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Blood Angels: Devestation of Baal

Or

Grey Knights

or

Space Wolves

Or

Ultra Marines

Trying to pick next book, kinda sick of Abnett

Alrighty, I'll address each book based on the chapters you've listed.

Devestation of Baal was damn good, I also reccomend Dante as it's kind of a prequal.

Grey Knights: The Emperor's Gift, without a doubt.

Space Wolves: Go with the Original Space Wolf series found in the two SW Omnibuses.

Ultramarines: I'm gonna reccomend Dark Imperium,

The best space marine book is the first half of the first Soul Drinkers book.

The reason is that it’s about space marines being space marines, and not about being Well-Known Sub-Faction Marines and trying to get the characterization “right,” or shoving in tropes about the chapter

BrianDavion wrote:

Grey Knights: The Emperor's Gift, without a doubt.

Don't read this, sometimes the only answer still isn't the right one.

 Void__Dragon wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:

Grey Knights: The Emperor's Gift, without a doubt.

Don't read this, sometimes the only answer still isn't the right one.

this is hardly the only GK story, and I enjoyed it.

Well you're a Space Wolf fan, of course you did.

 Void__Dragon wrote:
Well you're a Space Wolf fan, of course you did.

I'm ALSO a grey knights fan. I thought it was a reasonably good story involving a conflict in the IoM, there was no "suprise this IoM leader was posessed by a deamon, let's team up and kill him" moment. it was just two clashing ideologies

I also do not recommend Grey Knights: The Emperor's Gift. It is ADB at his worst fan fiction level.

So Devestation of Baal = good?

I really enjoyed devastation of Baal, but I think my favourite space marine book (outside of the Horus Heresy and Siege of Terra), would be Helsreach.

I know you're sick of Abnett, but Know No Fear probably does one of the best Ultramarine depictions.

Failing that, Knights of Macragge. It actually makes Cato Sicarius a kind of likeable character, plus addresses Firstborn feelings towards Primaris. And, the core concept of the second half of the book is genuinely entertaining.

 Sgt_Smudge wrote:
I know you're sick of Abnett, but Know No Fear probably does one of the best Ultramarine depictions.

Failing that, Knights of Macragge. It actually makes Cato Sicarius a kind of likeable character, plus addresses Firstborn feelings towards Primaris. And, the core concept of the second half of the book is genuinely entertaining.

Knights of Macragge?

Are you suggesting Nick Kyme wrote something good? Interesting...

I don't dislike Abnett, but I feel like reading his books gives me an unhealthy idea of the truth in 40k. Like reading an after battle report involving the Custodes.

He's good at making stories where the good guys win, and there is lot's of miraculous feats, but like Sandy Mitchell's books, I don't read it for the accuracy. I read them to have a fun adventure. But his books make Fluff what it is.

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
So Devestation of Baal = good?

I'd call it uneven. Parts of it are good or even interesting.

The pages and pages of lictor appreciation porn aren't.
Literally vampires isn't.
The end is honestly terrible because he gets to the climax of the battle and story arc and... skips it. Just runs full tilt into a word count limit and does a brief aftermath bit, briefly recounting the multiple Deus ex Machina gambits that settle everything off camera.

 Sgt_Smudge wrote:
I know you're sick of Abnett, but Know No Fear probably does one of the best Ultramarine depictions.

The first half or so is good.

I really liked ADB's Emperor's Spears, and I also really liked MacNeil's Iron Snakes novel. Helsreach was excellent, though.

Fifty wrote:Knights of Macragge?

Are you suggesting Nick Kyme wrote something good? Interesting...

Can't say I know much of Kyme's stuff, but I very much enjoyed this one.

Da Butcha wrote:
I also really liked MacNeil's Iron Snakes novel.

It was Abnett

Beat one I've read is a Chaos Marine book. Obviously, I'm talking about Storm of Iron.

The first half of Shadow Breaker is REALLY REALLY good but dont involve marines too much. The last good scene had Elysians/ storm troopers sneaking around, cloaked, in a Tau base. Right after that it becomes just your typical bolter porn for probably the rest of the story. I didnt finish it, but it amazes me how a book can be so damn good ,then without any warning, become so damn boring that I cant finish it.

So reading Helsreach. A few questions:

1. What is the Ordanatus thing that Grimaldus wants? They reference it like I should know it?

2. What is a Reclusiarch? I assume like a SUPER chaplain? Are they Psychers?

3. Can a Space marine really threaten a Warlord Titan with 3 Thunderhawks? With no "reprecussions"?

FezzikDaBullgryn wrote:
So reading Helsreach. A few questions:

1. What is the Ordanatus thing that Grimaldus wants? They reference it like I should know it?

2. What is a Reclusiarch? I assume like a SUPER chaplain? Are they Psychers?

3. Can a Space marine really threaten a Warlord Titan with 3 Thunderhawks? With no "reprecussions"?

1. Ordinatus is basically an enormous, often tracked cannon (las, plasma, sound etc.) that has a power similar to starship level weapons.
2. Reclusiarch is a senior member of Chaplaincy, above him is only Master of Sanctity. Chaplains are not psykers.
3. Once you breach the void shields the titan is vulnerable to assault.