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Cadia #1
Cadias Vermächtnis
Belagert von den Horden des Chaos, die aus dem Auge des Schreckens strömen, ist Cadia ein Bollwerk gegen Tyrannei und Tod. Seit Jahrhunderten haben seine Festungen und Armeen den schrecklichen Heeren getrotzt, doch der grimmige Widerstand droht unter der Flut der Angreifer zusammenzubrechen. Als Abaddons 13. Schwarzer Kreuzzug gegen Cadias Mauern brandet und die Armeen des Imperiums der Festungswelt zu Hilfe eilen, droht ein uraltes Ritual das zerbrechliche Gleichgewicht dieses brutalen Krieges zu… Doch aus der Dunkelheit erhebt sich ein Held, um die belagerten Verteidiger zu führen: Lord Castellan Ursarkar Creed. Werden die gepanzerte Macht des Astra Militarums und die Stärke des Adeptus Astartes genügen, um die Katastrophe abzuwenden und Cadias Fall zu verhindern? Solange Creed lebt, besteht Hoffnung. Solange noch ein Verteidiger atmet, ist Cadia nicht verloren… Doch wie lange wird das sein?
321 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published September 1, 2017
136 people are currently reading
764 people want to read
About the author
Justin D. Hill
50 books65 followersJustin is a long-time Astra Militarum player with a trophy cabinet of painting and gaming awards. He now leads his Imperial Fists into the hell of the Horus Heresy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
December 3, 2019
Summary: I will be frank, this book was a severe disappointment to me. Maybe I just came to it with the wrong expectations, maybe I am not really the target for this kind of book. Anyway, the fact remains that there is very little I find memorable in this book. There are no great descriptions, no great characters, no great dialogue, no great prose. The author just throws names and explosions and disjointed scenes with recurring characters that are minimally developed and calls the job done. It tries to paint the very grim picture of Cadia's fall, but somehow it manages to paint all the epic fighting and doomed resistance in an amazingly boring light.
Prose: The book is written in an astonishingly dry fashion. The author really doesn't spend any time being descriptive. He goes briskly about painting the barest hints of scene, then proceeds onto the events, narrating them with equal briskness. For the first half of the book we are mostly treated to disjointed vignettes of characters used to show us the progress of the war, but again, the author goes about this in a way that feels almost perfunctory, not memorable in the least. 2/5
Plot: The plot is literally the doomed, grimdark resistance and ultimate fall of Cadia as seen through a handful of hardly-developed characters. None of which is told in a particularly memorable manner. I mean, take the pylons. They are introduced as important to the standing of the Cadian Gate, but the plot opts for a diabolus ex machina destruction instead of properly integrating the pylons more directly into the fall of the planet. As it is they are completely left by the wayside. Really, I feel like the whole plot is an excuse to write numerous vaguely interconnected after-reports set on the Warhammer 40k universe. 2/5
Pacing: As mentioned, the book is really brisk, it never lingers too much on any character or even on any particular event, and as such most of everything lacks any kind of emotional impact. 1/5
Characterization: I'd hazard to call what we have in the book more viewpoints than characters. Obviously, they are characters, but none of them are particularly developed, they all have the same basic drive and behave in basically the same fashion, effectively making it very easy for one to blend into the other. 2/5
World-building: The book does a half-hearted attempt at painting an image of what life is like on Cadia. I think it fails, much like most of the rest of the book, because as mentioned above the prose is brisk and dry, and it never really stops being so. The meager information feels like you are reading an exceptionally boring tourist brochure for an imaginary place. 2/5
Prose: The book is written in an astonishingly dry fashion. The author really doesn't spend any time being descriptive. He goes briskly about painting the barest hints of scene, then proceeds onto the events, narrating them with equal briskness. For the first half of the book we are mostly treated to disjointed vignettes of characters used to show us the progress of the war, but again, the author goes about this in a way that feels almost perfunctory, not memorable in the least. 2/5
Plot: The plot is literally the doomed, grimdark resistance and ultimate fall of Cadia as seen through a handful of hardly-developed characters. None of which is told in a particularly memorable manner. I mean, take the pylons. They are introduced as important to the standing of the Cadian Gate, but the plot opts for a diabolus ex machina destruction instead of properly integrating the pylons more directly into the fall of the planet. As it is they are completely left by the wayside. Really, I feel like the whole plot is an excuse to write numerous vaguely interconnected after-reports set on the Warhammer 40k universe. 2/5
Pacing: As mentioned, the book is really brisk, it never lingers too much on any character or even on any particular event, and as such most of everything lacks any kind of emotional impact. 1/5
Characterization: I'd hazard to call what we have in the book more viewpoints than characters. Obviously, they are characters, but none of them are particularly developed, they all have the same basic drive and behave in basically the same fashion, effectively making it very easy for one to blend into the other. 2/5
World-building: The book does a half-hearted attempt at painting an image of what life is like on Cadia. I think it fails, much like most of the rest of the book, because as mentioned above the prose is brisk and dry, and it never really stops being so. The meager information feels like you are reading an exceptionally boring tourist brochure for an imaginary place. 2/5
September 2, 2018
Regular readers will know of my admiration for Justin Hill. I'd rate him the best of contemporary writers of historical fiction, so I picked up this Warhammer 40k novel with a huge amount of interest: had the 40k universe found a writer as good as Dan Abnett? Yes. Hill is as good as Abnett. This story bears comparison with Abnett's second Gaunt's Ghosts novel, Ghostmaker, where he explores the characters and settings of the Ghosts. Cadia Stands even though it doesn't. The planet falls to Chaos and Hill follows its fall through the stories of many different companies, many of them fighting doomed rearguard actions that demonstrate that the title is true: Cadia does still stand. It's a kaleidoscopic literary technique, showcasing Hill's talent as a writer, and one that mirrors, in the book's structure, the fall of one of the Imperium's most important bastions. I look forward very much to Hill's next foray into the 40k universe.
October 26, 2017
This is a soberly written chronicle of the Imperium’s expulsion from the Cadian Gate. The writing style is understated and dry and that’s what adds to the poignancy and human drama of the Astra Militarum combatants. The story looks at characters through the fog of war, from the trenches to High Command, with many vignettes that show the cost of the fighting on an epic planetary and stellar scale. This is great, refreshing writing that shakes up the status quo of the Warhammer 40K setting.
July 24, 2018
A fondness for the setting made me pick this up but this was a regrettable read and disjointed bland mess of a book.
December 19, 2019
It all depends of what you're looking for with this book. I was looking for info about the fall of Cadia in the 40k lore, interesting characters and a compelling story. I got only the lore part.
Basically, we jump from one group of characters to the other with no development whatsoever between battles. And there are a lot of battles.
I have the feeling that it was as if Saving Private Ryan had all the character development scenes cut only to keep the battle scenes. Unfortunately, doing it this way is much less compelling for I as a reader, as I didn't care enough for the characters to feel involved in the scenes.
However, some scenes were enjoyable or entertaining to read (I won't spoil them) but there were too few and far between for me.
In the grim dark future, there is only war, but you can't just make it about war, you need interesting characters you get to know and love (or love to hate) to experience the setting.
Anyway, that's just my opinion and there are some scenes that work in it. If you feel like it could be an enjoyable read for you, feel free to try it!
PS: I had also bought with this book its sequel, Cadian Honour, by the same author. I'm going to check the reviews on Goodreads of this novel and if it's the same thing as this one, I probably won't read it. However it seems that Cadian Honour focuses more on characters so maybe I'll like it more. We'll see! :)
Basically, we jump from one group of characters to the other with no development whatsoever between battles. And there are a lot of battles.
I have the feeling that it was as if Saving Private Ryan had all the character development scenes cut only to keep the battle scenes. Unfortunately, doing it this way is much less compelling for I as a reader, as I didn't care enough for the characters to feel involved in the scenes.
However, some scenes were enjoyable or entertaining to read (I won't spoil them) but there were too few and far between for me.
In the grim dark future, there is only war, but you can't just make it about war, you need interesting characters you get to know and love (or love to hate) to experience the setting.
Anyway, that's just my opinion and there are some scenes that work in it. If you feel like it could be an enjoyable read for you, feel free to try it!
PS: I had also bought with this book its sequel, Cadian Honour, by the same author. I'm going to check the reviews on Goodreads of this novel and if it's the same thing as this one, I probably won't read it. However it seems that Cadian Honour focuses more on characters so maybe I'll like it more. We'll see! :)
October 27, 2017
This is definitely not the ‘definitive’ story of what happened to Cadia and the implications of that on the wider Imperium, nor a retelling of the Gathering Storm events. If you’re after either of those, or a look at the big names like Creed, Cawl and Abbaddon…you’ve come to the wrong place.
Instead it’s a dark, disjointed story – aptly reflecting the events it describes – which is notable for its unusual lack of a…’normal’…narrative through-line. If you haven’t followed the Gathering Storm you may finish this none the wiser in terms of the details of Cadia’s actual fate, but what you will get out of this is a strong sense of the Cadians as Hill sees them – stoic and determined, justifiably proud of their heritage and, overall, very believable.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2017/10/...
Instead it’s a dark, disjointed story – aptly reflecting the events it describes – which is notable for its unusual lack of a…’normal’…narrative through-line. If you haven’t followed the Gathering Storm you may finish this none the wiser in terms of the details of Cadia’s actual fate, but what you will get out of this is a strong sense of the Cadians as Hill sees them – stoic and determined, justifiably proud of their heritage and, overall, very believable.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2017/10/...
September 12, 2021
Although a sceptic towards the modern lore, this book was a pleasant surprise, having all the grim dark fell that one expects from a story set in the 41st millennia. In particular, this novel is enjoyable as it is set within a very human experience of futuristic war. Additionally, regardless of the circumstances, there is still a sense of hope that drives one through the story. Overall I would recommend this book to most fans of this universe.
October 16, 2019
To be frank it was like a long-form battle report. I've played more riveting games of 40K in my basement.
October 19, 2023
Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Book
The less you know about WH40K, the more you’ll enjoy Cadia Stands. Ostensibly a plot-centric novel, the author starts well with two diverse POVs: an officer and a grunt. Unfortunately, the author doesn’t provide them with character arcs and then introduces another ten viewpoints in hopes of painting a coherent picture of War Zone Cadia. Yet even armed with a literary montage, the result fails to enlighten anyone and is ultimately unsatisfying.
As a reader, you might be under the impression that Ursarkar Creed or someone close to him will provide an important POV. The back of the book even says this hero will rise out of the darkness. Not in this book! Creed takes part in exactly three conversations. In a novel narrowly focused on the Imperial Guard, we aren’t even introduced to the Cadian High Command and never learn their reasoning or intentions. Instead, we’re subjected to scene after scene of soldiers hearing about important events, instead of seeing them achieve something decisive. As a novelization of the campaign, Cadia Stands fails miserably.
The reason for this — and the following includes light spoilers from 2017’s Fall of Cadia — is that the author avoids all plotlines of consequence. Saint Celestine rises to defend Cadians, Phalanx warps in from Terra, and Belisarius Cawl shows up with an Ark Mechanicus attempting to stop the Cicatrix Maledictum. This is epic stuff. Yet absolutely none of this shows up in the novel. Cadia Stands is a collection of B-Plots that are, by definition, of no consequence. Guardsmen die in their thousands fighting irrelevant battles while the fate of the galaxy is being decided, and the author chooses the former to follow.
A narrowly focused novel set during universe-defining events can work, but it requires an effort to build empathetic characters who grow and achieve minor, but important stakes. This is not the case in Cadia Stands. None of the cast ever interact with one another, and they have no goal other than to take orders from characters too important to appear in this novel. The source material is incredible, but not only did the author ignore the best parts of Fall of Cadia, he couldn’t even come up with a different finale!
Honestly, the Wikipedia-esque campaign supplement is better than this novel.
Not Recommended.
The less you know about WH40K, the more you’ll enjoy Cadia Stands. Ostensibly a plot-centric novel, the author starts well with two diverse POVs: an officer and a grunt. Unfortunately, the author doesn’t provide them with character arcs and then introduces another ten viewpoints in hopes of painting a coherent picture of War Zone Cadia. Yet even armed with a literary montage, the result fails to enlighten anyone and is ultimately unsatisfying.
As a reader, you might be under the impression that Ursarkar Creed or someone close to him will provide an important POV. The back of the book even says this hero will rise out of the darkness. Not in this book! Creed takes part in exactly three conversations. In a novel narrowly focused on the Imperial Guard, we aren’t even introduced to the Cadian High Command and never learn their reasoning or intentions. Instead, we’re subjected to scene after scene of soldiers hearing about important events, instead of seeing them achieve something decisive. As a novelization of the campaign, Cadia Stands fails miserably.
The reason for this — and the following includes light spoilers from 2017’s Fall of Cadia — is that the author avoids all plotlines of consequence. Saint Celestine rises to defend Cadians, Phalanx warps in from Terra, and Belisarius Cawl shows up with an Ark Mechanicus attempting to stop the Cicatrix Maledictum. This is epic stuff. Yet absolutely none of this shows up in the novel. Cadia Stands is a collection of B-Plots that are, by definition, of no consequence. Guardsmen die in their thousands fighting irrelevant battles while the fate of the galaxy is being decided, and the author chooses the former to follow.
A narrowly focused novel set during universe-defining events can work, but it requires an effort to build empathetic characters who grow and achieve minor, but important stakes. This is not the case in Cadia Stands. None of the cast ever interact with one another, and they have no goal other than to take orders from characters too important to appear in this novel. The source material is incredible, but not only did the author ignore the best parts of Fall of Cadia, he couldn’t even come up with a different finale!
Honestly, the Wikipedia-esque campaign supplement is better than this novel.
Not Recommended.
January 23, 2025
A great read, providing a lot of context and background surrounding Cadia, the fall of Cadia and the 13th Black Crusade.
However, for readers new to 40k, the book might feel overwhelming. It introduces a lot of characters and terms quickly, without much explanation, making it hard to keep track of everything, with many characters being introduced just to die. While highlighting the harsh reality of the 40k universe and the defence of Cadia, it may leave some feeling disconnected from the story.
However, for readers new to 40k, the book might feel overwhelming. It introduces a lot of characters and terms quickly, without much explanation, making it hard to keep track of everything, with many characters being introduced just to die. While highlighting the harsh reality of the 40k universe and the defence of Cadia, it may leave some feeling disconnected from the story.
October 2, 2018
An amazing set of short stories that tells of Cadia's defenders last stand. Even though the major events that shaped the imperium due the the 13th black crusade are not written in this book, we take part in these events through the eyes of the common soldier that fought valiantly with self denial. Very well written. Looking forward for other books from Mr. Hill.
Cadia stands!
Cadia stands!
March 10, 2021
A good read for fans of imperial guard and a decent telling of the battle for cadia. I'm not sure if other stories somewhere might plug some gaps but it seems a few key events just happened without any build up or "off screen".
June 24, 2024
Fall of Cadia viewed from the ground and various units. There are a lot of characters, in different battlefields, but sometimes big events are just mentioned in few sentences and there are some time jumps in the plot.
Not the grand details of the Fall, but a lot of Cadian guardsmen stories.
Not the grand details of the Fall, but a lot of Cadian guardsmen stories.
January 2, 2024
Knowing the fall of Cadia in the Warhammer universe is very rich in lore and stories I was surprised by the story in this book. I had expected it to delve in-depth into the whole fall of Cadia. It however more follows the specific point of view of various Cadians during the fall of the planet. And while unexpected I really liked this approach.
The book is easier to read and understand. But especially towards the end, if you know more of the Warhammer lore it goes fast. But can be read stand alone none the less. The reason I mention this is that in the end it really speeds past events. It took me a bit by surprise how quickly some major key events just quickly happen or even are just mentioned as having happend. But again, this focusses on the individual experience of the main characters and here it shines. With the actual fall of Cadia as a backdrop to various perspectives how it feels to fight a losing war.
All in all the story is well written, easy to read and gets you invested into the characters.
The book is easier to read and understand. But especially towards the end, if you know more of the Warhammer lore it goes fast. But can be read stand alone none the less. The reason I mention this is that in the end it really speeds past events. It took me a bit by surprise how quickly some major key events just quickly happen or even are just mentioned as having happend. But again, this focusses on the individual experience of the main characters and here it shines. With the actual fall of Cadia as a backdrop to various perspectives how it feels to fight a losing war.
All in all the story is well written, easy to read and gets you invested into the characters.
March 4, 2025
"Hope paved the road to disappointment."
One of the better Warhammer 40k books, in my opinion.
One of the better Warhammer 40k books, in my opinion.
December 17, 2023
This was an absolutely excellent novel that captured the horrors of being a normal human in the inhumane hellscape that is Warhammer 40k.
Some excellent prose and a style that manages to incorporate the satirical elements of the franchise whilst capturing the human drama at its core.
Really looking forward to reading more of this series.
Some excellent prose and a style that manages to incorporate the satirical elements of the franchise whilst capturing the human drama at its core.
Really looking forward to reading more of this series.
September 15, 2023
Fun story lots going on but clearly setting up lots of other stories
November 16, 2020
CADIA STANDS
This book had me on the field with the Cadians. I felt their losses and victories.
Helps to understand a little of how some of the events leading up the rift unfold.
This book had me on the field with the Cadians. I felt their losses and victories.
Helps to understand a little of how some of the events leading up the rift unfold.
April 24, 2023
Chronique 4,5*
Cadia est la première et dernière ligne de défense face à l’Oeil de la Terreur. Des Pylônes sur Cadia permettent à la Porte Cadienne de maintenir au loin les Hérétiques et les forces du Chaos.
Des vétérans de la Garde Impériale reviennent sur leur planète mais ont à peine le temps de débarquer que des traitres attaquent et favorisent l’arrivée des Hérétiques ! Des bastions existent sur Cadia pour se défendre contre une attaque massive mais ils n’auront pas le temps d’arriver à temps pour préserver tous les Pylônes et nettoyer la ville où des combattants résistent de maison en maison !
Un petit goût de Tanith quand des rescapés parviennent à s’échapper !
Beaucoup de personnages mais peu que nous recroisons ou qui n’apparaissent plus dans ce tome qui est le 1er de la trilogie. Certains sont attachants et d’autres révoltants, tel le Seigneur commissar Grake qui abat à tour de bras ceux qu’ils estiment lâches ! Chose étrange après une entrée en matière tonitruante, il n’a plus été question de lui. Non pas que ce soit un personnage que j’apprécie car il est l’image même de sa fonction d’inquisiteur et ne peut que susciter le rejet mais il avait une telle présence que j’ai été étonnée de ce fait, jusqu’à ce que je m’aperçoive qu’il y a d’autres volumes !
Je suis toujours aussi ébahie par la capacité des auteurs à créer des monstres et des horreurs dont ils donnent des descriptions très précises ! Malgré tout ça, ce n’est pas le meilleur que j’ai pu lire car il y a des problèmes de traduction et de relecture : il manque des mots, il y a des tournures maladroites ou redondantes, on passe d’une écriture recherchée à une écriture scolaire ! C’était ma première lecture de cet auteur. J’ai lu beaucoup plus de livres de Dan Abnett, que j’apprécie particulièrement et une dizaine de l’Hérésie d’Horus aux auteurs variés.
Je me suis rapidement axée sur l’histoire et fait au mieux pour ne pas être gênée par ces faiblesses. Curiosité piquée, j’ai acheté les deux autres volumes !
#CadiaTiendra #NetGalleyFrance #warhammer40000
Cadia est la première et dernière ligne de défense face à l’Oeil de la Terreur. Des Pylônes sur Cadia permettent à la Porte Cadienne de maintenir au loin les Hérétiques et les forces du Chaos.
Des vétérans de la Garde Impériale reviennent sur leur planète mais ont à peine le temps de débarquer que des traitres attaquent et favorisent l’arrivée des Hérétiques ! Des bastions existent sur Cadia pour se défendre contre une attaque massive mais ils n’auront pas le temps d’arriver à temps pour préserver tous les Pylônes et nettoyer la ville où des combattants résistent de maison en maison !
Un petit goût de Tanith quand des rescapés parviennent à s’échapper !
Beaucoup de personnages mais peu que nous recroisons ou qui n’apparaissent plus dans ce tome qui est le 1er de la trilogie. Certains sont attachants et d’autres révoltants, tel le Seigneur commissar Grake qui abat à tour de bras ceux qu’ils estiment lâches ! Chose étrange après une entrée en matière tonitruante, il n’a plus été question de lui. Non pas que ce soit un personnage que j’apprécie car il est l’image même de sa fonction d’inquisiteur et ne peut que susciter le rejet mais il avait une telle présence que j’ai été étonnée de ce fait, jusqu’à ce que je m’aperçoive qu’il y a d’autres volumes !
Je suis toujours aussi ébahie par la capacité des auteurs à créer des monstres et des horreurs dont ils donnent des descriptions très précises ! Malgré tout ça, ce n’est pas le meilleur que j’ai pu lire car il y a des problèmes de traduction et de relecture : il manque des mots, il y a des tournures maladroites ou redondantes, on passe d’une écriture recherchée à une écriture scolaire ! C’était ma première lecture de cet auteur. J’ai lu beaucoup plus de livres de Dan Abnett, que j’apprécie particulièrement et une dizaine de l’Hérésie d’Horus aux auteurs variés.
Je me suis rapidement axée sur l’histoire et fait au mieux pour ne pas être gênée par ces faiblesses. Curiosité piquée, j’ai acheté les deux autres volumes !
#CadiaTiendra #NetGalleyFrance #warhammer40000
May 31, 2022
I absolutely love this book, I could not put it down and after reading dozens and dozens of warhammer novels this book has jumped into my top list.
It’s filled from start to finish with some of the best 40K moments I’ve read along with Saturnine and Devastation of Baal.
General Gruber is a character that will stay with me for a long time.
It’s filled from start to finish with some of the best 40K moments I’ve read along with Saturnine and Devastation of Baal.
General Gruber is a character that will stay with me for a long time.
January 20, 2018
Bit confusing
It started of strong but all the fighting going on gets a bit much, all the battles start to sound the same, the final space battle is ok but I was expecting more. Would have been better if they concentrated on fewer characters.
It started of strong but all the fighting going on gets a bit much, all the battles start to sound the same, the final space battle is ok but I was expecting more. Would have been better if they concentrated on fewer characters.
November 26, 2017
Had read references in other books about the Fall of Cadia, this story gives depth and meaning by the phrase "Cadia Stands!". Powerful and moving story in this war torn universe of Warhammer 40K.
November 6, 2018
Top three BL books out there, read it
July 30, 2019
Quality 40k.
May 14, 2023
Fantastic book that really scratched my military sci-fi itch like no other since starship troopers. Only gripe might be the occasionally repetitive writing.
June 27, 2022
Et bien, si vous voulez de l'action sur des champs de bataille, vous serez bien servi avec ce tome-ci. Comme avec le roman Krieg de Steve Lyons, des combats intenses font rage et des horreurs ont lieu sur toute la planète.
Nous nous retrouvons donc au début du roman sur l'orbite au-dessus de Cadia et plusieurs régiments descendent sur la planète ; des millions de soldats cadiens reviennent sur leur planète. Il est dit qu'un soldat cadien ne revoit jamais sa planète natale après être parti pour la guerre, rares sont ceux et celles qui y sont retournés. On retrouvons quelques personnages que nous suivrons tout au long de l'histoire dont le seigneur castellant Ursarkar E. Creed ainsi que le général Grüber et le major Bendikt.
Néanmoins, certaines personnes sentent que quelque chose ne va pas, surtout avec le « rapatriement » de plusieurs millions de soldats cadiens et de fait, la Treizième Croisade Noire d'Abaddon approche et Cadia, qui est un bastion de l'Imperium près de l'Oeil de la Terreur. Ils devront faire preuve de courage mais comme le dit bien le Seigneur Castellant Creed, « Nous battre comme les pires des salopards, répondit Creed. Nous devrons nous montrer plus sournois que nos adversaires ». En tout cas, lorsque nous avons affaire à des Space Marines hérétiques envoyés par Abaddon, on sait à quoi s'en tenir.
On suit donc les aventures des soldats cadiens à travers divers personnages et divers yeux ; on change souvent de lieu en fonction des batailles et autres manigances. Ce que j'ai trouvé étrange, c'est que le major Bendikt soit envoyé sur une plateforme d'observation alors que lui-même et ses hommes sont des hommes d'action, pas le genre de personne à rester là sans rien faire. Néanmoins, Cadia renferme bien des secrets et voilà que les combats se rapprochent. Ursarkar E. Creed a un dernier atout dans sa manche, qui se trouve exactement en-dessous de la plateforme d'observation où se trouve le major.
En conclusion, ce fut un excellent tome, une bonne surprise et je n'ai pas été déçu par les soldats de Cadia. Certes, ils n'ont peut-être pas la même histoire que Krieg mais ils sont tenaces, endurants, courageux ; autant hommes que femmes. Un tome que je recommande bien évidemment.
Nous nous retrouvons donc au début du roman sur l'orbite au-dessus de Cadia et plusieurs régiments descendent sur la planète ; des millions de soldats cadiens reviennent sur leur planète. Il est dit qu'un soldat cadien ne revoit jamais sa planète natale après être parti pour la guerre, rares sont ceux et celles qui y sont retournés. On retrouvons quelques personnages que nous suivrons tout au long de l'histoire dont le seigneur castellant Ursarkar E. Creed ainsi que le général Grüber et le major Bendikt.
Néanmoins, certaines personnes sentent que quelque chose ne va pas, surtout avec le « rapatriement » de plusieurs millions de soldats cadiens et de fait, la Treizième Croisade Noire d'Abaddon approche et Cadia, qui est un bastion de l'Imperium près de l'Oeil de la Terreur. Ils devront faire preuve de courage mais comme le dit bien le Seigneur Castellant Creed, « Nous battre comme les pires des salopards, répondit Creed. Nous devrons nous montrer plus sournois que nos adversaires ». En tout cas, lorsque nous avons affaire à des Space Marines hérétiques envoyés par Abaddon, on sait à quoi s'en tenir.
On suit donc les aventures des soldats cadiens à travers divers personnages et divers yeux ; on change souvent de lieu en fonction des batailles et autres manigances. Ce que j'ai trouvé étrange, c'est que le major Bendikt soit envoyé sur une plateforme d'observation alors que lui-même et ses hommes sont des hommes d'action, pas le genre de personne à rester là sans rien faire. Néanmoins, Cadia renferme bien des secrets et voilà que les combats se rapprochent. Ursarkar E. Creed a un dernier atout dans sa manche, qui se trouve exactement en-dessous de la plateforme d'observation où se trouve le major.
En conclusion, ce fut un excellent tome, une bonne surprise et je n'ai pas été déçu par les soldats de Cadia. Certes, ils n'ont peut-être pas la même histoire que Krieg mais ils sont tenaces, endurants, courageux ; autant hommes que femmes. Un tome que je recommande bien évidemment.
November 17, 2022
Enjoyed this book as a “boots on the ground” view of the Fall of Cadia. Rather than focus on major characters or events from that large narrative event, we get disjointed stories from across the planet as several character threads are followed in the cataclysmic battle for the world.
If you have no idea about the big events of the Fall, then this book will be as confusing to you as it is to the characters, but it’s an enjoyable and pretty quick read of the reaction of the standard Cadian soldier to the war.
The jumping around stories I know some didn’t like but I felt that it aided the narrative of soldiers fighting for their lives as the cities crumble, wondering what’s coming next. The prose though is rather brisk and dry though so apart from a few characters you don’t get a lot of depth for the people involved in the battles, just a bunch of battle scenes spliced together, and at times can read like a report.
The best parts are really after the Fall and you see the aftermath of the remaining Cadians trying to hold together and you get some character work done, especially with Grüber, but that’s the last third of the book, so that kept my rating down a bit.
But if you want to learn more than you already know if you’re familiar with the big events of Acadia’s destruction this was a good book to see it from the average soldier’s perspective, as well as understanding the Cadians’ mentality better post-Fall
If you have no idea about the big events of the Fall, then this book will be as confusing to you as it is to the characters, but it’s an enjoyable and pretty quick read of the reaction of the standard Cadian soldier to the war.
The jumping around stories I know some didn’t like but I felt that it aided the narrative of soldiers fighting for their lives as the cities crumble, wondering what’s coming next. The prose though is rather brisk and dry though so apart from a few characters you don’t get a lot of depth for the people involved in the battles, just a bunch of battle scenes spliced together, and at times can read like a report.
The best parts are really after the Fall and you see the aftermath of the remaining Cadians trying to hold together and you get some character work done, especially with Grüber, but that’s the last third of the book, so that kept my rating down a bit.
But if you want to learn more than you already know if you’re familiar with the big events of Acadia’s destruction this was a good book to see it from the average soldier’s perspective, as well as understanding the Cadians’ mentality better post-Fall
April 13, 2023
This is, in my own opinion, one of the best entry points to 40k literature out there. It isnt a multi-dozen book long commitment like the Horus Heresy books, and it doesent thrust you right to the the forefront of the questionable new lore like the Dawn of Fire novels. Instead it strikes a perfect balance by setting a story during one of the most pivotal moments of the lore, from which readers can either read forwards or backwards easily and into the more exotic factions of 40k.
It follows primarily the legendary Cadian Shock Troops as they fight desperately in defense of their own planet, and by extension the galaxy at large, against the largest Chaos force amassed since the Heresy. The book does an excellent job of showing the huge scope that 40k is famous for, while also making a deeply human story by focusing on individuals and what the conflict means for them.
Overall, Cadia Stands was a tense, engrossing, and emotional read. I recommend it to 40k veterans and neophytes alike.
It follows primarily the legendary Cadian Shock Troops as they fight desperately in defense of their own planet, and by extension the galaxy at large, against the largest Chaos force amassed since the Heresy. The book does an excellent job of showing the huge scope that 40k is famous for, while also making a deeply human story by focusing on individuals and what the conflict means for them.
Overall, Cadia Stands was a tense, engrossing, and emotional read. I recommend it to 40k veterans and neophytes alike.
July 8, 2021
'Never! Never!' -defiant Cadians
I thought this was a great historical accounting of the twilight days of Cadia. It does a good job capturing the harrowing and desperate struggle to defend Cadia from Chaos forces. To cover such a grand account, Justin D. Hill splits focus between a diverse and numerous set of characters. The narrative encapsulates an eclectic range of perspectives from officers and commanders to cadets, from humans to abhumans (ratlings and ogryn), from navy pilots to army mortar and tank personnel, from loyalist to traitor space marine legions, and many more. Some characters were introduced only to die not long after, but they were written in a way where every loss was felt. Since I knew ultimately what happens to Cadia, I was stuck with a constant sense of dread and foreboding. I could only hope that there would be survivors once the dust settled.
I thought this was a great historical accounting of the twilight days of Cadia. It does a good job capturing the harrowing and desperate struggle to defend Cadia from Chaos forces. To cover such a grand account, Justin D. Hill splits focus between a diverse and numerous set of characters. The narrative encapsulates an eclectic range of perspectives from officers and commanders to cadets, from humans to abhumans (ratlings and ogryn), from navy pilots to army mortar and tank personnel, from loyalist to traitor space marine legions, and many more. Some characters were introduced only to die not long after, but they were written in a way where every loss was felt. Since I knew ultimately what happens to Cadia, I was stuck with a constant sense of dread and foreboding. I could only hope that there would be survivors once the dust settled.
October 9, 2024
I listened to the audiobook of this and enjoyed that GW have decided Cadians are all Geordies. Good to have some representation across the whole of the UK, instead of everyone sounding like they come from the home counties.
As someone returning to the hobby and its lore after a lengthy spell keeping it at arm's length, this book goes into great detail about one of the most significant events in the story of the Imperium while I was away. Much like Band of Brothers, it takes on the perspectives of multiple soldiers, including Cadian tank commanders, footsoldiers, and even Space Marines. There's some character development, but it's more about the event than the people.
As someone returning to the hobby and its lore after a lengthy spell keeping it at arm's length, this book goes into great detail about one of the most significant events in the story of the Imperium while I was away. Much like Band of Brothers, it takes on the perspectives of multiple soldiers, including Cadian tank commanders, footsoldiers, and even Space Marines. There's some character development, but it's more about the event than the people.
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