Heralds of the Siege

The Horus Heresy #52

by Nick Kyme (Editor), John French, Guy Haley

A galaxy burns and brother turns on brother as the conflict brought about by a beloved son’s betrayal reaches its fateful end. The Warmaster Horus has triumphed. His massive fleet at last nears Terra and the patriarchal Throne of his hated father. Many have fallen to bring this moment about, their tales are the ashes upon which the Heresy was born and prospered. Others have played their own small parts, drops in an ocean of war and blood. None of it matters. Terra looks to the skies as it raises its defences. Armies muster, heroes raise their swords, citizens cower. The war is coming. And nothing can stop it. This anthology includes sixteen stories set during the Horus Heresy, some of which are in print for the first time or were originally released as audio dramas, by authors Gav Thorpe, Chris Wraight, John French, James Swallow, Guy Haley, Nick Kyme, Rob Sanders and Anthony Reynolds.

Read it Because

On the eve of the greatest battle in human history, it's time to take stock and look back at some of the heroes and villains of the Horus in a collction of sixteen tales, including several set just before the Siege of Terra begins…

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Audiobook, Fiction, Anthologies, Short Stories, Fantasy

378 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2018

About the author

Nick Kyme (b. 1977) writes mostly for Black Library. His credits include the popular Salamanders series and several audio dramas.

Reviews

[Veronica Anrathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here, I wrote some tiny reviews that don’t make too much sense, but hey, I get the cookie for the effort? This anthology is good enough. Most stories here are well written and fairly interesting, but some are true gems indeed. Magisterium, Now Peals Midnight, Dreams of Unity, The Last Son of Prospero and The Board is Set MUST be read by every Heresy fan.

Myriad by Rob Sanders - ****

This took an interesting turn. A decent read, the surprise… character? is a very cool throwback that I was not expecting. Enjoyable.

The Grey Raven by Gav Thorpe - ***

Not a bad one, but was not too engaging for me personally. Enjoyed the ending.

Valerius by Gav Thorpe - ****

I enjoyed it even though it clearly points to a certain chink of lore I have little to no knowledge of. Also, for whatever reason, Astartes praising the Emperor as a God are way more eerie to me than any Word Bearers. I wonder why.

The Ember Wolves by Rob Sanders - ***

It was okay I guess. Personally was not too engaged in the story. Maybe I’m not there yet, to get the whole Titanicus thing. Maybe it’s over 2 AM and I’m tired. I don’t know.

Blackshield by Chris Wraight - ****

Again I realize how interesting is the topic of Blackshields as a whole. Good short.

Children of Sicarus by Anthony Reynolds - ***

This was okay. Went over my head a little bit.

Exocytosis by James Swallow - ****

Nice to read something about Typhus in a Heresy book, finally. A lovely bit of insight.

The Painted Count by Guy Haley - ***

Let me just say I hated it less this time. Skraivok is still rather ridiculous.

The Last Son of Prospero by Chris Wraight - *****

Reading this again was an absolute pleasure. One of the most impactful and revealing stories as of late.

The Soul, Severed by Chris Wraight - ****

I have a feeling that I’ve read this before, but I’m not sure about that. Not a bad one.

Dark Compliance by John French - ****

I liked the way the story was told more than the story itself, but it was rather enjoyable overall.

Duty Waits by Guy Haley - ****

Interesting approach. Somehow got a little looser at the end.

Magisterium by Chris Wraight - *****

My favorite so far. Fascinating dynamics between Custodians and Primarchs, always a pleasure to observe.

Now Peals Midnight by John French - *****

Wonderful and terrifying. This short story was very calm and measured, yet the final scene gave me shivers. It's coming.

Dreams of Unity by Nick Kyme - *****

Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. If we needed Thunder Warriors content, this is IT.

The Board is Set by Gav Thorpe - *****

We get to spend more time with the one and only Malcador and witness his struggles before the main event. The game he plays with the Revelation gives us a glimpse on a special relationship between the two along with oh so much foreshadowing and symbolism. Another gem in this collection.

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myriad by Rob Sanders: ☆☆☆☆

The Grey Raven by Gav Thorpe: ☆☆☆ 1/2

Valerius by Gav Thorpe: ☆☆☆

The Ember Wolves by Rob Sanders: ☆☆☆

Blackshield by Chris Wraight: ☆☆☆☆

Children of Sicarus by Anthony Reynolds: ☆☆☆☆☆

Exocytosis by James Swallow: ☆☆☆☆☆

The Painted Count by Guy Haley: ☆☆☆☆

The Last Son of Prospero by Chris Wraight: ☆☆☆☆☆

The Soul, Severed by Chris Wraight: ☆☆☆☆

Dark Compliance by John French: ☆☆☆☆

Duty Waits by Guy Haley: ☆☆☆☆

Magisterium by Chris Wraight: ☆☆☆☆ 1/2

Now Peals Midnight by John French: ☆☆☆☆☆

Dreams of Unity by Nick Kyme: ☆☆☆☆☆

The Board is Set by Gav Thorpe: ☆☆☆☆☆

[Sud666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Heralds of the Siege" is a collection of stories set during the Horus Heresy detailing events right before the Assault on Terra. It is excellent. The stories are all very good, but the information they present is superb.

From a look into Chaos Titan units, the Dark Angels, The Imperial Fists, etc are all here in their own stories. We will see events after Istvaan, the preparation of the Imperial Palace into a fortress and the final story is a brilliant look at the Emperor and Malcador having a conversation. It explains a lot about the plans of the Emperor, just before the coming of Horus. It was superb.

A great collection of Heresy era stories. A must read for anyone interested in the Heresy era.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

May 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order (https://www.heresyomnibus.com) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras.

With the Titans of the Ember Wolves snd Valerius, that's another anthology down!

As I keep saying with all these anthologies, the quality varies across the contents, but they are all filled with quality stories, and, again, like I said for War Without End, this is another of the absolute best because it has such a wide range of fantastic stories and moments that edge the Heresy ever closer to the Siege of Terra.

There truly is a bit of everything and every type of story covering all manner of aspects in time, from Dreams of Unity taking place in the present, but eternally in the distant past, to shards of so many big figures as they are coming about in the present, Corax with The Grey Raven and Valerius, despite him not appearing in either, Malcador and the unity of the Hands of the Emperor in The Board is Set and Magisterium, even as Horus is finding his stride in Dark Compliance, alk the way to the final moments before in Now Peals Midnight.

Through the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project and my own additions, I have currently read 45 Horus Heresy novels (inc. 1 repeat and 7 anthologies), 24 novellas (inc. 2 repeats), 134 short stories/ audio dramas (inc. 10+ repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, all 17 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 3 Characters novels, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself.

I couldn't be more appreciative of the phenomenal work of the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project, which has made this ridiculous endeavour all the better and has inspired me to create and collate a collection of Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 documents and checklists (http://tiny.cc/im00yz). There are now too many items to list here, but there is a contents and explainer document here (http://tiny.cc/nj00yz).

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really not the biggest fan of the anthology books in the series, I don't find the mini stories as good as the novels. The Last few in this book held up well though and had my interest, the likes of duty waits and magisterium. It's exciting and interesting to see the loyalist preparing for the the final assault of the traitors on terra. Nice ending to the series leaving me very excited to start the siege of terra and read the actual battle.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 4.5 stars. Interesting mix of short stories with perspectives we really haven't heard from in the past.

[Christian Freed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh- nice stories and it feels good to finally get to the invasion of Terra. What am I going to read when the war is finally over?

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid anthology leading up to the Siege of Terra. I have to say, I am thrilled after 14 years and 50+ novels to FINALLY get to this point. All the stories in this collection did a good job of building upon each other until the alarms sound and we're braced for the arrival of Horus. (That is after the final two books of this series finish and then we can start the Siege of Terra series...)
But a good read!

[Matthew Hipsher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another anthology book in the Horus HEresy series, and it might be the best one in the set. Each short story perfectly preps all of the major plot points in what would soon be the culmination of the HH the siege on Terra.
The final story, "The Board is Set" is the perfect story to end this anthology with and set up the stories to come, absolutely perfect culmination.

This book is a must read in the series.

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Myriad" by Rob Sanders ***
A short story that serves as a sequel to the novella "Cybernetica". This story follows loyalists insurgents on Mars, fighting from the Shadows to undermine the Dark Mechanicum.

The Myriad is an abominable intelligence first introduced in "Cybernetica". It once sought to strip Mars of organic life, but now it appears capable of stripping Mars of the taint of Chaos. The loyalists must decide if the enemy of their enemy is their friend.

I enjoyed what this short story had to add to the overall picture of the Horus Heresy. But I didn't feel too emotionally invested in the characters which is a shame.

"The Grey Raven" by Gav Thorpe ***
This short story takes place after the events of "Weregeld".

Balsar of the Raven Guard, formerly Chief of the Order Librarius seeks to return to Terra to petition the Sigillite to reinstate the Librarius. But as he is waiting for permission to dock above Terra, the Custodes Guard he once fought alongside suddenly and without warning turn on him.

Being hunted down by the Emperor’s personal guard, Balsar must fight to survive, all the while keeping his oath to never again use his psychic powers.

The action was fun and intense, and the mystery of the Custodes’ apparent betrayal was interesting at first, but I found the reveal to be a bit disappointing. It turns out the Custodes were hunting him down to see if he would be loyal to his oaths and show the necessary restraint. This was a test by Malcador to initiate Blasar into the Knights Errant. I just found the whole thing convoluted and a little stupid, even by the standards of the Imperium.

"Valerius" by Gav Thorpe ****
Marcus Valerius of the Imperial Army has been a part of the Raven Guard's story from the very beginning.

First introduced in "Raven's Flight" with visions of Corax's flight across Isstvan V, he appeared in "Face of Treachery" to save Corax from betrayal. In "Deliverance Lost" he lead the Imperial Army in a battle against the Emperor's Children. He hidden the knowledge of his visions from Corax, in fear of chastisement or punishment for his unnatural abilities. He appeared again in "The Divine Word" where he encounters the Imperial Faith, and the worship of the God-Emperor. In "Weregeld" he told Corax of his visions and belief in the Emperor's divinity.

As punishment for his faith, Valerius was banished from Corax's side and sent to Beta-Garmon, where he was tasked with repelling the Traitor Titans. The battle for Beta-Garmon was fully explored in the novel "Titandeath" this short audio drama giving just a taste of the conflict.

Overall I do think this is technically well-written and very well voice-acted, but I'm not sure how to feel about it as a story. The Imperial Faith is ultimately a lie, and the actions of Corax were monstrous in the way he sent Valerius to his death, but it feels like the story doesn't acknowledge either of those facts. if anything the story seems to be a vindication in the faith of the Emperor’s divinity, which feels like a weird way to deal with that topic.

"The Ember Wolves" by Rob Sanders ****


"Blackshield" by Chris Wraight *****
"These hunters were not led by one of the Loyal Legions at all, but the disloyal dregs of a disloyal muster, the unworthy and the backward-looking, all of whom should have been long-since culled"

A grim and bleak short story of the Blackshields. There are those among the Traitor forces that grow disillusioned with the Heresy, who lose faith in their gene-sires. Some strike out on their own, not truly traitor or loyalist but living by their own code, they are the Blackshields.

I really enjoyed this short story for looking at how complicated and patchwork the factions have become in the wake of the treachery of Isstvan. The characterisation of the Death Guard as relentless and enduring in their duty was compelling and I enjoyed the little character interactions we got between this band of traitors twice-over.

The final confrontation between two brothers of the Death Guard, both of whom have abandoned Mortarion, but still differ greatly in ideology and purpose, was a really strong moment.

The character Crysos Mortug from this short story actually appears in the Forgeworld Black Books, from which we get a description of his experience on Isstvan III and his survival of the Heresy, after which he patrolled the Ghoul Stars as a Captain. Khorak is also a character from the Forgeworld Black Books. In the story he mentions "taking back his name" which is in reference to fact that the Deathshroud leave behind their identities when they take on the role.

"Children of Sicarus" by Anthony Reynolds *****
A sequel to the graphic novel "Macragge's Honour" telling the story of Kor Phaeron's arrival on Sicarius, which after the Heresy becomes the home of the Word Bearers within the Eye of Terror.

Kor Phaeron, First Captain, Black Cardinal, and adopted father of Lorgar Aurelian is a snivelling wretch with grand ambitions and the cruelty and decisiveness to take any action necessary. He is a great villain that I love to hate. I really love that despite his proclamations of devotion to the Dark Gods, when it comes time to make a sacrifice, he without hesitation rejects that path. His devotion is entirely self-serving

It only makes sense that the origin of the Word Bearers on Sicarius would involve treachery, betrayal, and the rejection of fate.

This story also features Marduk, who appears in Anthony Reynold's "Word Bearers Trilogy".

"Exocytosis" by James Swallow *****
First Captain Typhon of the Death Guard is a potent psyker and a secret worshipper of Chaos, who leads a splinter fleet to harass the Dark Angels to prevent their arrival on Terra.

The first time we see Typhon's campaign against the Dark Angels is in the novella "The Lion". Fleeing from the retribution of the Dark Angel Corswain in "Angels of Darkness", Typhon found aid from an unexpected ally, Luther of the Dark Angels (more details of which can be found in "Luther: First of the Fallen"). Now as he waits for his ships to be repaired, Typhon comes to face his destiny.

Luther also plays an important role in the story. He first appeared in "Descent of Angels" and reappeared in "Fallen Angels" and the audio drama "Master of the First". Formerly the right hand of the Lion, he was banished to Caliban and left forgotten. His time alone has lead him down a path of treachery but he may not be prepared for the darkness brought by the Warmaster's forces.

Fun short story that sets up the events of "The Buried Dagger" and offers insight into Typhus, Herald of Nurgle.

Typhon appears again in The Buried Dagger, The First Wall, Saturine, Warhawk, and The End and the Death.

"The Painted Count" by Guy Haley *****
"There was the sword and there was the ship. Those two things alone occupied all of Gendor Skraivok's thoughts. At that moment, the sword was preeminent."

Skraivok is striving for control over the Legion, but not all his brothers are allies and kin-slaying is growing more and more common amongst the Night Lords.

First introduced in "A Safe and Shadowed Place" the Painted Count is a cunning and cruel Captain of the Night Lords. During the events of the novel "Pharos" he made a dark bargain with a Daemon, sacrificing a brother in the progress. Now he finds himself haunted by a daemon blade, unable to rid himself of it.

Now Skraivok finds himself opposed to equerry Shang (first introduced in the audio drama "Dark King"). Both represent diverging ideals of the Legion. Shang seeks bloody revenge and retribution in the name of Konrad Curze, whereas Skraivok seeks to act independent of his Gene-Father and to fight the war on his own terms.

I really enjoyed the internal conflict among the Night Lords as they have been abandoned by the Gene-Father and First Captain Sevetar has been captured. The Night Lords are a particularly treacherous and dishonourable lot, their words dripping with venom and spite. I felt like this story developed on a lot of great moments established earlier in the Heresy in stories like "Savage Weapons".

Skraivok appears again in "The Lost and the Damned" and "Kinrad Curze: Night Haunter". He is also an antagonist in the 40k novel "Azrael".

"The Last Son of Prospero" by Chris Wraight *****
"The Regent of Terra was burning up, burning out, breaking himself on the anvil of the Imperium's slow collapse."

Arvida of the Thousand Sons first appeared in the Anthology "Rebirth" and reappeared in "Scars", "Allegiance" and "Path to Heaven". Cursed with the flesh change, his faith now lies with Malcador the Sigillite.

Malcador has become one of my favourite Heresy characters, I particularly loved the Audio Drama "Malcador: First Lord of the Imperium". So getting more from him was great, I also loved the brief appearance of the Khan.

Overall very cool story with some big lore ramifications.

"The Soul, Severed" by Chris Wraight *****
When I first encountered Eidolon in Horus Rising I found him to be an insufferable simpering fool, but across multiple novels and short stories (Fulgrim - The Reflextion Crack'd, Angel Exterminatus, Amor Fati, Primacy, The Path of Heaven) he has grown into a character I love to hate.

His body broken by his Primarch, Eidolon chose to embrace the pain and use it as fuel for his push to control the Emperor's Children in the wake of his Father's ascendency and abscondment of the Legion. But not everyone feels Eidolon is fit to lead the III Legion, there are those who believe Fulgrim will return, and that they must stay loyal to his vision.

Already we can see the factionalism that dominates Chaos Warbands in the 41st Millenium, as strong personalities dominate the Legion and the chain of command breaks down.

Eidolon shines as a character in this environment. He is brutal and scheming, with an indomitable will to conquer all who stand before him. But he is also a leering, sneering grotesque monster who has abandoned all notions of "honour" or "respectability" which is what makes him such a fun antagonistic force.

Next in the reading order for Eidolon is the novel "Slaves to Darkness" then "Eidolon the Auric Hammer" and finally "Siege of Terra: Saturine". Of course Eidolon also appears in the 41st Millenium, see "Fabius Bile: Clonelord".

"Dark Compliance" by John French ****
I really enjoyed this one, something fun about the dark and unsettling nature of Horus as he has fully turned to the power of Chaos to fuel his ambitions. The world's that refuse compliance being made an example of had great nightmarish imagery.

"Duty Waits" by Guy Haley ****
A bleak short story setting the tone of life on Terra shortly before the Siege begins.

The illusion of security has been shattered by the events of "Praetorian of Dorn" and the Imperial Palace is on high alert. Nerves are frayed and tensions run high. Even the impeccable Space Marines of the Imperial Fists are suffering from the uncertainty of the Heresy.

Effectively highlights the mood of Terra and sets the stage for what is to come.

"Magisterium" by Chris Wraight *****
Set after the events of the Webway War as depicted in "Master of Mankind" the Legio Custodes have been greatly diminished. What will come next for the Emperor's guardians?

A melancholic and atmospheric short story that further develops Valdor, leader of the Custodes. I particularly enjoyed his musings on the nature of the Primarchs, and his disappointment in what they have come to be.

"Now Peals Midnight" by John French *****
A moody and atmospheric short story that sets the stage for the events of the Siege of Terra.

Dorn is the stalwart steward of Terra, commanded with the impossible task of defending the heart of the Imperium from the forces of the traitor Warmaster Horus Lupercal. This task has weighed heavily upon his shoulders, burdening his every waking moment with layers of bureaucracy and fear of failure.

Now we see him exhausted, the moment of battle close but yet impossibly distant. A great read to develop the character of the Primarch of the Imperial Fists.

"Dreams of Unity" by Nick Kyme *****
A bleak and grim tale of a broken warrior, discarded by the Emperor he once served.

The Thunder Warriors were proto-Astartes warriors, used by the Emperor to conquer Terra. But they were not made to last and were discarded in favor of the Space Marine Legions. The few survivors are wracked with health problems physical and mental. They eke out a meager existence in the slums of Terra, fighting over scaps. This story is about one such Thunder Warrior.

An interesting tale that gives a few little tidbits of lore about the pre-Unfication era. The writing is superb, very atmospheric and tense, with intrigue and mystery propelling the plot along.

"The Board is Set" by Gav Thorpe *****
An interesting short story heavy with symbolism and foreshadowing, but perhaps it's greatest value is how it develops the relationship between Malcador the Sigilite and the Emperor. Malcador has been depicted as the left hand man of the Emperor, a beuracrat, a servant, but this story really fleshes him out as a character and provides nuance to his role in the Heresy.

[Martti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heralds of the Siege is an anthology of short stories and the book number 52 in the ever growing Horus Heresy series. Seems Horus has still not reached Terra, the quest that was defined about 50 books back. I guess Horus has no concept of deadlines. And I thought IT projects go over the original estimations ...

In short, it's a unit setup in the near vicinity of Terra. Information probably better conveyed by a map. Result is a lot of random encounters that can be summarized as "Chaos spreading" - the theme for Horus Heresy for the last 50 books. Goal being to cover as many different armies the different miniature painters might be fans of.

Since this type of books are usually quite long and similar battle reports, than having these quite similar transhuman strawmen running around in only short stories is probably a strength. More variety, less usual posing and elongated grandeur.

For taste, some random terms that sound cool. Princeps is the senior officer of the Titan. Among the crew are moderati, tech-priests and servitors. Adeptus Mechanicus Collegia Titanica... That's W40K-speak.

First story. Apparently the Mechanicus homeworld Mars went over to Chaos rather easily and the Loyalists are rebels in this context, doing hit and run raids in the short story Myriad.

Second story, the Grey Raven, reminds us of psykers and the Edict of Nikaea where the Emperor forbade the usage of these magical abilities. The protagonist is part of the Raven Guard aka Space Marine Legion XIX.

The third story, Valerius, has the normal humans of Therion Cohort in the Imperial Army, mindlessly loyal to the God-Emperor.

The fourth short story talks about The Ember Wolves aka the Legio Audax, which is a Traitor Titan Legion of the Dark Mechanicum. In this story the Titans go full Mechwarrior against the Loyalist Legio Castigatra of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

The fifth story is the Blackshield, about Renegade Death Guard legionaries. Terminator is a veteran Space Marine who has earned the right to wear the Terminator Armour. Yet another setup story.

The latter part of the anthology gives us glimpses of the actual Throneworld Terra. Turns out there are casual civilian people also in addition to the default W40K biohacked transhumans on the Old Earth. Main defenders are the Legio Custodes, the elite bodyguards of the Emperor, led by the Captain-General Constantin Valdor.

The Imperial Palace is a giant complex that is built into the Himalayan Mountains (now called the Himalazians). I believe the last story might be the first for me to actually feature the Emperor himself. Malcador the Sigillite plays a game of cards with the Emperor and is scolded like a child. In any other room Malcador would be the most powerful character, but in this story he needs to be the whiny child stereotype.

And of course, as expected. Horus still has not reached Terra. Buy our next volume where we go have some more interviews with our troops waiting for the inevitable! Send us your questions for our next guest Primarch/Princeps/Praetor/Chaplain as they join us for an ask-me-anything in the next chapter!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Heralds of the Siege is a tie-in anthology in the Warhammer 40K universe and part of a huge body of collaborative work (novels, short stories, game lore) published in association with the tabletop game by Games Workshop. Released 31st March 2020 by Games Workshop as part of the Black Library, it's 432 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's unclear from the publishing info available online, but the eARC I received has a handy interactive table of contents. I hope the ebook release version does also. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Presumably that feature will carry through to the final release version.

The quality of the stories is very high. They are well written, varied, and well curated. Of the 16 included works, only a few were from authors familiar to me. The book also includes extra lore material and background/world building history. This is a -gloriously- niche book and although some of the stories will probably bewilder non-40k-gamers, there are a number which are surprisingly accessible to readers unfamiliar with the fandom and world.

I've always had a particular fondness for collections/anthologies because short fiction is spare and technically challenging, so you get a better feel for an author's expertise with the form. Short fiction is less of a time commitment as well, so if one story is not working for you, there's another piece readily available in a few pages. Short fiction anthologies are also a rich source for finding new authors so you can search out their other works.

I really found a lot to love here and although it made me wistfully nostalgic for my hopefully temporarily vanished tabletop group (covid-19 and all), I liked being able to fill in a *LOT* of detail from the lore.

Four stars. Strong stories, generally strong writing, and good background lore.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

life got busy and i’m really sick of anthologies but we got it done! and this one was OUTSTANDING however!

myriad: 3/5
- cool story! just wish the title didn’t give away the “surprise”

the grey raven: 4/5
- enjoyed this!! i wasn’t necessarily a fan of the “it’s a test” idea but i get it. but overall, for such a short story it was oddly dense (in a good way)

therius: 4/5
- this stories theme is quite important in the grand scheme of 40k, in a weird way. the emperor is being worshipped and we’re seeing more and more. my only thing is the ending, i wish it ended like damnation of pythos (no spoilers)

the ember wolves 3/5
- i’m not a fan of titans… sorry.

blackshield: 5/5
- this is a side of the heresy i’ve really wanted to see! these “homeless” chapters of fallen traitor legions is awesome

children of sicarus: 5/5
- SO close to perfection. i wish it was longer.. I wanted to see more play out from this than just simply “I cut her throat and we’re good now”.

exocytosis: 6/5
- amazing. amazing. amazing. the birth of typhus

the painted count: 5/5
- night lords are always a 5. a l w a y s.

sons of prospero: 6/5
- perfection. simply perfection.

the soul, severed: 4/5
- i always love peaking into the minds of the emperors children. those psychos.

dark compliance: 5/5
- wow!!! this gives you a true taste to horus and his legions devastation.

duty waits: 6/5
- WOW. okay. YES. more of this!!!! i’ve said it all the time - but give me the perspectives of things that we forget to think about!!!

magisterium: 5/5
- yeah. again. another absolute banger! really dives into valdors hate of the primarchs.

now peaks midnight: 6/5
- INCREDIBLE. IM SO READY FOR THE SIEGE

dreams of unity: 2/5
- nyck. kyme.

the board is set: 18384777/5
- the best piece of warhammer literature i’ve read

[Hawke Embers · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Note: The hardback edition of HOTS, pages 354 - 360 contain printing page layout errors, a minor inconvenience but very sloppy considering the cost of a hardback edition, very disappointing. -

An excellent collection of short stories that are reminiscent of chess pieces in the grand tale of the Horus Heresy. This book could have been called "The Board is set" as each story moves the last smaller pieces/stories into position before the siege event and final two books of the primary series. It is a foreboding collection that builds a degree of tension and excitement; particularly with the last 5 tales, all of which take place on Terra and focus on the impending invasion.

Each short story is of surprisingly good quality, easily a 4 out of 5 for each with the notable exceptions of Myriad & The Ember Wolves, both penned by Rob Sanders of which id say 2/5. I did some thinking on this and I came to the conclusion that the reason both of Sanders tales' were the lesser of the collection due to their unlikable protagonists. They wernt horrible but I simply didn't care for the characters in either tale as they were either unlikable or bland; unlike the protagonist in the other stories.

Overall, a great collection!

[Shaun Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful collection of 16 short stories set just before the Siege of Terra.

Ironically, though I think the entire collection is strong, the strongest stories are all near the end, especially the last quartet.

Several of the stories can be considered basically slice of life, as they focus on a minor character getting caught up in something before ultimately discovering either Horus is fast approaching, or dying at the end of the tale, or both.

Lots of appearances by major characters in the lore though, with Now Peals Midnight being perhaps the most important story as it features multiple primarchs and literally ends with the invasion alarms signaling Horus' arrival.

Magisterium, Dreams of Unity, The Board is Set, Duty Waits, and Dark Compliance are all strong highlights, but even a local, contained story like The Ember Wolves or Blackshield have their merits as strong character studies.

All in all, there isn't a single bad story in the bunch in my opinion, and even though this is the 52nd book in the Horus Heresy, it's not a terrible place to jump in at.

[James Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horus approaches Terra. The final battle for the Imperium, for mankind, for the galaxy is about to begin. But before he arrives we have these 16 short stories set in those last few days and weeks. The traitor legions forge their path, make repairs and make their final choices. On Terra the Custodes finish their secret war, the Imperial Fists make their final additions to the defences and Malcador girds his loins for the final destruction of all he helped build for the chance to rebuild it.

A really nice collection of stories from accross the battlefront that feels in several cases like a little bit of, welcome, housekeeping to tie up a few lose ends before the end. In others it gives the writers a chance to deal with something is an interesting story but would be a strange detour in a full novel.

I can't wait to read the final books in this series though, of course, I know how it all ends. In so far as it ends, that is.

[Brannon Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but I thought it was another of the sort of "ok here are some people you'll probably want to pay attention to for the next major story arc and also some updates on some short story only characters." books we've gotten, like War Without End. Still, I liked Myriad quite a bit, mostly because it plays into my theory that The Emperor is a DAOT AI of some sort which I know is not universally accepted or popular and I will not be taking questions on it at this time. I also liked The Board is Set, because I think it had some neat implications for some of the broader setting stuff. Overall good, not enough really stellar stories for it to be a real standout but I did like all of them.

[John Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading Horus Heresy since...2010? 2011? Here, finally, Horus has arrived to the solar system. Good god. These books actually mean a lot to me now that I think about it. Huh. I give it five stars, not because it’s particularly good, but because it’s a culmination of years of my time and thought. I don’t know if it’s a good thing, but...I don’t care? Horus Heresy has brought me so much good times, possibly even joy as my brothers and I love to sit around drinking and talking of the myths here. Whatever, there were some decent stories in here. Exocytosis and the last three in particular stood out for me. Gonna keep reading this shit 4 life!

[Reid Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heralds of the Siege is a great collection of short stories, each diving into a different legion or faction within the Horus Heresy timeframe. Fleshing out that time period seems like it has endless possabilities, and the authors really explored what was going on before the Siege of Terra ramped up. I will admit to bouncing between the book and the internet; I'd finish a story, and then, interest peaked, have to go dive into a character or faction that I didn't know as much about. Heralds of the Siege did a great job of expanding my WH30k understanding and interests, and I look forward to continuing within the Horus Heresy series.

[Gareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusually strong anthology here - rather than feeling like an anthology of various stories, it felt more of a vignette of views looking at the impending Siege, a real sense of getting close to midnight as such and things about to go to hell.
Was also interesting to read a story that I think had an earlier version, but were slightly updated here given more material has been published since (the Board is Set) - that helps tie it in well.
Strongly recommend reading this one in run up to reading Siege of Terra, even if haven't read much of the Horus Heresy books otherwise, as gives good sense of placement and feeling of taking a deep breath before the storm hits.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent collection of short stories returning to unresolved story lines. It was great to see how some characters are carrying on as the Horus Heresy moves into the Siege of Terra phase. Of particular interest is the thinking behind the traitors as many disparate elements rejoin the mass movement to Terra and the unbelievable stress of the loyalist defenders as they plan and wait and wait and wait for their treasonous brethren. The short story featuring the Thunder Warriors, for me, was especially poignant recalling past glories and the dream of Unity.

[Paul Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest and state I cheated a bit with this book, I alternated between reading and listening, my first time trying that and I it was a novel experience, the book itself is one of the better heresy anthologies in my opinion, Warhammer can be good, very good and downright outstanding this book falls into the very good as the different stories all give context to Horus approaching terra and the emperor, some are a little less engaging than others but I would happily read/listen to them all again

[Lemuel CyroN Salubo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give this anthology a solid 5 stars, a varied collection of stories acting as a preamble before the siege of Terra. A nice focus of the traitor side first before slowly sliding into the loyalist point of view. This could contend to be even better than Tales Of Heresy due to the lore it expands concerning the people that will be involved at the coming latter parts of the Siege Of Terra novels.

A definite recommend!

[Pedro Alfonso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another anthology

Is another collection of short stories about the Horus Heresy. But has two extraordinarily good stories.
The first one, about the Tabula Miriad, answers a little more about what happens in Mars. Something that I was wondering since the beginning of the saga.
The second one, the best for me, is Honored Dead. It’s great, sad, nostalgic, dynamic, that kind of story you love the most. I didn’t even notice the time when reading it.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, overall, one of the best anthologies in the Horus Heresy, following only after Tales of Heresy - It has its ups and downs but there’s some great moments here - The bookender ‘The Board is Set’ is wonderful - it feels in many ways like the other end of the story to ‘The last church’ from Tales of Heresy (still my favourite Black Library short ever), while Myriad is an excellent tie up of the Martian storylines prior to Siege.

[Adam Moran · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of loose-end-tying in the first half here but this really picks up steam in the latter half. It's nice to see some momentum and emotional heft return to the story for its conclusion after such a slog. Guy Haley's "Duty Waits" is a real standout offering a direly-needed fresh change of perspective to the conflict with some lovely turns of phrase.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall thoughts on finishing: definitely my favourite of the anthologies (along with Garro, although that's a bit different in being more focused). Not everything is a 5/5 here, but the lesser stories are still good and all are short. The highs are great though. Chris Wraight might have become my favourite Heresy author, with his excellent short stories here and his White Scars books.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myriad 3/5
Grey raven 3/5
Ember wolves 3/5
Blackshield 4/5
Children of Sicarus 4/5
Exocytosis 4/5
The painted count 4/5
The last son of prospero 5/5
The Soul, Severed 4/5
Dark Compliance 4/5
Duty waits 4/5
Magisterium 4/5
Now Peals midnight 4/5
Dreams of unity 4/5
The Board is Set 5/5

[Pavle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of short stories. I was not too thrilled by a few, but the rest of them, especially leading toward the end were some of the best. On par with the Seventh Serpent.
Looking forward to what is next in store for all parties involved.

[John Marshall Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 11th Hour

This anthology ties up loose ends and also reveals what many key players are up to just prior to the Siege of Terra. The sense of dread and anticipation is felt in the final third of the stories.