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Lucille Von Shard #2
Above and Beyond
A Lucille Von Shard Novel
An Imperial propagandist meets the flying ace legend he created, to prepare her for the most difficult battle of her storied career.
READ IT BECAUSE
This novel offers insight into some of the lesser-known, but no less important, aspects of the Imperial war machine – the agents who move in the shadows to rouse and inspire the masses of soldiers across every branch of the war effort.
THE STORY
Flight Commander Lucille von Shard: Hero of Bacchus, fighter ace, and a living legend heralded for her valour and piety. Propagandist Kile Simlex, responsible for her fame, shares none of this renown. Condemned to the ignominy of a scribe’s cubicle cell, his chance at liberation comes as a cryptic vid message claiming to be from Shard herself, requesting his aid.
Under the von Shard family’s patronage, Simlex journeys to Deighton, a world in open rebellion from the Imperium, where he finds the commander a shadow of her former self. Near broken by eternal war, her confidence and reputation crumbling, Shard must somehow steel herself for her deadliest battle yet, against a xenos mercenary of unparalleled skill. Can Simlex help her overcome this near-invincible enemy, or merely watch as she is finally defeated?
An Imperial propagandist meets the flying ace legend he created, to prepare her for the most difficult battle of her storied career.
READ IT BECAUSE
This novel offers insight into some of the lesser-known, but no less important, aspects of the Imperial war machine – the agents who move in the shadows to rouse and inspire the masses of soldiers across every branch of the war effort.
THE STORY
Flight Commander Lucille von Shard: Hero of Bacchus, fighter ace, and a living legend heralded for her valour and piety. Propagandist Kile Simlex, responsible for her fame, shares none of this renown. Condemned to the ignominy of a scribe’s cubicle cell, his chance at liberation comes as a cryptic vid message claiming to be from Shard herself, requesting his aid.
Under the von Shard family’s patronage, Simlex journeys to Deighton, a world in open rebellion from the Imperium, where he finds the commander a shadow of her former self. Near broken by eternal war, her confidence and reputation crumbling, Shard must somehow steel herself for her deadliest battle yet, against a xenos mercenary of unparalleled skill. Can Simlex help her overcome this near-invincible enemy, or merely watch as she is finally defeated?
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2024
24 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Denny Flowers
32 books18 followersDenny Flowers is a writer of Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar, and Necromunda fiction. He submitted his first Black Library story during open submissions in 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 21, 2024
Just when I thought I had read it all
I have read over 300 Warhammer novels, everything from masterpieces to garbage fires that shouldn't have been ever printed, and this one is one of the best I have read.
Eisenhorn: Xenos, For the Emperor, Helsreach, Necropolis, Daemon World, Baneblade, The End and the Death, The Talon of Horus, Shroud of Night, Storm of Iron. These are all incredible books that provide a truly spectacular experience when delving into the Warhammer universe, and I would like to submit Above and Beyond into the list of novels that are perfect for newcomers, while providing fresh insights for recurring fans.
Outgunned and Above and Beyond do something that many books in the Warhammer 40K universe fail to do. They grow the universe. They make it larger than it was before their addition.
Denny Flowers has performed truly spectacular work in creating characters that challenge the norm while fitting perfectly within the universe. A propagandist is exactly the type of character that would exist on almost every planet, but we have somehow never seen them before. Using a civilian to tell a story about war provides a fresh, witty, funny take into the grim business of war while hammering home the brutality and horror of it.
Outgunned and Above and Beyond are truly spectacular pieces of literature that make you laugh uproariously when they present a truly absurd scenario, make you cheer when impossible odds are challenged, make you bite your nails as the danger increases, and make you sob when the reality of war extracts its cost.
Sequels are VERY hard to do. They need to justify their own existence while providing new angles to explore, heighten the stakes, and carry the legacy of the first book forward, and in this instance, Above and Beyond delivers. This is the Terminator 2 of Warhammer novels.
It gives you everything you loved about Outgunned and expands on the world. It gives us more of the hilariously dystopian Von Shard family. Their razor wit, their dry humour, their exasperation with everybody around them, their pride, their needs, their courage, their wants, their fears and convictions all converge to create heroes of the Imperium and absolute nightmare human beings that are as tragic as they are funny.
Simlex is the perfect narrator for this story, and the mystery is so well crafted. It took me by surprise after 300 novels of Warhammer.
Just when I thought I had read it all, Denny Flowers comes by and absolutely rocks my world. Do not miss this book. Make sure you read both Outgunned and Above and Beyond because I guarantee you will fall in love.
I have read over 300 Warhammer novels, everything from masterpieces to garbage fires that shouldn't have been ever printed, and this one is one of the best I have read.
Eisenhorn: Xenos, For the Emperor, Helsreach, Necropolis, Daemon World, Baneblade, The End and the Death, The Talon of Horus, Shroud of Night, Storm of Iron. These are all incredible books that provide a truly spectacular experience when delving into the Warhammer universe, and I would like to submit Above and Beyond into the list of novels that are perfect for newcomers, while providing fresh insights for recurring fans.
Outgunned and Above and Beyond do something that many books in the Warhammer 40K universe fail to do. They grow the universe. They make it larger than it was before their addition.
Denny Flowers has performed truly spectacular work in creating characters that challenge the norm while fitting perfectly within the universe. A propagandist is exactly the type of character that would exist on almost every planet, but we have somehow never seen them before. Using a civilian to tell a story about war provides a fresh, witty, funny take into the grim business of war while hammering home the brutality and horror of it.
Outgunned and Above and Beyond are truly spectacular pieces of literature that make you laugh uproariously when they present a truly absurd scenario, make you cheer when impossible odds are challenged, make you bite your nails as the danger increases, and make you sob when the reality of war extracts its cost.
Sequels are VERY hard to do. They need to justify their own existence while providing new angles to explore, heighten the stakes, and carry the legacy of the first book forward, and in this instance, Above and Beyond delivers. This is the Terminator 2 of Warhammer novels.
It gives you everything you loved about Outgunned and expands on the world. It gives us more of the hilariously dystopian Von Shard family. Their razor wit, their dry humour, their exasperation with everybody around them, their pride, their needs, their courage, their wants, their fears and convictions all converge to create heroes of the Imperium and absolute nightmare human beings that are as tragic as they are funny.
Simlex is the perfect narrator for this story, and the mystery is so well crafted. It took me by surprise after 300 novels of Warhammer.
Just when I thought I had read it all, Denny Flowers comes by and absolutely rocks my world. Do not miss this book. Make sure you read both Outgunned and Above and Beyond because I guarantee you will fall in love.
October 6, 2025
I didn’t know better, I would have thought I was reading about the Soviet Union instead of the Imperium of Man, with all of the talk about propagandists and covering up the truth. The book does do a fantastic job of showing that the imperium are not the good guys, just the lesser of evils that humanity faces. The beginning of the book starts off pretty slow and doesn’t make you care much about the characters. About halfway through is when it starts to get really good, when the Eldar is revealed and the pieces start falling into place. It was also very satisfying to see Esec get his comeuppance too, they did a very good job of making him unlikeable. Overall a really good story, only knock is that it takes a bit to get going and make you care about the characters but once it does it does a great job of it.
March 10, 2025
Is this the closest that 40k fiction has come to actual satire?
Outgunned was more overt in its thematic debt to Catch 22, but there’s still more than enough of Heller’s cynicism here.
Subversive anti-war commentary, dissections of the nature of propaganda as well as exploitation of existential crisis in a horribly oppressive theocracy mean this is a cut above, but there’s book manages to deliver on action and excitement as well as a compelling plot and characters.
Seriously recommended.
Outgunned was more overt in its thematic debt to Catch 22, but there’s still more than enough of Heller’s cynicism here.
Subversive anti-war commentary, dissections of the nature of propaganda as well as exploitation of existential crisis in a horribly oppressive theocracy mean this is a cut above, but there’s book manages to deliver on action and excitement as well as a compelling plot and characters.
Seriously recommended.
December 4, 2024
Denny Flowers presents one of the most ambitious and captivating Warhammer 40,000 novels of 2024, with the brilliant and deliciously cynical read, Above and Beyond.
Kile Simlex is a broken man. Once one of the most successful propagandists in the Imperium of Man, Simlex’s films used to inspire untold millions in the name of the God Emperor, ensuring innumerable new recruits to humanity’s armies. However, a cursed assignment to the swamp planet of Bacchus showed him the realities of war and innate corruption of the Imperium, while his chosen subject, the eternally cynical fighter ace Lucille von Shard, proved to be both a skilled fighter and a deadly disappointment.
Years later, Simlex is now a shadow of his former self. Emotionally and physically scarred from his experiences on Bacchus, Simlex’s attempts to show the Imperium’s citizens the real horrors of war ensured that he was dismissed from his lofty position. Now forced to toil as lowly scribe, Simlex has grown bitter as his footage from Bacchus was used to create a crass and untrue popular film which elevated Flight Command von Shard to the status of legendary hero. However, Simlex is about to find his chance of redemption when he once again becomes involved with the dangerous von Shard family.
Attempting to live in obscurity, Simlex’s life is turned upside down when Shard’s brother, Commissar Tobia von Shard enters his office. Commissar von Shard has intercepted a cryptic message sent to Simlex from Shard asking for help, and the commissar is determined to deliver assistance, one way or another. Forced to accompany the commissar on his journey, Simlex travels to Deighton, a world in open rebellion, to discover a war being fought using propaganda films and heroic shots of Shard in action. However, the real Shard is a shadow of her former self, worn down by war, guilt and her status as a hero, and determined to push Simlex away. But with a deadly xenos pilot seeking to destroy her legacy, and a manipulative new propagandist controlling events from on high, Simlex and Shard both need to work together to survive.
Denny Flowers honestly gets better with every single book he writes as Above and Beyond was a particularly impressive and powerful piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction. Providing Flower’s own distinctive take on the glorious wars of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Above and Beyond was a memorable, addictive and emotionally charged novel that had me hooked the entire way through with its complex context and brilliantly damaged characters. This was such an exceptional read, and I have very little choice but to give it a well-deserved five-star rating.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/12/04/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Kile Simlex is a broken man. Once one of the most successful propagandists in the Imperium of Man, Simlex’s films used to inspire untold millions in the name of the God Emperor, ensuring innumerable new recruits to humanity’s armies. However, a cursed assignment to the swamp planet of Bacchus showed him the realities of war and innate corruption of the Imperium, while his chosen subject, the eternally cynical fighter ace Lucille von Shard, proved to be both a skilled fighter and a deadly disappointment.
Years later, Simlex is now a shadow of his former self. Emotionally and physically scarred from his experiences on Bacchus, Simlex’s attempts to show the Imperium’s citizens the real horrors of war ensured that he was dismissed from his lofty position. Now forced to toil as lowly scribe, Simlex has grown bitter as his footage from Bacchus was used to create a crass and untrue popular film which elevated Flight Command von Shard to the status of legendary hero. However, Simlex is about to find his chance of redemption when he once again becomes involved with the dangerous von Shard family.
Attempting to live in obscurity, Simlex’s life is turned upside down when Shard’s brother, Commissar Tobia von Shard enters his office. Commissar von Shard has intercepted a cryptic message sent to Simlex from Shard asking for help, and the commissar is determined to deliver assistance, one way or another. Forced to accompany the commissar on his journey, Simlex travels to Deighton, a world in open rebellion, to discover a war being fought using propaganda films and heroic shots of Shard in action. However, the real Shard is a shadow of her former self, worn down by war, guilt and her status as a hero, and determined to push Simlex away. But with a deadly xenos pilot seeking to destroy her legacy, and a manipulative new propagandist controlling events from on high, Simlex and Shard both need to work together to survive.
Denny Flowers honestly gets better with every single book he writes as Above and Beyond was a particularly impressive and powerful piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction. Providing Flower’s own distinctive take on the glorious wars of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Above and Beyond was a memorable, addictive and emotionally charged novel that had me hooked the entire way through with its complex context and brilliantly damaged characters. This was such an exceptional read, and I have very little choice but to give it a well-deserved five-star rating.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/12/04/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
November 24, 2024
Following the epic events of Outgunned on Bacchus, Lucille Von Shard, once an ace pilot, becomes an Imperial legend—her exploits celebrated in propaganda across the stars. But victory has its costs. Now a faded shadow of her former self, burdened by alcohol and fame, Lucille contrasts sharply with Kyle Simlex, the disgraced propagandist demoted for daring to show the grim horrors of war over the glories of the Aeronautica Imperialis.
When a visit from Lucille's brother, Commissar Von Shard, pulls Simlex from obscurity, his new mission is twofold: assist Lucille and transport a dangerous psyker to a shadowy contact working with the Inquisition.
On the rebellious world of Deighton, Simlex uncovers something extraordinary—a mobile propaganda operation spearheaded by Esec, a rival whose mastery of visual manipulation and advanced technology has transformed Imperial efforts. But not all is as it seems. Deighton’s rebellion festers amid Imperial missteps, local customs ignored, and brutal oppression. As if that weren’t enough, an elusive alien foe, piloted by the mysterious Cesh, tears through Imperial forces with a near-invisible ship.
This gripping story weaves themes of propaganda, sacrifice, and the blurred lines between fiction and reality. While less focused on the Aeronautica Imperialis than Outgunned, it offers a compelling exploration of the Von Shard family’s resourcefulness and kyle Simlex take on the Imperium and humanity. Here’s hoping for more tales from this fascinating characters!
When a visit from Lucille's brother, Commissar Von Shard, pulls Simlex from obscurity, his new mission is twofold: assist Lucille and transport a dangerous psyker to a shadowy contact working with the Inquisition.
On the rebellious world of Deighton, Simlex uncovers something extraordinary—a mobile propaganda operation spearheaded by Esec, a rival whose mastery of visual manipulation and advanced technology has transformed Imperial efforts. But not all is as it seems. Deighton’s rebellion festers amid Imperial missteps, local customs ignored, and brutal oppression. As if that weren’t enough, an elusive alien foe, piloted by the mysterious Cesh, tears through Imperial forces with a near-invisible ship.
This gripping story weaves themes of propaganda, sacrifice, and the blurred lines between fiction and reality. While less focused on the Aeronautica Imperialis than Outgunned, it offers a compelling exploration of the Von Shard family’s resourcefulness and kyle Simlex take on the Imperium and humanity. Here’s hoping for more tales from this fascinating characters!
July 25, 2025
A worthy successor to the original, spinning another tale of our propagandist narrator and his pilot muse, but inventively changing setting to keep things fresh.
There is less aerial action here perhaps, but in exchange we get a deeper dive into the work of the Imperium behind the scenes, with a topical look at deepfakes and a.i. content standing out.
Our two protagonists have to deal with the different status that enjoy following the fallout of 'Outgunned', re-united by a shared ally and finding an enemy in common. But is the threat facing the Imperium this time a conspiracy by outside forces, incompetence from the bureaucracy or a combination of the two?
The satire is heavy here, a throwback to the origin of the setting rather than an action movie in written form, which is just how I like my 40k.
There is less aerial action here perhaps, but in exchange we get a deeper dive into the work of the Imperium behind the scenes, with a topical look at deepfakes and a.i. content standing out.
Our two protagonists have to deal with the different status that enjoy following the fallout of 'Outgunned', re-united by a shared ally and finding an enemy in common. But is the threat facing the Imperium this time a conspiracy by outside forces, incompetence from the bureaucracy or a combination of the two?
The satire is heavy here, a throwback to the origin of the setting rather than an action movie in written form, which is just how I like my 40k.
June 7, 2025
Phenomenal. Improved on Outgunned in every way. In terms of fundamentals there were stronger and more interesting antagonists, well paced moments of introspection, a great balance of side characters, and most importantly, believable peaks and valleys between our two main characters.
In terms of analysis, for those familiar with Fehervari's works, this book is the Fire Caste of Aeronatica Imperialis stories. In that it's present but MAN is that not the point! We get fascinating looks at the Imperial propaganda engine as well as multiple different views on faith, both as a tool and as a weakness. 10/10 story and it's a tragedy more people aren't reading it.
In terms of analysis, for those familiar with Fehervari's works, this book is the Fire Caste of Aeronatica Imperialis stories. In that it's present but MAN is that not the point! We get fascinating looks at the Imperial propaganda engine as well as multiple different views on faith, both as a tool and as a weakness. 10/10 story and it's a tragedy more people aren't reading it.
January 20, 2025
This was a phenomenal sequel. It absolutely ripped my heart out, I was choking on how unfair it was. Perfect reflection on the hypocrisy of the Imperium and how it operates is excellent. The shift in this from Outgunned to focusing on the ways in which even heroes of the Imperium are constructed and are valuable less as people but rather as figureheads to recruit more is a really great angle for this book, and strikes the perfect balance of putting the main characters, citizens of the Imperium, in the tough position of reckoning with its realities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2025
Excellent follow-up to Outgunned.
Fantastic anti-war commentary and the nature/role that propaganda plays. A great diversion from the themes of Outgunned, showing yet another bleak facet to the eternal war that the characters are bound to. Here it's not the war that is the true horror, but the responsibility and burden that truth plays amidst its backdrop.
Fantastic anti-war commentary and the nature/role that propaganda plays. A great diversion from the themes of Outgunned, showing yet another bleak facet to the eternal war that the characters are bound to. Here it's not the war that is the true horror, but the responsibility and burden that truth plays amidst its backdrop.
November 5, 2024
This was a treat! I adore this now series. I hope we get more, even though it has a pretty decent ending if it doesn't. The main character can wax poetic a bit, but that's part of his character so it works. On my Warhammer must reads list
October 28, 2025
Waar ik het 1e deel een leuke verfrissende blik vond van het warhammer universum vind ik dit deel zeker een leuk aanhangsel ervan. het leest lekker makkelijk weg, en dat was deze afgelopen dagen wel nodig...
December 20, 2024
Pretty good Warhammer novel. It has a real sense of how horrid the Imperium is and what it does to peopke. Also, Tobia rules.
January 1, 2025
Yet another superb book featuring our favourite propagandist and oh so cynical air ace, enjoy
January 8, 2025
Fantastic. Denny Flowers has easily become one of my favorite writers. Strongly recommended!
September 3, 2025
Very fun, good story, flawed characters, struggle, mystery, aliens, grey area, inquisition, comissar, truly excellent !
September 11, 2025
More of the same great content from the previous book.
August 26, 2025
Outgunned was a great Warhammer 40k book, but Above and Beyond is a great science fiction book. If it wasn't for the fact that you need to read the previous entry to get the most out of this one, I'd be recommending this book to non-fans.
It's even better than The Infinite and the Divine, in my humble opinion.
It's even better than The Infinite and the Divine, in my humble opinion.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews