Ironfire

The Horus Heresy #Short Story

by Rob Sanders

His body broken by the fall of the Schadenhold, the Iron Warriors warsmith Idriss Krendl is nonetheless far from defeated. Now commanding two of the mighty siege guns stolen from the forge world of Diamat, he seeks to redeem himself in the eyes of his primarch by bringing down the Great Selenic palace on Euphorus, and gather invaluable tactical data for the eventual assault on Terra. His plan? To utilise a strategy of his own devising - the glorious Ironfire protocol.

Read it because
Follow the continuing adventures of Iron Warriors Warsmith Idriss Krendl as he attempts to take down a giant palace with a pair of the enormous siege guns. We last met Krendl in the story The Iron Within, where he went head to head with the loyalist Dantioch. After that humiliation, he's trying to recover his reputation with an audacious plan.

Genres: Short Stories, 40k, Science Fiction

27 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 4, 2015

About the author

Rob Sanders is the author of twelve novels, as well as numerous anthologised short stories, novellas, audio dramas, computer games and comics. His fiction has won national writing competitions, been featured on the BBC and appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. His poetry has been short listed in national contests. He lives off the beaten track in the small city of Lincoln, UK.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the disaster at the Schadenhold in The Iron Within left him broken in body and mind, warsmith Idriss Krendl wants to redeem himself in Perturabo’s eyes by live testing a new dangerous siege strategy of his making, so that his Primarch can use it successfully on the Imperial Palace walls.



And the Ironfire siege protocol and his creator are dangerous indeed, for the lives of Iron Warriors and their deviant allies of III Legion too, when warsmith Krendl tests it on a Emperor Children's garrison fortress.



An adrenalinic action-packed short Horus Heresy tale, the traitors' alliance starts showing signs of sinking, and I really can't wait to see Ironfire protocol used in battle in the slowly upcoming Siege of Terra.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

February 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus IV Shattersong (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.

Continuing the extremely shaky relationship with the increasing debauched and fractured Emperor's Children, the Iron Warriors go for a dress rehearsal of the Siege of the Emperor’s Palace with a similar enough (it has Astartes, but absolutely hasn't been given the sad, reinforcing fisting of Dorn) in the hope they can show their Primarch for extra credit. (Also, because the forces of Chaos absolutely have to continue to kneecap themselves, so they don't just roll up and absolutely decimate the entire Segmentum Solar).

I feel like I wildly vacillate between praising too much or being too critical and this story was well-written and a decent read, but I just don't think I can be as generous as others have been. I say it so often, the Horus Heresy is a phenomenal series whose entries I believe should be seen and judged as any other work, rather than being 'good for genre/ IP tie-in'.

I found this an entertaining enough read with a fun premise that made no impact on me and was instantly forgettable. Having characters from a series reappear and have continuing storylines is great, but not something that should be regarded as beyond reasonable expectations. Also, I'm not sure if I found the Legions involved to be characterised enough to stand out as who they are if they weren't named.

Maybe I am going to hard on this and I do acknowledge that it is somewhat limited by the scope and focus of the story, but it just happens very competently with decent, but not outstanding, action and then just ends.

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 11 Horus Heresy novels, 5 novellas, 20 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 6 Primarchs novels, 3 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 5 out of 5]

Hot damn was that a good read!
A little too short for my liking, as well as painting my favoured Legion in poor light, but as the Iron Warriors are my clean 2nd, I suppose that isn't too bad!
Ironfire is a pure rush of adrenaline that will sate the hunger for any Son of Iron, and damn did it keep me at the edge of my seat!

[Matt Argueta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced Iron Warriors fueled revenge. This follows Krendl desperately trying to make up for his failure to capture Dantioch and his keep on Lesser Damantyne 

Adrenaline rushed and with sights set only on trying to remedy his sullied name, this is mad dash to prove if his strategy for invading during active bombardment could work on Terra, even if it means trying it out on his fellow heretics.

Not a ton of depth or larger story moving forward on this one, but it was a somewhat enjoyable quick read

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Idriss Krendl Warsmith of the Iron Warriors was last seen in “The Iron Within” as he unsuccessfully waged a campaign against Loyalist Barbarus Dantioch.

Krendl had to return broken in body and mind absorbed in shame to his father. Now he has been tasked with a “mock” test to prepare for the Siege of Terra. A beautiful fortress, grand in scale and design has been seized by the Emperor’s Children, and the Iron Warriors will turn their guns on their allies.

Broken, beaten, and bitter, Krendl represents the worst excesses of his Legion, but in the worst of excesses he develops a brutal and aggressive method of bringing war to Terra.
I really enjoyed the action throughout the story, it was well characterised by Krendl’s desperation and shaken psyche, the combat had personality and life to it that made it fun to read.

The story also includes a fun reference to “Fallen Angels” in which the Lion gifted Perturabo highly advanced siege guns, which of course would be used on Isstvan V against the Loyalists. Those same guns appear again in this story.

[Slevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it, Mr. Sanders rocks.

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Space marines invent WW1 tactics

[Tyberius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perturabo hates cripples

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good little fight between iron warriors and emperors children.

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again proving that no Horus Heresy story stands alone, Rob Sanders’ latest release – Ironfire – sees the return of Idriss Krendl, the antagonist in The Iron Within. This time he’s front and centre as this story’s protagonist, having been put back together after the disaster at the Schadenhold, and he’s aiming to redeem himself in Perturabo’s eyes by road testing a new, risky siege-breaking strategy of his own devising. Determined to prove that it’s only in body that he’s broken, not in mind, he’s prepared to risk everything, including the lives of his minions and his supposed allies.

Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...

[Danny Saines · Rating 3 out of 5]

A direct follow up to one of the characters in the Iron Within which is interesting enough although nothing ground breaking.

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great look into the insanity of the Iron Warriors