornate troops. I love reading books that include Chaos as they're such a blank canvas when it comes to writing. Authors can go hog-wild and create a cacophonous portrait of them. Not so with Mr Sanders. He was able to make them very flat and very generic. They were simply things there for the Excoriators to kill just so that they had something to do between paragraphs. He created a few renegade Chapters and Guard forces but didn't go into any detail of them. No backstory. They were just things to kill with a label put on with a post-it note. It may seem that I am ragging on Rob a bit here but I know he can write well. I adore Redemption Corps - Black Hawk Down in the 40k universe? Yes please! I got the impression that his heart wasn't in this one. Was he given the chance to write a story about the Legion of the Damned, something fans have been chomping for for two decades now, only to be told that he couldn't really write about them as it would risk losing their mystique? That would explain why the Legion only appeared in the last four or five pages.
If you want to learn more about the Imperial Fists and their successor chapters then this one is for you. If you, like me, were eager for some Legion of the Damned action then you'd have more luck reading an Argos catalogue.
The book actually focuses on the Excoriators Chapter, an Imperial Fist successor, and their quest for redemption on a cemetery planet that's in the path of a Khorne armada with a possessed comet at its core. A key point raised throughout the book is a thing all offspring of Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists, may be afflicted with known as 'The Darkness'. The Blood Angels have the Black Rage where they can turn into berserk furies. The Space Wolves have the Wulfen where they can turn into smelly wolf-men. The Salamanders get pitch-black skin and bright red eyes that make them look awesome. The World Eaters get implants that make them shake with rage if they're not killing. But the Imperial Fists get sad, so sad in fact that they could lose conciousness. I wish I were joking.
So we find ourselves with the Excoriators, more specifically the remnants of the 5th Company with some 10th Company scouts. The newly appointed leader of the 5th, Zack (again, not joking), has just woken up from being extremely sad because he lost a flag and now everybody hates him. But he proves he's an alright bloke by fighting a few other blokes and losing an eye. So we now have Zack the sad pirate. Okay, I'm getting a little silly with this but none of the story was grabbing me so far. It starts to get interesting as Zack wants to lead the 5th on a penance mission to recover the flag from none other than the Alpha Legion. I say, that should be good! This, however, doesn't happen as they're sent to see an Imperial demi-Pope before they can set off. The demi-Pope wants the 5th to go to a cemetery planet (a world dedicated to burying the rich and famous - and you thought George Lucas was one-dimensional with his worlds) to help protect it from a big space gang of marauding Traitor Marines and cultists lost in blood-lust. All the while Zack is being stalked by an apparition that is sort of described as a ghostly Space Marine but the author doesn't really say.
Needless to say, things go a bit pear-shaped for Zack and his lads as there are about sixty of them against what is basically the whole West-Coast fraternity of killings dudes (and dudettes) led by 'The Pilgrim'. I would like to talk about 'The Pilgrim' some more but there's not a lot to say as not a lot is said; roughly four pages are dedicated to him so you don't consider him a big deal. He's a bit like Jasper Carrott at a Hollywood A-list party as far as the author is concerned which is amazing as the author spends a good three-hundred and seventy pages banging on about Zack. I can see what the author was doing; he was trying to make you feel for the Excoriators, their path to redemption, and the utter hopelessness of their predicament in the build up for a grand Deus Ex Machina. He fails. Mr Sanders fails. Throughout I found that Rob Sanders was very adept at describing things, describing feelings, and describing sights but he fell a bit flat with weaving the bigger picture. Epic things were happening but it all lacked drama. A great deal felt very glossed over and rushed which is exceptional considering that many pages were dedicated to Zack and his inner-feelings. As an example the combat always felt like an afterthought and almost always lacked adequate description. A fight between two superhuman warriors in a grand battle would be written into a single line in the vain of "He slashed down, killing the World Eater outright." You read it and you know that other Black Library authors would have at least made that a paragraph that paints a vivid picture in your mind. Well, Nick Kyme wouldn't (read - couldn't).
So this plucky group of sixty-odd Space Marines, with some Imperial Guardsmen and Sisters of Battle (yes, they're in it but not much), fight hundreds of thousands of Khornate troops. I love reading books that include Chaos as they're such a blank canvas when it comes to writing. Authors can go hog-wild and create a cacophonous portrait of them. Not so with Mr Sanders. He was able to make them very flat and very generic. They were simply things there for the Excoriators to kill just so that they had something to do between paragraphs. He created a few renegade Chapters and Guard forces but didn't go into any detail of them. No backstory. They were just things to kill with a label put on with a post-it note. It may seem that I am ragging on Rob a bit here but I know he can write well. I adore Redemption Corps - Black Hawk Down in the 40k universe? Yes please! I got the impression that his heart wasn't in this one. Was he given the chance to write a story about the Legion of the Damned, something fans have been chomping for for two decades now, only to be told that he couldn't really write about them as it would risk losing their mystique? That would explain why the Legion only appeared in the last four or five pages.
If you want to learn more about the Imperial Fists and their successor chapters then this one is for you. If you, like me, were eager for some Legion of the Damned action then you'd have more luck reading an Argos catalogue.
November 17, 2013
"Sometimes I write and realise I feel like I'm strolling around the Labyrinth at Knossos - just going for a wander, I say, never to be seen again!"
I rather enjoyed The Legion of the Damned for its brainless story angles and bolter porn orientated prose. This isn't a slight on the author, it's a good thing for me, as I read Black Library novels to release me from the academic books, journals and articles which are inherent in my daily life.
Let's get down to the book then. A Chapter known as The Excoriators (who are the main focus of this novel) are introduced to the reader on a barren lifeless rock of a world. Lifeless as Chaos has sucked all humanity from the planet. Pretty bleak stuff. The story tumbles on and we are introduced to the loss of the Stigmartyr, the Chapters banner. Previous to that it was a standard used by Rogal Dorn himself. The Excoriators are on a losing streak, their Chapter Master Ichabod nearly assassinated and the Fifth companies loss whereupon the Excoriators champion, Zachariah Kersh, effectively (what the Chapter sees as) hands over the Stigmartyr to the traitors Alpha Legion. Not much happening then!
This excellent background by Rob Sanders helps set the tone for the novel. Kersh is the Scrouge. Fallen into darkness after so many failures due to the affliction of 'Dorns Dream' he finds himself shorn and hated by his comrades. Fortunately for him, he is needed at the Feast of Blades. A tournament where all those who descended from Dorn's gene honour him, by recreating The Eternal Fortress (after the Heresy, Dorn hunted the Iron Warriors at this place). They fight these ritual bouts for the right to secure another of Dorn's legacies, a blade carried by the Primarch. Marines and their past relics huh.
The story really picks up pace from then on. We find out the Excoriators Fifth company are a somewhat dejected bunch, who have faced defeat and lost half their number in the ensuing battle. Dislike and contempt for Kersh (who becomes their Corpus-Captain) is rife. I personally liked the direct confrontations between Kersh and First Whip Skase. This is evident by Skase's self-flagellation - something this Chapter does a lot, much like the Salamanders. The company want to avenge the loss of the Stigmartyr and chase after the Alpha Legion, while Kersh has orders to assist the Imperium's Ecclesiarchy - a rather brutal encounter, well for the Ecclesiarchy anyway. The Excoriators aren't fond of this God-Emperor worship you see. From then on the Emperor's Angels are involved with the defence of Certus-Minor, a cemetery world near the Eye of Terror. It holds Umberto II body, who was a High Lord of Terra. Interesting stuff.
Characters are fairly engrossing. The Fifth company as a whole aren't your quintessential marines. They've suffered heavy losses and lost relics from their past. They are dejected, they suffer with self doubt and openly question Kersh. As I've mentioned Skase is a excellent (if somewhat underused character) for this machina. The friction between them is, raw. Apothecary Ezrachi is used to bring some balance to (the off-balanced) Corpus-Captain. Much more level-headed and a little more rational than Kersh, he offers a perspective that isn't all revenge and glorious death routine, which would otherwise wash away this novel. Chaplain Shadrach, well, is a bit weak. He doesn't really come through for me. The Chaplain is a bit lapsidasicle - "Well we should be doing this, but I'm not sure, REALLY, I'm not sure" sort of thing. As for the bad-guy-consumed-by-revenge-and-bloodlust, well there is no real antagonist. A couple of mentions of some World Eater are made, a brief glimpse on their chaotic vessel, not much else is seen from them until the end. A bit, well, crap really. Before I forget, there are humans also, some serfs assigned to Zachariah Kersh, they are a bit standard also.
Prose is what you would expect from a Space Marines Battle Novel, it's bolter porn pure and simple. Don't expect a intelligent story, as there isn't one here. It's very much "plot A sets up plot B... DONE, ROLL THE CREDITS." Nothing wrong with that as I've mentioned. What I really enjoyed was the non-Space Marine feel to the novel. I've only come across it previously in early Horus Heresy novels. That being those super-humans are very human. They suffer from dejection, fear of failure, self doubt and even open descent. This makes for a more interesting, dramatic Chapter to follow than the sometimes flawlessly stoic Marines from some other books. Something that was welcomed with open arms, or eyes.
I should mention that the Legion of the Damned don't make a (proper) appearance until the final twenty five pages of the novel (well, Kersh might feel differently - hint hint!). This is no bad thing, as they would be horrid to write into a whole novel. It was good to see that Chaos aren't the only force who can call on such horrors. Anyway, once again I digress. Sometimes I write and realise I feel like I'm strolling around the Labyrinth at Knossos - just going for a wander, I say, never to be seen again! Pick Legion of the Damned up if you are looking for something without the classic slant of the heroic and stoic Space Marine.
I rather enjoyed The Legion of the Damned for its brainless story angles and bolter porn orientated prose. This isn't a slight on the author, it's a good thing for me, as I read Black Library novels to release me from the academic books, journals and articles which are inherent in my daily life.
Let's get down to the book then. A Chapter known as The Excoriators (who are the main focus of this novel) are introduced to the reader on a barren lifeless rock of a world. Lifeless as Chaos has sucked all humanity from the planet. Pretty bleak stuff. The story tumbles on and we are introduced to the loss of the Stigmartyr, the Chapters banner. Previous to that it was a standard used by Rogal Dorn himself. The Excoriators are on a losing streak, their Chapter Master Ichabod nearly assassinated and the Fifth companies loss whereupon the Excoriators champion, Zachariah Kersh, effectively (what the Chapter sees as) hands over the Stigmartyr to the traitors Alpha Legion. Not much happening then!
This excellent background by Rob Sanders helps set the tone for the novel. Kersh is the Scrouge. Fallen into darkness after so many failures due to the affliction of 'Dorns Dream' he finds himself shorn and hated by his comrades. Fortunately for him, he is needed at the Feast of Blades. A tournament where all those who descended from Dorn's gene honour him, by recreating The Eternal Fortress (after the Heresy, Dorn hunted the Iron Warriors at this place). They fight these ritual bouts for the right to secure another of Dorn's legacies, a blade carried by the Primarch. Marines and their past relics huh.
The story really picks up pace from then on. We find out the Excoriators Fifth company are a somewhat dejected bunch, who have faced defeat and lost half their number in the ensuing battle. Dislike and contempt for Kersh (who becomes their Corpus-Captain) is rife. I personally liked the direct confrontations between Kersh and First Whip Skase. This is evident by Skase's self-flagellation - something this Chapter does a lot, much like the Salamanders. The company want to avenge the loss of the Stigmartyr and chase after the Alpha Legion, while Kersh has orders to assist the Imperium's Ecclesiarchy - a rather brutal encounter, well for the Ecclesiarchy anyway. The Excoriators aren't fond of this God-Emperor worship you see. From then on the Emperor's Angels are involved with the defence of Certus-Minor, a cemetery world near the Eye of Terror. It holds Umberto II body, who was a High Lord of Terra. Interesting stuff.
Characters are fairly engrossing. The Fifth company as a whole aren't your quintessential marines. They've suffered heavy losses and lost relics from their past. They are dejected, they suffer with self doubt and openly question Kersh. As I've mentioned Skase is a excellent (if somewhat underused character) for this machina. The friction between them is, raw. Apothecary Ezrachi is used to bring some balance to (the off-balanced) Corpus-Captain. Much more level-headed and a little more rational than Kersh, he offers a perspective that isn't all revenge and glorious death routine, which would otherwise wash away this novel. Chaplain Shadrach, well, is a bit weak. He doesn't really come through for me. The Chaplain is a bit lapsidasicle - "Well we should be doing this, but I'm not sure, REALLY, I'm not sure" sort of thing. As for the bad-guy-consumed-by-revenge-and-bloodlust, well there is no real antagonist. A couple of mentions of some World Eater are made, a brief glimpse on their chaotic vessel, not much else is seen from them until the end. A bit, well, crap really. Before I forget, there are humans also, some serfs assigned to Zachariah Kersh, they are a bit standard also.
Prose is what you would expect from a Space Marines Battle Novel, it's bolter porn pure and simple. Don't expect a intelligent story, as there isn't one here. It's very much "plot A sets up plot B... DONE, ROLL THE CREDITS." Nothing wrong with that as I've mentioned. What I really enjoyed was the non-Space Marine feel to the novel. I've only come across it previously in early Horus Heresy novels. That being those super-humans are very human. They suffer from dejection, fear of failure, self doubt and even open descent. This makes for a more interesting, dramatic Chapter to follow than the sometimes flawlessly stoic Marines from some other books. Something that was welcomed with open arms, or eyes.
I should mention that the Legion of the Damned don't make a (proper) appearance until the final twenty five pages of the novel (well, Kersh might feel differently - hint hint!). This is no bad thing, as they would be horrid to write into a whole novel. It was good to see that Chaos aren't the only force who can call on such horrors. Anyway, once again I digress. Sometimes I write and realise I feel like I'm strolling around the Labyrinth at Knossos - just going for a wander, I say, never to be seen again! Pick Legion of the Damned up if you are looking for something without the classic slant of the heroic and stoic Space Marine.
May 30, 2012
All the elements were there.
An awesome setting, a chapter that was new yet held to the Imperial Fist's gene flaw, a horrible disaster that threatens the galaxy, and ghostly warriors that have had very little fluff written about them.
All the elements of what could have, should have, been a wonderful novel.
First off, if you are reading this book to learn about the Legion of the Damned, don't.
They only really show up in force in the last sixty or so pages of this book. Since I am not a huge fan of these Mary Sue's of Space Marines, this isn't a bad thing. Instead, you are treated to a wonderful story about a chapter and one of its heroes. The character of the Scourge is wonderfully done, as is his chapter. You learn of his flaws, what he has to prove, and everything that makes him a good and well thought out character. Same goes for the chapter.
Everything is pretty much well written until we get to the actual attack itself upon the defenders in their last stand against the forces of Khorne. The intro to the battle, as well as its entire set up is well done, and hence earns most of the stars in the ranking of this book. But as soon as the battle hits, things get terribly bogged down in details, and it only gets worse.
By the end of the book, I found myself struggling to get through all of the Scourge's battles for survival, as they keep piling and piling on. Even the final eventual appearance of the Legion of the Damned couldn't take away from the sheer repetition you get from battle after battle, life threatening situation after life threatening situation. Like a high that goes on too long, it quickly becomes boring.
The ending itself, the last couple pages, was well done. I actually enjoyed it and it kept a lot of the magic and myth of the Legion of the Damned, which had been stolen by very boring descriptions of their actions throughout their entire appearance. (again, it's hard to feel excited for a bunch of invincible, perfect killers, something they haven't been described as in any of the fluff and material published about this chapter. Last I checked, they could be harmed, can be killed) It just removes all excitement that could have been.
All in all, not one of the better Space Marine Battle books out there. It's not a bad read until the main battle hits. Would I recommend it? Probably not. There are better books out there, despite all the good things in this book, it's hard to see them through all the problems. Yet if you love the Legion of the Damned, or like me, want to read all the books in the Battle series, then by all means, go for it.
An awesome setting, a chapter that was new yet held to the Imperial Fist's gene flaw, a horrible disaster that threatens the galaxy, and ghostly warriors that have had very little fluff written about them.
All the elements of what could have, should have, been a wonderful novel.
First off, if you are reading this book to learn about the Legion of the Damned, don't.
They only really show up in force in the last sixty or so pages of this book. Since I am not a huge fan of these Mary Sue's of Space Marines, this isn't a bad thing. Instead, you are treated to a wonderful story about a chapter and one of its heroes. The character of the Scourge is wonderfully done, as is his chapter. You learn of his flaws, what he has to prove, and everything that makes him a good and well thought out character. Same goes for the chapter.
Everything is pretty much well written until we get to the actual attack itself upon the defenders in their last stand against the forces of Khorne. The intro to the battle, as well as its entire set up is well done, and hence earns most of the stars in the ranking of this book. But as soon as the battle hits, things get terribly bogged down in details, and it only gets worse.
By the end of the book, I found myself struggling to get through all of the Scourge's battles for survival, as they keep piling and piling on. Even the final eventual appearance of the Legion of the Damned couldn't take away from the sheer repetition you get from battle after battle, life threatening situation after life threatening situation. Like a high that goes on too long, it quickly becomes boring.
