Book Club Book #177 — Veterans of the Fall by William Crowe

Every two weeks we read a new book in the WH40k universe and discuss it on our podcast. We invite you to read along with us and join in on our conversation via comments, Twitter, Discord, email, or vox cast.

For this episode, we’re reading Veterans of the Fall by William Crowe. You can purchase it at Amazon, Warhammer, or Audible.

From the back of the book:

They were the best of the best. Now they are all that is left.

When Cadia fell, a handful of traumatised survivors found themselves stranded on a ruined world carved apart by rival cults. Since then, the Kasrkin veterans known as the Tattershields have anchored the crumbling Imperial defence, holding back the overwhelming might of the Archenemy with sabotage, assassinations, and unbreakable discipline. Their commander, Sergeant Kostantin Taikon, is an inspiration to the beleaguered defenders. But he is haunted by guilt and consumed by fatalism, numbly fighting on with no hope of victory or atonement.

The Imperials’ grip on the planet is slipping. Infiltrators sow discord in their ranks, and a sadistic new enemy is bearing down upon them. But when all hope is dead, only defiance remains, and Taikon will lead his indomitable Kasrkin to the bitter end.

Discussion guide for Veterans of the Fall:

• Did you like the book?
• Which parts stood out to you?
• Did you like the format of this book, with several short stories and one novella?
• Was Taikon a good leader? Were you invested in him?
• Of the various Cadians, who was your favorite? Who were you most invested in?
• Were the Chaos space marines a compelling antagonist?
• Were you satisfied by the ending?