Book Review: Helsreach

I was hesitant when I started reading Helsreach.  I can get very bored by the dull personalities of space marines. They really are a let down when not in combat.  I can only imagine how hard it is to write stories with them in a way that shows emotion and personality without going off the reservation of the concept of the 40k space marine that we has been explained in the codices of Games Workshop.  With all of that said I was instantly happy to be reading Helsreach when the 91st Steel Legion was introduced with the tough Major Ryken and the General Staff liaison Tyro.  While only minor characters in this epic story of apocalyptic battle its always the Imperial Guard that makes me love reading 40K novels.  The Imperial Guard struggles to keep pace with all the threats that attack the Imperium from all sides of the galaxy, and because of this the outcome is always uncertain.  The good guys don't always win.  Then again sometimes winning is just a matter of surviving.

With my hesitation fading quickly the story kicked off following the inner turmoil of Reclusiarch Grimaldus of the Black Templars.  While space marines often lack depth their chapters characteristics more than make up for it when you have a talented writer to lead the way.  I have to admit I was almost done with the book when I was so excited by the combats unfolding that I had to see who the author...  Aaron Dembski-Bowden!  Of course, he introduced me to 40K literature with Soul Hunter (a fantastic book in its own right).

My favorite part of reading 40K novels is the inspiration I get from reading about the units, chapters, and xenos factions in the 40K setting.  For instance I will totally be making the 91st Desert Vultures Steel Legion with Major Ryken.  I have the models, I just need to paint some ochre coats.  I would also like to paint an Andrej, the Steel Legion Storm Trooper as homage to his side story in Helsreach.  All in all the Steel Legion was well represented as a disciplined force with backbone.  They weren't super human.  They retreated when they needed to.  They lost tons of troops and material, but they had backbone and toughed out the battle.  The final outcome is a real nail biter.  It would be folly to not see legendary characters and equipment in such a fantastic city battle.  Dembski-Bowden had to have read some Stalingrad experiences to get this story right. The street to street fighting was brutal.  The Orks were without exhaustion.  The Orks proved very scary opponents for one of the Imperiums strongest bastions of men and material.

Helsreach gives something to both Ork and Imperium forces fans.  It is a wild ride that will having you wanting to read more.  Aaron Dembski-Bowden is ushering a great era of Black Library treasures.  If you see Dembski-Bowden on the cover read that book.  It's worth it.  I hope to read more of the Imperium's fight to defend Armageddon in the future.

I hope Games Workshop makes a specific Steel Legion army at some point.  That's just my wish.  Maybe a collector's box with four infantry squads, a company command squad, five chimeras, and an ochre paint for their coats.  Of course this would all be plastic.