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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
This was a very good novel. McNeill picks up right where Dan Abnett left off in Horus Rising, and the move from one book to the other is seamless. In a way, you can't tell where one book begins and the other ends if you go by the very good prose in these two novels. I can only hope that as I continue to read the series, which I will, that the feel of consistent quality storytelling and ambiance will be there. So far, so good.
The plot thickens in this novel. Revelations are made, and it seems not all is as it seems. I am fascinated by this series taking place so long before the "regular" events in Warhammer 40,000. I have said before that I often do not like books where you know how things will end beforehand. And in this series, that is the case. You know, if you have read any of the other books in the WH40K universe, how things will end for the most part: the Emperor as a corpse deity, the battle between the forces of the Imperium, the xenos, and other forces of Chaos raging on. And yet, the Horus Heresy series draws you right in. You really want to find out how things happen. What discoveries are made. Why things are the way they are. I think as a reader you get a sense of wonder as you see Horus, the Primarchs, the Astartes as well as other Imperial forces coming face to face for the first time with Chaos. Again, not all is as it seems.
In this novel, Horus is wounded. His men, some of them, rush to try to find a cure in the world of Davin where some mystics (so to speak. You could call them sorcerers, etc.) may or not have a remedy. And if he survives, Horus will be sorely tempted. Will he fall for that great temptation? He learns new things along the way that may tilt the balance of the Great Crusade. And what exactly are Erebus's motivations and machinations? There is a lot of intrigue in this book as well as a lot of action. McNeill chooses to focus much of the novel on the point of view of Captain Loken, and I think this makes a good choice. Loken, though an experienced warrior, does play the part of the new guy, and that view serves us readers well to appreciate the upcoming conflicts, when Astartes will have to decide if they will fight their brothers or not.
But I will not say more. If you are fan of WH40K, you need to be reading this series. If you like military science fiction in general, give this series a try. I know I will be looking for the next volume in the series.
The plot thickens in this novel. Revelations are made, and it seems not all is as it seems. I am fascinated by this series taking place so long before the "regular" events in Warhammer 40,000. I have said before that I often do not like books where you know how things will end beforehand. And in this series, that is the case. You know, if you have read any of the other books in the WH40K universe, how things will end for the most part: the Emperor as a corpse deity, the battle between the forces of the Imperium, the xenos, and other forces of Chaos raging on. And yet, the Horus Heresy series draws you right in. You really want to find out how things happen. What discoveries are made. Why things are the way they are. I think as a reader you get a sense of wonder as you see Horus, the Primarchs, the Astartes as well as other Imperial forces coming face to face for the first time with Chaos. Again, not all is as it seems.
In this novel, Horus is wounded. His men, some of them, rush to try to find a cure in the world of Davin where some mystics (so to speak. You could call them sorcerers, etc.) may or not have a remedy. And if he survives, Horus will be sorely tempted. Will he fall for that great temptation? He learns new things along the way that may tilt the balance of the Great Crusade. And what exactly are Erebus's motivations and machinations? There is a lot of intrigue in this book as well as a lot of action. McNeill chooses to focus much of the novel on the point of view of Captain Loken, and I think this makes a good choice. Loken, though an experienced warrior, does play the part of the new guy, and that view serves us readers well to appreciate the upcoming conflicts, when Astartes will have to decide if they will fight their brothers or not.
But I will not say more. If you are fan of WH40K, you need to be reading this series. If you like military science fiction in general, give this series a try. I know I will be looking for the next volume in the series.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Doesn't drop the ball, doesn't markedly improve the series. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/selling-out-to-chaos-in-three-easy-stages/
I am new to the whole Warhammer thing. The first one in this series was my first dive into this. I knew some of the basic lore that I'd picked up here and there, but knowing nothing of the Horus Heresy or that Chaos was not always known by the space marines. Apparently, this series is that story.
This review doesn't have spoilers, but it does assume you read Horus Rising. After the events of that book, our characters arrive at the planet Davin to squash a rebellion currently taking place. The results of this are dire and we begin to see members of the last book tested not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. If you've been itching to learn more about the history preceding the Great Crusade then look no further. We also get our first introduction to some of the true villains of the story overall, though you'll have to read it to find out who. False Gods continues a phenomenal opening trilogy for the Horus Heresy and should be on everyone's "must read" list (alongside Horus Rising and the third installment, Galaxy in Flames).
This was an utter disaster of a book.
Characters: 1.5/5 i thought they were just okay, and borderline bad
World: 2/5 okay
Story: 1/5 I disliked it
Characters:
The characters were shallow and meaningless. For example the first character you meet is some meaningless remembrancer that only serves as a bad window into Horus' thoughts.
The character development is shallow, and tells not shows. This whole thing is really supposed to be about Horus, but the character is very badly done. He is supposed to be great and awesome, but you only sense that through other peoples' reactions to him. He is supposed to be descending into madness, but you only get a sense of that through blips of text from his mouth, where he says "yeah, I should be in charge of everything lmao."
The character development of the main character from the last book seems to drop off a cliff. Last book he was questioning the system, and really changing, but this time it is just another drummed up 'save everything, expose evil' quest that has little change.
Other characters' "development" is similarly lackluster. For example, the aforementioned remembrancer lady is supposed to become less hopeful and very despondent and disillusioned with her heroes. However, the only way that that is portrayed in the book is in a scene where she's drinking a lot and complaining about how disillusioned she is to other people.
World:
This book is mostly about the characters
Story:
the story is very annoying to read. The author uses many references to evil happenings to show the reader very explicitly that bad things are going to happen. That is telling, not showing. During the entirety of the book, it is very unclear what the extent of the bad stuff is and why the heck it is happening in the first place, beyond “mysterious evil”. This leads to an unenjoyable read where we spend more time wondering what the heck is going on and why rather than enjoying and immersing ourselves in the story.
Overall the entire story suffers from a lack of purpose and the tell don't show problem.
Characters: 1.5/5 i thought they were just okay, and borderline bad
World: 2/5 okay
Story: 1/5 I disliked it
Characters:
The characters were shallow and meaningless. For example the first character you meet is some meaningless remembrancer that only serves as a bad window into Horus' thoughts.
The character development is shallow, and tells not shows. This whole thing is really supposed to be about Horus, but the character is very badly done. He is supposed to be great and awesome, but you only sense that through other peoples' reactions to him. He is supposed to be descending into madness, but you only get a sense of that through blips of text from his mouth, where he says "yeah, I should be in charge of everything lmao."
The character development of the main character from the last book seems to drop off a cliff. Last book he was questioning the system, and really changing, but this time it is just another drummed up 'save everything, expose evil' quest that has little change.
Other characters' "development" is similarly lackluster. For example, the aforementioned remembrancer lady is supposed to become less hopeful and very despondent and disillusioned with her heroes. However, the only way that that is portrayed in the book is in a scene where she's drinking a lot and complaining about how disillusioned she is to other people.
World:
This book is mostly about the characters
Story:
the story is very annoying to read. The author uses many references to evil happenings to show the reader very explicitly that bad things are going to happen. That is telling, not showing. During the entirety of the book, it is very unclear what the extent of the bad stuff is and why the heck it is happening in the first place, beyond “mysterious evil”. This leads to an unenjoyable read where we spend more time wondering what the heck is going on and why rather than enjoying and immersing ourselves in the story.
Overall the entire story suffers from a lack of purpose and the tell don't show problem.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes