An interesting new novel in the WH40k series.

The novel focuses on Sicarius, who has starred in a few other stories and featured as a side-character in other books. I don't think I've read all of his stories, but Kyme does a good job of providing readers with everything they need to not feel lost and be brought up-to-speed.

It's a good story - gives us more insight into Sicarius and also the relationships between the Firstborn (the Space Marines that we have known and loved for decades) and the Primaris (newly introduced mega-Space Marines). It's something that's featured in a number of recent novels and stories, and a topic I enjoy exploring and reading about.

It's not my favourite 40k novel, but it's still a good one, and a must for completists (and Ultramarines fans). Adds some good details to the emerging Indomitus storyline and meta story.

Nick Kyme returns to the ongoing story of Captain Cato Sicarius of the Ultramarines 2nd Company in Knights of Macragge, which sees Sicarius and his brothers, and the crew of the Emperor’s Will, lost in the Warp. The events of Damnos are in the past, the Great Rift has opened and Guilliman returned, and the Ultramarines of 2nd Company are both reinforced and wracked by rivalry like never before. After years spent battling daemonic incursions and the debilitating effects of the Warp, everyone on board the Emperor’s Will is stretched to breaking point, but Sicarius is determined to find a way to survive, and eventually return to the Imperium…or what’s left of it.

While it follows on chronologically from previous Sicarius stories this takes a noticeably different tone, as befits a story set for much of its length in the hell-scape of the Warp. As you’d expect Sicarius gets plenty of time to shine, having been noticeably changed by what took place on Damnos and becoming a much more sympathetic character than in earlier depictions in the process. This isn’t solely about Sicarius though , and a key theme is the divide between ‘firstborn’ and Primaris Marines, offering an in-universe exploration of what exactly the different generations think of each other.

This is very much a tale of two halves, however and at risk of offering spoilers (on which note, try to avoid the synopsis on the back of the book!), almost exactly halfway through the story shifts into a new direction with a slightly less grim tone and an interesting, if somewhat unexpected, narrative. All told, provided you can stomach the constant, grinding darkness there’s a lot to enjoy here, with masses of bone-crunching action but plenty of characterful dialogue and quieter moments as well.

I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by Black Library via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

An honest review so I’ve got to start with confessing that this was my first ‘Did Not Finish.’ I got to around 46% and couldn’t put myself through it any more as I struggled tooth and nail to get that far. There was something about Knights of Macragge that I just couldn’t connect with – to the point felt sorry for someone when I saw them buying a copy in the local Game Workshop store.

Knight of Macragge is the story of Cato Sicarius and his Company of Ultramarines, set primarily during the time when they are lost in warp space – at least the section that I read was – the premise of Knights of Macragge is really interesting; spending so long adrift in the warp and all the horrible complications that such a time brings; famine and power shortages are just the start of the problems for the Space Marines and human crew on board the Emperors Will.

Needless to say, I struggled like mad with this book. Not for lack of action or drama as there’s plenty of both; something I enjoyed was the interaction between the Primaris Space Marines and the Firstborn – but these moments weren’t enough to keep the book captivating – and the action scenes felt sloppy and I found them difficult to follow. I wasn’t sure if I was reading an action/war book or a horror novel and this ended up in a confused narrative. I think that this was in part to an issue I’ve mentioned many-a-time with Science Fiction novels and the desire for authors to use overly-complicated language where plain English will suffice.

Towards the conclusion of the first part of the book (Around the 45% mark), there was a battle between Captain Sicarius and a warp entity that was the strangest and most confusing piece of fiction I have ever read and it was at this point that I had to finally put the book down and say ‘no more.’ It a shame, because I have read other books by Nick Kyme and thoroughly enjoyed them.

I don’t like to dwell on books that I don’t finish and giving a review on a book that was only partially finished feels unfair – so I think I’ll just leave it at this and say Knights of Macragge wasn’t for me and despite having a really interesting plot with some really solid scenes it just felt a bit too confused. I’ve seen other reviews on NetGalley and Goodreads that rate it highly so I am just putting this one down to personal taste.

Knights of Macragge is a great window into the Ultramarine mythos, exploring the background of one of their most fascinating characters, Cato Sicarius. Like most WH40k novels, it drops you right into the action with little preamble, so new readers will likely struggle to keep up at first. However, the story soon unfolds, blending viewpoints of space marines and their human compatriots into a fascinating tale of the struggle against Chaos and the Warp. The Ultramarines aren't my favorite chapter (more Alpha Legion and Dark Angels novels requested) but I always am ready for more Black Library novels.

For full disclosure, I received a free review copy of this book. This will not colour my review, and judgement as regards any spelling or formatting issues will be withheld.

I enjoyed Knights of Macragge, Nick Kyme did a good job of showing how the Adeptus Astartes are removed from humanity while still being their protectors. Too often a book with Space Marines as principle characters will focus on them, to the exclusion of the mortal human viewpoint. This can have the effect that we lose the sense of scale, the understanding that these fantastical warriors are vastly removed from the human experience, yet sworn to it’s service. On top of this, Nick manages to layer the difference of the Primaris from their Space Marine cousins, showing that fear of obsolescence and the dogged determination to keep going.

On top of this layered points of view, we have a rare setting of Space Marines without their famed wargear. Seeing a small band of hero’s trying to save the day with nought but sword and unpowered armour is a breath of fresh air. The boltgun is an iconic weapon of the Adeptus Astartes, Nick shows us how even unarmed they are warrior lords.

Structurally, the story is a book of thirds, the first third sees our story set on the Emperor’s Will as it is becalmed in the warp. The Ultramarines and their vassal crew face a slow dwindling death in ignominy, being ground down by systems failures, heresy, and incursion as they hope for release from their marooned state. The second and third thirds of the book are set on a feudal world, bereft of technology, and beset by Xenos threats. In both sections of the story, we see triumphs and failures, very human moments of tragedy and stoic bravery.

I feel like the story could honestly have been split in two, a novella showing us the Emperor’s Will struggling to survive as it sits becalmed in the warp, and a full novel following Captain Sicarius and his knights as they liberate Agun from threats within and without. Being lumped together in a single book, the first third gives context to the last two, but feels cumbersome and the change of location abrupt and almost jarring.

Dan Abnett made me love the Ultramarines, Nick Kyme has made me want to learn more of their hero’s, and their triumphs and challenges.

I really liked this! It a excellent ultramarines book, very focused on Sicarus and his company. I really liked that it focused so much on so few characters in such a small setting, as that really allowed for character exploration. It does require some background knowledge, so I would not recommend it as a starting point, but as a series continuation it's a fairly good book!
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this!

Knights of Macragge is one of several new novels to hit the streets from the world of Warhammer 40,000. This is a dramatic and action-filled novel, one who will show you the Ultramarines and everything they’re capable of.
There was a time when Captain Sicarius, Master of the Watch, was lost in the Warp. This is the story of what happened to him – and his men – during that time. It’s an epic saga depicting battles against the warp and other eternal enemies of the crusade.
Knights of Macragge is perfect for anybody looking for an Ultramarine battlefest. It’s also perfect for fans of Sicarius in particular, as his story is a leading focal point (obviously).

“Hold on, Praxor. We are almost to you. Sicarius has driven them back. The Master of the Watch has rallied the field.”

Knights of Macragge is a novel full to the brim of satisfying action and drama. It’s the Ultramarines in the purest form, at least to my perspective. It’s dramatic, full of heroes giving it their all and doing what they do best.
If you’re looking for a novel full of Ultramarines being super badass and fighting against all odds – this is a good book for you to pick up. I feel like this novel was the personification of all the morals – and battles – fans have likely come to expect from Gulliman’s men.
Looking back on it, Knights of Macragge really did end up reading like two different books. There are the events (and battles) on the ship. And then there’s the series of battles that occur planetside. Both were fairly interesting, though I’ll confess I found the ship battles to be much more disturbing and enthralling.
I’ll confess that before Knights of Macragge I hadn’t read anything with a focus towards Captain Sicarius. So I don’t think I had quite the same emotional attachment that other readers will surely experience. I did still find the novel to be a fun book full of action and battles – a lot of them.
Knights of Macragge is a novel utterly unafraid to be itself. Its entire focus is on the glory and devastation the Ultramarines can bear, and that makes for a relatively gory and graphic depiction. But to be fair – that’s exactly what I was expecting (and almost hoping for).

I am loving these books, Warhammer is my new favourites and although I have been lucky enough to be granted ARC on netgalley I have purchased over 30 audiobooks in the Warhammer universe and this book was one of the best I have read so far, giving depth to the lore of previous events mentioned, read it!

An interesting look om what makes.ultramarines different from others. The book emphasizes whats unique about them.and makes them.relatable. Less in human monsters and more dutiful warriors..A good read