Shattered LegionsThe Horus Heresy #43 Anthology Hardcover (Warhammer 40K 30K) by Laurie Goulding


Shattered LegionsThe Horus Heresy #43 Anthology Hardcover (Warhammer 40K 30K)
Title : Shattered LegionsThe Horus Heresy #43 Anthology Hardcover (Warhammer 40K 30K)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 178496574X
ISBN-10 : 9781784965747
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : -
Publication : First published April 15, 2017

Driven almost to the brink of self-destruction at Isstvan V, the Iron Hands now seek vengeance for the murder of their primarch Ferrus Manus. Gathering survivors from the Raven Guard and the Salamanders aboard any vessels capable of warp travel, these Shattered Legions wage a new campaign of annihilation against the traitor forces across the galaxy – a campaign masterminded by legendary warleader Shadrak Meduson. This Horus Heresy anthology contains ten short stories by authors including Dan Abnett, Chris Wraight, John French and many more. Also, in the novella The Seventh Serpent, Graham McNeill revisits the ragtag crew of the starship Sisypheum as they are drawn into a war of subterfuge against the Alpha Legion. ----- This Hardcover Edition contains the following stories: Meduson by Dan Abnett, The Noose by David Annandale, The Keys of Hel by John French, Unforged & Unspoken by Guy Haley, Immortal Duty by Nick Kyme, The Either & The Seventh Serpent by Graham McNeill, Deeds Endure by Gav Thorpe, Grey Talon & The Hand Elect by Chris Wraight


Shattered LegionsThe Horus Heresy #43 Anthology Hardcover (Warhammer 40K 30K) Reviews


  • Gianfranco Mancini



    Meduson by Dan Abnett: 5+++ stars

    Unforged by Guy Haley: 3 stars

    Immortal Duty by Nick Kyme: 4 stars

    Grey Talon by Chris Wraight: 5 stars

    The Keys of Hel by John French: 5 stars

    Deeds Endure by Gav Thorpe: 5+++ stars

    The Noose by David Annandale: 3 stars

    Unspoken by Guy Haley: 4 stars


    The Seventh Serpent by Graham McNeill: 5 stars

    The Hand Elect by Chris Wraight: 4 stars

    The Either by Graham McNeill: 5 stars

    Final vote: 4,5 rounded to 5 stars.

    There are lots of precious gems in this anthology, maybe best one of the long spanning Horus Heresy saga.
    The quest for vengeance of the steadfast Xth Legion, beheaded by the death of its primarch during the Drop Site Massacre on the world of Istvaan V at the start of the Heresy, is just thrilling and epic.
    And Shadrak Meduson, reluctant new War Leader of the Iron Hands, is just born by the stuff great heroes are made of.

  • Olethros

    -Propuesta poco común en esta saga y entre las antologías en general.-

    Género. Relatos.

    Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Legiones quebradas (publicación original: Shattered Legions, 2018) nos lleva hasta los acontecimientos posteriores a la masacre de legiones y primarcas en Isstvan V, que arrasa con el liderazgo y la mayoría de los efectivos de los Manos de Hierro, Salamandras y Guardia del Cuervo. A partir de las ideas de Shadrak Meduson del clan de Sorrgol, capitán de la Décima Compañía de los Manos de Hierro, muchas tradiciones serán cambiadas para unir las fuerzas de capítulos diferentes en un mismo grupo de combate, las Legiones Quebradas, que pueda resultar útil bajo unas condiciones tan difíciles. Libro cuadragésimo tercero de la serie La herejía de Horus.

    ¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:


    https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...

  • Sud666

    Shattered Legions was quite good. It is a collection of short stories set during the Horus Heresy directly after the events of Istavaan IV. Cataloging the adventures of Shadrak Meduson as he tries to lead a hybrid force of Iron Hands, Salamanders and Raven Guard survivors of the Dropsite Massacre are banding together to bring the fight to the traitor legions. Both Ferrus Manus and Vulkan, Primarchs of the Iron Hands and Salamanders, have fallen betrayed and killed by those they called brother. In the wake of this disaster, while struggling to come to grips with the extent of the Heresy, Meduson grabs the survivors and tries to strike back.

    This is a dark and grim tome. The overwhelming sense of despair, loss and anger is on display throughout these stories. No one knows whom to trust. Little to none suspect the forces of Chaos and think Horus has just gone rogue. No one knows which legions are trustworthy. By far the most dark tone I've run into. But that is what makes this so good. A collection of tales of how the "Shattered Legions", the moniker for the 3 legions that were decimated at Istvaan. A great background book for a look at the true scope of the tragedy that was the Heresy. A great collection for any Warhammer 40K fan looking to see what it was like during the Heresy.

  • Javir11

    6.75/10

    Como antología de relatos no está mal, pero peca de lo que no me termina de convencer de este tipo de historias, la calidad es bastante variable. Algunas de las historias me han gustado mucho y otras se me han hecho pesadas a pesar de ser un par de docenas de páginas.

    Como parte del conjunto de la Herejía veo necesaria esta "novela", ya que nos muestra el POV de las legiones que quedaron descabezadas o al borde de la extinción en Istvaan V, aunque me hubiera gustado más una novela tradicional, con su trama, personajes y demás.

    Seguiremos con la saga, que cada vez más nos acercamos a Terra.

  • Simon Mee

    An enjoyable collection that adds relevance to a hard done legion. It is definitely off the main track of the Horus Heresy, but I am pretty forgiving wit the fun ones.

    The perception of the Iron Hands that sticks with me is how they make do in the face of thousands of little (and occasional big) failures. The obvious major issue is how to re-organise themselves following the beheading of Ferrus Manus, but there are many individual ones. The flesh is weak (particularly if you’re a frozen semi-corpse full of bolter shells) but there are also degraded cybernetic limbs and pockmarked warships. Even their memories are damaged, as one Salamander has to correct them on the full context of the mantra that The flesh is weak.

    The collection is about a shoestring tied together by a fraying piece of twine army but, along with some aid from orphaned Salamanders and Raven Guard (Sharrowkyn elevating the latter far more than his Primarch has managed in his series), the Iron Hands make a cool side story. They also provoke counters from the Traitors, which adds dynamism to the setting. I do question the editorial comment in the Afterword that the efforts of the Iron Hands delays Horus’ march on Terra by two years, as that raises many an eyebrow about the competences of (a) Horus and (b) the Loyalist forces granted this boon of time, but I get the desire to give the Iron Hands relevant – after all, their models have to be made marketable somehow (balance as the Afterword calls it).

    The other major perception I have of the Iron Hands is that they just keep falling for treachery! Part of that is the book is a collection of novellas and short stories - a number of the authors saw an opportunity to reflect the treachery on Isstvan in the set pieces of their own stories. It does make the Iron Hands seem kind of goofy, but I reconcile it in my head with one of the earlier short story collections where Perturabo didn’t cover himself in glory against an Iron Fists fleet – it turns out that these super soldiers aren’t the tactical/strategic geniuses they think they are. It is a coping mechanism on my part, but with so many books, I have to plug the holes as I see fit.

  • RatGrrrl

    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/1t...). 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...) 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.

  • Michael Dodd

    Featuring Graham McNeill’s novella The Seventh Serpent as well as all the stories from the previously released Meduson collection, this is as close to a definitive picture of the Shattered Legions as we’re going to get.

    With a clear theme and a strong sense of tone, this is perhaps one of the most successful anthologies in the series to date.

    Read the full review at
    http://www.trackofwords.com/2017/05/2...

  • Kavinay

    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.

  • Matthew Hipsher

    Another meh in the series. This book in the Horus Heresy series focuses on the Iron Hands legion and how they cope after the death of their Primarch on Isthvan. They are written as single minded automatons, that only want revenge and vengeance, and rely on other legions to remind them of what they once were. It doesn't make for a very interesting book, and this book can totally be skipped in the HH series, nothing of import will be missed.
    This book is another anthology of shorter stories.

  • Tyler Kershaw

    A couple of good stories in here but my god it's so dull. Same story repeated over and over again. Iron Hands are outnumbered, they fight despite this, rince and repeat.

  • Al Ubilla

    Saved by more tales of the crew of the Sisypheum

  • Richard Samuel

    A great selection of Iron Hand books including the rise of Shadrak Meduson!

  • Kieran Delaney

    Cannot believe I’m saying this but - finally a consistently good story collection in the HH series.

  • Daniel

    This, the 43rd book in the Horus Heresy series describes through many stories and a novella, the machinations and trials the Shattered Legions endure. These are the remnants of three Space marine chapters, fled from the Dropsite Massacre of Istvaan 4. The Sons of Ferrus Manus, the Iron Hands, the Sons of Vulkan, the Salamanders and the Sons of Corvus Corax, the Raven Guard are fighting against the Traitor Legions. In these stories we see the Loyalists learn to make war together after almost falling apart. We read and hear of the rogue Warleader, Shadrak Meduson attempting to pull the Shattered Legions into a solid fighting force. We read of the change of battle approach these legions have. We read of the triumphs and failures of the Shattered Legions in the face of all adversity. And we see the fight delivered to the Alpha Legion, the last Legion of Space Marines, the XX. Led by the Primarch Alpharius, these marines, as a multi-headed Hydra being their symbol, portray this icon with great determination. They have plots and plans inside deceit and lies. There are none better than the Sons of Alpharius.

    This was a great collection of stories, plain and simple. The Seventh Serpent, the included novella is Graham McNeill at his best. I really enjoyed these stories and as always, they keep me excited for the next book in the series. The wait is on and it is excruciating!
    Always well worth it though.
    Read this if you are a fan of the Horus Heresy and you want to read how these three Legions learn to accept change and work in ways their chapters may have never made war before. The strength of the Shattered Legion relies on the individual chapters becoming a unified fighting force. This was a great book!

    Danny

  • Daniel McGill

    Another collection of previously published stories, in fact this one seems identical to "Meduson" other than the addition of the Novella "The Seventh Serpent". Some good stuff here including the two Novellas but nothing new. Don't buy "Meduson" if you already have this one and don't get this one of you've read "Meduson" and "The Seventh Serpent".

  • Siberian Vampire

    I enjoyed it. Good.

  • Mark Wright

    Sharrowkyn and Waylon are the Legolas and Gimli of the Horus Heresy universe.

  • John Vance

    Strong, captivating collection of short stories revolving around the Iron Hands after the attack on Isstvan. They are a desperate legion who have seemingly accepted the fact that they are on the brink of extinction and all they want is a chance to hurt those that wronged them. They know full well that they won’t stop anyone from anything, so long as those responsible for the betrayal suffer a bloody nose by their hands. They just want to be remembered for not going without a fight. Fascinating characters.

  • Matthew Taylor

    Another enjoyable compilation. The HH series is starting to reach that point of such multi-layered storyline that a book like this is basically incomprehensible to anyone without a solid understanding of the series - and most of the books that are not this incomprehensible rely heavily on a solid understanding of the Warhammer 40,000 setting to keep the reader anchored. Tl:dr: Don't get this unless you're trying to do the whole series.

  • Pavle

    A top favorite collections of short stories regarding the Iron Hands as the main protagonists. The cultural differences and divides with their cousin legions is an interesting avenue the authors of this frequently explore ~ more particular ~ they give some love to the Iron Hands (what little you can) following the Istvaan V Massacre. I think it did the three shattered legions justice and I really appreciated the nods.

    Shadrak Meduson is a legend.

  • Adam Moran

    The afterword somewhat ironically mentions the idea of "treading water", which is unfortunately exactly what this collection of mostly passable and fairly action-trope-heavy short stories manages to accomplish in the overall scheme of the Horus Heresy.

    Black Library were really starting to take the piss with the preponderance of these mostly backward-looking anthologies as the series shambled on. Their apparent reluctance to let the story ever progress is such a detriment at this late stage.

  • Christoph Kappel

    Well, another anthology. For what is worth, this time with a central theme about the Iron Hands, a legion which hadn't much "screen" time yet.

    The internal struggle of the shattered legion is really interesting, although some of the stories were a bid slow, when you consider how late it is in the general storyline of the Heresy.

    My personal favourite part is the one about the Alpha Legion, Meduson and Sharrowkyn though.

  • Christian

    This was an excellent collection of fast moving and action packed short stories primarily about the survivors of the Dropsite Massacre and their enemies. It shows the physical and psychological weariness of this kind of guerrilla warfare and highlights the unsung heroes of the Imperium that delayed Horus' march to Terra.