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Warhammer 40,000
Assault on Black Reach: The Novel
The companion novel to the Warhammer 40,000 boxed game Assault on Black Reach tells the story of how the 2nd Company of the Ultramarines, commanded by Captain Sicarius, prosecuted war against the greenskin invaders and their warlord Zanzag.
When the planet of Black Reach is invaded by a mighty ork horde, the Ultramarines must act fast. If the orks gain a foothold in the system, they could spread, and threaten the entire sector. As the Ultramarines attack in their righteous fury, the scene is set for a classic battle one hundred Space Marines versus fifty thousand orks!
When the planet of Black Reach is invaded by a mighty ork horde, the Ultramarines must act fast. If the orks gain a foothold in the system, they could spread, and threaten the entire sector. As the Ultramarines attack in their righteous fury, the scene is set for a classic battle one hundred Space Marines versus fifty thousand orks!
127 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
13 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Nick Kyme
281 books163 followersNick Kyme (b. 1977) writes mostly for Black Library. His credits include the popular Salamanders series and several audio dramas.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 10, 2017
A not bad at all action-packed introduction to the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40000 if you are a new reader, but if you are a veteran diehard fan of the setting, this novel (more a novella) is just a 100% Ultramarine-smash-puny-Ork "bolter-porn".
Nice.
November 30, 2021
Assault on Black Reach is meant to be an easy introduction to the universe that is Warhammer 40K. After reading a few reviews, I knew that this wasn’t going to be a good book—they were right. For a book to be so action-packed yet so terribly boring is a real achievement. There is no character development and nothing to connect with whatsoever. Just fighting and maneuvering.
2.5
2.5
October 8, 2011
This was one of the 7 books I read in Februray. It was a good month and should be every month, well it shouldn't because I was in the hospital a week thats why I read so much...
Apart from this book I read Second Game by Charles de Vet and Katherine McLean (a review to come), Lady of Poison by Bruce Cordell, Ten Little Niggers by Agatha Christie, Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman, Mistress of the Night by Dave Gross and Don Bassingthwaite, The Association by Bentley Little.
Well this book (novella) is a companion for the new Box Set of the Miniature Range of Games Workshop. The Story is a simple one. Orks Invasion on a planet called Black Reach and the fighting of the Ultramarines 2nd company. The story centers on Scipio a brother sergeant of the 2nd company. Nick is able to build good characters focusing on 4 marines. He surely can create good characters and I would hope to see him write more stories with ultramarines but I don't think that will happen since Graham McNeill is the "father" of them. The only thing I didnd't enjoy was the end... The book was fast paced but the ending was a sprinting and there we go... I think a couple more pages could have made this a novella to anyone trying to enter into Warhammer 40k setting.
Well nevertheless I have a book sitting near me that I am dying to read (but strangely I keep picking others instead) for some time... Oathbreaker. An Dwarf novel. I love dwarves and will read the book in the near future. I really hope he created as good characters as this novel.
Keep them coming Nyck Kyme.
Apart from this book I read Second Game by Charles de Vet and Katherine McLean (a review to come), Lady of Poison by Bruce Cordell, Ten Little Niggers by Agatha Christie, Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman, Mistress of the Night by Dave Gross and Don Bassingthwaite, The Association by Bentley Little.
Well this book (novella) is a companion for the new Box Set of the Miniature Range of Games Workshop. The Story is a simple one. Orks Invasion on a planet called Black Reach and the fighting of the Ultramarines 2nd company. The story centers on Scipio a brother sergeant of the 2nd company. Nick is able to build good characters focusing on 4 marines. He surely can create good characters and I would hope to see him write more stories with ultramarines but I don't think that will happen since Graham McNeill is the "father" of them. The only thing I didnd't enjoy was the end... The book was fast paced but the ending was a sprinting and there we go... I think a couple more pages could have made this a novella to anyone trying to enter into Warhammer 40k setting.
Well nevertheless I have a book sitting near me that I am dying to read (but strangely I keep picking others instead) for some time... Oathbreaker. An Dwarf novel. I love dwarves and will read the book in the near future. I really hope he created as good characters as this novel.
Keep them coming Nyck Kyme.
September 6, 2018
This should be called Hi, I'm a SPACE MARINE!
Ridiculously simplistic. I get that this is supposed to be introductory, but if I'd read this as my first 40K foray, I almost certainly would not have kept reading.
Ridiculously simplistic. I get that this is supposed to be introductory, but if I'd read this as my first 40K foray, I almost certainly would not have kept reading.
February 3, 2021
This is a novella aimed at first timers into the Warhammer 40 000 universe. Especially for youngsters. The story goes from action scene to action scene, with little filler.
Long time 40K fans will prefer the regular novels put by Games Workshop.
Long time 40K fans will prefer the regular novels put by Games Workshop.
September 29, 2019
This was a novella that came out about the time I was infected with the Warhammer bug-sometime in the mid 2000's. I never read it until recently, and for what it is, it is a decently entertaining work of fiction.
The story is incredibly basic: a company of the Ultramarines must rescue an Imperial Hive World under assault by orks.
The Ultramaines do just that, in a series of special forces type assaults upon the orks command cadres and centers of gravity.
The author, himself an editor at the Black Library, I thought did a good job with the stoic, noble nature of the Ultramarines (think of Roman's in Space when you read about them and you'll have them pretty set) and the descriptions were well done.
My issue with the novella is that it was what many fans refer to as bolter porn. Basically it was a series of action set pieces with a thin line of story involving a mistrusting sergeant and the possibility of a reckless Captain Sicarius, threaded throughout.
Also, I should mention, the greenskin-phobia that BL loves to play with as the orks, again, were made out to be chumps in comparison to Space Marines. Da Boyz neva get da respekt dey deserve!
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really memorable, either.
Still, not bad for a turn your brain off and enjoy type read.
The story is incredibly basic: a company of the Ultramarines must rescue an Imperial Hive World under assault by orks.
The Ultramaines do just that, in a series of special forces type assaults upon the orks command cadres and centers of gravity.
The author, himself an editor at the Black Library, I thought did a good job with the stoic, noble nature of the Ultramarines (think of Roman's in Space when you read about them and you'll have them pretty set) and the descriptions were well done.
My issue with the novella is that it was what many fans refer to as bolter porn. Basically it was a series of action set pieces with a thin line of story involving a mistrusting sergeant and the possibility of a reckless Captain Sicarius, threaded throughout.
Also, I should mention, the greenskin-phobia that BL loves to play with as the orks, again, were made out to be chumps in comparison to Space Marines. Da Boyz neva get da respekt dey deserve!
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really memorable, either.
Still, not bad for a turn your brain off and enjoy type read.
March 12, 2019
Very little in way of character development nor was the main protagonist changed in anyway by the plot. There was almost no emotion and the story line was kind of banal without adversary or challenge. The Space Marines are put up against a strawman enemy whom they seem to best 500 to 1. There was some mild subterfuge this lasted for only a couple of pages and it was pretty much a straight line between start to finish in terms of challenge. It mainly seems to be WH40k porn with the back page selling the squad in the book as its main conclusion.
May 9, 2013
This a book based on a game that is set in 40,000 A.D called Warhammer 40,000/40k. This book is a fight that has escalated between the forces of the Imperium and the Ork Horde. Captain Sicarius leads the 2nd Copany on a daring mission to kill off the Ork Horde. Sargent Scipio leads a group of ten to invade the Ork base and send onto the battle field so the rest of the company can finish the Orks off. Who will have the Final say and who will have First blood.
This is the perfect book to start out any Warhammer 40k Players career and I give it 3/5 stars. Suitable for ages 8+.
This is the perfect book to start out any Warhammer 40k Players career and I give it 3/5 stars. Suitable for ages 8+.
August 18, 2025
Nick Kyme just bores me to death
February 14, 2023
A light warhammer action novel, this is exactly what you'd expect it to be. I was hoping for a bit more depth in the exploration of the humanity trapped in the Emperor's war, but perhaps I'll find that in another book. A goofy but fun read.
March 27, 2025
Cato Sicarius is in fact the named ultramarine. Never in all of warhammer have I seen someone make others mad because he was at the front of the battle. “War calls will you answer?” Will forever go into my vocabulary
March 23, 2025
Actual rating: 3½ stars
May 15, 2025
While reading Fall of Damnos, the characters frequently referred to events from the battle of Black Reach. And even though this isn’t technically a series, I decided to read this short novel as well.
It’s probably because I was already familiar with the characters from Fall of Damnos, but in this story, they felt much better developed and more thoroughly introduced. The book gave me a deeper look into their motivations, backgrounds, and relationships. I even enjoyed it a bit more than the previous one. This time, the Ultramarines’ 2nd Company has to deal with an Ork invasion. Iulus remains my favorite character, and I’m really curious to see how his fate will unfold in the final battle for Damnos.
It’s probably because I was already familiar with the characters from Fall of Damnos, but in this story, they felt much better developed and more thoroughly introduced. The book gave me a deeper look into their motivations, backgrounds, and relationships. I even enjoyed it a bit more than the previous one. This time, the Ultramarines’ 2nd Company has to deal with an Ork invasion. Iulus remains my favorite character, and I’m really curious to see how his fate will unfold in the final battle for Damnos.
September 26, 2018
Released in 2008 to tie in with the Warhammer 40,000 starter set of the same name, this tells the story of the epic conflict between the Ultramarines 2nd Company and the vast ork Waaagh! of warlord Zanzog on the ravaged world of Black Reach. Led by Captain Cato Sicarius, the Ultramarines launch a blistering drop assault to strike at the head of the ork horde, intending to kill Zanzag and cripple the orks in a single devastating blow. Some among the Ultramarines, however, fear that Sicarius risks too much in his thirst for glory.
It’s clearly intended as an introduction to 40k as a setting, and it does a pretty good job of delivering exactly that. The plot has plenty of pace and momentum, and the multiple action scenes, delivered with a reasonable amount of variety considering the subject matter, don’t overstay their welcome. It’s not the most sophisticated plotting or writing, but it’s more than entertaining enough to demonstrate to a new reader what they can expect from the tone and style of 40k, while existing fans can enjoy making up their mind on exactly what they think about Sicarius.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/09/...
It’s clearly intended as an introduction to 40k as a setting, and it does a pretty good job of delivering exactly that. The plot has plenty of pace and momentum, and the multiple action scenes, delivered with a reasonable amount of variety considering the subject matter, don’t overstay their welcome. It’s not the most sophisticated plotting or writing, but it’s more than entertaining enough to demonstrate to a new reader what they can expect from the tone and style of 40k, while existing fans can enjoy making up their mind on exactly what they think about Sicarius.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/09/...
January 14, 2012
A short story that translates the board game into an action packed tale of the Astartes effort in defending Black Reach. All the units featured in the boxset are present in the book.
There's not much of a story in this novel but has plenty of action scenes to keep you satisfied. The book is a good companion to the game and a good start to the 40k novels.
There's not much of a story in this novel but has plenty of action scenes to keep you satisfied. The book is a good companion to the game and a good start to the 40k novels.
April 25, 2020
A good quick book focused on the conflict on a single world between marines and orks. Nothing new to really add to the overall lore of warhammer, but I did really enjoy the parts focusing on the scouts. Also, the idea of needing heroes in the marines at the expense of caution was enlightening.
Very short, so worth the small amount of time to read for sure.
Very short, so worth the small amount of time to read for sure.
July 1, 2016
The book was interesting with great action and a good story line. I really enjoyed it but if you read it you need to know the warhammer 40,000 world to understand some parts such as the author refers to the ultramarines as the astartes
July 28, 2009
More novella than novel, this was enjoyable. Not a ton of characterization, but enough for the length. Mostly it was cover-to-cover action, which is what I've come to expect from Space Marines.
May 29, 2012
Overall, I enjoyed this book. If you'd like to know my thoughts on it, I have a video full review on it at choppyreviews.com
February 20, 2013
Assault On Black Reach is a good book. I really enjoyed it. It has plenty of action with lots of close space combat.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews