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The Horus Heresy #Short Story
Wolf at the Door
The Thirteenth Company of the Space Wolves defend an Imperial world from vile alien raiders, but as the war drags on, the beast within each of Russ' brothers threatens to overwhelm them...
The Space Wolves of the VIth Legion are among the most fierce and dedicated of the Legiones Astartes, bringing the Emperor’s wrath against the many enemies of mankind. As part of the 954th Expedition, Wolf Lord Bulveye’s warriors of the 13th Company come across a world previously shrouded by warp storms and cut off from the rest of the Imperium – when it becomes apparent that the human population is being raided by mysterious xenos known as ‘the Harrowers’, the Space Wolves are duty-bound to intervene.
It looks at the Space Wolves from a whole new angle, showing the ones who should never have been able to join the Legion, and the consequences of what they went through...
Running time: 2 hours, 54 minutes
Narrated by Jonathan Keeble
The Space Wolves of the VIth Legion are among the most fierce and dedicated of the Legiones Astartes, bringing the Emperor’s wrath against the many enemies of mankind. As part of the 954th Expedition, Wolf Lord Bulveye’s warriors of the 13th Company come across a world previously shrouded by warp storms and cut off from the rest of the Imperium – when it becomes apparent that the human population is being raided by mysterious xenos known as ‘the Harrowers’, the Space Wolves are duty-bound to intervene.
It looks at the Space Wolves from a whole new angle, showing the ones who should never have been able to join the Legion, and the consequences of what they went through...
Running time: 2 hours, 54 minutes
Narrated by Jonathan Keeble
Audiobook
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
Mike Lee
79 books161 followersMike Lee is an author, scriptwriter and game designer whose most recent credits include Fallen Angels, the latest installment in Black Library Publishing’s best-selling Horus Heresy series, and the dark fantasy epic Nagash the Sorcerer. Along with UK author Dan Abnett, Mike also wrote the five-volume Chronicles of Malus Darkblade, whose signature character has become a cult favorite among fans of Black Library’s Warhammer Fantasy fiction.
In addition to his novels, Mike’s scriptwriting credits include Tom Clancy’s HAWX, a game of near-future jet combat, and Splinter Cell: Conviction, the hit sequel to the popular Splinter Cell franchise published by Ubisoft Entertainment. He has also contributed to more than two dozen pen-and-paper role-playing games and supplements, including the award-winning Vampire: The Masquerade, Adventure!, Vampire: Dark Ages and Hunter: The Reckoning, published by White Wolf Games Studio.
An avid wargamer, history buff and devoted fan of two-fisted pulp adventure, Mike lives with his wife, artist JK Lee, and their family in the United States.
In addition to his novels, Mike’s scriptwriting credits include Tom Clancy’s HAWX, a game of near-future jet combat, and Splinter Cell: Conviction, the hit sequel to the popular Splinter Cell franchise published by Ubisoft Entertainment. He has also contributed to more than two dozen pen-and-paper role-playing games and supplements, including the award-winning Vampire: The Masquerade, Adventure!, Vampire: Dark Ages and Hunter: The Reckoning, published by White Wolf Games Studio.
An avid wargamer, history buff and devoted fan of two-fisted pulp adventure, Mike lives with his wife, artist JK Lee, and their family in the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 7, 2024
I read this as the opening story of Horus Heresy Omnibus Project reading guide Omnibus III: The Burning of Prospero
(https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the series.
The Wolf at the Door is effectively the introduction of the Space Wolves to the Horus Heresy, or at least a more honourable and chronological introduction, as there was a wizard-hating space viking in Battle for the Stereotypes, wisely seeking to give them the spotlight and the opportunity to show how neighbourly and beneficent the Vlka Fenryka can be, offering a meaty paw in friendship, as well as how exacting and ruthless they can be when they need to. Something it's good to have established with a main event on the horizon that keeps popping off over 10,000 years later!
The Space Wolves come to yolk a lost world of humanity to the Imperium of Man. Weathering an impressive amount of derision and disrespect, the Sons of Russ learn the planet has a Drukhari problem. Hoping it will help their cause and not needing any excuse to murder anything not human, the Space Wolves engage in a drawn out and sneaky operation, while ignoring the call for the whole Legion to muster and the protestations of some of the Wolf Brothers about the chances of things going well with how rude they have been. The Wolves of Fenris gain some unlikely allies, Dark Eldar get punched, and they return to negotiations.
Like I said before, I can really see what Lee was going for any the importance of a story like this coming before the whole a Burning of Prospero arc, but being willing to turn the other cheek, give second chances, and endeavouring to do the right thing does not a personality make. Likewise, nothing beyond talking about and understanding raiding really marked the Wolf Lord as a Wolf Brother, beyond the rather interesting lore dump at the beginning. There's a lot of gesturing at something, but, unfortunately, it is more going through the dramatic motions than actually engaging meaningfully. It's uncanny valley dissonance the potential here that makes this as unsatisfying as I found it.
I feel like the past year of intense reading and the ludicrous ferocity of my consuming the Horus Heresy in the last month or so have ever so slowly given me some perspective on ratings. I still think asigning a number to how good an art is really is absurd, but I get that it helps people make choices and that's what all these platforms run on. I still don't do decimal marks, but I do acknowledge that, for me personally, the width and breadth of a three makes it the largest or at least broadest rating. Basically, I'm saying this came very close to getting a four, especially with the end, but ultimately fell short because some good action, especially with Jonathan Keeble embracing his Wulfen within, the novelty of seeing the Drukhari for, I believe, the first time, at least in release order, if I remember correctly (it's very confusing chronologically, but immensely satisfying narratively engaging with this series through the omnibussies), and clearly having a dramatic intent, aren't enough when there's a lot of wasteland of unnecessary bloat in this novella squeezing into its old short story clothes, and most importantly, it didn't make me care about anyone in the story.
After recently reading Betrayal at Calth, The Honoured by Rob Sanders and The Unburdened by David Annandale, and now this, I feel like I have my needs and expectations for Horus Heresy stories nailed down, though the parameters are a little different depending on the form and medium. I dream of everything being as good or better than The Unburdened, with the emotional weight, depth or character, personal tragedy, rooting in the wider Heresy, weird and cool Warhammer galaxy details, and good combat, The Wolf at the Door is pretty much the bar of my expectations, it has elements of these, some better than others, but ultimately was too dry and unengaging for long swathes...and rather shallow bolter porn, while it can be run and absolutely has its place, I don't think that place is in this series, or at least not unaccompanied by an emotional weight and tragedy to make the action feel meaningful.
(I really don't want to shit on Sanders and I'm just really hyperfixating with my ADHD and autism all over the place at the moment. I'm going to do my best not to bring up The Honoured again. The first two chapters were great!)
(https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the series.
The Wolf at the Door is effectively the introduction of the Space Wolves to the Horus Heresy, or at least a more honourable and chronological introduction, as there was a wizard-hating space viking in Battle for the Stereotypes, wisely seeking to give them the spotlight and the opportunity to show how neighbourly and beneficent the Vlka Fenryka can be, offering a meaty paw in friendship, as well as how exacting and ruthless they can be when they need to. Something it's good to have established with a main event on the horizon that keeps popping off over 10,000 years later!
The Space Wolves come to yolk a lost world of humanity to the Imperium of Man. Weathering an impressive amount of derision and disrespect, the Sons of Russ learn the planet has a Drukhari problem. Hoping it will help their cause and not needing any excuse to murder anything not human, the Space Wolves engage in a drawn out and sneaky operation, while ignoring the call for the whole Legion to muster and the protestations of some of the Wolf Brothers about the chances of things going well with how rude they have been. The Wolves of Fenris gain some unlikely allies, Dark Eldar get punched, and they return to negotiations.
