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The Shattered and the Soulless
A Siege of Terra Omnibus
This collection combines two novellas into one volume, exploring different aspects of the Siege of Terra – one from the gene-manipulation labs that ultimately produced the Space Marines, and another about Magnus and his fall to Chaos.
READ IT BECAUSE
These two tales shed light on the Horus Heresy, adding important context to both the creation of the Space Marines and the plight of Magnus, a tragic figure if ever there was one. Both of them offer new insight into the greater war, and feature their own fascinating, if grim, narratives that you won't want to miss.
THE STORY
In Sons of the Selenar, a ship carrying members of the Shattered Legions is diverted to Luna, where they face the harsh reality of what it took to create the original Space Marines.
In Fury of Magnus, the Crimson King seeks a fragment of his soul trapped in the most defended place on Terra – the inner sanctum of the Imperial Palace. While the war rages around him, he must decide for himself if the risk is worth the prospect of restoring himself.
CONTENTS
– Sons of the Selenar (novella)
– Fury of Magnus (novella)
Written by Graham McNeill.
This collection combines two novellas into one volume, exploring different aspects of the Siege of Terra – one from the gene-manipulation labs that ultimately produced the Space Marines, and another about Magnus and his fall to Chaos.
READ IT BECAUSE
These two tales shed light on the Horus Heresy, adding important context to both the creation of the Space Marines and the plight of Magnus, a tragic figure if ever there was one. Both of them offer new insight into the greater war, and feature their own fascinating, if grim, narratives that you won't want to miss.
THE STORY
In Sons of the Selenar, a ship carrying members of the Shattered Legions is diverted to Luna, where they face the harsh reality of what it took to create the original Space Marines.
In Fury of Magnus, the Crimson King seeks a fragment of his soul trapped in the most defended place on Terra – the inner sanctum of the Imperial Palace. While the war rages around him, he must decide for himself if the risk is worth the prospect of restoring himself.
CONTENTS
– Sons of the Selenar (novella)
– Fury of Magnus (novella)
Written by Graham McNeill.
- GenresScience Fiction
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2026
About the author
Graham McNeill
343 books940 followersHailing from Scotland, Graham McNeill narrowly escaped a career in surveying to work for Games Workshop as a games designer. He has a strong following with his novels Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, Dead Sky, Black Sun and Storm of Iron.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 13, 2026
I preferred the Magnus storyline to the first one; not sure why they were bundled together as they don't relate thematically other than being Siege of Terra stories but it was nice to explore Magnus even though the symbolism of Alpharius' statue being left up because he might be loyal, who knows? in Fury of Magnus is a bit heavy-fisted by McNeill.
April 11, 2026
Compiling two emblematic novellas by Graham McNeill, The Shattered and the Soulless is a genuine treat for fans of the Horus Heresy. While neither story is strictly essential to follow the core narrative of the Siege of Terra, both are rich in connections to wider lore and reward readers who enjoy piecing together the grander tapestry of Warhammer history. There are even playful nods to community memes (yes, the ever-persistent “Magnus did nothing wrong” exists now in print and in spirit).
More importantly, these novellas deepen our understanding of key long-term developments in the setting, including intriguing hints about how Belisarius Cawl would later uncover the gene code of all the primarchs with crucial ino and artifacts such as the Magna Mater.
“Sons of the Selenar” takes us back to the Sisypheum and its band of shattered Legion survivors. The dynamic between the Iron Hands and the Raven Guard is particularly interesting, as their radically different philosophies create tension even as they pursue a common goal. What follows is a daring infiltration mission…or more accurately: desperate, under-resourced, and bordering on suicidal. Their objective revolves around an artifact of immense importance, one whose true impact will only be felt thousands of years later but can lead to really catastrophic consequences in the short run if Horus manages to get it. Along the way, we are treated to fascinating glimpses of Selenar gene-craft and lost technological mastery, adding a strong layer of bio-sci-fi intrigue to the lore.
“Fury of Magnus,” on the other hand, is Graham McNeill at his absolute best. This novella delivers powerful character work and emotional depth, focusing on figures such as Magnus the Red, Ahzek Ahriman, and other Thousand Sons, while also giving significant presence to Imperial figures like the Emperor of Mankind (in his “Revelation” guise), Malcador the Sigillite, and Alivia Sureka. Vulkan and Perturabo also grace us with their presence in this novella.
One of the novella’s most enjoyable aspects is the unexpected camaraderie between the Space Wolves and the Salamanders, a fitting “ice and fire” partnership that works surprisingly well. At its heart, however, this is Magnus’ story: a tragic quest for something that might restore his sense of humanity. The philosophical and psychic exchanges are some of the strongest in the Heresy series, culminating in a genuine possibility of redemption, albeit one that demands a profound and painful sacrifice.
Structurally, it’s worth noting that the two stories are not sequential. “Sons of the Selenar” takes place early in the Siege, while “Fury of Magnus” unfolds later, following the Traitor setback at the Saturnine assault. This separation works well, offering two distinct perspectives on the conflict rather than a continuous narrative.
These stories were already published in the past. They aren’t truly focused about advancing the main plot, and more about enriching it. For readers invested in the deeper lore, character nuance, and long-term consequences of the Horus Heresy, this collection is absolutely worth the time.
More importantly, these novellas deepen our understanding of key long-term developments in the setting, including intriguing hints about how Belisarius Cawl would later uncover the gene code of all the primarchs with crucial ino and artifacts such as the Magna Mater.
“Sons of the Selenar” takes us back to the Sisypheum and its band of shattered Legion survivors. The dynamic between the Iron Hands and the Raven Guard is particularly interesting, as their radically different philosophies create tension even as they pursue a common goal. What follows is a daring infiltration mission…or more accurately: desperate, under-resourced, and bordering on suicidal. Their objective revolves around an artifact of immense importance, one whose true impact will only be felt thousands of years later but can lead to really catastrophic consequences in the short run if Horus manages to get it. Along the way, we are treated to fascinating glimpses of Selenar gene-craft and lost technological mastery, adding a strong layer of bio-sci-fi intrigue to the lore.
“Fury of Magnus,” on the other hand, is Graham McNeill at his absolute best. This novella delivers powerful character work and emotional depth, focusing on figures such as Magnus the Red, Ahzek Ahriman, and other Thousand Sons, while also giving significant presence to Imperial figures like the Emperor of Mankind (in his “Revelation” guise), Malcador the Sigillite, and Alivia Sureka. Vulkan and Perturabo also grace us with their presence in this novella.
One of the novella’s most enjoyable aspects is the unexpected camaraderie between the Space Wolves and the Salamanders, a fitting “ice and fire” partnership that works surprisingly well. At its heart, however, this is Magnus’ story: a tragic quest for something that might restore his sense of humanity. The philosophical and psychic exchanges are some of the strongest in the Heresy series, culminating in a genuine possibility of redemption, albeit one that demands a profound and painful sacrifice.
Structurally, it’s worth noting that the two stories are not sequential. “Sons of the Selenar” takes place early in the Siege, while “Fury of Magnus” unfolds later, following the Traitor setback at the Saturnine assault. This separation works well, offering two distinct perspectives on the conflict rather than a continuous narrative.
These stories were already published in the past. They aren’t truly focused about advancing the main plot, and more about enriching it. For readers invested in the deeper lore, character nuance, and long-term consequences of the Horus Heresy, this collection is absolutely worth the time.
March 23, 2026
Magnus you big dumb boy
liked this a lot, definitely suffers from the issue the whole series has ala having to explain what the crap is going on because you can't remember the previous threads of all these characters
liked this a lot, definitely suffers from the issue the whole series has ala having to explain what the crap is going on because you can't remember the previous threads of all these characters
April 28, 2026
1st story was kind of lame. Second one was pretty cool.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews