Scions of the Emperor

The Horus Heresy: Primarchs #Anthology

by David Guymer (Contributor), David Annandale (Contributor), Guy Haley (Contributor)

An amazing collection of Horus Heresy Primarch short stories. A must-have for all fans of Horus Heresy

Canticle by David Guymer
Crash-landed upon a world of perpetual gloom, a young Ferrus Manus is forced to fight for his survival. Upon discovering a strange vessel, he investigates the ship but quickly finds himself battling monstrosities he is ill-prepared for.

The Verdict of the Scythe by David Annandale
Heavily criticised by his brothers over the brutal campaign at Galaspar, Mortarion attempts a new approach during the compliance of Absyrtus. However, discovering treachery at every turn, the Lord of Death must accept an unavoidable truth.

A Game of Opposites by Guy Haley
Jaghatai Khan makes a virtue of being unknowable, yet Warsmith Xyrokles has studied the Warhawk’s teachings. Choosing to step into the trap laid for him, the Khan of Khans teaches the traitors just how deadly their ignorance truly is.

Better Angels by Ian St. Martin
Art and war stand fist in glove where it concerns the warriors of the IX Legion. Wending a path through their turbulent history, during the days of the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy, a Blood Angels neophyte then legionary tries to capture the essence of beauty and art to present to his primarch, Sanguinius.

The Conqueror’s Truth by Gav Thorpe
Brought aboard the Nightfall, the remembrancer Ares desires to witness the glory of the Great Crusade. The primarch of the Night Lords, Konrad Curze, grants her request, sending her as a witness to a compliance of his Legion first hand, but in so doing reveals a dark and inconvenient truth.

The Sinew of War by Darius Hinks
After having crushed a rebellion in Illyria, a young Roboute Guilliman returns to the capital of Macragge City to be reunited with his father, Konor, only to discover insurrection and unrest running rampant.

The Chamber at the End of Memory by James Swallow
As the Siege of Terra nears, Rogal Dorn uncovers a series of bizarre deaths within the inner walls of the Palace. To find the truth, and faced with no other choice, the primarch must defy the edict of Nikaea and return his Librarius to service, but what he discovers will shake him to his very core.

First Legion by Chris Wraight
Locked in the midst of the Rangdan Xenocides, the Dark Angels of the First Legion are contacted by a mysterious warship under the command of Alpharius. When the stranger begins to ask questions about the campaign, he is summoned to the presence of the Lion himself for judgement.

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Fiction, Anthologies, Short Stories, Military Science Fiction

182 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2019

About the author

David Guymer is a freelance author, PhD in molecular microbiology (which still comes in more handy than you might think), and tabletop warlord based in the Yorkshire East Riding. He has written for Black Library, Marvel, Aconyte Books, Asmodee, Mantic Games, Cubicle 7, Creative Assembly, and Mongoose Publishing.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canticle by David Guymer ☆☆☆

The Verdict of the Scythe by David Annandale ☆☆☆☆☆

A Game of Opposites by Guy Haley ☆☆☆1/2

Better Angels by Ian St. Martin ☆☆☆☆1/2

The Conqueror’s Truth by Gav Thorpe ☆☆☆☆☆

The Sinew of War by Darius Hinks ☆☆☆☆1/2

The Chamber at the End of Memory by James Swallow ☆☆☆☆☆

First Legion by Chris Wraight ☆☆☆☆☆

[RatGrrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

May-June 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 - Now in Immaterium of everything outside the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project working on the Primarchs and other stories, before the Siege of Terra.

Started and ended strong, but there was a lot of chaff in the middle.

Also, this has Darius Hinks getting all weird and imperialist again, though not as bad as Illyrium.

Annandale and Wraight make life better though.

I'll review the stories that don't have their own entries below

Canticle by David Guymer 5/5

This was a glorious techno-nightmare!

A nameless powerful adolescent roams around a horrifying purgatory of killer cyborg detritus...

I had so much fun with this!

I will admit up top that it did become a little bit of a cyborg zombie slog towards the end and as far as rating things goes my bar is incredibly high for 2-3 and low for 5, but numbers for art is silly, and I rate with my gut.

The disgusting beauty of the litany of weird jargon and technobabble that puts me in mind of Annandale getting deep in the Chaos of it, which I adore.

I do have to own up to being at least 95% through everything Horus Heresy and not knowing a great deal about Ferrus Mannus or Medusa, so I can only assume this is a story both the Gorgon. Regardless, I am feeling hopeful for this anthology.

The Verdict of the Scythe by David Annandale 4/5

I really enjoyed this and just how different a situation Mortarion had to deal with.

Mortarion and the Death Guard engage in an incredibly brief and bloody war with the people of a world that rejected Compliance. Shortly, a full capitulation and surrender without terms is offered in the face of the unremmitent, inexorable march of the Death Guard. Can the Compliance be taken seriously?

There really is something magical and so wonderfully bleak and hilarious about the discomfort and pain Mortarion feels in the face of accepting a surrender and working to preserve human life, as opposed to the relentless march of Dusk Raiders and Deathshrouds. It is an fascinating interrogation of the lives the Primarchs have led, their fundamental natures, literally genecracfted for singular purposes, not to forget the very specific and purposeful way each Primarch and Legion are employed. As Kurze says in A Lesson in Darkness, "[The Emperor] sent me".

With the worship of Chaos and the perils of the warp, it is hard to avoid certain situations in which the colonised are show as the baddies or the colonisers and the colonised are both bad...and that's always a nightmare to consider. This is something I've talked about with some of the Corax stories, a danger of grimdark and surface level politics is bothsidseing and showing victims on par with abusers, so it really needs some thought and care to avoid that.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the story a lot and I am a sucker for a classic becoming worse because you got burned trying to be good as a villain trope, and one that works so well with Warhammer.

A Game of Opposites by Guy Haley 2/5

Writing about people who are really good at a thing is a a real bugbear of fiction, and the sphere this is so often extremely evident in Warhammer stories is everything relating to military strategy...

Set during the initial coglflicts preceeding the Siege of Terra, right before the Great Khan heads go Beta-Garmon, Opposite pits an Iron Warriors Warsmifh with an appreciation of the Khagan's Treatise on War against the White Scars and their Primarch. How well do you know your enemy and how much do four biases get in the way you understand your enemy?

This was an interesting premise, but it had no spark and was very heavy handed and clumsy with the surface-level points it was making. Throw in some half-hearted action and I don't really get anything out of this.

I see a lot of complaints about authors being protective over their favourites and have them be vastly superior and their opponents bumbling buffoons. I can't say it's something I have come across very often and is most often said by those who like to argue that the Imperium are the 'goodids' and shouldn't be shown to be bad or beatable. This is the first time I've noticed it myself.

The Khagan and his Ordu are utterly perfect and unassailable in this, which really killsn the tension. Wraight really mad me fall on love with the White Scars, but their whole grand narrative is about how they aren't perfect and are conflicted. That makes them interesting. Conversely, the Iron Warriors, another Legion I have come to love, even if I cannot stand Perturabo (complimentary), are given thr robo-centurion treatment with the Warsmifh being the only character. The characterisation seems confused because they actually read the Khagan's Treatise on War and is attempting to apply it to the battle in decidedly open and independent thinking from and Iron Warrior, but without anything really exploring this and seeming, at least to me, that there is nothing more being said than, yeah, you read it, but you didn't get it. This would be fine, if simplistic, but the fact that the Warsmifh is a little more developed, at least in being more widely read and respecting of his enemy, but still gets owned and handled in the same way a moustache-twirling villain with more of a, yeah I read your stupid book and now I know exactly how to kill you, stupid! vibe, making it seem somewhat dissonant.

Also, there's nothing interesting about 'goodies' being too cool and smart for their to be any tension.

Better Angels by Ian St. Martin 2/5

This could have been something.

A Blood Angels who works with glass is often observed by and discusses art and the Legion with Sanguinius...

I like the whole art is doing the thing you want to do and the perfection of imperfection and all that, but this took an interesting set up and played it out in the most Sanguinius as Jesus dropping fortune cookie aphorisms and parables.

Honestly, I really didn't enjoy this one and fully recommend The Fall of Angels by John French if you want a great story about the Blood Angels and art with more depth and gorgeous prose.

The Conquerer's Truth by Gav Thorpe 2/5

I feel like if you put Conquerer in the title, you have to give me Sarrin and Khârn, but this is actually about the Night Lords, rather than the World Eaters.

A Rembrancer sees how brutal the Night Lords are with those who refuse Compliance...

This is just another Night Lords extreme compliance story with extra heightened and nonsensical Curze. I appreciate the sentiment, but it doesn't add anything or tell a particularly compelling story.

A Lesson in Darkness by Ian St Martin is a much more interesting approach to this subject.

The Sinew of War by Darius Hinks -/5

I am often hyperbolic, more often than not for the positive, but I have said that I hate things in the Horus Heresy very few times and truly meant it. I try to stay positive and constructive, reserving my unbridled scorn for works that are actually offensive and harmful.

This is the second of Hinks' Guilliman stories I genuinely loathe and don't think Black Library should have published.

This is the chaser to the shot that is Illyrium, which is admittedly significantly more repugnant that this, but they're signing from the same hymn sheet. While Guilliman was the benevolent oppressor in Illyrium, Sinew is Macragge's et tu, Gallan? moment as Roboute's dad is assassinated and the other Consul tries to have him killed too and blame everything on them.

Another frankly embarrassing story that is a Playdo reenactment of Julius Caesar with one heel turn into moustache twirling papier mache bad guy and a whole bunch of 'Mercenarys' and "savages" with less substance and character than a fascist's fart.

I remain astounded that these two stories have been published and that Black Library keeps around someone who doesn't seem to have gotten the memo about 40K being founded on a satire of authoritarianism and colonialism, the Imperium aren't the 'good guys', and that lazy, ignorant writing only serves to perpetuate the gross perspectives this whole Warhammer thing is lampooning.

Maybe I'm wrong and Hinks isn't a raving Conservative intentionally writing Imperialist propaganda, maybe they are just that ignorant in their writing. I mean, they did write the story about how Guilliman was a great guy who only slaughtered some holy people and handed one of the stolen crown jewels back to the "savages".

The Chamber at the End of Memory by James Swallow 2/5

I feel like I'm getting so burnt out I don't know what's good or not anymore.

While overseeing construction of defences a strange accident causes Dorn to call up one of his Gifted sons, only to learn some mysteries should remain uncovered...

I really struggle with the making the pretty uwu palace all ugly and hench narratives because in the grand narrative of things the Imperial Palace is just the most glammed up version of Buckingham Palace built on the Himalayas for a guy worse than the Windsors...

The whole first half seems to be written in a really clunky way that doesn't read like Swallow at all, which is odd. The second half is interesting, but the Lost Legions are the most boring interesting thing because there can never be any details, so everyone just has to act out a bunch of close up dramatic shots like they are creating an acting reel for the BBC.

The Lost Legions, stories like this, and the cover for the Sigillite audio drama with Malcador's throne with the naughty numbers on it seem more like jangling keys at this point. We know Fetch isn't going to happen, so stop trying.

First Legion by Chris Wraight 4/5

I'm absolutely baffled, but it's so good to see nice prose and fascinated approaches again!

During the Ragdan Xenocide, an unmarked XX Legion vessel carrying a Space Marine called Alpharius offers to finish the campaign so the Dark Angels don't lose too many of their number. He says the Lion should be Warmaster, before the role exists. The Lion dreams of Caliban; of being a Great Beast and hunting them.

I'm very confused, but I loved it and I have missed Wraight!

Through the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project and my own additions, I have currently read* all 54 Horus Heresy main series novels (+1 repeat), 25 novellas (+2 repeats), Cthonia's Reckoning, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, all 17 Primarchs novels 3 Primarchs antholologies , 3 Characters novels, 3 Siege of Terra Novels, 1 Siege of Terra Novella, and 187 short stories/ audio dramas across the Horus Heresy (inc. 11+ repeats). Plus, 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).

*My tracking consistently proves shoddy, but I'm doing my best.

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing with the template (and naming convention) laid down with 2018’s Sons of the Emperor anthology, Scions of the Emperor is a Primarchs anthology featuring eight Horus Heresy short stories from eight different authors. Where it differs is that these stories are almost all from authors not normally associated with their chosen characters. There’s a mixture of stories from across the breadth of the Heresy timeline, from young Ferrus Manus and Roboute Guilliman on their respective home worlds to Rogal Dorn on Terra on the eve of the Siege, via the highs and lows of the Great Crusade and onwards.

For Heresy fans keen to absorb as much information as possible about these characters, there’s plenty of additional texture to be found here, so frustration at having to wait to get hold of this is understandable. There’s nothing truly essential here, however – presumably by design – so while it’s worth picking up if you have the opportunity, you won’t be missing out on crucial information if you have to wait a while. Not even in James Swallow’s story, which does feature a mystery at the heart of the Heresy…but as you might expect treads lightly and keeps hold of its secrets. Overall it’s an interesting, entertaining anthology aimed at Heresy completists rather than being a must-read.

Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/02/...

[Simon Mee · Rating 3 out of 5]

20 pages to write a story.

20 pages with generous spacing.

20 pages with a font size you can see across a room.

What kind of story do you end up with?

Set in another universe, this might appear to be a cash in. To a small extent it is... ...but stories of this length are not uncommon in Warhammer 40k (if fitted between longer ones) and, anyway, you can just check it out from the library.

8 of them together show their limitations though.  The scenarios created for each Primarch lack space for crafting. It's always been character over plot, but it's awfully contrived here. Mortarion visits a planet of wilful idiots who surrender to avoid genocide before begging that he do exactly that. Guilliman's father retains a wrongly minted coin for the exact situation where it can make a metaphorical point dependent on him being unable to communicate in dozens of simpler ways. The 20th Legion visit Lion El' Jonson asking the Lion to trust them, having done nothing trustworthy at all.

The stories are generally pretty good.  I do need to know more about Ferrus Manus, why he thought he deserved the role of Warmaster, and I rate his story, despite it being a zombie scavenger hunt. Those of Khan, Manus and Dorn get away with their length. 

However, all of them could do with just a little bit more room. 

[Bergard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read.

[Lenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canticle by David Guymer 2/5
A look at Ferrus Manus’ first moments on Medusa. While the world building of medusa was stellar, the characters didn't really grab me .

The Verdict of the Scythe by David Annandale 4/5
The Death Guard tries a new way of attaining compliance by trying to integrate a new world by non-destructive means. Great character portrait of Mortarion while giving even more reasons for his hate of psykers.

A Game of Opposites by Guy Haley 4/5
An art of war moment for Jaghatai Khan against the Iron warriors during the Horus heresy.

Better Angels by Ian St Martin 5/5
Sanguinious observes changes in the soul of his legion during expressed though their art. Just like The Passing of Angels by John French this story looks at the core of the Blood Angels in, for 40k, a non-traditional way.

The Conqueror’s Truth by Gav Thorpe 4/5
Experience the Night Lords way of war through the eyes of lowly remembrancer invited by Konred Curze to witness one of his battle fields.

The Sinew of War by Darius Hinks 5/5
A teenage Roboute Guilliman returns from his Illyrium campaign to find Macragge’s capital in turmoil. After similar uprisings on the countryside Guilliman is starting to expect treachery from within. This story really captures the Roman style political situation and makes Roboute quite a likeable character.

The Chamber at the End of Memory by James Swallow 3/5
Rogal Dorn comes across a bunch of gruesome deaths in a part of the Imperial Palace that is under the aegis of the Sigillite.
This story is probably the most concrete information we are going to get about the II and XI legions. Which is fine, I like that they are clouded in mystery.

First Legion by Chris Wraight 4/5
Lion El'Jonson is persecuting the Rangdan Xenocides at staggeringly high cost to his legion when he is approached by an unexpected fleet. What do these strangers want from the Lord of the First?

[Brian_roesler · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with any 40K anthology, what you have is an often wildly divergent array of short stories, some of which are significantly more interesting than others. Most thematically already fit the mold of the primarchs we have come to know over the course of the Heresy and beyond. The prose of course, is stylistically sound and easy to recognize from each author, with special exceptions being made for Christ Wraight, James Swallow, and David Annandale. Each of the short stories feature the primarch doing something close to what we would expect to their pre-established nature. Ferrus Manus plays Dark Souls alone on a ship as a youth, Lion El Johnson remembers his mythologized youth, Roboute Guilliman saves the senate and learns a lesson in honor, e.t.c. It's hard to say that there's any stories here that are truly terrible, or outright bad, but very few truly elevate this collection.

What saves Scions however, much like the majority of the Primarchs series are the quieter moments, where the epic, divorced voice of the narrator ceases, and we have an intimate glimpse into their own feelings. Gods turned to men, turned to sons without a father, lost and adrift. That's where the anthology is truly at it's best.

[Zare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting anthology about Primarchs. On overall collection is good but some stories are a miss (or at least they are miss for me).

Ferrus Manus' story is an example of a miss for me. We follow the mysterious and fearless Primarch as he finds his way through the wasteland full of cybernetic and mechanical wonders, he comes across the first humans he ever saw and it ends with variation of "I'll be back"? I mean what? I understand he is on track of something and he has a mission set, but ending was awkward.

Sanguinius' story was interesting - finding sanity in art. I especially liked the ending, so foreboding and full of uncertainty, one can feel worry (aka fear for mere mortals) growing up in the superhuman Space Marine.

Story that left an impact was Dorn's - mysterious walled up chamber and secret that just keep you thinking, please BL give us more about these strange fellows that were erased from history! One day I hope.

So all in all pretty good collection, as always small bites but they give additional insight into the psyche of these Emperor's Generals!

Recommended to all fans of W40K universe and Horus Heresy in particular.

[AA_Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice solid anthology.

A couple of the shorts really stand out, but the quality of the whole thing is high. Ferris Manus gets a nice little bit of back story from David Guymer, while David Annandale economically gets under the skin of Mortarion. Ian St Martin’s Blood Angels entry is a really nice character portrait; not much happens, but the Legion character is explored in a refreshing fashion. I’m a sucker for Iron Warriors stories, and Guy Hayley rights them as fantastic bastards taking on the White Scars. Gav Thorpe pens a suitably blunt sketch of the Night Haunter, and James Swallow has the honour of dropping some deep and hitherto hidden lore. Chris Wraight and the Dark Angels are an interesting combination.

Perhaps my favourite entry is Darius Hinks’ Robute story; boldly written in the first person, it’s really evocative and explains a lot about the Avenging Son’s psyche and the role their homeworld Shad to play in the development of his brothers.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

canticle: 3/5
- please. for all that’s holy, release ferrus from this hell GW.
the verdict of the scythe: 4/5
- i would have LOVED if this was longer a fully flushed out story.
a game of opposites: 3/5
- nothing to special imo.
better angels: 5/5
- the soft side of sanguinius is why i love him so dearly.
the conquerors truth: 4/5
- i love my twisted night lords hahha. so so much. maybe to much?
the sinew of war: 4/5
- i’m surprised this is put into an anthology i’m willing to bet most people won’t read. guilliman seems to get so much hate and ill have you know - i. stand. with. macragge’
the chamber at the end of memory: 4.5/5
- UHHH. WHY IS THIS NOT TALKED ABOUT MORE!!!!?!?!!!!!!
first legion: 3.5?/5
- i’m confused. kind of? what did the alpha legion have to do with this? lol.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

8 different short stories about the Heresy. Some of them are a little experimental, some of them are traditional. But honestly there were no stinkers at all.

Usually in a collection like this, you'll have a stinker. But, no, I really enjoyed all of these.

The only criticism I could make is it's a little short. This is a slim volume, 180 pages, and quite large text. So your 8 stories read quickly. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, because these are snapshot visions of the Imperium, and the people and primarchs within.

Recommended.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag of primarch stories that take place during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy (Inc a couple about primarchs before they are rediscovered). Would recommend if you're reading the Heresy novels.

These sorts of short stories are usually character studies, and that's pretty much what we get, but some are much more revealing or interesting than others.

I'd say most stories don't have that oomph without context of wider reading or reader interpretation. So if you're getting into 30k, don't start here.

[Daniel Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Varying stories about the Primarchs of Warhammer 40k that differ in author, length, style and subject. Some are better than others with all anthologies with your favourite probably coming down to the Primarchs you prefer. For me, the discussion of art and the Blood Angels, and Dorn uncovering the tombs of the Lost Two stood out as best.

It's a short read but worthwhile for fans of the characters and universe.

[Zaphied · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short anthology of short stories about various Primarchs (both Loyal and Traitorous) in the time before the Horus Heresy. Of them all perhaps the one involving Sanguinius was my favorite in that it awakened a desire to create that I have yet to find the proper outlet. For now I scritch out a rough with a pen and some paper. I'm sure in days to come I'll revisit this one with fondness.

[Andrew Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed all of these short stories, some were better than others but all of them were decent! I particularly enjoyed the Sanguinius and Dorn ones. I hope black library do more like this.

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some decent stories of The Primarchs and their weirdly weird ways of weirding.

Always good to see Mortarian being more than just the Grim Reap... nevermind.

[Kelsey Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its OK but not for those already very familiar with all the primarchs and legions. That unfortunately is not me so I found about 1/2 of the stories very confusing.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of stories, a few were stronger than the rest

[Jaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inconsistent short stories - some were good, some were ordinary.

[Guy Sandison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another anthology of primarch stories. The one about Lion’el Jonson really stands out, but there isn’t a duff one in this set.

[Jim Pickone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real good collection of short stories. The weakest were definitely the first and last but everything in between were really good.

[Andy Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great as an anthology, but the chapters themselves are short exepts and are hard to really get into any of them, can become a slog to read.

[Tyberius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need me them short stories. Eat them up. Nice and tastey.

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canticle ++++
“If there was a sun around which this black world turned then it was alien to the boy. If there was a season then it was winter. Its changelessness was a black cloak over a landscape where each blast of wind was an apocalypse. There was no day. There was no night.”

A look at Ferrus Manus’ earliest days, as he does battle with cyborg zombies, data ghosts and other technological abominations that infest his home world of Medusa. The world of Medusa is a bizarre post-apocalyptic technological hellscape, like Mad-Max on steroids. Honestly this short story gave me more reason to be interested in Ferrus Manus than most other stories he’s appeared in.

The Verdict of the Scythe +++++
“The liberation we bring is death. There is nothing here to conquer. There is nothing to give to this world except death.”

The depiction of Mortarion is one of Death, long and slender, pale and hooded, scythe in hand. Given the chance to accept a planet’s surrender, he orders his men to stand down and participates in the compliance ceremonies. But finding it all hollow he seeks to find the truth of it. I found this story creepy and chilling.

A Game of Opposites ++++
An action heavy short story, but the action is particularly interesting as the Iron Warriors try to out-plan the White Scars, setting up an elaborate plan using the White Scars doctrines against them.

Better Angels +++++
‘There are endeavours,’ says Sanguinius, ‘that can bind you to the race you once belonged to, that remind you of your purpose and the beauty of what we protect. That is why each brother of the Ninth is to practise an art of their own choosing. For as much as we are a force of destruction, we must never forget that we also have the ability to create.’

Jehoel of the Blood Angels is not just a warrior but also an artist. His gene-father Sanguinius sought to uplift his Legion to a greater state of being, encouraging art and creation amongst his sons.

The story takes place over decades, as Jehoel and the Legion changes. His father comes to him, speaking of art, the legion, and the spirit. This story perhaps best shows the quiet dignity and honour of Sanguinius, making the pain of his fate all the worse.

The Conqueror’s Truth +++++
‘This is the conqueror’s truth. The weak pretend there is compromise, that morality gives rise to the grey of acceptance and equivocation. They are misguided. I do the Emperor’s work here. Life is binary. Truth or lie. Guilt or innocence.’

A remembrancer assigned to the 382nd Expeditionary Fleet, which followed in the wake of the Legions, resettling worlds, suddenly gets her chance to see war up close as she joins the Night Lords as they make planetfall.

There is always a threat of unpredictable violence with the Night Lords, every scene dripping with tension. There is a visceral cruelty to everything they do that is terrifying.

The Sinew of War ++++
Long before the Emperor arrived, Guilliman united Macragge. This is the very beginning of that story, as we are exposed to a young Guilliman and the profound impact his father had on the man he would become.

The Chamber at the End of Memory +++++
Revelation comes to Rogal Dorn at a heavy cost. The secrets of the lost must remain so, even as secrets are undermining the Imperium and causing the remaining loyalists on Terra to come into conflict. Dorn and Malcador are both really interesting, spending the bulk of the Heresy on Terra preparing for the siege they must be like Atlas carrying the weight of the Earth on their backs. It is a heavy burden, almost impossible to bear and you can see how it is draining Dorn in this story.

First Legion +++++
‘Then what do you wish to be known for, my liege?’ the knight asks, a final plea. ‘When the annals are written, what do you wish them to say of you?’ He keeps walking. He never looks back. ‘That I was ever, and only, thus,’ he says, tasting the raw, frigid air of another Caliban dawn. ‘The hunter. The slayer of beasts.’

The Dark Angels are fighting a brutal war against the Rangdan and the cost is high. When the Alpha Legion suddenly appear, will the Dark Angels take their offer?

An interesting look at Lion El’Jonson and how he sees himself and his Legion.

A different perspective of this event is offered in "Alpharius: Head of the Hydra".