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Volpone Glory
Fantastic novel focussing on the Astra Militarum's Volpone Bluebloods.
As war rages across the Sabbat Worlds, the Volpone Bluebloods are sent to Gnostes at the head of a massive Imperial host. Tasked with the liberation of the Agria island chain from the entrenched Blood Pact, the haughty soldiers of the Volpone find their mettle sorely tested in a brutal meat grinder. After a punishing setback threatens to derail the campaign, an unlikely champion rises through the ranks and victory once again seems possible. But the propaganda of war is a fickle beast, and the Archenemy are cultivating a plot the Imperium can scarcely fathom. Through glory and honour, the Volpone are desperate to prevail, but can they endure the rigours of the bloodiest campaign in their vaunted history and come out the other side intact?
As war rages across the Sabbat Worlds, the Volpone Bluebloods are sent to Gnostes at the head of a massive Imperial host. Tasked with the liberation of the Agria island chain from the entrenched Blood Pact, the haughty soldiers of the Volpone find their mettle sorely tested in a brutal meat grinder. After a punishing setback threatens to derail the campaign, an unlikely champion rises through the ranks and victory once again seems possible. But the propaganda of war is a fickle beast, and the Archenemy are cultivating a plot the Imperium can scarcely fathom. Through glory and honour, the Volpone are desperate to prevail, but can they endure the rigours of the bloodiest campaign in their vaunted history and come out the other side intact?
512 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2021
32 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Nick Kyme
279 books161 followersNick Kyme (b. 1977) writes mostly for Black Library. His credits include the popular Salamanders series and several audio dramas.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 15, 2022
One of only a handful of non-Dan Abnett novels in Black Library’s Sabbat Worlds series (or is it maybe a setting now?), Nick Kyme’s Volpone Glory more than holds its own in this much-loved range – a gritty, powerful page-turner of a book that delves into the complex character of the Royal Volpone regiment of Imperial Guard. Set in 791.M41, so roughly the same time as The Warmaster, it sees the 50th Royal Volpone on Gnostes, bogged down in a protracted campaign attempting to push the Blood Pact out of an entrenched island chain, their vaunted pride dented by their lack of progress.
Even by Black Library standards this is a bleak, gritty story, examining the Bluebloods’ hunger for glory at all costs, the lengths certain members of the regiment will go to for victory, and the powerful – if sinister – impact of Imperial propaganda. It’s a genuinely excellent piece of military SF in its own right, and as part of the wider Sabbat Worlds range it comfortably fills its own unique niche while nicely complementing the series as a whole.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2022/01/...
Even by Black Library standards this is a bleak, gritty story, examining the Bluebloods’ hunger for glory at all costs, the lengths certain members of the regiment will go to for victory, and the powerful – if sinister – impact of Imperial propaganda. It’s a genuinely excellent piece of military SF in its own right, and as part of the wider Sabbat Worlds range it comfortably fills its own unique niche while nicely complementing the series as a whole.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2022/01/...
November 12, 2025
An Imperial Guard novel released after 2020? Well, it's safe to assume that it will be mediocre at best - and that assumption has once again been proved right for Volpone Glory.
First off, it doesn't really feel like the same Bloodbloods that we know from Gaunt's Ghosts (though it's been some time since I read that), I know it's a different author yadda yadda... but the regiment feels watered down, they do not seem that arrogant and stubborn as they are described to be. Seems like the author thought that creating a few "mean" characters like
The plot in the 2nd part of the book goes haywire. It doesn't make much sense when you think about, it looks like it tries to paint the Imperium in the worst way possible just for the sake of it - like the whole I'm not saying that the Imperium is perfect but looking at used wording it's quite obvious that they are trying to alter the general fan perception of the Imperium to be worse ("humanity bad" - sike).
I mentioned the wording that Nick Kyme is using here. This is actually a big part of why I didn't like the book. Since when words like "fascist" are being used in-lore to describe the characters? How did someone think it is a good idea to describe a character as "a fascistic scarecrow"? Names of earth's continents and countries are always changed since no one can actually remember them, same with old character names, old religions etc. etc. and now I'm supposed to believe that Guard soldiers are casually using the word "fascist"? Even without looking at the publication date you can guess that this book was released in 2020s :)
Lastly, it looks like most BL authors are incapable of writing women characters aside from these two types:
1) an omega-level badass that can do no wrong and knows what's best in every scenario;
2) a sassy and smug all around great solider that's sooo cool that they are over addressing their superiors in adequate manner - without any consequences.
On the other hand, male officers are always shown to be emotionally down or incapable of having morale positive scenes. Fear not though! Our female officers are always there to be stoic and composed! This is the new normal for 40K novels - Steel Tread anyone? That book was so ridiculous. Can't wait to be called misogynist myself. Wonder why I didn't mind female characters in older 40K... ah, they were written as actual characters back then.
Oh, the author also likes to hammer you with the word "propaganda" every time a commissar is present in a scene. EVERY thing that a commissar does is done for PROPAGANDA. Did I stutter? Sorry, I will repeat that on the next page - the commissar did this for propaganda. The commissar will do that for propaganda... Jesus Christ, I get it, commissars are political officers, could you stop repeating that every single chapter?
Oh x2, it seems like troopers also like to comment how their superiors are misogynists every now and then - and yes, this is the word they use. Of course we need a character to fill that spot, but as I already mentioned - you have officer
First off, it doesn't really feel like the same Bloodbloods that we know from Gaunt's Ghosts (though it's been some time since I read that), I know it's a different author yadda yadda... but the regiment feels watered down, they do not seem that arrogant and stubborn as they are described to be. Seems like the author thought that creating a few "mean" characters like
The plot in the 2nd part of the book goes haywire. It doesn't make much sense when you think about, it looks like it tries to paint the Imperium in the worst way possible just for the sake of it - like the whole I'm not saying that the Imperium is perfect but looking at used wording it's quite obvious that they are trying to alter the general fan perception of the Imperium to be worse ("humanity bad" - sike).
I mentioned the wording that Nick Kyme is using here. This is actually a big part of why I didn't like the book. Since when words like "fascist" are being used in-lore to describe the characters? How did someone think it is a good idea to describe a character as "a fascistic scarecrow"? Names of earth's continents and countries are always changed since no one can actually remember them, same with old character names, old religions etc. etc. and now I'm supposed to believe that Guard soldiers are casually using the word "fascist"? Even without looking at the publication date you can guess that this book was released in 2020s :)
Lastly, it looks like most BL authors are incapable of writing women characters aside from these two types:
1) an omega-level badass that can do no wrong and knows what's best in every scenario;
2) a sassy and smug all around great solider that's sooo cool that they are over addressing their superiors in adequate manner - without any consequences.
On the other hand, male officers are always shown to be emotionally down or incapable of having morale positive scenes. Fear not though! Our female officers are always there to be stoic and composed! This is the new normal for 40K novels - Steel Tread anyone? That book was so ridiculous. Can't wait to be called misogynist myself. Wonder why I didn't mind female characters in older 40K... ah, they were written as actual characters back then.
Oh, the author also likes to hammer you with the word "propaganda" every time a commissar is present in a scene. EVERY thing that a commissar does is done for PROPAGANDA. Did I stutter? Sorry, I will repeat that on the next page - the commissar did this for propaganda. The commissar will do that for propaganda... Jesus Christ, I get it, commissars are political officers, could you stop repeating that every single chapter?
Oh x2, it seems like troopers also like to comment how their superiors are misogynists every now and then - and yes, this is the word they use. Of course we need a character to fill that spot, but as I already mentioned - you have officer
January 22, 2023
I did really enjoy the characters but it seemed a minor battle in the sabbat worlds crusade. Really well developed characters and plenty of action.
January 17, 2022
Volpone Glory is really very good and is another recent addition to the mental list of ‘absolutely essential 40k books’ that I keep; certainly it’s the best novel by Nick Kyme that I can recall.
Like it’s near-namesake, the often overlooked Imperial Glory, Volpone Glory isn’t necessarily an anti-war book but it does expose the inherent horrors and hypocrisies of armed conflict that are massively magnified by absurdities of the Imperium as well as one of the best depictions of the sheer incomprehensible terror that exposure to Chaos causes that I’ve ever read. The Volpone Bluebloods, quasi-antagonists of two Gaunt’s Ghosts novels, are as haughty as their name suggests and strangely anachronistic even by the standards of the Astra Militarum. Despite their fundamental unpleasantness, Kyme does an excellent job of presenting a broad cast of them, rendering some likeable, others less so, but showing a well-rounded and somehow plausible society. This is one of those BL books where there is tangible peril-proper life-changing physical injuries occur, characters are mentally affected by the grinding nature of decades of combat and there is no guarantee that any given character will make it to the end of the chapter. The prose is fantastic- there are several memorable mass combat scenes as well as sequences away from the battlefield that stick in the memory just as well. The book isn’t just wall-to-wall war, there are genuine human relationships depicted with all the inherent messiness and so much enjoyable politicking. The book isn’t perfect- despite it’s hefty page count, the ending seems slightly rushed and I’d have loved to have seen more from the perspective of other units fighting alongside the Volpone, but it does for them in a single book what Abnett took several for the Tanith- fleshes out their culture, introduces a nuanced cast of characters and leaves the reader wanting to experience more of them.
Finally in my ongoing series of noticing words probably making their BL debut, this features the first appearance of ‘fascistic’, used on this occasion to describe a Commissar.
Like it’s near-namesake, the often overlooked Imperial Glory, Volpone Glory isn’t necessarily an anti-war book but it does expose the inherent horrors and hypocrisies of armed conflict that are massively magnified by absurdities of the Imperium as well as one of the best depictions of the sheer incomprehensible terror that exposure to Chaos causes that I’ve ever read. The Volpone Bluebloods, quasi-antagonists of two Gaunt’s Ghosts novels, are as haughty as their name suggests and strangely anachronistic even by the standards of the Astra Militarum. Despite their fundamental unpleasantness, Kyme does an excellent job of presenting a broad cast of them, rendering some likeable, others less so, but showing a well-rounded and somehow plausible society. This is one of those BL books where there is tangible peril-proper life-changing physical injuries occur, characters are mentally affected by the grinding nature of decades of combat and there is no guarantee that any given character will make it to the end of the chapter. The prose is fantastic- there are several memorable mass combat scenes as well as sequences away from the battlefield that stick in the memory just as well. The book isn’t just wall-to-wall war, there are genuine human relationships depicted with all the inherent messiness and so much enjoyable politicking. The book isn’t perfect- despite it’s hefty page count, the ending seems slightly rushed and I’d have loved to have seen more from the perspective of other units fighting alongside the Volpone, but it does for them in a single book what Abnett took several for the Tanith- fleshes out their culture, introduces a nuanced cast of characters and leaves the reader wanting to experience more of them.
Finally in my ongoing series of noticing words probably making their BL debut, this features the first appearance of ‘fascistic’, used on this occasion to describe a Commissar.
February 4, 2022
Volpone Boring.
Nick Kyme made sure of that.
Nick Kyme made sure of that.
February 16, 2022
Listened to this one on Audible, and it felt like it got off to a slow start (but I think that was the v/o laconic but captivating style).
Once this book hits its stride it won’t let you go, with intense action and unseen twists that genuinely left me reeling.
Great book, and an essential read/listen for fans of 40K or the Imperial Guard in general.
Once this book hits its stride it won’t let you go, with intense action and unseen twists that genuinely left me reeling.
Great book, and an essential read/listen for fans of 40K or the Imperial Guard in general.
February 6, 2022
It’s hard not to actively dislike the characters in this book but that is because of the quality of the writing which subsumes the reader into this awful culture and yet makes you want them to win! great book which I listened to on audible and the narration was superb
January 22, 2023
Book 1 for 23 in the bag.
I had been looking forward to this for a while.
The Bluebloods are an “old friend” from the Gaunt’s Ghosts novels and I have to say the author does them justice.
The culture of the regiment is fleshed out (including “teutonized words like “bludwaage” love it 👍🏻😃).
There is plenty of frontline action to go around including the Blood Pact (can’t be in the Sabbat Worlds and not meet them) with some nasty new tricks up the scarred sleeves.
The tie in to the chapter in Ghostmaker is beautifully done. Doc Dorden - rest his soul by the time that happens - would have been proud to hear about Regara and Culcis.
Unfortunately that is where the book loses a star.
In the beginning it is loosely mentioned where the book ties into the whole crusade (year 791).
So when you first „meet“ Regara and Culcis the mistake is not that glaring.
But ( useful word that - Tollin Dorden to Ana Curth) on page 269 (paperback) it jumps at you.
The Vervunhive war is related to as 20 years past.
Regara‘s plot has no issue with that however it does our friend Culcis dirty.
Why ? Because he was a major during the Vervunhive war and lost a hand there.
So he shouldn’t be cast as a Lieutenant that has to deal with some of the crap he has to deal with from other officers because by that time he‘d be a lieutenant colonel at the least.
So great to pull together the Ghost / Volpone history but unfortunate to overlook such a major fact.
But that is really the only drawback albeit a significant one , at least in my book.
I had been looking forward to this for a while.
The Bluebloods are an “old friend” from the Gaunt’s Ghosts novels and I have to say the author does them justice.
The culture of the regiment is fleshed out (including “teutonized words like “bludwaage” love it 👍🏻😃).
There is plenty of frontline action to go around including the Blood Pact (can’t be in the Sabbat Worlds and not meet them) with some nasty new tricks up the scarred sleeves.
The tie in to the chapter in Ghostmaker is beautifully done. Doc Dorden - rest his soul by the time that happens - would have been proud to hear about Regara and Culcis.
Unfortunately that is where the book loses a star.
In the beginning it is loosely mentioned where the book ties into the whole crusade (year 791).
So when you first „meet“ Regara and Culcis the mistake is not that glaring.
But ( useful word that - Tollin Dorden to Ana Curth) on page 269 (paperback) it jumps at you.
The Vervunhive war is related to as 20 years past.
Regara‘s plot has no issue with that however it does our friend Culcis dirty.
Why ? Because he was a major during the Vervunhive war and lost a hand there.
So he shouldn’t be cast as a Lieutenant that has to deal with some of the crap he has to deal with from other officers because by that time he‘d be a lieutenant colonel at the least.
So great to pull together the Ghost / Volpone history but unfortunate to overlook such a major fact.
But that is really the only drawback albeit a significant one , at least in my book.
June 5, 2023
I want to preface this by saying that this is the first Warhammer novel I have read or even picked up, but I thoroughly enjoyed it cover to cover. If you’re new to the world of 40K like I am, this will be a difficult read and it might be a good idea to keep the wiki open while you read if you have anything you’re not familiar with. The characters are fantastic and the writing style of Nick Kyme is very visual in nature. The tone is grim dark to a T, and spares no amount of gore and violence. In the far future there is only war, and this book does an excellent job sending that point home. From feeling like a futuristic Battle at The Somme, to an almost Tolkienian layout of siege warfare, this book has everything for a space fantasy and gritty sci-fi fan like me. The only thing I have that made this book harder for me was the amount of named and important characters in it, but the author did a good job differentiating them by their mannerisms and ways of speaking that it wasn’t confusing.
All in all it was a great read, and a must read for anyone getting into the 40K series like myself, or veteran fans that love the Militarum. The Emperor Protects!
All in all it was a great read, and a must read for anyone getting into the 40K series like myself, or veteran fans that love the Militarum. The Emperor Protects!
September 7, 2024
I need more Volpone bluebloods in my 40k
This was alot better than I expected. Imperial guards' novels can be very hit or miss for me. However, with this particular novel set within the Sabbats worlds crusade sandbox, I found this to be a very much hit!
The sabbatt crusade sandbox is an incredibly dark and gritty part of 40k that really appeals to my head cannon of 40k. Here, Nick seamlessly tells a tale of one of the most renowned imperial guard regiments since Dan Abnett introduced them in his Gaunts ghosts series.
There are a plethora of fascinating characters, all with significant story lines that I found very fulfilling towards the end. Regara, Culcis, Fenk, Hauptman, and Darian, to name a few of the outstanding characters.
The battles were really well thought out, with the author demonstrating just how chaotic, manic and of course utterly insane they can be.
The author lands the ending, so well I wish there were more to follow because the Volpone bluebloods are a guard regiment worthy of more future stories.
This was alot better than I expected. Imperial guards' novels can be very hit or miss for me. However, with this particular novel set within the Sabbats worlds crusade sandbox, I found this to be a very much hit!
The sabbatt crusade sandbox is an incredibly dark and gritty part of 40k that really appeals to my head cannon of 40k. Here, Nick seamlessly tells a tale of one of the most renowned imperial guard regiments since Dan Abnett introduced them in his Gaunts ghosts series.
There are a plethora of fascinating characters, all with significant story lines that I found very fulfilling towards the end. Regara, Culcis, Fenk, Hauptman, and Darian, to name a few of the outstanding characters.
The battles were really well thought out, with the author demonstrating just how chaotic, manic and of course utterly insane they can be.
The author lands the ending, so well I wish there were more to follow because the Volpone bluebloods are a guard regiment worthy of more future stories.
February 28, 2022
Absolutely amazing - well written (especially for a Black Library novel, which can be a hit or miss depending on who writes it), gripping characters, plenty of visceral action both on and off the battlefield.
This book has:
- Multiple plotlines exploring the politics of the Astra Militarum
- Enjoyable characters with believable personalities and desires
- Bertram Fenk (reminds me of a certain other Imperial Guardsmen, perhaps in one of the Gaunt's Ghosts novels...)
- Volpone Glory
Well done Nick Kyme!
This book has:
- Multiple plotlines exploring the politics of the Astra Militarum
- Enjoyable characters with believable personalities and desires
- Bertram Fenk (reminds me of a certain other Imperial Guardsmen, perhaps in one of the Gaunt's Ghosts novels...)
- Volpone Glory
Well done Nick Kyme!
October 17, 2025
Spoilers
One of the slower Warhammer 40k books out there. The story, narration, and characters are solid, but it’s missing that big, brutal war feel of the typical 40k book Most of it is people talking planning, debating, dealing with each other instead of fighting. There are a few good moments of suspense and action, but they don’t make up for the slower pace. The focus on the Velpone regiment, easily one of the less interesting Astra Militarum groups, doesn’t help either. Overall, a decent book, just not a very exciting one.
One of the slower Warhammer 40k books out there. The story, narration, and characters are solid, but it’s missing that big, brutal war feel of the typical 40k book Most of it is people talking planning, debating, dealing with each other instead of fighting. There are a few good moments of suspense and action, but they don’t make up for the slower pace. The focus on the Velpone regiment, easily one of the less interesting Astra Militarum groups, doesn’t help either. Overall, a decent book, just not a very exciting one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2023
The plot meanders a bit in the middle and we get introduced to some characters seemingly just to throw them away shortly after.
A few cliched plot points, but for anyone who is a fan of Guard novels you’ll find lots to like here, and for fans of the Gaunts Ghosts series we get a lot more background of some characters feature in earlier novels. Solid 4*
A few cliched plot points, but for anyone who is a fan of Guard novels you’ll find lots to like here, and for fans of the Gaunts Ghosts series we get a lot more background of some characters feature in earlier novels. Solid 4*
April 15, 2022
Such an amazing novel
Originally the ghost series made you hate the Volpone utterly
But Nick Kyme's work makes it so you still hate alot of the characters and the regiment in general but still find them so interesting at the same time with a few characters you end up liking.
Originally the ghost series made you hate the Volpone utterly
But Nick Kyme's work makes it so you still hate alot of the characters and the regiment in general but still find them so interesting at the same time with a few characters you end up liking.
January 4, 2022
Really liked this book, loved seeing a different side to the sabbat worlds! Definitely want to read more about the bluebloods now!
January 23, 2022
One of the most interesting and unique 40K books in a long while. Intriguing and at times barely likeable, yet relatable characters, with a compelling narrative.
April 15, 2022
I really enjoyed the book, had enough twists in it to keep me entertained.
August 8, 2022
Classism gets some light shed on it within the imperial guard
June 3, 2023
We need to read more about these characters. This novel made the Volpone 3dimensional and real. The characterizations, plot, and action were great. Volpone Glory!
March 2, 2024
Decent if predictable.
October 8, 2024
Another Nick Kyme dissapointment. No reference to the Ghosts, which I had hoped for.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews