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Warhammer 40,000
Кровь Иакса
Во мраке войны эры Темного Империума горит светоч примарха Робаута Гиллимана. Капеллан Кастор и апотекарий Поликсис, братья по крови и оружию, решительно противостоят бесчисленным ордам зеленокожих в имперском мире-улье Икара IX. Но над ними нависает угроза, когда безумный ваивода Ургорк осаждает разрушенный город Шеват, чтобы разбить войска имперцев и для своих нечестивых целей захватить в плен примарис-космодесантника. Кастор и Поликсис, разлученные бедой, должны переломить ход войны и выйти победителями как с поля брани, так и из внутренних конфликтов.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2022
21 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Robbie MacNiven
123 books116 followersRobbie MacNiven is a Scottish author and historian. His published fiction includes over a dozen novels, many fantasy or sci-fi works for IPs such as Warhammer 40,000 and Marvel's X-Men. He has also written two novellas, numerous short stories and audio dramas, has worked on narrative and character dialogue for multiple digital games (SMITE: Blitz and Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground), has written the colour text for multiple RPG rulebooks and has penned the scripts for two graphic novels and three comics, for Osprey Publishing and Commando Comics respectively. In 2022 his X-Men novel "First Team" won a Scribe Award.
On the non-fiction front, Robbie specialises in Early Modern military history, particularly focussing on the 18th century. He has a PhD in American Revolutionary War massacres from the University of Edinburgh - where he won the Compton Prize for American History - and an MLitt in War Studies from the University of Glasgow. Along with numerous articles for military history magazines he has written six books on different aspects of the American Revolutionary War, five for Osprey Publishing and one for Helion Books. He has also written the scripts for ten episodes of the hit YouTube educational channel Extra Credits.
Outside of work and writing, his passions include re-enacting, gaming, and football.
On the non-fiction front, Robbie specialises in Early Modern military history, particularly focussing on the 18th century. He has a PhD in American Revolutionary War massacres from the University of Edinburgh - where he won the Compton Prize for American History - and an MLitt in War Studies from the University of Glasgow. Along with numerous articles for military history magazines he has written six books on different aspects of the American Revolutionary War, five for Osprey Publishing and one for Helion Books. He has also written the scripts for ten episodes of the hit YouTube educational channel Extra Credits.
Outside of work and writing, his passions include re-enacting, gaming, and football.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 8, 2019
Blood of Iax revolves around two Primaris Marines from the Strike Force Fulminata of the Ultramarines. Kastor is the Chaplain and Polixis who is the Apothecary. But more than battle brothers they are the exceedingly rare- brothers in blood as well. Both come from the world of Iax. The brothers couldn't be more different - Kastor is driven by the rage and fury of the Chaplain, calling down the ruination of the Emperor's enemies. Polixis is calm and methodical, a warrior who also balances the fine art of healing.
They are on the world of Shebat, where an Ork invasion is about to create havoc. The Orks not only come in force, but they are accompanied by an actual Ork warlord Urgork. Urgork has an ulterior motive- the capture of Polixis. This si done during a devastating attack on the Imperial forces. More than this I'll not spoil the plot.
This is not only a great look at the strictures that bind a Chaplain and the duty they have to perform. It is also a good look into a Primaris unit. It introduced me to the concept of a Reiver squad as used by Primaris units. Thus not only a good story but one that also has a good deal of info about the Primaris units. Recommended for any 40K fan.
They are on the world of Shebat, where an Ork invasion is about to create havoc. The Orks not only come in force, but they are accompanied by an actual Ork warlord Urgork. Urgork has an ulterior motive- the capture of Polixis. This si done during a devastating attack on the Imperial forces. More than this I'll not spoil the plot.
This is not only a great look at the strictures that bind a Chaplain and the duty they have to perform. It is also a good look into a Primaris unit. It introduced me to the concept of a Reiver squad as used by Primaris units. Thus not only a good story but one that also has a good deal of info about the Primaris units. Recommended for any 40K fan.
August 13, 2019
“You taught me more than you know, little brother”.
Ever since I’d caught word of its publication last year, I’d been keen to read Blood of Iax (along with its short-story prequel A Brother’s Confession introducing us to the novel’s main characters), and now as I’ve done so and am looking back on it, I can affirm that in no way were my expectations deceived.
'Space Marines versus Orks' are by no means a rare presence in Black Library fiction – if anything, for many fans this is the very essence of Warhammer 40,000 in a nutshell. Therefore, it must be no easy task for a BL author to come up with an original idea for another tale of the millennia-old confrontation between these two iconic factions. And to weave a dense, gripping plot that is brand-new fresh yet still evokes that classic large-scale feel of disciplined tacticians fighting against brutal animal strength must be rather hard indeed. Well, to me Blood of Iax is exactly such a story…
Since the WH40K 8th edition, there’s been a growing amount of Primaris Space Marines tales of late, and in this book, all the Astartes warriors belong to an Ultramarines Demi-company – Strike Force Fulminata, comprised entirely of Primaris units. The protagonists, however, already come from the realm of Ultramar itself – being the natives of the agri-world Iax and actual birth-brothers, which in the Astartes ranks may be uncommon but not impossible – with their names calling to memory the celestial twins from ancient myths. The younger of the two – Kastor the Chaplain, attendant of the Chapel of Dioskuri onboard the Spear of Macragge, guardian of the Chapter’s proud spirit – and the older, Polixis the Apothecary, keeper of its very future – differ in age as well as temperaments, but still retain their centuries-old family bonds, making them even more closely knit than average battle-brothers.
The Ultramarines arrive on an Ork-attacked Imperial world to boost the struggling resistance of the mortal soldiers of the Astra Militarum – but as it turns out, even the Primaris Astartes are not entirely indefatigable against the multitudes of greenskin brutes for whom eternal war is not a solemn affair but just a source of bestial amusement. Moreover, the invaders’ ailing leader has concocted a certain plan involving the “beakie humies” – especially the Apothecary, certain that this one will offer much better assistance than the Boss’s own “painboy”. So, after an especially violent battle, gravely injured Polixis finds himself captive inside the desecrated Imperial basilica that serves as the aliens’ headquarters, while Kastor is forced to make the gravely dangerous yet only possible and noblest decision – to find and liberate his older sibling, even at the cost of the Chaplain’s own life...
Naturally, Kastor and Polixis are the undisputable stars of the book – with their interactions and scant memories from their previous lives well-woven into the wider narration and lending these valorous, dutiful transhuman warriors extra personal depth and appeal.
However, there are many Imperial defenders on the hotly contested world, and I also appreciated the impressive number of storylines encompassed herein, ranging from the Primaris Astartes commanders and ordinary humans to their green-skinned antagonists – both large and brutal as well as small and mischievous ones. The viewpoints of the greenskinz in particular – with their pretty simple yet cunningly savage (or savagely cunning?..) mindset – felt perfectly in character, such as it is, and were much fun to follow. Verily, the patchwork-like Warboss was the sole Ork in the entire history of this most bellicose of species whom I kinda sympathised with… poor creature. Granted, the novel’s comparatively modest length may not have left space to reveal some of the persons in more detail – especially the soldiers of the various regiments reflecting the sheer diversity of the Imperium of Man, from the Faeburn Vanquishers mentioned in the latest edition codex to those ones invented specially for the story, with all the memorable slivers of their widely varying cultures.
In total, Blood of Iax is not just the classic Warhammer 40K stuff for the new, Primaris-dominated era, but a solid, fast-paced, character-driven book in its own right, celebrating humanism and strong family bonds in the face of direst adversity. One of the first novels of its kind, it smoothly combines the Indomitus Crusade background with the best traditions of 40K writing. Quite like The Last Hunt and The Carcharodons series, it’s written in the commendable, easily recognised MacNiven style and perfectly allows the individual plot strands to unfold and reach completion. It’s an ideal parable not for simply replaying it on the tabletop sometime, but for getting some great, inspiring lessons from, that would surely come in useful to us humble Terrans of the third millennium.
Ever since I’d caught word of its publication last year, I’d been keen to read Blood of Iax (along with its short-story prequel A Brother’s Confession introducing us to the novel’s main characters), and now as I’ve done so and am looking back on it, I can affirm that in no way were my expectations deceived.
'Space Marines versus Orks' are by no means a rare presence in Black Library fiction – if anything, for many fans this is the very essence of Warhammer 40,000 in a nutshell. Therefore, it must be no easy task for a BL author to come up with an original idea for another tale of the millennia-old confrontation between these two iconic factions. And to weave a dense, gripping plot that is brand-new fresh yet still evokes that classic large-scale feel of disciplined tacticians fighting against brutal animal strength must be rather hard indeed. Well, to me Blood of Iax is exactly such a story…
Since the WH40K 8th edition, there’s been a growing amount of Primaris Space Marines tales of late, and in this book, all the Astartes warriors belong to an Ultramarines Demi-company – Strike Force Fulminata, comprised entirely of Primaris units. The protagonists, however, already come from the realm of Ultramar itself – being the natives of the agri-world Iax and actual birth-brothers, which in the Astartes ranks may be uncommon but not impossible – with their names calling to memory the celestial twins from ancient myths. The younger of the two – Kastor the Chaplain, attendant of the Chapel of Dioskuri onboard the Spear of Macragge, guardian of the Chapter’s proud spirit – and the older, Polixis the Apothecary, keeper of its very future – differ in age as well as temperaments, but still retain their centuries-old family bonds, making them even more closely knit than average battle-brothers.
The Ultramarines arrive on an Ork-attacked Imperial world to boost the struggling resistance of the mortal soldiers of the Astra Militarum – but as it turns out, even the Primaris Astartes are not entirely indefatigable against the multitudes of greenskin brutes for whom eternal war is not a solemn affair but just a source of bestial amusement. Moreover, the invaders’ ailing leader has concocted a certain plan involving the “beakie humies” – especially the Apothecary, certain that this one will offer much better assistance than the Boss’s own “painboy”. So, after an especially violent battle, gravely injured Polixis finds himself captive inside the desecrated Imperial basilica that serves as the aliens’ headquarters, while Kastor is forced to make the gravely dangerous yet only possible and noblest decision – to find and liberate his older sibling, even at the cost of the Chaplain’s own life...
Naturally, Kastor and Polixis are the undisputable stars of the book – with their interactions and scant memories from their previous lives well-woven into the wider narration and lending these valorous, dutiful transhuman warriors extra personal depth and appeal.
However, there are many Imperial defenders on the hotly contested world, and I also appreciated the impressive number of storylines encompassed herein, ranging from the Primaris Astartes commanders and ordinary humans to their green-skinned antagonists – both large and brutal as well as small and mischievous ones. The viewpoints of the greenskinz in particular – with their pretty simple yet cunningly savage (or savagely cunning?..) mindset – felt perfectly in character, such as it is, and were much fun to follow. Verily, the patchwork-like Warboss was the sole Ork in the entire history of this most bellicose of species whom I kinda sympathised with… poor creature. Granted, the novel’s comparatively modest length may not have left space to reveal some of the persons in more detail – especially the soldiers of the various regiments reflecting the sheer diversity of the Imperium of Man, from the Faeburn Vanquishers mentioned in the latest edition codex to those ones invented specially for the story, with all the memorable slivers of their widely varying cultures.
In total, Blood of Iax is not just the classic Warhammer 40K stuff for the new, Primaris-dominated era, but a solid, fast-paced, character-driven book in its own right, celebrating humanism and strong family bonds in the face of direst adversity. One of the first novels of its kind, it smoothly combines the Indomitus Crusade background with the best traditions of 40K writing. Quite like The Last Hunt and The Carcharodons series, it’s written in the commendable, easily recognised MacNiven style and perfectly allows the individual plot strands to unfold and reach completion. It’s an ideal parable not for simply replaying it on the tabletop sometime, but for getting some great, inspiring lessons from, that would surely come in useful to us humble Terrans of the third millennium.
August 15, 2021
A good idea but a bit hard to believe Orks would act this way! Plot told you exactly what was going to happen then followed through.
December 26, 2019
It's a fun read, but it in no way adds to the Ultramarine ethos of characters or chapter heroes.
It's the story of the Ultramarines battling an uprising of Orks and the orks are trying to use the Ultramarine apothecary to try and extend the life of their warboss.
Lots of bolter shots, lots of intense action, but no real character development, an absolutely fun read only.
It's the story of the Ultramarines battling an uprising of Orks and the orks are trying to use the Ultramarine apothecary to try and extend the life of their warboss.
Lots of bolter shots, lots of intense action, but no real character development, an absolutely fun read only.
December 8, 2024
I recommend this if you are new to Warhammer 40k and or space marines.
Fun and entertaining read if you are in the mood for some high paced action pack story.
Personally i did never feel, i had had to know a lot about space marines, the different chapters and orks do understand was were going on.
The language was great. I never felt confused in the battle scenes and the few places with info dump never dragged too much out.
Fun and entertaining read if you are in the mood for some high paced action pack story.
Personally i did never feel, i had had to know a lot about space marines, the different chapters and orks do understand was were going on.
The language was great. I never felt confused in the battle scenes and the few places with info dump never dragged too much out.
October 9, 2018
3.5 just because of couple great great scenes. Loved the Villian.
October 25, 2018
This was a rousing tale of Ultramarines and Astra Militarum fighting against Orks. Two brothers bond and there is a set up for recurring Ork characters. The action is fine and the plot moves along. It definitely made me want to make a Primaris army.
March 2, 2024
Not bad, not particularly good either. Can tell it was written 2017/18 with the heavy use of the word “Primaris” and a lot of the space marine action felt like an advert for the new releases at the time.
The search and rescue plot was something different for the genre (imo) so that was decent, just not the best executed tale in the grim darkness of the far future.
The search and rescue plot was something different for the genre (imo) so that was decent, just not the best executed tale in the grim darkness of the far future.
June 26, 2025
One of those 'introduction' books that Games Workshop produces every year or two. This one is particularly bad, with nonsense off-screen deaths, poor writing by introducing random antagonist POVs, and a super annoying way of disabling Power Armor that has one question why no one else uses such a weapon.
So it's boring and worse, it introduces universe-breaking concepts in order to make a Hollywood-style plotline work. Brutally terrible.
So it's boring and worse, it introduces universe-breaking concepts in order to make a Hollywood-style plotline work. Brutally terrible.
February 22, 2019
This has to be the BEST depiction of Orks in a Black Library novel I have ever read! MacNiven nails Orky Dialect and behaviour that adds a great deal of charm to this novel. This was an amazing surprise for me as I expected this to be a semi bland "battles" type novel but it wasn't!
Another positive is the relationship between the two main characters, Apothecary Polixis and his younger blood brother; Chaplain Kastor. It is an interesting dynamic that ends up driving a lot of the plot.
But if we are being honest, its the masterful depiction of Orks that added so much charm to this story, lifting it from bare average to something a bit special.
Writers often fail to capture the charm of the Orks in 40K. They often fail to grasp their character (The entire Beast Arises series), fail to capture their dialect (Evil Suns Rise), or simply get close the charm but fail to bring out the character (Bandeblade). A book I would recommend is Straken by Toby Frost, it isn't from the Ork's perspective but it does nail their character from an Imperial perspective.
If I had to criticise this novel I would say that the Primaris themselves are uninteresting and at times; a bit "Gary stue-esk." As a long term reader I felt a little alienated with the constant referral to "Primaris" and not "Space Marine."
Space Marine work count: 6 mentions
Adeptus Astartes word count: 5
Primaris word count: In the millions (its hard to miss)
It feels like BL are using the word "Primaris" because GW can copyright it more effectively and in this novel it made the Primaris feel further separated from what we have come to know and love.
More novels featuring Primaris Marines? I dont think I'm keen.
More novels by Robbie (Ork Whisperer) MacNiven? I think so!
Another positive is the relationship between the two main characters, Apothecary Polixis and his younger blood brother; Chaplain Kastor. It is an interesting dynamic that ends up driving a lot of the plot.
But if we are being honest, its the masterful depiction of Orks that added so much charm to this story, lifting it from bare average to something a bit special.
Writers often fail to capture the charm of the Orks in 40K. They often fail to grasp their character (The entire Beast Arises series), fail to capture their dialect (Evil Suns Rise), or simply get close the charm but fail to bring out the character (Bandeblade). A book I would recommend is Straken by Toby Frost, it isn't from the Ork's perspective but it does nail their character from an Imperial perspective.
If I had to criticise this novel I would say that the Primaris themselves are uninteresting and at times; a bit "Gary stue-esk." As a long term reader I felt a little alienated with the constant referral to "Primaris" and not "Space Marine."
Space Marine work count: 6 mentions
Adeptus Astartes word count: 5
Primaris word count: In the millions (its hard to miss)
It feels like BL are using the word "Primaris" because GW can copyright it more effectively and in this novel it made the Primaris feel further separated from what we have come to know and love.
More novels featuring Primaris Marines? I dont think I'm keen.
More novels by Robbie (Ork Whisperer) MacNiven? I think so!
December 1, 2023
Just boring. Booooooooring..... If you like Ultramarines and bolter pr0n, you might like it, but even the bolter pr0n sections were boring...
October 24, 2018
Blood brothers Kastor and Polixis – Chaplain and Apothecary respectively – are part of Strike Force Fulminata, and are taking the fight to the invading orks on Ikara IX when the tide turns and Imperial forces hurriedly go on the defensive. The arrival of ork warlord Urgork changes everything, especially as his objectives go beyond simply finding the biggest scrap possible – the canny Urgork has a plan, and it involves Polixis.
While it’s not the most complex of plots, the relationship between Kastor and Polixis and the way it’s tested by Urgork’s mad plan is entertaining enough to keep things interesting and engaging, while the multiple viewpoints help by adding context and variation. Although things arguably start off a little slowly, with a large part of the book given over to the setup before things really kick into gear, the varied perspectives ensure that the momentum is maintained, and the final third is action-packed and great fun. The orks are a welcome bonus in what’s ostensibly an Ultramarines novel, and as a whole it’s a solid, entertaining story.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/10/...
While it’s not the most complex of plots, the relationship between Kastor and Polixis and the way it’s tested by Urgork’s mad plan is entertaining enough to keep things interesting and engaging, while the multiple viewpoints help by adding context and variation. Although things arguably start off a little slowly, with a large part of the book given over to the setup before things really kick into gear, the varied perspectives ensure that the momentum is maintained, and the final third is action-packed and great fun. The orks are a welcome bonus in what’s ostensibly an Ultramarines novel, and as a whole it’s a solid, entertaining story.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/10/...
May 9, 2019
A Solid story. Holds up well as a stand alone.
I really enjoyed both brothets perspective. With out spoilimg anything vital. Both they, and the supporting Primaris characters where found likeable by me. In addition the Ork protagonists were enjoyable. It is fun to see this xeno race personified as unique individual characters. Put this all behind a solid plot that can stand alone on its own. However I feel.a sequel just as well would work very well. And would grab it up easily.
I really enjoyed both brothets perspective. With out spoilimg anything vital. Both they, and the supporting Primaris characters where found likeable by me. In addition the Ork protagonists were enjoyable. It is fun to see this xeno race personified as unique individual characters. Put this all behind a solid plot that can stand alone on its own. However I feel.a sequel just as well would work very well. And would grab it up easily.
May 10, 2019
It was an interesting take on the warfare a spacemarine, or a Primaris marine endure in this book. The brother twist in this book made the Primaris more human and the way they do things was interesting to read. I was about to give it 3stars since it is pretty straight forward, but some great scenes and the way the villain in the Ork army is portraied i give it 4stars, since "Tha hummie squiggling tha wordz for tis book, makes tha BoSs lookin real bossy"
*Sorry for my try on Orkish*
All in all its a good read.
*Sorry for my try on Orkish*
All in all its a good read.
July 22, 2021
Chaplains and Apothocarians are my favorite units of astartes. (I'm a pastor, and was a medic in the navy) so seeing them as the focus was great. This also is the first time I've seen anyone tackle the blood sibling space marine situation. All around the concept was fascinating and it was executed well! Really enjoyed this one.
November 24, 2018
I got this because it said it took place on a hive world. Nothing in this story implied hive world. The story was fine, but I bought it because it said hive world and found it profoundly disappointing that it really could have been any world that happened to have large cities on it.
January 2, 2019
An interesting look into a Primaris battle group and the fleshing out of their new addition to the 40k canon. Filled with good writing and a decent plot. Some memorable moments and decent action. Nothing groundbreaking or spectacular.
February 10, 2019
If you are after mindless space marine war against xeno filth, this is the book for you. Its not as entertaining as the Ultramarines stories featuring Uriel Ventris but as another reviewer stated, this is "bolter porn" buts thats sometimes just what I want.
November 14, 2020
Great one-off Ultramarines story. I can’t remember any 40k story being told from an ork’s perspective and MacNiven really does a good job with making their personalities and language distinct. Really adds a nice element to the story.
November 3, 2023
One of the first 40k books i've read.Interesting storyline where you see 2 real life space marine brothers in the same chapter,one is a apothecary and the other is a chaplain.They fight agianst orcs along side astra militarum.Things get interesting and you'll read through this book fast.
August 6, 2024
Not a bad book. It's just so obviously made for those who've maybe gone to the store and played a few games, and now wish to step into the novels. It's a basic story and everyone acts in a pretty codex way. It just gives little to someone who has read a lot of 40k.
January 28, 2025
Personally, i liked it but story really started from the middle of the book. I guess it is a theme for Warhammer 40K books.
April 23, 2025
The Orcs made this a more than tolerable primarily space marine story.
December 29, 2020
Pretty solid warhammer book. The ork warlord was pretty funny.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews