What do you think?
Rate this book
The Horus Heresy #Short Story
The Painted Count
Distrusted by his allies and despised by his rivals, Gendor Skraivok nonetheless seeks to claw back the leadership of the Night Lords Legion for himself, by fair means or foul...
Read it because
23 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
4 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Guy Haley
284 books733 followersGuy Haley is the author of over 50 novels and novellas. His original fiction includes Crash, Champion of Mars, and the Richards and Klein, Dreaming Cities, and the Gates of the World series (as K M McKinley). However, he is best known as a prolific contributor to Games Workshop's Black Library imprint.
When not writing, he'll be out doing something dangerous in the wild, learning languages or gaming.
When not writing, he'll be out doing something dangerous in the wild, learning languages or gaming.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 22, 2019
Read in the Heralds of the Siege anthology
There was the sword, and there was the ship. Those two things alone occupied all of Gendor Skraivok’s thoughts.
At that moment, the sword was preeminent
A good follow-up to Pharos with an unexpected and much appreciated reference to Vulkan Lives.
Gendor Skraivok is not my most favourite one Night Lords character at all, but the author wrote an interesting short story about backstabbing, political intrigue and demonic swords here, and the ending, with the VIII Legion preparing to join Horus' final assault to the Throneworld in their iconic and singular way, raised my final vote to full four stars.
There was the sword, and there was the ship. Those two things alone occupied all of Gendor Skraivok’s thoughts.
At that moment, the sword was preeminent
A good follow-up to Pharos with an unexpected and much appreciated reference to Vulkan Lives.
Gendor Skraivok is not my most favourite one Night Lords character at all, but the author wrote an interesting short story about backstabbing, political intrigue and demonic swords here, and the ending, with the VIII Legion preparing to join Horus' final assault to the Throneworld in their iconic and singular way, raised my final vote to full four stars.
December 14, 2016
It’s back to the Horus Heresy for day thirteen of Black Library’s 2016 Advent Calendar, with The Painted Count by Guy Haley. Picking up where Gender Skraivok left off at the end of Pharos, we see him back on the Nightfall among his fellow Night Lords, embroiled in a power struggle for the leadership of the Legion. Deeply troubled by the clinging presence of the daemon weapon that he acquired on Sotha, Skraivok nevertheless finds himself in a position where he may well need every source of power he can lay his hands on if he’s to survive.
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
January 6, 2017
Review also published here
The Painted Count follows on shortly after the events of Pharos . The novel is mandatory reading before you go into this short story, otherwise you'd be missing out. The short story has many call-backs to the novel and even a slice of Vulkan Lives , which surprised me.
In general, this is a more direct character piece on Skraivok and his standing within the Night Lords Legion. Where Pharos left us with questions as to his fate, and that of the Nightfall, The Painted Count aims to give answers. Skraivok is forced to embrace uncomfortable truths and comes to heads with Konrad Curze's equerry Shang, who first appeared way back when in The Dark King . The two represent the different spectrums of the Legion; one clinging to Curze and wanting vengeance, the other looking forward and trying to make their own way. Of course, the inherent selfishness of the Legion gets in the way of a fair vote on the new leadership, so things take some turns left and right.
The story as a whole serves as a stepping stone between Pharos and the assault on the Sol System. The Night Lords are being maneuvered into place, and we get a good close-up of Skraivok and his own philosophy. I can't say I disliked the Painted Count by any means - Haley's writing puts him as insane in his sanity. My one disappointment with the story was that it didn't explore Captain Shang well enough for my liking. This was Skraivok's show, of course, but a bit more dialogue from Shang, or maybe a scene from his point of view, could have benefitted the story and made it into a great one for me.
As it stands, The Painted Count was an exciting and satisfying read, establishing Gendor Skraivok as a name to watch out for in future installments of the series. It is a worthy part in the overarching Night Lords storyline of the Horus Heresy, and Haley's portrayal of the Legion is, in my eyes, absolutely fitting.
The Painted Count follows on shortly after the events of Pharos . The novel is mandatory reading before you go into this short story, otherwise you'd be missing out. The short story has many call-backs to the novel and even a slice of Vulkan Lives , which surprised me.
In general, this is a more direct character piece on Skraivok and his standing within the Night Lords Legion. Where Pharos left us with questions as to his fate, and that of the Nightfall, The Painted Count aims to give answers. Skraivok is forced to embrace uncomfortable truths and comes to heads with Konrad Curze's equerry Shang, who first appeared way back when in The Dark King . The two represent the different spectrums of the Legion; one clinging to Curze and wanting vengeance, the other looking forward and trying to make their own way. Of course, the inherent selfishness of the Legion gets in the way of a fair vote on the new leadership, so things take some turns left and right.
The story as a whole serves as a stepping stone between Pharos and the assault on the Sol System. The Night Lords are being maneuvered into place, and we get a good close-up of Skraivok and his own philosophy. I can't say I disliked the Painted Count by any means - Haley's writing puts him as insane in his sanity. My one disappointment with the story was that it didn't explore Captain Shang well enough for my liking. This was Skraivok's show, of course, but a bit more dialogue from Shang, or maybe a scene from his point of view, could have benefitted the story and made it into a great one for me.
As it stands, The Painted Count was an exciting and satisfying read, establishing Gendor Skraivok as a name to watch out for in future installments of the series. It is a worthy part in the overarching Night Lords storyline of the Horus Heresy, and Haley's portrayal of the Legion is, in my eyes, absolutely fitting.
August 31, 2019
Finally took time to read this short story and sadly was not a fan of it. I still have to finish Pharos, but the impression I got about Guy Haley's Night Lords from this story and "A Safe and Shadowed Place" was not the greatest. I feel a little bad for giving a critique like this, but I can't pretend. The story itself hardly makes much sense since it is a clear follow-up to Pharos, so I was mainly focusing on the main character. I strongly believe that putting a complicated and charismatic character in any setting will automatically make it intriguing and fascinating. A good example of this would be Sevatar, who is more amusing while sitting alone in a dark cell (The Long Night) than Gendor Skraivok being a badass Mary Sue slicing people's heads in half. I would really love to see more from him, so far he seems to have a personality of a fairly powerful, but very pretentious dummy straight from a mediocre vampire novel. At least he's not throwing tantrums yelling "LIFE IS PAIN!!!11" like his fellow twinsies.
Mind, it was not bad enough to get 1 or 2 stars, I just love Night Lords too much to silently accept this. :D
Mind, it was not bad enough to get 1 or 2 stars, I just love Night Lords too much to silently accept this. :D
December 16, 2016
An exciting addition to the Night Lords in the Horus Heresy, and it was definitely interesting to see where one of my favourite characters from Guy Haley's 'Pharos' went, and what he got up to!
The action was great, all the Legion backstabby-ness and political intrigue was awesomely done, and the dialogue was stellar.
Can't wait to see where the Painted Count goes next!
The action was great, all the Legion backstabby-ness and political intrigue was awesomely done, and the dialogue was stellar.
Can't wait to see where the Painted Count goes next!
April 8, 2024
April 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XIII Imperium Secondus I Hope's Kindling (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus series and extras.
Originally released as part of the Black Library Advent Calendar 2016, this short story acts as an additional epilogue for Pharos and the continuing misadventures of the Shambles Legion.
With Skraivok not seemingly to be able to shift the Daemonic sword he previously received and clashing with those in charge, the eponymous Painted Count and Kylo Ren to Sevatar's Darth Vader. Things only get worse when he's chucked in the Olympion's labyrinth. If only there was something in here that might be helpful...
This is a little window into more of the constant kerfuffles going on with he VIII Legion, but it's very much on the vague power struggles, posturing, and generic magic sword side of things, despite the writing being fine.
It's certainly not bad, but it's definitely not essential and it didn't get my Daemon Engine going.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 24.41 Horus Heresy novels, 14 novellas (including 1 repeat), 80 short stories/ audio dramas (including 5 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 13 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
Originally released as part of the Black Library Advent Calendar 2016, this short story acts as an additional epilogue for Pharos and the continuing misadventures of the Shambles Legion.
With Skraivok not seemingly to be able to shift the Daemonic sword he previously received and clashing with those in charge, the eponymous Painted Count and Kylo Ren to Sevatar's Darth Vader. Things only get worse when he's chucked in the Olympion's labyrinth. If only there was something in here that might be helpful...
This is a little window into more of the constant kerfuffles going on with he VIII Legion, but it's very much on the vague power struggles, posturing, and generic magic sword side of things, despite the writing being fine.
It's certainly not bad, but it's definitely not essential and it didn't get my Daemon Engine going.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 24.41 Horus Heresy novels, 14 novellas (including 1 repeat), 80 short stories/ audio dramas (including 5 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 13 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
August 9, 2025
"There was the sword and there was the ship. Those two things alone occupied all of Gendor Skraivok's thoughts. At that moment, the sword was preeminent."
Skraivok is striving for control over the Legion, but not all his brothers are allies and kin-slaying is growing more and more common amongst the Night Lords.
First introduced in "A Safe and Shadowed Place" the Painted Count is a cunning and cruel Captain of the Night Lords. During the events of the novel "Pharos" he made a dark bargain with a Daemon, sacrificing a brother in the progress. Now he finds himself haunted by a daemon blade, unable to rid himself of it.
Now Skraivok finds himself opposed to equerry Shang (first introduced in the audio drama "Dark King"). Both represent diverging ideals of the Legion. Shang seeks bloody revenge and retribution in the name of Konrad Curze, whereas Skraivok seeks to act independent of his Gene-Father and to fight the war on his own terms.
I really enjoyed the internal conflict among the Night Lords as they have been abandoned by the Gene-Father and First Captain Sevetar has been captured. The Night Lords are a particularly treacherous and dishonourable lot, their words dripping with venom and spite. I felt like this story developed on a lot of great moments established earlier in the Heresy in stories like "Savage Weapons".
Skraivok appears again in "The Lost and the Damned" and "Kinrad Curze: Night Haunter". He is also an antagonist in the 40k novel "Azrael".
Skraivok is striving for control over the Legion, but not all his brothers are allies and kin-slaying is growing more and more common amongst the Night Lords.
First introduced in "A Safe and Shadowed Place" the Painted Count is a cunning and cruel Captain of the Night Lords. During the events of the novel "Pharos" he made a dark bargain with a Daemon, sacrificing a brother in the progress. Now he finds himself haunted by a daemon blade, unable to rid himself of it.
Now Skraivok finds himself opposed to equerry Shang (first introduced in the audio drama "Dark King"). Both represent diverging ideals of the Legion. Shang seeks bloody revenge and retribution in the name of Konrad Curze, whereas Skraivok seeks to act independent of his Gene-Father and to fight the war on his own terms.
I really enjoyed the internal conflict among the Night Lords as they have been abandoned by the Gene-Father and First Captain Sevetar has been captured. The Night Lords are a particularly treacherous and dishonourable lot, their words dripping with venom and spite. I felt like this story developed on a lot of great moments established earlier in the Heresy in stories like "Savage Weapons".
Skraivok appears again in "The Lost and the Damned" and "Kinrad Curze: Night Haunter". He is also an antagonist in the 40k novel "Azrael".
June 20, 2019
Ok. Feels more like the author trying to add a chapter they wanted after publication than a unique story.
May 21, 2020
Nice little short story.
December 14, 2025
La octava nunca decepciona
November 8, 2023
This short story is quite interesting, giving us a brief look at a power struggle to control a Night Lords fleet. Despite not having much in the way of action until towards the end (and even then, it is over very quickly), the story is still entertaining as it follows the final corruption of the main character while he is confined in an interesting prison. Gendor Skraivok, the Painted Count himself, seems an interesting character and I look forward to reading some of the other books he has been in when I catch up with main series itself.
December 20, 2016
Really just a short afterword to the events of Pharos but probably setting in train events to bring the Night Lords to Terra.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2016
A pretty good short story that finally sets the night lords on a course for Terra. As always Haley does a pretty good job of telling the story. Worth a read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews