Customer Reviews

The Soul Drinkers Omnibus (Warhammer 40,000 Novels)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Soul Drinkers Omnibus follows the journeys of a space marine chapter by the same name of the Imperium of Mankind's Imperial Fists legion. Written by Ben Counter, he once again displays his knowledge of the Warhammer 40K universe in a well written and action filled book.

The Omnibus is a compilation of three separate books into one edition: Soul Drinker, the Bleeding Chalice and Crimson Tears that follow the exploits of the chapter led by Sarpedon, a psyker who strives for himself and his chapter to be more than mindless servants of greater powers.

Counter's writing is the same as in his other books. He dives right into the story having plenty of action and adding twists along the way to keep you interested, and wastes little time with plot or filler. The downside to Counter's writing is that it tends to jump around a bit, often extended periods of time passing between chapters, but at least he informs the reader of it. It also ends up leaving out some events that a reader would want to actually read about (not going to tell you cause it would be a spoiler), but to Counter's credit, this keeps his books from dragging and being drawn out, so it's a worthwhile trade off.

But on to the books.

Soul Drinker- in the opening book we learn of the Soul Drinkers chapter and one of their Librarians: Sarpedon. Going to recover an ancient and holy artifact of their chapter lost for centuries the Soul Spear, it is within their grasp only to be stolen right from under them. Sarpedon, feeling wronged, rebels against the higher authorities and attempts to retrieve the Soul Spear. But his actions have a price and the Soul Drinkers stroll down a road to damnation. The best aspect of this book is Counter presents it in a way that the reader sides with the Soul Drinkers, so the twists of the book have a greater impact on the story.

Bleeding Chalice- Now on the run from the Inquisition led by Inquisitor Thaddeus, the Soul Drinkers are still led by Sarpedon and are in a race against time. Through the book they go on mission after mission looking for pieces of a puzzle but Counter doesn't tell you what the puzzle is supposed to look like. I don't think he does quite good enough at keeping the intrigue up of wondering what the Soul Drinkers are looking for, but that doesn't keep the book from being entertaining. There are still plenty of battles to keep your interest, but it would help if you knew what exactly they were for as often you find yourself asking "why are they there?" The ending was a bit disappointing, as the final battle really should have been longer, and too many supporting characters were cast from the limelight, only getting brief mentions here and there. The follow up of all the events and aftermath was too short, and leaves you wanting more closure, especially for the non-Soul Drinker characters. The sequel isn't as good as the first book, but far from bad.

Crimson Tears- The final book of the Omnibus is a little different than the others. It focuses on only one planet, so the book feels a bit confined as compared to the others. Unfortunately, the main focus of the Soul Drinkers being there is revealed early, and when you finish you find yourself saying "that's it?" It wasn't a weave of complex actions and small battles like the previous two, so there is really no intrigue at all. It plays out more as an action novel than a mystery The good news is that it is filled with plenty action, and Counter does a good job of visualizing everything that happens. You do get to see some more characters in depth, and some new ones for the Soul Drinkers, but others who were prominent in the first two books seem to take a back seat at times. Crimson Tears though is a step down from the last book, which was a step down from the first.

All in all the series was good, but each book dipped in its story quality. A little more variety at times would have been nice, especially in Crimson Tears. The thing I like least about Counter is the follow up at the end of each book. Every time it is a small chapter that quickly sums of what happened to each person and really leaves you wanting more.

For the price, it is a worth while buy.

One thing must be said right away... if you are a 40k fan and enjoy reading the works of the Black Library then this collected series will not let you down in any way shape form or fashion.

First, Sarpedon's rise to power of the Soul Drinkers Chapter; an off shoot chapter of the Imperial Fists and brother chapter to the Crimson Fists and Black Templars, will suck you in and the following events will lead you hook line and sinker around the galaxy!

Second, the character development that Ben Counter creates for each of the top 7 is so engrossing you are physically wounded when they began their trek down the chaos path. Each hurdle they most overcome as a chapter that is completely cutoff from the Imperium is so wonderfully written its almost impossible to put this book down.

Third, the price is what lured me in initially! For under $10 you get three books written by Ben Counter, when each sold separately for $8 - $9. That is a big savings however its not a mere 15 chapter paperback you can put in your coat pack and read on the tram. No this is a 4 inch thick brick that could cause some rent-a-cop to stop you and ask to see what the bulge in your coat is before getting past the turnstile. :)

If you are having doubts on whether to pick this up let me add to the first review and just put it simply, yes this is a must buy. If your a 40k fan and interested in reading about a space marine chapter that has lost its way from the throne of Terra, sides with chaos then breaks those chains, and then goes smashing thru the galaxy as its own chapter who is based on individual freedom that continues to destroy the threats to mankind then pick it up!

I started off reading the Space Marine sci-fi with Iron Hands, so my bar was set far lower than most. The problem with Space Marines in fiction is there personality. By definition, they're not supposed to have much of one, due to a rigorous multi-year course of indoctrination and subliminal suggestion. which is what makes the Soul Drinkers storyline so appealing.

It shows the Space Marines for what they really are: humans, with minds and wills of their own. The storyline, which is sparked by a betrayal of staggering proportions, and spirals quickly out of control, is original and well thought out. It shows an incredibly dark side of the Imperium, where the greatest enemy Man faces is really itself. Despite being manipulated in the extreme, the characters act out of rational planning and thought, rather than a knee-jerk reaction of "Destroy!" that most would expect from Space Marines.

The main protagonist, Sarpedon, is well thought out and develops a great deal in a short amount of time. His psychic abilities are well used and described, without seeming either boring or overly god-like.

This story arc is well planned and executed, and leaves the door open for another and another, which I am personally eagerly awaiting.

The Soul Drinkers Omnibus alludes to happenings in other series, but it is not essential to have previously read any Warhammer books to understand what is going on.
The series is just okay. The author creates some epic battle scenes, but with final "boss" battles that fall short of the build up. Would like to have more character development and the internal struggle that Sarpedon has to deal with. Better yet more of Tellos' struggle. Most of the book is written in 3rd person observer. The author over uses the verb "jutters", which can be a bit distracting in the 2nd and 3rd parts.
Overall a decent series. A great buy for $12.

If you're looking for a deep storyline, complex characters, metaphors, aesops, or stellar writing, then you're definitely not going to enjoy Soul Drinkers Omnibus. The plots are simplistic and predictable, the protagonists are paper-thin, and overall writing quality is average. Then again, I don't know why would anyone search for literary merit in a media tie-in novel, anyway. If it's there, great. If not, who cares? That's not what these books are for.

That being said, Soul Drinkers novels are pure entertainment. They're perfect, because they're a work of joy created with the sole purpose to spark joy in others, and that's something they absolutely succeed at. They're crammed with explosive action, over-the-top moments, and delicious stereotypes. Exactly what it says on the tin.

The depiction of the 41st millennium is spot on. The atmosphere of the novels is ominous, morbid, and pessimistic. The feeling of constant, desperate warfare is ever-present. It's obvious the Soul Drinkers chapter is on a downward spiral, stuck fighting for goals that are ultimately beyond their power to achieve. Yet it's equally obvious there's nothing else they can do. Grim Darkness of the Far Future, indeed.

[SPOILERS] Sadly, some plot developments overstretch the willing suspension of disbelief, creating a lot of "What the hell, Ben?" moments. These include, but are not limited to: seven hundred or so loyalist space marines readily accepting what is (very) obviously a chaos mutant as their new chapter master; a space marine, with his throat ripped out, surviving for a long time in hard vacuum; an inquisitor inexplicably deciding to abandon the assignment he was ready to die for mere moments earlier; Dark Eldar openly worshipping Slaanesh; the fact that Soul Drinkers apparently have no ground-based vehicles, etc.[/SPOILERS]

Overall, Soul Drinkers Omnibus is a fine science fiction collection. Fans of Warhammer 40k and Space Marines are definitely going to enjoy it. If, on the other hand, you never heard of 40k, then this collection is a good place to get involved - it won't give you much food for thought, but it'll keep you page-turning.

This is the best 40K book I have read. After being disappointed with the Ravenor books, this was just what I needed. There is a ton of battle with disturbing imagery and gore. Anyone who likes 40K books is most likely a veteran of the 40K tabletop game, and craves intense battles. I was so glad to see that this book is more than just a bunch of stories abut Imperial procedure and administration (I'm looking at you Ravenor books). I hope the author does some more books on the rebellious Soul Drinkers

I am a fan of a lot of the stories produced by the Black Library, and I can now say that I'm officially a Ben Counter fan. I read his Grey Knights novels, and, while I liked the first, I was generally unimpressed. Dark Adeptus was not good at all, and "Grey Knights" was good but not what I'd call great. It was reading these three stories that convinced me that Counter is capable of spinning a very good story. In other words, he won't draw anymore comparisons to CS Goto. At least not in my mind.

The Soul Drinkers Omnibus has the noted plus of being three books for the price of one-and-a-half, but it takes a good storyline to make buying such a monster a good idea. Counter's protagonist is Sarpedon, who starts out as a Commander in the Soul Drinkers Space Marine Chapter. The Soul Drinkers are a child of Rogal Dorn's Imperial Fists Legion, and they have served the Imperium and its undying Emperor for many centuries. In many WH40K stories, it's clear that there's a lot of political infighting going on between institutions of the Imperium. In fact, the vast majority of the time, the supposedly great Imperium of Man comes off as a corrupt semi-dictatorship that cares little for its citizens and, in some cases, its heroes.

Counter takes to another level when he has the Soul Drinkers separate themselves from serving the Imperium when they are backstabbed by another Imperial group when carrying out a mission onboard a starfort. Led by Sarpedon, the Soul Drinkers decide to stop bowing to the corrupt politicans and start doing only what they deem is really the Emperor's Will. They turn their backs on the Imperium, but still fight against the forces that threaten humanity. They are considered traitors by the Imperium, yet they still fight against the xenos and chaos.

The character development is very good, and just excellent when you consider how wooden some Space Marine characters are. Sarpedon, the noble leader; Graevus, the consummate Sergeant; Luko, an idealistic Sergeant; Karraidin, the grizzled Terminator Captain and trainer of Novices; Tech Marine Lyrgis; Chaplain Inkinitos...the list goes on. You will feel the distinction between all of these soldiers, and that's more than many writers can do.

The plots are convoluted sometimes, but I can't help but admire the extremes that Counter goes to sometimes to immerse you in the rich WH40k universe. In particular, I really enjoyed the characters of Inquisitor Thaddeus and Lord General Xarius, as Counter is not found wanting when it comes to fleshing out believable enemies.

Excellent work, with some plot weaknesses sometimes. Four Stars.

The problem with the Souldrinker Astartes chapter is the initial idea behind it. A small background history needs to be given.
The Souldrinker chapter as a written story was the first series attempt for the Black Library to write a renegade Space Marine chapter that is still loyal to the ideas of the Imperium but not the Imperium that betrayed them. Please note that the actual Amazon description of the Omnibus is false.

The actual betrayal is not done by the Souldrinkers but rather other factions who are also completely autonomous and consider themselves supreme to all others. thus the Souldrinkers find themselves hunting down their primarch's gifted weapon to their chapter. Yet the actual weapon was such a technological mastery that the Mechanicus wishes it for itself so that it can try and study this technology.
Obviously this is an affront to the legacy of the Souldrinkers and their primarch. The obvious battle arises during which the Souldrinkers effectively destroy a significant and prized weapon of the Mechanicum themselves.
The escalation gets worse when an overly zealous Inquisitor automatically excommunicates the whole Chapter without asking for both sides.

So far so good and the series would have been an amazing and brutal start. The problem is when Tzeentch hits them with massive and obvious mutations and yet.... somehow...... ignorantly...... they see it as a blessing from the Emperor...... guess they never read up on Tzeentch and focused on the other 3 only.

All sarcasm, laughter, and eye rolling aside, if you can accept this as the first book and ignore it the actual renegade aspect of the series is fantastic. The chapter has fallen apart and the few remaining Souldrinkers are disillusioned by the Imperium they had sworn to protect. The struggle between remaining loyal and keep fighting the enemies of the Imperium, with limited Astartes and equipment, is the best part of the series. Suddenly being not a chapter but simple renegades quickly takes it toll and internal challenges keep arising.

Overall a fantastic read by itself. The overall series has culminated with the ending to the series having been published within the ebook variant of the Black Library's Bolter and Hammer series and compiled into one ending on their website.

Collected here are the first three volumes of the Soul Drinkers saga. Ben Counter wanted to do something different with his first WH40K novels, and he succeeded here, creating a chapter of space marines that completely breaks the mould of what we've come to expect. The Soul Drinkers are renegades fighting for freedom, having thrown off the chains of the Imperium and pursued their own agenda. In a universe where the lines are almost always clearly drawn between the Imperium of Man and the Forces of Chaos, the Soul Drinkers are something unique, fighting (and dying) for what they believe in, but not backing down from showing the Imperium to be what it has become. As usual for WH40K novels, these books are absolutely packed full of action, hardly slowing down for a second throughout the entirety of the stories.

In the first book, Soul Drinker, we meet Librarian Sarpedon and the rest of the Soul Drinker space marines, and watch them all develop into larger-than-life and very colorful characters. This book tells the story of how the Soul Drinkers come to be chaos-touched, outcast, and free, neither Imperial loyalists nor beholden to the forces of chaos. While many have criticized this book for having too far-fetched plot lines, I thought it was as good as most other WH40K books. Lots of action and better character development than most 40K books. [4-stars].

The second book, The Bleeding Chalice, was my favorite of the three. With the introductions out of the way (in Soul Drinker), Counter is able to focus on the plot in THE BLEEDING CHALICE. This book tells two main stories, one of Sarpedon and his Chapter's efforts to find a way to halt their mutations, and another of Inquisitor Thaddeus' hunt for the 'heretic' Soul Drinkers. While we get many of the same characters from the first book, some great new ones are introduced here, including Thaddeus and Aescarrion (of the Adeptus Sororitas), as well as Teturact and The Pilgrim, a couple of intriguing new antagonists. This volume, also available in The Soul Drinkers Omnibus, jumps around a lot more than its predecessor, and spends relatively little time with Sarpedon and the rest of the Soul Drinkers. While at first that might sound disappointing, it is actually a good thing, allowing Counter to add some depth to his tale by fleshing out more of the Universe, and creating a more epic feel to this book. The plot of this one is also much more subtle than the previous book, with the reader left in the dark about much of what Sarpedon is trying to accomplish until the very end. [5-stars].

Unfortunately, the final book in this omnibus, Crimson Tears, falls short of the first two. With a much narrower focus and mostly failing to progress the overall story arc, this one was a major disappointment. Sarpedon and Co. find themselves in the middle of a huge battle between the Imperial Guard and a group of Chaos-worshiping Eldar. The Soul Drinkers' whole reason for being there, however, is to rescue or destroy a chaos-warped and out-of-control ex-Soul Drinker. This story-within-a-story approach was pulled off successfully by Counter, but the novel just never reaches the more epic feel of the previous two. Lots of action and fighting and bloodshed, but no good character development and only a mediocre plot. [3-stars]

Like most WH40K books, these have tons of brutal and bloody action, and are filled with all manner of strange and familiar beings from the Black Library's well-developed universe. Counter's view of that universe is slightly different than the ones I prefer, more along the lines of Graham McNeil's than Dan Abnett's, with a lot of magic and demons, and relatively little mundane technology, but it generally fits in well with the rest of the WH40K fluff. In the end, the first two books are worth it, but the third is a disappointment. Recommended with reservations. Only for fans of the Black Library. There is better material out there.

This book is written by a competent author, which is why it surprises me that it is so poorly executed. I have never disliked another WH40K book as much as this one -- I actually stopped reading it out of boredom and disbelief about halfway through the final book, even though the last book is MORE interesting than the first two. I intend to pick it up again... someday. I am picky about the fluff which goes along with the game, especially when it comes to the Space Marines (Adeptus Astartes, for future reference). This book is written as if the author knows the 40K universe very well, but has no experience whatsoever with the Astartes. The entire premise of the series is founded on something wholly unbelievable to an avid consumer of the 40K universe. I'll warn you with a spoiler line if I'm going to give away more than the back of the book might.
Having Marines fall to Chaos is *obviously* a possibility in the 40K universe -- I'm sure Counter thought he was being sly and clever when he laid out the path to darkness in this book, but from the first miniscule inkling that there might be a slippery slope ahead, I knew exactly where he was going. If warning bells were sounding in my brain from the very beginning of this contrived series of events, then these valiant warriors of the Adeptus Astartes, who have been indoctrinated their entire, unnaturally long lives, against falling to Chaos, etc... should have probably been able to pick up on it.


SPOILER ALERT----------------------------------------Below.


Even accepting, for the sake of argument, that Sarpedon and his brothers were legitimately hoodwinked (~30% of the Soul Drinkers, iirc), when they returned to their home, all horribly mutated, there would have been very little discussion: they would have been incarcerated and subsequently put to death, rather than allowed to engage the Chapter Master in single combat for control of the chapter, even though they were *obviously* warp-touched with their "gifts." It's just... absurd. "Burn/Purge/Cleanse the mutant." is basically a tenet of Astartes faith. And THEN, only a small amount of the younger marines oppose them? Preposterous. And THEN the Daemon prince reveals himself and they go "How could we have been so blind?" Exactly my point. And THEN they throw off their shackles but decide a schism with the Imperium is right because a small cadre of the Adeptus Mechanicus betrayed them? I assume it makes them feel better to blame the Mechanicus for 'bullying' them into falling into Chaos, the poor widdle babies.


END SPOILER-------------------Above.


I think someone who is NOT a fan of the WH 40K universe might like this book a lot more than someone who will be saying, "What the hell?" the whole time.