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The Macharian Crusade #2
Fist of Demetrius
As the crusade reaches its apex, Lord Solar Macharius is drawn by a prophecy to the world of Demetrius in search of an ancient artefact - the Fist of Demetrius. Rumours and legends abound of the artefact’s providence as a weapon of a primarch, the lords of the Horus Heresy. With it, Macharius believes his success and victory is assured but others crave this potent weapon, and the dark eldar will do anything to obtain it.
Book two in the Macharian Crusade Trilogy
Book two in the Macharian Crusade Trilogy
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2013
13 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
William King
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 2, 2013
"Alexander the Great in space? Apart from he didn't have superhuman powers duh!"
What can I say about Fist of Demetrius I liked and disliked it with equal measure. The opening chapter of William King's novel is grimdark/horror personified. It was rather good. The bad, well I'll come to that.
Macharius, Lord Commander of the 'new' crusade to reclaim lost planets since the Horus Heresy. He is rather good at it. A tactical genius, he has no equal (as of yet). He has no equal man-to-man. So what about non-humans you may ask? Your find out, I'll respond. Protected by his loyal Lion Guard and various personal bodyguard, he likes planet-hopping around and picking up new worlds for the Imperium, while smashing heretics and xenos alike in the face. Flanked by the dour Inquisitor Drake, who has about as much personality as a blank page, they smash any forces opposing them. If you've read the first novel on the Macharian Crusade your already have some understanding of these characters.
Luckily for Mach and his boys they find themselves on Demetrius, where (ironically) the Fist of Demetrius is entombed within a religious cathedral. It is rumoured to have belonged to Leman Russ himself, Primarch of the Space Wolves. Without spoiling the story, they recover the Fist. While making transit through the warp in Lux Imperatoris, they are caught in a storm and vomited out in the middle of nowhere. Or what they thought was nowhere. Dark Eldar suddenly attack the ship, led by the maniacal Lord Ashterioth, he is on Procastes for his own reasons. What I loved about the novel was just how dehumanising the Eldar were. Lots of skinning, popping eyes, referring to human as cattle and sexual degradation (in a very PG style of course).
Leo (the narrator), Anton and Ivan are the main characters of the novel. A rather stereotypical camaraderie of soldiers, in my opinion. All 'meant' to be witty, one a lecheries cur, one a drunken and another, well, the quintessential man. Leo has no vices, he has a answer for everything. They are all likable in their way, just not very original, a standardised template for characters if you like. Originally from a crew from a Baneblade (again read the first novel in the series), they are a tight knit bunch, especially after the events on Karsk. As I said, they are likeable, just not very different from any other bunch of chums. Tight, battle hardened and at times witty.
Let's talk prose. Please for the love of all that is holy stop using three-lined speeches. It was getting to me towards the end. Here is a example -
"I wish they would stop their banging on the hull" said Ivan in response to the ships shields failing.
"Why is that?" responded Anton with his usual sharp demeanour.
"Because it's hard to sleep" quipped Leo.
This a continual trend throughout the novel. They all chip in with their three-lined quips. It became old very quickly. I did chuckle at some of the banter, but just had that look when one of your favourite characters die in a novel after awhile. You know the one, face expressionless, you reread the scene and still the same look on your face. Another internal problem was the 25-odd pages of Macharius victory parade. I'm all for none-bolter-porn, in fact I encourage it in a already saturated (at times) brainless market. There was just nothing to the whole parade. You got the sense of the grandiose occasion, but what tore the scene apart was the endless list of regiments parading. I was just thinking to myself "Yes yes, so the lads popular, I get that!" If this scene was to work, there needed to be more emphasis on how this crusade was the most important since the Great Crusade.
After rereading this, I've noticed how much of a moan I'm having. Whoops! As I said, I liked it and disliked Fist of Demetrius with equal measure. There was just no real umph to the story. It didn't really feel any different to other 40K novels I've read. Well other than the horrific opening. Macharius is in it, just not enough for my liking. As I've mentioned more importance should be placed on just how different the Macharian Crusades was and how successful it was. Instead were left with little niche stories that are fed to us piecemeal. This is meant to be about conquest, recovering lost worlds and the brilliant man behind them. Get on it!!
*Did I mention a certain Space Marine shows up from William King's locker? Shame that, look out for him.*
What can I say about Fist of Demetrius I liked and disliked it with equal measure. The opening chapter of William King's novel is grimdark/horror personified. It was rather good. The bad, well I'll come to that.
Macharius, Lord Commander of the 'new' crusade to reclaim lost planets since the Horus Heresy. He is rather good at it. A tactical genius, he has no equal (as of yet). He has no equal man-to-man. So what about non-humans you may ask? Your find out, I'll respond. Protected by his loyal Lion Guard and various personal bodyguard, he likes planet-hopping around and picking up new worlds for the Imperium, while smashing heretics and xenos alike in the face. Flanked by the dour Inquisitor Drake, who has about as much personality as a blank page, they smash any forces opposing them. If you've read the first novel on the Macharian Crusade your already have some understanding of these characters.
Luckily for Mach and his boys they find themselves on Demetrius, where (ironically) the Fist of Demetrius is entombed within a religious cathedral. It is rumoured to have belonged to Leman Russ himself, Primarch of the Space Wolves. Without spoiling the story, they recover the Fist. While making transit through the warp in Lux Imperatoris, they are caught in a storm and vomited out in the middle of nowhere. Or what they thought was nowhere. Dark Eldar suddenly attack the ship, led by the maniacal Lord Ashterioth, he is on Procastes for his own reasons. What I loved about the novel was just how dehumanising the Eldar were. Lots of skinning, popping eyes, referring to human as cattle and sexual degradation (in a very PG style of course).
Leo (the narrator), Anton and Ivan are the main characters of the novel. A rather stereotypical camaraderie of soldiers, in my opinion. All 'meant' to be witty, one a lecheries cur, one a drunken and another, well, the quintessential man. Leo has no vices, he has a answer for everything. They are all likable in their way, just not very original, a standardised template for characters if you like. Originally from a crew from a Baneblade (again read the first novel in the series), they are a tight knit bunch, especially after the events on Karsk. As I said, they are likeable, just not very different from any other bunch of chums. Tight, battle hardened and at times witty.
Let's talk prose. Please for the love of all that is holy stop using three-lined speeches. It was getting to me towards the end. Here is a example -
"I wish they would stop their banging on the hull" said Ivan in response to the ships shields failing.
"Why is that?" responded Anton with his usual sharp demeanour.
"Because it's hard to sleep" quipped Leo.
This a continual trend throughout the novel. They all chip in with their three-lined quips. It became old very quickly. I did chuckle at some of the banter, but just had that look when one of your favourite characters die in a novel after awhile. You know the one, face expressionless, you reread the scene and still the same look on your face. Another internal problem was the 25-odd pages of Macharius victory parade. I'm all for none-bolter-porn, in fact I encourage it in a already saturated (at times) brainless market. There was just nothing to the whole parade. You got the sense of the grandiose occasion, but what tore the scene apart was the endless list of regiments parading. I was just thinking to myself "Yes yes, so the lads popular, I get that!" If this scene was to work, there needed to be more emphasis on how this crusade was the most important since the Great Crusade.
After rereading this, I've noticed how much of a moan I'm having. Whoops! As I said, I liked it and disliked Fist of Demetrius with equal measure. There was just no real umph to the story. It didn't really feel any different to other 40K novels I've read. Well other than the horrific opening. Macharius is in it, just not enough for my liking. As I've mentioned more importance should be placed on just how different the Macharian Crusades was and how successful it was. Instead were left with little niche stories that are fed to us piecemeal. This is meant to be about conquest, recovering lost worlds and the brilliant man behind them. Get on it!!
*Did I mention a certain Space Marine shows up from William King's locker? Shame that, look out for him.*
January 18, 2021
I know I loved the books of William King I read as a child. But this one was a bit dull to read.
Was it the plot? The more I thought about it, the more I found it had all the twists and thrill to tell a good story. The settings and characters were convincing.
But the protagonists who tells most of this series is as flat and lifeless as ever. What little humor comes around has a dusty feel to it, too. To be honest, it reminded me a bit of the old Doom novels, where they just tried way too hard to make the protagonist/storyteller sound like a grim, gritty soldier. Perhaps this kind of characteristic is unfitting for telling a story? Or perhaps that's just my taste.
Was it the plot? The more I thought about it, the more I found it had all the twists and thrill to tell a good story. The settings and characters were convincing.
But the protagonists who tells most of this series is as flat and lifeless as ever. What little humor comes around has a dusty feel to it, too. To be honest, it reminded me a bit of the old Doom novels, where they just tried way too hard to make the protagonist/storyteller sound like a grim, gritty soldier. Perhaps this kind of characteristic is unfitting for telling a story? Or perhaps that's just my taste.
July 13, 2024
I enjoyed this one more than the first, with less time spent characterizing the crew and more time moving Macharius' character forwards. The dark eldar as antagonists were also entertaining. The writing style was a bit strange at times, but I chalk that up to the authors interpretation of how Lemuel writes. The book ends pretty much right on the climax, which felt off as I was hoping to see some resolution to the space marine and fist plots.
January 14, 2019
The Crusade Continues....
Another excellent novel up to Kings normal exceptional standards.
A great insight into the Eldar told once more from the perspective of a, relatively, common soldier.
A good read.
Another excellent novel up to Kings normal exceptional standards.
A great insight into the Eldar told once more from the perspective of a, relatively, common soldier.
A good read.
November 8, 2018
man this was epic (for an IG novel)
April 23, 2019
5/5 would recommend, Great series so far.
March 13, 2025
This was a really fun read from start to finish. I really enjoyed the double pov as well as the action. The only negative part for me was how abruptly it ended.
March 15, 2014
This book is a bit of a curious one. I like it... But I also kind of don't.
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the works of William King. I've been a big fan of his Gotrek & Felix series as well as his Tyrion & Teclis novels. But I think the reason why I liked those novels as opposed to this novel and the previous novel 'Angel Of Fire' is that those other novels had characters I actually cared about. They were told from a first person perspective where the protagonists directly influenced the actions of the plot and pushed things forward.
Lemuel, the protagonist in these novels doesn't. He is wrapped up in the coat tails of the great Solar Macharius, someone who's action do influence the plot. Drastically.
I know what William King is doing, he is telling the story of the General through the eyes of the Soldier. The only problem is that Lemuel and his two companions, Ivan and Anton, aren't as interesting in comparison with their general. Lord Commander Solar Macharius, the charismatic leader; the tactical genius; the ladies man; the superlative swordsman etc etc
The story is so much about him, yet not at the same time. If you want Macharius to be the main focus of the story then why not let him tell it? It's frustrating because instead he remains a complete and utter cypher. Lemuel, one of his closest body guards, is unable to shed any light on the motivations of his general despite the fact they have fought side by side for nearly a decade. How can you be so close to someone for so long and not know them?
This is a deliberate decision by William King, the mystery surrounding Macharius will always be there. For to explain him will be to define him, make him fallible and more human. Whereas Macharius's greatness comes from the fact that we did not understand him. His achievements were so much greater than those of mere mortals that they were terrifying to his friends as well as his foes. He was so great that he couldn't be allowed to succeed.
I can see where William King is going with this series, I just wish that the narrator telling the story of this other much greater man wasn't prosaic and boring himself.
But I've focussed too much on the negative, there is some good here. Namely Lord Ashterioth and the Dark Eldar. Now here is a narrator I can get behind. He is is ruthless, maniacal, sadistic, a much more interesting character than say Lemuel. It's a shame we don't get more of him in the book. I've not read that much Dark Eldar fiction from the Black Library so it was nice to get a new look at the Fall of the Eldar race and the rise of the Chaos God Slaanesh.
To sum up a rather average middle chapter to a series dedicated to one of Warhammer 40K's most interesting and enigmatic characters. Book three will hopefully make up for the lack of characterisation and deliver a final chapter deserving of the series.
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the works of William King. I've been a big fan of his Gotrek & Felix series as well as his Tyrion & Teclis novels. But I think the reason why I liked those novels as opposed to this novel and the previous novel 'Angel Of Fire' is that those other novels had characters I actually cared about. They were told from a first person perspective where the protagonists directly influenced the actions of the plot and pushed things forward.
Lemuel, the protagonist in these novels doesn't. He is wrapped up in the coat tails of the great Solar Macharius, someone who's action do influence the plot. Drastically.
I know what William King is doing, he is telling the story of the General through the eyes of the Soldier. The only problem is that Lemuel and his two companions, Ivan and Anton, aren't as interesting in comparison with their general. Lord Commander Solar Macharius, the charismatic leader; the tactical genius; the ladies man; the superlative swordsman etc etc
The story is so much about him, yet not at the same time. If you want Macharius to be the main focus of the story then why not let him tell it? It's frustrating because instead he remains a complete and utter cypher. Lemuel, one of his closest body guards, is unable to shed any light on the motivations of his general despite the fact they have fought side by side for nearly a decade. How can you be so close to someone for so long and not know them?
This is a deliberate decision by William King, the mystery surrounding Macharius will always be there. For to explain him will be to define him, make him fallible and more human. Whereas Macharius's greatness comes from the fact that we did not understand him. His achievements were so much greater than those of mere mortals that they were terrifying to his friends as well as his foes. He was so great that he couldn't be allowed to succeed.
I can see where William King is going with this series, I just wish that the narrator telling the story of this other much greater man wasn't prosaic and boring himself.
But I've focussed too much on the negative, there is some good here. Namely Lord Ashterioth and the Dark Eldar. Now here is a narrator I can get behind. He is is ruthless, maniacal, sadistic, a much more interesting character than say Lemuel. It's a shame we don't get more of him in the book. I've not read that much Dark Eldar fiction from the Black Library so it was nice to get a new look at the Fall of the Eldar race and the rise of the Chaos God Slaanesh.
To sum up a rather average middle chapter to a series dedicated to one of Warhammer 40K's most interesting and enigmatic characters. Book three will hopefully make up for the lack of characterisation and deliver a final chapter deserving of the series.
March 13, 2015
The second in William King's The Macharian Crusade trilogy (following The Macharian Crusade: Angel of Fire) once again portrays the career of the Forty First Millennium's greatest soldier and space's answer to Alexander the Great, Lord Solar Macharius, through the eyes of his bodyguard and personal tank commander Leo Lemuel. This time, King pits the Imperium's master strategist against a cunning alien adversary capable of thinking on the same level, a Dark Eldar archon.
This is Warhammer 40'000 tie in fiction, from the setting that invented the term "grimdark", so make no mistake that the focus here is on war. There's plenty of action on offer, from the horrifying scouring of a human world caught in the sights of the Imperial Crusade in the opening chapter to the chess-like battle of wits between Macharius and his sadistic Eldar opponent (one of the nastiest individuals of perhaps the nastiest race in a particularly nasty galaxy). The action ranges from high-level strategic maneuvering to the raw experience of combat on the front lines, with even (in a nod to William King's Space Wolf novels and an excellent use of the Warhammer 40'000 timeline) some awesome Space Marine action thrown in.
At the same time, there is more than just war on offer here. Macharius, though not the POV character, is the guy on the cover and we see the growing hubris, prickliness, and hints of megalomania that will presumably lead to his downfall in the third of the trilogy, titled Fall of Macharius. We see him overstepping the bounds - most notably reaching out to the Space Wolves - and we learn of the Imperial establishment's growing unease with his awesome power.
I had some, but not many, issues with The Macharian Crusade: Fist of Demetrius which led to me giving it a lower score than The Macharian Crusade: Angel of Fire. Firstly, I did not feel that it was as tightly plotted as the first novel. Secondly, it lacked the awesome super-heavy tank battles that made the first stand out among the many Imperial Guard-themed novels available from the Black Library. However, this is otherwise an excellent addition to the fiction of the Warhammer 40'000 universe and terrific adventure military sci-fi.
This is Warhammer 40'000 tie in fiction, from the setting that invented the term "grimdark", so make no mistake that the focus here is on war. There's plenty of action on offer, from the horrifying scouring of a human world caught in the sights of the Imperial Crusade in the opening chapter to the chess-like battle of wits between Macharius and his sadistic Eldar opponent (one of the nastiest individuals of perhaps the nastiest race in a particularly nasty galaxy). The action ranges from high-level strategic maneuvering to the raw experience of combat on the front lines, with even (in a nod to William King's Space Wolf novels and an excellent use of the Warhammer 40'000 timeline) some awesome Space Marine action thrown in.
At the same time, there is more than just war on offer here. Macharius, though not the POV character, is the guy on the cover and we see the growing hubris, prickliness, and hints of megalomania that will presumably lead to his downfall in the third of the trilogy, titled Fall of Macharius. We see him overstepping the bounds - most notably reaching out to the Space Wolves - and we learn of the Imperial establishment's growing unease with his awesome power.
I had some, but not many, issues with The Macharian Crusade: Fist of Demetrius which led to me giving it a lower score than The Macharian Crusade: Angel of Fire. Firstly, I did not feel that it was as tightly plotted as the first novel. Secondly, it lacked the awesome super-heavy tank battles that made the first stand out among the many Imperial Guard-themed novels available from the Black Library. However, this is otherwise an excellent addition to the fiction of the Warhammer 40'000 universe and terrific adventure military sci-fi.
February 16, 2017
Another fun fast paced read into the adventures of Macharius as told by Sergeant Leo. This time the IG are supported by the as yet to be famous Logan Grimnar against the Dark Eldar to acquire a Space Marine relic.
March 27, 2014
Hoooo boy finally they're fighting Eldar! Those smug bastards. This is where the book really kicks into gear just how weak Imperial Guard units are in small numbers against forces like the Dark Eldar. The first book had them fighting human heretics so it was a good stepping-off point. This one the fighting is gritty and dirty and the author really had some fun with a few parts.
Great sequel and I hope the last book in the trilogy closes it off with a bang.
Great sequel and I hope the last book in the trilogy closes it off with a bang.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2013
Nowhere near as good as angel of fire and guilty of an abrupt and completely unsatisfactory ending leaving no questions properly answered. After angel of fire I expected so much more but this is a lazily written and full of unfulfilled potential I hope the final book redeems the trilogy
September 16, 2015
Great science fiction, with snatches of humour in the characters' banter, and continuous action right up to the last line. The rather lengthy description of a parade was a bit dull, but otherwise it read well.
September 7, 2014
I thought this book was good got me hooked on the second series. Great imperial guard story of the life from the eyes of a mid level troop
September 9, 2016
the ending was a little disappointing, but it was good throughout.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews