Book Review: Eye of Terra: Ironfire by Rob Sanders
We’re really flying through the Eye of Terra shorts now!
This time, we return to one of my old favourites, my original 2nd Edition Chaos army, the Iron Warriors! I’ve always had a soft spot for this Legion, and so far, the Horus Heresy stories have treated them well. Let’s see if that continues here.
Title: Ironfire
Author: Rob Sanders
Format: Kindle (Amazon.ca)
Blurb: His body broken after the fall of Schadenhold, Warsmith Idriss Krendl of the Iron Warriors is far from defeated. Commanding two mighty siege guns stolen from the forge world of Diamat, he seeks redemption in the eyes of his primarch.
His target: the Great Selenic Palace on Euphorus.
His plan: a devastating new strategy of his own design—the Ironfire protocol.
Following the events of The Iron Within, where Krendl suffered defeat at the hands of Dantioch, this story sees him attempt to reclaim his honour through one audacious and highly destructive gambit.
Review
One of the things I enjoy most about these short stories is how they expand on side characters and events that don’t directly shape the final outcome of the Heresy, but still add vital texture to the wider narrative. Ironfire, is a great example of that.
Here, Krendl shifts from antagonist to something closer to a protagonist. After his humiliation at Schadenhold, he has everything to prove. Armed with the stolen siege weapons from Diamat, he puts his faith in a risky new strategy of his own creation. The stakes are high, not just for his own reputation, but for the fragile unity of the Traitor forces.
The real highlight is the brutal siege warfare. Watching the Iron Warriors unleash devastation against the Emperor’s Children is worth it alone. There’s a satisfying sense of scale and destruction, and the continuation of the siege weapon storyline ties things together nicely.
Overall, this is a strong and enjoyable short, especially if you’re a fan of the Iron Warriors and their brand of relentless, methodical warfare.
A great read, for sure.
