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Dropsite Massacre
Explore the brutal massacre of Isstvaan V in this fantastic stand-alone Horus Heresy title from Black Library.
Horus has rebelled against the Emperor by purging his and his brother’s Legions, but what was supposed to be a secret act of murder has been revealed. In the Emperor’s name, Rogal Dorn and Malcador the Sigillite dispatch the largest force of legionaries and primarchs ever assembled to end Horus’ rebellion before it can begin. But the loyalists, on their way to enact vengeance, do not know the depth of the betrayal they face. They will not be the perpetrators of a massacre, but its victims. The last hope of returning to the Great Crusade and the unity of the Imperium will die in the dust of Isstvan V, and all those that survive will live in a new age of darkness.
Horus has rebelled against the Emperor by purging his and his brother’s Legions, but what was supposed to be a secret act of murder has been revealed. In the Emperor’s name, Rogal Dorn and Malcador the Sigillite dispatch the largest force of legionaries and primarchs ever assembled to end Horus’ rebellion before it can begin. But the loyalists, on their way to enact vengeance, do not know the depth of the betrayal they face. They will not be the perpetrators of a massacre, but its victims. The last hope of returning to the Great Crusade and the unity of the Imperium will die in the dust of Isstvan V, and all those that survive will live in a new age of darkness.
394 pages, Hardcover
First published November 18, 2025
About the author
John French
154 books325 followersJohn 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
October 27, 2025
I've always wanted a full book on the Dropsite Massacre, as the Horus Heresy novel series despite being 54 books long had maybe 200 pages devoted to the event across all of the books.
John French was the perfect one to tackle this as the first half of the book feels like he's playing in the same sandbox as he was in 'Slaves to Darkness' one of the absolute best books of the heresy. Seeing Mal try to wrangle all of these competing personalities and keep everyone in line was super fun. Some great points of perspective chosen as well with Kharn's being particularly memorable.
Similar to his work in Praetorian of Dorn, French is fantastic at writing the Alpha Legion, with their espionage melding together very well with established lore.
I think this about 95% melds in with the existing stuff we know on the event fairly seamlessly, with little bits of added lore from the newest edition of the game (IE The new Terminator designs), however this does not seem like a book anyone could just pick up and read. There are a lot of moving parts and to really appreciate them I feel like you need to have some idea about whose who.
This book could have really used another hundred pages or so to dive into the direct aftermath because that's where there is always a bit of confusion as to the exact timetable of whose where and for how long post massacre.
All that being said a high recommend and if you're reading this alongside the Horus Heresy I'd probably slot it either RIGHT after Fulgrim (book 5) or wait until after The First Heretic (book 14).
John French was the perfect one to tackle this as the first half of the book feels like he's playing in the same sandbox as he was in 'Slaves to Darkness' one of the absolute best books of the heresy. Seeing Mal try to wrangle all of these competing personalities and keep everyone in line was super fun. Some great points of perspective chosen as well with Kharn's being particularly memorable.
Similar to his work in Praetorian of Dorn, French is fantastic at writing the Alpha Legion, with their espionage melding together very well with established lore.
I think this about 95% melds in with the existing stuff we know on the event fairly seamlessly, with little bits of added lore from the newest edition of the game (IE The new Terminator designs), however this does not seem like a book anyone could just pick up and read. There are a lot of moving parts and to really appreciate them I feel like you need to have some idea about whose who.
This book could have really used another hundred pages or so to dive into the direct aftermath because that's where there is always a bit of confusion as to the exact timetable of whose where and for how long post massacre.
All that being said a high recommend and if you're reading this alongside the Horus Heresy I'd probably slot it either RIGHT after Fulgrim (book 5) or wait until after The First Heretic (book 14).
November 26, 2025
COMPETANT BOOKS ABOUT THINGS THAT DON'T MATTER
John French excels at these procedural zen-garden novels; less perfect than the stone spheres that make them up. but competent. and, like a zen garden, about nothing at all.
in French's 'Cypher' we get an incursion into an actual Cypher; no-one knows his motivation! By the end, we still don't! A lot of time is spent musing over; what does this guy really actually want? _What is his actual deal?_ Well, we don't know.
Or Frenches Fourth 'Ahriman' book, where (spoilers) Ahriman gets himself into a time loop and 'wins' by manipulating his own timestream so that he never enters the loop, becoming his own saviour and worst enemy. The narrative eats itself. Very appropriate for Ahriman the unwilling slave of Tzeetch. Really super on-point. And pointless.
From the guy who hangs around being mysterious and still is, to the book about a sorcerer wiping out the very events of the book he is in, making it a narrative dead-end, we come to another dead-end; the Dropsite Massacre. The Horus Heresy has a fifty-plus book series of fictional stories, the Forgeworld 'Black Book' procedural military-history texts, and articles and so on and so on. We have gone over all this TWICE at least. Now we are going to go over it again.
And like those mentioned above, this is _not a bad book_. There is much to be said for it. But why does it exist? And are we, (god help us), going to get more and more and more books going over the SAME imaginary battles again and again?
I mean I did actually buy and read/Audible all these books so; spoken preference/revealed preference, however I am still going to cope.
GRANULAR DUMB IS STILL DUMB
There is a strong tradition in Horus Heresy writing of the authors angrily re-writing each other because one of them did something dumb. And to be fair, many of them are genuinely pretty stupid.
In this case the 'something dumb' exists more *in* the text than in its writers, and is the now maybe forty year old decision by Ferrus Mannus to dominate the other legions and bet everything on just throwing all his military mass at one spot on one planet, knowing that its a trap but not knowing how much of one it is.
The policy of "this is clearly a trap" followed by "and we are going to walk right into it" happens mainly in fiction. In real life people do not walk into traps intending to overcommit and thus break the trap open because that is a dumb thing to do. If you can overcommit your opponent can too and so you end up in the same position. Ferrus, and the Imperium, did a real dumb thing.
People have probably done dumber things in real history. It's not completely immersion or sanity-breaking. Now instead of the grand tragedy of 'Then their doom came upon them', we are taken into meeting rooms, cross-channel communications, men in rooms making plans about men in rooms. It sketches in the details, impulses and drives of a big bad decision, but doesn't make it any less dumb. People just not thinking clearly in 4k is still bumbling. The question is; does John French doing a deep, granular dive on the decision process make good fiction, good pseudohistory, good art?
Kinda, yes, and no.
There are so many fun an interesting bits and pieces. Corax hanging out in an empty room with only an antique grandfather clock, all the procedural dicking around as the Alpha Legion instantiate PLANS, Kharn feeling sad, the birth of the Noise Marines. A kaleidoscope social novel with all these smaller and previously un-regarded points of view, a scene of mass incredible events told through this constellation of vivid pinpricks. *Everyone* is better written in this book and what they say and do makes sense. French would be a perfect Alpha-Legion writer, his plans are magnificent and intelligent in the details, but pointless. Like a well drawn map with a multi-stage riddle sequence that unerringly leads you to the toilet in your own house.
Its consistently interesting to read, (though might flag *badly* as an audiobook, there is no strong narrative drive), 'fills in' and, let’s be generous, enlivens, deepens, and makes more detailed and therefore more emotionally telling, the great machinery of this titanic event. Its not good art because there is no reason for it to exist, it isn’t 'doing anything'. Its like a photograph of the model for the Mona Lisa, or more like a photograph of the scene outside Van Goughs asylum window, where he would see a starry night.
John French excels at these procedural zen-garden novels; less perfect than the stone spheres that make them up. but competent. and, like a zen garden, about nothing at all.
in French's 'Cypher' we get an incursion into an actual Cypher; no-one knows his motivation! By the end, we still don't! A lot of time is spent musing over; what does this guy really actually want? _What is his actual deal?_ Well, we don't know.
Or Frenches Fourth 'Ahriman' book, where (spoilers) Ahriman gets himself into a time loop and 'wins' by manipulating his own timestream so that he never enters the loop, becoming his own saviour and worst enemy. The narrative eats itself. Very appropriate for Ahriman the unwilling slave of Tzeetch. Really super on-point. And pointless.
From the guy who hangs around being mysterious and still is, to the book about a sorcerer wiping out the very events of the book he is in, making it a narrative dead-end, we come to another dead-end; the Dropsite Massacre. The Horus Heresy has a fifty-plus book series of fictional stories, the Forgeworld 'Black Book' procedural military-history texts, and articles and so on and so on. We have gone over all this TWICE at least. Now we are going to go over it again.
And like those mentioned above, this is _not a bad book_. There is much to be said for it. But why does it exist? And are we, (god help us), going to get more and more and more books going over the SAME imaginary battles again and again?
I mean I did actually buy and read/Audible all these books so; spoken preference/revealed preference, however I am still going to cope.
GRANULAR DUMB IS STILL DUMB
There is a strong tradition in Horus Heresy writing of the authors angrily re-writing each other because one of them did something dumb. And to be fair, many of them are genuinely pretty stupid.
In this case the 'something dumb' exists more *in* the text than in its writers, and is the now maybe forty year old decision by Ferrus Mannus to dominate the other legions and bet everything on just throwing all his military mass at one spot on one planet, knowing that its a trap but not knowing how much of one it is.
The policy of "this is clearly a trap" followed by "and we are going to walk right into it" happens mainly in fiction. In real life people do not walk into traps intending to overcommit and thus break the trap open because that is a dumb thing to do. If you can overcommit your opponent can too and so you end up in the same position. Ferrus, and the Imperium, did a real dumb thing.
People have probably done dumber things in real history. It's not completely immersion or sanity-breaking. Now instead of the grand tragedy of 'Then their doom came upon them', we are taken into meeting rooms, cross-channel communications, men in rooms making plans about men in rooms. It sketches in the details, impulses and drives of a big bad decision, but doesn't make it any less dumb. People just not thinking clearly in 4k is still bumbling. The question is; does John French doing a deep, granular dive on the decision process make good fiction, good pseudohistory, good art?
Kinda, yes, and no.
There are so many fun an interesting bits and pieces. Corax hanging out in an empty room with only an antique grandfather clock, all the procedural dicking around as the Alpha Legion instantiate PLANS, Kharn feeling sad, the birth of the Noise Marines. A kaleidoscope social novel with all these smaller and previously un-regarded points of view, a scene of mass incredible events told through this constellation of vivid pinpricks. *Everyone* is better written in this book and what they say and do makes sense. French would be a perfect Alpha-Legion writer, his plans are magnificent and intelligent in the details, but pointless. Like a well drawn map with a multi-stage riddle sequence that unerringly leads you to the toilet in your own house.
Its consistently interesting to read, (though might flag *badly* as an audiobook, there is no strong narrative drive), 'fills in' and, let’s be generous, enlivens, deepens, and makes more detailed and therefore more emotionally telling, the great machinery of this titanic event. Its not good art because there is no reason for it to exist, it isn’t 'doing anything'. Its like a photograph of the model for the Mona Lisa, or more like a photograph of the scene outside Van Goughs asylum window, where he would see a starry night.
November 2, 2025
Boy, am I ever glad I had read the first five books in the Horus Heresy before this. I’d be lost otherwise! This is definitely not a good starting place for the uninitiated, but coming into this after having read FULGRIM it feels like a smart continuation — or at least a necessary bit of storytelling — of one of the most consequential battles following the holocaust of Isstvan III.
April 26, 2026
The infamous Dropsite Massacre is finally available as a novel. Obviously, it’s not a gateway into the Warhammer 40,000 universe, but for fans—and especially those who follow the Horus Heresy—it’s simply an indispensable addition for delving into the infamy of that tragic day for the Loyalists.
Of particular note in the audiobook is Jonathan Keeble’s extraordinary narration; he doesn’t just read the book—he brings it to life.
Of particular note in the audiobook is Jonathan Keeble’s extraordinary narration; he doesn’t just read the book—he brings it to life.
December 19, 2025
I sobbed the last half of the book. I never wanted to go back to Isstvaan but the Alpha Legion is always worth the pain. I think the worst part of reading this book is knowing what is coming to men and being able to do nothing but watch. John French never disappoints, he is so talented.
So you’re going to suffer but you’re going to be happy about it.
So you’re going to suffer but you’re going to be happy about it.
August 22, 2026
“It is done.
There are only the dead and soon to be dead on the Urgall Plateau. The slaughter has become mud. The chainblades of the World Eaters are heavy with shredded meat. The drum rhythm of the Iron Warriors’ shells has become the pulse of a factory press stamping out blown-open bodies and churned soil. The Night Lords have begun to dig skinning-pits, and search for those that still breathe and can scream as they are flensed. The Titans of Mortis are black, scorched statues, weapons bleeding cooling steam, hunched as though exhausted. Hundreds of thousands are dead. There are still thousands alive, but that does not weigh against the slaughter. It is done. Just four hours have passed since the first shell fell from the sky and the first wave drop began.”
Yeah, that was…certainly a time. And quite the first John French for me too. Dude can certainly spread the red and make it read like a straight drama.
But really, I’m glad to have gotten to this one, especially in my own personal early days in the chronicles of the Heresy. Sure, I could have used maybe a bit more context as to the Khárn/Angron of it all (I’m not really that well versed in the World Eaters yet), but this was still a pretty interesting, crazy engaging read in the overall.
For one, it’s sort of insane that they’ve never done this before now, at least in my eyes. I suppose they wanted a lot of the original codex and lore stuff to stand true (or at least keep some ambiguity, maybe) but this being such a massive event with so many marquee characters involved, it’s really a slam dunk for us lore girlies.
And even better, the sort of semi-detached, but ground level approach French takes to this really colors it well. You get an awesome sense of the mechanics and logistics behind the attack, the way each character is reacting and parsing through it. It’s wonderful stuff and makes it all feel real in a way I wasn’t expecting it to feel. I might have even have enjoyed it more if it committed even further to that, making this a full “academic” text on the battle. But I’ll certainly settle for “extremely matter-of-fact, detail focused military drama”
Honestly, I think this is the first one that’s really embodied that sort of energy, after hearing so much about how that’s 40k’s main vibe. The Uriel Ventris stuff, sure, but the ones I’ve been reading have been far weirder, and far more character driven than just that. This one basically being a well written Dad Book about a wholly made up event starring a bunch of dudes possessed by demons and engaging in super-war crimes for the fate of the galaxy is pretty neat in my summation.
There are only the dead and soon to be dead on the Urgall Plateau. The slaughter has become mud. The chainblades of the World Eaters are heavy with shredded meat. The drum rhythm of the Iron Warriors’ shells has become the pulse of a factory press stamping out blown-open bodies and churned soil. The Night Lords have begun to dig skinning-pits, and search for those that still breathe and can scream as they are flensed. The Titans of Mortis are black, scorched statues, weapons bleeding cooling steam, hunched as though exhausted. Hundreds of thousands are dead. There are still thousands alive, but that does not weigh against the slaughter. It is done. Just four hours have passed since the first shell fell from the sky and the first wave drop began.”
Yeah, that was…certainly a time. And quite the first John French for me too. Dude can certainly spread the red and make it read like a straight drama.
But really, I’m glad to have gotten to this one, especially in my own personal early days in the chronicles of the Heresy. Sure, I could have used maybe a bit more context as to the Khárn/Angron of it all (I’m not really that well versed in the World Eaters yet), but this was still a pretty interesting, crazy engaging read in the overall.
For one, it’s sort of insane that they’ve never done this before now, at least in my eyes. I suppose they wanted a lot of the original codex and lore stuff to stand true (or at least keep some ambiguity, maybe) but this being such a massive event with so many marquee characters involved, it’s really a slam dunk for us lore girlies.
And even better, the sort of semi-detached, but ground level approach French takes to this really colors it well. You get an awesome sense of the mechanics and logistics behind the attack, the way each character is reacting and parsing through it. It’s wonderful stuff and makes it all feel real in a way I wasn’t expecting it to feel. I might have even have enjoyed it more if it committed even further to that, making this a full “academic” text on the battle. But I’ll certainly settle for “extremely matter-of-fact, detail focused military drama”
Honestly, I think this is the first one that’s really embodied that sort of energy, after hearing so much about how that’s 40k’s main vibe. The Uriel Ventris stuff, sure, but the ones I’ve been reading have been far weirder, and far more character driven than just that. This one basically being a well written Dad Book about a wholly made up event starring a bunch of dudes possessed by demons and engaging in super-war crimes for the fate of the galaxy is pretty neat in my summation.
August 26, 2026
A truly great example of what a supporting Horus Heresy novel should be. It's not a complete depiction of the Dropsite Massacre, cataloging every fact and moment of battle, though you might assume something attempting that from the title. John French instead fills the gaps left by the mainline novels and assumes you've read everything up to Isstvan V.
I really liked how the Alpha Legion are given much more presence and that we get insight into just how influential they were at this stage of the Heresy. And in classic Alpha Legion-fashion, both sides benefit from their influence (because picking sides and sticking with them is b-o-r-i-n-g).
French also doesn't waste time retelling scenes of the battle depicted in other novels from different perspectives. Prime example? Ferrus Manus vs Fulgrim.
In Graham McNeil's telling, the fight between these two primarchs is drawn out and from the perspective of Fulgrim himself. It highlights not just the physical battle between the two brothers, but the psychological struggle within Fulgrim as the daemon manipulates his thoughts and emotions.
Here, French intentionally avoids this conflict all together. We don't need to see that again. French consistently tells new and captivating character stories in Dropsite Massacre, despite the outcome being known to all. Instead of Ferrus v Fulgrim, we get to see what complete and utter devastation looks like through the eyes Castrmen Orth, a (very badass) Iron Hands centurion, as Orth learns of his gene-father's fate:
——
“The Apothecary is still looking at him when Orth hears a new voice. It cuts through the noise and the pain…
…It is Fulgrim. He has a sword in his hand. Its hangs loose in his grasp. There is blood on its curve, and red drops shake from its point. And in his other hand…
Black. Sudden black. Edge to edge. The feeling of falling without the promise of the ground to end it. On and on, down and down… into the null of thought. Orth’s mind has shut down at the point where it needed to process what he sees… There… hanging in Fulgrim’s hand, staring back at Orth with chrome eyes…
…’Fabius…’ says Fulgrim again. He is smiling. He looks both more vital than anything alive and as waxen as a painted cadaver. ‘I have a gift for you.’ Fulgrim steps aside as warriors in blood-daubed purple pull a corpse into view. It is the rest of Ferrus Manus. Orth is falling inside his skull. All data is null. All meaning ended. The body is grey with the dust of the plateau. The silver hands are dull, the fingers slack. It is so still. Orth falls and falls and falls. No input. No logic to unmake this.”
——
This goes so hard. I feel sick. Ugh.
I really liked how the Alpha Legion are given much more presence and that we get insight into just how influential they were at this stage of the Heresy. And in classic Alpha Legion-fashion, both sides benefit from their influence (because picking sides and sticking with them is b-o-r-i-n-g).
French also doesn't waste time retelling scenes of the battle depicted in other novels from different perspectives. Prime example? Ferrus Manus vs Fulgrim.
In Graham McNeil's telling, the fight between these two primarchs is drawn out and from the perspective of Fulgrim himself. It highlights not just the physical battle between the two brothers, but the psychological struggle within Fulgrim as the daemon manipulates his thoughts and emotions.
Here, French intentionally avoids this conflict all together. We don't need to see that again. French consistently tells new and captivating character stories in Dropsite Massacre, despite the outcome being known to all. Instead of Ferrus v Fulgrim, we get to see what complete and utter devastation looks like through the eyes Castrmen Orth, a (very badass) Iron Hands centurion, as Orth learns of his gene-father's fate:
——
“The Apothecary is still looking at him when Orth hears a new voice. It cuts through the noise and the pain…
…It is Fulgrim. He has a sword in his hand. Its hangs loose in his grasp. There is blood on its curve, and red drops shake from its point. And in his other hand…
Black. Sudden black. Edge to edge. The feeling of falling without the promise of the ground to end it. On and on, down and down… into the null of thought. Orth’s mind has shut down at the point where it needed to process what he sees… There… hanging in Fulgrim’s hand, staring back at Orth with chrome eyes…
…’Fabius…’ says Fulgrim again. He is smiling. He looks both more vital than anything alive and as waxen as a painted cadaver. ‘I have a gift for you.’ Fulgrim steps aside as warriors in blood-daubed purple pull a corpse into view. It is the rest of Ferrus Manus. Orth is falling inside his skull. All data is null. All meaning ended. The body is grey with the dust of the plateau. The silver hands are dull, the fingers slack. It is so still. Orth falls and falls and falls. No input. No logic to unmake this.”
——
This goes so hard. I feel sick. Ugh.
January 2, 2026
saber cómo termina este libro solo lo hace peor 💔 me ha gustado tanto que lo dejo incluido en el top 10 de 2026 para que en diciembre no se me olvide que me volvió un poco cucú bananas
November 8, 2025
The Dropsite Massacre was one of the most important events of the Horus Heresy and occurred early on. Nevertheless, as readers, we have not had a conclusive story about it until now, only different and short-lived perspectives.
John French now provides us with an unexpected but magnificent work. He does so in a manner that deserves much praise. The story will not change the outcome of this event, but the narrative gives us much more insight that fits perfectly into the gaps left open. The plans and motivations on the part of both the loyalists and the traitors are now much easier to understand.
Many previously held views are now changing:
-Was it really just Ferrus' anger that led to a hasty and ill-considered attack?
-How united were Horus' allies?
-Would different decisions have led to different outcomes?
All these questions are answered by French.
The focus remains on a cast of new and old characters, but never really on the primarchs. In my opinion, this is actually a good thing, as we are finally introduced to Astrates such as Alvarex Maun and Castrmen Orth (known from the Forge World Black Books)
It also drives home the long lost feeling of reading the Horus Heresy: Being excited for all the tragic actions knowing the outcome but loving the journey.
There is one downside, however:
SPOILER ALERT:
Unfortunately, I feel that the perspective of the actual ambush is neglected and could have been given 20-30 more pages.
John French now provides us with an unexpected but magnificent work. He does so in a manner that deserves much praise. The story will not change the outcome of this event, but the narrative gives us much more insight that fits perfectly into the gaps left open. The plans and motivations on the part of both the loyalists and the traitors are now much easier to understand.
Many previously held views are now changing:
-Was it really just Ferrus' anger that led to a hasty and ill-considered attack?
-How united were Horus' allies?
-Would different decisions have led to different outcomes?
All these questions are answered by French.
The focus remains on a cast of new and old characters, but never really on the primarchs. In my opinion, this is actually a good thing, as we are finally introduced to Astrates such as Alvarex Maun and Castrmen Orth (known from the Forge World Black Books)
It also drives home the long lost feeling of reading the Horus Heresy: Being excited for all the tragic actions knowing the outcome but loving the journey.
There is one downside, however:
SPOILER ALERT:
Unfortunately, I feel that the perspective of the actual ambush is neglected and could have been given 20-30 more pages.
November 4, 2025
If not in the top 10 Horus Books, it’s close to it. John French has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years, and this might be one of his best.
This slots in chronologically after flight of the Eisenstiein and adjacent to ‘Fulgrim’, but puts the battle of Istvan V front and centre. Half the book is buildup, and the other half the actual massacre itself.
French does a marvellous job at expanding what you already knew about the battle; and doesn’t rewrite anything already expounded upon. Various characters from the series make an appearance. In particular, and very satisfyingly, a certain moderati princeps that hasn’t appeared since ‘Galaxy in Flames’ almost 20 years ago. Let’s just say everyone in the story get their time to shine, and for some reason- their just deserts.
A must read.
This slots in chronologically after flight of the Eisenstiein and adjacent to ‘Fulgrim’, but puts the battle of Istvan V front and centre. Half the book is buildup, and the other half the actual massacre itself.
French does a marvellous job at expanding what you already knew about the battle; and doesn’t rewrite anything already expounded upon. Various characters from the series make an appearance. In particular, and very satisfyingly, a certain moderati princeps that hasn’t appeared since ‘Galaxy in Flames’ almost 20 years ago. Let’s just say everyone in the story get their time to shine, and for some reason- their just deserts.
A must read.
June 9, 2026
If you had asked me before reading this, I would of said we had heard enough about Istvaan, but damn, this one is super solid.
That being said, you 100% have to already know the story and what happened at the titular massacre, because this book explores stories within in, without actually hitting key points.
That being said, you 100% have to already know the story and what happened at the titular massacre, because this book explores stories within in, without actually hitting key points.
December 29, 2025
Space Marines doing Space Marine things whilst being Space Marines. If you have read any of Horus Heresy Novels and enjoyed them, you will enjoy this one.
November 17, 2025
Listened on Audible
French created one of the best illustrations of the grand nature of ridiculous grimdark space battles with Dropsite Massacre and I am so happy about it. This was unexpected, but not because of any ill will towards John French; au contraire, the bar was set quite high because of my nostalgia for Ahriman: The Omnibus. It handily cleared it.
The narrative tells a play-by-play of the titular event on Istvaan V, which previously had only really been deep-dove in Fulgrim, another Black Library favorite of mine. This book shows each aspect of each side of the Horus Heresy, with great characters both standalone and legends from the rest of the series. Maloghurst, Kor Phaeron & Kharn in particular were incredible returning faces, and Iron Hands Orth, Emperor's Children Calpurnius, Raven Guard Maun and the normal human soldier Astraea killed it for new characters. The action was all driven differently based on the characters' assignments and personalities throughout the battle, with brilliant descriptions almost bloating this book(in a good way).
If that was not enough, the characterization is absolutely A+. Seeing the loyalist view of how much Istvaan V caught them by surprise and almost seemed like an end to the Heresy before it started really gave more perspective of why the entirety of the war was built around prepping for the Siege of Terra.
I do actually really, really recommend specifically the audiobook for this. Keeble is so in his element it elevated the story beyond the highs it was already reaching.
French created one of the best illustrations of the grand nature of ridiculous grimdark space battles with Dropsite Massacre and I am so happy about it. This was unexpected, but not because of any ill will towards John French; au contraire, the bar was set quite high because of my nostalgia for Ahriman: The Omnibus. It handily cleared it.
The narrative tells a play-by-play of the titular event on Istvaan V, which previously had only really been deep-dove in Fulgrim, another Black Library favorite of mine. This book shows each aspect of each side of the Horus Heresy, with great characters both standalone and legends from the rest of the series. Maloghurst, Kor Phaeron & Kharn in particular were incredible returning faces, and Iron Hands Orth, Emperor's Children Calpurnius, Raven Guard Maun and the normal human soldier Astraea killed it for new characters. The action was all driven differently based on the characters' assignments and personalities throughout the battle, with brilliant descriptions almost bloating this book(in a good way).
If that was not enough, the characterization is absolutely A+. Seeing the loyalist view of how much Istvaan V caught them by surprise and almost seemed like an end to the Heresy before it started really gave more perspective of why the entirety of the war was built around prepping for the Siege of Terra.
I do actually really, really recommend specifically the audiobook for this. Keeble is so in his element it elevated the story beyond the highs it was already reaching.
January 6, 2026
I thought the first and last parts of this book were really strong. The first for showing the lead up to the event and the various discussions between important characters. The last on the other hand focused things down nicely from the chaotic middle and gave some broader perspective to the last events than was given in fulgrim.
The middle was unsurprisingly bogged down with a fast paced slew of action scenes focusing on the many characters involved. Some of these were more interesting to me personally while others were bolterporn.
My standouts were the raven guard and alpha legion characters who had some interesting moments and characters, especially Pech from book 7 - legion.
4.25/5
The middle was unsurprisingly bogged down with a fast paced slew of action scenes focusing on the many characters involved. Some of these were more interesting to me personally while others were bolterporn.
My standouts were the raven guard and alpha legion characters who had some interesting moments and characters, especially Pech from book 7 - legion.
4.25/5
May 2, 2026
Outstanding addition to the tapestry that is the Horus Heresy, fleshing out one of the Horus Heresy's better known engagements beyond that seen in previous novels in the series. Anyone who has read the Horus Heresy or indeed taken even the barest hint of a step into Warhammer 40,000 will know of its events, but that doesn't stop Dropsite Massacre ratcheting up the tension and the pacing to a resounding and entertaining crescendo.
December 1, 2025
Good!
A wave of nostalgia from years pass ... and a good book!
A wave of nostalgia from years pass ... and a good book!
August 13, 2026
Indepth perspectives from multiple different views of the battle at Istvaan V, showing off multiple primarchs, astartes and guardsmen. While it serves to add more details and background to characters from the original books and 40k series like Kharn, Ferrus, Corvus, Angron, etc the focusing of so many different characters is easily the books biggest downfall.
With so many perspectives changing constantly it is easy to get lost and confused with which character you are reading about and is forced to trim down read time for its most interesting characters to fit the full spectrum of everything it tried to cover.
With so many perspectives changing constantly it is easy to get lost and confused with which character you are reading about and is forced to trim down read time for its most interesting characters to fit the full spectrum of everything it tried to cover.
April 17, 2026
This book was so boring it took me almost 3 months to finish off and on. Nothing important actually happens and this was just wrote so GW could sell some Saturnine models.
October 29, 2025
I like John French and this is a Siege of Terra level of quality book.
Why though? Why are we reading about the dropsite massacre in 2025? None of this is untrod ground. It's another shattered legions book covering the dropsite massacre. This wasn't timed to release with Saturnine or any wave of models, It's just comic universe style nonsense and greed and I'm sure we will see a limited edition in due time.
I would much rather have another Hollow King book from Mr French.
Why though? Why are we reading about the dropsite massacre in 2025? None of this is untrod ground. It's another shattered legions book covering the dropsite massacre. This wasn't timed to release with Saturnine or any wave of models, It's just comic universe style nonsense and greed and I'm sure we will see a limited edition in due time.
I would much rather have another Hollow King book from Mr French.
November 18, 2025
we're so back. fits in perfectly post fulgrim as a return to the early days of the horus heresy, the character development French puts in for Ferraus Manus is long overdue; exploring the immediate character reaction to the betrayal of Horus and how it becomes known - less of a massacre itself book; more of the machinations leading up to it; but it hits home really well.
August 29, 2026
Really fantastic start with chapter building and good situational analysis of what’s happening around the galaxy after Isstvan 3 and other events. I wish there was a bit more of the actual battle… but it’s a pretty solid story. I enjoyed the ending most of all sad they didn’t go on. But seems to be the theme for these authors now, bit of teaser and then hope you’ll reach the other 537.5 books! Which I am on #38 in Horus Hersey. Love em.
November 14, 2025
I thought that all that could be covered for the drop site massacre had already been done but was surprised by this book.
The last few chapters where you know what was coming but the loyalist characters didn’t was great.
Adds more depth and interest to Angron which was great.
Forgot how fun the Heresy books can be and looking forward to Ashes of the Imperium next month.
The last few chapters where you know what was coming but the loyalist characters didn’t was great.
Adds more depth and interest to Angron which was great.
Forgot how fun the Heresy books can be and looking forward to Ashes of the Imperium next month.
November 8, 2025
Fun read. Nice to inspire a heresy project.
Whilst I sort of wish I’d re read Horus rising up to Fulgrim before reading this I think it works as a stand alone.
I don’t think it tread on any toes of the early Heresy novels; and I’d fully expected it to read like an advert for the newer minis that recently came out (genuinely expected the characters to be all Saturnine armour folk) but it doesn’t!
Minor structural spoiler
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I’m not sure if the 4th act felt a bit of a sudden ending but that’s probably where the books Fulgrim and First Heretic take over.
Whilst I sort of wish I’d re read Horus rising up to Fulgrim before reading this I think it works as a stand alone.
I don’t think it tread on any toes of the early Heresy novels; and I’d fully expected it to read like an advert for the newer minis that recently came out (genuinely expected the characters to be all Saturnine armour folk) but it doesn’t!
Minor structural spoiler
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I’m not sure if the 4th act felt a bit of a sudden ending but that’s probably where the books Fulgrim and First Heretic take over.
October 31, 2025
IThe Istavaan massacre all Horus Heresy fans needed
This was the one story that needed telling in more detail than any other of the other horus heresy events, and oh boy, does John French deliver!
John French does a superb job of laying out all of the details and characters that made up this event, such as why and how Horus achieved such a near complete victory over three legions. Who let's not forget, in their very own rite, are exceptionally accomplished legions that are led by highly intellectual and tactical leaders. The groundwork laid out before, and the amount of forethought gone into such an ambush was very fulfilling to witness.
I also enjoyed seeing from the the other point of view as to why the retaliatery force attacked them way they did, they didn't just charge in with no plan, it was carefully considered from all angles.
Overall, this really felt like a story told not just to the fans of the series but also to those who would like to witness firsthand how this momentous event took place.
This was the one story that needed telling in more detail than any other of the other horus heresy events, and oh boy, does John French deliver!
John French does a superb job of laying out all of the details and characters that made up this event, such as why and how Horus achieved such a near complete victory over three legions. Who let's not forget, in their very own rite, are exceptionally accomplished legions that are led by highly intellectual and tactical leaders. The groundwork laid out before, and the amount of forethought gone into such an ambush was very fulfilling to witness.
I also enjoyed seeing from the the other point of view as to why the retaliatery force attacked them way they did, they didn't just charge in with no plan, it was carefully considered from all angles.
Overall, this really felt like a story told not just to the fans of the series but also to those who would like to witness firsthand how this momentous event took place.
November 7, 2025
i have to be honest! what a pleasant surprise.
when i first saw this released, i had my doubts. (why do we need another heresy book / dropsite massacre book?) but i was proven wrong!
this added a lot of depth to some of the primarchs, especially ferrus, as well as give some very interesting details ‘post betrayal’!
i still think this was a little bit of classic gw cash grab, timing this with the super recent ‘saturnine’ models.. but whatever. gw be gw-ing.
anyways.. 3.75 rounded up.
when i first saw this released, i had my doubts. (why do we need another heresy book / dropsite massacre book?) but i was proven wrong!
this added a lot of depth to some of the primarchs, especially ferrus, as well as give some very interesting details ‘post betrayal’!
i still think this was a little bit of classic gw cash grab, timing this with the super recent ‘saturnine’ models.. but whatever. gw be gw-ing.
anyways.. 3.75 rounded up.
November 4, 2025
4.5 stars.
I usually find John French's books to be not the best, but he proved me wrong with this one. We already know the events of Istavaan 5 through other Heresy novels, but this the first time we get a coherent telling of the event. Book contains great primarch interactions, which are always fun to listen. Great pacing and very little fluff. Gives much needed character development to Ferrus Manus.
I would recommend this book to everyone who is reading the Horus Heresy. Try reading this before/ after Book 5 Fulgrim.
Great narration by Jonathan Keeble as usual
I usually find John French's books to be not the best, but he proved me wrong with this one. We already know the events of Istavaan 5 through other Heresy novels, but this the first time we get a coherent telling of the event. Book contains great primarch interactions, which are always fun to listen. Great pacing and very little fluff. Gives much needed character development to Ferrus Manus.
I would recommend this book to everyone who is reading the Horus Heresy. Try reading this before/ after Book 5 Fulgrim.
Great narration by Jonathan Keeble as usual
February 16, 2026
I know this was written recently, and people are calling it "useless supplemental reading" because of it, but I personally think this is an amazing jumping-off point from the initial trilogy into the rest of the heresy. It features fun and flavorful moments from most of the legions present, and it gives an overview of many of the major characters that will come up, again and again. As a follow-up to Galaxy in Flames, this does a fantastic job at giving a new reader an idea of what parts of the heresy they'd be interested in. I think it should be seen as a "crossroads" entry, from which you can start picking and choosing arcs of the Heresy you're interested in.
Now, onto the book itself.
I'm a big fan of John French. I find his writing to be the right level of fancy and verbose, I like his way of writing dialogue and fight scenes, and I especially like his ability to tie together pre-existing characters. All of the above hold very true here. Many iconic characters really shine here: Fulgrim is despicable as always, Mortarion is surprisingly lucid and Angron is a really respectable warrior ("Wounds to the front!" is a crazy good line); Maloghurst is a villain, brutally efficient and with 0 moral qualms, but really cool to see in action; Kharn is a sadboy, as we've gotten to expect, but he is already an incredibly compelling character, and his is written really well; Cassian Dracos and Alxarex Maun are two characters I'd never heard before (though I'm fairly certain they were already established in lore, somewhere), but I found them really enjoyable - given how the loyalists tended to be massively outclassed by the traitors' side in terms of compelling characters, these two carried their respective sections quite a lot; finally, withour going into too much detail, this book has the most terrifying rendition of Fabius Bile I've ever seen in a Warhammer book. All of it is to say, the characters are by far the highlight of my experience reading Dropsite Massacre.
I sadly don't have as many good things to say about the actual action of the book. Everyone that's gotten here more-or-less knows how this will end before it begins, but once the loyalist forces start landing on Isstvan V, the story meanders and stalls quite a lot, and it is very jarring. I found the pacing to slow down a lot about 25-30% into the book, and refuse to pick back up until maybe about the last 20%. That is to say, 50% or more of the book is terribly slow and forgettable, which is unfortunate, because even the boring parts have redeemable qualities (mostly French's awesome writing style). The loyalists are also incredibly stupid (this is the canon's fault, there's only so much this book is allowed to do to make it better), but I do appreciate French leaning on the Alpha Legion to explain much of it. They're cool and they're very well written, so it works, for the most part.
I also have to mention the audiobook version: Jonathan Keeble has once again outdone himself. The voices are distinct and awesome in their own way, and the renditions of the Chaos gods are genuinely terrifying. I cannot recommend it enough, listening to this is an incredible experience in its own right.
Now, onto the book itself.
I'm a big fan of John French. I find his writing to be the right level of fancy and verbose, I like his way of writing dialogue and fight scenes, and I especially like his ability to tie together pre-existing characters. All of the above hold very true here. Many iconic characters really shine here: Fulgrim is despicable as always, Mortarion is surprisingly lucid and Angron is a really respectable warrior ("Wounds to the front!" is a crazy good line); Maloghurst is a villain, brutally efficient and with 0 moral qualms, but really cool to see in action; Kharn is a sadboy, as we've gotten to expect, but he is already an incredibly compelling character, and his is written really well; Cassian Dracos and Alxarex Maun are two characters I'd never heard before (though I'm fairly certain they were already established in lore, somewhere), but I found them really enjoyable - given how the loyalists tended to be massively outclassed by the traitors' side in terms of compelling characters, these two carried their respective sections quite a lot; finally, withour going into too much detail, this book has the most terrifying rendition of Fabius Bile I've ever seen in a Warhammer book. All of it is to say, the characters are by far the highlight of my experience reading Dropsite Massacre.
I sadly don't have as many good things to say about the actual action of the book. Everyone that's gotten here more-or-less knows how this will end before it begins, but once the loyalist forces start landing on Isstvan V, the story meanders and stalls quite a lot, and it is very jarring. I found the pacing to slow down a lot about 25-30% into the book, and refuse to pick back up until maybe about the last 20%. That is to say, 50% or more of the book is terribly slow and forgettable, which is unfortunate, because even the boring parts have redeemable qualities (mostly French's awesome writing style). The loyalists are also incredibly stupid (this is the canon's fault, there's only so much this book is allowed to do to make it better), but I do appreciate French leaning on the Alpha Legion to explain much of it. They're cool and they're very well written, so it works, for the most part.
I also have to mention the audiobook version: Jonathan Keeble has once again outdone himself. The voices are distinct and awesome in their own way, and the renditions of the Chaos gods are genuinely terrifying. I cannot recommend it enough, listening to this is an incredible experience in its own right.
October 27, 2025
A story about Istvan V got me excited and being narrated by mr keeble ! What’s not to love, it’s a good book but nothing new revealed, we have some HH icons appear Kharn, Fabius not forgetting the Primarchs, should have been better given the amount of time BL has had to bring this book to fruition
November 3, 2025
My fav John French book so far. He did an amazing job of filling in the blanks of istvann V
February 3, 2026
A bit of a letdown
Maybe it was the victim of high expectations, but I was expecting a lot more from this book. It focused a lot on peripheral characters and events, and spent a lot of time building to the main focus of the story but didn’t deliver when it finally arrived. It was all build-up and very little payoff. This was one of the most important events in Warhammer lore and this book did not deliver.
Maybe it was the victim of high expectations, but I was expecting a lot more from this book. It focused a lot on peripheral characters and events, and spent a lot of time building to the main focus of the story but didn’t deliver when it finally arrived. It was all build-up and very little payoff. This was one of the most important events in Warhammer lore and this book did not deliver.
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