The Great Devourer: The Leviathan Omnibus

Warhammer 40,000

by Guy Haley, Nick Kyme, Joshua Reynolds

Omnibus edition featuring mankind's struggle against the world-devouring and galaxy-threating alien tyranids.

As billions upon billions of tyranids sweep through the galaxy, consuming every living soul and world in their path, it seems all will soon fall to the ravenous xenos. Faced with foes beyond number, Space Marines and their common enemy the eldar face an impossible dilemma – do they fight to the last honour, or retreat to safety for the future of their race? This omnibus contains the novel Valedor by Guy Haley, alongside four novellas and a host of short stories by some of Black Library best-known authors, including Josh Reynolds, Nick Kyme and L J Goulding. 
 

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, 40k, Anthologies, Fantasy

688 pages, Paperback

First published November 23, 2019

About the author

Guy Haley is the author of over 50 novels and novellas. His original fiction includes Crash, Champion of Mars, and the Richards and Klein, Dreaming Cities, and the Gates of the World series (as K M McKinley). However, he is best known as a prolific contributor to Games Workshop's Black Library imprint.

When not writing, he'll be out doing something dangerous in the wild, learning languages or gaming.

Reviews

[Nightshade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a ride. Nine stories all involving tyranids in some way (although in some cases as a very minor part, think the entire story happening and then tyranids landing on the last page). As is typical of Warhammer omnibuses the quality of the writing and stories varied a lot. I was really excited to read about the tyranids as they are one of my favourite Warhammer species, and in that respect this book certainly delivered.

The first story is the longest and for me was also the hardest to get through. It mainly follows the Eldar and therefore has a lot of Eldar politics. It also has Iyanna again who I read about in the Rise of the Ynnari duology. This story took me a long time to get through and I had to read it alongside another book to keep me motivated to read it. Had I not been reading this for a readathon it would have taken me much longer.

However, moving onto the short stories the quality vastly improves. I was happy to read more from Reynolds who never disappoints. I also really enjoyed reading some stories from the Necron point of view. Before this the necrons were one of the species that I knew the least about, so it was great to learn more about them.

My favourite story in this omnibus was Tempestus, which actually had the least tyranids in it. But it read much more like one of the Warhammer horror stories and was set on a really interesting, mostly oceanic planet. It was fast paced and really enjoyable.

Overall this did end up being enjoyable and I would definitely dip into it again to read some of the short stories, but can't see myself rereading the whole book.

[D. Leek · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not bad per se, and as a matter of fact I think all individual novels, novellas, and short stories rate around 4 stars for me. Yriel, the Harlequins, and the Blood Angels stood out as great characters and Dread Night was an epic end to this omnibus.

Additionally, Deathstorm by Reynolds deserves an honourable mention as my favourite story in this omnibus by far. A POV switch between the Blood Angels and a semi-sentient Tyranid Broodlord combined with an epic story and perhaps my favourite space marine chapter make for a solid 5/5.

Nevertheless I can't bring myself to rate this omnibus as a whole higher than 3 stars. I can't really explain why but it felt like something was missing? It might have been a slight lack in diversity of overall plot (Tyranid scary, Tyranid overwhelm world, [insert faction] embarks on a (semi) hopeless battle against said Tyranids), or maybe just a slight Tyranid burnout from reading this omnibus in one three day sitting.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this omnibus if you are a fan of either Tyranids, Eldar, Necrons, or the Blood Angels but maybe read it piecemeal instead of as a whole in one sitting.

[Celltear · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who are not used to Warhammer books, this may take up some googling time to understand the terms & base lore. For those who are familiar, this is agreat book for those who love a good balanced mix of epic descriptive treacharous battles, but also the emotional and back-end side of War & Conflict into the deep end, not to mention, the story this is in reference to, is a great one. Defo worth a read =)

[Cory Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valedor - 5*
Wraithflight - 4*
The Last Days of Ector - 3*
Deathstorm - 4*
Shadow of the Leviathan - 3*
Tempestus - 2*
Devourer - 3*
The Word of the Silent King - 5*
Dread Night - 4*

Overall a very enjoyable collection, not just because of the copious amounts of Tyranids involved, but due to being able to see how a multitude of different factions react to and (often fail to) deal with them.

[Ellen Schoener · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just started a new Tyranid army, and bought this book to get myself into the mood.
As is usual for Black Library anthologies, there are some really great stories in this collection, but also pretty bad ones. It is hit and miss.
I admit I did not finish the very first novella featuring the Eldar. I am not into Eldar at all, and the prose and characters just did nothing for me.
The Space Marine novellas are better, I especially liked Last Day of Ector where the imperials are on the back foot and valiantly try to fight a losing battle. Especially the non-marine characters are well fleshed out and relatable. The novella about Blood Angel terminators fighting Genestealers is pure and unapologetic bolter porn- you have to be in the mood for this. There is no character development or any deeper meaning, there is just hack and slash and blood for the blood g... Emperor. For me, it was good entertainment for bridging a flight and waiting around on airports.
So yes, I found it was worth purchasing this book, but some stories are much better than others. Your mileage my vary.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The collection of stories is very much what I expected when getting a Tyranid Warhammer 40k book. It has a grouping of perspectives in multiple stories that showcase the dread and horror that the Tyranid race causes and inflicts. Quite a good, long read, recommended for someone into Warhammer 40k and especially Tyranids.

[John Duerr · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Python King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool overview of many tyranid stories. Particularly loved the story of the Spawn of Cryptus. Sadly very few of these present a narrative focus on the tyranids themselves