Like I said before, I can really see what Lee was going for any the importance of a story like this coming before the whole a Burning of Prospero arc, but being willing to turn the other cheek, give second chances, and endeavouring to do the right thing does not a personality make. Likewise, nothing beyond talking about and understanding raiding really marked the Wolf Lord as a Wolf Brother, beyond the rather interesting lore dump at the beginning. There's a lot of gesturing at something, but, unfortunately, it is more going through the dramatic motions than actually engaging meaningfully. It's uncanny valley dissonance the potential here that makes this as unsatisfying as I found it.
I feel like the past year of intense reading and the ludicrous ferocity of my consuming the Horus Heresy in the last month or so have ever so slowly given me some perspective on ratings. I still think asigning a number to how good an art is really is absurd, but I get that it helps people make choices and that's what all these platforms run on. I still don't do decimal marks, but I do acknowledge that, for me personally, the width and breadth of a three makes it the largest or at least broadest rating. Basically, I'm saying this came very close to getting a four, especially with the end, but ultimately fell short because some good action, especially with Jonathan Keeble embracing his Wulfen within, the novelty of seeing the Drukhari for, I believe, the first time, at least in release order, if I remember correctly (it's very confusing chronologically, but immensely satisfying narratively engaging with this series through the omnibussies), and clearly having a dramatic intent, aren't enough when there's a lot of wasteland of unnecessary bloat in this novella squeezing into its old short story clothes, and most importantly, it didn't make me care about anyone in the story.
After recently reading Betrayal at Calth, The Honoured by Rob Sanders and The Unburdened by David Annandale, and now this, I feel like I have my needs and expectations for Horus Heresy stories nailed down, though the parameters are a little different depending on the form and medium. I dream of everything being as good or better than The Unburdened, with the emotional weight, depth or character, personal tragedy, rooting in the wider Heresy, weird and cool Warhammer galaxy details, and good combat, The Wolf at the Door is pretty much the bar of my expectations, it has elements of these, some better than others, but ultimately was too dry and unengaging for long swathes...and rather shallow bolter porn, while it can be run and absolutely has its place, I don't think that place is in this series, or at least not unaccompanied by an emotional weight and tragedy to make the action feel meaningful.
(I really don't want to shit on Sanders and I'm just really hyperfixating with my ADHD and autism all over the place at the moment. I'm going to do my best not to bring up The Honoured again. The first two chapters were great!)
December 20, 2023
Good story elevated by its ending.
January 22, 2025
Space wolves vs eldar. That should be enough to check this out if you like either of those. Both are written pretty epicly.
Collected in tales of heresy anthology.
Collected in tales of heresy anthology.
March 29, 2026
Would you rather die or choose your oppressor?
For a short-story/novelette? Wolf at the Door kind of meanders to start off. It’s a little too description heavy which made it difficult to really get invested, but once the story starts rolling and characters get introduced it culminates in an interesting perspective on what it means to be free in the warhammer universe.
There’s a pervasive tension throughout that is really felt, probably the best aspect of the story imo. Also frames A Thousand Sons and Prospero Burns in a new light. I’ve enjoyed how the Horus Heresy introduces you to the different legions at its own pace and in their own way. Wolf at the Door is worth checking out if you’re reading or read those. There’s some interesting world building and some solid action sequences, but what I really took away from it was the insight we get into the Space Wolves culture and how that kind of purports and supports the perspectives and views of them in the eyes of the other legions.
I want to write my thoughts on A Thousand Sons at somepoint but I enter a soy rage when I think about the great red chud at the heart of it all. I’m writing this review hanging from the bed-hammock on my phone instead of at my puter because I needed to get the thoughts down. Like a worm, or a wolf lol haha get it, worming, or houling haha get it? In my brain. The beast must be unleashed…
Would you let him in? 🚪🐺
For a short-story/novelette? Wolf at the Door kind of meanders to start off. It’s a little too description heavy which made it difficult to really get invested, but once the story starts rolling and characters get introduced it culminates in an interesting perspective on what it means to be free in the warhammer universe.
There’s a pervasive tension throughout that is really felt, probably the best aspect of the story imo. Also frames A Thousand Sons and Prospero Burns in a new light. I’ve enjoyed how the Horus Heresy introduces you to the different legions at its own pace and in their own way. Wolf at the Door is worth checking out if you’re reading or read those. There’s some interesting world building and some solid action sequences, but what I really took away from it was the insight we get into the Space Wolves culture and how that kind of purports and supports the perspectives and views of them in the eyes of the other legions.
I want to write my thoughts on A Thousand Sons at somepoint but I enter a soy rage when I think about the great red chud at the heart of it all. I’m writing this review hanging from the bed-hammock on my phone instead of at my puter because I needed to get the thoughts down. Like a worm, or a wolf lol haha get it, worming, or houling haha get it? In my brain. The beast must be unleashed…
Would you let him in? 🚪🐺
June 25, 2026
Genuinely loved this. I could follow the entire story like a film in my head. Full of action, twists and turns, and a cool look a the Drukhari which I haven't come across in my 30k reading so far.
The twist at the end gives a fantastic portrayal of the grimdark reality of "freedom" within the imperium. It was also surprising to see a level of humanity and generosity extended from a space wolf leader, rather than just blind, dogged (haha get it) obedience to the Allfather's black and white rules.
I like the way different loyalist legions find ways to obey, but also display small acts of disobedience along the way too (such as not immediately glassing a planet when they initially refuse to comply). Of course, it would be extremely boring if they all just followed the rules to the letter at all times, so for this I'm glad.
The end brought you down from jubilant "maybe everything isn't so bad afterall?" To "Welp no, it's still very fucked" in about 4 paragraphs. I love that. Being smacked in the face by grimdark nihilism is the only way to end a story like that.
Man the emperor is a dick.
Anyway, really enjoyed this!
The twist at the end gives a fantastic portrayal of the grimdark reality of "freedom" within the imperium. It was also surprising to see a level of humanity and generosity extended from a space wolf leader, rather than just blind, dogged (haha get it) obedience to the Allfather's black and white rules.
I like the way different loyalist legions find ways to obey, but also display small acts of disobedience along the way too (such as not immediately glassing a planet when they initially refuse to comply). Of course, it would be extremely boring if they all just followed the rules to the letter at all times, so for this I'm glad.
The end brought you down from jubilant "maybe everything isn't so bad afterall?" To "Welp no, it's still very fucked" in about 4 paragraphs. I love that. Being smacked in the face by grimdark nihilism is the only way to end a story like that.
Man the emperor is a dick.
Anyway, really enjoyed this!
September 9, 2026
I actually really liked this story, until the end. I had some gripes: firstly, the main antagonist is never explicitly stated, but they are Drukhari. They are a super ancient and fierce offshoot of the Aeldari that should not be easily challenged, even by Space Marines. They've been fighting longer than the Imperium has even existed, so for a battle group of 6-10 Space Wolves to take down an entire Drukhari Raid of tens of thousands? Not believable. Secondly, the ending was very appropriate for the Great Crusade and is pretty tragic, but cmon. Through this short story I actually started to LIKE the Space Wolves after not really caring about them but the ending totally ruined it. Not saying the ending doesn't make sense, but the Wolves were already late to meet their primarch, so they could've totally left this world alone. Not that the wolves of fenris would ever do that, but still. The ending left a really sour taste in my mouth. As much as it made sense for the setting and the characters, it made the whole story pointless, effectively.
December 30, 2024
Although there were some parts that were hard to read due to it being over-the-top brutal even for 40k's sake (I would have preferred these topics not to be discussed, but I pressed on anyhow—a little disturbed, but eh), it left a strong impression.
A group of Space Wolves sets out to free a planet from a xenos threat. The ending turns really dark very quickly, and I felt a pit in my stomach reading it.
It’s a haunting story that I will definitely remember. Some parts, as mentioned, were hard to get through, and the Space Wolves are as cliché as always. I'd say as a concept this one is a good story but nothing I'd like to re-read
A group of Space Wolves sets out to free a planet from a xenos threat. The ending turns really dark very quickly, and I felt a pit in my stomach reading it.
It’s a haunting story that I will definitely remember. Some parts, as mentioned, were hard to get through, and the Space Wolves are as cliché as always. I'd say as a concept this one is a good story but nothing I'd like to re-read
October 12, 2018
I enjoyed this.
The 13th company has been summoned by The Wolf Lord, the wolves are going to Prospero but before they can disembark there’s one last planet to bring back into the imperial fold.
A handful of wolves end up defending a planet’s population from raiders who may or may not be Dark Eldar. There are some great characters and I was gripped right up the end.
The 13th company has been summoned by The Wolf Lord, the wolves are going to Prospero but before they can disembark there’s one last planet to bring back into the imperial fold.
A handful of wolves end up defending a planet’s population from raiders who may or may not be Dark Eldar. There are some great characters and I was gripped right up the end.
April 2, 2024
This was a great short story I haven't read much space wolves so it was a fun ride. The ending was a bit of a surprise but some people are really that delusional sadly. Though I do think there should have been more people given the choice before putting the planet to the sword. Also Dark Elder are really really awful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2024
A decent intro to the Space Wolves before diving into A Thousand Sons/Prospero Burns; a rousing "rebels vs. impossible odds" story with a powerful (if predictable) twist ending that shows the harsh reality of the Emperor's vision. Mike Lee's prose is solid and this makes me curious to read Fallen Angels, his Dark Angels book. Recommended but not essential for a Heresy readthrough.
August 14, 2020
One of the better WH 40K short stories.
August 2, 2021
Best Horus Heresy short story I read so far. Great characters, great worldbuilding in such a short time and an absolutely awesome ending.
May 16, 2023
An excellent short story of my favorite loyalist faction, the Space Wolves.
June 2, 2023
Short & sweet, just how Warhammer stories should be. No faf like some of the HH novels l cough cough Battle for the Abyss, cough cough.
June 5, 2024
Gotta love the Space Wolves, direct to the point, and absolutely not negotiating. The end was maybe a tad rushed but got the point across, no one is really the good guys here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2025
I am not a big space wolves fan, but I loved this short story. 10/10, no notes.
August 31, 2025
Very well written, I just don't care for Space Wolves.
January 6, 2026
A punchy short story with the most Warhammeriest ending I've encountered thus far. Awesome.
January 20, 2026
This one was brutal.
January 21, 2026
I liked this one
February 6, 2026
Dans la Gueule du Loup n’est pas une mauvaise nouvelle, mais elle manque d’ambition. Elle effleure des thèmes passionnants sans jamais vraiment les creuser. Agréable sans être mémorable, elle reste surtout un texte de transition, plus instructif qu’autre chose.
Critique Complète :
https://reclusiam.net/wolf-door/criti...
Critique Complète :
https://reclusiam.net/wolf-door/criti...
July 31, 2025
Space Marine v Xenos conflict is a rarity in the Heresy series, so it was refreshing to see the Space Wolves taking on Dark Eldar raiders to save a planet that was not yet part of the Imperium. The story was a little too action focused for my liking, but I did enjoy the ending, dour and tragic as it was.
This story focuses on the warriors of Dekk-Tra, 13th Company, who are lead by Lord Bulveye. Bulveye also appears in a number of other stories like "Leman Russ: The Great Wolf" and "The Thirteenth Wolf".
This story focuses on the warriors of Dekk-Tra, 13th Company, who are lead by Lord Bulveye. Bulveye also appears in a number of other stories like "Leman Russ: The Great Wolf" and "The Thirteenth Wolf".
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews