The Swords of Calth

Warhammer 40,000

by Graham McNeill

A Uriel Ventris novel

Uriel Ventris returns! Newly ascended to the ranks of the Primaris Space Marines, Ventris leads the Ultramarines Fourth Company – the famed Swords of Calth – to war against the ancient necrons. Old enemies arise, as Ventris' past and present collide in brutal battle.

READ IT BECAUSE
One of Black Library's longest-running series continues – and the hero's been given a new lease of life as a Primaris Space Marine. Discover how Ventris adapts to his new life even as his past comes back to haunt him.

THE STORY
Uriel Ventris, newly ascended to the ranks of the Primaris, leads warriors of the Fourth Company from the Indomitus Crusade of Roboute Guilliman to a world on the frontiers of Ultramar. Once a battleground against the orks, Sycorax is now under furious assault from an enemy of ancient times – the necrons. The Ultramarines have faced these baleful xenos before, but Uriel senses the hand of a foe from his past at work on Sycorax, a tally unfinished and a debt to the Imperium finally come due.


Trapped deep in a devastated city, Uriel leads the Swords of Calth into battle, and must adapt to his new incarnation as one of the Primaris – a challenge that will test his soul as much as it will test him as a warrior.

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fantasy, Fiction

228 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 2021

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

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was odd reading a new Ventris novel after so long. And at the start, as he has crossed the rubicon Primaris, I found Ventris not the same person. Once Pasanius reunited with him though he did become the character I used to like so much. That then made the book much easier to read. McNeill has always written well, and he is especially good at writing Astartes and humans together and their interplay. All in all a successful return for the 4th Company.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feels more like product placement for the primaris and new necron models rather than an authentic Uriel story.

[Gordon Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like all Space Marine characters starring in novels in the 2020s, Uriel Ventris has crossed the 'Rubicon Primaris', meaning he is bigger, stronger, cleverer and more regenerative than ever before. Also regenerative are the Necrons; the Terminator-style robo-dudes that happened to also have a new range of tabletop models released around the time this was written.

Many 40k novels of this era have focussed on the changes brought by Primaris Marines to the galaxy; instead McNeill elects a more introspective approach, reintroducing us to a Ventris who has lost his boy-scout innocence and become a more callous, calculating figure. No real new ground is broken but the short length keeps the constant references to the new heroes' superiority over the previous models from being too grating. Overall an inoffensive by-the-numbers adventure that doesn't outstay its welcome but that adds little to the already packed 40k novellised universe.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting end to the Uriel chronicles, with a great view of the new and old coming together in firey clash. With a greater focus on the lore than previous books it provides a unique insight into the crossing of the rubicon and how it can change someone.

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint is that the book feels too short!

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve just finished a binge marathon of all the books and short stories concerning Uriel Ventris and his nemesis Honsou.

In the beginning of this book I found it to be worse than some of his earlier books but upon reflecting I only reacted to the changes of UV and lack of Pasanius brotherhood. But as the book continued the old comraderie I found it more and more to my liking. And at the end of the book I actually found I throughly enjoyed it.
Not a masterpiece but just like a Statham movie it’s always a decent past time. Although as always I struggle with the vocabulary Mr McNeill uses. But by almost 10 books by now I’m used to them!

[Aleksejs Miščuks · Rating 3 out of 5]

For context I collect Ultramarines for more than 10 years.

I am really conflicted on this book. On the one hand I am happy to see Uriel Ventris return, on the other hand the story is not very interesting and honestly it gives off the Matt Ward type of Ultramarine vibe that is notorious for making people hate Ultramarines. At the same time the secondary characters are fine, some of the action is creative enough so it's a solid 3/5.

[Nathanael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the dynamic between the old Firstborn marines and the new Primaris, and the interactions with the regular human soldiers is something I personally love from any 40k/30k novel and the Ventris series always delivers on that. As someone who paints and plays 4th company Ultramarines on the tabletop, I am pretty biased towards the Uriel Ventris books. That being said, I just really felt like the whole thing was basically just here to sell Necron and Primaris miniatures.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great catch up with old friends. I’m well pleased to see Captain Ventris and his friends in the new Dark Millennium as they battle against Necron forces in a ruined city. I look forward to more stories.

[Alexander W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Passable and entertaining, felt a bit short for the scale of the story it was telling.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a solid book, abit quick in places abit slow in others. So in my opinion solid addition to the series but no fireworks

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre

[James Dewes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantastic artifact, but not the greatest story.

[Jack Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

not bad

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This unfortunately is less of a story and more of a flat-out advertisement for the new Primaris models.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's always great to read the adventures of Uriel and his trusted "sidekick" passanious. Hopefully this series continues .

[Peter Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid Uriel Ventris book.