40k Book Review: Dead Men Walking

After reading another 40k book review (Blind Review by All Things Fett), I decided to try my hand at reviewing the last one I read.

Dead Men Walking by Steve Lyons is a wonderful read. It tells the story of the Death Korps deployed on Hieronymous Theta, a doomed world that doesn't yet realize its fate. Soon after the Death Korps arrive, all hell breaks loose on the planet's surface as the Necron rise from their subterranean tombs to retake their planet.

The story starts slow, but really picks up the pace and is full of action and death. Literally every page leaves you wondering what will become of the characters fighting for the imperium.

Speaking of the characters, the people presented in this book are believable and fully fleshed out. From a Death Korps Commissar to a lowly citizen of the planet's thriving cities, every character is a breathing and thinking being.

Both factions in this book are presented in intricate detail. The Necron are exactly as they should be: death incarnate. Squads of soldiers are killed at a time by these mechanical monstrosities, leaving nothing but ash and dust. The Death Korps are relentless and fearless in the face of these terrors, fighting to the death to achieve their superiors' goals. This book is full of epic battles and surprising twists as the city slowly falls from a beautiful haven of humanity to a ruined city filled with lurking metallic murderers.

PROS:

• Lots of battle with visceral detail.
• Masterful portrayal of the Death Korps and the Necron.
• Loads of supense and several heroic sacrifices for the Imperium.

CONS:

• Personally, I didn't feel the book was over when the pages ran out, but that might be because I could have read this story for weeks!
• Also, there were a lot of perspective changes. While that doesn't bother me, I think it might confuse some people as the story tracks several smaller stories within it.

In summary, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Necron or the Imperial Guard (especially Death Korps). Even if you don't particularly like either faction, the book is still worth reading simply for the suspense and carnage of these two heartless armies facing off.

(Between this book and A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill, I have a hard time picking a favorite 40k book!)

Again, the structure and inspiration for this review came from Blind Review by All Things Fett. Seriously, go give this review a read, I might go pick up the book now!

Thanks for reading, feel free to comment or ask questions!

Sym

P.S. - Let me know if there are any typos, had to type this up in a hurry!