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The Horus Heresy #Novella
Scorched Earth
Nearly a quarter of a million loyal Space Marines lost their lives on Isstvan V – the Dropsite Massacre lasted only a few hours, and yet the Iron Hands, Raven Guard and Salamanders were slaughtered by those they had once called kin. With the disappearance of their primarch weighing heavily upon their hearts, Ra’stan and Usabius of the XVIIIth Legion leave behind their fellow survivors and strike out into the Urgall Depression. Their mission: to find what, if anything, remains of mighty Vulkan...
See the aftermath of the Dropsite Massacre as the Salamanders search desperately for any sign of Vulkan. Get into the heads of Space Marines who may have just lost their primarch as they take revenge on the traitors – and discover things about themselves and their allies that they might wish they hadn't. Look out as well for the first appearance of a phrase that will resonate throughout the Horus Heresy... Vulkan Lives.
See the aftermath of the Dropsite Massacre as the Salamanders search desperately for any sign of Vulkan. Get into the heads of Space Marines who may have just lost their primarch as they take revenge on the traitors – and discover things about themselves and their allies that they might wish they hadn't. Look out as well for the first appearance of a phrase that will resonate throughout the Horus Heresy... Vulkan Lives.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2013
4 people are currently reading
576 people want to read
About the author
Nick Kyme
279 books161 followersNick Kyme (b. 1977) writes mostly for Black Library. His credits include the popular Salamanders series and several audio dramas.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 2, 2019
Re-read in the Born of Flame anthology.
Stories set in W40K setting are usually grimdark ones, but this Horus Heresy novella is just one of the bleakest ever, with its hopeless characters, a bunch of survivors on Isstvan V hunted by traitors death-squads and not knowing if their Primarch is still alive, but for the X Legion one of course.
And some Space Marines can just be broken in more then one way.
Black Library author Nick Kyme often been an hit or miss for me, but this dark, intense and brutal tale is just a masterpiece.
July 29, 2015
This is a incomplete book. Bear in mind that if you don't have Vulkan Lives, this book will make you feel cheated for paying 30 or 40€ for it. I'm talking the limited edition novella.
Why? Let's start from the beginning.
This book we follow a group of survivors after the Isstvan - Salamanders, Raven Guard and Iron Hands.
This book is very dark. Basically it's how space marines deal with PostTraumatic Stress Dysorder. After all, almost all of their brothers were killed, their primarchs either dead or missing. Bear in mind thar Ferrus Manus was killed by Fulgrim and Corax and Vulkan were missing.
So, we've got a bunch of space marines (three and/or four) who are trying to regroup and then search for Vulkan. The story ends and we are left with an incomplete story. For what I know (I haven't read it yet) Vulkan Lives continues this story (and at the same time the HH Novel Fulgrim).
To me a dissapointing reading because I paid a lot of money for this novella and it felt incompleted.
It's a self containted novel?
Yes. Is it an interesting worthwhile novel?
No. Is it worth the money of the Premium edition?
No way.
But not all things are bad. The lack of hope that envelops everyone, the bleak place they are in. Ah the landscape... perfect.
BUT it all ends with the same question.. Is it worth 35€?
No. Not even with the art inside. Not even the beautiful cover. Sorry..
Why? Let's start from the beginning.
This book we follow a group of survivors after the Isstvan - Salamanders, Raven Guard and Iron Hands.
This book is very dark. Basically it's how space marines deal with PostTraumatic Stress Dysorder. After all, almost all of their brothers were killed, their primarchs either dead or missing. Bear in mind thar Ferrus Manus was killed by Fulgrim and Corax and Vulkan were missing.
So, we've got a bunch of space marines (three and/or four) who are trying to regroup and then search for Vulkan. The story ends and we are left with an incomplete story. For what I know (I haven't read it yet) Vulkan Lives continues this story (and at the same time the HH Novel Fulgrim).
To me a dissapointing reading because I paid a lot of money for this novella and it felt incompleted.
It's a self containted novel?
Yes. Is it an interesting worthwhile novel?
No. Is it worth the money of the Premium edition?
No way.
But not all things are bad. The lack of hope that envelops everyone, the bleak place they are in. Ah the landscape... perfect.
BUT it all ends with the same question.. Is it worth 35€?
No. Not even with the art inside. Not even the beautiful cover. Sorry..
March 4, 2024
March 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus VII Anvil of War (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras
I remember this being maybe the last of the ridiculous limited edition novellas I got my hands on before selling them all ahead of a move years ago, which makes sense because as many times I've read some of these books, Vulkan Lives was the furthest I got and was literally up to date at the time. Although, I didn't actually remember anything about it, so it was a treat getting to listen to the audiobook for the first time and pretty much getting the experience of a first read.
Scorched Earth follows a small ragtag group of shattered legionaries as they do their best to survive on the black sand of Isstvan V and find out where Vulkan survived the Dropsite Massacre. Together they take in the heretical, nightmarish sites, question the very nature of truth and perception, and reenact a scene from M*A*S*H and, now that I think about Halo.
I really enjoyed this, but the end, as it has been with a few of these novellas and Pricmarchs novels, really stuck the landing with some sweet bitterness and knife twisting that I truly appreciate and have been a little lacking recently.
Inhabiting the mind of a single survivor of the physical and emotional trauma of the Dropsite Massacre, knowing Ferrus Mannus is dead, but not knowing the fate of Vulkan, and being forced to witness the defilement of your kith and kin by fellow Astartes and unable to do anything about it is some of the gnarliest, most emotionally engaging and heartbreaking the Horus Heresy has been for a while for me. I love it when Warhammer acknowledges the gothic element in its genre cocktail and this does that with aplomb, playing on the grief and exhaustion wracked mind and writing about the hellish warzone and profane rituals and sights in ways that feel wonderfully weird and uncomfortably uncertain in their uncanny brutality and the surreality of Chaos.
The insidiousness of Chaos and its taint being like an actual blight in the firmament and almost like random spillages with areas having an effect without it feeling like describing a tabletop roleplaying dungeon with different flavoured rooms is really impressive. It's hard to make an almost aimless road trip around Event Horizonland work and not feel like that way or that it's on rails, as much as a book can ever feel not on rails, but Kyme does it with aplomb.
Honestly, I've had my ups and downs with Kyme and would generally placed them in lower B-upper C tier of my general enjoyment of Black Library authors from what I've read, but I finished a Dan Abnett book today that I have 1/5 (Legion is misogynistic mess that a lot of cool stuff and epic reveals are very distracting the first time) and I'm giving this full marks because this is brilliant and makes me excited to re-visit Vulkan Lives, another book I don't really remember apart from on thing off the top of my head, and, while they were always on my radar, it makes me want to bump up their Tome of Fire 40K books.
Truly wild how much I felt nothing about re-reading Promethean Sun, but absolutely adored this.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 13.41 Horus Heresy novels, 7 novellas, 36 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 7 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.
I remember this being maybe the last of the ridiculous limited edition novellas I got my hands on before selling them all ahead of a move years ago, which makes sense because as many times I've read some of these books, Vulkan Lives was the furthest I got and was literally up to date at the time. Although, I didn't actually remember anything about it, so it was a treat getting to listen to the audiobook for the first time and pretty much getting the experience of a first read.
Scorched Earth follows a small ragtag group of shattered legionaries as they do their best to survive on the black sand of Isstvan V and find out where Vulkan survived the Dropsite Massacre. Together they take in the heretical, nightmarish sites, question the very nature of truth and perception, and reenact a scene from M*A*S*H and, now that I think about Halo.
I really enjoyed this, but the end, as it has been with a few of these novellas and Pricmarchs novels, really stuck the landing with some sweet bitterness and knife twisting that I truly appreciate and have been a little lacking recently.
Inhabiting the mind of a single survivor of the physical and emotional trauma of the Dropsite Massacre, knowing Ferrus Mannus is dead, but not knowing the fate of Vulkan, and being forced to witness the defilement of your kith and kin by fellow Astartes and unable to do anything about it is some of the gnarliest, most emotionally engaging and heartbreaking the Horus Heresy has been for a while for me. I love it when Warhammer acknowledges the gothic element in its genre cocktail and this does that with aplomb, playing on the grief and exhaustion wracked mind and writing about the hellish warzone and profane rituals and sights in ways that feel wonderfully weird and uncomfortably uncertain in their uncanny brutality and the surreality of Chaos.
The insidiousness of Chaos and its taint being like an actual blight in the firmament and almost like random spillages with areas having an effect without it feeling like describing a tabletop roleplaying dungeon with different flavoured rooms is really impressive. It's hard to make an almost aimless road trip around Event Horizonland work and not feel like that way or that it's on rails, as much as a book can ever feel not on rails, but Kyme does it with aplomb.
Honestly, I've had my ups and downs with Kyme and would generally placed them in lower B-upper C tier of my general enjoyment of Black Library authors from what I've read, but I finished a Dan Abnett book today that I have 1/5 (Legion is misogynistic mess that a lot of cool stuff and epic reveals are very distracting the first time) and I'm giving this full marks because this is brilliant and makes me excited to re-visit Vulkan Lives, another book I don't really remember apart from on thing off the top of my head, and, while they were always on my radar, it makes me want to bump up their Tome of Fire 40K books.
Truly wild how much I felt nothing about re-reading Promethean Sun, but absolutely adored this.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 13.41 Horus Heresy novels, 7 novellas, 36 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 7 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.
September 15, 2013
Scorched Earth tells the tale of a small group of survivors struggling with the aftermath of The Betrayal. Promethean Sun and Vulkan Lives -- Kyme's previous Heresy books -- didn't exactly shine for me; the characters were slightly dull and the action scarce, but the author hits it out of the park with his latest book.
The mood is very dark and has a sinister, ominous undercurrent to it that keeps you on edge. The climax is both shocking and thought provoking, but I can't really say anything else without spoiling it. What I can say, though, is that it will get your noggin' spinning due to the humdinger of a curveball it throws you...
The mood is very dark and has a sinister, ominous undercurrent to it that keeps you on edge. The climax is both shocking and thought provoking, but I can't really say anything else without spoiling it. What I can say, though, is that it will get your noggin' spinning due to the humdinger of a curveball it throws you...
January 10, 2022
Vulkan vive?
No me ha quedado claro. Este relato de los salamandras es de lo primero que leo de ellos, aunque Vulkan ya había aparecido antes en algunas ocasiones. Los salamandras no son considerados buenos luchadores según he oído decir, no se si es cierto, al menos no a la altura de las demás legiones creo. Pero por lo que he leído de Vulkan, es el más humano de todos sus hermanos y el menos desequilibrado, al menos. Este relato corto trata de los sobrevivientes de la masacre de Isstvan 5, y especialmente del salamandra Rastn que busca cualquier señal de que su padre esté vivo en alguna parte. Creo que es el vistazo más cercano que tenemos a la batalla de Isstvan hasta ahora. Yo contaba de hecho que no había leales supervivientes pero esto es peor todavía. Heridos y inválidos son masacrados por segunda vez, es espantoso. El final me ha gustado por cierto, creo que está bien el giro argumental y todo el tema del casco de Vulkan. Merece la pena leerlo si tienes curiosidad por saber que pasó con los que sobrevivieron a la batalla y que sentían por ejemplo los manos de hierro de la muerte de su primarca.
No me ha quedado claro. Este relato de los salamandras es de lo primero que leo de ellos, aunque Vulkan ya había aparecido antes en algunas ocasiones. Los salamandras no son considerados buenos luchadores según he oído decir, no se si es cierto, al menos no a la altura de las demás legiones creo. Pero por lo que he leído de Vulkan, es el más humano de todos sus hermanos y el menos desequilibrado, al menos. Este relato corto trata de los sobrevivientes de la masacre de Isstvan 5, y especialmente del salamandra Rastn que busca cualquier señal de que su padre esté vivo en alguna parte. Creo que es el vistazo más cercano que tenemos a la batalla de Isstvan hasta ahora. Yo contaba de hecho que no había leales supervivientes pero esto es peor todavía. Heridos y inválidos son masacrados por segunda vez, es espantoso. El final me ha gustado por cierto, creo que está bien el giro argumental y todo el tema del casco de Vulkan. Merece la pena leerlo si tienes curiosidad por saber que pasó con los que sobrevivieron a la batalla y que sentían por ejemplo los manos de hierro de la muerte de su primarca.
November 18, 2024
I love these focused novellas where the author really digs into a few characters, giving them life and story beyond simple cannon fodder.
Nick Kyme really hits the nail on the head here. Scorched Earth is tense, intense, and atmospheric, but not just bolter porn. You really feel the ache for a glimmer of hope in the despair of Isstvan V from the POV of a few Salamanders, Iron Hands, and a Raven Guard.
The story is tight and full of tension, with an unnecessary but fun Fight Club moment at the end. Almost cliche, but this is Warhammer, so I'll give it a pass.
4.5 on the enjoyment scale. Definitely worth a read to set up Vulkan Lives!
Nick Kyme really hits the nail on the head here. Scorched Earth is tense, intense, and atmospheric, but not just bolter porn. You really feel the ache for a glimmer of hope in the despair of Isstvan V from the POV of a few Salamanders, Iron Hands, and a Raven Guard.
The story is tight and full of tension, with an unnecessary but fun Fight Club moment at the end. Almost cliche, but this is Warhammer, so I'll give it a pass.
4.5 on the enjoyment scale. Definitely worth a read to set up Vulkan Lives!
September 2, 2025
Another boots-on-the-ground story involving those surviving on Isstvan.
This follows the story of a group of Salamanders (or so you're initially led to believe), searching for their missing Primarch, scouring the dead plains of the dead planet for Vulkan. The twist here I caught on to pretty early, but made the more obvious points towards the end validating as the small story continued forward
The main point of this story is the ending in which the final place where Vulkan was assumed to be held revealing remnants of teleportation. The final notes here "Vulkan Lives!" will lead into the larger novel, hopefully detailing more on the missing figure.
They shall know no fear.
This follows the story of a group of Salamanders (or so you're initially led to believe), searching for their missing Primarch, scouring the dead plains of the dead planet for Vulkan. The twist here I caught on to pretty early, but made the more obvious points towards the end validating as the small story continued forward
The main point of this story is the ending in which the final place where Vulkan was assumed to be held revealing remnants of teleportation. The final notes here "Vulkan Lives!" will lead into the larger novel, hopefully detailing more on the missing figure.
They shall know no fear.
August 19, 2024
Ra'stan and Haukspeer, 2 space marines from the XVIII (Salamanders) and XIX (Raven Guard) legions respectively, search the desolate remains of the Isstvan V for any sign of their fellow legionaires or their primarch, Vulkan. Ruuman, Ironwrought of the X Legion (Iron Hands), tries to bring them back to the rest of the group.
I predicted the ending right before it happened. The clues are all there and a man, even a transhuman genetic freak, can only take so much pain and despair. That doesn't mean it's a bad book: you can't ever go wrong when it comes to Nick Kyme writing Salamanders.
I predicted the ending right before it happened. The clues are all there and a man, even a transhuman genetic freak, can only take so much pain and despair. That doesn't mean it's a bad book: you can't ever go wrong when it comes to Nick Kyme writing Salamanders.
August 8, 2025
“Despair is the moment when all hope dies and the inevitability of ending crashes in like the sword blow aimed squarely at your neck or the hot muzzle of a gun pressed to your temple. If you are fortunate, if mercy is favouring you, then your despair will be quick. But not all of us are fortunate; for some the realisation of despair is a slow creep, an eroding denial like flesh giving way to age or metal to rust. It hollows you out, cuts away everything that you were and replaces it with blackness.”
The story opens on the black sands of Isstvan V as the remaining loyalists are hunted down and executed. Brutal and sadistic imagery really nails the tone of the betrayal, as Marines are crucified or added to death pyres, their bodies desecrated, and the survivors left broken in mind and body. The story plays out like a hellish odyssey, as surviving Salamanders trudge through the killing fields to search for their father.
“No honour, no glory in this pit of the dead. Here was a place that heroes went to die, unremembered and unmourned. We were barrow-worms, crawling amongst them.
Honestly this might be my favourite Salamander story and my favourite depiction of Isstvan V. It is such a bleak and harsh story, not pulling any punches as it depicts mental anguish, hellish warzones, and profane rituals.
The story opens on the black sands of Isstvan V as the remaining loyalists are hunted down and executed. Brutal and sadistic imagery really nails the tone of the betrayal, as Marines are crucified or added to death pyres, their bodies desecrated, and the survivors left broken in mind and body. The story plays out like a hellish odyssey, as surviving Salamanders trudge through the killing fields to search for their father.
“No honour, no glory in this pit of the dead. Here was a place that heroes went to die, unremembered and unmourned. We were barrow-worms, crawling amongst them.
Honestly this might be my favourite Salamander story and my favourite depiction of Isstvan V. It is such a bleak and harsh story, not pulling any punches as it depicts mental anguish, hellish warzones, and profane rituals.
November 11, 2017
I loved it. Great setting with a twist. Really good book!
October 24, 2022
Vulkin Lives
July 23, 2025
Now this is the thermonuclear gothic doom that I want from my Warhammer.
December 22, 2024
The first rule of Isvtvaan is you dont talk about Istvaan.
August 12, 2022
Vulcan lives!!!!
September 21, 2013
Not bad. It feels like it has been a while since I ventured into the Horus Heresy universe, but I'm glad that I got the chance to read this one before I started 'Vulkan Lives'.
I'll explain. Set in the far future, mankind has conquered the stars. The Emperor created huge legions of genetically modified soldiers called Space Marines to do his fighting. Each legion is lead by a primarch, a genetically enhanced son of the Emperor, and from each primarch there is a genetic connection to each legionary. Still with me? Well Vulkan is the primarch of the Salamanders Legion and he has been betrayed by his brother primarch, Horus, who has decided to lead a civil war against the Emperor.
That's the Horus Heresy in a nutshell. Obviously the books go into a lot more detail, for example for the longest while it is unknown whether Vulkan survived the battle of Istvaan V. Well it looks as though the novella 'Scorched Earth' and 'Vulkan Lives' aim to address that mystery.
I enjoyed 'Scorched Earth' but it's not my favourite HH story by any means. Nick Kyme's writing style doesn't grip me the same way some other authors in this series do. Doesn't help that the Horus Heresy series is into it's 26th book and can be a bit "samey". It's the characters that stand out which make the books and those within 'Scorched Earth' are a little thin on the ground. Which doesn't fill me with confidence for Nick Kyme's next endeavour.
We shall see. Up next: 'Vulkan Lives'.
I'll explain. Set in the far future, mankind has conquered the stars. The Emperor created huge legions of genetically modified soldiers called Space Marines to do his fighting. Each legion is lead by a primarch, a genetically enhanced son of the Emperor, and from each primarch there is a genetic connection to each legionary. Still with me? Well Vulkan is the primarch of the Salamanders Legion and he has been betrayed by his brother primarch, Horus, who has decided to lead a civil war against the Emperor.
That's the Horus Heresy in a nutshell. Obviously the books go into a lot more detail, for example for the longest while it is unknown whether Vulkan survived the battle of Istvaan V. Well it looks as though the novella 'Scorched Earth' and 'Vulkan Lives' aim to address that mystery.
I enjoyed 'Scorched Earth' but it's not my favourite HH story by any means. Nick Kyme's writing style doesn't grip me the same way some other authors in this series do. Doesn't help that the Horus Heresy series is into it's 26th book and can be a bit "samey". It's the characters that stand out which make the books and those within 'Scorched Earth' are a little thin on the ground. Which doesn't fill me with confidence for Nick Kyme's next endeavour.
We shall see. Up next: 'Vulkan Lives'.
March 21, 2016
By Slaanesh! This is what Nick Kyme needs to be writing more frequently! Scorched Earth is a beauty of a novella, the red "Salamander" skin as well as the cover itself look phenomenal, and the internal artwork/notes were a great addition!
The story itself was especially bleak and despairing for warhammer. I mean, all of it is grimdark, but this really went 1 step further in terms of depression! Ra'Stan and Usabius were amazing, as were the collection of Iron Hands, Raven Guard, and other Salamanders.
Here we got to really delve deep into the harshest and most traumatic experience in human history, and how even the space marines were not strong enough to get through it unfazed. The dialouge was awesome, and the talks about hope or lack-thereof made for a compelling read. Also the sense of danger, as around every corner there could be an ambush and the end of the line. Really good stuff!
While I saw the twist coming, it was still a damn good twist, and to have my suspicions confirmed was heartbreaking!
A damn good novella, and I am definitely glad I got the art print for it!
Vulkan Lives!
The story itself was especially bleak and despairing for warhammer. I mean, all of it is grimdark, but this really went 1 step further in terms of depression! Ra'Stan and Usabius were amazing, as were the collection of Iron Hands, Raven Guard, and other Salamanders.
Here we got to really delve deep into the harshest and most traumatic experience in human history, and how even the space marines were not strong enough to get through it unfazed. The dialouge was awesome, and the talks about hope or lack-thereof made for a compelling read. Also the sense of danger, as around every corner there could be an ambush and the end of the line. Really good stuff!
While I saw the twist coming, it was still a damn good twist, and to have my suspicions confirmed was heartbreaking!
A damn good novella, and I am definitely glad I got the art print for it!
Vulkan Lives!
November 18, 2013
A Decent short story, and finally a recount of Isstvan that isn't tedious. It does very well in displaying a morbid and dark side to the futility of the legiones astartes still surviving in the aftermath, struggling to survive, yet knowing they had no hope of ever escaping or surviving. The few banded together, well portrayed with battered and damaged armour and gear, the majority incapacitated or severely injured, literally struggling to survive, and avoiding the hunting world eaters purely out of spite to their erstwhile brothers.
A nice twist at the end, that relates to the books title, something a little more thought out than simply "scorched earth" as in the military practice. So all in all, a quick, and interesting tale of the proper suffering of the abandoned on Istvann. I would compare it quite closely to a story of some bedraggled survivors in a nuclear holocaust aftermath, surrounded by desolation and death, and surviving for the sake of surviving....except the survivors, whilst battered and demoralized, are still 8ft tall gene enhanced soldiers in power armour ;)
A nice twist at the end, that relates to the books title, something a little more thought out than simply "scorched earth" as in the military practice. So all in all, a quick, and interesting tale of the proper suffering of the abandoned on Istvann. I would compare it quite closely to a story of some bedraggled survivors in a nuclear holocaust aftermath, surrounded by desolation and death, and surviving for the sake of surviving....except the survivors, whilst battered and demoralized, are still 8ft tall gene enhanced soldiers in power armour ;)
December 20, 2013
This is the first, and so far only, Horus Heresy or Warhammer 40k book I have read which touches upon a topic I have been pondering for a long time: what extreme psychological trauma can do to an Astartes. I feel no need to elaborate further on that, save to say that Nick Kyme did an absolutely fantastic job with it. Most astounding, as up until now I have found everything I've read by Mr Kyme to be either utterly forgettable or actively awful. This was a pleasant surprise for me; I mostly bought it for the gorgeous cover art, not really expecting the story to be great, but I can't help applauding Nick Kyme. This is one of the greatest stories in the Horus Heresy so far, right up there with Aurelian and Prince of Crows.
Read it. I have nothing else to say on the matter.
Read it. I have nothing else to say on the matter.
November 29, 2014
A good, quick, interesting read dealing with a core theme of the heresy series, superhumans dealing with PTSD.
We're following a small group of loyalist survivors on Istvaan V again but it doesn't feel like too much of a rehash, and despite the fact that the twist was quite obvious pretty early it was fun and satisfying to reconcile the clues as they came up rather than flip back and reexamine them later, especially considering the rather thorough, in case you're an idiot (or using a really slow ereader), review after the big reveal.
Some cool sketchpad/journal style maps, portraits and musings as the center art round out the novella nicely.
Much better than Vulcan Lives (though you should probably read this right before it), maybe as good as Promethean Sun.
We're following a small group of loyalist survivors on Istvaan V again but it doesn't feel like too much of a rehash, and despite the fact that the twist was quite obvious pretty early it was fun and satisfying to reconcile the clues as they came up rather than flip back and reexamine them later, especially considering the rather thorough, in case you're an idiot (or using a really slow ereader), review after the big reveal.
Some cool sketchpad/journal style maps, portraits and musings as the center art round out the novella nicely.
Much better than Vulcan Lives (though you should probably read this right before it), maybe as good as Promethean Sun.
January 12, 2014
This limited edition novella provides us with tale of the survivors of the Istavan dropsite massacre. Its dark, disturbed and littered with characters who are broken in more ways than one.
It's not an essential read for those following the Horus Heresy plot line but it is a excellent read for fans none the less.
It's not an essential read for those following the Horus Heresy plot line but it is a excellent read for fans none the less.
May 24, 2017
A fantastic piece of fiction with a wonderful plot twist, right at the end!
So far I belive this is the only Horus Heresy novel I've read, but it will certainly not be the last. Nick Kyme manages to create a cast of interesting characters and it's hard not to be moved by the hardships they're forced to endure in the aftermath of the dropsite massacre.
So far I belive this is the only Horus Heresy novel I've read, but it will certainly not be the last. Nick Kyme manages to create a cast of interesting characters and it's hard not to be moved by the hardships they're forced to endure in the aftermath of the dropsite massacre.
August 5, 2016
This book was interesting and covering a subject that hasn't been covered yet in the heresy. But as far as I liked salamanders and the istvaan IV fluf, I have to confess the end of the book was fairly obvious. I would recommend this book to only people who are fan of the horus heresy serie.
September 8, 2015
Salamanders are boring and this would have been better if it was a guerilla warfare story...
May 24, 2016
A heartwarming story of friendship overcoming adversity even in the darkest places.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews