The Successors Anthology by Various Authors.
This Anthology contains the following short stories.
- Exorcists - "The Empty Place" by Graham McNeill
- Soul Drinkers - "The Phalagite Ascendancy" by Ben Counter
- Flesh Tearers - "Disgraced" by Chris Forrester
- Emperor's Spears - "The First Primaris" by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Carcharodons - "The Last Planet" by Edoardo Albert
- Mortifactors - "Legacy of Posul" by Chris Forrester
- Wolfspear - "The Wolves of Raukos" by Guy Haley
- Angels Penitent - "The Sins of My Brothers" by Peter Fehervari
- Crimson Fists - "Patience Kills" by Gary Kloster
- Black Dragons - "Bless This Curse" by Callum Davis
- Consecrators - "Living Relics" by David Guymer
- Iron Lords - "Iron Watch" by Callum Davis
- Emperor's Spears - "Son of the Storm World" by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
The galaxy is thick with the legacy of the Legions. From the ashes of the Horus Heresy rose not just the First Founding Chapters, but thousands of successors — each shaped by the gene‑seed of their Primarch, yet forged into something distinct by the worlds they defend and the wars they endure. The Successors anthology brings that diversity to the forefront, gathering a wide range of short stories that explore the character, culture, and battlefield temperament of these scattered sons of the Imperium. From the blood‑soaked fury of the Flesh Tearers to the relic‑hungry Consecrators, the void‑haunting Carcharodons, and the stoic Crimson Fists, the collection showcases just how varied the Emperor’s Angels of Death can be.
Among the many voices in The Successors, a few stood out sharply for me. The Empty Place delivers a brilliantly unsettling look at the Exorcists, using possession, ritual, and sheer spiritual defiance to show why this Chapter is unlike any other. The First Primaris offers a more introspective counterpoint — a story about identity, legacy, and what it means to be the first of a new breed within a dying Chapter. And while not one of the headline pieces, The Last Planet earns a special mention for its Carcharodons flavour: brutal, nomadic, and steeped in the predatory culture that defines them. Together, these stories capture the sheer variety of the Imperium’s scattered sons, each shaped by their own scars, rituals, and histories.
As a whole, the anthology holds together remarkably well. The stories complement each other, offering a wide enough variation in tone and focus that there’s something here to catch anyone’s eye. One of its real strengths is the balance between Firstborn and Primaris perspectives — not just in battlefield roles, but in how the existing Chapters react to their new brothers. Some embrace them, some distrust them, and some, like the more individualistic Space Wolves, meet them with a mix of curiosity and scepticism. That variety gives the collection a sense of breadth without losing cohesion.
I found it consistently entertaining, and the format makes it easy to dip in and out. It’s also available as an audiobook, which is ideal for anyone too busy to sit down with the physical copy, with story lengths ranging from quick ten‑minute bursts to longer, hour‑plus explorations. A strong, varied anthology that showcases just how diverse the Emperor’s scattered sons can be.
A varied, engaging collection that celebrates the Imperium’s many sons — well worth your time.
- Until The Next hunt -
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