Firedrake

Tome of Fire #2

by Nick Kyme

When Chaplain Elysius of the Salamanders is taken captive by Dark Eldar, he faces a fight for survival at the hands of these cruel aliens. The Firedrakes of 1st Company attempt a daring rescue mission, but much more is at stake than the Chaplain's life. He holds the key to secrets buried beneath Mount Deathfire, secrets that could reveal the damnation - or salvation - of their home world. The Salamanders must penetrate the Port of Anguish and defeat the xenos threat there if they are to unveil the mysteries within the Tome of Fire. Meanwhile, Dak'ir battles to survive the brutal Librarian training, and in his visions lies an even darker future -

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Novels, Military Fiction, Fantasy

411 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2010

About the author

Nick Kyme (b. 1977) writes mostly for Black Library. His credits include the popular Salamanders series and several audio dramas.

Reviews

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot unfolds better than in the first volume. While Kyme doesn't forget the lore, he has a lighter touch in developing it and a clearer style.

The destinies of the two main protagonists follow their paths. Tsu'gan glimpses a new path, while Dak'ir becomes a prisoner of his own.

Lots of action and raw violence, a hint of betrayal, and a great cliffhanger that makes you want to read the next instalment.

[Jonas Salonen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second part of the Salamanders trilogy. I had some decent hopes for this aone after the first part. Mostly this lives up to my expectations and positively surprised me in some ways. The story continues where Salamander left off and follows the same main characters as the previous stories.

The book is actually better than the first one, the text is somehow more fluent. Also the story is interesting although a bit cliched at times. The character development is better than in the first one and the action is good. As this is the second part the story really doesn't end in this one, so there are many story lines that are left open.

All in all this is a decent story which again gives nice insight in the Salamanders chapter and introduces us to many interesting characters and mysteries of the WH40K universe. Recommended at least if you are interested in Warhammer.

[Meitnerio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Draco de fuego es un libro de ritmo cansino, pobremente escrito, que apuesta por la acción pero la describe mal y encima sus personajes no producen otra cosa que indiferencia. No son buenas características a encontrar en una novela, no. Kyme ya me había parecido un autor flojo, pero aquí se ha superado con creces en su medianía. No lo recomendaría ni aun para los fans de los Salamandras, que esto más que un libro es un maltrato (lo peor es que seguro que acabaré leyéndome el tercero, pero bueno…)

Para más detalles, la reseña completa aquí :)
http://meitnerio.blogspot.com.es/2016...

[Oliver Eike · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem is as it is far to often with Space Marine characters, they are rather wooden and lacking in personality, however in this book it became more apparent as the focus was less on the characters with personality and more trying to give the side-characters more of a personality. Which in itself is not a bad thing, it was just focused over to many characters, in to short a book. So what we got was rather uninspired.

However it is building up to something quite interesting i suspect, which is why i am going to finish the series, and hopefully we get to see more of the supposed main characters in the finale.

[Anders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the first book in the series, but this one was quite good. There was a more outspoken direction of the book and I felt that the characters had more depth. I liked the mix of chapter insights mixed with action. and event though the plot was simple, there were still a few surprises baked in.

All the similar names (was it Tu'shan, Tsu'Gan or perhaps even Tsu'shan or Tu'Gan?) made it quite confusing at times. That also goes for all groups/chapters named in different combinations of Black, Dragon and Fire, but that might be more obvious for someone more into the lore.

[Matthew Gilliland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't as good as the first.

It was ok, but there was something missing.

Plot A: get captured and try to survive. Fun and enjoyable.

Plot B: rescue mission. Introduced Vulkan Hesten and what it is like to be surrounded by brothers and still feel isolated.

Plot C: learn to be a psyker. Setup for book 3 has nothing to do with A or B.

This felt like a transitional book.

I'll probably finish the Omnibus next year.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Significantly better than the first book in the series, more directional than the the first, this book knew where it was going. Less context and confusion and more action, yet actually telling a story that is clearly leading to a grand finale that is the final instalment.

Overall, decent reading for someone who enjoys the 40K universe.

[David Noltensmeier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the first one, but still very mediocre. You can only read about stoicism for so long before it starts getting boring.

[Ulzeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite fun.

[Lexus · Rating 5 out of 5]

He'Stan is the Man!

holy cow! i love th iui s book. He'Stan us such a bad ass. Da'Kir with his powers. Fire breath! just wow. so freaking cool!!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know in my last review, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I couldn’t stop gushing about the Shakespearean themes and deep characters and gorgeous language in the first book of this trilogy – but after reading this book, I have no choice but to do just that again. The character arcs! The continued humanization of morally ambiguous and flawed but fervent characters I loved from the first book, and new ones I started to like even more. I was disappointed at the reduced role of some of my favorite characters from book 1, but that was more than made up for by Kyme’s assiduous, unsparing delving into all the other characters. And the descriptions! I’m probably unlike many 40K readers in the fact that I don’t usually like war fiction (weird for a 40K fan, I know) – I tend to lose some interest when bogged down in action-ful battle descriptions – but I still couldn’t tear myself away from these. The battles - “A forest of blades wreathed with lightning” – the cryptoria descriptions – can’t find just one favorite in those – just all the writing, I adore it! And the relationships between the characters were fascinating, so dynamic and realistic. I can’t wait to read book 3 (and the short stories, of course!)

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series but found this book hard to follow, even after re-reading the first book. It seems that the characters regularly refer to events which occurred outside of the books in this series with little explanation. And the traitors (and their chapter) is referred to by different names (Black Dragons/Fire Dragons/Dragon Warrior) without clarification as to a distinction between traitor Black Dragons and loyalist Black Dragons. I'm a bit of a Warhammer 40K canon geek and still found this hard to follow. Also, at one point a character re-appeared who had been killed in the first book, and referred to as "lost" earlier in this book, and yet was alive and well again (Ghor'gon on the crypt world). It's not clear if this was a flashback sequence or if the character had been resurrected somehow? (Or did I get confused by the sudden appearance of a new character with a very similar name).

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book and am enjoying the series and look forward to the conclusion. I'm will to give Mr. Kyme the benefit of the doubt that a lot of this stuff will be explained in the last book of the trilogy.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Tome of Fire by Nick Kyme moves the series at a pace akin to rapid bolter fire. It was interesting seeing the main character going through the Librarian training, and how he changed as a character. The other characters such as Chapter Master Elysius, and Ts'ugan, were also fleshed out. The combat in the Dark Eldar's realm was brutal but brilliant, while the behind the doors politicking around Dakir's fate also added another dimension that plays a huge, if not central role in the final book of the trilogy. A book that's exciting and worth a read.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a diverting read for my daily commute. Things pick up a little in the future and some of the exposition mysteriously laid out in the first book of the trilogy gets expanded on. There is less focus on Dakir, who seemed to be the first book's protagonist, and he becomes firmly part of a cast. The Dark Eldar, the book's main cannon fodder, are passable in their role and the big bad, the Dragon Warrior Nihilan, advances his plan to strike at the Salamanders. It's all kind of meh but it passed the time.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick Kyme has made a follow up to Salamander that is just as powerful as his previous work in the series!
Very characterful! Strong plot, good twists and turns. A damn fine read! The Tome of Fire series is a powerhouse!

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet more brash action and violence. Not as good at the first but I like some of the characters. None of the main ones.

[Fix8ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in the a great deal. So I was happy to get my hands on this and am really liking it. The Salamanders are becoming my favorite marine chapter.

[Noah Hallett · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review of book 1 - I think this was my favorite of the three books

[Sarah Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really awesome, actually starting to like the Chaplin now...I really hope they don't kill off my favorite characters.

[Eohall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly better than the first

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story here is great. So much brotherhood and camaraderie.