The Uriel Ventris Chronicles: Volume Two

by Graham McNeill

An Ultramarines omnibus

Exiled from their Chapter and cast adrift in the galaxy, Ultramarines Uriel Ventris and Pasanius must return to Macragge to regain their honour and their place in the Chapter in this collection of novels by Graham McNeill.

READ IT BECAUSE
If the first Uriel Ventris omnibus showed an atypical Ultramarine rebelling against the dictates of his Chapter, this one shows a thoroughly chastened captain learning just how vital those dictates are. As Ventris goes on to become an avatar of the Chapter's ideals, this collection is excellent for those who want to understand the Ultramarines.

DESCRIPTION
The Ultramarines are the epitome of a Space Marine Chapter. Warriors without peer, their name is a byword for discipline and honour, and their heroic deeds are legendary.

Captain Uriel Ventris fights to prove his worth and return to the hallowed ranks of the Chapter after his exile to the Eye of Terror. But as the Iron Warriors move against Ultramar, a grim premonition comes to light: Ventris will have a part to play in the coming war… for good or ill. The ongoing story of Uriel Ventris continues in this omnibus edition, featuring three action-packed novels, as well as exciting short stories and the classic comic ‘The Bone Road’.

Written by Graham McNeill.

CONTENTS
The Killing Ground
Courage & Honour
The Chapter's Due

The Bone Road

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Pulp

848 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2019

About the author

Hailing from Scotland, Graham McNeill narrowly escaped a career in surveying to work for Games Workshop as a games designer. He has a strong following with his novels Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, Dead Sky, Black Sun and Storm of Iron.

Reviews

[Gigadildross]

It was great to continue the story of Uriel Ventris along a series of unique settings and even revisiting familiar locations. I enjoyed the focus on other ultramarine characters within the seperate chapters.

I feel that each story while epic, was a short-lived experience compared to the first chronicles volume. Wishing I had perhaps spent more time reading into the conflict with the Tau or perhaps more into the green skins.

Every moment with Vaanes was exceptional, what a wonderfully written character and I loved that the writer was able to write a suitably complex character that didn’t fall under the banner of “I fight for the emperor” or “I fight for the ruinous powers”. Having a more grey area motivated character, even if selfishly, really added to the depth of Vaanes and allowed me to appreciate the complex nature of the mental battles that the space marines must face.

Vaanes portrayal really allowed the dichotomy of Ventris and the Newborn to shine through. That there isn’t just a good and a bad. That the imperium of man and the humanity that lives within it is complex and that zealotry to the employer or ruinous powers ≠ the status quo.

[Derek Swanson]

Can’t recommend these unless you’re someone who can totally suspend disbelief, ignores 40K lore routinely with no problem, and loves deus ex machina solutions to situations that were impossible to begin with. The first omnibus was not great, but this one is not just merely unreadable, it is sometimes infuriating. I actually returned this because it was so bad, which is the first time I’ve ever done that. I was hoping for something with much better storytelling that adhered more closely to established 40K lore, especially for such a mainstay of iconic lore with the Ultramarines, but I did not get that here.

[JJacy1]

Carnage and Commands

Space marines and their codex mostly cleaning up the unclean of the galaxy. I commend the author for keeping the core of the books interesting- the battles. Utilizing multiple planets this time in a massive theater of war it really felt meaningful for the characters. Throw in a splash of redemption and the characters were more than one note as expectations shifted amongst many of the key enemies. A solid chronicle.

[William J McPherson]

Probably into the strong 3, weak 4 range without The Chapter’s Due. TCD is too long, split between too many stories, too much Deus Ex, and ends on some random new character rather than any character we have spent time with.

Oh and Cato Sicarius sucks...a lot.

[David Brady]

McNeil does it again. Grand ol' existing in the massive world building that W40k demands. Great stuff.