• Blood of Iax

  • Warhammer 40,000
  • By: Robbie MacNiven
  • Narrated by: John Banks
  • Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (472 ratings)

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Blood of Iax  By  cover art

Blood of Iax

By: Robbie MacNiven
Narrated by: John Banks
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Publisher's summary

In the age of the Dark Imperium, Primarch Guilliman’s Primaris Ultramarines are a shining beacon in the darkness of war.

On the Imperial Hive World of Ikara IX, Chaplain Kastor and Apothecary Polixis, brothers in blood as well as in battle, stand firm against the endless Greenskin horde. But a threat is looming. An invasion like no other assaults the broken city of Shebat, as the crazed warlord Urgork arrives to lay waste to the Imperial forces and capture a Primaris Marine for his own twisted ends.

As Kastor and Polixis find themselves separated by the disaster that unfolds, the brothers must turn the tide of war to win the battles that rage within their very natures, as well as those upon the battlefield.

©2018 Games Workshop Limited (P)2018 Games Workshop Limited

What listeners say about Blood of Iax

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great introduction to Orks and Primaris

The previous Primaris focused book was "Dark Imperium". This book blows it out of the water in its portrayal of the Primaris as well as the Orks.

On Primaris, this story shows how they have been trying to reconcile their existence within the Imperium. The Chaplin and Apothecary are blood brothers as well as Battle Brothers and this is a great theme. Both are opposites of each other with the Black and White armor of each being the most noticeable, but it delves deeper into their philosophies as well. Additionally the Reivers squad gets special mention as their practices are considered so out of place among the Marines. The author discusses the differences in combat tactics that they employ. Unlike the "Dark Imperium" novels these differences are allowed to be examined.

From the Ork perspective this is the best book since the Beast Arises as it gives the Orks character and purpose. The Warboss is a unique character on his own, but the cast of Ork characters does not end with him. His second in command Painboy is quite characterful. The various Ork Kommandos show how the Orks interpret Human culture as well as tactics. Of course from the Imperium perspective the Orks are attacking this planet just because they are war-like, but early on in the book the Warboss reveals there is a purpose. In earlier Black Library books Orks didn't have plots or goals, they were faceless hordes that were meant for the Space Marines to kill as they contemplated the grisly nature of war and philosphy.

Now we see a story that shows brotherhood and how deep family bonds go. As well as a quest for survival.

Each new book by the Black Library is a showcase for the armies it covers. This one does a good job of allowing the reader to understand more than just the clip notes version and extrapolate how these soldiers might function in their own tabletop army.

The narrator does a great job in both the Space Marine voices as well as the Orks. The Reiver Sgt has a low threatening voice, Apothecary is analytical, and the Chaplin is stoic. The Orks themselves have the brutish Warboss, cunning Painboy, and two very distinct Kommandos who you can easily tell apart. Good job, John Banks, good job indeed.

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17 people found this helpful

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

Great story and a good reader

I've never heard of space Marines being actual blood brothers before. it definitely adds to the story and the plot is definitely unique to other 40k books I've read. would highly recommend

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6 people found this helpful

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

lots of character , low on plot

great performance and a novel concept-- post human space marine battle brothers who are actually brothers. unfortunately, the novel concept is placed in a simple undeveloping setting: a straight forward battle with the bruting orks. there's some ghosts of better, more involved story that explores the nature of brotherhood, but it doesn't really come to anything.

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3 people found this helpful

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

An acceptable Space Marine story.

It is that and nothing more. I regretted my acquisition of this book by Chap1.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Mediocre Story, Poor Command Decisions

Run of the mill bolter and blade fare. Hard to believe some of the Space Marines as characters because of decisions they make counter to the typical nature of Astartes, particularly Ultramarines. Even the Orks do not feel particularly "orky". The insight into the Rievers is one of the few highlights of the book, and the performance isn't bad. But overall a forgettable story.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

boring, inch deep and a mile wide

So if you want story and intrigue and depth of character this book is not for you. It's just bolter trash. It's very difficult to stay engaged when it feels like the story is written by an amateur.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Good Story

I found this story to have everything you would want in a 40K book. Dives into the roles of the primaris. The main plot dominated the story and every chapter you felt the climax coming.

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2 people found this helpful

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

One of the best!

This book is well written and well performed. It is has some of the most dynamic characters in the series. This was a great listen. I highly recommend.

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1 person found this helpful

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

A great stand alone story.

This was a pleasant suprise. I had been intrigued. So I purchased thus one. And I am glad that I did. It has little bearing on the wider 40k universe as a whole. And in fact us a refreshing listen\ read due in part to its singular story type off feeling. I however would enjoy a follow up eagerly. ...

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1 person found this helpful

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

Very cool but different twist on “brothers”

Good story and performance. It was very cool seeing two actual blood brothers fighting side by side.

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