The Space Marine that Made Me Care

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Music used:
The Caretaker - A4 - Childishly Fresh Eyes
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These videos are meant for educational and entertainment purposes, I do not own, or ever will claim to own any of the art pieces used in this video. If you see any of your artwork and would like it removed or credited, message me on twitter with screenshots.
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[@joshsquatch7474]

Grimaldus: "Tomorrow they will call me the hero of Helsreach... As if there was only one." Me: *Violently sobs and wails*

[@dukedevlan5457]

Probably one of the best and saddest lines in a book with space marines

[@bengonzalez5215]

​@dukedevlan5457 "your friend, your love? Did you find her?" I am no judge of human emotion but I see his smile turn fragile and false. "Yes. I did find her."

[@ragingraider889]

Seeing a Space Marine see that his efforts are *combined* with others and that his "accomplishments" are shared with others, that makes me feel something I cant describe. Pride? I guess? Having them realize that, while incredibly powerful, they're not a monolith or a 1 man army. Having them (post-battle) recognize the sacrifces made in the heat of the moment is what I live for.

[@lorenzorodriguez9481]

It's sad but not that sad.

[@JLM-y5g]

@@lorenzorodriguez9481 40k doesn't have a lot of moments like it, so when it does happen it hits. The items in isolation aren't particularly sad, but when they're alongside all the other stuff in the 40k universe? It hits.

[@DirtyDanRichards]

"I had a headache... but it went away" This made Grimaldus smile.

[@deadeye9439]

Lmao i love andrej he even have the balls to board a black templar flag ship just to ask grimaldus to write him off the KIA lists

[@gideonevans9717]

​@@deadeye9439and then prompty got kidnapped by him 😂 my favorite 40k character

[@jknoclue607]

I hear he's sly's brother

[@drachir7146]

I think my favorite most human moment is when Sevatar in The Prince of Crows asks Konrad why he hates his Legion

[@TheCreepyLantern]

i do love that moment, but i kinda wish Konrad just stared at him and went "have you spoken to a single one of your brothers dipshit?"

[@Channel-23s]

Or when he tells Konrad that he could’ve lead the legion better or chose a different path like idk using less death and listening to his planets call for help or use some compassion Another scene was when Konrad was having a breakdown so he had everyone leave except Servtar who stayed and Konrad calmed down and told him if he wanted to see how he’d die and Servtar says “naw I want to find out myself”

[@ChillAssTurtle]

Kaleb Arin is best.

[@richardvaldes3959]

WE BRING THE NIGHT!

[@theone-tg4ey]

I love honor and honesty.

[@Cmdtheartist]

When butcher nailed Kharne tells his only friend in the universe that he got the nails to be closer to his Primarch, his friend, demon possessed Argel Tal, looks at him and says it didn't work, THAT kind of broke me. Two amazing creatures who could have been anything, reduced to monsters by their fathers, realizing that there was no going back. That was my human Space Marine moment.

[@chainswordappreciator3022]

Such feels I have to show you.

[@relight6931]

I didn't even hate Erebus, until he killed Argul Tal..

[@harrisonlinden6552]

What’s heartbreaking isn’t that their fathers turned them into monsters. It’s that they mutilated themselves for their father’s love and still didn’t get it.

[@supercuttlefish6199]

which book was this in?

[@Cmdtheartist]

@@supercuttlefish6199 I'm sorry, I have no idea, I heard an excerpt from a video. It's pre-heresy, if that helps

[@LordCrate-du8zm]

I saw Helsreach: The Movie and suddenly I felt the urge to start a crusade like a true son of Dorn.

[@wernerfuhry]

As we all did brother. Go for it, go for the crusade

[@The-realAlpharius]

What say you we start the 9th crusade

[@jestinjeffries9430]

This was a truly epic novel and a truly Epic last Stand. As a Veteran the end of this book broke me, man I love these personal movements like these. As well as others, I especially love the part in the Dawn of Fire Series where a Custodian tears off a part of his cloak to wrap a freezing guardsmen up in it to keep her warm and she is in utter disbelief that this Godlike figure would debase his holy cloak just to keep her warm . Little moments in the lore like that make it so much cooler and more enjoyable. Keep up the great work

[@edgieststalker8141]

This also happens but instead it is with Dark angels, some dark angels were sheltering with civilians, one of them notices a civilian shivering because of the cold, so he decides to lend his cloak to the civilian, a fellow dark angel sees this but his only response was of disgust, asking why would he disgrace such holy mantle just to help a lowly commoner. This reinforces that the dark angels of 30K are no more, that there are only fanatical paranoids that only care for themselves, that any soldier who goes to help the innocent are making a "mistake", trying to cover up a failure that it even wasn't their fault, to the extent of forgetting their reason that they were created. To *protect* I only hope that with the Lion back the dark angels can right their wrongs and become the honorable knights they once were...

[@wernerfuhry]

Modern Dark Angels pre Lions return are so utterly, absolutely fucking dumb dipshits, I sonhope that Lion just slaps them so god fucking hard. Really hope heads role.

[@luminaaeterna1259]

​@@edgieststalker8141As a new convert to the Lion's Legion I'd love to know more about that and which book is that moment from

[@ThatOneElfEnjoyer]

⁠@@edgieststalker8141This. When people ridicule the first like “Hurr Durr Fallen lol”, I remind them that there are still noble aspects to them, in fact the Lion himself is said to be a protector at heart in the Arks of Omen storyline….

[@hacksawDDS]

Even beyond Helsreach, he stood with the Celestial Lions chapter and helped prevent their end. Man just really appreciates a good final stand.

[@gideonevans9717]

Damn good book that one.

[@imperialfist2304]

“The Hero of Helsreach!” The crowd cheered. As if there was only one.

[@mtpender69]

"I have dug my grave in this place, I will either triumph or I will die. No pity, No remorse, NO FEAR!"

[@richardvaldes3959]

" i endure this for 9 days.... NINE DAYS" - I Love Grimaldus. As a nightlord player and fanboy this one book made me love the Black Templars

[@Sweetness71775]

Night Lords are my favorite Legion. Black Templars are my favorite Chapter.

[@richardvaldes3959]

@@Sweetness71775 hail claw brother! WE BRING THE NIGHT!

[@mattwells5347]

You may respect the emperors faithful heretic, but you’re still being put to the sword

[@pykamirulol]

@@Sweetness71775 Funnily enough, both of their best works are written usually by Aaron Dembski-Bowden. Might have a hand in it.

[@SRTifiable]

Reclusiarch Grimaldus and Captain Loken gave me so much hope for the potential of future novels.

[@chainswordappreciator3022]

Don't forget garror him on the bridge vs his apothecary was amazing.

[@mickreypokeball7366]

Loken's story made me cry

[@SaturmornCarvilli]

The line that stuck with me the most was, "We will fight and win, or fight and die." There's 100% commitment to the battle regardless of the outcome. As if the outcome doesn't matter, only the fight.

[@zachsmith1676]

"The only thing that changes, is the colour of the sky we fight under and the shade of the blood on our blades."

[@NapGod]

Helsreach was the first 40k novel I read, and it's the reason why I fell in love with the setting. There are so many disparate moments linking a range of emotions and space in that book. Grimaldus' speech on the wall (I have it bookmarked), his grim matter-of-fact tally of who died on what day, the fucking scene of him coordinating bureaucracy for 9 days before the siege..the moment at the beginning when grimaldus almost whines like a child to helbrecht not wanting to lead the token force destined to die on the planet. the book goes so hard. Blood and Fire is the novella that takes place immediately after Helsreach involving Grimaldus and the Celestial Lions. Highly recommend that as well.

[@jinxix2131]

Two of my favourite moments in helreach where the one mentioned when he asks Andrei if he found his love, it slaps so damnably hard but almost immediately afterwards Andrei, beautiful responds when asked by Grimaldus if he was injured at all during the fighting. Andrei replies "Well yes, I had a headache, but then it went away". Grimaldus doesn't speak, but the character says to the reader "This made me smile" Even though they cannot convey each others emotions to one another, Andrei shows he is still himself, he hasn't lost his spirit and ill keep fighting, doing their duty, like the Reclusiarch himself does. Like any soldier of the emperor. Its incredibly humanising for the astartres, who was genuinely surprised but pleased at the strength of this normal human guardsmans ability to make a joke not only after such a battle, or an astartes, but to a black templar reclusiarch, he was genuinely impressed and making any black templar smile is hard enough, especially after he has just lost every battlebrother in his company. I loved the fanmade animations adaption, its spectactular and conveys these scenes so well.

[@Bread-nx9fo]

The moment Little Horus killed Tarik Torgadden is the moment I realized how much I hated Horus and the traitor faction, that and when Tarvitz and the surviving loyalists died.

[@andrewmcguinness1845]

"There were even a few lost-looking World Eaters."

[@Channel-23s]

Now Grimaldus and Dante Uriel Ventress and Gullimen feel truly human the dread and contemplating against the horde maybe even Lion but he feels older/mature a different feeling in a way

[@Andernol]

"Primus. You are the last Emperor's Champion of the Helsreach Crusade. Now recover your blade." is a moment that lives in my head rent free. Shit goes so unbelievably hard. Literally the reason I made my Emperor's Champion model dual wielding swords.

[@jeffwalter2076]

Helsreach is the measuring stick I compare all SM books I read to. I started my SM novel journey with the Blood Angels Omnibus YEARS ago, and i thought to myself that "This is the good shit, Can't get better!" Then i discovered the BTs, did my research and fell in love with the chapter, found out about Helsreach, read it, then read it again. I found all other books SM books i read paled in comparison. Armageddon dropped, picked it up and the epilogue battle where Grimuldus comes to the aid of the Celestial Lions . . . SO. DAMN. GOOD! Also, best scene that makes me smile every time - Grimuldus to Andre: Are you not injured? Andre: I had a headache, but it went away.

[@wernerfuhry]

Seriously, when he came to the Celestial Lions, holy shit goosebumps. I so hope the Celestial Luins come back, lore/canonical wise, cause what they did to them was so fucking unnecessary stupid and grim derp

[@EnergyBurst2]

In that case I'm curious whether Lion: Sons of the Forest was found up to that standard or below it. If you've read it that is.

[@BomageMinimart]

"I will die on this world" is absolutely one of the best, if not THE best, opening line of a novel ever. And then the novel is fantastic, too. Huge thumbs up for this video and you got a new subscriber.

[@voltron8375]

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed" Prolly goes a little harder ngl

[@innocenceUnknown]

That is just ADB as a writer in general. He has this knack to take Space Marines esp Chaos Marines and wirte them in a relatable way. I would love to his what he could do writing a Necron story from the Necron's perspective, or even Orks. ADB's Night Lords books are amazing and 1st Heretic is to this day my favorite of the HH series. He was able to do something with Word Bearers and Lorgar, which was make you have emotion for them and see them more than a bunch religious lunatics.

[@V0IV0DE]

Grimaldus keep saying that he doesn't understand humans, the beautiful thing at the end is that, he realizes that, even not understanding normal humans at a great level, he could understand some of their feelings and situations. Love might be something they don't understand, but grief, lost, hate and other direct emotions are the point of similarity. At the end both were grieving, but for different reasons.

[@KiwiTheIguana]

"Duty is not always glorious." This is the line from Helsreach that has been burned into my brain since the moment I first heard it. Not often are 40k quotes all that applicable to IRL experiences, but this one has given me an odd sense of purpose a few times in the past with its simplicity. Your mention of betrayal really made me think about how it is so borderline comedic in 40k, but in Helsreach it is a very real sense of betrayal that someone can probably personally relate to, the way Grimaldus felt towards Helbrecht, that he had been betrayed by his superior, when to Helbrecht he was simply doing his job as best he saw fit, even if it meant someone being cheated of the mighty and heroic doom they would like to have, even if this ended up being true in a very different way to how both of them likely expected it.

[@Sujad]

In one of the Ciaphas Cain books, I can't remember the exact phrase but a quote from a book really struck with me, "Life is a stony road made soft by consideration for others." I also say "Sure as sure," when responding to people so what do I know!

[@Zossel]

​​@@Sujadmy god this one sentence makes me remember how much I hate that character. Such great books. First and only

[@Sujad]

@@Zossel Sure as sure.

[@kombat_arms5402]

I listened to Helsreach on Audible. It is the only book to make me actively cry. The description of the last stand where all of his brothers start falling always gets to me.

[@Fifthmiracle]

I remember the first time reading the novel in bed and I got to the part where Artarion says ‘Goodbye, brother' as he and Grimaldus fight back to back as the last two... Just tears; my wife asks what's wrong since I'd been raving about how good the story was. "They all died..." I responded. What a great book, you get invested in all the characters.

[@chorleycake7942]

"My title is Reculsiarch. Use it." Loved Helsreach and have listened to it multiple times.

[@Michael.Virtus]

However in Hellsreach we also have Grimaldus witnessing a human kiss, saying: "Humans. They are a mystery to me."

[@khylerbane4523]

It’s both humanizing and tragic. Because it show just how far removed from humanity the Astartes really are. Things like love and romance are anathema to them. Heck when a Grey knight showers with the guard and Adeptus Sororitas and he cannot comprehend why they are all staring at him… especially the sisters of battle.

[@seanslaysean7097]

@@khylerbane4523lol what book?

[@nebsam715]

​@@khylerbane4523I would like the name of this book sir, for...... research purposes

[@tevin4006]

Rinsworld is also one you should check out if you want more *human* space marines. I just find it funny when space marines go against orks, that somehow it makes op humans MORE human. Also, the "lion, son of the forest" does this too, just in a way to clarify the whole fallen dark angels thing.

[@creed8712]

Realistically it’s because the Orks seeing a human fighting well elevated them in their minds to fight better

[@ExeosZwei]

I found Nerovar the Apothecary also a standout character in Helsreach. The handling of his mourning for his brothers and the burden of his task of recovering geneseed made him as human a character as Grimaldus.

[@zachsmith1676]

i liked the part where he was ejecting vial after vial of geneseed and tossing them at Grimaldus until he came to the one marked Kaidor

[@simplysage3562]

My favourite is when Sevatar told Kondrad he only kills because its the easiest way Amber King did an amazing rendition of this scene I also Enjoyed when Alexis Pollux wept over Barbarus Dantioc Very human and very Raw

[@NightLordShadow]

I read the whole book because of this video. I am floored by the ending.

[@myrealname9656]

Just found Mr Bones and so far I'm liking this wild ride.

[@redpilldiogenes4741]

Try to leave, i double dutch dare you

[@grievousminded7517]

I don't know how often I repeated Helsreach on Audible already but I relisten regularly. It is really well written but the voice is what carries it. Jonathan Keeble just rocked the story.

[@mr.mehoff4539]

I firmly believe that Helsreach, and The Devastation of Baal have been the best at showing space marines having emotion. Between Grimaldice's frustration and moment of admitting how far removed from being human it shows that there's a sense of loss in most marines for they aren't human anymore. Along with Dante's grief and almost hatred of living and serving for as long as he has. These moments are what keeps me coming back

[@zachsmith1676]

I think another good one would be "Spears of the Emperor" A story about a marine from the Mentor's Legion, a non-codex compliant Ultramarines chapter called the Emperor's Spears cut off from the Imperium by the Cicatrix Maledictum. Told from the pov of one of the Mentor Legion Helots... It's pretty good.

[@egoraptorschin9412]

When Talos tells Octavian that he wanted to be a hero when he was a kid

[@Agustin-1991]

I don't really think Grimaldus was afraid of death, the 1st time i read the novel i got that idea, but reading more lore and knowing more of Grimaldus, i really believe he didn't want to die on Armageddon and not to the orks. I trully believe Grimaldus wanted for him and his brothers to die fighting on a better planet against a more worthy foe than lowly xenos scum. That and the lost of his mentor, the promotion to a rank he didn't and dosen't feel worthy to have and the self doubt (which started before even the Armaggedon Crusade was declared), all in combine caused this drained and fatalist state of mind for Grimaldus.

[@caesar1058]

I find Dante’s vision of the sanguinor and sanguinius to an incredibly powerful scene. I know “oh Dante this Dante that” but I love his character. Maybe I just find myself having a similar view these days but it’s just such a powerful emotion that I feel connected to. Wanting to stop not necessarily die but to see the epilogue of the story and being utterly incapable of quitting.

[@ayyitsrith]

Boy am I happy to see folks talking about Templars, and my favorite guy from the Templars no less. I wanna say Helsreach was my first delve into the 40k setting, albeit watching the animated film mentioned in the video well before reading the book. Not only did Grimaldus make the Templars my favorite group, but he also served in making me absolutely love Chaplains- their skull-faced aesthetic going hard helped as well. Speaking of which the story itself I found it fascinating to have the main character struggling with duty and leadership be a Chaplain of all things, who are meant to essentially act as the soul of the Chapter's beliefs. Grimaldus having to be left behind and defend a doomed city probably goes against all he knows. While his first speech he gave atop the walls of Helsreach gave me chills, one of his final words in the last stand stuck with me in which he bellows that he had "dug his grave on this spot, and that he shall either succeed or die". To everyone around him, he was likely just rallying their morale before it crumbles like the temple around them, but to me it also represented Grimaldus finally accepting his fate. To die in a futile struggle without the glory every Templar yearns for. Because he is a son of Dorn, and to them duty is everything.

[@Amatsaru29]

The docks scene in Helsreach one of my favorite parts besides the last stand itself. Sad that it didn't get animated.

[@harrisonlinden6552]

I just recently started “Helsreach” and something I think is really helping to humanize Gimaldus is that Helsreach is his first command as Reclusiarch. He gets frustrated with Helbrecht assigning him and a group of Sword Brethren to reinforce the Steel Legion because he doesn’t yet understand for a Space Marine commander you have to be a leader not another cog in the apocalypse. I also think that being Mordred’s sort of apprentice and the youngest Sword Brother ever implies he’s inexperienced and somewhat naive about being a commander before Helbrecht pretty much throws him to the wolves. We’ve all felt these feelings before in some capacity, slighted about an assignment, nervous about the first time you took up a new role, the feeling of fear when you’re trapped in a place that you can’t run from despite every mental alarm saying to do so.

[@Rolf97]

The Hero of Helsreach...as if there was only one.

[@AJTheUnexceptionalBiker]

I paused, and went and bought the audiobook. Literally, sold.

[@Reevsy_Trav]

I watched Richard Boylan's adaptation, I cried. I read the Aaron Dembski-Bowden book, I cried. The life and humanity Aaron gives the Space Marines in his books - Talos Valcoran for example - makes my love for the3 setting grow even stronger

[@Evangel-aclr]

I love writing like this it's stuff like this is why I love Sanguinius. I wish they'd write spacemarines more like this

[@kingofravens225]

"The hero of Hellsreach, they call. As if there is only one." Has hit me harder tbh

[@TheGallantDrake]

The emphasis on the humanity of Grimaldus, as suppressed and stunted as it is, is what makes Helsreach. Even the greatest of His warriors is ultimately human, and need human things, as much as they’d deny it.

[@abrahamjohn7183]

If you want a series that gives a lot of personality to factions that generally don't get a fair shake, I would recommend the Priests of Mars books

[@WarbossRB]

Literally had me almost cry my brains out listening to that line from Andre again. Why did you have to do that to me on a Tuesday.

[@dantegaelach736]

The Helsreach fanmovie even got me into playing space maries. Hell it completely sold me on the Chaplains. The only reason I don't have Grimaldus his figure, is because I'm waiting on a new version.

[@lazymurderhobo92]

I love the Vulcan Primarch novel for this reason. The vast majority of it is Vulcans internal struggles, and it makes him remarkably human.

[@conked944]

For me it would be..A chaplain too actually! A blood angels captain succumbs to the black rage out of combat, and while they have nova marine guests on board to; The captain crawls to the chaplain and begs him to help; the chaplain gets on his knee and calls his captain “My captain, My son” the chaplain calls him this because he was present when the captain was chosen from the pick of the boys to become neophytes; the captain completely falls to the black rage but still completes the mission, while being witnessed by both the chaplain and the nova marines.

[@brittlespy9083]

i always thought that Grimaldus judging by his model and the name that he was just as mad as asmodai but it turns out hes probably the most awe inspiring and loving as a chaplain can be to both space marines and loyalist humans

[@louisnall3102]

My favorite Space Marine so far is Saul Tarvitz. His bravery to go down and warn the other loyalists on Istvaan 3 was incredible. His shock at seeing Horus and Fulgrim’s betrayal, and finally his acceptance that he was going to die. -he also sent Lucius running with his tail between his legs, which is always based.

[@richardvaldes3959]

Garviel Loken is good too. His hate of his former brothers and Gene father is so good.

[@louisnall3102]

@@richardvaldes3959 I know, he’s also based for beating Lucius. I’ve only read his time as a Luna Wolf. Not as his time as a Knights Errant, so I can’t make an entirely informed decision yet.

[@kvo5565]

Helsreach was rad! Andre made me get the feels at the end. Definitely one of the best 40k novels.

[@SgtThiel]

I feel bad for Bobby G, missing his father Konor and how ashamed he feels of himself thinking how quickly he would have abandoned Konor if the Emperor had found him while Konor was still alive. He's so frustrade with the imperium and the emperor, outright disowning E money in favor of the man that raised him

[@lockdown8226]

God emperor I love it when stories get me emotional

[@AwDudeIDontKnow]

The Helsreach movie is the first thing that got me into 40k, it was a bad time in life. But it has brought me so much joy

[@mikemarino3567]

Yes, legitimately my favorite 40k character and a big reason why I collect BT's.

[@bonefetcherbrimley7740]

Aww! Also I liked this story, its really really good. Grimaldus is a beast, Andre is a beast. Poor Andre. I want to hug him.

[@KrabNebula]

*SPOILER ALERT* One of the saddest parts of Helsreach. The half dead princeps banging her arms against the amniotic tank trying to get the dead titan to fire was gut wrenching.

[@nittefils2465]

Grimaldus is a fantastic portration of how the countless years of experience they bring to a situation. A space marine is so much more then the armor and the weapon. The fact that they Are so evolved, yet still willingly sacrifice themselves for something Even greater, is so fantastic.

[@akiva2112]

I would love to see a follow up book with that lucky SOB Andre and see how far he came in his military career

[@thelasthunter3123]

A space marine that made me feel a variety of emotions, yet at some point halfway through-ish I understood him and I just felt pity, empathy, and understanding. I just want to give Grimaldus a hug, I feel *so* bad for the guy, and despite the things he said and did, I still love him and he's one of my favorite 40K characters. The start of the book had me flipping between disdain, anger, awe, admiration, and so many until that scene where he's talking to Zaha and threatening to do something to Oberon. That scene changed everything about him for me, and then the following scenes made me love him even more.

[@twinphalanx4465]

"Yeah I found her" grimaldus knew that sound, it was loss, hes probably "found" many of his brothers in the same way, that bitter sweet note, at least you know their fate, at least you know.

[@stevenolivas7262]

The scene that hit the hardest for me in the fan film was at the end when Grimaldus re-enters the drop ship mirroring the opening scene introducing the other astartes and it's completely empty. I started bawling

[@TrendyTrenty]

I love your intro, it always makes me excited when i click a random 40k video and Im like "OH HELL YEAH, ITS ARTHUR"

[@yikeswazowski9838]

What I absolutely love grimaldus is yeah he's conditioned to be a hyper zealous emotionally stunted super soldier, BUT he knows more and sees more than he realizes which has helped him interact better w non astartes and function as a chaplain. He sees the bigger picture of what it means to be truly human, but he's so far removed he can't full understand what he's looking at

[@ls-501templar8]

The Black Templars was one of my first armies, and when I listened to Helsreach for the first time, Grimaldi instantly became one of my favorite characters. Most space marines would look down on humans, but his speech, where he calls the Steel Legion his brothers, hit me really hard, and his interactions with Andre are great. It made me get a Steel Legion army and even though I sold both armies, I still kept and will always keep my Grimaldi model and my Steel Legion kill team.

[@lordbalthosadinferni4384]

That line between Grimaldus and Andre at the end made me fucking cry and I haven't even read the book. That poor guy.

[@RowanRen45]

I started 40k with TTS like many people, and that led me to getting the Eisenhorn trilogy. After that I saw part one of Helsreach and immediately got the book on audible, and it’s the only 40k book to have really given me the feels. Helsreach will always have a special place in my heart because of how even when it’s grimdark and punching you in the feels it still has these immense bright spots of compassion and raw humanity in beings that from coming out of Eisenhorn are very other and inhuman.

[@The_Watchful_Scribe]

My favorite character in all of 40k is forge father fierros of the Iron Hands as he is human despite being more machine than man but he’s humorous and likable, even his haters on the Iron council admit that when he dies so will an era. Man that hits hard. I love the Iron Hands. . .

[@Theideaspectrum]

“I have dug my grave in this place and I will triumph or I will die! NO PITY! NO REMORSE! NO FEAR!” -Merek Grimaldus

[@TheCreepyLantern]

i too instantly bought a model of Grimaldus the same day i finished the book. SO damn good from start to finish.

[@brandonroberts1638]

I also like the way they write Helbrecht in this. He has so much respect and love for his battle Brother, but also knows this is the only thing that will temper him to the conflicts to come. He will either die or become the man He has to be and it's the hardest decision that leaders have to make.

[@ThatKrazyTimGuy]

Sounds like quality character portrayals in a setting of books I've heard mixed reviews on. You seem to have a similar perspective on reading as I do, so now I'm actually interested in hitting the books!

[@DavidKoltun]

More than anything.... im amazed that a few seconds of Donnie being Donnie suddenly brought back every memory I had of the wild thornberries .... like I had a hard time focusing on everything after.... wrf brain

[@Mysterion557]

The “your friend, your love, did you find her” scene is tied with “this death is ours. We choose it. We deny you your victory.” For saddest scene in a warhammer book

[@johndoh4537]

I have never reminded an audiobook to listen to a segment 5 times not because I didn’t hear it but because I needed to hear it again and again because it was so perfect until grimaldus’ speech on the northern wall

[@graveyardoperations7407]

Andrej was such an awesome character too. When you're a guardsman so exhausted with everything that you look at the 8-9 foot tall murder machine in power armor and go "Fire a couple more rounds from that bolter. I need to light my cigarette." you have Andrej.

[@ronaldmcdonald7379]

The best line, I had a headache ….but then it went away.

[@emzetkin1100]

My favorite moment of humanity for a space marine is in "The First Heretic" when Argel Tal is leading the Word Bearers on Istvaan V. He thinks of his mother and sisters, the last time he saw them, their gravesites on Colchis. He whispers "I'm sorry" to a Raven Guard captain before issuing the order: "All word bearers, open fire!"

[@tacituskilgore4840]

Grimaldus is THE reason why The Black Templars are my favorite, he is the reason for my interest in the tabletop and why black templars will be my first foray into the game, and how the sisters of battle became my second love. I cant wait to obtain my first figurines to paint and you know my boy will be among them as i build my very first army

[@DaKdawg]

One of the passages I remember most is the description given of the city. The preparations are being made and he's looking at the map and describes it as being indefensible, that it is lined like a spine that is broken. I'm paraphrasing of course, but he realizes that despite his best efforts, he can not overcome the obvious weakness of the lay out of the city itself. I have to say, of the novels that grabbed hold of me, Helsreach is one of the ones I keep going back to for no other reason than it is just such a damn good read. I enjoyed the space marine battles series, I had rynn's world and damnos ready to read, but then life happened...my library got kinda lost, but I'm there with you in sentiment. There's some novels that just take hold of you and you think of constantly. I always think of 15 hours by Mitchell Scanlon, if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. Desert Raiders is another one I recommend. Granted, they're guard stories, but they're fun...well...interesting at any rate.

[@lordsebas1]

I do not remember the book but there is a line that goes "we shall know no fear, yet i have known fear" or something along the lines that gets me

[@mahmoudelkady2381]

You mad lad. I have listened to Helsreach so many times over. Now I have to commit another ten hours listening to that glorious audiobook again.

[@Hartmansgrad]

For me, it was' Pharos: Dying of the Light'...and the fan-fiction 'No Good Deed'

[@ThePigeon5734]

Helsreach is the reason I started with Black Templars five/six months ago as my first army, and it's the reason I'll be repainting Grimaldus and kitbashing him heavily to look like a cross of the fanfilm and book descriptions later this week.

[@Husster72]

Just finished watching HELSREACH for the first time, that last stand at the church was an emotional gut punch.

[@mpbiggame1010]

"Ryken was not smiling. He had been a life-long believer in not shooting the messenger, but today that tradition was in danger of expiring." What a line

[@gideonevans9717]

Some Lunatic on YT "I thing ill make an entire epic movie out of FREAKING PENCIL DRAWINGS"

[@robrib2682]

In what is arguably a massive parody setting or grimdark to the nth degree, it is a good character that makes you actually care about them, their struggles, their wants, and their desires. I'd argue even more so when their entire purpose for existing and being elevated above the common man is to fight and die the indescribable horrors of this universe in humanities place... Also it helps they didn't try and pull the grimderp "oh no, he died. Isn't it sad because I made you get invested in this character"

[@CCDevonEleven]

The lack of talk about Spear of the Emperor here is criminal. The journey of a Marine slowly coming to terms with losing everything he thought he was.

[@stephenrego6065]

One of my most favorite stories and character in all of Warhammer! this is the guy that made me fall in love with Black Templars

[@dezzyschannel3078]

The final word of the techmarine carried more than one meaning as God-Slayer fell away: "Engine Kill"

[@nerdlydelicious1876]

Helsreach was my first real dip in the pool of 40K novels, and to this day it stands as one of my favorite books of all time. Johnathan Keeble, the narrator for the audio book, brings the characters to life and conveys their emotions, as well as the action taking place, perfectly

[@icenhorn4744]

Hells reach was definatly a differant kind of book, but one i found that i loved. great vid, thank you for sharing, now im going to relisten to the audio book video

[@rasplez9889]

I understand the whole character focus over the bigger picture. I liked Dante, Devastation of Baal, and Darkness in the Blood because even though it shows things from other perspectives, they were still mainly focused on Dante. It's why I call it the "Dante trilogy". They're easy to follow because you know who Dante is, you embody him, and understand the characters he talks to. Particularly with the first book, you see his childhood, his initiation, his time as a scout, assault marine, and a sergeant becoming captain; you build such a relationship with him. When it describes things like smells, tastes, or feelings; it's from his perspective. What HE smells, tastes, and feels; right down to the description of removing his armour from a long battle with the Tyranids and how he is covered in days-old sweat. You feel like you're in the armour with him, you see through his eyes and feel what he feels. Dante is a phenomenal book and it's my favourite book/trilogy I've ever read. I read watchers of the throne; same thing. Amazing Duology. You see these two characters (three in the second book) and in audible, they are also narrated by two (three) different people to give them extra personality. I don't think there's a single moment in the two books from a fourth perspective. But when I read dawn of fire, something just doesn't feel right. It's too vast with too many characters. You don't feel like in the first person, you feel like a third person just listening to their thoughts and being told what things smell, taste, or feel like objectively rather than in the subjective through their eyes. You build no relationship with these characters unless they carry over from previous books, and there are FAR too many to juggle. Not only that, but also the seemingly hundreds of named characters they talk to, so it's really hard to keep track of who is who. Some super important characters like custodes, space marines, sisters of silence etc just come out of nowhere and either die in that same novel, you never see again, or carry over in the future which is rare. I can't wait to finish the dawn of fire series so I don't have to fry my brain over the insane amount of characters. I know the HH has a lot, but it just does it BETTER. Horus Heresy is the series Dawn of Fire wishes it was.

[@FoFcraft]

Your gonna love the Grimaldus, Celestial Lions Saga, heartbreaking but makes him even better…

[@raymanx187]

This book had me weeping so many times.

[@wesleyd5315]

Amazing book. I've listened to it four or five times, and now I want to listen to it again.

[@dannyzuko6344]

Great video. I personally enjoy when they show the human side of chaos space marines. Cursed people , who went down a terrible path trying to live with thier choices.

[@TheRemembrancer]

Thanks for the mini shoutout brother 😁