The Helwinter Gate

Warhammer 40,000

By: Chris Wraight

Narrated by: Andrew James Spooner

A Space Wolves novel

As the Imperium crumbles around them and darkness descends, the Space Wolves of Járnhamar Pack seek vengeance for old wrongs - whatever the cost.

Read it because

Discover what Járnhamar Pack got up to as the 13th Black Crusade ravaged the galaxy and the Dark Imperium dawned. Chris Wraight returns to the heroes of Blood of Asaheim and Stormcaller.

The story

Isolated.

Alone.

Járnhamar Pack are forced to flee from the judgement of their own Chapter aboard a stolen voidship, amid an Imperium descending into total war. Still pursuing vengeances for old wrongs, these Space Wolves hunt the ruins of worlds in search of an enemy who remains stubbornly hidden. Yet as the perilous journey unfolds, the Pack learn their nemesis is not the only threat to their survival. They must also contend with the uncertain path chartered by one of their own, whose strange and unsanctioned powers continue to grow.

Their ultimate goal of a return to Fenris - with their honour restored and oaths re-sworn - becomes steadily more elusive. As the Imperium’s borders crumble and the long-prophecised onslaught of the Archenemy begins, Járnhamar Pack must race to uncover the truth of an ancient betrayal and halt its horror from coming to pass, lest everything they have ever fought for be destroyed in the coming storm.

Written by Chris Wraight. Narrated by Andrew James Spooner.

©2021 Games Workshop Limited (P)2021 Games Workshop Limited

Awesome.

This book is for the fans of the Vlka Fenryka. Deep souls, fierce warriors, pack brothers, and staunch defenders of the Imperium.

This is a very easy to follow and enjoyable book.

Though the conclusion of a trilogy, The Helwinter Gate works well enough as a stand-alone novel. It’s narrative is pretty straightforward, the Wolves are on a mission of vengeance and are also seeking to clear their names and the action scenes are frequent and well-written. The location-hopping helps keep things fresh and ensures it is a pacy book. Wraight adds his now-customary details that add a disproportionate depth to the story, and does some interesting things retelling the same events from different perspectives.

A fantastic end to one of the greatest stories.

After this trilogy it is safe to say Chris Wraight is one of the best authors in Black Library, period. This review is primarily for the entire thing, thought this book can be read standalone for definite. The story telling here is of the highest caliber, you learn and deal with themes such as pride and how important it is for one to overcome their own. You learn of the importance of supporting your friends when they are at their absolute lowest, even when that low hurts YOU. I cried several times over the the course of the three books but this last one had those moments in droves. We finally get to see a Space Marine focused novel on the fall of Cadia here and it is exactly what you'd want it to be. I truly hope Wraight returns to the Jarnhammar pack once again because I cant live in a world where they arent in the galaxy. I was a Space Wolves hater my entire adult life but this book brought so much life and love into the Vlka Fenryka. I am a convert after this trilogy.

FOR LEMAN OF THE RUSS!

good voice acting

Chris Wright does an excellent job, I have yet to read one of his 40k books I didn't like.

one of the best yet again

Chris Wraight is the man love his books all the space will stuff is awesome this one especially too good listen to it you won't regret the time spent

Generally good

A bit rushed with some plot holes being resolved in ways I found unsatisfying, but generally a good listen.

Top tier reading!

What an amazing book! I normally don’t write reviews but had to rate this one. Amazing from beginning to end.

Fenris Heyoda

This was a great listen, just need the first two space wolves books, thanks

great book

loved it big fan of warhammer 40k and the space wolves my favorite chapter

Interesting plot, bothersome narration

Note: I read the other two books in the series and this is the only one I listened to as an audiobook

The best thing about Helwinter Gate is the settings. Chris Wraight goes all-out in describing the monolithic scale of warfare during the 13th Black Crusade in ways that other authors never really managed to do. The characters, one of Wraight's real strengths, continue to be distinct and compelling throughout the novel, which isn't at all the easiest thing to do when you're working with a bunch of space vikings.

Meanwhile the character action itself seems a bit perfunctory. If you're the sort of person who gets annoyed when Space Marines are depicted as being effectively invincible when fighting any number of normal humans (I am) this book will annoy you more than once, though that isn't to say that there aren't still some losses along the way.

I was much more bothered by the narrator, who despite being quite talented with voices and dramatic readings, makes some very strange choices with the cadence of his speech. I've never talked about a narrator's breathing before, but I'm glad, now that I'm done listening, that it will be some time before I hear someone take a breath after the first word of their sentence again.