[Bane_of_Kings]

The Chapter’s Due: Graham McNeill


War is unending in the life of a Space Marine. After defeating tau forces, Captain Uriel Ventris of the Ultramarines has returned to the Chapter’s Homeworld of Macragge, but there is little respite. The Ultramarines are thrust back into battle, and this time the enemy is the Chapter’s greatest nemesis. The traitorous Iron Warriors, led by renegade Warsmith Honsou, have gathered together a massive and brutal Warband. Their target is the realm of Ultramar. Their objective is total annihilation. It is a final showdown between legendary Space Marines, and Uriel Ventris must take on the might of Honsou if he is to save his Chapter’s Homeworld.​

~http://www.blacklibrary.com/Warhammer-40000/Chapters-Due-The.html​

At Long last, we come to the sixth installment in the epic Ultramarines series, known as The Chapter’s Due. After everything I’ve read so far, I was hyped up to reading this book, and I expected it to be one of the best Ultramarines books so far.

318 pages later, and I’m deeply disappointed. I was tired of noticing small spelling mistakes and things like full stops and commas missing. Guess the Black Library editors were asleep on the job, and McNeill didn’t bother (It seems) to double check.

Sure, there were epic battles and the long awaited clash between 4th Captain Uriel Ventris and Warsmith Honsou. However, I feel that the fight between the two champions wasn’t done as well as it could have been. As you have seen in Fulgrim, Graham McNeill gave us a similar clash of traitor and loyalist – only then it was Fulgrim and Ferrus Manus, not Uriel and Honsou. That was written a lot better, whereas McNeill fails to deliver what could have been an epic showdown.

Even though McNeill has learnt one lesson from Courage and Honour and not splashed the warcry of the Ultramarines across every page, he’s certainly still stuck down the Bolter Porn route. But still, what could you expect from a war this epic?

Yes, the war was epic with the battle being fought across four planets, Calth and Talassar (Spelling check needed) included, which both spawned famous Ultramarines Captains; Sicarus of the 2nd and Ventris of the 4th.

Sure, given more time I reckon McNeill could have produced a better book, as I reckon he rushed this so it come out alongside the paperback version of Courage and Honour.

And has anyone else noticed that the books seem to go downhill as the series progresses? I mean, Ultramarines Omnibus was a great read, but then The Killing Ground wasn’t as good as that, and Courage and Honour wasn’t as good as The Killing Ground, and this proves the theory with The Chapter’s Due.

It was nowhere near as good as the Ultramarines Omnibus, actually, even Courage and Honour was better than this, and I was astounded to see that some people on Black Library had rated this book four or even five out of five. It’s a rubbish, rushed book. Sure, you will want to read to the end to see the outcome, but you just know who will win. It’s one of those predictable endings.

Also, there is a twist in this novel revolving around the innermost core of Honsou’s allies. I won’t tell you who, but a smart reader will probably guess.

Did I mention that we see some Raven Guard action as well? It’s weird, but I found Fourth Shadow Captain Shaan to be more likeable than any of the Ultramarines including Uriel and Pasanius, the two main characters. Shaan’s just become my favorite character out of the whole Ultramarines series.

Rating out of 10: 5/10

Should you buy this book? Not unless you want to find out what happens between Honsou and Uriel, and watch Ultramarines get thrashed.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to reading the last few pages of Dan Abnett’s third Gaunt’s Ghosts Omnibus: The Lost.

Of Books and Wargames 3

 

[TRU3 CHAOS]

Personally thinking this is a good review Bane of Kings. As a fluff book this story doesn't really produce much for the 40k world except for add to the amazingness of the Ultramarines. Its also been stated a few times in this site, that their are characters in this novel along with Iron Warrior that are random.

 

[darkreever]

Did I mention that we see some Raven Guard action as well? It’s weird, but I found Fourth Captain Shaan to be more likeable than any of the Ultramarines including Uriel and Pasanius, the two main characters. Shaan’s just become my favorite character out of the whole Ultramarines series.

First I'll go on to correct you, and possibly the book, in saying that it is shadow-captain, not just captain. Second, of course your gonna end up liking the shadow-captain and his company over card-board cut out marines. Its like a given.

I must say Bane, I very much enjoyed reading this review. It gives nothing away from the story that the description does not, and what little is spoiled (there is a company of Raven Guard) does nothing to give away the story and would spur me on to get a copy of this were I actually going to do so.

Good job, and personally I found Vaanes to be one of the best characters of the series outside of the deathwatch team and Learches.

 

[Bane_of_Kings]

Cheers, and yeah - I need to edit that. Oh by the way, are all of the Raven Guard's Captains called Shadow Captains?

 

[darkreever]

Last I remember reading, yes they are all called shadow-captain, and the companies themselves are often referred to as shadow-companies. (You know, to further that whole stealthy and striking from the shadows thing.)

 

[Bane_of_Kings]

Oh cool. Oh by the way, next review is Traitor General. Should be up sometime before I go to Berlin (Tuesday).

 

[Lord of the Night]

Good review Bane. Its a real shame about the Ultramarines series that started off with Nightbringer, a classic, and has come to this. Especially since this is meant to be Honsou's shining moment.

My favourite of the series is Honsou. I really do like him and his never-give up and never-forget attitude, and nobody ever calls him half-breed and lives. He may not have been at Terra but he's a lot better then many of the scum that were. I hope he'll be back, and that the series will pick itself up.

 

[Commissar Ploss]

very straight-forward review. i like it. nice job.

CP

 

[ckcrawford]

My favourite of the series is Honsou. I really do like him and his never-give up and never-forget attitude, and nobody ever calls him half-breed and lives. He may not have been at Terra but he's a lot better then many of the scum that were. I hope he'll be back, and that the series will pick itself up.

For starters, good review.

And yes, I'm afraid this was a disapointing part to the series, especially since Honsou was previously carefully portrayed in many stories.