Siege of Vraks: A Death Korps Novel (First Look)

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In the grim dark future of the 41st millennium, there’s not shortage of tragic stories. Yet, even by the blood soaked standards of Warhammer 40K lore, the Death Korps of Krieg stands out in terms of sheer brutality and bleakness. A legion of masked trooperes hailing from an irradiated planet of traitors, they now find themselves waging relentless war across the galaxy in search of glory and redemption.

The Death Korps is also no stranger to the world of Warhammer 40K fiction, with their ranks appearing in several Black Library novels and short stories. Now, these elite warriors are back in action in a new novel entitled Siege of Vraks by author Steve Lyons. Notably, the book will be released in both a standard and special edition print, the latter of which will only be exclusively from Games Workshop in a limited print run.

So just what can you expect to find in this new outing starring the legendary trench raiders? Below we break out all the details.

What is the “Siege of Vraks” Novel About?

The book is really the spiritual successor to the 2022 novel Krieg, written by Steve Lyons, which detailed the inner workings of these Death Korps during the height of the costly Octarius War.

Siege of Vraks – which is also written by Steve Lyons – explores many of the same themes as Krieg, but features different characters and takes place in a different time period. The story follows a Death Korps officer named Tyborc as he wages war across the the corpse-strewn battlefields of Vraks while also wrestling with the self-destructive nature of himself and his regiment.

Notably, the special edition version of the novel includes new front and back artwork and an extra short story entitled Less Than Human along with an afterword, both of which are by Steve Lyons.

What is the Death Korps of Krieg?

The Death Korps of Krieg is the name given to Imperial Guard regiments that hail from the planet Krieg, a so-called “Death World” that is now an irradiated wasteland after a failed rebellion against the Imperium of Man resulted in series of nuclear strikes over 1,500 years ago.

Troopers form Krieg are known for their specialized skills in trench warfare, sieges and near-suicidal assaults upon heavily fortified enemy positions. They are also known for their ability to operate in extreme environments filled with biological, chemical and radioactive hazards. For this reason, Death Korps members are almost always garbed in their distinctive rebreather masks and helmets, which are highly-advanced devices that can filter out radiation and toxic elements.

Notably, regiments from Krieg undergo intensive indoctrination and are told they must repent for their planet’s past treachery against the Emperor. As a result, in combat Death Korps troopers have an almost complete disregard for their own lives, never retreating or surrendering, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

What is the Siege of Vraks?

The Siege of Vraks was a military campaign fought between the Imperium and Chaos forces under the command of the heretical Cardinal-Astra Xaphan. The 17-year siege took place on the planet Vraks Prime, a critical Imperial Armoury World which served as a manufacturing and supply point for vital military equipment.

When the siege began, Adeptus Administratum strategists estimated that it would take 12 years to recapture Vraks and cost several million Imperial Guardsmen (a loss that was considered acceptable given the planet’s strategic importance). It was therefore decided that the Death Korps would be used due to their skill in trench warfare and protracted sieges, as well as their willingness to suffer mass casualties.

At the end of the siege, 14 million Imperial Guardsmen were killed (most of which were from Krieg regiments) and Vraks Prime’s entire original population of 8 million inhabitants was completely wiped out. Despite the victory, the world was declared dead and sealed off from the rest of the Imperium.

In terms of Warhammer 40K lore, the Sieges of Vraks was first documented in Imperial Armour: Vol. 5, an illustrated lore reference guide published back in 2007. That book (and its two follow up volumes) provide more details on the infamous siege and the pivotal role played by the Death Korps of Krieg.

Who is Author Steve Lyons?

Steve Lyons is a UK-based author who is perhaps best known for his work with Games Workshop’s Black Library imprint, having written the Imperial Guard novels Ice World and Dead Men Walking, in addition to a variety of other short stories and novellas. He has also focused on the Death Korps in his 2022 novel Krieg, as well as the short stories The Strong Among Us, Left for Dead and Down Amongst the Dead Men.

In addition to his writing with Games Workshop, Lyons has also written several Doctor Who spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic books. He’s also contributed to program guides for Star Trek, Red Dwarf and Blackadder.

When Will “Siege of Vraks” Be Released?

Games Workshop has not yet confirmed when the book will be released, saying that it only be later in 2024. Given the timing we’ve seen with other recent Black Library novels, this suggests it will likely arrive in the late summer. At that time the book will available from both Games Workshop, Amazon and other online and brick and mortar retailers (although the special edition version will only be available through the GW website). It’s also likely that an eBook and audio book version will be available.

How much is “Siege of Vraks” Retailing for?

The paperback copy of Siege of Vraks will likely retail for $21 USD (although prices may vary depending on where you buy your copy from, and whether it’s online or in person). Notably, a hardcover version will also be available, which should retail for roughly $35 USD.

The special edition version will likely retail for $75 USD (which is a similar price point we’ve seen to other special edition titles, such as the recent Ork novel, Da Big Dakka).

FINAL THOUGHTS

It’s great to see the Death Korps of Krieg back in action, with these under appreciated and often overlooked group of troopers getting the chance to show that they’re more than just masked Imperial cannon fodder.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on Siege of Vraks in the days ahead and will provide a more detailed review closer to launch. In the meantime, you can learn more about the book on the Games Workshop website.

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