Ashes of the Imperium cover art

Ashes of the Imperium

The Horus Heresy: The Scouring, Book 1

Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Ashes of the Imperium

By: Chris Wraight
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £17.56

Buy Now for £17.56

About this listen

Audiobook 1 in the Scouring Series

As the Siege of Terra ends, there are many loose ends – Traitors trying desperately to escape, a monumental vacuum of power to fill, and a crumbling galactic government to see to. Those who hold on to power must decide how to wield it, and a new structure must be put in place, all while desires to exact vengeance run high.

LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE
It's the beginning of an epic series. Find out what happens after the cataclysmic events of the Horus Heresy, as an unsteady Imperium must find its footing and learn how to exist without the guidance of the Emperor.

THE STORY
Horus is dead. Terra lies in ruins. The Emperor is silent. Amid the rubble of the Palace, shell-shocked survivors emerge into the light of an uncertain dawn. New powers are present now, ones that have travelled the length of the galaxy to bring salvation to the Imperium, though they are as readily cast as usurpers as redeemers. The survivors of the Traitors’ Grand Armada, now scattered and desperate to escape vengeance, are riven with doubt and dissension, and their gods too are silent. Amid all the grief and confusion, some hopeful souls believe the war to be over and an era of renewal just ahead. But wiser heads know that this war can never end, and that the only question remaining is who shall rise to power within the perilous new age, and who shall fall.

Written by Chris Wraight. Narrated by Jonathan Keeble. Runtime 15 hours and 28 minutes approx.

©2025 Games Workshop Limited (P)2025 Games Workshop Limited
Science Fiction Space Opera War Siege
All stars
Most relevant
A truly amazing start to the Scouring series and one of the best Horus Heresy novels, Ashes of the Imperium delivers on all fronts. From the deep melancholy and outright nihilism born from mourning what was lost, to the court intrigue and political drama, to the grand historic shifts in the Imperium's power structure and the rivalry between Dorn and Guilliman, this book was an early Christmas present I didn't know I needed. Bring on the next!

A new chapter opens in grand style

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Loved it. My on criticism is a few of the character accents were a bit mental but in a book of so many characters that’s to be expected. Loved the Primarch characterisations and after the huge hyperbole of The End and the Death it was quite nice to have something more grounded.

Brilliant book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

At the slight disappointment of the Era Of Ruin, this first book inna new series really ramps everything up. Mistrust, suspicions and paranoia. When supposed allies have little in common and potential enimes everywhere this new era of the Imperium is on a knife edge.
Great narration by Mr Keeble as always.....well worth a credit.

Fantastic first novel in a new series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I quite enjoyed the whole story, branching into many separate directions, yet still very coherent. I cant wait for more.

Great start to the new series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

A strong detailed account of what happens after the End and the Death, and sets up The Scouring brilliantly! Good Ultra Marines, Fists, Word Bearer, Sons of Horus and Iron Warriors content. Great political content too. Thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next one.

Great account of post-Siege Terra

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews