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The Horus Heresy #Short Story
The Divine Word
Despite being prohibited by the Imperial Truth, the religious text known as the 'Lectitio Divinitatus' has gathered many believers from across the galaxy. Fighting alongside the Raven Guard Legion, Marcus Valerius of the Therion Cohort has long scorned those who seek to deify the Emperor, but a flash of inspiration leads him to question whether or not there are greater forces at work in the universe...
Read it because
The first seeds of what will become the Imperial Church are sown in this tale. Commander Marcus Valerius thinks he's tapped into this fledgling faith when a gut feeling saves his forces from a certain doom. But are his new visions divine, or is his mind deceiving him?
22 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 22, 2013
1 person is currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Gav Thorpe
377 books573 followersGav spent 14 years as a developer for Games Workshop, and started writing novels and short stories in the worlds of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 when the Black Library imprint was launched in 1997.
He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.
Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.
He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.
Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 22, 2024
April 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XVII Shadow of the Warmaster III Jaws of Defeat (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras.
Another installment in the adventures of Marcus Valerius, now with his brother Anthony.
Marcus is having portentious dreams again and the complexities of war and the whole epic mythological aspect of the Heresy is driving him the good(?) book.
I have to be honest, I didn't enjoy this one folx.
OK. So, I'm real depressed right now and I was going to do a whole sassy synopsis but I barely got started and I was cringing incredibly hard at myself...and I barely remember any details of the story I just read. Maybe I need to put this on the pile of the ones I'm iffy about never reading again just to check, but yeah.
Something that really hits my autistic nerve is when a piece of media gives little more in its entirety than a simple summary. This is hard to explain because something can be incredibly simple to explain or a single familiar premise, but the execution and experience of that thing is infinitely richer than the description.
I would love to see it in real life to see if that makes difference, but I'm not particularly enamoured by the Mona Lisa. Still, to use that as an example. If I said, its an old portrait of a lady who isn't smiling so much, that wouldn't capture the experience of looking at that famous artwork. Similarly, I am generally an enjoyer of Margaret Atwood's writing and I am a big fan of Hellenic mythology and historical fiction, particularly with a modern and feminist perspective. However, I personally found the experience of the Peneolpiad to not particularly exceed that of being given the description of, a vaguely, if not particularly progressive, feminist retelling of the Odyssey from Penelope's perspective.
That's a lot of words to say, I don't think this story has much more going for it than saying Marcus has some dreams about serpents and a many-headed hydra that help him make a big military call and the stress of it makes him seek solace in the Lectitio Divinitas. Oh, and he has a brother called Anthony, to keep the cute allusional word association going.
After the following final comment, I will refer to something which is a spoiler.
I think my love for Raven's Flight, high regard for The Face of Treachery, and great appreciation for Deliverance Lost made the kinda clangy nature of this one just hit a lot harder. You never know, one day I'll return to this and maybe pull a full 180 on it. I'm a big enough gal to do that, and it wouldn't be the first time with one of Thorpe's stories. But right now, I just don't see the point, beyond a necessary plot point that could be referenced in or made part of the upcoming story in which it is relevant.
OK ***Spoiler Warning***
You don't need prophetic dreams to tell you that in a war in which brother is slaying brother and one particular faction's whole deal is being duplicitous and doing Hitman dress up, that a presumed ally using days old codes when security is at the top level that something might just be rotten in Denmark!!!
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 31 Horus Heresy novels, 16 novellas (including 2 repeats), 106 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 15 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and a short story...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
Another installment in the adventures of Marcus Valerius, now with his brother Anthony.
Marcus is having portentious dreams again and the complexities of war and the whole epic mythological aspect of the Heresy is driving him the good(?) book.
I have to be honest, I didn't enjoy this one folx.
OK. So, I'm real depressed right now and I was going to do a whole sassy synopsis but I barely got started and I was cringing incredibly hard at myself...and I barely remember any details of the story I just read. Maybe I need to put this on the pile of the ones I'm iffy about never reading again just to check, but yeah.
Something that really hits my autistic nerve is when a piece of media gives little more in its entirety than a simple summary. This is hard to explain because something can be incredibly simple to explain or a single familiar premise, but the execution and experience of that thing is infinitely richer than the description.
I would love to see it in real life to see if that makes difference, but I'm not particularly enamoured by the Mona Lisa. Still, to use that as an example. If I said, its an old portrait of a lady who isn't smiling so much, that wouldn't capture the experience of looking at that famous artwork. Similarly, I am generally an enjoyer of Margaret Atwood's writing and I am a big fan of Hellenic mythology and historical fiction, particularly with a modern and feminist perspective. However, I personally found the experience of the Peneolpiad to not particularly exceed that of being given the description of, a vaguely, if not particularly progressive, feminist retelling of the Odyssey from Penelope's perspective.
That's a lot of words to say, I don't think this story has much more going for it than saying Marcus has some dreams about serpents and a many-headed hydra that help him make a big military call and the stress of it makes him seek solace in the Lectitio Divinitas. Oh, and he has a brother called Anthony, to keep the cute allusional word association going.
After the following final comment, I will refer to something which is a spoiler.
I think my love for Raven's Flight, high regard for The Face of Treachery, and great appreciation for Deliverance Lost made the kinda clangy nature of this one just hit a lot harder. You never know, one day I'll return to this and maybe pull a full 180 on it. I'm a big enough gal to do that, and it wouldn't be the first time with one of Thorpe's stories. But right now, I just don't see the point, beyond a necessary plot point that could be referenced in or made part of the upcoming story in which it is relevant.
OK ***Spoiler Warning***
You don't need prophetic dreams to tell you that in a war in which brother is slaying brother and one particular faction's whole deal is being duplicitous and doing Hitman dress up, that a presumed ally using days old codes when security is at the top level that something might just be rotten in Denmark!!!
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 31 Horus Heresy novels, 16 novellas (including 2 repeats), 106 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 15 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and a short story...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
August 1, 2025
Prior to the events of this story, in “Raven’s Flight” Marcus Valerius of the Imperial Army was stationed on Deliverance along with Captain Branne of the Raven Guard. Corax had lead the bulk of his Legion to Isstvan V to deal with his treacherous brothers. Haunted by dreams, Valerius approached Branne multiple times about his visions. Eventually the two take the fleet to Istvan V, just in time to save Corax and what remained of the Legion as shown in “The Faces of Treachery”. Corax would then attempt to rebuild the Raven Guard in “Deliverance Lost”.
As this story begins Marcus Valerius leads the Therion Cohort, working in concert with Commander Branne of the Raven Guard. So far the Therion Cohort have failed to capture the city of Milvian, a victory that the campaign hinges upon.
Pelon, manservant to Valerius has been exposed to the writings of the Imperial Cult, and appears to believe his master’s visions come from none other than the Emperor himself. Valerius is keeping his visions to himself, knowing they have no place in the secular Imperium. But as the pressure of the galactic civil war increases and treachery abounds, many look to the comfort of faith and worship to get them through the shadow cast by the traitor Horus.
Valerius later appears in the short story the “Weregeld” and the audio drama “Valerius”.
Commander Branne also appears in Corax: Soulforge and in the short story “The Weregeld”.
As this story begins Marcus Valerius leads the Therion Cohort, working in concert with Commander Branne of the Raven Guard. So far the Therion Cohort have failed to capture the city of Milvian, a victory that the campaign hinges upon.
Pelon, manservant to Valerius has been exposed to the writings of the Imperial Cult, and appears to believe his master’s visions come from none other than the Emperor himself. Valerius is keeping his visions to himself, knowing they have no place in the secular Imperium. But as the pressure of the galactic civil war increases and treachery abounds, many look to the comfort of faith and worship to get them through the shadow cast by the traitor Horus.
Valerius later appears in the short story the “Weregeld” and the audio drama “Valerius”.
Commander Branne also appears in Corax: Soulforge and in the short story “The Weregeld”.
January 18, 2025
Collected in legacies of betrayal book.
April 7, 2025
Great short really enjoyed this one
May 26, 2025
It's a neat little wrap up of the Commander who saved the Raven guard who's clearly more than a little psychic.
January 23, 2016
This is an enjoyable short story that focuses upon Marcus Valerius of the Therion Cohort. The plot of this story runs parallel to the events in the novella Corax: Soulforge. Once again in this story Marcus is able to turn the tide of battle by his mysterious 'visions' as a seemingly straight forward battle threatens to descend into ignoble defeat through treachery.
March 21, 2016
A fun short showing what thr Raven Guard, and more prominently Marcus has been up to since Deliverance Lost. Again Marcus has dreams that save the day, and I look forward to where this will lead the RG and their human allies!
September 6, 2022
A short focussing away from any of the legions and instead looking at the imperial army in trying to take an occupied traitor city. Although the focus is on a siege, and the difficulties in taking it, there’s barely any action but instead focusses on the tactics and decision making of it.
August 6, 2013
As an ebook, this wasn't a bad one. Gav Thorpe is one heck of a writer and I, as a great fan of Deliverance Lost, consider this something another 40K fan should read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews