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ratgrrrl 's review for:
Mortarion: The Pale King
by David Annandale
February 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus V Shadow of the Warmaster I Knives in the Dark (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus/v-shadow-of-the-warmaster-i-knives-in-the-dark) additional material as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.
Well, this was one way to end February and Shadow of the Warmaster I Knives in the Dark...
This seems to be one of the Horus Heresy novels that has divided people the most, so as always, but especially with this one your mileage may vary.
I enjoy Annandale's prose and think this is a well put together book that does what it sets out to do, but what that is and what the expectations of a Primarchs novel are don't seek to be aligned. In some ways the reading of this reminded me of seeing Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in the cinema--impressed by the craft, but interminably bored and not caring about anything. While, The Pale King is nowhere near as boring as TTSS, it's always not as masterfully rendered, so it's swings and roundabouts.
Mortarion does a big, mean Compliance against a world that, much like his brothers, Corax and the Red Angel, is a nightmare dictatorship that enslaves the poor and works them to death, and powerfully reminds the Death Guard Primarch of his own horrifying homeworld and his complex layers of daddy issues. For some unexplained or even gestured at reason, beyond its not right for him, the Emperor it seems is unhappy about that she has sent Horus and the Encarnadine Angel to hear the story and tell him he's been a naughty boy.
I think the two things that make this such a disappointment for me are that it's actually written really well and I enjoy Annandale's perspective, and this is a story and a concept with so much potential that doesn't need a whole lot changed to make it so much better for me.
I just can't get past how much this book didn't make me care or take an interest in Mortarion. I totally get that he is a difficult character to write about because he's obstinately stoic, often quiet, and sometimes vaguely snarly mien is difficult to translate onto the page. It's a genuine problem with him and the Death Guard as a whole, with the only standouts of the Legion either being so wildly off the general personality of the Legion or being moustache-twirling bad guys. It's something that can also be an issue with the Iron Warriors, but time and again McNeill does a brilliant job of making them feel unique and Iron Warriors-y. There's something that's such a blank canvas about the Death Guard that they don't really come to life until ole Papa Nurgle starts painting things green.
I know with the myths and legends vibe of the series it kinda works, or rather it absolutely works when done well, but I couldn't help but feel Mortarion was given the MCU villain treatment--completely reasonable, even laudable intentions and drives, but done in the worst way possible for some reason. I just didn't buy it.
For me, the fundamental issue is the lack of access to Mortarion's mind. We get a bunch, but it's all rather perfunctory, aside from one phenomenal and truly disturbing aside about the nightmare creations of his home world's flesh smiths in coming up with a concept that makes servitors actually seem a pretty cool and chill thing to have and make. I needed more backstory and motivation and more concrete comparison of this world with his home, and so much more of tye emotional connections and difficulties he had with that.
There are some wonderful scenes and an impressive handling of the besieging and destruction of a world, but I need so much more than that from the Horus Heresy and a whole lot more of the deal of the person who the book is specifically about illuminating.
I absolutely don't think it's anywhere near as bad as some people make out and I would give this higher marks if it was a Space Marine Battles/ Conquests title, but I also don't feel like I read the same book as the people who loved this either.
Oh well, the Primarchs series continues to both giveth and taketh
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 12.41 Horus Heresy novels, 5 novellas, 35 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 7 Primarchs novels, 3 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
Well, this was one way to end February and Shadow of the Warmaster I Knives in the Dark...
This seems to be one of the Horus Heresy novels that has divided people the most, so as always, but especially with this one your mileage may vary.
I enjoy Annandale's prose and think this is a well put together book that does what it sets out to do, but what that is and what the expectations of a Primarchs novel are don't seek to be aligned. In some ways the reading of this reminded me of seeing Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in the cinema--impressed by the craft, but interminably bored and not caring about anything. While, The Pale King is nowhere near as boring as TTSS, it's always not as masterfully rendered, so it's swings and roundabouts.
Mortarion does a big, mean Compliance against a world that, much like his brothers, Corax and the Red Angel, is a nightmare dictatorship that enslaves the poor and works them to death, and powerfully reminds the Death Guard Primarch of his own horrifying homeworld and his complex layers of daddy issues. For some unexplained or even gestured at reason, beyond its not right for him, the Emperor it seems is unhappy about that she has sent Horus and the Encarnadine Angel to hear the story and tell him he's been a naughty boy.
I think the two things that make this such a disappointment for me are that it's actually written really well and I enjoy Annandale's perspective, and this is a story and a concept with so much potential that doesn't need a whole lot changed to make it so much better for me.
I just can't get past how much this book didn't make me care or take an interest in Mortarion. I totally get that he is a difficult character to write about because he's obstinately stoic, often quiet, and sometimes vaguely snarly mien is difficult to translate onto the page. It's a genuine problem with him and the Death Guard as a whole, with the only standouts of the Legion either being so wildly off the general personality of the Legion or being moustache-twirling bad guys. It's something that can also be an issue with the Iron Warriors, but time and again McNeill does a brilliant job of making them feel unique and Iron Warriors-y. There's something that's such a blank canvas about the Death Guard that they don't really come to life until ole Papa Nurgle starts painting things green.
I know with the myths and legends vibe of the series it kinda works, or rather it absolutely works when done well, but I couldn't help but feel Mortarion was given the MCU villain treatment--completely reasonable, even laudable intentions and drives, but done in the worst way possible for some reason. I just didn't buy it.
For me, the fundamental issue is the lack of access to Mortarion's mind. We get a bunch, but it's all rather perfunctory, aside from one phenomenal and truly disturbing aside about the nightmare creations of his home world's flesh smiths in coming up with a concept that makes servitors actually seem a pretty cool and chill thing to have and make. I needed more backstory and motivation and more concrete comparison of this world with his home, and so much more of tye emotional connections and difficulties he had with that.
There are some wonderful scenes and an impressive handling of the besieging and destruction of a world, but I need so much more than that from the Horus Heresy and a whole lot more of the deal of the person who the book is specifically about illuminating.
I absolutely don't think it's anywhere near as bad as some people make out and I would give this higher marks if it was a Space Marine Battles/ Conquests title, but I also don't feel like I read the same book as the people who loved this either.
Oh well, the Primarchs series continues to both giveth and taketh
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 12.41 Horus Heresy novels, 5 novellas, 35 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 7 Primarchs novels, 3 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.