Audio Review // The Phoenician by Nick Kyme

I'm continuing my adventures into the Horus Heresy collected stories War without End. This time, it seems to be an Emperor's Children and Iron Hand title. Let's see if it is any good.

Title: The Phoenician (The Horus Heresy Short Story)

Author: Nick Kyme

Fluff: On the black sands of Isstvan V, Gabriel Santar is dying. Struck down by his former battle-brother, Julius Kaesoron of the Emperor’s Children, he watches helplessly as his father, Ferrus Manus, is murdered by the thrice-damned traitor Fulgrim. But Santar’s fading sight reveals far more about the supposedly perfect Phoenician primarch than anyone could have guessed – is it too late for this revelation to have any value to the Iron Hands Legion?

Review

Hmmm, what did I just read? I feel this is a filler piece, unfortunately. It covers the infamous duel on Istvaan, which saw Ferrus decapitated and dead on the black sands. This should be a story of epic, brotherly betrayal. The rage and anger of the loyal brother who now faces his fallen brother. A brother who, right till the end, will try to sway the other into joining the betrayal. But it did not happen in this story. It reads too matter-of-fact and doesn't add to the information or details in the Fulgrim novel. Instead, we get a straight forward here's how it happened and what I saw before I died tale. Gabriel Santer, the First Captain of Iron Hands, is a dull character. I didn't care for him or even connect to the story, which is a real shame. Overall, it was a bit of a miss for me. I struggle with the Iron Hands in general, and this story continues that trend.

As always, I appreciate your opinions. What am I missing?