What do you think?
Rate this book
Space Marine Battles
Scythes of the Emperor
A doomed Space Marine Chapter confronts the alien tyranids in a devastating battle for survival.
Following the loss of their home world Sotha to the tyranid Hive Fleet Kraken, the Scythes of the Emperor begin a new kind of war against the alien menace. Facing further humiliation and defeat after regrouping at the Giant s Coffin on Miral Prime, recently appointed Chapter Master Thracian must find a way exploit his warriors need for vengeance if their Space MarineChapter isto have any hope of survival...This collection spans the greatest period of upheaval in the Scythes of the Emperor'shistory, and includes the novel Slaughter at Giant s Coffin along with five additionalshort stories."
Following the loss of their home world Sotha to the tyranid Hive Fleet Kraken, the Scythes of the Emperor begin a new kind of war against the alien menace. Facing further humiliation and defeat after regrouping at the Giant s Coffin on Miral Prime, recently appointed Chapter Master Thracian must find a way exploit his warriors need for vengeance if their Space MarineChapter isto have any hope of survival...This collection spans the greatest period of upheaval in the Scythes of the Emperor'shistory, and includes the novel Slaughter at Giant s Coffin along with five additionalshort stories."
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2017
30 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
L.J. Goulding
66 books43 followersL. J. Goulding is a British novelist, scriptwriter and editor, living and working in Los Angeles, California. His credits include 'League of Legends: Realms of Runeterra', the Black Library audio dramas 'Malcador: First Lord of the Imperium', 'The Heart of the Pharos', 'Scythes of the Emperor: Daedalus', and 'Mortarion's Heart', the novel 'Slaughter at Giant's Coffin', and many short stories for publishers in the UK and US.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 7, 2017
This is the story of the Scythes of the Emperor chapter, from the short story of its beginning, through the destruction of the chapter homeworld of Sotha, to the final skein of fate that tells the reader what the ultimate demise of this chapter is.
That demise if the Kraken Hive Fleet. The Scythes hate the Tyranid and all the things about it. They are a second founding of the Ultramarines, pulled from the primogenitor stock of the Ultramarine who guarded the Pharos machine of Sotha. These stalwart and emotional Space Marines are filled with passion and hate for that which has reduced their numbers to what they remain at presently.
The short stories about the Scythes written here are all part of the before and after. Some are going on at the same time as the novel within this book, Slaughter At Gian't Coffin, which is the telling of the Scythes near-final battle with Hive Fleet Kraken, or at least a large splinter of the fleet. Captain Thracian and others do their level best to save the innocents of the death world the Tyranids threaten, and it so happens that this world bears the recruits the chapter uses to make new Space Marines for their chapter, so the need here is more than serious. It is for the survival of the chapter.
These were well written and very insightful into a chapter that there isn't very much written on. I like the fact that the Scythes, unlike the Ultramarines, are very protective of the human serfs and servants that they have working with them. The Imperial Guard units are felt when they die. The losses are commented on by the Scythes and they mourn for the loss. This is not a common thing or practice among other chapters. It is refreshing that this chapter are juggernauts on the battlefield and yet have a sarcasm about them, a will to live and a humanistic desire to do the right thing.
Overall, Mr. Goulding has done it right here and this was a fan and tragic read. The highs and lows here are pretty overwhelming, and the triumphs are seat grabbers. Very well done.
Danny
That demise if the Kraken Hive Fleet. The Scythes hate the Tyranid and all the things about it. They are a second founding of the Ultramarines, pulled from the primogenitor stock of the Ultramarine who guarded the Pharos machine of Sotha. These stalwart and emotional Space Marines are filled with passion and hate for that which has reduced their numbers to what they remain at presently.
The short stories about the Scythes written here are all part of the before and after. Some are going on at the same time as the novel within this book, Slaughter At Gian't Coffin, which is the telling of the Scythes near-final battle with Hive Fleet Kraken, or at least a large splinter of the fleet. Captain Thracian and others do their level best to save the innocents of the death world the Tyranids threaten, and it so happens that this world bears the recruits the chapter uses to make new Space Marines for their chapter, so the need here is more than serious. It is for the survival of the chapter.
These were well written and very insightful into a chapter that there isn't very much written on. I like the fact that the Scythes, unlike the Ultramarines, are very protective of the human serfs and servants that they have working with them. The Imperial Guard units are felt when they die. The losses are commented on by the Scythes and they mourn for the loss. This is not a common thing or practice among other chapters. It is refreshing that this chapter are juggernauts on the battlefield and yet have a sarcasm about them, a will to live and a humanistic desire to do the right thing.
Overall, Mr. Goulding has done it right here and this was a fan and tragic read. The highs and lows here are pretty overwhelming, and the triumphs are seat grabbers. Very well done.
Danny
August 14, 2019
Absolutely the worst piece of Black Library fiction that I've read; and that's saying something.
The Scythes survived Hive Fleet Kraken; but I fear they won't survive Goulding, his terrible prose, and his gods-awful attempts at dialogue.
Do yourselves a favor and read (or re-read) Orphans of the Kraken instead.
The Scythes survived Hive Fleet Kraken; but I fear they won't survive Goulding, his terrible prose, and his gods-awful attempts at dialogue.
Do yourselves a favor and read (or re-read) Orphans of the Kraken instead.
December 31, 2017
This was one of my Christmas pressies and it's a book i'd been wanting to get my hands on for a while. It's a collection of mostly short stories, bracketing the somewhat larger Slaughter at Giants Coffin.
Slaughter at Giants Coffin was the main event for me and I've been interested in that little slice of Warhammer 40,000 backstory for many years, ever since I read an Epic 40,000 battle report in White Dwarf in fact (It might've been the epic Space Marine game, I can't remember). Being a sucker for tragic heroes, I've been a fan of the Scythes since then.
It gave me almost everything I wanted. Awesome, against the odds fights, heroes doing their thing, despite having no chance of survival and an awesome siege by the most unstoppable of 40k enemies, the Tyranids.
The only thing that I wasn't keen on was the subplot about the Space Marine, Hadrios. It wasn't needed and the book could've got along just fine without it. Not only that, but it isn't resolved and as such, makes the resolution of the book feel a little unsatisfying.
Putting this minor grip aside though, it is a really good book and although the Slaughter at Giants Coffin is what the book hangs off, the short stories are all really good too, with a special mention going to the last story, Terminal Velocity. It's very short and ties directly into the previous story, but it gives you everything you need to know about how the mind of a Space Marine works.
This was my last book of the year and it was a great book to finish on.
Slaughter at Giants Coffin was the main event for me and I've been interested in that little slice of Warhammer 40,000 backstory for many years, ever since I read an Epic 40,000 battle report in White Dwarf in fact (It might've been the epic Space Marine game, I can't remember). Being a sucker for tragic heroes, I've been a fan of the Scythes since then.
It gave me almost everything I wanted. Awesome, against the odds fights, heroes doing their thing, despite having no chance of survival and an awesome siege by the most unstoppable of 40k enemies, the Tyranids.
The only thing that I wasn't keen on was the subplot about the Space Marine, Hadrios. It wasn't needed and the book could've got along just fine without it. Not only that, but it isn't resolved and as such, makes the resolution of the book feel a little unsatisfying.
Putting this minor grip aside though, it is a really good book and although the Slaughter at Giants Coffin is what the book hangs off, the short stories are all really good too, with a special mention going to the last story, Terminal Velocity. It's very short and ties directly into the previous story, but it gives you everything you need to know about how the mind of a Space Marine works.
This was my last book of the year and it was a great book to finish on.
August 10, 2019
Goulding introduces a mystery that is not solved in the course of the book, leaving the reader frustrated and unsatisfied. I would recommend reading Pharos by Guy Haley (a 30k novel) to contextualize many of the events within the story (which unfortunately I did not). I ended up having to scour the internet for more information, which still did not resolve its loose threads. Otherwise, the book delivers on action and the grim darkness to the delight of the reader.
April 15, 2018
To shorten it up.
The Scythes of the Emporer has to make a final stand against their opponents or be destroyed, The enemy is overwhelming, there is blood, brutality, struggling, almost impossibe odds and everything is just a beautiful cluster of war.
The warhammer books are such a good read if you just want to read about the chaos of the universe and their wars.
The Scythes of the Emporer has to make a final stand against their opponents or be destroyed, The enemy is overwhelming, there is blood, brutality, struggling, almost impossibe odds and everything is just a beautiful cluster of war.
The warhammer books are such a good read if you just want to read about the chaos of the universe and their wars.
August 5, 2019
Unlike some books in the 40k universe. Where the language used can be tough to follow. Scythes of the emperor is very easy to follow and draws you in quite quickly and doesnt let you go. You will want to read it straight through in one sitting. You'll enjoy the characters. An most importantly. It will make you want more.
May 27, 2023
It was a good book but still i am giving it 3/5 as i think it was quite average.
There was a plotline that was hinted at that was never resolved and left me feel kinda scratching my head what was the point of the whole thing.
It felt like a good action scene in a poorly written movie.
There was a plotline that was hinted at that was never resolved and left me feel kinda scratching my head what was the point of the whole thing.
It felt like a good action scene in a poorly written movie.
April 10, 2023
Quite fun.
August 29, 2024
predictable, but enjoyable
December 9, 2020
The final fight against the xenos from the scythes. They fought to their last breath against a thick-hide screaming killer, as it rips through their ranks it kills all but one. He fears no one and thing, even if death is on the horizon, he jumps down to attack the bolterproof one who killed his brothers. He knows he will die, but he is a weapon, his body is a weapon a 5.8 ton genetically enhanced, ceramic armored body.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2024
This book had me stressed out. It does an excellent job of portraying a formerly powerful chapter on the edge of falling apart, teetering on that knife's edge between total collapse and a comeback. The Scythes have a very unique relationship with their serfs, having them be far more integrated into the overall structure and doctrine of the Scythes, forming a tight bond that was very fun to read. Getting to see a Chapter Master in borderline complete denial about just how dire the situation was for his chapter was a really nice humanizing factor. That being said it leaves a massive plot element just completely unknown which was incredibly frustrating. Overall, a good little collection, and I do want more of the Scythes of the Emperor.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews