Iron Resolve

Black Library Novella Series 2 #1

by Steve Lyons

A Mordian Iron Guard novella

Deep in the alien forests of Kallash, a medicae camp offers a reprieve to the wounded, a breath away from the horrors of war. But for Guardsman Lucius Myer, the camp is anything but a rest as their greenskin enemies lay siege to the walking wounded.

READ IT BECAUSE

Experience a classic base under siege tale – except the base is a maedial camp and the defenders are walking wounded, battling monstrous Orks…

THE STORY

Feral orks sweep through the alien forests of Kallash, their numbers growing, despite Mordian lives laid out to stop them. Guardsman Lucius Myer is one of the walking wounded, the medicae bay affording him a temporary reprieve from the front lines – or so he thinks – until the vast greenskin horde and their brutal machinery cut a bloody swathe through the defenders.

With the fury of the orks beating at their hastily built fortifications, will the men and women of the Iron Guard stand, and will Myer find the strength to stand with them?

Written by Steve Lyons

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Novella, Fiction

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2019

About the author

Steve Lyons is a science fiction writer, best known for writing television tie-ins of Doctor Who for BBC Books, and previously, Virgin. The earliest of these was Conundrum in 1994, and his most recent was 2005's The Stealers of Dreams. He has also written material for Star Trek tie-ins, as well as original work.

Reviews

[Danie Ware · Rating 4 out of 5]

May possibly be the best of the bunch - really visceral, bloody and moving stuff. Fantastic concept and perfectly put together.

[Edoardo Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in the new Black Library novella series and Iron Resolve gets the set off to a storming start with its transplanting of the Battle of Rorke's Drift from Natal, South Africa, to the jungle planet of Kallash in the 41st millennium. What's more, it's the field hospital in Kallash that suddenly finds itself under attack from an army of feral Orcs. They don't seem to do Victoria Crosses for the servants of the Emperor, but a fair few of them would have deserved the honour by the end of the novella. A diverting and entertaining read.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nice story. Finally a good old astra millitarum story featuring Mordians. They are a very interesting bunch very focus on order, disciple and duty. Their armor always pristine.

In this story we follow Myers as his company battle some feral orks. After his innitial battle he is wounded and taken back to the medicae where they acused him of self inflicted wound. From this moment on and until the last 30 pages the story resolves around him having some flashbacks as we try to understand did he really wound himself?

I wont spoiler here. Last 30 pages are a blast with more action scenes.

Very interesting story. Remind me of fifteen hours or other imperial guard novel. I do prefer them to space marines. They are more human and have doubts and change of heart.

Advisable to read to anyone who wants a nice imperial guard story primally focus on character.

[Declan Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Iron Guard of the Mordian Guard are on a planet beset by attacked from feral orks. They must defeat the threat and save the planet. During this battle Lucius Myer is sent to the front line for the first time, but soon returns with a suspicious wound... that the doctor thinks is self inflicted.

When the Orks break through the line or Mordian Guard (Astra Militarum), Myer must help defend the medicae and command facility he is now in.

This is great fun fiction, set in the Future of the Grim Darkness, featuring a story of the easiest to understand of forces in Warhammer 40 - the Asta Militarum. Well paced, good gripping pulp fiction.

[Lenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

An increasable Mordian Iron guard novella about self discovery in a last stand situation. The characters are all round and feel alive, the story elements are well set up and the necessary story elements and characters delivered piecemeal. Furthermore I think the time indication as chapters indication is a neat idea to build suspense. All round I just really liked it and want to read more of this kind of nugget size 40k novellas.

[Alesha Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because I got all of the novella series and this was the first book. To be honest I wasn't that pumped because nothing jumped out at me. This book turned out to very enjoyable. it has some great battle scenes but it also has some interesting characters. It was hard to put down so I didn't. Anyways I just wanted to say this was a good book.

[Paul Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stiff upper lip

But not such a stiff spine! What else would you expect in the face of feral works and sqigs. Good story lot the imperial guard and the day to day horrors they have to endure, a worthy read

[Amanda]

Proofread

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm read

A novella demonstrating that even in the grim darkness of the far future their is light and heroism and good.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty enjoyable, although perhaps a little predictable. Kind of nice seeing a story about the Mordian Iron Guard, for once.

[Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another retread of Rorkes Drift in space. Entertaining and quick to read but don’t expect any depth in this novella.

[Ulzeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read.

[Alexander452 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic short story that gives the Mordian Iron Guard some book time.

The story has us following a soldier Myers, as he is struggling with the reality of war and his "cowardice" in the eyes of his comrades, the lingering questions as to wheter or not his wound is self inflicted or an actual wound, as well as the fight against greenskin horde.

While it is a short story, it means that the author has to manage to put as much out of the pages he/she has the work with and in regards to 'Iron Resolve' Steve Lyons have done a wonderful job.
It's a straight forward, and effective story, that is definetly worth the read.

It serves to show the skill and creativity of Steve Lyons and made me interested in finding more books written by him.

[Michael Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young trooper Lucius Myer, fighting in his first campaign since leaving Mordian, arrives wounded at an understaffed, overworked command post turned medical facility believing it offers safety away from the horrors of war, only to find himself defending it against endless waves of ferocious xenos. As the Mordians mount a hasty but fierce defence, Myer has to face his fears after all if he has any hope of surviving.

Told with clear, no-nonsense prose and straightforward but effective storytelling, this is a powerful depiction of what it means to be Mordian Iron Guard, and the difference – or at least the impact – that one soldier can make if given the chance. It's a pacy, entertaining read which offers both visceral action and an engaging emotional journey – exactly what an Imperial Guard story should!

Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2020/01/...