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booleancat's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
ratgrrrl's review against another edition
5.0
April 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras.
I should have know I had finished this one, but previously using this to review The Keys of Hel confused me!
Of all the anthologies, save Mark of Calth, which really is it's own specific thing and companion piece to Know No Fear and the Battle of Calth, covering the Underground War, this is unique in its specific, but disparate focus on the eponymous Shattered Legions.
While other anthologies may have more stories of higher quality overall, the narrative arc these stories tell is by far the most compelling. I have read these stories a number of times as part of my reading following the various Legions that make up and cross these narratives.
I have reviewed them all separately on here, though my review for Unspoken seems to have been eaten so I shall Re-Read and write that up at some point.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 38 Horus Heresy novels (including 1 repeat and 5 anthologies), 22 novellas (including 2 repeats), 113 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 16 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 2 Characters novels, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t4DHr8YPnnAgF9TltYyMI97_e4RrBfCoRXW66DbDa6Y/edit?usp=drivesdk). 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.
***
This review is for The Keys of Hel by John French as it doesn't have its own entry and I've either read everything in this brilliant, if at times mixed anthology so far or will catch any I miss going forward.
April 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XII The Truth of Iron (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus/xii-the-truth-of-iron) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus series and extras.
What an en exquisitely perfect end to an anthology and The Truth of Iron Omnibus, especially with it being part of bookends of the after Isstvan majority of the collection with The Riven.
This is some wonderful and classic French, bringing in a uncanny, almost villanelle, poetry around the repetition around the question of what the Keys of Hel are. The prose is beautiful and has an almost oxymoronic rich, spartan aspect that perfectly captures this moment and tragic division in the Iron Hands.
The loss of Ferrus Mannus, the trauma of the Dropsite Massacre, and the pain of betrayal, both by their former brothers and their flesh as they fight this civil war is absolutely palpable here. The tragedy of the Heresy is humming in every word and the things people can do and become are very obviously on display here. There is, if not sympathy, or even empathy, some level of compassion, as well as eternal pain of becoming something forbidden and breaking oaths in order to fight perfidy and serve other oaths.
Truly a bittersweet and beautifully bleak tale.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 22.41 Horus Heresy novels, 13 novellas, 71 short stories/ audio dramas (including at least 3 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 13 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I am not counting the anthologies among the books as I am keeping track of all stories individually. 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.
I should have know I had finished this one, but previously using this to review The Keys of Hel confused me!
Of all the anthologies, save Mark of Calth, which really is it's own specific thing and companion piece to Know No Fear and the Battle of Calth, covering the Underground War, this is unique in its specific, but disparate focus on the eponymous Shattered Legions.
While other anthologies may have more stories of higher quality overall, the narrative arc these stories tell is by far the most compelling. I have read these stories a number of times as part of my reading following the various Legions that make up and cross these narratives.
I have reviewed them all separately on here, though my review for Unspoken seems to have been eaten so I shall Re-Read and write that up at some point.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 38 Horus Heresy novels (including 1 repeat and 5 anthologies), 22 novellas (including 2 repeats), 113 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 16 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 2 Characters novels, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t4DHr8YPnnAgF9TltYyMI97_e4RrBfCoRXW66DbDa6Y/edit?usp=drivesdk). 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.
***
This review is for The Keys of Hel by John French as it doesn't have its own entry and I've either read everything in this brilliant, if at times mixed anthology so far or will catch any I miss going forward.
April 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XII The Truth of Iron (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus/xii-the-truth-of-iron) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus series and extras.
What an en exquisitely perfect end to an anthology and The Truth of Iron Omnibus, especially with it being part of bookends of the after Isstvan majority of the collection with The Riven.
This is some wonderful and classic French, bringing in a uncanny, almost villanelle, poetry around the repetition around the question of what the Keys of Hel are. The prose is beautiful and has an almost oxymoronic rich, spartan aspect that perfectly captures this moment and tragic division in the Iron Hands.
The loss of Ferrus Mannus, the trauma of the Dropsite Massacre, and the pain of betrayal, both by their former brothers and their flesh as they fight this civil war is absolutely palpable here. The tragedy of the Heresy is humming in every word and the things people can do and become are very obviously on display here. There is, if not sympathy, or even empathy, some level of compassion, as well as eternal pain of becoming something forbidden and breaking oaths in order to fight perfidy and serve other oaths.
Truly a bittersweet and beautifully bleak tale.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 22.41 Horus Heresy novels, 13 novellas, 71 short stories/ audio dramas (including at least 3 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 13 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I am not counting the anthologies among the books as I am keeping track of all stories individually. 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.
thepattyshack's review against another edition
3.0
I have no shied away from talking about how hard it is to get through anything involving the iron hands.
But this novel takes a lot of the grievances I have had with their single note characteristics and actually showed them after pushing threw and growing from their experiences.
It's great to see I'm a world this large all of the different lost factions just trying to hit the traitors out of some sort of pestering drive to do something no matter how big or how small.
Some interesting characters that I'm intrigued in following further and lovely intertwining of stories.
But this novel takes a lot of the grievances I have had with their single note characteristics and actually showed them after pushing threw and growing from their experiences.
It's great to see I'm a world this large all of the different lost factions just trying to hit the traitors out of some sort of pestering drive to do something no matter how big or how small.
Some interesting characters that I'm intrigued in following further and lovely intertwining of stories.
farilian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
drwilko's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
itcamefromthepage's review against another edition
4.0
A great collection of short stories, that whilst not essential reading for the series, are nonetheless quality.
kavinay's review against another edition
1.0
The Raven Guard/Iron Hands marriages of convenience are becoming as tropey and boring as anything to do with Calth.
The Seventh Serpent might be the best story in the lot, but even then, you struggle to keep the cast of characters straight. Is it because it's too complex or really just that it's so hard to care about any of these interchangeable marines?
Move along.
The Seventh Serpent might be the best story in the lot, but even then, you struggle to keep the cast of characters straight. Is it because it's too complex or really just that it's so hard to care about any of these interchangeable marines?
Move along.
yrrah's review against another edition
4.0
Meduson by Dan Abnett - 5/5
Unforged and Unspoken by Guy Haley - 4/5 and 4/5
Immortal Duty by Nick Kyme - 4/5
Grey Talon and Hand Elect by Chris Wraight 5/5 and 3/5
The Keys of Hel by John French - 3/5
The Noose by David Annandale - 3/5
Deeds Endure by Gav Thorpe - 4/5
The Either by Graham McNeil - 5/5
The Seventh Serpent by Graham McNeil - 4/5
Unforged and Unspoken by Guy Haley - 4/5 and 4/5
Immortal Duty by Nick Kyme - 4/5
Grey Talon and Hand Elect by Chris Wraight 5/5 and 3/5
The Keys of Hel by John French - 3/5
The Noose by David Annandale - 3/5
Deeds Endure by Gav Thorpe - 4/5
The Either by Graham McNeil - 5/5
The Seventh Serpent by Graham McNeil - 4/5