"Take a child, allow it to develop without ever understanding the frailties of human weakness, and force it to grow through ingesting nothing but the virtues of obedience, loyalty, and combat prowess. Surround it in ceramite. Arm it with fire. Tell it that it answers to no authority beyond its equally powerful, equally unrestrained brothers.
That is a Space Marine."
Blood and Fire is the follow up novella to Aaron Dembski-Bowden's critically acclaimed Helsreach, the second book of the Space Marine Battles series. Blood and Fire chronicles Reclusiarch Grimaldus's fervent struggles to aid the Celestial Lions, a chapter that has been brought to the edge of extinction by the Inquisition. While educating his pupil, Cyneric, Grimaldus must decide the ultimate fate of this fellow chapter and forever shape the outcome of the war for Armageddon.
Like many other readers, Helsreach was my first introduction to the writing of Aaron Dembski-Bowden. In truth, it was also one of the first 40k novels that I had ever read. Today, Helreach remains almost scared to me - easily one of my favourite pieces of 40k fiction.
As such, I was quite hesitant to pick up Blood and Fire, lest it taint my fond memories of it's epic predecessor. Due to my need to find something to read during my morning and evening commute, I finally broke down and picked up this ebook novella. Fortunately, Blood and Fire did not disappoint. It's also worth noting that Blood and Fire was recently released alongside Helsreach in the anthology Armageddon. If you haven't read Helsreach already, it's worth picking up.
Like Helsreach, Blood and Fire is extremely well paced, with touching moments tucked between some excellent action. This little novella packs a lot of punch for it's length and offers up some amazing, quotable lines. It offers an interesting look at the rituals of two very different Imperial Fist successor chapters, as well detailing Grimaldus's background.
Likewise, the way Aaron Dembski-Bowden treats the Celestial Lions is also a real pleasure. There's very much a feeling that one could even build and develop a fulfilling Celestial Lions army based purely on the descriptions that Dembski-Bowden provides.
Helsreach and Blood and Fire should be remembered for being entertaining, well written, and visceral novels. Most importantly, Aaron Dembski-Bowden shows Orks as a feral, truly alien enemy instead of the hooligans that most people expect. Through these two works, he sets a trend that I hope continues well into the future.
Because I play Black Templars, it may seem easy for me to choose these books as the shining pinnacle of 40k literature, but I assure you, you really owe it to yourself to give these book a shot.
At this point, I'm trying to figure out how to ally in both Celestial Lions as well as some new Steel Legionnaires.
"I am the living will of the Immortal Emperor, and you will pay for your transgressions against the armies of humanity." - 4.5 / 5
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