What do you think?
Rate this book
Warhammer 40,000
Fire Caste
An Astra Militarum novel
In the jungles of the Dolorosa Coil, a coalition of alien tau and human deserters have waged war upon the Imperium for countless years.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a typically weird and twisted tale from Peter Fehervari, with intriguing characters, a plot that will keep you guessing and more mystery than you can shake a pulse rifle at.
THE STORY
In the jungles of the Dolorosa Coil, a coalition of alien tau and human deserters have waged war upon the Imperium for countless years. Fresh Imperial Guard forces from the Arkhan Confederates are sent in to break the stalemate and annihilate the xenos. But greater forces are at work, and the Confederates soon find themselves broken and scattered. As they fight a desperate guerrilla war, their only hope may lie in the hands of a disgraced commissar, hell-bent on revenge.
In the jungles of the Dolorosa Coil, a coalition of alien tau and human deserters have waged war upon the Imperium for countless years.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a typically weird and twisted tale from Peter Fehervari, with intriguing characters, a plot that will keep you guessing and more mystery than you can shake a pulse rifle at.
THE STORY
In the jungles of the Dolorosa Coil, a coalition of alien tau and human deserters have waged war upon the Imperium for countless years. Fresh Imperial Guard forces from the Arkhan Confederates are sent in to break the stalemate and annihilate the xenos. But greater forces are at work, and the Confederates soon find themselves broken and scattered. As they fight a desperate guerrilla war, their only hope may lie in the hands of a disgraced commissar, hell-bent on revenge.
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2013
97 people are currently reading
1016 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 29, 2016
Fire Cast
Before you start reading this book, you should know – it wouldn’t be easy. Fire Caste requires quiet a lot from its readers: they should be attentive to the details, sensitive to speech and language nuances and most of all – they should be ready to embrace the madness, despair and bitterness of this story. If you want a book about brave Defenders of Humanity defeating horrific enemies this book is not for you, because there is no more frightening enemy for a man here than his own sins. If you look for a book about Tau Empire and its noble warriors this is not the book you are looking for, because tau have a little screen time (scenes with tau are rare but priceless) and they are not even main antagonists. And this is not a full list of obstacles which the reader will encounter. So, is there any reward for those who doesn’t afraid? For those who agree to plunge into madness of twisted beauty of the Dark Coil? Hell, yes!!
First of all it is the taste of real Warhammer 40k. The first book from this universe that I read was Lord of the Night by Simon Spurrier. And this book made a very strong impression on me – it was really Grim Dark Future. I rushed to read the other books in the series and… found nothing like this. I went through one book after another and if I found horrors, they were lacking in psychological component, if I found darkness, it was impossible to feel it. But there was great excess of heroism and meaningless action. By the time I picked up Fire Caste I already forgot why I read books about Warhammer 40k. I had no hope when I started to read this book and then… Then Dark Coil consumed me entirely. I read all night long. When I turned the last page it was already morning. It was what I looking for all this years. That very Grim Dark Future.
Moreover it is important to mention amount of work that had been invested into this book. In the perception of the literature, there are three layers: emotional, intellectual and esthetic. I can say with confidence, that Fire Caste was well elaborated on every one of them.
The main source of emotion is of course the characters and their interaction. They are all different, all alive and every one of them has a lot of secrets, doubts and sins. You can’t use the word “bright” while describing them, but they definitely will be memorable for those who still can empathize with lost and broken souls. Templeton, who is seemingly innocent, “good guy” Roach, Iverson, consumed by his doubts and his guilt or mysterious Sky Marshal – all of them are moving inexorably to their Thunderground, which will determine their essence and purpose in the Dark Coil. But other than that, the reader will be able to experience all depth of pain and despair together with characters :)
There is also a lot of place for games of intellect. And despite the fact that the main intrigue can be a bit predictable for the attentive reader, Dark Coil hides enough of secrets and mysteries which will make readers want to find out the answers on their own. Just make a step aside from the straight path. Who was the tau that was met by confessor? Was he a ghost doomed to wander around the Coil? Did Reve tell the truth? Ascension - was it ending of the book or was it beginning? In addition, there is a whole stratum of literary and historical allusions. Your mind would be busy.
And last but not least – esthetic of the book. It is composed of plurality of elements: language, the nuances of which are changed when narration switches the point of view from one character to another, reflecting their mentality; structure of the book, which like classical ancient tragedy leads us from exposition to catastrophe; invisible link between the characters, when sins and madness of one affect others and just tightening the spiral of despair… In conjunctions thousand of little details create Phaedra, The Dark Coil – beautiful symphony of madness, corruption and decay. Separately it is necessary to mention «foreshadowing» – the art of innuendo. There are subtle hints on many developments from the beginning and attentive reader should spot them. Some of them are wrapped in images, symbols and metaphors, others require attention to details. I still remember the feeling when I read casual, routine record in Iverson's diary. When nine sentinels came to his rescue. But there were only eight sentinels ready to action. The moment when I realize exactly who was seen by Iverson... It was the strongest Fridge Horror. And there are a lot of moments like this. Moreover, all stories written by Fehervari are connected to each other through symbols, ideas and characters. They create a Dark Coil – quite literally. One story enhances perception of the others. It is very beautiful puzzle.
But I should warn you. It is very dark book. Not everyone can accept it. It may quiet easy cause Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy. However, if you are tired from heroic space marines, who can endure just everything, if you are ready to feel real Grim Darkness of the Far Future, if you like the real book instead of entertainment literature – you should read it.
Before you start reading this book, you should know – it wouldn’t be easy. Fire Caste requires quiet a lot from its readers: they should be attentive to the details, sensitive to speech and language nuances and most of all – they should be ready to embrace the madness, despair and bitterness of this story. If you want a book about brave Defenders of Humanity defeating horrific enemies this book is not for you, because there is no more frightening enemy for a man here than his own sins. If you look for a book about Tau Empire and its noble warriors this is not the book you are looking for, because tau have a little screen time (scenes with tau are rare but priceless) and they are not even main antagonists. And this is not a full list of obstacles which the reader will encounter. So, is there any reward for those who doesn’t afraid? For those who agree to plunge into madness of twisted beauty of the Dark Coil? Hell, yes!!
First of all it is the taste of real Warhammer 40k. The first book from this universe that I read was Lord of the Night by Simon Spurrier. And this book made a very strong impression on me – it was really Grim Dark Future. I rushed to read the other books in the series and… found nothing like this. I went through one book after another and if I found horrors, they were lacking in psychological component, if I found darkness, it was impossible to feel it. But there was great excess of heroism and meaningless action. By the time I picked up Fire Caste I already forgot why I read books about Warhammer 40k. I had no hope when I started to read this book and then… Then Dark Coil consumed me entirely. I read all night long. When I turned the last page it was already morning. It was what I looking for all this years. That very Grim Dark Future.
Moreover it is important to mention amount of work that had been invested into this book. In the perception of the literature, there are three layers: emotional, intellectual and esthetic. I can say with confidence, that Fire Caste was well elaborated on every one of them.
The main source of emotion is of course the characters and their interaction. They are all different, all alive and every one of them has a lot of secrets, doubts and sins. You can’t use the word “bright” while describing them, but they definitely will be memorable for those who still can empathize with lost and broken souls. Templeton, who is seemingly innocent, “good guy” Roach, Iverson, consumed by his doubts and his guilt or mysterious Sky Marshal – all of them are moving inexorably to their Thunderground, which will determine their essence and purpose in the Dark Coil. But other than that, the reader will be able to experience all depth of pain and despair together with characters :)
There is also a lot of place for games of intellect. And despite the fact that the main intrigue can be a bit predictable for the attentive reader, Dark Coil hides enough of secrets and mysteries which will make readers want to find out the answers on their own. Just make a step aside from the straight path. Who was the tau that was met by confessor? Was he a ghost doomed to wander around the Coil? Did Reve tell the truth? Ascension - was it ending of the book or was it beginning? In addition, there is a whole stratum of literary and historical allusions. Your mind would be busy.
And last but not least – esthetic of the book. It is composed of plurality of elements: language, the nuances of which are changed when narration switches the point of view from one character to another, reflecting their mentality; structure of the book, which like classical ancient tragedy leads us from exposition to catastrophe; invisible link between the characters, when sins and madness of one affect others and just tightening the spiral of despair… In conjunctions thousand of little details create Phaedra, The Dark Coil – beautiful symphony of madness, corruption and decay. Separately it is necessary to mention «foreshadowing» – the art of innuendo. There are subtle hints on many developments from the beginning and attentive reader should spot them. Some of them are wrapped in images, symbols and metaphors, others require attention to details. I still remember the feeling when I read casual, routine record in Iverson's diary. When nine sentinels came to his rescue. But there were only eight sentinels ready to action. The moment when I realize exactly who was seen by Iverson... It was the strongest Fridge Horror. And there are a lot of moments like this. Moreover, all stories written by Fehervari are connected to each other through symbols, ideas and characters. They create a Dark Coil – quite literally. One story enhances perception of the others. It is very beautiful puzzle.
But I should warn you. It is very dark book. Not everyone can accept it. It may quiet easy cause Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy. However, if you are tired from heroic space marines, who can endure just everything, if you are ready to feel real Grim Darkness of the Far Future, if you like the real book instead of entertainment literature – you should read it.
October 13, 2013
"Blood for the God-Emperor... now there's irony"
Fire Caste by Peter Fehervari is a rather unique novel about a Imperial Guard regiment known as the 19th Arkan Confederates. They are sent to Phaedra a jolly holiday venue known as a (almost) death-world (it as bad as it sounds). The planet isn't the most friendly of places, tropical climates, plant life that kills a man, fungal diseases that infect a man on a biological level, insects bigger than a man, renegade Imperial Guard units, a Imperial command structure who ineffective - did I mention the Tau? Oh there on Phaedra as well. Both sides have fought to a standstill over a conflict which has been raging for fifty years. Hell, that was a lot to cover.
Everyone has a past, including Colonel Ensor Culter and Commissar Holt Iverson. We're introduced to Holt at the beginning of the novel, who is busy hunting down deserters. Unfortunately for him, things don't go as planned, especially given he is haunted by 'ghosts' from his past. This is rather refreshing, these 'ghosts' act as his angel and devil watching over his shoulder - influencing his every decision. Not really what you would call a sane man. Ensor Culter is the commanding officer of the 19th. The entire regiment is deployed. Within moments of reaching the surface men are dying, and not from the enemy or planet either. It took me by surprise(and him).
One of the greatest strengths of Peter's novel is his characterisation of the planet itself. It's bleak, even by Warhammer 40K standards. It's hell. Iverson in one of his diary entries suggests the planet is tainted, not by Chaos, but from the biological life itself. The very air he breathes is infecting him. Ironically he isn't wrong. There are those who bodies cannot handle the change. Some become twisted and start to grow fungus for skin, their bones becoming infused with growths, warping them and eventually reaching death.
A lovely place! It's not just a physical war for those on the surface, but psychological as well. This isn't helped by the regiments past, which unravels throughout a rather interesting backstory. Running concurrently with this is Iverson's past, which is well handled and integrates well into the overall story-arch. There's no real heroes or villains here, everyone has a flaw; broken, angry, cursed, exhausted, deranged, paranoid - take your pick. They aren't all 'bad' flaws to have given where they are.
What Peter Fehevari handles really well is the action. Unlike many Heresy and 40K novels, there aren't any massive engagements, no galactic battles - just small scale skirmishes and ambushes which are vicious, men die, a lot of them. Personally I found this to be a lot more 'believable' than some of epic battles I've read. Why? It read on a personal level. I was actually beginning to want to read more about the individual characters.
There are some really pleasant 'inventions' in Fire Caste also. The men of the 19th are from Providence, a planet based on a cast of nobles, they thrive by designing and building new machinery. Take for instance Captain Machen's Zouaves. They wear a type of clockwork battlesuit, there great. Steampunk eat your heart out! Then there is Captain Vendrakes' Silverstorm Sentinel Cavalry. A mesh of sentinel walkers and clockwork components. How cool is that? Very I'd say.
I haven't even mentioned the Tau have I? Well here is the thing. When I brought Fire Caste I was under the impression it was a story from the Tau's perspective. This wasn't so. Other than Shas'ui, a Tau pathfinder, there is hardly one of the 'blueskin bastards' (to quote Iverson) to be found. This story is primarily about a Imperial Guard regiment, so I wanted to be clear for those who was thinking otherwise.
Wrapping this up Fire Caste is a twenty four carat gold nugget amongst a lot of fools gold in Black Library's collection. The only let down was the ending, left on a cliffhanger. There must be a follow on novel. For a first full BL novel this is a really strong beginning for the writer. If you stick with all the different stories and amount of characters dancing over the pages, hopefully you will be rewarded like I was.
Fire Caste by Peter Fehervari is a rather unique novel about a Imperial Guard regiment known as the 19th Arkan Confederates. They are sent to Phaedra a jolly holiday venue known as a (almost) death-world (it as bad as it sounds). The planet isn't the most friendly of places, tropical climates, plant life that kills a man, fungal diseases that infect a man on a biological level, insects bigger than a man, renegade Imperial Guard units, a Imperial command structure who ineffective - did I mention the Tau? Oh there on Phaedra as well. Both sides have fought to a standstill over a conflict which has been raging for fifty years. Hell, that was a lot to cover.
Everyone has a past, including Colonel Ensor Culter and Commissar Holt Iverson. We're introduced to Holt at the beginning of the novel, who is busy hunting down deserters. Unfortunately for him, things don't go as planned, especially given he is haunted by 'ghosts' from his past. This is rather refreshing, these 'ghosts' act as his angel and devil watching over his shoulder - influencing his every decision. Not really what you would call a sane man. Ensor Culter is the commanding officer of the 19th. The entire regiment is deployed. Within moments of reaching the surface men are dying, and not from the enemy or planet either. It took me by surprise(and him).
One of the greatest strengths of Peter's novel is his characterisation of the planet itself. It's bleak, even by Warhammer 40K standards. It's hell. Iverson in one of his diary entries suggests the planet is tainted, not by Chaos, but from the biological life itself. The very air he breathes is infecting him. Ironically he isn't wrong. There are those who bodies cannot handle the change. Some become twisted and start to grow fungus for skin, their bones becoming infused with growths, warping them and eventually reaching death.
A lovely place! It's not just a physical war for those on the surface, but psychological as well. This isn't helped by the regiments past, which unravels throughout a rather interesting backstory. Running concurrently with this is Iverson's past, which is well handled and integrates well into the overall story-arch. There's no real heroes or villains here, everyone has a flaw; broken, angry, cursed, exhausted, deranged, paranoid - take your pick. They aren't all 'bad' flaws to have given where they are.
What Peter Fehevari handles really well is the action. Unlike many Heresy and 40K novels, there aren't any massive engagements, no galactic battles - just small scale skirmishes and ambushes which are vicious, men die, a lot of them. Personally I found this to be a lot more 'believable' than some of epic battles I've read. Why? It read on a personal level. I was actually beginning to want to read more about the individual characters.
There are some really pleasant 'inventions' in Fire Caste also. The men of the 19th are from Providence, a planet based on a cast of nobles, they thrive by designing and building new machinery. Take for instance Captain Machen's Zouaves. They wear a type of clockwork battlesuit, there great. Steampunk eat your heart out! Then there is Captain Vendrakes' Silverstorm Sentinel Cavalry. A mesh of sentinel walkers and clockwork components. How cool is that? Very I'd say.
I haven't even mentioned the Tau have I? Well here is the thing. When I brought Fire Caste I was under the impression it was a story from the Tau's perspective. This wasn't so. Other than Shas'ui, a Tau pathfinder, there is hardly one of the 'blueskin bastards' (to quote Iverson) to be found. This story is primarily about a Imperial Guard regiment, so I wanted to be clear for those who was thinking otherwise.
Wrapping this up Fire Caste is a twenty four carat gold nugget amongst a lot of fools gold in Black Library's collection. The only let down was the ending, left on a cliffhanger. There must be a follow on novel. For a first full BL novel this is a really strong beginning for the writer. If you stick with all the different stories and amount of characters dancing over the pages, hopefully you will be rewarded like I was.
June 10, 2023
If you're into bolter porn then this book is not for you. However... If you're after an intelligent and highly original take on the 40K universe then this book is very refreshing indeed. Brilliantly drawn characters (several of them female which is sadly a bit of a rarity in the 40k universe), some intense action, and an interesting story arc. This is just the kind of a shot in the arm Black Library needs. Word of caution however, don't be misled by the title, this is really an Imperial Guard novel though the tau are an important and well handled presence.
January 12, 2020
Take the title: "fire cast".
Throw it away, it's a bait for fanboys of Tau faction in the 40k setting.
Rename it "Thunderground" (the author himself said it was the possible title in an interview). What is a Thunderground? Well, start reading one of the best books ever written for 40k.
Forget bolter porn, forget clean heroism, forget space marines and prepare for a journey in hell, into an alien planet, a meat grinder war, a journey into the darkness of war, of human psyche, of despair, of dark revelations.
Throw it away, it's a bait for fanboys of Tau faction in the 40k setting.
Rename it "Thunderground" (the author himself said it was the possible title in an interview). What is a Thunderground? Well, start reading one of the best books ever written for 40k.
Forget bolter porn, forget clean heroism, forget space marines and prepare for a journey in hell, into an alien planet, a meat grinder war, a journey into the darkness of war, of human psyche, of despair, of dark revelations.
May 14, 2017
Look. It's a tie-in novel with a line of small plastic army men. I get that. But it's sharply written, by turns horrifying and thrilling, and genuinely has some depth of character and theme, and some very honest emotional interactions between human beings. It's really god damned good.
November 6, 2023
How could I contribute to those canticles already sung here? First of all, it goes without question this is just a excellent novel, doubtless one of the best and most interesting of WH40K universe (along with other Fehervari´s work). The prose is immaculate in its putrid charm, story clever and enormously intriguing, emotions palpable and implications damning. But now, let us impose some order to this stranglehold of rampant Chaos.
The writing style is exceptional, Peter has a great talent for describing heavy atmosphere redolent with dark promises and ominous meanings. More than any writer of Warhammer I know of he is masterful with both subtle and obvious-but-playful wordplay, stashing away hidden hints, making every single character stand out with a unique voice of its own, switching between narrative styles and point of view from a unreliable narrator to even more unreliable narrator. I do not doubt many a reader begs for some omniscient figure with trustworthy explanations, but I just love we ain´t gettin none.
Apart from a "Dark Coil allusions, connections and hints" there is a plethora of overt and nuanced references. Maybe someone would find this too simple and meaningless, but as a voracious reader of horror I have enjoyed immensely all those names of genre greats (I am looking at you, maybe-ironically-named-Machen!) or other historical figures. Part of the fun is your confusion or doubts if this name or that is just a uncomplicated nod, or rather something more meaningful (compare Belknap and Gurdjief).
Among these references/inspirations, there is certainly a greatest connection to "Apocalypse Now" and "Aguirre" (to their source, "Hearth of Darkness", I suspect not many). And given that "Aguirre" is one of my favourite films of all time, my fervour rose tenfold (and yes, I imagine Iverson looks {and looks at things} just like demented Klaus Kinski). Similarity of ideas, hazy delirious atmosphere where you can´t really trust anything, similitude between some scenes... It is so good! I love how Templeton´s walk into the ruins of The Shell resembles that chilling scene in "Aquirre" where Inés de Atienza simply goes to the jungle, or how Zouaves with their clunky machinery and bombastic marching music are as fitting in this rank wilderness as conquistadors with a cannon or a litter!
Like Herzog in his masterful creation, Fehervari is able to embroil even a innocent scene or sentence with a ominous meaning, foreboding and foreshadowing. You can almost feel onerous promise of answers from fleet remarks or casual observances. If you are fellow traveller of the Coil, you certainly revel in this, you actively search for it and recognise some allusions. Yet I think even a newcomer to Fehervari´s work will sense this sinister aura of "this harbours more than it seems". It is almost uncanny how Peter attains it!
All of it contributes to such a malevolent and meaning-heavy mood I was engulfed by the story, sometimes lost in the delirious fungal nightmare, sometimes imbued by misguided certainty like a Lethean Zabaton. Whether in the middle on some jungle fight or on board of a coral-infested blasphemous vessel, there was always such "fun" I could not avert my eyes and do something else than reading to the sound of whirring and clicking cogs of my straining brain. The horror, the sweet gut-melting dread, the sticky terror of disgusting malformations (oh, poor Natalja!)!
I shall repeat this often throughout my reviews of all of Fehervari´s work, but I simply adore his approach to Chaos. Yes, there are Gods. Yes, there are demons or other malignant entities with their agencies. But so often there is the shadow of something I would call almost Ligottian. Behind this illusive reality there is a elusive (non)truth which shapes our lives and weaves our destinies. It just happens to be unfortunate for us and apparently evil, but there is no spiteful will behind it. It just is, and just brings damnation without acting. Our very universe is corrupt and corrupting. Well, if you can say something is corrupt even if it always has been this way, never pure. I find such a impersonal, "bad" and nonsensical theatre for erroneously self-assured puppets most intriguing and disturbing.
To finish - I sincerely thank Mister Fehervari for this inauspiciously rotten beauty and for proving there really can be a top-quality literature among Warhammer books.
The writing style is exceptional, Peter has a great talent for describing heavy atmosphere redolent with dark promises and ominous meanings. More than any writer of Warhammer I know of he is masterful with both subtle and obvious-but-playful wordplay, stashing away hidden hints, making every single character stand out with a unique voice of its own, switching between narrative styles and point of view from a unreliable narrator to even more unreliable narrator. I do not doubt many a reader begs for some omniscient figure with trustworthy explanations, but I just love we ain´t gettin none.
Apart from a "Dark Coil allusions, connections and hints" there is a plethora of overt and nuanced references. Maybe someone would find this too simple and meaningless, but as a voracious reader of horror I have enjoyed immensely all those names of genre greats (I am looking at you, maybe-ironically-named-Machen!) or other historical figures. Part of the fun is your confusion or doubts if this name or that is just a uncomplicated nod, or rather something more meaningful (compare Belknap and Gurdjief).
Among these references/inspirations, there is certainly a greatest connection to "Apocalypse Now" and "Aguirre" (to their source, "Hearth of Darkness", I suspect not many). And given that "Aguirre" is one of my favourite films of all time, my fervour rose tenfold (and yes, I imagine Iverson looks {and looks at things} just like demented Klaus Kinski). Similarity of ideas, hazy delirious atmosphere where you can´t really trust anything, similitude between some scenes... It is so good! I love how Templeton´s walk into the ruins of The Shell resembles that chilling scene in "Aquirre" where Inés de Atienza simply goes to the jungle, or how Zouaves with their clunky machinery and bombastic marching music are as fitting in this rank wilderness as conquistadors with a cannon or a litter!
Like Herzog in his masterful creation, Fehervari is able to embroil even a innocent scene or sentence with a ominous meaning, foreboding and foreshadowing. You can almost feel onerous promise of answers from fleet remarks or casual observances. If you are fellow traveller of the Coil, you certainly revel in this, you actively search for it and recognise some allusions. Yet I think even a newcomer to Fehervari´s work will sense this sinister aura of "this harbours more than it seems". It is almost uncanny how Peter attains it!
All of it contributes to such a malevolent and meaning-heavy mood I was engulfed by the story, sometimes lost in the delirious fungal nightmare, sometimes imbued by misguided certainty like a Lethean Zabaton. Whether in the middle on some jungle fight or on board of a coral-infested blasphemous vessel, there was always such "fun" I could not avert my eyes and do something else than reading to the sound of whirring and clicking cogs of my straining brain. The horror, the sweet gut-melting dread, the sticky terror of disgusting malformations (oh, poor Natalja!)!
I shall repeat this often throughout my reviews of all of Fehervari´s work, but I simply adore his approach to Chaos. Yes, there are Gods. Yes, there are demons or other malignant entities with their agencies. But so often there is the shadow of something I would call almost Ligottian. Behind this illusive reality there is a elusive (non)truth which shapes our lives and weaves our destinies. It just happens to be unfortunate for us and apparently evil, but there is no spiteful will behind it. It just is, and just brings damnation without acting. Our very universe is corrupt and corrupting. Well, if you can say something is corrupt even if it always has been this way, never pure. I find such a impersonal, "bad" and nonsensical theatre for erroneously self-assured puppets most intriguing and disturbing.
To finish - I sincerely thank Mister Fehervari for this inauspiciously rotten beauty and for proving there really can be a top-quality literature among Warhammer books.
December 15, 2023
It's always a surprise to read a franchised novel with good prose, even more so for Warhammer, which tends to fall prey to the own excesses of its setting in characterization and writing. Fire Caste isn't just a good Warhammer novel, it's just a dang good military sci-fi horror story, which is another rarity (most military sci-fi horror tends to be more stale than gripping). It's a pity that the title and Warhammer tag isolates this novel to such a degree, but I recommend anyone whose a horror/sci fi fan give it a shot!
July 6, 2021
Strip away all the 40K branded, sci-fi elements, and the underlying Dark Coil meta-plot, and you’d have a classic of Vietnam literature. The plight of the Arkan 19 in the jungles of the Dolorosa Coil and Comissar Iverson’s voyage upriver to find them are as Apocalypse Now as it gets, just with Tau instead of Vietcong.
Again, riveting and bizarre. Powerfully rendered and written. I normally devour a 40K novel in a day-or-two. This took me a solid week to read as I wrestled over each chapter in my mind: the links between the author’s other Dark Coil writings — the Möbius strip composition of which (for certain key players) is laid bare here; as well as for the actual Tau/Human interactions, the dynamics of these races, and the way in which Peter Fehervari can take the most standard/stock archetypes and refresh them, never writing above the 40K audience, and yet echoes resonate deeper than your standard Space Marine sales-pitch fluff.
This was a large chunk of the Phaedra cycle in one book. Afterward, I was exhausted but I have an eerie feeling about the fate of certain characters so I’m gonna move right along into the next story: Vanguard.
Again, riveting and bizarre. Powerfully rendered and written. I normally devour a 40K novel in a day-or-two. This took me a solid week to read as I wrestled over each chapter in my mind: the links between the author’s other Dark Coil writings — the Möbius strip composition of which (for certain key players) is laid bare here; as well as for the actual Tau/Human interactions, the dynamics of these races, and the way in which Peter Fehervari can take the most standard/stock archetypes and refresh them, never writing above the 40K audience, and yet echoes resonate deeper than your standard Space Marine sales-pitch fluff.
This was a large chunk of the Phaedra cycle in one book. Afterward, I was exhausted but I have an eerie feeling about the fate of certain characters so I’m gonna move right along into the next story: Vanguard.
January 25, 2022
Quick warning: English is not my mother language, so please take it into account when reading this review!
The action of Fire Caste is located on a jungle planet called Phaedra, where a bitter conflict between Tau and Astra Militarum has been going on forever there, with no side able to wipe the other out. The Arkan Confederates are the latest regiment to be deployed there, and are sure that their faith in the Emperor will give them the win... or will it?
I've read this book two times now, it was my first contact with Peter Fehervari's Dark Coil (his books and short stories have various links between each other which makes it very fun to read as you, the reader, try and connect the dots between the various characters, places and events), and Fire Caste still remains my favorite.
A simple way to describe Fire Caste is "Apocalypse Now meets the Warhammer 40k universe" and it works, but fortunately it doesn't stop there. Peter Fehervari's style is "enriching" (as in, it made me learn a lot of new, beautiful English words!) and it always sticks to what it is about. For instance, when he describes the planet, Phaedra, where the action takes place, he chooses visceral words to give the reader the feeling he is confronted to a living organism, as the planet is kind of the main antagonist of the various characters.
About the characters, this is another very strong point of the novel, as they are all treated equally. Each character has dreams, beliefs and reasons to do what he does. And the author doesn't telegraph at all who is going to live and who is going to die, so you're sometimes caught off guard when a major character is killed, sometimes "offscreen", or when a minor character suddenly gains more weight and turns out to be a major player.
Another thing I enjoy is that his characters are not simply "bad" or "good". It's not because a character is depicted in a "negative" light that he will be painted in one stroke. For instance, one of the officers of the story is depicted as being detached from his men, not remembering their names and so on. With a "classic" author, this would automatically mean that the officer is incompetent and will get his men killed. Not in Fire Caste, it's more complicated than that.
I've also enjoyed the fact that, at the end, after seeing all the reasons of the various characters, the author does not tell us "this one is right and the others were wrong". It is up to the reader to determine who he/she felt was right and who was (probably) wrong.
Another strong point are the action scenes: they are very well written, tense and sometimes very stressful. And I had always pictured sentinels as kind of ridiculous and clunky. After reading action scenes with them in this novel, not anymore!
Anyway, reading the novel a second time after having read the other novels/short stories of Peter Fehervari made Fire Caste even more enjoyable. The first time I read it, I felt kind of let down by the end because I still had so many questions and the end is pretty nihilistic. By reading it again, I find the end very fitting and enjoyed the novel even more.
Also when reading, keep an eye out for references as the author loves to hide easter eggs to the things he love here and there. As a big "John Carpenter's The Thing" fan, I was delighted to find references to it for instance. :)
I don't think everybody will enjoy this novel, though. It's a very dark take on an already dark universe. But if you're tired of heroic stories in this universe, you should definitely give it a try, as Peter Fehervari's mature approach to 40k shows that this universe can be much, much more than just repetitive battle scenes with unflinching heroes.
The action of Fire Caste is located on a jungle planet called Phaedra, where a bitter conflict between Tau and Astra Militarum has been going on forever there, with no side able to wipe the other out. The Arkan Confederates are the latest regiment to be deployed there, and are sure that their faith in the Emperor will give them the win... or will it?
I've read this book two times now, it was my first contact with Peter Fehervari's Dark Coil (his books and short stories have various links between each other which makes it very fun to read as you, the reader, try and connect the dots between the various characters, places and events), and Fire Caste still remains my favorite.
A simple way to describe Fire Caste is "Apocalypse Now meets the Warhammer 40k universe" and it works, but fortunately it doesn't stop there. Peter Fehervari's style is "enriching" (as in, it made me learn a lot of new, beautiful English words!) and it always sticks to what it is about. For instance, when he describes the planet, Phaedra, where the action takes place, he chooses visceral words to give the reader the feeling he is confronted to a living organism, as the planet is kind of the main antagonist of the various characters.
About the characters, this is another very strong point of the novel, as they are all treated equally. Each character has dreams, beliefs and reasons to do what he does. And the author doesn't telegraph at all who is going to live and who is going to die, so you're sometimes caught off guard when a major character is killed, sometimes "offscreen", or when a minor character suddenly gains more weight and turns out to be a major player.
Another thing I enjoy is that his characters are not simply "bad" or "good". It's not because a character is depicted in a "negative" light that he will be painted in one stroke. For instance, one of the officers of the story is depicted as being detached from his men, not remembering their names and so on. With a "classic" author, this would automatically mean that the officer is incompetent and will get his men killed. Not in Fire Caste, it's more complicated than that.
I've also enjoyed the fact that, at the end, after seeing all the reasons of the various characters, the author does not tell us "this one is right and the others were wrong". It is up to the reader to determine who he/she felt was right and who was (probably) wrong.
Another strong point are the action scenes: they are very well written, tense and sometimes very stressful. And I had always pictured sentinels as kind of ridiculous and clunky. After reading action scenes with them in this novel, not anymore!
Anyway, reading the novel a second time after having read the other novels/short stories of Peter Fehervari made Fire Caste even more enjoyable. The first time I read it, I felt kind of let down by the end because I still had so many questions and the end is pretty nihilistic. By reading it again, I find the end very fitting and enjoyed the novel even more.
Also when reading, keep an eye out for references as the author loves to hide easter eggs to the things he love here and there. As a big "John Carpenter's The Thing" fan, I was delighted to find references to it for instance. :)
I don't think everybody will enjoy this novel, though. It's a very dark take on an already dark universe. But if you're tired of heroic stories in this universe, you should definitely give it a try, as Peter Fehervari's mature approach to 40k shows that this universe can be much, much more than just repetitive battle scenes with unflinching heroes.
December 30, 2018
“Better our evil empire than theirs...”
This book is surreal horror excellence. It’s a story about the conflicts that take place at the intersection of the Tau Empire, Imperium of Man, the Warp, and Mother Nature. The prose is excellent and so is the world-building. You can read this book standalone as better than average sci-fi military fiction or you can us it as the launch pad into the interconnected series of all Fehervari’s work.
A few words of warning before purchasing this book. First, this absolutely should not be your starting point if you’re new to the Warhammer 40k. That’s not a criticism of the author, there are just better places to begin to get your arms around the universe.
Second, this is NOT a story about the Fire Caste or even the Tau really. If anything, it’s an Imperial Guard story. Maybe the author’s intent was to draw comparisons between the ground forces of the Tau Empire and the Imperium, but I feel like he was handed the title first and told to go wild with it. A better title would have been “Providence”, but that will only make sense after reading the book.
EDIT: After posting this review on Reddit, I was told by a commenter that Fehervari’s proposed title for this book was “Thunderground” and that Games Workshop forced the final title on him. Thunderground makes WAY more sense...which again will only make sense after reading.
Third, the volume of characters and narrative style of the book can be a bit disorienting at first. The Dramatis Personae helps with the former, but some editing was needed with the latter. I would have preferred chapters to be organized around a single character’s perspective as found in A Song of Fire and Ice series. The main character’s journal conceit could have been eliminated entirely and used as inner monologue in that character’s chapters.
All that said, I think this is the best piece from the Black Library I’ve read to date. If you’re anything like me, then after reading Fire Caste you’ll enjoy going down the rabbit hole and discovering all the connections between this book and the rest of Fehervari’s stories.
Highly recommend!
This book is surreal horror excellence. It’s a story about the conflicts that take place at the intersection of the Tau Empire, Imperium of Man, the Warp, and Mother Nature. The prose is excellent and so is the world-building. You can read this book standalone as better than average sci-fi military fiction or you can us it as the launch pad into the interconnected series of all Fehervari’s work.
A few words of warning before purchasing this book. First, this absolutely should not be your starting point if you’re new to the Warhammer 40k. That’s not a criticism of the author, there are just better places to begin to get your arms around the universe.
Second, this is NOT a story about the Fire Caste or even the Tau really. If anything, it’s an Imperial Guard story. Maybe the author’s intent was to draw comparisons between the ground forces of the Tau Empire and the Imperium, but I feel like he was handed the title first and told to go wild with it. A better title would have been “Providence”, but that will only make sense after reading the book.
EDIT: After posting this review on Reddit, I was told by a commenter that Fehervari’s proposed title for this book was “Thunderground” and that Games Workshop forced the final title on him. Thunderground makes WAY more sense...which again will only make sense after reading.
Third, the volume of characters and narrative style of the book can be a bit disorienting at first. The Dramatis Personae helps with the former, but some editing was needed with the latter. I would have preferred chapters to be organized around a single character’s perspective as found in A Song of Fire and Ice series. The main character’s journal conceit could have been eliminated entirely and used as inner monologue in that character’s chapters.
All that said, I think this is the best piece from the Black Library I’ve read to date. If you’re anything like me, then after reading Fire Caste you’ll enjoy going down the rabbit hole and discovering all the connections between this book and the rest of Fehervari’s stories.
Highly recommend!
November 27, 2019
First off like many have mentioned this book is not what it looks like, its better.
Although this book has some truly awesome action scenes it is a psychological horror novel.
I read this after reading another book by Fehervari called Requiem Infernal. Which also was a much weirder and interesting ride then you may know going in. It was so good I wanted to check out other work and found out that this author has an unofficial link between many of his 40k novels called the "Dark Coil" A google search told me I should start here.
Much like the other book a 40k fan will fit right in with this setting and a non 40k fan with an open mind toward sci-fi will likely (in my guess) enjoy this as well.
I could see someone excited for a story about Tau being let down that they are not always a large presence in the book. (They are there though) I wasn't here for them anyway so it doesnt bother me.
Although this book has some truly awesome action scenes it is a psychological horror novel.
I read this after reading another book by Fehervari called Requiem Infernal. Which also was a much weirder and interesting ride then you may know going in. It was so good I wanted to check out other work and found out that this author has an unofficial link between many of his 40k novels called the "Dark Coil" A google search told me I should start here.
Much like the other book a 40k fan will fit right in with this setting and a non 40k fan with an open mind toward sci-fi will likely (in my guess) enjoy this as well.
I could see someone excited for a story about Tau being let down that they are not always a large presence in the book. (They are there though) I wasn't here for them anyway so it doesnt bother me.
June 24, 2017
Amazing book. I was not particularly prepared for what a unique and strong work of fiction this story is. It combines elements of lovecraftian horror, heart of darkness/apocalypse now (and related Vietnam war fiction), American civil war-era stylings and more insular psychological thrillers with a deft hand and surely stands as one of the Black Library offerings most worthy of being called literature - alongside the Gaunt's Ghosts series, Betrayer and Pawns of Chaos.
June 9, 2021
A Guard story with a hint of Lovecraft
Peter Fehervari is the non-racist Lovecraft of the 40k Universe. Even in an Imperial Guard story, he manages to hint at something darker below the surface. I recommend this.
Peter Fehervari is the non-racist Lovecraft of the 40k Universe. Even in an Imperial Guard story, he manages to hint at something darker below the surface. I recommend this.
October 16, 2024
There’s a house across the river
But alas, I cannot swim
But alas, I cannot swim
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2024
This book is hard to follow, but it has some good moments
September 14, 2021
Фехервари ворвался в мир Вархаммера своей "Кастой огня" в 2013 году. На русском языке книга появилась в 2016 году, и на нее сразу посыпались довольно неплохие отзывы. Книга как про тау (что выглядит довольно экзотично на фоне огромного количества романов про космодесантников), так и про Имперскую гвардию. Особенно в отзывах напирают на то, что написано не тупым примитивным языком, а для интеллектуалов.
В общем, все это привело к заочным завышенным ожиданиям. Хотелось раскрыть "Касту огня" и забыться на несколько дней. К сожалению, удовольствия получить не получилось.
Те, кто хвалил книгу, во многом оказались правы - она действительно не совсем обычно для Вахи. Ты не совсем понимаешь, что происходит, кто куда был закинут, какую цель преследует и с кем сражается. Понимание происходящего приходит со временем. Да и то, ближе к концу книги. Для меня это и было основной сложностью, т.к. я постоянно путался в именах героев (лишь несколько из них мне показались запоминающимися), из-за чего не мог понять, кто повстанец, кто еретик, кто еще кто-нибудь.
Сюжет очень запутанный. На по большей части никому не нужную планету с тяжелым климатом закидывают полки Имперской гвардии для наведения порядка, ибо там давно уже засела армия тау. По сути просто борьба за ключевую точку. Задача солдат проста - зачистка. Тау не много (тысячи две), но они технически подкованы и трудно уловимы. Скоро выясняется, что часть солдат регулярно переходит на сторону тау, ибо узнают, что у планеты есть своя тайна, которую их боссы не хотят раскрывать. Добавим сюда несколько еретиков и инквизитора - вот и получилась "Каста огня".
Я долго ждал, когда книга наконец захватит меня, но этого так и не случилось. Да, это книга не совсем про тау, и не совсем про гвардию. А я ждал тау, конечно... Единственное, за что я готов пожать автору руку, это описание атмосферы на планете. Все персонажи романа знают, что это гибельная клоака, в которую их беспощадно закинули высшие руководители. Единственная возможность выжить - просто удрать оттуда, пока кислотные дожди не пробили шлем, а опасные личинки не съели мозг. Планета живет своей жизнью, и ей все равно, кого убивать - ксеносов или людей.
К большому сожалению, роман восторга не вызвал. Может быть когда-нибудь наберусь смелости и времени, да перечитаю его...
В общем, все это привело к заочным завышенным ожиданиям. Хотелось раскрыть "Касту огня" и забыться на несколько дней. К сожалению, удовольствия получить не получилось.
Те, кто хвалил книгу, во многом оказались правы - она действительно не совсем обычно для Вахи. Ты не совсем понимаешь, что происходит, кто куда был закинут, какую цель преследует и с кем сражается. Понимание происходящего приходит со временем. Да и то, ближе к концу книги. Для меня это и было основной сложностью, т.к. я постоянно путался в именах героев (лишь несколько из них мне показались запоминающимися), из-за чего не мог понять, кто повстанец, кто еретик, кто еще кто-нибудь.
Сюжет очень запутанный. На по большей части никому не нужную планету с тяжелым климатом закидывают полки Имперской гвардии для наведения порядка, ибо там давно уже засела армия тау. По сути просто борьба за ключевую точку. Задача солдат проста - зачистка. Тау не много (тысячи две), но они технически подкованы и трудно уловимы. Скоро выясняется, что часть солдат регулярно переходит на сторону тау, ибо узнают, что у планеты есть своя тайна, которую их боссы не хотят раскрывать. Добавим сюда несколько еретиков и инквизитора - вот и получилась "Каста огня".
Я долго ждал, когда книга наконец захватит меня, но этого так и не случилось. Да, это книга не совсем про тау, и не совсем про гвардию. А я ждал тау, конечно... Единственное, за что я готов пожать автору руку, это описание атмосферы на планете. Все персонажи романа знают, что это гибельная клоака, в которую их беспощадно закинули высшие руководители. Единственная возможность выжить - просто удрать оттуда, пока кислотные дожди не пробили шлем, а опасные личинки не съели мозг. Планета живет своей жизнью, и ей все равно, кого убивать - ксеносов или людей.
К большому сожалению, роман восторга не вызвал. Может быть когда-нибудь наберусь смелости и времени, да перечитаю его...
September 24, 2023
At this point I have read everything from Nightbleed to Fire caste. I only have a few more short stories and the Cult of the spiral dawn left of Fehervari's work. The following is how I feel about his entire work - not necessarily Fire Caste alone. Although I do love each of his pieces individually.
I usually don't write reviews or say anything other than rate by stars - This would be a huge disservice for the effect these books have had on me. Please be aware however that I am terrible at writing and will not be able to fully express how I feel.
I have been engrossed in these books for the last few months; often in a state of confusion honestly. Even then, I could not put the books down; I felt as if the stories themselves had corrupted me and I was on this journey whether I wanted to or not. Parts of me felt heretical for being so thirsty for more - I would certainly make a better Resplendent than Penitent.
Fehervari's writing won't be for everyone. It lacks the typical 40k focus on badassery (although you can still find it) and the stories themselves often lack concluding situations. Answers typically only lead to more questions and you have to be comfortable with that. This device however works amazingly well in making the reader question their sanity along with the protagonists. I was consistently conflicted in who I actually support, if the information I am getting is trust worthy, and generally concerned for my own mental well being. I swear I could hear the heretical voices whispering in my ear as the protagonists often unknowingly invited corruption and I loved it.
Others have talked already about his writing style and how its different, so I just wanted to cover how it felt for me. Its honestly just more of a thank you to Fehervari for providing me with such a an amazing and spooky time in the last few months and I will be thinking about these books for years to come.
I usually don't write reviews or say anything other than rate by stars - This would be a huge disservice for the effect these books have had on me. Please be aware however that I am terrible at writing and will not be able to fully express how I feel.
I have been engrossed in these books for the last few months; often in a state of confusion honestly. Even then, I could not put the books down; I felt as if the stories themselves had corrupted me and I was on this journey whether I wanted to or not. Parts of me felt heretical for being so thirsty for more - I would certainly make a better Resplendent than Penitent.
Fehervari's writing won't be for everyone. It lacks the typical 40k focus on badassery (although you can still find it) and the stories themselves often lack concluding situations. Answers typically only lead to more questions and you have to be comfortable with that. This device however works amazingly well in making the reader question their sanity along with the protagonists. I was consistently conflicted in who I actually support, if the information I am getting is trust worthy, and generally concerned for my own mental well being. I swear I could hear the heretical voices whispering in my ear as the protagonists often unknowingly invited corruption and I loved it.
Others have talked already about his writing style and how its different, so I just wanted to cover how it felt for me. Its honestly just more of a thank you to Fehervari for providing me with such a an amazing and spooky time in the last few months and I will be thinking about these books for years to come.
November 6, 2025
Despite its bland, misleading title, Peter Fehervari’s debut Black Library novel is a captivating tale of damaged, haunted characters spiralling into hell. The Imperium and the T’au Empire are locked in an endless stalemate over the planet Phaedra, into which stumble the 19th Arkan Confederates, still haunted by the trauma of their world’s recent rebellion. Commissar Holt Iverson – twisted and troubled from years spent on Phaedra, sees in the Confederates the possibility of redemption. The Confederates, however, are soon suffering under the troubling influence of Phaedra and find themselves drawn ever deeper into the tangled conflict taking place.
If you’re after a simple, straightforward action story then this is not the book for you. If, however, you’re looking for a complex, slow-burning tale with conflicted characters, a gripping sense of darkness and an intriguing connection to Fehervari’s other work, then this should be top of your list. Fehervari deserves to be much better known than he is, as this is right up there with the best that Black Library has to offer.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/04/...
If you’re after a simple, straightforward action story then this is not the book for you. If, however, you’re looking for a complex, slow-burning tale with conflicted characters, a gripping sense of darkness and an intriguing connection to Fehervari’s other work, then this should be top of your list. Fehervari deserves to be much better known than he is, as this is right up there with the best that Black Library has to offer.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/04/...
April 5, 2023
Apocalypse Now wearing 40k's skin, complete with narration and incredible violence. the prose is truly fucking excellent, too — it's heady and confused, full of internality and psychosis set against horrific jungle, warfare, and trauma. way, way better than the comic book writing most Black Library novels are stuck with (sorry, Abnett).
established 40k likers will probably appreciate how this story diverges from the usual style guide. it's an American take; a story about military corruption, endless war, and Texans up against voodoo magicks they don't understand as opposed to the faux-Lovecraft blade-and-bolter fantasy schlock that's the usual BL fare.
all that aside, this is a great novel even if you don't care about 40k. if you like a good Vietnam epic and don't mind a noticeable level of derivativity, you'll like this.
established 40k likers will probably appreciate how this story diverges from the usual style guide. it's an American take; a story about military corruption, endless war, and Texans up against voodoo magicks they don't understand as opposed to the faux-Lovecraft blade-and-bolter fantasy schlock that's the usual BL fare.
all that aside, this is a great novel even if you don't care about 40k. if you like a good Vietnam epic and don't mind a noticeable level of derivativity, you'll like this.
February 8, 2017
My review of the excellent Fire Caste here:
http://hachisnaxreads.blogspot.com/20...
http://hachisnaxreads.blogspot.com/20...
January 9, 2024
fucking adored this, new comfort read
September 7, 2024
Ez Tau w
August 6, 2025
I have no idea what actually happened in this book beyond fevered guesses and delusions. 5 stars, would recommend.
May 11, 2025
The tone and general vibes were exactly what you'd want out of a 40k novel: a truly grimdark future where every character is likely to wind up dead. That said I found it hard to follow ultimately and didn't leave the kind of impression on me that I'd hoped.
November 21, 2025
I wish we'd gotten a better look at the Tau (although the reason why we don't is explained in the book, I suppose) and there were fewer Guardsmen. Fairly early on in the book a decent number of the Guards we've gotten to know bite the bullet, and I was like, oh, good, that cast was getting a bit unwieldy. Then somehow the men we followed seemed to triple, and I had a real tough time understanding who was with what group and which ones they were. Cutler and Ensor kept getting mixed up in my head ... Dix and Audie ... Iverson I could always tell apart, but that's largely because he was basically LARPing Apocalypse Now and even writing a journal about it. But then when he caught up to his prey, I was like, shit, was this who he was even after?
Overly convoluted but still fairly entertaining.
Overly convoluted but still fairly entertaining.
May 4, 2025
A bunch of space soldiers from space Providence, RI visit the town of space Innsmouth to fight space aliens, with space Nyarlathotep watching in the wings.
March 15, 2024
Damned for their sins, the Arkan Confederates -- a military unit of the Imperium of Man hailing from the planet Providence -- are sent to swampy, haunted, war-torn Phaedra. They will do battle with rebels and with the alien Tau Empire, but no one is trustworthy, and nothing is as it seems. Soon, they're descending deeper and deeper into the tainted jungle of the Dolorosa Coil.
I love this book. It's not just one of the best 40k books, but a great book in its own right. Creepy atmosphere, characters who are absolutely horrible people but still have enough honor and decency you want them to win, everything slowly descending into corruption that oozes off of every interaction.
I really love Fehervari's story and would happily read this even if it had nothing to do with warhammer. In fact, this is the book that got me to start reading these in the first place.
A warning, though: this book is grim. The grimmest and darkest novel I've finished, as befits the universe. No trigger-warning material for shock value though, it's just genuinely unsettling and bleak.
Tldr; apocalypse now meets starship troopers meets hp lovecraft.
I love this book. It's not just one of the best 40k books, but a great book in its own right. Creepy atmosphere, characters who are absolutely horrible people but still have enough honor and decency you want them to win, everything slowly descending into corruption that oozes off of every interaction.
I really love Fehervari's story and would happily read this even if it had nothing to do with warhammer. In fact, this is the book that got me to start reading these in the first place.
A warning, though: this book is grim. The grimmest and darkest novel I've finished, as befits the universe. No trigger-warning material for shock value though, it's just genuinely unsettling and bleak.
Tldr; apocalypse now meets starship troopers meets hp lovecraft.
April 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 2, 2024
My first read by Fehervari and I'm pleasantly surprised. This book was well written and filled with creepy and very grim dark stuff. It's definitely a universe that no one would want to live in.
Strong memorable characters. I love the title of the book.
Strong memorable characters. I love the title of the book.
April 6, 2025
Haven’t read any 40k in ages. Finally dipped my toe back into that universe – and I fear that after this book, no 40k novel will be able to hold a candle to it. Peter Fehervari takes the setting of 40k and crafts an incredible story of deceit, subterfuge, corruption, and classic military sci-fi.
The 40k setting isn’t the focus, but rather a means to an end. I haven’t enjoyed a 40k book this much in a long time – or possibly ever.
Even if you're not into 40k, you'll enjoy it for what it is: an outstanding horror sci-fi novel with a loveable and tormented cast of characters. There’s a surreal, almost Lovecraftian atmosphere to it – full of creeping dread, identity loss, and cosmic indifference. An absolute gem of a book.
The 40k setting isn’t the focus, but rather a means to an end. I haven’t enjoyed a 40k book this much in a long time – or possibly ever.
Even if you're not into 40k, you'll enjoy it for what it is: an outstanding horror sci-fi novel with a loveable and tormented cast of characters. There’s a surreal, almost Lovecraftian atmosphere to it – full of creeping dread, identity loss, and cosmic indifference. An absolute gem of a book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews