Author: Aaron Dembski-Bowden
Series: Space Marine Legends
Publisher: Black Library
Released: August 28^th, 2015
Received: NetGalley

I received a copy of Ragnar Blackmane in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In the world of Warhammer 40K, the Space Wolves are well known for their epic stories – that much is actually quite the understatement. Yet Ragnar Blackmane is one of the many heroes who made a name for himself, and earned the rights to his own story, and series.

Written by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Ragnar Blackmane is part of the Space Marine Legends series by Black Library. He, along with all of the others, really did earn that title of legend, that much is made clear over the course of this novel.

They say that our pasts make us the people we are today. That we can never run from our history. That is true for Ragnar Blackmane, a Space Wolf with an epic past, and an even more impressive future on the horizon.

Ragnar has found himself embroiled in a battle on Cadia – a world destroyed by war. Ironically, the events happening around him bring to memory certain moments of his past. All of which led him directly to the place he stands today.

“I have said that I will hold this wall until sunset,’ Ragnar replied. ‘So I will hold this wall until sunset.”

If you’re looking for a solid novel that embodies the Space Wolves, look no further than Ragnar Blackmane. This is a rich tale, made all the more intense by the inclusion of events past and present. The two weave together in beautiful fashion, resulting in a powerful story.

One of the things I really enjoyed about Ragnar Blackmane is how approachable the story as a whole was. While I know a decent amount about the Space Marines, I’m far from an expert. This novel doesn’t quite hold your hand through it all, though it won’t make any attempts to mislead or confuse newer readers. It’s the perfect balance, really.

He killed not with his blade, with his bolter, with his fist, or even with his boot. These were merely tools. Ragnar killed with his heart and soul, pouring himself into every desperate movement, sucking in life with every sawing breath.”

Overall, this was an intense and richly detailed read. One that was exciting from the very first page, with the introduction of Ragnar and the current battle he must deal with. The excitement ramps up as his past comes into play, allowing certain events to unfold in ways that explain how we got to this point. It was wonderfully done.