Flesh and Steel

Warhammer Crime: Warhammer 40,000

Preview

Failed to add items

Sorry, we are unable to add the item because your shopping cart is already at capacity.

Add to basket failed.

Please try again later

Add to Wish List failed.

Please try again later

Remove from Wish List failed.

Please try again later

Follow podcast failed

Unfollow podcast failed

Try Premium Plus free

1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.

Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.

Member-only deals & discounts.

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Flesh and Steel

By: Guy Hayley

Narrated by: James Macnaughton

Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $36.99

About this listen

A Warhammer Crime audio.

Murder in the neutral zone between Imperial and Adeptus Mechanicus territory sets Probator Symeon Noctis on a dangerous investigation.

Listen to it because: discover tensions between Imperial servants on Varangantua as an extremely odd pair of detectives seeks to solve a murder.

The story: born into riches, Probator Symeon Noctis attempts to atone for his past sins by championing the powerless of Nearsteel district. But the sprawling city of Varangantua is uncaring of its masses, and when a bisected corpse is discovered in the neutral zone between Nearsteel and the Adeptus Mechanicus enclave of Steelmound, Noctis finds himself cast into his most dangerous case yet.

Partnering with the tech-priest Rho-1 Lux of the Collegiate Extremis, Noctis is drawn into a murky world of tech-heresy, illegal servitors and exploitation that could end his career or his life.

Written by Guy Haley. Narrated by James Mcnaughton.

Crime

Fantasy

Fiction

Science Fiction

Most relevant

The book is... curious.
As a detective story it fails on almost every aspect. There are little tension, little clues gathering or mystery. The investigation feels rushed and abrupt.
However, Guy Haley is still Guy Haley. The main characters - Noctis and Lux (not very subtle) both are complex and interesting. Noctis in particular is a restless soul: tortured by guilt and regrets, but longing for justice, redemption and desire to make things right. It may sound like a cliche that we had seen hundreds of times but it works. You almost instantly like him. The only complaint I have is that he is too similar to another Guy Haley’s character: Honoured Lieutenant Bannick from Baneblade/Shadowsword novels. Disgraced scion of a noble house, driven by guilt and seeking for redemption. However, unlike Bannick, Noctis has more grit, personal charisma and determination. And to be frank, Noctis’ backstory is much more tragic and can give you a punch in the guts. The second main character - Lux is a bit of a mystery. You only know a few things about her history, but as the story progresses she is shown as compassionate as Mechanicus could be. The dynamic between her and Noctis is a bit awkward but also cute and sweet with a lot of hints for further development.
Those two are what make this story work. You want to know what will happen with them. I was supposed to ran 6km, instead I ran 12km because I didn’t want to stop listening the book. Once you started you are on the hook.
Not everything is fun and sun though. First, Haley overuses phrases “he said/she said/I said”. It can be really really irritating when you constantly hear it over and over and over again: “I said, then he said, then she said, then I said, then they said, then I said again, and said, and said, and said”. The second biggest drawback: lack of proper detective story. Everything just... happens. Not through clever investigation or wit and mind games, but through luck and other characters who suddenly appear to spill the bins for our detectives. Deus Ex Machina in its worst.
Third thing and it is really subjective but Haley used that trick so many times in his previous books that I really sick of it already. The plot-lines that are obvious and shameless sequel baits! From Noctis and Lux backstories to stupid subplot about the officials going through Noctis personal journal.
I’ve never regretted buying this book, but the strong feeling of irritation won’t let me until I finally get my grabby hands on the second book and find out what will happen next. And in my book (no pun intended) it worths something.
The performance is superb. The narrator kinda sounds tired and depressed capturing the mood and the atmosphere. Great job!
Overall, I quite enjoyed it but if Guy Haley won’t release the second part soon I will be reeealy really mad.