Reviews

The Beheading by Guy Haley

trackofwords's review against another edition

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4.0

This is the final book in the series, so beware – if you haven’t read all of the other eleven books, there may be spoilers ahead…

Black Library’s The Beast Arises series comes to an end with book twelve, Guy Haley’s The Beheading. After the heroics of Shadow of Ullanor the Imperium is still reeling and in need of leadership, but the High Lords of Terra have proved themselves unequal to the task. Elsewhere First Captain Zerberyn and Warsmith Kalkator are still battling against the orks, while back on Terra, Inquisitors Wienand and Veritus are laying plans against the ambitions of Grand Master Vangorich. All the while, Chapter Master Thane of the reformed Imperial Fists seems the obvious candidate to lead the Imperium forward…

Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/the-beheading-guy-haley-the-beast-arises-book-twelve/

mcadoozy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

mcadoozy's review

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adventurous challenging dark sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

tcreedy's review

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4.0

Strong conclusion to a good series. Some great twists - penultimate book almost made me give up but glad I didn’t. Good insight into the world of the imperium.

itst's review

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4.0

This review is more about the series than this individual book.

I enjoyed The Beast very much. It casts lights on many aspects of Imperial life that otherwise remain oblique. Since the setting is the rather early post-Heresy Imperium, many developments leading to the grim dark galaxy of M40 are explained. (Not that M32 wasn't grim. Just, not that grim.) It features everything a good W40k series/book has to deliver on: epic, bone shattering battle, pathos, intrigue, glory.

If there is one thing to be wanting, it's the Orks. They remain pretty much faceless. Maybe Black Library/GW will surprise us with a mini-series on Orks?

Otherwise, see this forum thread for hints toW40k Ork stories: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/398021.page

kghdodge's review

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

l0rdtim865's review

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adventurous dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

kavinay's review

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4.0

The Mechanicus Richard Gere'd Ullanor!

trackofwords's review

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4.0

This is the final book in the series, so beware – if you haven’t read all of the other eleven books, there may be spoilers ahead…

Black Library’s The Beast Arises series comes to an end with book twelve, Guy Haley’s The Beheading. After the heroics of Shadow of Ullanor the Imperium is still reeling and in need of leadership, but the High Lords of Terra have proved themselves unequal to the task. Elsewhere First Captain Zerberyn and Warsmith Kalkator are still battling against the orks, while back on Terra, Inquisitors Wienand and Veritus are laying plans against the ambitions of Grand Master Vangorich. All the while, Chapter Master Thane of the reformed Imperial Fists seems the obvious candidate to lead the Imperium forward…

Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/the-beheading-guy-haley-the-beast-arises-book-twelve/

majorrawne's review

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5.0

What a magnificent ending to series, that manages to tie up all the various plot threads from throughout whilst at the same time deliciously teasing future possibilities of the universe.