Riven

The Horus Heresy #Short Story

by John French

As one of the vaunted Crusader Host, Brother Crius stood as the representative of the X Legion upon the soil of Holy Terra, but when he learns of the death of his beloved primarch Ferrus Manus at the hands of the traitors, his stoic, mechanical grief imbues him with the strength and resolve to undertake a special mission on behalf of Rogal Dorn himself. Striking out into the stars, he searches for any signs of his lost Iron Hands brethren, hoping to bring them back to Terra to aid in the final defence of the Palace. The question remains, just who has survived the slaughter on Isstvan V, and what yet remains of them?

Read it because
It gives a glimpse into the competing ideologies of a Legion struggling to come to terms with its defeat at Isstvan and the death of their wrathful primarch. Now more than ever, some within the Iron Hands fall back upon their Legion "The Flesh is Weak".

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Short Stories, Audiobook

39 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2013

About the author

John French is a writer and freelance game designer from Nottingham, England. His novels include the Ahriman series from Black Library, and The Lord of Nightmares trilogy for Fantasy Flight. The rest of his work can be seen scattered through a number of other books, including the New York Times bestselling anthology Age of Darkness. When he is not thinking of ways that dark and corrupting beings could destroy reality and space, John enjoys talking about why it would be a good idea... that and drinking good wine.

Reviews

[nooker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really had no idea what was going on in this story.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XII The Truth of Iron (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus series and extras.

A short story as bleak and bitter as black iron is cold and unyielding.

An Iron Hand once held in bondage on Terra is sent to reunite with his shattered battle brothers only to find them forged into forbidden weapons by the crucible of Isstvan and the subsequent fighting against the Traitors.

Hoolie doolie this one was cold and bleak with no allowance for tragedy in the black stoicism and funereal mien that made it almost too much for me to get a handle on, but French writes with an austere and haunting bent that is spartan, yet evocative and the quality is clear.

I'm intrigued to learn more a out exactly what was going on and the continuation of this narrative.

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 21.41 Horus Heresy novels, 12 novellas, 62 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 13 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...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.

[Dylan Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man, I don't often like the Iron Hands, but this was a short they really excelled in. the characters were awesome, and seeing Crius become one of his brothers again was awesome.
The ship battle scenes were awesome, amd I really hope they take more center stage when they can. I hope we get to see more of Crius and his brothers in the future, at least at the Siege of Terra!

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following some iron hands while finding out what happen to their primarch and the betrayal at isstvaan.
Collected in legacies of betrayal book.

[Thomas Langley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird and more horror fueled than sci-fi but I liked it.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, an Iron Hands story I enjoyed. Undead Iron Hands set out on a mission of vengeance, set to return when a lone Imperial Fist captain calls. Cool short, I hope to see Crius again.

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ferrus Manus is dead... He failed us. He broke the bond of iron. He fell and left us to live on without him."

Crius of the Crusader Host was stationed on Terra when the battle for Isstvan V occurred. He was not there the day his father died, when his brothers were slaughtered. Instead he was imprisoned, no one was free from suspicion in the wake of the Heresy. What happens next is a bleak and bitter story of loss.

Sigismund makes an appearance and delivers orders from Lord Dorn, Praetorian of Terra. His order to Crius is simple "find your brothers". Crius is accompanied by Boreas of the Imperial Fists.

This is a story of mourning and grief. Crius' beliefs have been shaken to the core, everything he believed feels false and there is no hope. The emotions of the story are intense. Also we now have space marine zombies. Dark Age of Humanity tech is being used by the Iron Hands as a desperate measure to lash back at the traitors. They are literally the walking dead fueled by a need for revenge. I love it.

The story is picked up again in "Keys of Hel".

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at what some Iron Hands got up to when broken and without their primarch

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite short stories from Black Library. I am not usually a fan of the Iron Hands but this is excellent jump into them following the Dropsite Massacre and how the Legion reacts to the death of Ferrus Manus. The introduction of the the revenants and the idea of cyber resurrection is a brilliant twist and possibly the most grim dark aspect of the setting. Crius’ initial hope and quest to find any surviving Iron Hands gives way to mystery and a nagging suspicion when he discovers the Thetis and its secret and then an acceptance that the future is gone and all that is left is vengeance against Horus and the traitors.

[Alexander van der Pol · Rating 4 out of 5]

WAKEN