Savage Scars (Warhammer 40,000) by Andy Hoare

Savage Scars (Warhammer 40,000) Reviews

• 
  Andrew Ziegler

  I liked Andy Hoare's novel, Hunt for Voldorius, much more than this White Scars offering. Although the marines here were cool, Sarik and his Scars could have been from any Chapter, and not necessarily White Scars. Voldorius deals with them and their unique Chapter a little more in depth.
  
  Secondly, I thought the story and action was not all that interesting when it had to do with the Marines themselves. When Hoare was writing about Lucian and the Imperial Guard Regiments engagements they were much more engrossing and exciting, the Marines just kind of fell flat.
  
  Lastly the story was just kind of generally...meh. It felt not really original, although the use of the tau was nice, but a planet siege on the scale of this one that includes the Navy, the IG, Hundreds of Space Marines and an entire Legio of Titans just did not serve to excite or engross.
  
  More often then not I was thinking if this was just the IG they could take this world because I have read it in other WH novels, if this was just 100 Marines they could take this world again evidenced in other novels, if this was JUST a Legio of Titans they could most likely take this world, but all three of them COMBINED had a hard time taking a Space Port. It just seemed to me the author was penning a tale but not reading the 30 some odd predessesor novels that I have in this universe.
  
  I am happy the White Scars are getting fleshed out, forgive the pun, but this book and potential series feels more to me like that flat-falling Imperial Fists novel, Sons of Dorn, than the superior series that are based on other Chapters like the Space Wolves, Ultramarines, Salamanders, Soul Drinkers, and Iron Snakes. (Written by King, McNeill, Kyme, Counter, and Abnett respectively)
  
  All and all an OK read, that I suggest if you are a fan of the universe, but don't expect to get your skirt blown off. If you want that, seek out the series and authors mentioned above.
• 
  Owen

  If you liked the first two books, you'll probably like this one. It has problems, though, including problems that the first two didn't have.
  
  First off is the villains. The Inquisitor and the Cardinal are suitably villainous, but they get less screen time than they need. The Tau get far more time, but while they have cool fighting tech, they're not given a chance to be characters or villains either. We don't see them do evil; we just see them fight the Imperial troops who landed on their planet. It's hard to get excited about that. Maybe I'm old, but then again maybe fights are better to watch if you have an emotional investment in the outcome.
  
  Another failing is that, while this book is in a Rogue Trader trilogy, there's way more time devoted to Space Marines than any of the Rogue Trader characters. I have nothing against Space Marines, but there are already lots of Space Marine books; they don't need to conquer adjacent novels in the name of the Emperor.
  
  The resolution has a bit of Deus Ex Machina about it; we see hints of diplomacy and the possibility of the Tau and Imperium working together, but we see little of it in action. The two potential heirs never entirely settle things; they just don't die. I wanted resolutions to a lot of arcs, and I don't entirely feel like I got them.
• 
  Christian

  This should be more clearly advertised as a novel in the Rogue Star series! It was still good though. Tons of action. I don't know why this novel got so slammed by the reviews on amazon. I t wasn't Shakespeare but it passed the time on the bus.
• 
  Sarah Davis

  I liked it...well as much as I can like a post-heresy, Emperor worshiping group of wierdos, written by not the best author ever. :)
• 
  Matthew Taylor

  A fine bit of military science fiction somewhat neutered by its awkward setting in the wider Warhammer 40,000 universe, as the campaign depicted is ultimately rendered meaningless by wider events well-known to the average Warhammer 40,000 gamer, but only vaguely - and not very convincingly - eluded to here. This may make the whole set-up, however, seem sufficiently 'grimdark' to the devoted WH40k fan!
• 
  Mike

  Umm, yeah. It was fine. Not as much white scars focused as the title leads you to believe. Tells of, essentially, the first conflict between the Tau and The Imperium. Perfectly average 40k affair.
• 
  Joanne

  5+++
• 
  Ulzeta

  Quite boring.
• 
  M Hamed

  The Tau hope for a better tomorrow while The Imperium is just hoping for a tomorrow.
• 
  Eric Robinson

  A solid Warhammer 40K book. This follows the Imperium's invasion of a tau held world. At this point in the 40K chronology, the Imperium of Man has just learned of the tau and the Greater Good and are struggling with the fact that they are far more advanced than at first thought.
  
  There's a good interplay of the various Imperium factions, each trying to swing the invasion to their own ends.
  
  The novel ends with the Tyranids knocking at the door, and the Space Marines scrambling to put assets in front of them.
• 
  Yohann

  I think this book wasn't a masterpiece of the SF litterature, however it was still untertaining. I really liked the rogue trader character as he occupies a peculiar place in the imperium. Overall it is a decent book.
• 
  Simon

  Turned out to be the second (or possibly third) book in a series. Not apparent from the cover, made little to no sense as such. Gave up after about a quarter. Not very good.
• 
  Tijn Janssen

  It about sums it up when we have to read about someone's hair being burned off almost completely, then he stands up and his hair blows triumphantly in the wind. On the same page. Yeah.
• 
  Daniel

  Took me awhile to get back to this one but it was worth it. This is Andy Hoare's foray into the White Scars Space Marine Legion. These warriors are known for their lightning fast assault and "pedal to the metal" bike squadrons, assault marines and land speeders. They are from the planet Chogoris and as far as the flavor of the legion goes, they resemble the Mongols of Asia. They are patterned after them, look like them, topknots and all, and ride into battle on their mechanical "steeds".
  This book relates a tale of the White Scars and several other chapters of Space Marines, as well as Imperial Navy and Imperial Guard regiments facing off against the Tau and their Army Of The Greater Good, who have taken the planet Dal'yth. Throw in a notorious Rogue Trader who also assists in the ground battle, and a rogue insane Inquisitor, by the name of Grand, and you have a snappin' good tale here. The ground forces wage their war and Inquisitor Grand has his finger on the trigger of a Life Eater Virus bomb, to destroy all life on the planet. The only thing that halts the Crusade Council from dropping the weapon on the forces, good and bad below is the fact that the Inquisition steps in, drawing the forces, especially the Space Marine ground forces to the Tyranid threat just discovered near Macragge, home of the Ultramarines chapter.
  This was an enjoyable read and one of the few White Scars novels. There is another called Scars, but it is part of the Horus Heresy series and its a doozy too!
  This book is well written and exemplifies the nature and battle tactics of this chapter. I really enjoyed this one and hope Mr. Hoare writes some more stuff with these same characters!
  
  Danny