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The Black Library Novella Series 3 #3
Traitor by Deed
Black Library Novella Series 3
On the isolated world of Kepris, a Primaris Space Marine Chapter deploys to break the bloodthirsty cult that rules the world. But will this new Chapter's name spell its doom? After all, the universe has never been kind to the Soul Drinkers…
READ IT BECAUSE
The Soul Drinkers are reborn! Whether you're a long-time fan of the Chapter or hearing the name for the first time, you're sure to enjoy this tale of a Primaris Space Marine Chapter haunted by sins past.
THE STORY
In the galaxy-spanning conflict of the Indomitus Crusade, an Imperial force is sent to bring the Emperor’s rule back to the isolated world of Kepris. They are the Soul Drinkers, Primaris Space Marines bearing the name and heraldry of a Chapter lost to Imperial history.
This strike force finds the planet ruled by a bloodthirsty cult – its cities seized and loyal shrines under siege by the mysterious arch-heretic Yeceqath, the Voice of All. Striking swiftly and with cold fury, only the Soul Drinkers can unravel the heretic’s foul machinations and break Yeceqath’s hold over the world… but there is more at play here, as one of mankind’s oldest enemies lies at the heart of a conspiracy to see Kepris fall, taking the Soul Drinkers with it.
On the isolated world of Kepris, a Primaris Space Marine Chapter deploys to break the bloodthirsty cult that rules the world. But will this new Chapter's name spell its doom? After all, the universe has never been kind to the Soul Drinkers…
READ IT BECAUSE
The Soul Drinkers are reborn! Whether you're a long-time fan of the Chapter or hearing the name for the first time, you're sure to enjoy this tale of a Primaris Space Marine Chapter haunted by sins past.
THE STORY
In the galaxy-spanning conflict of the Indomitus Crusade, an Imperial force is sent to bring the Emperor’s rule back to the isolated world of Kepris. They are the Soul Drinkers, Primaris Space Marines bearing the name and heraldry of a Chapter lost to Imperial history.
This strike force finds the planet ruled by a bloodthirsty cult – its cities seized and loyal shrines under siege by the mysterious arch-heretic Yeceqath, the Voice of All. Striking swiftly and with cold fury, only the Soul Drinkers can unravel the heretic’s foul machinations and break Yeceqath’s hold over the world… but there is more at play here, as one of mankind’s oldest enemies lies at the heart of a conspiracy to see Kepris fall, taking the Soul Drinkers with it.
- Genres40kScience Fiction
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2020
About the author
Ben Counter
170 books221 followersBen Counter, as well as making several contributions to Inferno magazine, has written the Soul Drinkers and Grey Knights series and two Horus Heresy novels for the Black Library. He is an ancient history graduate and avid miniature painter with a bronze demon under his belt.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 10, 2020
Fast paced re-introduction of an infamous and tragic space marine chapter. I hope these characters introduced get their own series and meet up with their predecessors.
March 25, 2025
Жадность GW и изобретательность Коула возродила сгинувший орден "Испивающих Души". Миньки продавать надо, то, что они порченные варпом отступники мало кого волнует. Так что, перевыпуск уже в виде примарисов, без связи со старым орденом.
Каунтер пишет для GW 20+ лет. За это время он кое-как научился писать сносный болтер-кор. Здесь на него работает сокращение объёма, просто нет особо места всё испортить, и сокращение сюжетных линий до одной.
Получилась скромная новелла про "болтер и цепной меч" примарисов. Один раз даже задействована омофагия (от которой Душепивцы получили своё название), такой привет первой книге.
По сюжету: Испивающие-примарисы прибывают на мир-святилище, где полыхает восстание еретического сепаратистского культа. В процессе выясняется, что за ним скрываются происки аэльдари. Пару намёков на тёмное происхождение Испивающих, которое можно будет раскрутить, если Каунтеру дадут добро на следующие книги.
В общем: читаемо, но не более.
Каунтер пишет для GW 20+ лет. За это время он кое-как научился писать сносный болтер-кор. Здесь на него работает сокращение объёма, просто нет особо места всё испортить, и сокращение сюжетных линий до одной.
Получилась скромная новелла про "болтер и цепной меч" примарисов. Один раз даже задействована омофагия (от которой Душепивцы получили своё название), такой привет первой книге.
По сюжету: Испивающие-примарисы прибывают на мир-святилище, где полыхает восстание еретического сепаратистского культа. В процессе выясняется, что за ним скрываются происки аэльдари. Пару намёков на тёмное происхождение Испивающих, которое можно будет раскрутить, если Каунтеру дадут добро на следующие книги.
В общем: читаемо, но не более.
December 25, 2020
So its about 80% bolter porn. 5% An addition or twist to the plot that isn't a plot hole, just more convoluted then needed. 5% shadowy past that I think assumes you have read Ben Counters other Novel about the Soul Drinkers. 10% saying the name soul Drinkers or their battle cry in a way that reminded me in high school filling out a book report for a book I never read.
No spoilers, but some advice, do a google search on the Soul Drinkers first and keep in mind that what ever you read might not pertain to these Soul Drinkers.
No spoilers, but some advice, do a google search on the Soul Drinkers first and keep in mind that what ever you read might not pertain to these Soul Drinkers.
March 5, 2022
3.5
Does what it says on the tin. It’s not subtle but then it’s not supposed to be. Instead it’s a pacy, action-packed reintroduction to the Soul Drinkers, bringing them back into the current 40k timeline, with a protagonist who’s not content just to fight but questions his place in the galaxy, and the role the Soul Drinkers once played.
It’s everything I’d expect from a Ben Counter story - won’t change anyone’s opinion, but should go down well with fans of his earlier Soul Drinkers stories.
Does what it says on the tin. It’s not subtle but then it’s not supposed to be. Instead it’s a pacy, action-packed reintroduction to the Soul Drinkers, bringing them back into the current 40k timeline, with a protagonist who’s not content just to fight but questions his place in the galaxy, and the role the Soul Drinkers once played.
It’s everything I’d expect from a Ben Counter story - won’t change anyone’s opinion, but should go down well with fans of his earlier Soul Drinkers stories.
December 20, 2020
Nice reintroduction of the Soul Drinker Legion but other than that a pretty straightforward bolter action story. I did like the cultists and how they viewed the universe and how easily they could be turned to heresy. I hope there are more Soul Drinker stories which do a bit more for developing the characters.
March 4, 2022
A fire rekindled
I bought the first omnibus and continued reading about the Soul Drinkers. This book will not disappoint and remember, Cold and Fast brothers!
I bought the first omnibus and continued reading about the Soul Drinkers. This book will not disappoint and remember, Cold and Fast brothers!
June 19, 2023
A fun read.
March 19, 2024
As a big fan of the original series I was slightly disappointed by this re-entry, but as a stand alone book it’s ok not amazing but not awful.
February 28, 2021
Soul drinkers honouring the good
This was a solid read mainly. Focused on culling a cult uprising on a planet it is delicately chased by one space marines desire to know the true history of the name his chapter inherited. The soul drinkers live and their new legacy is started here
This was a solid read mainly. Focused on culling a cult uprising on a planet it is delicately chased by one space marines desire to know the true history of the name his chapter inherited. The soul drinkers live and their new legacy is started here
March 17, 2021
The Soul Drinkers, long lost to the annals of time, are reborn. Revived as a Primaris chapter, the Soul Drinkers' third company descend upon the planet of Kepris to cleanse it of the heretical taint that has lay siege to it.
Like the Primaris who have donned the colors and heraldry of the Soul Drinkers, so too does Traitor by Deed serve as a reboot for the author's previous Soul Drinkers series. Other than some cryptic words from an Inquisitor, there aren't any references to the previous novels. This can be a pro or con, depending on whether you have a connection to the previous series, especially since there were questions raised at the end that had yet to be clarified. So if you are coming into this novella for those answers, it isn't there.
Now that preamble is done, let's discuss what's actually in the novella.
The majority of the story focuses on reclaiming Kepris, thus it flows from fight-to-fight, with scenes in-between to get characters from A-to-B. However, nothing about these scenes stands out. Also, for characters who claim to specialize in hitting enemies hard and fast, the prose doesn't really reflect this. More drawn out than they should be.
However, the highlight of the novella for me was the main character, Cyvon. He serves as an outlier to his brothers, being inquisitive compared to their indifference. His mind is full of thoughts about how and why the enemy cult rose to power and who exactly their namesakes were. Honestly, I wished there was more focus on Cyvon and his thoughts than was allotted to the fighting. However, it seems Cyvon and his questions will be the focus of any future stories.
Overall, I found Traitor by Deed to be okay. Very boltery, but has bits of character that help season it. Standard story for a potential new series.
Like the Primaris who have donned the colors and heraldry of the Soul Drinkers, so too does Traitor by Deed serve as a reboot for the author's previous Soul Drinkers series. Other than some cryptic words from an Inquisitor, there aren't any references to the previous novels. This can be a pro or con, depending on whether you have a connection to the previous series, especially since there were questions raised at the end that had yet to be clarified. So if you are coming into this novella for those answers, it isn't there.
Now that preamble is done, let's discuss what's actually in the novella.
The majority of the story focuses on reclaiming Kepris, thus it flows from fight-to-fight, with scenes in-between to get characters from A-to-B. However, nothing about these scenes stands out. Also, for characters who claim to specialize in hitting enemies hard and fast, the prose doesn't really reflect this. More drawn out than they should be.
However, the highlight of the novella for me was the main character, Cyvon. He serves as an outlier to his brothers, being inquisitive compared to their indifference. His mind is full of thoughts about how and why the enemy cult rose to power and who exactly their namesakes were. Honestly, I wished there was more focus on Cyvon and his thoughts than was allotted to the fighting. However, it seems Cyvon and his questions will be the focus of any future stories.
Overall, I found Traitor by Deed to be okay. Very boltery, but has bits of character that help season it. Standard story for a potential new series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews