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A review by ratgrrrl
Vulkan: Lord of Drakes by David Annandale
2.0
March 2024Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus VII Anvil of War (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus/vii-anvil-of-war) additional material as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.
Well, I'm glad that's over!
I have very little to say beyond this being offensively inoffensive and I would still have been bored and only given this middling marks if this was a Space Marine Battles book (which it 99% is), so for the Horus Heresy and being a closer look at Vulkan and the Salamanders? Unacceptable.
I usually don't go lower than 3/5 for books that aren't seriously flawed or problematic, which this isn't, beyond the flaw of being an incredibly boring, soupy mess that could be any Space Marines who's Legion got down to very low numbers in the early days if the Great Crusade or before. So...pretty much any of them!
My brain simply glazed over with nothing of interest to latch on to, which is ridiculous because the actual events of the story and the beats of the narrative could be used to incredible effect!
Also, seriously. Black Library. You've had multiple audiobooks now where everyone or nearly everyone, including the narrator have a vaguely African accent because the Salamanders and black, literally, black, and not necessarily Black (it's a whole thing and I'm absolutely not interested in gatekeeping or canon or whatever. If anyone gets anything out of reading them as Black I fully support that), but you have white guys doing vaguely African accents for entire books...just hire a Black person to do the narration, maybe even someone with more knowledge of African accents. I get that the 'debate' about accents in audiobooks is a thing--my take, if a white person is narrating and they can't do a flawless and respectful accent, just don't do one, and, better yet, don't do accents and hire a diverse array of narrators who can do the job!--but if it's a while book...in an accent...that's an open and shut case of hire someone appropriate for the job and don't have a white English guy doing vaguely African accent for so many books and stories!
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 13.41 Horus Heresy novels, 7 novellas, 37 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 8 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, I'm glad that's over!
I have very little to say beyond this being offensively inoffensive and I would still have been bored and only given this middling marks if this was a Space Marine Battles book (which it 99% is), so for the Horus Heresy and being a closer look at Vulkan and the Salamanders? Unacceptable.
I usually don't go lower than 3/5 for books that aren't seriously flawed or problematic, which this isn't, beyond the flaw of being an incredibly boring, soupy mess that could be any Space Marines who's Legion got down to very low numbers in the early days if the Great Crusade or before. So...pretty much any of them!
My brain simply glazed over with nothing of interest to latch on to, which is ridiculous because the actual events of the story and the beats of the narrative could be used to incredible effect!
Also, seriously. Black Library. You've had multiple audiobooks now where everyone or nearly everyone, including the narrator have a vaguely African accent because the Salamanders and black, literally, black, and not necessarily Black (it's a whole thing and I'm absolutely not interested in gatekeeping or canon or whatever. If anyone gets anything out of reading them as Black I fully support that), but you have white guys doing vaguely African accents for entire books...just hire a Black person to do the narration, maybe even someone with more knowledge of African accents. I get that the 'debate' about accents in audiobooks is a thing--my take, if a white person is narrating and they can't do a flawless and respectful accent, just don't do one, and, better yet, don't do accents and hire a diverse array of narrators who can do the job!--but if it's a while book...in an accent...that's an open and shut case of hire someone appropriate for the job and don't have a white English guy doing vaguely African accent for so many books and stories!
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 13.41 Horus Heresy novels, 7 novellas, 37 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 8 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.