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  • Blades of Damocles

  • Space Marine Battles: Warhammer 40,000
  • By: Phil Kelly
  • Narrated by: John Banks
  • Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (304 ratings)

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Blades of Damocles

By: Phil Kelly
Narrated by: John Banks
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Summary

It is the 41st millennium, and an upstart alien empire has emerged on the Eastern Fringe. After a few skirmishes to retake human worlds from these blue-skinned invaders, the time has come to strike against the so-called Tau Empire.

At the forefront of the Damocles Crusade stand the Ultramarines, commanded by Captain Atheus, the Chapter's Lord Executioner. With his loyal sergeants Numitor and Sicarius by his side, Atheus vows to exterminate the aliens...but the cunning xenos commanders, Farsight and Shadowsun, have other plans.

©2016 Games Workshop Limited (P)2016 Games Workshop Limited
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What listeners say about Blades of Damocles

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Great Background Story

I loved how this story fed into the later Farsight and Shadowsun novels, but why don't these stories link as a series? It would make it much easier to understand. instead I listened in reverse order, which ruined some elements of the plot.

Still, a good book that explains a lot of background to the current Warhammer 40k setting.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Pure action

Loving both ultramarines and the farsight enclaves I found myself struggling on who to root for.
Packed with action between battles suits and assault marines, however, often the same phrases are used throughout and seemed almost repetitive.
Although a logical ending I felt it was a bit lackluster and definitely found the tau side more interesting
Saying this I enjoyed it thoroughly and John Banks narration was superb

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great listen

nice insight into the tau and also shkwing how the astartes are not as perfect as we all believe.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bolter Po*n. But really good Bolter po*n

took about 10% for me to get into but loved the introduction to Farsight here

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Ultramarine v Tau

Well written account of Tau v Imperium of man. well read, enjoyable and told from both sides. ultramarines come across as intransigent brutes, unlike other novels.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it from start to finish

I found it gripping, it's my first grimdark novel of any kind. A space marine fan at heart I found myself rooting for each side. An interesting insight into the tau way of life along with vivid and intense battles. I will be relisting to this in the future. A great narrator who brings the characters to life.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great

Good audio book. Nice Long story, with depth and multiple character arcs. Really enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Tau vs Imperium

I had not really read much about Cato Sicarius before this book and have to say I hope he matures a bit instead of acting like the petulant child in this book! This is a really well told tale of 2 civilisations battling for supremacy and although I rooted for the imperium I also felt kinship to the greater good, John Banks does another outstanding job of narration

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly good for a Warhammer book

I find most warhammer books tend to just go through the motions, essentially do very similar stories with minute differences and usually containing multiple fights with an enemy that doesn't really have any effect on the story.

This one however was a big surprise, its a Spacemarine book hut it could also be a Tau book, both sides have say in the story and neither is purely good or bad.

The meeting of these two races who play off each other makes for interesting dynamics in both fights and conversations, and the internal struggles of each side also show that these are relatable characters not just copy paste archetypes.

So yes I would recommend this book :)

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic book

great book, well written and read. with a good story. highly recommend will read again!

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1 person found this helpful