Scan barcode
st_ruben's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The fifth book in the Horus Heresy series starts similar to the previous one; it recounts the events of the first three books from the perspective of a new legion/character. This time it’s the emperor’s children with their troubled, perfectionistic, primarch Fulgrim.
The books takes much longer to really show it’s hands compared to the previous ones. The stage-setting and characters seem almost comically stereotypical and the greater purpose of most is only made clear much later. But, the rollercoaster that follows a somewhat tame first half is worth it from a lore perspective alone.
The theme of the book is “pride”, with all its (im)perfections, glory, and sacrifices. I personally never felt much connection with the hedonic nature of the (post-heresy) Emperor’s Children. Yet, the undiluted suffering and guilt that has been the foundation of much of the choices made in the book gave the entire legion some depth that made me enamoured with (and grief-stricken for) these purple bois.
The books takes much longer to really show it’s hands compared to the previous ones. The stage-setting and characters seem almost comically stereotypical and the greater purpose of most is only made clear much later. But, the rollercoaster that follows a somewhat tame first half is worth it from a lore perspective alone.
The theme of the book is “pride”, with all its (im)perfections, glory, and sacrifices. I personally never felt much connection with the hedonic nature of the (post-heresy) Emperor’s Children. Yet, the undiluted suffering and guilt that has been the foundation of much of the choices made in the book gave the entire legion some depth that made me enamoured with (and grief-stricken for) these purple bois.
caderious's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Daaaaaaaaaaaaarrrkk.
neartaking's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
roycekordem's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this book but boy do the Emperors Children get real fucked.
alinn45's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great novel describing the events of the Horus heresy with Fulgrim being the main character. All in all the degradation of this legion was very interesting.
nosda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
songwind's review against another edition
3.0
In many ways, this one was much the same as its predecessor, but it was also a departure.
This is the first book in the series where you see direct corruption by the powers of Chaos. In the previous books it's much more a background static, and a couple of incidents where Chaos is the antagonist.
I was a bit disappointed that the fall to chaos was not more of Fulgrim's and the Emperor's Children's own volition. External force makes it happen against their will. It's fine, but it's not very interesting.
This is the first book in the series where you see direct corruption by the powers of Chaos. In the previous books it's much more a background static, and a couple of incidents where Chaos is the antagonist.
I was a bit disappointed that the fall to chaos was not more of Fulgrim's and the Emperor's Children's own volition. External force makes it happen against their will. It's fine, but it's not very interesting.
aoc's review against another edition
4.0
As seems to be the practice with Horus Heresy novels we are yet again moving back to an already visited point in time from a different perspective. With Fulgrim we go all the way back to the beginning and step into the shoes of the eponymous Primarch of the Emperor's Children Legion. We see the man before the fall and all the choices that lead to his regret.
Keeping in mind these reviews come from someone familiar with events transpiring in Warhammer 40 000 these novels get to flesh out in greater details, how could you NOT think Fulgrim was bad news? We're talking about about a Primarch who's all about striving for perfection, be it martial, artistic, etc. and molding his entire Legion in both ethos and image. That kind of mentality easily lends itself to arrogance and sense of superiority. Not even the brotherly relationship he has with Ferrus Manus really tempers that as it is an awkward dynamic where one is too blunt to care for subtlety while other considers himself so superior to overlook perceived jabs. These are important things to keep in mind because although Fulgrim the novel covers the cataclysmic fall the Emperor's Children undergo it is more so pivotal in portraying Fulgrim the Primarch. In minor part it also features Ferrus Manus who sadly leaves the events of Horus Heresy early on and as such never receives much characterization. I found it intriguing that he of all the Primarch, one who is very straightforward in both artisan and martial ways, works so well paired with artiste that is Fulgrim, and two of them have some tremendous moments. Sadly they all come too late as events of Isstvan V roll around and Heresy is underway making this galactic tragedy all the greater for it.
Would I recommend Fulgrim? By this point you already know if you're into the series or not, but it is an important novel if you wish to see how Chaos works its way through the cracks of Astartes' armor. Fulgrim also happens to set the stage for greater events as more Primarch are name dropped. I just hope we can finally move past these events we've been revolving around since book one.
Keeping in mind these reviews come from someone familiar with events transpiring in Warhammer 40 000 these novels get to flesh out in greater details, how could you NOT think Fulgrim was bad news? We're talking about about a Primarch who's all about striving for perfection, be it martial, artistic, etc. and molding his entire Legion in both ethos and image. That kind of mentality easily lends itself to arrogance and sense of superiority. Not even the brotherly relationship he has with Ferrus Manus really tempers that as it is an awkward dynamic where one is too blunt to care for subtlety while other considers himself so superior to overlook perceived jabs. These are important things to keep in mind because although Fulgrim the novel covers the cataclysmic fall the Emperor's Children undergo it is more so pivotal in portraying Fulgrim the Primarch. In minor part it also features Ferrus Manus who sadly leaves the events of Horus Heresy early on and as such never receives much characterization. I found it intriguing that he of all the Primarch, one who is very straightforward in both artisan and martial ways, works so well paired with artiste that is Fulgrim, and two of them have some tremendous moments. Sadly they all come too late as events of Isstvan V roll around and Heresy is underway making this galactic tragedy all the greater for it.
Would I recommend Fulgrim? By this point you already know if you're into the series or not, but it is an important novel if you wish to see how Chaos works its way through the cracks of Astartes' armor. Fulgrim also happens to set the stage for greater events as more Primarch are name dropped. I just hope we can finally move past these events we've been revolving around since book one.
andrewreadabook's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
davieid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25