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Saturnine
- Siege of Terra: The Horus Heresy, Book 4
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble, Emma Gregory
- Length: 16 hrs and 48 mins
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The First Wall
- Siege of Terra: The Horus Heresy, Book 3
- Written by: Gav Thorpe
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Story
The war for the fate of mankind blazes on. Though the outer defences have fallen, the walls of the Palace itself remain inviolate as Rogal Dorn, the Praetorian of Terra himself, uses every known stratagem and ploy to keep Horus' vast armies at bay. In Perturabo, the Traitor siegebreaker, Dorn faces an adversary worthy of his skill. A terrible, grinding attrition ensues. The crucial battle for the Lion's Gate spaceport is at the heart of this conflict. With it in their possession, the Traitors can land their most devastating weapons on Terran soil. Dorn knows it must not fall.
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I hate that stupid song they sing
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-03-14
Written by: Gav Thorpe
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Mortis
- The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra, Book 5
- Written by: John French
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 16 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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After a series of victories, the Imperial forces are on the back foot once more. The power of Chaos is rising, the Traitors gain ground, and all hope seems lost. Can Terra endure?
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nothing happened.
- By Amazon Customer on 2021-09-17
Written by: John French
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The Lost and the Damned
- Siege of Terra: The Horus Heresy, Book 2
- Written by: Guy Haley
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
On the 13th day of Secundus, the bombardment of Terra began. With the solar defences overcome through the devastating strength of the Traitor armada and the power of the warp, Horus launches his assault on the Throneworld in earnest. After withstanding a ferocious barrage of ordnance, an immense ground war commences outside the Palace, with every inch gained paid for in the lives of billions.
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"Top pick" series
- By Anonymous User on 2020-02-16
Written by: Guy Haley
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Warhawk
- The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra, Book 6
- Written by: Chris Wraight
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The Inner Walls are breached. Traitor vanguards tear towards the heart of the Palace, sensing victory. Desperate gambits are attempted: an unwilling saint is released into the ruins, as well as an enthusiastic sinner. A black sword rises, forged from spite, ready to create a legend. But amid the slaughter, Jaghatai Khan, Warhawk of Chogoris, prepares to launch the most audacious strike of the conflict. His goal is nothing less than the liberation of the Lion's Gate space port.
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best one since saturnine
- By Anonymous User on 2021-10-05
Written by: Chris Wraight
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Echoes of Eternity
- The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra, Book 7
- Written by: Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The Warmaster’s horde advances through the fire and ash of Terra's dying breaths, forcing the loyalists back to the Delphic Battlement—the very walls of the Sanctum Imperialis. Angron, Primarch of the World Eaters and Herald of Horus, has achieved immortality through annihilation—now he leads the armies of the damned in a wrathful tide, destroying all before them as the warp begins its poisonous corruption of Terra's very soil.
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40k at it's over the top best
- By william on 2022-09-22
Written by: Aaron Dembski-Bowden
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The Armour of Contempt
- Gaunt's Ghosts: Warhammer 40,000, Book 10
- Written by: Dan Abnett
- Narrated by: Toby Longworth
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt spent a year fighting as part of the underground resistance on the enemy-held world of Gereon. When he left, he promised that he would bring the forces of the Imperium to liberate Gereon's citizens from their oppressors. Now he has returned, a crusade army at his back, but he finds a world devastated by war and a people irrevocably damaged by the taint of Chaos. Now Gaunt must fight to save Gereon not only from the enemy, but from the Imperium itself.
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If you have gone this far don't wait it's worth it
- By Anonymous User on 2023-01-23
Written by: Dan Abnett
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The First Wall
- Siege of Terra: The Horus Heresy, Book 3
- Written by: Gav Thorpe
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The war for the fate of mankind blazes on. Though the outer defences have fallen, the walls of the Palace itself remain inviolate as Rogal Dorn, the Praetorian of Terra himself, uses every known stratagem and ploy to keep Horus' vast armies at bay. In Perturabo, the Traitor siegebreaker, Dorn faces an adversary worthy of his skill. A terrible, grinding attrition ensues. The crucial battle for the Lion's Gate spaceport is at the heart of this conflict. With it in their possession, the Traitors can land their most devastating weapons on Terran soil. Dorn knows it must not fall.
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I hate that stupid song they sing
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-03-14
Written by: Gav Thorpe
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Mortis
- The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra, Book 5
- Written by: John French
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 16 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
After a series of victories, the Imperial forces are on the back foot once more. The power of Chaos is rising, the Traitors gain ground, and all hope seems lost. Can Terra endure?
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nothing happened.
- By Amazon Customer on 2021-09-17
Written by: John French
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The Lost and the Damned
- Siege of Terra: The Horus Heresy, Book 2
- Written by: Guy Haley
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
On the 13th day of Secundus, the bombardment of Terra began. With the solar defences overcome through the devastating strength of the Traitor armada and the power of the warp, Horus launches his assault on the Throneworld in earnest. After withstanding a ferocious barrage of ordnance, an immense ground war commences outside the Palace, with every inch gained paid for in the lives of billions.
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"Top pick" series
- By Anonymous User on 2020-02-16
Written by: Guy Haley
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Warhawk
- The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra, Book 6
- Written by: Chris Wraight
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Inner Walls are breached. Traitor vanguards tear towards the heart of the Palace, sensing victory. Desperate gambits are attempted: an unwilling saint is released into the ruins, as well as an enthusiastic sinner. A black sword rises, forged from spite, ready to create a legend. But amid the slaughter, Jaghatai Khan, Warhawk of Chogoris, prepares to launch the most audacious strike of the conflict. His goal is nothing less than the liberation of the Lion's Gate space port.
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best one since saturnine
- By Anonymous User on 2021-10-05
Written by: Chris Wraight
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Echoes of Eternity
- The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra, Book 7
- Written by: Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The Warmaster’s horde advances through the fire and ash of Terra's dying breaths, forcing the loyalists back to the Delphic Battlement—the very walls of the Sanctum Imperialis. Angron, Primarch of the World Eaters and Herald of Horus, has achieved immortality through annihilation—now he leads the armies of the damned in a wrathful tide, destroying all before them as the warp begins its poisonous corruption of Terra's very soil.
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40k at it's over the top best
- By william on 2022-09-22
Written by: Aaron Dembski-Bowden
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The Armour of Contempt
- Gaunt's Ghosts: Warhammer 40,000, Book 10
- Written by: Dan Abnett
- Narrated by: Toby Longworth
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt spent a year fighting as part of the underground resistance on the enemy-held world of Gereon. When he left, he promised that he would bring the forces of the Imperium to liberate Gereon's citizens from their oppressors. Now he has returned, a crusade army at his back, but he finds a world devastated by war and a people irrevocably damaged by the taint of Chaos. Now Gaunt must fight to save Gereon not only from the enemy, but from the Imperium itself.
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If you have gone this far don't wait it's worth it
- By Anonymous User on 2023-01-23
Written by: Dan Abnett
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The Solar War
- Siege of Terra: The Horus Heresy, Book 1
- Written by: John French
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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After seven years of bitter war, the end has come at last for the conflict known infamously as the Horus Heresy. Terra now lies within the Warmaster’s sights, the Throneworld and the seat of his father’s rule. Horus’ desire is nothing less than the death of the Emperor of Mankind and the utter subjugation of the Imperium. He has become the ascendant vessel of Chaos and amassed a terrible army with which to enact his will and vengeance. But the way to the Throne will be hard as the primarch Rogal Dorn, the Praetorian and protector of Terra, marshals the defences.
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Epic
- By Timothy Lawlor on 2019-07-19
Written by: John French
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Sons of the Selenar
- The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra
- Written by: Graham McNeill
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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The Shattered Legions crew of the Sisypheum, broken and at the end of their endurance, find themselves divided - torn between following their resurrected captain on a suicidal mission or obeying orders to return to Terra and rejoin their Legion brothers. Following a series of garbled messages intercepted by the Kryptos, the divided warriors descend to the shattered surface of Luna. Here, their bonds of loyalty, duty, and their devotion to one another will be tested as ancient horrors of the earliest days of gene-manipulation are unleashed, and a long-buried secret is revealed.
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They made a pretty big difference in the longrun
- By Curtis on 2020-09-30
Written by: Graham McNeill
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Fury of Magnus
- Siege of Terra: The Horus Heresy
- Written by: Graham McNeill
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 6 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Of all the Emperor’s sons who fell to Chaos, it is perhaps Magnus the Red whose tale is the most tragic. Sanctioned because of his desire for knowledge, chastised, judged, and shattered to his very elements – there is much for the Crimson King to feel vengeful for. Yet revenge is not the only thing that draws him to Terra alongside the Warmaster’s besieging armies. He seeks something, a fragment, the missing piece of himself that lies within the most impregnable place on the planet – the inner sanctum of the Imperial Palace.
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Great story ,great narration but dragged
- By Brandonn yorke on 2022-08-20
Written by: Graham McNeill
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The Buried Dagger
- The Horus Heresy, Book 54
- Written by: James Swallow
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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For long years, the Horus Heresy has ground on. Now, the Death Guard have been sent to begin the final battle. But Mortarion and his sons must face their gravest challenge first - for Nurgle has claimed them as his own, and he will not be denied.... The skies darken over Terra as the final battle for the Throne looms ever closer.... As the Traitor primarchs muster to the Warmaster’s banner, it is Mortarion who is sent ahead as the vanguard of the Traitor forces. But as he and his warriors make way, they become lost in the warp and stricken by a terrible plague.
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One of the better Heresy novels
- By Aiden Mitchell on 2022-12-21
Written by: James Swallow
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Slaves to Darkness
- The Horus Heresy, Book 51
- Written by: John French
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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After a long and gruelling conflict, the traitors at last close upon Terra. But time is dwindling for an attack. Both Guilliman and the Lion are returning with all haste, and their armies could turn the tide. The hosts of the Warmaster must unite, for only then can they attack the Throneworld itself. While Mortarion is sent on ahead as the fleet’s vanguard, it falls to Lorgar and Perturabo to marshal Fulgrim and Angron, both now elevated to daemonhood and perhaps beyond even the will of the Warmaster to command.
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Acting very good
- By Aiden Mitchell on 2022-08-17
Written by: John French
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The Master of Mankind
- The Horus Heresy, Book 41
- Written by: Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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While Horus' rebellion burns across the galaxy, a very different kind of war rages beneath the Imperial Palace. The 'Ten Thousand' Custodian Guard, along with the Sisters of Silence and the Mechanicum forces of Fabricator General Kane, fight to control the nexus points of the ancient eldar webway that lie closest to Terra, infested by daemonic entities after Magnus the Red's intrusion.
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Very enlightening, extremely sad for humanity
- By Hannes Visagie on 2019-12-27
Written by: Aaron Dembski-Bowden
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Plague War
- Dark Imperium: Warhammer 40,000, Book 2
- Written by: Guy Haley
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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In the void and upon the worlds of Greater Ultramar, the battle for the Imperium continues. Intent on rebuilding his home realm and using it as a base to reconstruct the ravaged stellar empire of mankind, the returned primarch, Roboute Guilliman, proceeds with his war to drive Mortarion and his Death Guard Traitor Legion from the domain of the Ultramarines. But when Guilliman brings his brother to battle upon the diseased plains of Parmenio, the intervention of a greater power in their fraternal struggle threatens to upend the Imperial Regent’s understanding of the galaxy.
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A meandering slog
- By Anonymous User on 2022-06-05
Written by: Guy Haley
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Dark Imperium
- Dark Imperium: Warhammer 40,000, Book 1
- Written by: Guy Haley
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Fell times have come to the galaxy. Cadia has fallen, destroyed by the onslaught of Chaos. A Great Rift in the warp has opened, and from its depths spew daemons and the horrors of Old Night. But all hope is not lost… A hero, long absent, has returned, and with him comes the wrath of the Ultramarines reborn. Roboute Guilliman has arisen to lead the Imperium out of darkness on a crusade the likes of which has not been seen since the fabled days of the Emperor. But never before have the forces of Ruin amassed in such numbers, and nowhere is safe from despoliation.
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goood!
- By Max on 2021-06-13
Written by: Guy Haley
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Godblight
- Dark Imperium: Warhammer 40,000, Book 3
- Written by: Guy Haley
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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The paths of Roboute Guilliman and his fallen brother Mortarion bring them inexorably together on Iax. Once a jewel of the Imperium, the garden world is dying as the plans of the Lord of Death to use it as a fulcrum to drag the stellar realm of Ultramar into the warp come to deadly fruition. While Guilliman attempts to prevent the destruction of his kingdom, Mortarion schemes to bring his brother low with the Godblight, a disease created in the Cauldron of Nurgle itself, made with the power to destroy a son of the Emperor.
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brilliant
- By Konstantinos Kontovas on 2021-08-20
Written by: Guy Haley
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Heralds of the Siege
- The Horus Heresy, Book 52
- Written by: John French, Guy Haley, Nick Kyme, and others
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble, Matthew Hunt
- Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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A galaxy burns and brother turns on brother as the conflict brought about by a beloved son’s betrayal reaches its fateful end. The Warmaster Horus has triumphed. His massive fleet at last nears Terra and the patriarchal Throne of his hated father. Many have fallen to bring this moment about; their tales are the ashes upon which the Heresy was born and prospered. Others have played their own small parts, drops in an ocean of war and blood. None of it matters. Terra looks to the skies as it raises its defences. Armies muster, heroes raise their swords, citizens cower. The war is coming. And nothing can stop it.
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The Seeming Calm Before the Storm
- By Amazon Customer on 2021-12-10
Written by: John French, and others
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Titandeath
- The Horus Heresy, Book 53
- Written by: Guy Haley
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Horus’ armada gathers, and he has defeated all enemies sent against him, even the Emperor’s own executioner. One barrier remains before he can strike for Terra and lay waste to the Emperor’s dream. The Beta-Garmon system occupies the most direct and only viable route to the Solar System and Terra. To break it, Horus assembles a war host of incredible proportions and Titans in untold numbers. To lose here is to lose the war, and Horus has no intention of turning back. But the Imperium understands the importance of Beta-Garmon too.
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Titans Forever
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-01-30
Written by: Guy Haley
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Wolfsbane
- The Horus Heresy, Book 49
- Written by: Guy Haley
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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The time has come for Leman Russ, primarch of the Space Wolves, to fulfil his vow and attempt to stop Warmaster Horus before he breaks through to the Segmentum Solar. In the face of opposition from three of his brother primarchs, Russ withdraws the Space Wolves legion from Terra and makes all haste for Horus’ position. Reports from Malcador the Sigillite’s agents suggest that Horus is utterly changed and infused with a diabolical power so great that no man can stand against him.
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Awesome audio book
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-06-06
Written by: Guy Haley
Publisher's Summary
As the traitors tighten their grip on Terra, Rogal Dorn must marshal the Imperial hosts to weather the storm. But not all of the defenders will survive the onslaught....
Listen to it because:
Dan Abnett returns to the Horus Heresy! Experience one of the crucial stages of the Siege, as Rogal Dorn and Horus match wits in a game of Regicide where the board is the Throneworld itself, and one wrong move could lead to utter devastation....
The story:
The Traitor Host of Horus Lupercal tightens its iron grip on the Palace of Terra, and one by one the walls and bastions begin to crumple and collapse. Rogal Dorn, Praetorian of Terra, redoubles his efforts to keep the relentless enemy at bay, but his forces are vastly outnumbered and hopelessly outgunned. Dorn simply cannot defend everything. Any chance of survival now requires sacrifice, but what battles dare he lose so that others can be won? Is there one tactical stroke, one crucial combat, that could turn the tide forever and win the war outright?
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What listeners say about Saturnine
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Bert Whaling
- 2020-07-20
Best Horus Heresy novel so far!
Blows every other 40k and heresy book out of the water! I'll be listening to this again. Might get a hard copy too.
3 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 2020-09-01
Imperial Masturbation
The forces of chaos are bumbling fools with seemingly no tactical acumen. They do not make for compelling villains the way this has been written. Engagements are painfully predictable. A single SM champion will be able to successfully battle back a daemon Primarch, while 50 Chaos Champions can barely scratch a loyalist one. You don't even need to listen to know the outcomes of battles. Chaos only ever succeeds by weight of numbers. It's a childish and uncompelling story of good always triumphing over supposed evil no matter the odds. To have your heros be worth while characters you have to allow them to fail occasionally. Villains who constantly make hilariously stupid and head scratching decisions only to advance a weak plot. If all you want is Imperial masturbation, this is for you. If you want a compelling story that acknowledges the complexity of both sides, skip this and the other Siege of Terra books. This furthers the damage done to the lore under the current hierarchy of GW, with their massive retcons and their writing of the lore thats closely elated to minitature profitability.
2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 2020-08-05
Best Book of the Seige of Terra series to date!
This book is a pure masterpiece from start to finish, the content and delivery of the book are second to none in the Horus Heresy.
The content is outdone by the narration, just pure magic.
2 people found this helpful
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- 3257436
- 2023-01-25
By far my favourite book in the Heresy so far
The actual story with it's cast of recurring demi-gods and trans-humans be damned. The highlight of this book in my opinion is the "stories" of all of the regular "base format Humans" and one absolutely beautifully written Null. Emma Gregory's delivery of her character is beautiful, heart aching and one of the most touching examples of how a great narrator can put an entire soul behind a character. Jonathan Keeble is impeccable as always, many of the voices he employs in the interactions between the common footslogger in this story are superb. Even the almost bored tone he adopts sometimes as the narrator reciting a character's regiment help you feel present in a way that many of the other stories so far may have fallen short on. I also found that the the more philosophical ideas in this one were presented in a way that felt very relatable, lacking the usual boring dogmatic voice and delivered in a way that made me care far more deeply 58 books deep than I had previously thought possible. Some of the books in the heresy are "endured" to get to where we want to be (cough* cough* every book not containing the Wolves *cough *cough). This one, I will return to when the I have completed the heresy and moved on to other things...likely more than once.
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-01-16
Excellent 40k Novel
Certainly one of the strongest SoT books. Solid voice acting, as usual. The book itself is very much in line with HH and SoT style, and certainly has some memorable moments and lines. Highly recommended for any fan of Warhammer 40k's Imperial factions, and really any fan of Warhammer 40k in general. Just a word of caution - if you are new to the franchise you will want to start with the Horus Heresy series, which is many novels long and varied in quality. Despite the mountain of listening to get to these moments, they truly shine.
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- Anonymous User
- 2022-01-05
Dan Abnett does it again
Amazing book. Worth it. Magical interwoven storyline with wonderful characters. To be honest…I think Dan should write every Horus Heresy book.
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- Kaiser
- 2021-10-15
MUST READ Well listes to it
this is a great book. and as usual Emma gregory and Jonathan keeble are doing a fantastic work
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- Amazon Customer
- 2021-09-05
The Best of The Fall
Read this when you're done with the first four Heresy books, when you're done with Eisenstein and Fulgrim. This has been my favourite of all of them. This is 40k and one book means more with every book you read. Dorn, the Khan, Tankred, Aximund AND Abbadon in one story.
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- cody wutzke
- 2021-07-29
What a ride!
HANDS Down I recommend this book. Always a pleasure reading the works of Dan Abnett!
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- Amazon Customer
- 2021-04-20
Possibly the best read of the whole of the HH
This is a completely exquisite book, top 3 in the whole series. Just simply fantastic.
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- Anonymous User
- 2020-07-14
Saturnine AKA The Weakest Entry Thus Far
TL;DR: Poor dialogue, incongruent characterization, and overly high-minded writing make Saturnine the weakest entry in the series. Unfortunately some big reveals might make this neccesary reading.
As the series is written by multiple authors, inevitably there will be variance in the character portrayal and dialogue. However the prior entries in the series have done a commendable job in ensuring the characters feel similar in both action and manner of speech. Saturnine is a major departure from this trend and really detracts from immersion. This is the only novel in the series I actually had to ask myself if I should see if I could return it.
To begin, I'm no prude to be put off by coarse language, but part of what breathes life into the setting is the way the characters speak. The relatively little cursing makes the setting feel as if it's in a time long past while in truth being in the far future. When I hear Horus Aximand say "I love teasing the s#!% out of you.", it takes me out of the setting, not to mention just being weak dialogue and out of character. It feels too much like something I'd hear in our own time, not from the mouth of a 200 year old Astartes officer. It's a pervasive issue throughout the novel and it makes me wonder if the author bothered reading any of the previous entries to grasp the feel that had been previously established. Previous novels attempted to establish Abbadon as beginning to develop into the future warmaster of chaos, but it seems completely absent in this novel. Abbadon seems nearly an entirely different character. None of the proud disdain for the traitor primarchs, none of the decisive nature. He becomes a joke by the end, and while this may be enjoyable for those in the failbaddon camp, I prefer the more recent portrayals of Abbadon that Gamesworkshop has been going for. He's the future warmaster of chaos, he should be a strong, threatening figure. Certainly not throwing temper tantrums.
I could go on and on about instances of bad dialogue and out of character moments such as these. However I hope this at least gives you a vague picture of what you'll find in this book. If I loved 40k any less than I do, I'd have skipped the book. That said, there are some decent big reveals that I'd say make it neccesary to soldier through reading this novel. Hope the next one is a return to form. Should honestly just give the series to Guy Hayley lol.
29 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 2020-08-01
Please Dan, Read The Established Lore
This book disacknowledges and breaks several pieces of established lore set by authors such as Aaron Dembski-Bowden. Seemingly retconning events that occurred in stories such as The First Heretic and the Black Legion series. The life of Falkus Kibre leader of the Justaerin, and the scattering of the primarchs Mr. Abnett has suddenly tampered with. In Pt:3 Ch:5 he even says Kharn is 1st captain, Kharn was NEVER First Captain he is 8TH CAPTAIN. 8TH CAPTAIN KHARN FOR F**** SAKE.. Almost every fight that is to happen will suddenly jump to some unrelated scene, after about 6th time this starts to feel DRAINING. In addition to its incongruity this book has been sprinkled with modern day politics and terms which is unfortunate to see in a Warhammer novel. Abaddons characterization has simply fallen flat on it's face. Some of the strongest warriors in the entire galaxy (Death Guard and World Eaters), are reduced to mindless incompetent savages and simple disease carriers without martial prowess. They are treated as chaff and cut down as simply as basic mortals. Fulgrim is VERY underpowered and the fight with Dorn was lackluster.. Another disappointing entry to the Siege. Get your damn lore straight Mr. Abnett.. I will be reading Betrayer again to cleanse my palate.
25 people found this helpful
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- Frank
- 2020-07-13
Very much disliked
I've read/listened to a lot of Abnetts books and liked them but this one is not one of them at all.
Got about 5 hours in before giving up. Some sections are well done (Dorn, Sanguinius, Perturabo), but others just made me cringe (The sister of silence seemed to exist only to think about how strong certain characters are or fuel a side story that got on my nerves quickly.) Dissappointing since how much I liked the Sisters in the War on the Webway books and the 40k book Watchers of the Throne.
Also, the word "shit" is used A LOT in this piece when I've only ever heard it used in many other books maybe once. it's super glaring when characters who have never said it in past novels talk about the shit hitting the fan and such.
Disappointing entry in the Siege of Terra series and disappointing entry in Abnett's bibliography.
17 people found this helpful
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- Linda
- 2020-07-20
Fantastic performances but bad history!
Falcus Kibre didn't die on Terra. He initiated finding Abaddon and the Vengeful Spirit 10,000 years AFTER the siege, (now this has become a conflicting lore. Thanks , Dan ) and the 3rd with Telemachon Lyras did not take part in the siege; instead they raided the planet for slaves and supplies. (Black Legion book). I just wish the errors were not there, otherwise, I liked the book. Dan Abnet has been writing Warhammer lore for years and this has egregious mistakes.
13 people found this helpful
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- RickyP
- 2020-07-30
Ok but showing some flaws.
This one has some issues. It came down to three things. The first is it felt like the author was borderline inserting modern politics into it. With alot of weird talk about truth not being important and some real red flag words like "gender fluid." The second issue is that having a second narrator was very jarring and really shattered both the pace and story. Honestly I'm not sure why the choice was really made at all. I guess it was to show that the Sister of Silence was special. But it's a poor way to convey that. The third was the use of very modern terminology and curse words. Those thing can be ok, but in the series so far those things have been absent. This also makes it pretty jarring. So I guess it's an ok story, but the aide issues really get in the way.
12 people found this helpful
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- Matthew
- 2020-07-15
One plot problem
Loved it, my only problem is with a glaring plot issue...
Falkus Kybre didn't die in the Siege (Talon of Horus)
12 people found this helpful
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- George Kilgore
- 2020-09-15
Pure Loyalist Fan Service *SPOILER WARNING*
It's hard to feel desperate when the loyalists win on every page. Dan Abnett simultaneously kills off a plethora of some of the most compelling and interesting Traitor characters with little more than a page while protecting all the Loyalist characters with layers of plot armor. Meanwhile Rogal Dorn supplants Roboute Guilliman as the biggest Mary Sue of the Horus Heresy timeline. How is this supposed to feel like the epic struggle for Terra when every major engagement is won by the Loyalists?
Issues I have with book
Spoiler Alert:
1. Entire book about the HORUS HERESY and not one appearance from HORUS.
2. The Mournival and the 1st Company are killed off entirely while the Imperial Fists etc. suffer minimal casualties..... that was the big climax btw. So you're just going to kill off the most elite and competent core of officers and warriors the Traitors have with a handful of loyalists because Rogal Dorn? You would think the greatest strategists the SONS OF HORUS have to offer would have planned for such a contingency?
3. It was a set up the entire time! Perturabo knew that the battle would be a trap and he would throw some of his most useful assets into a meat grinder for no gain. Because Perturabo the Siegemaster himself would make such a stupid move.
4. Traitor Primarchs are portrayed as little more than incompetent squabbling warlords. Say what you want about Fulgrim but from the beginning of the Horus Heresy he is touted as one of the best duelists and strategists of all his brothers. Just good enough to get his butt kicked by Rogal Dorn and be suckered into his whole legion defeated by a tenth of their number in Imperial Fists.
5. Dan Abnett uses the "saved just in the nick of time" trope TWICE in one fight. Get out of here. If you want a fight to be compelling someone of import needs to die or else its just a slapping contest. Thanks for making me read a fight that had no real ultimate consequence.
In Summary: If you love loyalists you will love this book because it caters to your side heavily. Dan Abnett if you by some chance read this stop resting on your laurels and take some chances in your writing.
7 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 2020-07-16
just wow, one of the best 40k books
incredibly good. emperor back story, primarch actions, scattering of primarch. must read book. cant waith for the next one
7 people found this helpful
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- Coral
- 2020-07-19
Battle and Battle Strategy
I enjoy a battle or 3 but I want characters I can feel for - motivation and direction. 3 chapters in and want I understand is basically the immortals are fighting and spending mortal lives for the past 3 generations - without care of humanity - to win but - they seem to have forgotten about all else. Which leads me to the view that someone should have given these immortals a video game and let the poor humans get on with living. I am returning this one.
There isn't really any attempt by author to even detail the battles - he saves time by tell you that only the best of the immortals can follow the details of the battle.
Jonathan's performance is great. I didn't get to Emma but that fine.
5 people found this helpful
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- anusan
- 2020-07-29
woow!!
Amazing! so far the best.
really good read. cant say more due to spoilers!
worth every penny
4 people found this helpful