Raven's Flight

The Horus Heresy #Audio Drama

by Gav Thorpe

After the horrors of the Dropsite Massacre, the Raven Guard are trying to survive in the caves and mountains of Isstvan V. Their plight is desperate, and escape from the roaming Chaos Legions seems impossible. Meanwhile Colonel Valerius of the Imperial army begins suffering terrible dreams, believing the Raven Guard to be in trouble. But he faces obstacles of his own in attempting what he believes will be a heroic rescue. Can the decimated Legion hold out against the forces of the World Eaters long enough to reach an unlikely salvation?

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Audiobook, Fiction, Short Stories

Audio CD

First published February 1, 2010

About the author

Gav spent 14 years as a developer for Games Workshop, and started writing novels and short stories in the worlds of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 when the Black Library imprint was launched in 1997.

He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.

Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.

Reviews

[RatGrrrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

April 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XVII Shadow of the Warmaster III Jaws of Defeat (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras.

Over the last nearly thirteen years this is the single piece of Horus Heresy media I have consumed the most and I will never forget just how much it blew my mind that first time. It still remains awesome, but, and this is a small but, having listened to Deliverance Lost before this due to a previous omnibus and having read and listened to so much Heresy, the shine absolutely remains, it just isn't necessarily the only thing quite as shiny or the shiniest...but if you've read any of my reviews, especially re-reviews I am a mercurial and fickle being comprised of a single feeling at a time like Tinkerbell.

The Raven Guard were decimated on Isstvan V during the Dropsite Massacre. Split up from their Loyalist allies after the Salamanders were equally shattered and the Iron Hands were crushed after rushing headlong at Traitors and Ferrus losing his head, the XIX are few and alone in very hostile territory with whole Legions massed against them.

This is the story of how their Primarch, Corvus Corax, kept them alive for thirty days and how visions of fire and blood combined with the conviction of one man and his loyal battalion to face down a senior Astartes and the explicit threat of execution of him and all his guard to follow those visions to rescue the Raven of war from certain annihilation.

I've said that Deliverance Lost is the standard I expect from a Horus Heresy novel and Praetorian of Dorn is the Platonic Ideal of a military and espionage focused one. Raven's Flight is the Platonic Ideal of a Horus Heresy story. It's also one of the best audio dramas Black Library has produced.

This has all the ingredients that make good Heresy (in no particular order)
- Genuinely gripping action that is uniquely Warhammer and has actual weight and narrative significance
- Mystical mythical magical element that has significance and weight
- Emotional conflict, both internal and external
- Evocative and effecting tragedy and feels
- Unique insight and discussion of significant elements that are either no longer around in Warhammer 40,000 or have a hand in shaping the way things are in the 41st Millennium

This is good shit.

It's a great combination and wonderfully balanced with what was at the time of release the first and most in depth look at the aftermath of the Dropsite Massacre, first time seeing the Raven Guard in action, and first time seeing a Primarch, at least on their own and not Horus, going full beast mode and getting their inner thoughts. What more could you ask for?

The only criticism I have and something I became more aware of after returning to Deliverance Lost are my powerfully ambivalent feelings about Marcus Valerius, which were once only positive, and the increasing perplexity of Corax and Thorpe's politics. It is less obvious in this story just how posh and from aristocracy Valerius is, beyond his incredible and hilarious name, and his attendant. I had glazed over the narration about his "good breeding" being used straight faced in previous listens and absolutely cringed at it this time, as I did with the minor soul searching and equivocating Corax does about being a fascist leader of brutal colonial crusades, as much as Compliance is a friendly euphemism. I'm not going to get on my anarcho-socialist high horse too much, but the little Corax considers the Imperium and his actions, beyond Great Crusade good, Horus Heresy bad, after being brought up in a generational slave prison camp by political dissidents and seeing the horror of authoritarianism and hierarchy from the moment he was conscious...

Also, Bran's superiority over humans is alarming, but this could be a result of psycho-conditioning and indoctrination as part of becoming an Astartes. With some stories and Games Workshop/ Black Library decisions it makes it hard to know just how knowing and insightful some of these choices are, as I discussed a bit more in my Angels of Caliban review in which I did give Thorpe the credit and want to believe he is intentionally as exacting in his writing and lampooning as I hope he is.

I just have some questions...and concerns about the saviour of the Saviour of Deliverance being a full blue blood aristo. OK? Lol

Regardless, this is eternally an absolute banger!

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 31 Horus Heresy novels, 16 novellas (including 2 repeats), 104 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 15 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and a short story...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.

***

Intial Review

They say perfection is a myth, and yet Raven's Flight exists.

I first heard this audio drama on 11.11.11, I known this because it was midnight release of Skyrim and my partner won the dice roll, so I was laying on the bedroom floor with shitty wired headphones in the back of the computer having my mind blown and completely distracted from how much I wanted to go down stairs and okay. I can't tell you how many times I've listened to it in the following years, but it's a LOT. Every time I listen again I feel a fear that maybe I won't like it as much or will hear something problematic or just shitty, and with how much of a strong negative reaction I had to Thorpe's Honour to the Dead and Hinks' Illyrium, I was really feeling it...

But I am a fool!

Look, Raven's Flight is just over an hour and manages to do more with more depth and weight than many 600+ page novels. There is some of the best action I've read in the Horus Heresy, heartbreaking internal monologues on all manner of things from the Imperium, the nature of Astartes as monsters designed to create a galaxy for human, reflections on Deliverance, the Emperor, and his brothers, all written beautifully, there's that scratch of the myth and magic itch I have with the prtentioud dreams of blood and fire, fire and blood that are never explained, the war between Astartes, conflict between a human and an Astartes commander, and enough pathos to pave Pythos!

The writing is exquisite, one minute heartrending and poignant, another visceral and stimulating action that truly shows the ferocity and power of a cornered Primarch, or teeth-grindingly tense, or brief moments of exhalation and exaltation! This is Thorpe and the Heresy at the top of their game and set the bar for the Primarch-focused tales very high.

I just adore it! It does everything I could ask for from a Warhammer or sci-fi action story with aplomb.

[Arnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ierindota The Horus Heresy sērijā ar kārtas numuru #22, Shadows of Treachery interesantā veidā iekļauj sevī stāstus, kuri norisinās vēl pavisam īsi pēc fakta, kad Horus atklāj visiem, kam rūp, savu nodevību. Kā arī krājumu noslēdzošā novele krietni labāk tematiski iederētos iepriekšējā krājumā šajā sērijā Primarchs, ka gandrīz ir vēlēšanās aplūkot šo krājumu sastādītājus.

https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...

[Callum Shephard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raven’s Flight can be summed up in one sentence: This is why you do not anger Corax.

Serving as a prequel to the recently released Deliverance Lost, Raven’s Flight helps to bridge the gap between the events depicted in First Heretic and Fulgrim with the desperate escape seen in Age of Darkness.
After the gunship his bodyguard tried to evacuate him in is shot down during the Drop Massacre, the Raven Guard primarch leads the few thousand surviving warriors in a series of hit and run attacks on the traitor legions. This makes up the core of the action in the audio and it’s the battles we see which really make it worth getting.

In the many books and series we’ve seen thus far in the Horus Heresy the primarchs have been depicted as beings of great power. Ones who can kill titans, take hammer bows unflinchingly and command great loyalty of their men. They’ve been also depicted as being flawed, able to fall to Chaos and be badly crippled while fighting others of their kind. What we’ve not seen is one truly unleashing himself as Corax does here. The battles have to be seen to be heard to be fully appreciated but it’s unlikely we’ll see anything similar to this until, perhaps, the Siege of Terra.

Along with the events on Isstvan V there are some much quieter scenes on Deliverance. Prifector Valerius is plagued by visions of burning ravens and outright destruction, images which have haunted his dreams for days and he is coming to believe that it is a message from Corax. While wishing to head for Isstvan with his garrison force he is repeatedly stonewalled by the remaining Raven Guard commander, Bran, who believes this is folly and is quickly becoming suspicious of Valerius.

While these were scenes definitely needed to break up the fighting on Isstvan and foreshadow the final events of the audiobook, they are definitely the weaker half of the story. Some of the interaction between Bran and Valerius feels forced at times, like the author Gav Thorpe was forced to condense a much longer series of events into a shorter space of time.

This never becomes truly irritating but it does lessen the overall quality of the story and isn’t helped by some very flowery writing. Thrope’s style can come off as being quite dry and he doesn’t seem to quite know what to put into the scenes of verbal sparring between the two. It doesn’t help that a lot of the action, much like one or two of the violent scenes, comes across as being melodramatic. Like it’s supposed to be trying to parody a serious scene rather than actually be a genuine turning point in the audio. What helps offset this is some exceptional voice acting by Toby Longworth who speaks the lines with enough conviction to help the listener overlook these moments when hearing the audiobook for the first time.

Overall Raven’s Flight is the weakest of the four Horus Heresy audiobooks thus far, but it’s still definitely worth listening to. It features easily some of the best action scenes and while it might come across as occasionally hammy, especially when Valerius is involved, there’s enough good moments with Corax to make it worth listening to. If you want to read Deliverance Lost, it’s strongly recommended you listen to this first.

[Abhinav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadowhawk reviews the second audio drama of the Horus Heresy series, Raven’s Flight by Gav Thorpe, which is the prequel to the upcoming novel Deliverance Lost previously reviewed here by Lord of The Knight.

“Because once you see Corax in action, the Horus Heresy will never be the same again.” – The Founding Fields

I first encountered Gav’s work through Angels of Darkness, a novel that explores the myths and mysteries of the secretive Dark Angels. I was blown away. There has been a fair amount of controversy regarding the novel and one of its main characters, which has only served to heighten its popularity that much more.

The second time I read Gav’s work was in his short story Call of the Lion for the Tales of Heresy anthology. This Horus Heresy story ties in to Angels of Darkness, and only served to fan the controversy of the latter. I was impressed again, but not by the story as much as I was by the way Gav connected the novel and the short story.

He has a certain flair in his 40k/Heresy work which I just love. He can take some really dubious interpretations of the 40k background and then twist and turn it into something familiar yet very unique. So I was rather excited to get Raven’s Flight, an audio drama concerning the Nineteenth Primarch, Corax, and his legion, the Raven Guard. The Raven Guard have always been one of my favourite legions/chapters to read about, even though they haven’t received much in the way of screen time.

And Gav didn’t disappoint.

Where to start really? The audio drama focuses on the immediate aftermath of the Istvaan Dropsite Massacre, the singular event that launched the Heresy proper, and how the Raven Guard and their Primarch are being forced to adapt to treason and betrayal of the highest order. It has its fair share of fast-paced action scenes, moving dialogue, emotional self-reproach and powerful monologues.

Raven’s Flight as a title is so very apt for this audio drama. Corax has just seen tens of thousands of his sons get mercilessly slaughtered. Their supply lines have been cut in the most brutal way possible. The legion has no vehicles or gunships on Istvaan any more. Even Corax’s jump-pack is severely damaged, grounding the Raven himself.

Coming off the high of Jim Swallow’s Garro audio dramas, I thought they couldn’t be topped, especially not Legion of One. And then I listened to Raven’s Flight and I was like “holy shit, this is awesome”. I seriously regret not having given the Heresy audio dramas, or any of Black Library’s audio dramas in general, any serious consideration before. That has now all changed.

Toby Longworth is simply a master of his craft. I have listened to several of his Black Library audio dramas and there is bound to be some overlap between the different voices. Yet, he manages to inject enough uniqueness into the characters that is beyond my understanding.

Three characters take the center-stage in Raven’s Flight: Corax, Commander Branne and Praefectus Marcus Valerius o. Each of these three have their own quirks and mannerisms that are well-performed by Toby. Not to mention that these three are all vastly dissimilar to each other in physical aspect. One of them is a Primarch, a demi-god of battle. The second is a post-human individual who has been raised up from his ordinary life into one of great heroism and valour. The last character is an officer of the Imperial Army, one of the millions of human soldiers swarming all over the galaxy, trying to bring to fruition the Emperor’s vision of a united Human empire.

Corax just bleeds inherent power in every scene he is in. As one of the more martial Primarchs, his scenes can be simply summed up as “Corax is bloody awesome”. He carries a heavy bolter as a bolter for crying out loud! And he uses a special, customized power whip as well, an ironic throwback to the Primarch’s past on Deliverance. Expect to also be treated to a great reveal regarding Corax and his abilities. Used as a plot device, we see not just the action Primarch, but the thinker Primarch. He wonders what has gone wrong in the galaxy to turn his brothers away from the Emperor. We even get some flashbacks of his first meeting with the Emperor.

Branne is the warrior who is forced to stay at home while his gene-father and his battle-brothers fight the greatest battle of the fledgling Imperium’s history. His scenes within the Ravenspire, the legion’s fortress-monastery, and with Valerius are very evocative of his feelings and his restrained power. He has been given a strict order from his Primarch and Commander Branne will never go against his gene-sire even though he would prefer to be fight with the rest of the Legion. It creates some fantastic tension between him and Valerius.

Valerius is sort of the odd one out. He is part of the Imperial Army auxilia attached to the Nineteenth Legion and is the senior officer present on Deliverance. His viewpoint as an ordinary human and his part in the events of the audio drama is quite unique I’d say. His troops have been left behind by Corax because Istvaan is Astartes business. The Imperial Army has no place in it.

The HH series is full of characters like him, who are used to give a human perspective on the Astartes and their Primarchs. But he distinguishes himself well enough because so far, he is the only (major) military man used in that role. If Dan had used Hektor Varvarus in Horus Rising or if Graham had used an officer of the Archite Palatines in Fulgrim in this capacity things would have been different. Legion is of course full of men and women of the Imperial Army but none of them quite have the connection with Alpharius/Omegon that Valerius has with Corax. And that ultimately is what is important when listening to Raven’s Flight.

I am hard-pressed to choose which of these three characters I liked best. And that is precisely because they are all so different from each other, in nature and role, within the audio drama. But I have to say that while the tension between Valerius and Branne was very poignant and moving, it was Corax in action I liked most, especially when he muses to himself about how Horus’ treachery has unfolded and his own role within it.

My only quibble with the audio drama is the format of the story itself. The plot would have benefited in a longer medium, like an extended short story so that Gav could fully explore his characters, his locales, and the tensions between the three main characters. Gav did a great job with the plot but at times it did feel like Branne didn’t get enough development. There is a line from the Commander which I think summed up his character and his feelings very well:

“I killed my first man here, when I was younger than your manservant; throttled him with the strap of his rifle and took his gun. Of course, Corax was with me then.”

That is one of the most evocative pieces of dialogue in the audio drama.

As mentioned, Toby Longworth did wonderful with his voices for the three characters. Although, it must be said, after listening to so many of his audio dramas, it all tends to mix together in the head. But there is something about his voices though: I can almost identify the different voices with some well-known movie characters but I’ll be damned if I remember. The guessing game keeps the audio drama pretty interesting.

As of writing this review, I have listened to Raven’s Flight three times, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it. There is no sense of repetitiveness to it that makes me want to put it down. It is just that good.

The immersive experience is fantastic, definitely among the top two Black Library audio dramas so far for me. The other spot being shared by Garro: Legion of One that is.

So would I recommend this audio drama to Heresy fans? Hell yes. Whether or not you like audio dramas, or the Heresy series, or even the Raven Guard, you are missing out big time if you ignore Raven’s Flight. Gav’s writing is great. The characters are all fantastically performed by Toby Longworth. There really is nothing that brings down the audio drama other than just the the medium itself.

Score-wise, I rate Raven’s Flight 9/10. I would definitely like to see another audio drama from Gav. Perhaps he could explore the Raven Guard further, or even pick up some of the neglected legions like the White Scars and the Iron Hands.

If you want more Raven Guard action, there is the short story Faces of Treachery in Age of Darkness which is somewhat of a sequel to the audio drama but also takes place at the same time as the last track or thereabouts and gives you totally another perspective on the Dropsite Massacre. There is also Deliverance Lost, Gav’s first full-length story for the Heresy. George Mann has done the Raven Guard for 40k with his audio drama Helion Rain and has another, Labyrinth of Sorrows in the works. The chapter also makes an appearance in other novels such as The Chapter’s Due from Graham and The Hunt for Voldorius from Andy Hoare.

‘Victorus aut Mortis!’

[Joe Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Never more loyal. Never more feared."

Raven's Flight by Gav Thorpe is a tightly written Warhammer 40k novella that fills in a critical moment of the Horus Heresy — the fall of Isstvan V — and brings one of the Imperium's most enigmatic Primarchs, Corvus Corax, into sharp focus. Thorpe doesn’t just write a story — he gives voice to the shadows.

The narrative drops you into the chaos of the Drop Site Massacre, one of the Heresy’s most pivotal betrayals. Corax, freshly wounded in pride and purpose, must lead the shattered remains of the Raven Guard through a hellscape of treachery and blood. The tension never lets up — from desperate guerilla tactics to the silent fury that builds inside the Primarch as he watches everything he built unravel.

Thorpe excels at capturing the Raven Guard's unique combat style — stealth, speed, subterfuge — while also showing their weakness: loyalty taken for granted. The novella is brisk (some might say too brisk), but it punches above its word count with high-stakes pacing and a powerful sense of loss.

Corax is a standout — brooding, calculating, yet deeply compassionate. He’s a Primarch not of ego, but of responsibility. You can feel the weight of survival in every decision he makes. He’s Batman with a bolter, cloaked in tragedy.

Minor criticism: if you're not already deep into the lore of the Horus Heresy, some of the context might fly overhead like a Thunderhawk. But for fans? It’s a vital puzzle piece.

Recommended for: Warhammer 40k readers, Heresy completists, and anyone who prefers their heroes to strike from the shadows.

Not for: Newcomers to the Heresy timeline or readers looking for long-form character arcs — this is a sharp strike, not a siege.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as part of the "Shadows of Treachery" anthology.

This would have been a homerun for me aka 5 stars.... if the ending was not so rushed and sloppy.

The interaction and conflct between Captain Branne and Praefactor Valerius was great, and gave this story a lot of tension and drama. Yes, it was cool seeing Corax in his prime -- a first for me -- but the Branne v. Valerius back story was the true meat in this story, IMO.

But that aspect was utterly brushed aside in the last 5 pages. The legionaires swoop in and save the day, evac Corax and crew... and that's that. The end.

No postscript with Branne and Valerius burying the hatchet, or Captain Branne admitting he was wrong, and Valerius was right. Nor Corax wondering how the heck Valerius knew something was amiss. Nada.

Entertaining, especially the sequence where Corax is kicking ass all over an entire company of tanks.

But could have been even better IMO.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

The black library audio dramas are a really fun listen, their value for cost isn't very good, but the production quality is AMAZING.

This particular story follows Corvus Corax as he is stranded on Istvan V after the drop site massacre.

The story is very action packed, but also highlights the personality and thoughts of Corax, which I found enjoyable.

This is realistically the equivalent of a audio version of a high action movie, its fluff, but enjoyable.

[Declan Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

The GW Audio Dramas are great fun, albeit short, with a good narrator and fun 'pulp fictions' themes and story lines. Raven's Flight (Thorpe) is no exception. Set near the beginning of the Horus Heresy this book follows the planetfall of Corax and his Raven Guard and their eventual escape from ambush.

Great fun.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not go against Corax. I really enjoy the Ravenguard battles as they use tactics so much more than brute strength. It is a different take on some of the other books starting far from the fighters initially. It is a bridging book however works amazingly as a standalone with none of the previous information.

[Merenwen Inglorion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I liked:
-good pacing
-great voice acting
-quick story, but not lacking in development

Things I didn't like:
-Nothing I can think of! Overall this was well put together and highlighted the horror of betrayal among the astartes

[Lane Callahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was also pretty good and a big improvement on the previous 2 audio dramas in this set. it was a good chunk longer than the previous two which i think allowed for just the right amount of depth that the other two lacked. the ending was really good and had a nice reveal/climax moment

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple story exploring Corvus' time on Istvaan V. Far more introspective than an actual series of events or battles. Corvus laments the loss of the Astartes' righteousness and the faith of humanity in them. Probably should've been rolled into Deliverance Lost or expanded further than this.

[Ardelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read the short story rather than listen to the audio drama (personal preference) and yeah this has gotta be one of my favorite raven guard stories. it's good. honestly i could read a whole book based around corvus and co trapped on istvaan 5 but alas i will settle for this...

[Teddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a road trip and this was a nice quick story to keep me entertained along the way.

[Victor Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than most the Audio dramas. Warhammer fiction still is a low-mental effort go to and don't expect much more than a quick heroic short story

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

audiobook thanks to my scratched cornea.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

BK SS IN sHADOWS OF treachery

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Solid Horus Heresy/Istvaan flavor.

[Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get some good scenes with Corvus Corax so if your a fan of him and the raven guard you will enjoy this.
Collected in shadows of treachery anthology.

[Thomas Langley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An eh book that just serves as an explanation of how the Ravens guard fled the dropsite massacre

[Stèf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good scene setting that adds flavour to overall world. You would lose nothing by skipping it but I was amused none-the-less. Worth it if you are completionist or listening on a commute.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The squad’s sergeant leapt at Corax, a screeching chainsword in his right hand, bolt pistol blazing in the left. The primarch swatted away the whirring teeth of the chainsword and grabbed the sergeant’s elbow. With a twist and a wrench, he tore out the Iron Warrior’s arm and swung it around, the razor-sharp blades of the chainsword biting deep into the sergeant’s helmet. Corax threw the bloody limb aside and grabbed a grenade from the fallen sergeant’s belt, slamming his fist into the chest of another Space Marine, the explosive detonating in his grasp."

Hell yeah dude, Corvus Corax kicks ass.

[Matt Argueta · Rating 5 out of 5]

First dip into the Raven Guards and this one is a must read. This delves into origin of Corax, where he sits among the Legions and the Emperor, and how they survived the tragedy of Istvaan. 


The interwoven narrative of Praefector Valarious fighting for his life to get to Istvaan and having the “Captain, on your left” moment when all hope seemed lost was a great wrap-up to this short story. 


I want to know about what remains of the Raven Guard, what Corax’s broader role will be in the events to come, and seeing the wrath of the remaining three thousand ravens

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set shortly before the Deliverance Lost, this is the story of the Raven Guard's rescue from Isstvan V. Fighting for weeks, just barely managing to stay ahead of the traitor forces, Corax and the surviving Legionaries wait, hoping reinforcements will arrive. Great drama and action, as Corax has to reckon with his brothers' betrayal and the destruction of his Legion.

[Fabian Scherschel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Horus Heresy audio book I've listened to and I must say it was excellent. Very well read and the atmosphere is amazing. I just loved the insight you glean about Corax. If you are a Raven Guard fan like me, this is a must read. While the story is short, it is up there with the best of the series and the moment where Corax cries actually made me choke up. Great story telling.

The audio drama basically follows the story of the remainder of the Raven Guard on Isstvan V and how they and their primarch happen to make it off the planet. For its shortness, it is a gripping tale. If you have read all of the other books in the series, you should be listening to this too. It's one hour of nice entertainment and atmosphere that fits perfectly into a Sunday afternoon.

[Lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story about the Raven Guard, this time with their Primarch, Corax, going against the odds against their treacherous brothers-in-arms. The action-packed audio book brings the savage battle to life, as well as good characterization of Corax, while also delving into the Astartes-Imperial Guard/humans relationships - both the good and the bad side. There's also some character insight as to the Horus Heresy itself, which has been tackled before in other books, but on a clearer and more absorbed digression here. I like this book,it's a guaranteed keeper for all Warhammer 40k fans.

[Dylan Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an awesome audio drama following the Corax and the Raven Guard following the events of the Dropsite Massacre at Istvaan V. The action scenes were amazing, getting to see pre-heresy Raven Guard for the first time was a real treat, and Corax was written extremely well, though I wish the fact that his Legion was all but destroyed effected him a little more than it did.
The story of the Imperial Army officer and Raven Guard on Deliverance was also entertaining, and quite surprising! I fear to think what would have happened had they not risked the adventure based on dreams!

[David Guymer · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the face of things, this is a simple tale of a Primarch butchering his way through hordes of dastardly Iron Warriors in the aftermath of the Dropsite Massacre, but Gav's take on Corax (a delightful change from the traitors we've got near thus far) is what makes this so much more. The only real trouble I had with it was that I immediately associated Toby Longworth, who narrates, with the Ciaphas Cain audios. A little bit like two worlds colliding, but I quickly got over it!

[Mike Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I make my way through the Horus Heresy I look forward to the small distractions given by the audiobooks - this one deals with the Raven Guard left after the massacre on Isstvan V and gives most "face-time" to Corax the RG primarch.

[AA_Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d previously read this and, as is often the case, enjoyed it even more in its original format.

The Istvaan Massacres are perhaps my favourite bits of The a Heresy to explore, so it should come as a surprise that I loved listening to this.