Brothers of the Snake

Dan Abnett is a favorite author of mine from the X:Men to Gaunt's Ghosts, so inevitably I am going to be a little biased. Brothers of the Snake takes a little while to bring in the Space Marines but when it does, they never leave. I would say this addition to the Black Library does as good a job as introducing a new Chapter of the Space Marines as it does telling a story. Also, there is only one mention of their parent Legion but I wont spoil it for you. This novel keeps you hooked and the pages turning. Unlike other Space Marine novels, the Space Marines are not portrayed as infallible and invincible. The only negative thing I can say about this book is that there are not anymore novels involving this interesting Chapter of Space Marines. I have read this book numerous times and have enjoyed every time. Hopefully, you will find this review helpful.

I picked up this book because it appeared to be a fresh glimpse into the far reaches of the warhammer world and it was. Action - action - action. Non-stop action. The whole book flow and this would be a great first read for someone who has never read the warhammer books. This is going to be my new favorite, right next to the Grey Knights. If you like your hero's over two meters tall, muscle, armor and balls then this is the book for you. IRON SNAKES of Ithaka!!!

This is the first warhammer 40,000 book I've read and the first book by Dan Abnett. I have to say that this was one of the best books I've read in a long time, in any genre. The book reads like a series of short stories, but these stories are all tied together. I am not very familiar with the Warhammer 40,000 storylines, but this did not prove to be a problem with reading this book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

OK- Dan Abnett has written about the Space Marines before...in the opening salvo of the Horus Heresy series, which I absolutely love. But, this is his first real creation; "False Gods" is a formulaic tale, as the events are already written. So, the story and the Iron Snakes chapter is Abnett's, and he puts his indelible stamp on it right away. I have to admit, the first few pages of "Brothers of the Snake" did not grab me. I found myself a little distracted and wondering where it was all going, but once Brother-Sergeant Priad emerges in combat with the Dark Eldar, the book really takes off! There is so much to say here- but I don't want to give it away. I like the way Abnett sections the adventures, bringing the story along methodically, but well-paced. There is so much more than the normal fare of Space Marines in action followed by long periods of introspection and automaton-like devotion to the Emperor. Here, Abnett lets you see a different side...as other reviewers have noted...a more human side. I like the characters as well. Priad is as worthy a protagonist as you will find, but it is the supporting cast: Apothecaries Memnes and Khiron, Librarian Petrok, and the rest of Damocles Squad give the book a richness and depth that other offerings by different authors lack. It is well-paced, and has the Abnett signature action that fans like myself have learned to adore. Reading this in the heart of a combat zone should be repulsive I suppose, but instead I am drawn to the greater power of the book: the courage, the high standards Priad has for his Marines, and the leadership by example he provides. This is the essence of soldiering, and Abnett captures it beautifully. Finally, as the story comes full circle, I love the relationship that Priad has built with Princeps the War Dog. You have to read the book to know what I'm talking about, but its a subtle, human touch that is one more aspect of this tale which sets it apart from others of the genre. Superb- and I eagerly await the next installment of Brother-Sergeant Priad and Squad Damocles in what is hopefully not the too distant future. Baghdad 7-28-07

Abnett does a superb job of working in enough of the human element to make the space marines interesting. The supposed "cookie cutter" similarity bewtween space marines is part of the overall mythos of the warrior-monks but the author has managed to weave stories through it that are interesting and full of action. This book is a well written piece of science fiction that starts what will hopefully become an on-going series. As such, it needs to have established characters with distinct personalities in order to cpature the reader's imagination. If these elements weren't present then all the critics would be bashing it for their absence. Another example of this would be the Horus Heresey series. The space marines written about in those books are interesting and full of personality. The truth is one cannot write in the Warhammer 40K universe with the same stoic, toy-soldier mentality of the tabletop game. I, for one, am glad for authors like Abnett and Graham McNeil for having the guts to add depth to an already fascinating subject. All I can ask of Mr. Abnett is that there will be more Iron Snakes novels in the future that will make me wanting more, just like this one did.