Reviews

Master of the First by Gav Thorpe

zare_i's review

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4.0

While Alpha Legion is always linked to subterfuge and undercover actions I think there is no Legion more adept at treachery and under-handiness than Dark Angels.

And this short story depicts exactly that - wheels turning within wheels and complete inability to trust anyone to be what they seem to be. I don't know if it is just me but Dark Angels seem to be tight-lipped and generally closed up formation very similar to Custodes. Which again makes sense since they served with Custodes from the very start.

I wont go into details here but this short story provides some interesting insights into the Dark Angels and what exactly was going on on Caliban during the Lion's absence.

Only negative thing here is that the story was way too short. I cannot wait for more books on Dark Angels.

ratgrrrl's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

Caliban continues to Rock and roll with distrust and machinations.

A group, largely consisting of Terran Dark Angels, are growing increasingly dissatisfied with their posting on the Lion's homeworld and even more so with Luther's moving away from the Imperium's message and values, reverting to the secret Knightly ways of the Order. Battle brothers of the I Legion comes to blows as political intrigue boils and a coup ferments.

My interest in the Dangles vacillates, but the way this was written and performed grabbed my attention. It's been a while since I read the books, so this was my first glimpse of Luther and Caliban since the Legion divided, which was nice, especially as the last time I was going thorough the series I was getting a bit frustrated at all the posturing and not much seeming to actually be going on during the Thramas Crusade between the Lion and Nighthaunter.

While things do happen in this and it's rather interesting, it does suffer from the same thing that so much Dark Angels Horus Heresy tales, the one step forward, two steps back, some progress and resettinf to a previous state or new norm that isn't that different.

The Dark Angels, especially because of how much we do and don't know from Warhammer 40K, storyline continues to be a positively galactic level of edging.

Regardless, this definitely held my attention. 

trackofwords's review

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4.0

While the Horus Heresy series has been rolling on quite contentedly, reaching 31 books and countless other stories, it's been a while since we've heard much from Caliban and those members of the Dark Angels sent home by their primarch, Lion El'Johnson. What has been happening back on the home world while the rest of the galaxy falls apart, and the Lion has been out chasing Konrad Kurze? Fear not, Gav Thorpe is on hand with a new audio drama, Master of the First, to shed a little light on the situation. This is a 35-minute audio drama available as a standalone MP3 download prior to a future release in a combined package with The Long Night by Aaron Dembski-Bowden.

Read the rest of the review at http://trackofwords.wordpress.com/2014/11/13/master-of-the-first-gav-thorpe-audio-drama/
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