Iron Hands (Warhammer 40,000) by Jonathan Green

Iron Hands (Warhammer 40,000) Reviews

• 
  Davide Delli Gatti

  Did not finish. The first third of this book shows promise, but after that it gets progressively worse: by the time I was close to the last few pages it was nigh unreadable, I could not get to the actual end.
  There is ONE (1) action scene in this whole book, and it's a pretty good one, the only thing that stopped me from giving this book the minimum rating possible. The rest of the book is dedicated to a poor excuse of a plot, full of inconsequential story beats and extremely mediocre characters. The prose is clunky, unnecessarily verbose, and full of sloppily written sentences, not to mention the constant namedropping of unrelated games workshop models, probably as some form of advertisement. Sorry Jonathan, I didn't want to roast you this bad, but you really pulled it out of me.
• 
  Tarvek Val

  Overall, I found this novel to be a satisfactory read, if not overwhelmingly excellent. The storyline of the novel was interesting, if a bit repetitive. The writing was fairly clean and well-edited, though there are certainly some inconsistencies between the novel and current 40k lore. As others have already pointed out, for example, main character Iron-Father Gdolkin is recruited into the Iron Hands Chapter at a much later age than is typical of Astartes warriors.
  
  The main characters of the novel don't have much depth, and not much character development occurs over the course of the story. Iron-Father Gdolkin is angry (or furious, vexed, irate, pissed off, etc.) at all times, which certainly feels out-of-character for a warrior of the cold, logical Iron Hands at times. Magos Thule, who takes nominal command of Gdolkin's detachment, is a stereotypical enigmatic follower of the Machine-God. He offers little explanation for his actions or goals, despite frequently putting himself and his companions in harm's way. Overall, there's a surprising lack of communication and trust between the followers of the Omnissiah and the Iron Hands, given their shared veneration of the machine.
  
  While the characters may feel a bit flat and underdeveloped at times, the reader does receive some valuable insights into the Iron Hands' culture and operating methods. The second half of the book, which sees Gdolkin and Thule nearing their respective objectives, has a nice twist to it. Overall, worth picking up for die-hard fans of the Iron Hands.
• 
  Peter Kohut

  Yay! This one is about my favorite Space Marine chapter. Good story :D
• 
  Peter

  I really wanted to like this book.
  Unfortunately Jonathan Green's writing, while creative, is also clunky. Words like "Chaos-lovers" pop up and don't feel like they fit into the text. This is really sad, as his grasp of the gothic grimdark style is spot on.
  The book is also riddled with "model names" - why would a Space Marine looking at a flying Chaos Space Marine call him a "Raptor" - just like the model? I understand why that happens, but it doesn't really work, storytellingwise.
  
  It's very interesting reading a book written before the bloated Horus Heresy-series came about. The Heresy is spoken of in vague terms, as is the primarchs.
  Sadly, it reminds me of how I liked things and how off they are now.
  This cannot save the book though.
  
  Final words and a severe spoiler:
  WHY would you make the plot that Ferrus could be in hiding on this here planet? You, as a writer, knows you'll never be allowed to bring him back.
  Why would you make us excited for 2/3rds of a book, only to have it fizz out with "well he wasn't there, but this place was still super important" - the last fifty pages were an absolute chore.
  
  I was gonna give this book 2 stars, but the last thirty pages were beyond boring - and ultimately pointless.
• 
  Steve

  Not a bad read overall, it is just a matter of the Iron Hands being as a chapter so unlikable. They are just ill humored and dogmatic, which doesnt make for an enjoyable experience.
• 
  Oliver

  Not sure why this book has such a high rating.
  To be blunt its badly written.
  Let me elaborate, the protagonist in the story was recruited in space marine chapter at age of 16, this is very late according to space marine lore, as first of implants are idealy done on recruits at age 10 to 14, since the chances of recruits body rejecting impants are much higher the older they get, so if natives of the planet were sending potential recruits for the trial there would be a age requirement.
  Secondly protagonist shivered with fear at mention of abadons name, now lets ignore the fact that the changes in space marines biology makes them unable to feel fear, and just look at who the protagonist is, and that is a warrior with 200 years of expirience of most brutal warfare imaginable, a superhuman bred for war, the very notion that he would feel fear at someones name is laughable.
  Third, when he was given the command to go on a mission, it seemed that he could decline the order.
  For a military order that is impossible, for since of dawn of mankind any and all armys were organized by hierarchy and when leaders ordered something it has to be done, thats the backbone of every army that ever existed, thats what makes an army, if it wouldnt be so then it wouldnt be an army.
  And were speaking of a military organization with 10 000 year old tradition, whose warriors are mind washed, indoctrinated etc, who train aprox 10 years before they are recognized as full space marines
  It just doesnt make sense.
  I stoped reading at half of the book and yet i could go on more on mistakes and ilogical things in this book but i think its enough.
  The author did a bad job on researching the material of what he was writing at best its superficial.
• 
  Derek Weese

  This was one of three of Black Library's Print on Demand books I received as a cool Christmas gift. This was also the first one I picked up to read. I had high hopes for this one, having missed out on the back catalog due to not joining the 40K bandwagon till about 2011-2012. (Been doing a lot of reading, I swear my room is filled now with omnibuses...)
  
  The Iron Hands (X Legion) are one of my three favorite Loyalist Legions, and after having read Fulgrim in the Horus Heresy series, I've always pined for more of them. So it was with eagerness that I cracked open this book only a few days post-Christmas.
  
  It's not a bad book, just not a great one. Jonathan Green is certainly a very good writer, and there is nothing wrong structurally with the book. However, the two main characters- Iron Father Anatolus Gdolkin and Magos Thule- are two of the least likeable characters to follow. The Mechanicus Magos is about as friendly as moldy cheese on a hot summers day in a closed room while the Iron Father is constantly pissed...at everything...and everyone...possibly even himself...and puppies.
  No, really, the man is always in a bad temper.
  The action scenes were well done though I have one small complaint about the final action scene-the Word Bearer's Sorcerer and the duel he had with Gdolkin seemed, at least to me, almost anti-climactic.
  Still, for all of that, there were bits I truly enjoyed and loved. The opening scenes describing how Gdolkin joined the Iron Hands are pure gold-makes me wish for an Iron Hands series. (ahem, BL writers, ahem...) And the novel does portray the Iron Hands as a no nonsense, ass kicking Legion.
  
  All in all not a gem but certainly not a clod of dirt either. I feel comfortable giving it three stars.
• 
  Michael T Bradley

  Oh dear God, at this point in the 40K fiction line, the books should NOT be this "tell, don't show." I'd just finished "Fulgrim," so a chance to see where the Iron Hands were 10k years post-Ferrus Manum's decapitation seemed entertaining. But I got nearly a third of the way through the book and the central question of why the main character had been placed where he was still wasn't answered. Instead I was slogging through pages of description explaining that the Iron Hands really LIKE being augmented & worked well w/the Mechanicum. As a little tip, want to know a slightly better way to let me, the reader, know that without STRAIGHT-UP TELLING me? After the new iron hand is put on to the main character (name forgotten), maybe have him give a "contented sigh" and whisper, "Nice." Then look to his second, who has lots of ersatz bits, and give a knowing wink. The other guy could give a metal thumbs-up in return.
  
  EVEN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN WHAT THIS BOOK READS LIKE. Ugh.
• 
  Mochnant

  Fairly low quality, repetitive writing and cardboard characters. Interesting for WH40k fans, but put this at the back of your to-read shelf.