Crimson Tears (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ben Counter (Author)

Book Description

Series: Warhammer 40,000 Novels | Publication Date: March 1, 2005

From the author of the awesome Grey Knights, Ben Counter's third book in the Soul Drinkers series is packed with hard-hitting Space Marine action! Once loyal warriors of the Imperium, the Soul Drinkers have been betrayed by those they once fought to protect and declared as heretics! With the dark forces of Chaos on one side, and the Crimson Fists Space Marines on the other, the only solution for the wronged Marines is to come out fighting! Following on from his success with Grey Knights, Daemon World and the other Soul Drinkers novels, fan-favourite Ben Counter expertly pens this action-packed tale of carnage and betrayal!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"War-torn tales of loyalty and honour." - SFX" "Snappy dialogue and crunching action." - Starlog"

About the Author

Ben Counter is a talented young author who has earned his writing spurs with a slew of short stories in infernol magazine and in various anthologies including the title story in Words of Blood. Crimson Tears is his fifth novel for the Black Library.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Games Workshop (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844161609
• ISBN-13: 978-1844161607
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,716,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rolicking Action; So-so Plot & Characters, June 5, 2005

By 

Sean B. Schoonmaker (Oakland, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crimson Tears (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Those who are simply looking for an action adventure set in Games Workshop's 40K universe - or those who enjoyed the first two Soul Drinkers novels - will like this book as well. All the elements of 40K, from elite Space Marines to the mass troops and armor of the Imperial Guard, are there. All the characters from the first two novels - Sarpedon and the all the rest of the Soul Drinkers - are there.

Unfortunately, the plot devices and many of the supporting cast are clumsy and/or forced so M. Counter can make his points. The Crimson Fists are mindless automatons, complete slaves to tradition and the Codex, single-mindedly pursuing the Soul Drinkers to the exclusion of all else ... until it's convenient to the plot for them not to do so. They serve as the "enslaved" counterpoint to the "freedom" that the Soul Drinkers have achieved. The plot device used to get the Soul Drinkers into the story at the outset is conveniently ignored when it's time for them to leave.

In short, entertaining to fans who don't look too closely at the writer's craft.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Falls Flat, May 16, 2007

By 

Ramsey Piazza (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crimson Tears (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read the other books in this series and they were not bad. I like 40K literature I am hoping that one day it will do what D&D literature did and that is produce a great Chracter and writer like RA Salvatore. I hold no illusions that thise series was on the way to do that but the Soul Drinkers have been well developed and entertaining especially the first novel were their obession with an artifact leads to their downfall and their ultimate freedom. I thought that was a well developed theme that's why this novel is a disappointment. Its feels anti climatic at the end and much as the previous review there are typical plot turns and the inclusion of the Crimson Fists is really pointless. I am hoping the next novel chapter wars redeems the series but I have to say this novel really drops it back into the pack. A novel in a series should serve to advance the overall story line and leave you with a sense of wow because some questions were answered and new ones posed. After I was done reading it was more like uhh.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Action, betrayal, and redemption, March 15, 2010

By 

Justin H. Shelton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crimson Tears (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book follows the Soul Drinkers chapter of space marines. This book has everything you'd want in an sci-fi action book, with a jaw droppingly interesting story. The scale of events that unfold in this book will make any warhammer 40k fan giddy with excitement.

What would you do if you were betrayed by the very group of men that were supposed to represent salvation for your chapter(group of warriors)? And what would you do if one of your own fell lower than anyone ever thought possible and became one of your worst enemies? The Soul Drinkers undergoe all of these trials, but if they truly survive all of these events is another question entirely. This just scratches the surface, and I don't want to give it away.

To all the newbies to the Warhammer 40k universe, I'd suggest the Soul Drinker's Omnibus instead of getting this book right off the bat. The Space Wolf omnibus was my first read and I became instantly addicted to the fast paced action, ideological zealotry, and deep political intrigue that is the 40k universe.