The ending itself, the last couple pages, was well done. I actually enjoyed it and it kept a lot of the magic and myth of the Legion of the Damned, which had been stolen by very boring descriptions of their actions throughout their entire appearance. (again, it's hard to feel excited for a bunch of invincible, perfect killers, something they haven't been described as in any of the fluff and material published about this chapter. Last I checked, they could be harmed, can be killed) It just removes all excitement that could have been.
All in all, not one of the better Space Marine Battle books out there. It's not a bad read until the main battle hits. Would I recommend it? Probably not. There are better books out there, despite all the good things in this book, it's hard to see them through all the problems. Yet if you love the Legion of the Damned, or like me, want to read all the books in the Battle series, then by all means, go for it.
April 25, 2012
Calling a book Legion of the Damned, and having this "Legion" appear only in the last two chapters (and that is being kind) is crap. Why not just title the book like most of the other books in the series...call it "Certus Minor" or the "Cholercaust", anything other then "Legion of the Damned". This is false advertising and as such it lets you down. I have been reading these 40k novels for years and my experience with 40K goes back to the early 90's. I was really excited about the possiblities of this book and then......well it was a story of the Excoriators. An opportunity was missed I thought as well to "flesh" out some of the World Eaters, lets face it they are crazy beserkers and really could have had a larger role in the story.
Well after my disappointment just mentioned, the story was okay. I felt that the story was good, although in a "Battles" novel I really am looking for more of the Battle and less of the back story of the main protagoniost. I don't think I have read anything else by this author and I am certainly willing to give him another chance. There was enough of interest in this book for another read.
Well after my disappointment just mentioned, the story was okay. I felt that the story was good, although in a "Battles" novel I really am looking for more of the Battle and less of the back story of the main protagoniost. I don't think I have read anything else by this author and I am certainly willing to give him another chance. There was enough of interest in this book for another read.
October 19, 2012
Prior to picking up Legion of the Damned I have only read Horus Rising by Dan Abnett. I have to admit that as an outsider looking in, Warhammer and Warhammer 40000 can appear to be massively intimidating. I was concerned that I was going to be totally out of my depth here, but quickly realised that I need not have worried. I think it’s probably fair however, to concede that I may have missed out on some of the more subtle nuances of the story. I am sure there are characters or events mentioned that hardened Warhammer 40000 fans will spot and smile knowingly about, but I didn’t really feel put off by that.
Legion of the Damned covers classic ground. Essentially this is the tale of a small force of soldiers attempting to stand their ground against over whelming odds. Each successive chapter the tension gets cranked up a notch until eventually all hell breaks loose. Just waiting for that moment to arrive is a great deal of fun.
There are quite a number of colourful characters in this novel but the standout is undoubtedly commander, Zachariah Kersh. I’m reasonably sure if you cut him in half you would find the words anti-hero running all the way through his body like in a stick of seaside rock. Disliked by his men and distrusted by his equals I couldn’t help but warm to him. He has an air of stoicism and a grim determination that are difficult to ignore.
The battle scenes have an exciting, almost manic lack of restraint that I really enjoyed. When the forces of the Blood God finally arrive in force on Certus Minor things get particularly gory. Word of advice, if you are a little squeamish you may want to give this one a miss. Turns out that the inter-galactic demon possessed are really keen on ripping various appendages off Space Marines. They do have some fantastic names though. (I’m looking at you Umbragg of the Brazen Flesh – World Eater and Skull Champion of the Blood God).
What I’ve been pleased to discover in my, admittedly limited, exposure to Warhammer 40000 is that there is something for everyone. The publisher, Black Library, genuinely excel at this. There is such a huge scope for the novels that inhabit the Warhammer 40000 universe you are guaranteed that there will be something that takes your fancy.
Legion of the Damned is published by Black Library and is available now. I urge you to check it out, as well as their impressive back catalogue. There will definitely be something there that will interest you.
Legion of the Damned covers classic ground. Essentially this is the tale of a small force of soldiers attempting to stand their ground against over whelming odds. Each successive chapter the tension gets cranked up a notch until eventually all hell breaks loose. Just waiting for that moment to arrive is a great deal of fun.
There are quite a number of colourful characters in this novel but the standout is undoubtedly commander, Zachariah Kersh. I’m reasonably sure if you cut him in half you would find the words anti-hero running all the way through his body like in a stick of seaside rock. Disliked by his men and distrusted by his equals I couldn’t help but warm to him. He has an air of stoicism and a grim determination that are difficult to ignore.
The battle scenes have an exciting, almost manic lack of restraint that I really enjoyed. When the forces of the Blood God finally arrive in force on Certus Minor things get particularly gory. Word of advice, if you are a little squeamish you may want to give this one a miss. Turns out that the inter-galactic demon possessed are really keen on ripping various appendages off Space Marines. They do have some fantastic names though. (I’m looking at you Umbragg of the Brazen Flesh – World Eater and Skull Champion of the Blood God).
What I’ve been pleased to discover in my, admittedly limited, exposure to Warhammer 40000 is that there is something for everyone. The publisher, Black Library, genuinely excel at this. There is such a huge scope for the novels that inhabit the Warhammer 40000 universe you are guaranteed that there will be something that takes your fancy.
Legion of the Damned is published by Black Library and is available now. I urge you to check it out, as well as their impressive back catalogue. There will definitely be something there that will interest you.
August 26, 2012
Some 'Space Marine Battles' novels are a little "Meh".
Some don't have anything interesting to say about the Space Marine Chapter they are depicting or the action is a bit boring. Well I didn't know a lot about the Excoriators Chapter when I first started reading this book, but you'd be hard pressed to find a total bad ass like Corpus-Captain Zacariah Kersh.
The action is amazing and incredibly gritty and the book captures perfectly the mindset of a Space Marine: Duty, Honour... Arrogant, Violent.
I really enjoyed this book and I'd highly recommend it as one of the better examples of what 'The Black Library' has to offer.
Some don't have anything interesting to say about the Space Marine Chapter they are depicting or the action is a bit boring. Well I didn't know a lot about the Excoriators Chapter when I first started reading this book, but you'd be hard pressed to find a total bad ass like Corpus-Captain Zacariah Kersh.
The action is amazing and incredibly gritty and the book captures perfectly the mindset of a Space Marine: Duty, Honour... Arrogant, Violent.
I really enjoyed this book and I'd highly recommend it as one of the better examples of what 'The Black Library' has to offer.
February 16, 2012
Shadowhawk reviews the latest Space Marine Battles novel as Rob Sanders tackles the enigmatic, mysterious and ghostly Space Marines of the Legion of the Damned.
“An in-depth study into the character of the Excoriators and delving into some of the mysteries of the ethereal Legion of the Damned, Rob Sanders leaves you wanting more and more.” ~The Founding Fields
Note: The review contains minor spoilers.
Legion of the Damned, the latest novel to join the ranks of the Space Marine Battles range for Warhammer 40,000, is a case of Rob Sanders delivering yet again. My previous experiences with his work are his two short stories, The Long Games at Carcharias in the Victories of the Space Marines anthology and Iron Within for the Age of Darkness anthology, as well as his Inquisitor Czevak novel, Atlas Infernal. The latter sadly lies half-finished in my to-read pile of physical books since I’ve been bitten by the eBook bug for the last two and a half months and haven’t read a physical book in that time.
However, the relevant fact here here is that I’ve liked all his work so far and it is massively enjoyable because of his quirky approaches and non-traditional insights into what we would generally consider the norm. For instance, Atlas Infernal is chock-full of dozens of different factions and characters and yet it is all part of a cohesive whole where all the cameos never become overbearing but instead flow smoothly together.
The same holds true in Legion of the Damned, but on a smaller scale and one that is all the more personal.
The novel is told primarily through the warriors of the Excoriators Fifth Company, an Imperial Fists successor chapter of the Second Founding and their disgraced, new captain, the former chapter champion Zachariah Kersh. As such, Legion of the Damned serves as a rather in-depth study into the psyche of the Excoriators and just what makes them tick.
The biggest draw of the novel is that Rob Sanders has succeeded so well in making the Excoriators such a distinct chapter from their other brethren. All the major Imperial Fists legion’s successor chapters of the Second Founding have had their day in the sun and have been explored by several authors. Going up against such old chapters as the Imperial Fists, the Black Templars, the Crimson Fists and the Soul Drinkers (depending on who you believe) is not easy since these chapters have all had massive exposure by both Games Workshop and Black Library alike.
Yet, Rob Sanders makes them a force to be reckoned them. They have their own distinct legacy from their Primarch, which in itself is very different to that of their blood-brothers. Their tactical doctrines are completely different to that of their blood-brothers even though the intent of their actions and that of the Imperial Fists in particular are quite similar. And they are, just, different as a whole. If Rob had used any other chapter than the Excoriators, then the novel would have been far, far different.
Specifically, their own brand of self-torture is something that sets them apart from the others of Dorn’s blood in that it is far more bloodier and is a shared experience with their serfs, rather than in isolation as is the custom of the Imperial Fists. The scenes with the Excoriators punishing themselves are quite chilling to read and quite emotionally charged too since there is always so much tension surrounding these scenes.
Some of the best moments, in the entirety of the novel, are the ones involving Zachariah Kersh and the 816th Feast of Blades, a centennial ceremonial event that gathers together all those of Dorn’s blood and pits the chosen champions of these chapters against each other in a series of brutal, close-combat matches. Each and every scene here is distinct and Rob’s style really evokes images of the fights in my mind. They are also fluid, entertaining and not without their own twists and turns that make them very enjoyable to read. Additionally, these fight scenes are also quite brutal, as neither Rob, nor the sons of Dorn shy away from getting personal in the arenas. Definitely some of the best action scenes I have yet read in Black Library fiction.
Zachariah Kersh is also a very engaging character that you sympathise with and hate with equal measure. His mistakes have cost his chapter dearly, with its chapter standard lost, several battle-brothers dead, and his chapter master near death. Therefore most of his brothers now revile him for his apparent weaknesses and thus Kersh now has to rise above their hatred of him and prove himself worthy as he is promoted from chapter champion to captain of the fifth company. The emotional self-conflict is all there in spades. Kersh constantly fights against the restrictions of his new rank because while he would like to do nothing other than reclaim the chapter standard and punish those responsible for its theft, he also has warriors of his own to command and the orders of his chapter master to obey. This is compounded since his own warriors want to hunt down the traitors who took the chapter standard.
Kersh is definitely not the typical Space Marine hero we read about in Black Library fiction, like Ragnar of the Space Wolves or Uriel Ventris of the Ultramarines or Hazon Dak’ir and Zek Tsu’gan of the Salamanders. However, he still manages to evoke aspects of each of them. He is insubordinate, a believer in the Codex, and he drowns in self-misery and self-blame throughout the novel. But just like his peers from other chapters, the point isn’t that he rises above all of that, but how he does it. Being the big punching bag of the universe is never fun, just ask Tsu’gan and Uriel that. (Thanks to a friend for that excellent observation!)
What I perhaps didn’t like all that much is that the Legion of the Damned itself did not make such a strong showing in the novel, in that their scenes were very few and too far in between. Rob’s approach to show their modus operandi through the eyes of Kersh and his warriors is something that I would say mostly works but I still feel that the Legion could have gotten more exposure. Mystery and enigmaticness is all fine and good but there are cases of having too little of it and too much of it. For me, the Legion suffers from the former rather than being a balance between the two approaches.
That said, what little we do get is no less awesome. We see the Legion’s interest in our protagonist from the get-go, their will manifesting itself through seemingly random cards from the Imperial Tarot, which I have to say was brilliantly done. The concept of the Imperial Tarot deck itself is very, very under-used by authors and therefore it is great to see this small facet of the Imperium’s practices brought to light. Then there is the arrival on Certus Minor of the Legion itself and there subsequent handling of the Chaos forces. Without giving anything away, I will say that most readers will enjoy getting a kick of the scene when an Excoriator scout comes across one particular Legionnaire. Its one of those small, rewarding scenes sprinkled throughout the novel which just add to your enjoyment and excitement and, once again, leave you wanting more.
Another great moment in the novel is discovering the origins of the Legion of the Damned and the arrival of one of their warships. The novel would be quite dull without these two elements and while Rob doesn’t give everything away, he still gives the reader enough information to form their own opinions and to keep them all turning the pages to find out more. More than anything, these were the most liveliest and exciting scenes in the novel.
Then there is also the bridging the gap between the Horus Heresy and M41, something that is handled in a way that is very rewarding, especially if you already are familiar with the most prominent aspects of the Imperial Fists Legion’s history and that of Rogal Dorn himself. Parallels are drawn often between the two ages and these are refreshing to see since few authors actually go that route, preferring to keep their stories grounded in the contemporary age, drawing only a little bit from what has happened ten thousand years ago.
Rob Sanders’s style in this novel is something that often made me feel like I was reading classical mythology, especially something from the Greek myths and plays. This alone makes Legion of the Damned stand out from other Space Marine-centric novels with only Dan Abnett’s Brothers of the Snake coming close. This was… quite the novelty I should say. The character quirks, the events, the dialogue, they all conspire together to give the feel of Greek tragedies and with Kersh being very much the universe’s current favourite punching bag, I guess this was appropriate and I am sort of divided if I liked this or not. I can appreciate the style sure and it enhanced the reading experience for me but I don’t think I would like to see something like become the norm or anything. I’ll say that as a one-off experiment, or approach if you prefer, this works quite well but is not something that should be repeated, at least not for a while.
The pacing of the novel is also something that I did not have an issue with it at all. There are quite a few different worlds on which the story takes place and the flow between them as the characters travel from one planet to the next never slows down or becomes cumbersome. In that respect, there aren’t any low-points in the novel really because there is enough dramatic (and otherwise) tension aplenty in the novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I would also emphasise that Legion of the Damned is a novel that should be read in as few sittings as possible because in my opinion, that is the best way to enjoy it.
The overall characterisation of all the characters, from the Ordo Obsoletus adept to the agents of the Ecclesiarchy, the Excoriators and their blood-cousins to the Sororitas, are all handled rather nicely too. They all act as per the dictates of their factions and organisations and there is never a dull moment where you think “umm, what the hell did he just say?” or “so and so is not supposed to act like that!”. All the characters play their part appropriately and one of the best things that Rob Sanders does is show you that disagreements between a Space Marine captain and the warriors of his company extend to those around them as well, whether they are scouts of the chapter’s tenth company, or the defenders of Certus Minor itself. Rob Sanders just keeps adding more fuel to the fire that is Kersh’s fall of disgrace, setting him up for a great climax.
And after having read through the entire novel, the climax is quite good because this is the part where the Legion of the Damned really shines. From their lore, we already know that these ethereal, ghostly warriors don’t take to battle unless the stakes are extremely high and the battle is a last stand against truly hopeless odds and Rob Sanders does evoke that mentality of the Legion. However, like I mentioned earlier, I would have liked to see the Legion truly in action here in that I wanted to see them have a bigger effect on it. Quite how that would have come about I am not sure but I did feel at the end like I definitely didn’t get a good enough look at the Legion of the Damned. Ah well, perhaps some sort of follow-up story can be worked up by Rob Sanders and Black Library!
All in all, I would highly recommend Legion of the Damned. Just like with Sarah Cawkwell’s The Gildar Rift, Rob Sanders does a great job of bringing an extremely minor chapter in the lore to life and I would even compare his handling of the Excoriators to Chris Wraight’s handling of the Space Wolves in The Battle of the Fang. In all three of these novels, weirdly enough they are all Space Marine Battles novels, we get a very in-depth look into the chapters which are the driving force of the story and that is something that is very heartening to see in the Space Marine Battles range. That is, these novels transcend the idea of being just bolter-porn and instead deliver us far more than we would expect.
Finally, I would rate Legion of the Damned quite highly as well and give it a 9.5/10. The e-Book is currently available and the print version is coming out in April this year so be sure to pick them up!
“An in-depth study into the character of the Excoriators and delving into some of the mysteries of the ethereal Legion of the Damned, Rob Sanders leaves you wanting more and more.” ~The Founding Fields
Note: The review contains minor spoilers.
Legion of the Damned, the latest novel to join the ranks of the Space Marine Battles range for Warhammer 40,000, is a case of Rob Sanders delivering yet again. My previous experiences with his work are his two short stories, The Long Games at Carcharias in the Victories of the Space Marines anthology and Iron Within for the Age of Darkness anthology, as well as his Inquisitor Czevak novel, Atlas Infernal. The latter sadly lies half-finished in my to-read pile of physical books since I’ve been bitten by the eBook bug for the last two and a half months and haven’t read a physical book in that time.
However, the relevant fact here here is that I’ve liked all his work so far and it is massively enjoyable because of his quirky approaches and non-traditional insights into what we would generally consider the norm. For instance, Atlas Infernal is chock-full of dozens of different factions and characters and yet it is all part of a cohesive whole where all the cameos never become overbearing but instead flow smoothly together.
The same holds true in Legion of the Damned, but on a smaller scale and one that is all the more personal.
The novel is told primarily through the warriors of the Excoriators Fifth Company, an Imperial Fists successor chapter of the Second Founding and their disgraced, new captain, the former chapter champion Zachariah Kersh. As such, Legion of the Damned serves as a rather in-depth study into the psyche of the Excoriators and just what makes them tick.
The biggest draw of the novel is that Rob Sanders has succeeded so well in making the Excoriators such a distinct chapter from their other brethren. All the major Imperial Fists legion’s successor chapters of the Second Founding have had their day in the sun and have been explored by several authors. Going up against such old chapters as the Imperial Fists, the Black Templars, the Crimson Fists and the Soul Drinkers (depending on who you believe) is not easy since these chapters have all had massive exposure by both Games Workshop and Black Library alike.
Yet, Rob Sanders makes them a force to be reckoned them. They have their own distinct legacy from their Primarch, which in itself is very different to that of their blood-brothers. Their tactical doctrines are completely different to that of their blood-brothers even though the intent of their actions and that of the Imperial Fists in particular are quite similar. And they are, just, different as a whole. If Rob had used any other chapter than the Excoriators, then the novel would have been far, far different.
Specifically, their own brand of self-torture is something that sets them apart from the others of Dorn’s blood in that it is far more bloodier and is a shared experience with their serfs, rather than in isolation as is the custom of the Imperial Fists. The scenes with the Excoriators punishing themselves are quite chilling to read and quite emotionally charged too since there is always so much tension surrounding these scenes.
Some of the best moments, in the entirety of the novel, are the ones involving Zachariah Kersh and the 816th Feast of Blades, a centennial ceremonial event that gathers together all those of Dorn’s blood and pits the chosen champions of these chapters against each other in a series of brutal, close-combat matches. Each and every scene here is distinct and Rob’s style really evokes images of the fights in my mind. They are also fluid, entertaining and not without their own twists and turns that make them very enjoyable to read. Additionally, these fight scenes are also quite brutal, as neither Rob, nor the sons of Dorn shy away from getting personal in the arenas. Definitely some of the best action scenes I have yet read in Black Library fiction.
Zachariah Kersh is also a very engaging character that you sympathise with and hate with equal measure. His mistakes have cost his chapter dearly, with its chapter standard lost, several battle-brothers dead, and his chapter master near death. Therefore most of his brothers now revile him for his apparent weaknesses and thus Kersh now has to rise above their hatred of him and prove himself worthy as he is promoted from chapter champion to captain of the fifth company. The emotional self-conflict is all there in spades. Kersh constantly fights against the restrictions of his new rank because while he would like to do nothing other than reclaim the chapter standard and punish those responsible for its theft, he also has warriors of his own to command and the orders of his chapter master to obey. This is compounded since his own warriors want to hunt down the traitors who took the chapter standard.
Kersh is definitely not the typical Space Marine hero we read about in Black Library fiction, like Ragnar of the Space Wolves or Uriel Ventris of the Ultramarines or Hazon Dak’ir and Zek Tsu’gan of the Salamanders. However, he still manages to evoke aspects of each of them. He is insubordinate, a believer in the Codex, and he drowns in self-misery and self-blame throughout the novel. But just like his peers from other chapters, the point isn’t that he rises above all of that, but how he does it. Being the big punching bag of the universe is never fun, just ask Tsu’gan and Uriel that. (Thanks to a friend for that excellent observation!)
What I perhaps didn’t like all that much is that the Legion of the Damned itself did not make such a strong showing in the novel, in that their scenes were very few and too far in between. Rob’s approach to show their modus operandi through the eyes of Kersh and his warriors is something that I would say mostly works but I still feel that the Legion could have gotten more exposure. Mystery and enigmaticness is all fine and good but there are cases of having too little of it and too much of it. For me, the Legion suffers from the former rather than being a balance between the two approaches.
That said, what little we do get is no less awesome. We see the Legion’s interest in our protagonist from the get-go, their will manifesting itself through seemingly random cards from the Imperial Tarot, which I have to say was brilliantly done. The concept of the Imperial Tarot deck itself is very, very under-used by authors and therefore it is great to see this small facet of the Imperium’s practices brought to light. Then there is the arrival on Certus Minor of the Legion itself and there subsequent handling of the Chaos forces. Without giving anything away, I will say that most readers will enjoy getting a kick of the scene when an Excoriator scout comes across one particular Legionnaire. Its one of those small, rewarding scenes sprinkled throughout the novel which just add to your enjoyment and excitement and, once again, leave you wanting more.
Another great moment in the novel is discovering the origins of the Legion of the Damned and the arrival of one of their warships. The novel would be quite dull without these two elements and while Rob doesn’t give everything away, he still gives the reader enough information to form their own opinions and to keep them all turning the pages to find out more. More than anything, these were the most liveliest and exciting scenes in the novel.
Then there is also the bridging the gap between the Horus Heresy and M41, something that is handled in a way that is very rewarding, especially if you already are familiar with the most prominent aspects of the Imperial Fists Legion’s history and that of Rogal Dorn himself. Parallels are drawn often between the two ages and these are refreshing to see since few authors actually go that route, preferring to keep their stories grounded in the contemporary age, drawing only a little bit from what has happened ten thousand years ago.
Rob Sanders’s style in this novel is something that often made me feel like I was reading classical mythology, especially something from the Greek myths and plays. This alone makes Legion of the Damned stand out from other Space Marine-centric novels with only Dan Abnett’s Brothers of the Snake coming close. This was… quite the novelty I should say. The character quirks, the events, the dialogue, they all conspire together to give the feel of Greek tragedies and with Kersh being very much the universe’s current favourite punching bag, I guess this was appropriate and I am sort of divided if I liked this or not. I can appreciate the style sure and it enhanced the reading experience for me but I don’t think I would like to see something like become the norm or anything. I’ll say that as a one-off experiment, or approach if you prefer, this works quite well but is not something that should be repeated, at least not for a while.
The pacing of the novel is also something that I did not have an issue with it at all. There are quite a few different worlds on which the story takes place and the flow between them as the characters travel from one planet to the next never slows down or becomes cumbersome. In that respect, there aren’t any low-points in the novel really because there is enough dramatic (and otherwise) tension aplenty in the novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I would also emphasise that Legion of the Damned is a novel that should be read in as few sittings as possible because in my opinion, that is the best way to enjoy it.
The overall characterisation of all the characters, from the Ordo Obsoletus adept to the agents of the Ecclesiarchy, the Excoriators and their blood-cousins to the Sororitas, are all handled rather nicely too. They all act as per the dictates of their factions and organisations and there is never a dull moment where you think “umm, what the hell did he just say?” or “so and so is not supposed to act like that!”. All the characters play their part appropriately and one of the best things that Rob Sanders does is show you that disagreements between a Space Marine captain and the warriors of his company extend to those around them as well, whether they are scouts of the chapter’s tenth company, or the defenders of Certus Minor itself. Rob Sanders just keeps adding more fuel to the fire that is Kersh’s fall of disgrace, setting him up for a great climax.
And after having read through the entire novel, the climax is quite good because this is the part where the Legion of the Damned really shines. From their lore, we already know that these ethereal, ghostly warriors don’t take to battle unless the stakes are extremely high and the battle is a last stand against truly hopeless odds and Rob Sanders does evoke that mentality of the Legion. However, like I mentioned earlier, I would have liked to see the Legion truly in action here in that I wanted to see them have a bigger effect on it. Quite how that would have come about I am not sure but I did feel at the end like I definitely didn’t get a good enough look at the Legion of the Damned. Ah well, perhaps some sort of follow-up story can be worked up by Rob Sanders and Black Library!
All in all, I would highly recommend Legion of the Damned. Just like with Sarah Cawkwell’s The Gildar Rift, Rob Sanders does a great job of bringing an extremely minor chapter in the lore to life and I would even compare his handling of the Excoriators to Chris Wraight’s handling of the Space Wolves in The Battle of the Fang. In all three of these novels, weirdly enough they are all Space Marine Battles novels, we get a very in-depth look into the chapters which are the driving force of the story and that is something that is very heartening to see in the Space Marine Battles range. That is, these novels transcend the idea of being just bolter-porn and instead deliver us far more than we would expect.
Finally, I would rate Legion of the Damned quite highly as well and give it a 9.5/10. The e-Book is currently available and the print version is coming out in April this year so be sure to pick them up!
March 26, 2019
Personal Response
That was a great book. The way that they show that someone is talking is strange. This has a chunk of lore that I did not know about that involves the Adeptus Astartes, Space Marine Chapters that are the Sons of Rogal Dorn.
Plot
It starts with an Inquisitor investigating the defeat of the Cholercaust, a Khorne devoted warband of massive size. It then shifts to an Adeptus Astartes, Space Marine, feast, The Feast of Blades and competition for their Primarch’s blade, the Dornsblade. The winner of that feast was Corpus-Captain Zachariah Kersh of the Excoriators Fifth Company.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to any fans of Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000. To those that aren't squeamish about gore and other bloody acts of total war. To those that like Sci-Fi, Fantasy and a massive universe with tons of lore.
Characterization
Kersh is revealed to care about the people of the Imperium, unlike most other Space Marines. He sent the Gene-Seed of the 5th company to a Forge World, but not the Dornsblade the reason so that the Chapter would come. He is shown to be a very good commander and have very good defensive strategies.
That was a great book. The way that they show that someone is talking is strange. This has a chunk of lore that I did not know about that involves the Adeptus Astartes, Space Marine Chapters that are the Sons of Rogal Dorn.
Plot
It starts with an Inquisitor investigating the defeat of the Cholercaust, a Khorne devoted warband of massive size. It then shifts to an Adeptus Astartes, Space Marine, feast, The Feast of Blades and competition for their Primarch’s blade, the Dornsblade. The winner of that feast was Corpus-Captain Zachariah Kersh of the Excoriators Fifth Company.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to any fans of Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000. To those that aren't squeamish about gore and other bloody acts of total war. To those that like Sci-Fi, Fantasy and a massive universe with tons of lore.
Characterization
Kersh is revealed to care about the people of the Imperium, unlike most other Space Marines. He sent the Gene-Seed of the 5th company to a Forge World, but not the Dornsblade the reason so that the Chapter would come. He is shown to be a very good commander and have very good defensive strategies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2020
I liked the book quite a lot, i didn’t find the action excessive, the end had lots but that is to be expected with the climax. Being the sentimental doof that I am, I can relate to the feelings of the Excoriators with their prized chapter banner being stolen. I like Sanders’ build up to the end, things just keep getting worse for our protagonists. So yes, i liked this book.
Time to relax. Borrowers Afloat now!!
From GrimDark to family fun. The way it should be.
Time to relax. Borrowers Afloat now!!
From GrimDark to family fun. The way it should be.
February 28, 2012
Original Post: http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/02/...
This is possibly one of my most anticipated Space Marine Battles novels yet. I mean, ever since the release of Fall of Damnos by Nick Kyme, the series has generally increased dramatically in quality from the novels that preceded it, with Aaron Dembski-Bowden’s Helsreach being the exception. Novels such as Battle of the Fang and The Gildar Rift were enjoyable to read, and although not everyone shares my opinion, I believe – since Fall of Damnos, I don’t think we’ve seen a bad Space Marine Battles novel yet.
I also believe that this is one of the first times that the Legion of the Damned makes an appearance in one of Black Library’s titles, as well as the first time that the Feast of Blades makes an appearance in Black Library lore. For all of those who don’t know what the Feast of Blades is, it’s a centennial honorific competition between twelve Space Marine Chapters (three examples are the Imperial Fists, Crimson Fists and Iron Knights), and has only appeared as of the fifth edition Space Marine Codex.
Right, now that you should understand what the Feast of Blades is about, let’s get on with the review for Legion of the Damned.
The novel itself, at first – looks like it should be named after the adventures of the Excoriators Chapter, descendants of the Imperial Fists that are the Chapter that takes centre stage in Legion of the Damned, and have a lot more page time than the Chapter of the novel’s namesake. The Excoriators are a chapter who have, like the aforementioned Space Marine Chapters, chosen to take part in the Feast of Blades, and Rob Sanders does a brilliant job of portraying it in the novel. Although, don’t think the book is all about the Feast of Blades, oh no – it’s far from limited to that, for the Feast is only the beginning, as the novel dictates the Excoriators in a battle against the Cholercaust Crusade, consisting of Chaos forces.
The Excoriators are a chapter that has had very little fluff about them, and even I thought that they were a homebrew Chapter at first. However, Rob Sanders does a fantastic job at just illustrating as to exactly how different the Chapter is from its fellow brothers, such as the Imperial Fists, and this is one of the main attractions of the novel itself. Just, the unique-ness of the Excoriators I found to make up for the fact that there was very little appearance of the Legion of the Damned at all in this novel.
In fact, it’s not until the last quarter of the novel that they appear, and even then – it’s only for a limited time. But, don’t let this put you off from reading the book – already I’ve seen people criticise it for the misinterpretation of the title on various forums such as Heresy Online. However, don’t be put off by that – the novel’s blurb did in fact mention that the Legion of the Damned would only appear for a short amount of time. Just read, and enjoy what Rob Sanders has to offer. He’s an exceptionally skilled writer in my opinion, and knows how to make Space Marines tick. The interactions between the Excoriators are superb, and this is another reason why Legion of the Damned was enjoyable as it I found it to be.
The main protagonist of this novel is Zachariah Kersh – an Excoriator, who is well-developed, and an interesting, fascinating character, taking up the most page time in this novel, who adds to the strong cast that Sanders has portrayed in this novel, and is indeed, an interesting take on an adeptus astartes.
Although the novel takes a while to get going, with the pace a little uneven, once you do get into it the pace just flies by at an unstoppable rate, and as I found – you won’t be able to let go until the end of the novel, with fantastic action-scenes as we watch the Excoriators do battle against various Khornate hordes, with zombies as an added bonus.
Verdict: 3.5/5
This is possibly one of my most anticipated Space Marine Battles novels yet. I mean, ever since the release of Fall of Damnos by Nick Kyme, the series has generally increased dramatically in quality from the novels that preceded it, with Aaron Dembski-Bowden’s Helsreach being the exception. Novels such as Battle of the Fang and The Gildar Rift were enjoyable to read, and although not everyone shares my opinion, I believe – since Fall of Damnos, I don’t think we’ve seen a bad Space Marine Battles novel yet.
I also believe that this is one of the first times that the Legion of the Damned makes an appearance in one of Black Library’s titles, as well as the first time that the Feast of Blades makes an appearance in Black Library lore. For all of those who don’t know what the Feast of Blades is, it’s a centennial honorific competition between twelve Space Marine Chapters (three examples are the Imperial Fists, Crimson Fists and Iron Knights), and has only appeared as of the fifth edition Space Marine Codex.
Right, now that you should understand what the Feast of Blades is about, let’s get on with the review for Legion of the Damned.
The novel itself, at first – looks like it should be named after the adventures of the Excoriators Chapter, descendants of the Imperial Fists that are the Chapter that takes centre stage in Legion of the Damned, and have a lot more page time than the Chapter of the novel’s namesake. The Excoriators are a chapter who have, like the aforementioned Space Marine Chapters, chosen to take part in the Feast of Blades, and Rob Sanders does a brilliant job of portraying it in the novel. Although, don’t think the book is all about the Feast of Blades, oh no – it’s far from limited to that, for the Feast is only the beginning, as the novel dictates the Excoriators in a battle against the Cholercaust Crusade, consisting of Chaos forces.
The Excoriators are a chapter that has had very little fluff about them, and even I thought that they were a homebrew Chapter at first. However, Rob Sanders does a fantastic job at just illustrating as to exactly how different the Chapter is from its fellow brothers, such as the Imperial Fists, and this is one of the main attractions of the novel itself. Just, the unique-ness of the Excoriators I found to make up for the fact that there was very little appearance of the Legion of the Damned at all in this novel.
In fact, it’s not until the last quarter of the novel that they appear, and even then – it’s only for a limited time. But, don’t let this put you off from reading the book – already I’ve seen people criticise it for the misinterpretation of the title on various forums such as Heresy Online. However, don’t be put off by that – the novel’s blurb did in fact mention that the Legion of the Damned would only appear for a short amount of time. Just read, and enjoy what Rob Sanders has to offer. He’s an exceptionally skilled writer in my opinion, and knows how to make Space Marines tick. The interactions between the Excoriators are superb, and this is another reason why Legion of the Damned was enjoyable as it I found it to be.
The main protagonist of this novel is Zachariah Kersh – an Excoriator, who is well-developed, and an interesting, fascinating character, taking up the most page time in this novel, who adds to the strong cast that Sanders has portrayed in this novel, and is indeed, an interesting take on an adeptus astartes.
Although the novel takes a while to get going, with the pace a little uneven, once you do get into it the pace just flies by at an unstoppable rate, and as I found – you won’t be able to let go until the end of the novel, with fantastic action-scenes as we watch the Excoriators do battle against various Khornate hordes, with zombies as an added bonus.
Verdict: 3.5/5
March 13, 2015
Following a comet on its 10,000 year journey, the Blood Crusade cuts through the galaxy towards Terra. Made up of countless heretics, cultists, superhuman traitor Space Marines, and daemons from the warp, the Blood Crusade burns worlds and exterminates populations without mercy.
Now a cemetery world where the local population tends to billions of graves has passed through the comet's tail and attracted the attention of the Blood God's devotees. Bound by ancient oaths, the Emperor's own angels respond. The 5th Company of the Excoriators chapter, though, are under-strength, divided, and led by a captain who's haunted by past failures and by the ghostly figures he sees in every shadow.
As the enemy reveals itself, it is clear that force of arms cannot win the day. In desperation the Space Marines send a message to Terra, to the throne of the God-Emperor himself.
They need a miracle.
This is a Space Marine battles book, and even among the Black Library's output this series tends to focus on hardcore battle violence and heroics almost to excess. Legion of the Damned is no exception, as the bloodthirsty forces of the Cholercaust make for a particularly daunting and savage enemy.
Where these novels stand apart from each other is in their examination of the characters, their backgrounds, and the nature of being a superhuman warrior in a galaxy of foes.
Rob Sanders does an excellent job of taking a barely developed background chapter (The Excoriators, who I've only seen referenced once or twice in Warhammer 40k fluff) and turning them into a fleshed out army, with their own culture, traditions, and politics. This is a chapter with a serious chip on its collective shoulder, and a lot to prove. The same can be said of "the Scourge", the disgraced Captain Zachariah Kersh, whose insistence on defending a world that is already lost to slaughter inspires division and mutiny among his men.
The Legion of the Damned - although clearly taking the limelight with the cover, the spine, and the title of the book - don't show up until the final act, and even then not for very long. I feel they weren't worked into the story particularly well, despite some nice foreshadowing and a few clues being offered as to their origins. They aren't the true stars here, though. That goes to the Excoriators and their heroic final stand.
Once you get beyond the first-act, this is a fast paced action novel with all the heroics you'd expect from a Space Marine novel. The second act contains some delciously creepy stuff, and the third is full on war. The characters could be fleshed out better - we do spend a lot of time with Kersh, to the detriment of his men - but for the most part they suffice. Overall, this is another strong entry in the Space Marine battles series.
Now a cemetery world where the local population tends to billions of graves has passed through the comet's tail and attracted the attention of the Blood God's devotees. Bound by ancient oaths, the Emperor's own angels respond. The 5th Company of the Excoriators chapter, though, are under-strength, divided, and led by a captain who's haunted by past failures and by the ghostly figures he sees in every shadow.
As the enemy reveals itself, it is clear that force of arms cannot win the day. In desperation the Space Marines send a message to Terra, to the throne of the God-Emperor himself.
They need a miracle.
This is a Space Marine battles book, and even among the Black Library's output this series tends to focus on hardcore battle violence and heroics almost to excess. Legion of the Damned is no exception, as the bloodthirsty forces of the Cholercaust make for a particularly daunting and savage enemy.
Where these novels stand apart from each other is in their examination of the characters, their backgrounds, and the nature of being a superhuman warrior in a galaxy of foes.
Rob Sanders does an excellent job of taking a barely developed background chapter (The Excoriators, who I've only seen referenced once or twice in Warhammer 40k fluff) and turning them into a fleshed out army, with their own culture, traditions, and politics. This is a chapter with a serious chip on its collective shoulder, and a lot to prove. The same can be said of "the Scourge", the disgraced Captain Zachariah Kersh, whose insistence on defending a world that is already lost to slaughter inspires division and mutiny among his men.
The Legion of the Damned - although clearly taking the limelight with the cover, the spine, and the title of the book - don't show up until the final act, and even then not for very long. I feel they weren't worked into the story particularly well, despite some nice foreshadowing and a few clues being offered as to their origins. They aren't the true stars here, though. That goes to the Excoriators and their heroic final stand.
Once you get beyond the first-act, this is a fast paced action novel with all the heroics you'd expect from a Space Marine novel. The second act contains some delciously creepy stuff, and the third is full on war. The characters could be fleshed out better - we do spend a lot of time with Kersh, to the detriment of his men - but for the most part they suffice. Overall, this is another strong entry in the Space Marine battles series.
August 8, 2016
I've been a fan of the 40K universe for many years now. I love how bleak it is, with failing technology, an Emperor that has to be sacrificed to daily to keep him alive, and with alien and darker threats on every side. If you're not already a fan of the universe then this probably isn't the best introduction, but if you are then dive straight in.
Back in my youth (when I actually played the game) the Legion of the Damned were probably my favourite chapter, simply because of the mystery of them. I was hoping that more about their history and what they were would be revealed in this book, but despite the name they only play a small (if significant) role in the events of the story.
That disappointment aside this book does a good job of reflecting the grim future of the universe. The stilted style evokes the ritualistic lifestyle of the Imperium, especially the space marines. In some ways this was a trip back to my tabletop gaming days, but I found the universe just as compelling, with some brutal military science fiction.
There isn't a great deal of depth to the characters (except for some nuances for the lead), but things move at such a pace that it doesn't matter too much. It does suffer from the faceless enemies syndrome a little, but that is to be expected from a battle on the scale of this. There were some exceptions, especially for the World Eaters - brutal champions of my favorite Chaos Gods.
Overall this is a tense and action packed story, that fits the universe well. And I now have the taste of reading more in this fiction again :-)
Back in my youth (when I actually played the game) the Legion of the Damned were probably my favourite chapter, simply because of the mystery of them. I was hoping that more about their history and what they were would be revealed in this book, but despite the name they only play a small (if significant) role in the events of the story.
That disappointment aside this book does a good job of reflecting the grim future of the universe. The stilted style evokes the ritualistic lifestyle of the Imperium, especially the space marines. In some ways this was a trip back to my tabletop gaming days, but I found the universe just as compelling, with some brutal military science fiction.
There isn't a great deal of depth to the characters (except for some nuances for the lead), but things move at such a pace that it doesn't matter too much. It does suffer from the faceless enemies syndrome a little, but that is to be expected from a battle on the scale of this. There were some exceptions, especially for the World Eaters - brutal champions of my favorite Chaos Gods.
Overall this is a tense and action packed story, that fits the universe well. And I now have the taste of reading more in this fiction again :-)
February 24, 2012
Good, solid Space Marine battle action. Despite the name, this book deals mostly with the fate of a company of Space Marines from the Excoriators chapter, with the Legion of the Damned only really coming in at the end of the book. I like the fact that we learn more about a previously pretty unknown chapter and Sanders really comes into his own bringing the chapter and characters to life. Zacharia Kersh is just plain cool. Replacing your lost eye with a fucking ball bearing? Epic! As a lifelong fan of the Imperial Fists, I really enjoyed the opening Feast of Blades and the details about inter-Chapter politics among the Sons of Dorn.
The battle scenes itself are well written and sufficiently gory to depict a dark crusade in Khorne's name. There is a lot of action here and I never got bored reading this book. There are a few repetitions in the writing style that could've been ironed out, but overall it isn't really annoying. One thing I missed was a hint of what happened to the Apotheon at the end of the story. I hope that loose end gets tied up in another story, I liked that ship and her sassy captain.
This one is well worth a read if you are into Space Marines killing the hell out of everything in their path.
The battle scenes itself are well written and sufficiently gory to depict a dark crusade in Khorne's name. There is a lot of action here and I never got bored reading this book. There are a few repetitions in the writing style that could've been ironed out, but overall it isn't really annoying. One thing I missed was a hint of what happened to the Apotheon at the end of the story. I hope that loose end gets tied up in another story, I liked that ship and her sassy captain.
This one is well worth a read if you are into Space Marines killing the hell out of everything in their path.
March 29, 2013
I had a good feeling about this book when I got it, after looking for it on the shelves of the local Games Workshop store I was informed that it had been removed from the shelves by the guy there. something to do with a policy the publisher has. Anyway the guy reaches into a draw pulls out a copy and tells me that I can have it for free as they cannot sell it anymore. Win... Right then, enough of that.
The previous two novels in the space marine battles series that I have read, Fall of Damnos and Architect of Fate were at best rather dull and tedious to finish. This novel was an absolute cracker of a book compared to them. Easy to read, hard to put down, it was a great read. The author Rob Sanders seems to have taken the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) approach and not bombard the pages with an overload of information and characters that sometimes seem to muddy up the waters as it were when reading other books in the series.
A worthy add to the collection for anyone reading these series of books, or for anyone who would like a relatively light read that involves 8ft tall genetically engineered, psycho-indoctrinated warriors.
The previous two novels in the space marine battles series that I have read, Fall of Damnos and Architect of Fate were at best rather dull and tedious to finish. This novel was an absolute cracker of a book compared to them. Easy to read, hard to put down, it was a great read. The author Rob Sanders seems to have taken the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) approach and not bombard the pages with an overload of information and characters that sometimes seem to muddy up the waters as it were when reading other books in the series.
A worthy add to the collection for anyone reading these series of books, or for anyone who would like a relatively light read that involves 8ft tall genetically engineered, psycho-indoctrinated warriors.
August 17, 2013
Though this book is called Legion of the Damned it is almost a complete lie. The titular legion only saw action in the last 20 pages. The novel was really about an Imperial Fist successor chapter, the Excoriators. Maybe no one would buy a book named after them, after reading it, I would buy them all. I have read almost all the Space Marine battles books, and have not really been overly impressed. I thoughtFang was good, and others were ok to not so great, but this entry was back to a good level. Sanders is a thoughtful, word driven writer. Or he has a verbose editor. Either way this seemed more crafted with language than some of the others. The chapter was awesome, and Kersh was super cool. The plot and Legion of the Damned were kind of generic to me, but at this point with the BL it is all about the character stories for me. Legion of the Damned delivered there in spades. I def recommend.
January 24, 2014
There's a lot of disbelief to be suspended here.
That's funny since its about superhuman space warriors fighting in the year 40,000 isn't it? :)
But it's true. This is a lost chapter, one that was swalloed up by the empyrean centuries ago that seems to just appear when all hope is lost and wins the fight for the 'good' guys.
I don't know how they can sustain themselves as a fighting force, when they don't have any resupply or repair and no way to replace attrition. Unless they are completely invincible, which means they need to just intercept every Hive Fleet and Necrontyr ship and just explode it.
Invulnerable heroes make for Superman stories. No real sense of drama when you can't die.
But a great concept. TRUE holy warriors from a caste of holy warriors. Showing up just as needed. Condemned to float around on a Flying Dutchman. Forever.
Very fitting for Space Marines, really.
That's funny since its about superhuman space warriors fighting in the year 40,000 isn't it? :)
But it's true. This is a lost chapter, one that was swalloed up by the empyrean centuries ago that seems to just appear when all hope is lost and wins the fight for the 'good' guys.
I don't know how they can sustain themselves as a fighting force, when they don't have any resupply or repair and no way to replace attrition. Unless they are completely invincible, which means they need to just intercept every Hive Fleet and Necrontyr ship and just explode it.
Invulnerable heroes make for Superman stories. No real sense of drama when you can't die.
But a great concept. TRUE holy warriors from a caste of holy warriors. Showing up just as needed. Condemned to float around on a Flying Dutchman. Forever.
Very fitting for Space Marines, really.
March 8, 2012
I had to really force myself to finish this book. The very uneven pacing made reading the first half of it something of a chore, and I was just about to push it from my reading shelf to the "abandoned" one.
What really put me off was the tired old one-city-on-the-whole-world trope, together with a comet that *has* to be warp-capable to jump through the complete eye of terror...
Fortunately, just about in the last third of it, the action started picking up, and with enough gory description of the battle scenes, so I could finally ignore the stupid comety stuff and enjoy the nice description of the khornate battle. In the last few pages, even the Legion which gave the book its name make an apperance :-)
What really put me off was the tired old one-city-on-the-whole-world trope, together with a comet that *has* to be warp-capable to jump through the complete eye of terror...
Fortunately, just about in the last third of it, the action started picking up, and with enough gory description of the battle scenes, so I could finally ignore the stupid comety stuff and enjoy the nice description of the khornate battle. In the last few pages, even the Legion which gave the book its name make an apperance :-)
September 6, 2019
As far as I know this is a relatively new author for the black library or at least one I have not read from before. For anyone who has read the Calpurnia series or any of Sandy Mitchell's work you will understand when I say it is dense. It's not so insurmountable by any means but it is uncommon in the warhammer universe. What was a bit difficult was the use of religious/obscure imperium terminology. There were simply several points that I had no idea what he was talking about as the kindle dictionary had no results.
The story itself is rather good with the standard affair you expect from the battles series. The ending left a few too many questions for my taste but that seems common in these series where they're detailing usually well known and documented lore battles that nongamers like me may not have knowledge of. Overall I do recommend it.
The story itself is rather good with the standard affair you expect from the battles series. The ending left a few too many questions for my taste but that seems common in these series where they're detailing usually well known and documented lore battles that nongamers like me may not have knowledge of. Overall I do recommend it.
April 12, 2014
I've never read a Warhammer 40,000 novel before as I don't play the games they're based on but overlooking this fact, this novel is like many a standard military science fiction novel, lifted above mediocrity by terrific cannon and excellent writing. Dubbed a 'Space Marines Battles' novel, it does get exhausting by the end (literally the last third of the book is one continuous set piece, the defence of a cemetery world named Certus Minor) but what I loved was the passion the writer had for the 40k universe and the unbridled passion for its cannon. It's a bleak universe, that's for sure, and if I'm to read anymore of these novels, I'd prefer to go with something that delves more into the politics of things, but Legion of the Damned is an excellent starting point non the less. Solid 4 stars.
February 4, 2013
This novel has more goods than bads.
Good: I reall liked the way the whole story was told. Didn't know a thing about Excoriators before this, and Legion of the Damned...well they are fascinating bunch. I recommend the novel for both seasoned and new to the 40K franchise.
Bad: This might be considered as spoilers, so..
Before this I've read all Horus Heresy novels up to 'Fear to Tread' and 2 stories from base 40K world: Priests of Mars, Emperor's Gift.
Good: I reall liked the way the whole story was told. Didn't know a thing about Excoriators before this, and Legion of the Damned...well they are fascinating bunch. I recommend the novel for both seasoned and new to the 40K franchise.
Bad: This might be considered as spoilers, so..
Before this I've read all Horus Heresy novels up to 'Fear to Tread' and 2 stories from base 40K world: Priests of Mars, Emperor's Gift.
August 23, 2012
While I was expecting the story to be centered around the Legion of the Damned, and was a bit disappointed it was not. I still quite enjoyed this book. The main chapter represented is the Excoriators who are led by a rather dour, and very pragmatic Kersh. He is given a hopeless situation, and must prepare as best he can given limited resources.
I always liked Rob Sanders stories, his writing is a bit harsh at times, but this one is his best so far in my opinion.
I always liked Rob Sanders stories, his writing is a bit harsh at times, but this one is his best so far in my opinion.
November 16, 2012
"Legion of the Damned": This year one of the or possibly even the most enjoyed Warhammer 40,000 novel I read so far. Despite being part of what I dub the "Beginner's Space Marine Series" (officially: "Space Marine Battles" series) it entertained me more than other, regular novels of the range. I was not disappointed by Mr Rob Sanders, thank you very much! :)And I am still waiting for the continuation of "Redemption Corps"! :)
June 19, 2012
I thought this book was good. It wasnt quite what I expected though. It hardly had anything to do with the Legion of the damned. An more to do with one of the Primarch Dorn's chapters. Some colourful characters in the story, and the story is quite vivid in detail. Not a bad book. Just not really what I expected overall.
February 29, 2016
Another good WH40k novel, but the name is misleading. The author hasn't devoted more then few pages (at the end of novel) to the Legion of the Damned, and the novel is actually about Excoriators Chapter of Space Marines.
Anybody who is familiar with WH40k background will see the end coming from miles away, but there are still few nice twists along the way to keep the story interesting.
Anybody who is familiar with WH40k background will see the end coming from miles away, but there are still few nice twists along the way to keep the story interesting.
September 15, 2012
As it has been said, this is a book labelled Legion of the Damned, but they rarely show up in the story except as spectres. I liked the book however as a story about the Excoriators and raw rage of Khorne-sworn forces.
If it had been labelled Excoriators and had the cameo by the Legion of the Damned, I think people would have rated it higher.
If it had been labelled Excoriators and had the cameo by the Legion of the Damned, I think people would have rated it higher.
November 22, 2012
Far too many loose ends and the title is misleading considering the legion are hardly in it so if you want more info/canon on them then this isn't for you, the book should have been called the excoriators to be fair, but nonetheless a solid action packed read with one of the most likeable main characters for a Black library book so far.
June 1, 2014
Absolutely loved it. The buildup of the scourge, the battles, the impending death, it's quite much like 300 in space. The legion aren't really prevalent in the story, but I think they were treated properly. All you learn of the legion is that they exist.
Every chapter had me hanging.
My only gripe is that it's almost too much like 300 in space. It became a bit predictable.
Every chapter had me hanging.
My only gripe is that it's almost too much like 300 in space. It became a bit predictable.
August 20, 2014
40K books are always...preachy..in that 40K way, and this one suffers from that a bit more than average. I was so excited to read about the Legion and they were barely in this. They finally show their chattering undead faces in the last few chapters and everything before just feels like a lenghty sermon, you just want to get to the delicious weifer already...
March 4, 2015
Great book! Another small illumination into the varied and vague history of the Imperium of Man, some 40,000 years in the future. This book is well written with strong characters and an exhaustive plot that makes the reader feel all is lost, and yet garners a glimpse of hope. Very well done!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews