Ratings:
[1] - this is shit [2] - this is also shit [3] - this is decent [4] - now we're talking [5] - woah
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Bloodgame: Good shit. I like it. You go Abnett.
The Last Church: Goddamn it Graham McNeill. What a waste of ink.
After Desh'ea: The masterpiece. The jewel of this collection.
Didn't read the rest.
Within the HH, and specifically regarding portraying the traitor primarchs, the nature of Chaos and their conflicting forces, French does an excellent job in this novel. It is not too much and not too little. He also manages to keep three plotlines going in a brilliant way. I do like Maloghurst and the bitterness of the Iron Warriors. The ending of the book is spectacular.
There's a lot to like about this book and I'm inclined to give it a 4, but it's more like a 3,5.
"'This is the beginning of the victory,' said Argonis from behind Volk. 'Even if the view from here does not allow us to see it - victory is coming.'
'Is it? said Volk. 'Is that belief or hope talking?' He turned away. Black smoke was drifting over the trench from lower down the mountain. The stuttering boom of a distant explosion rolled through …
Within the HH, and specifically regarding portraying the traitor primarchs, the nature of Chaos and their conflicting forces, French does an excellent job in this novel. It is not too much and not too little. He also manages to keep three plotlines going in a brilliant way. I do like Maloghurst and the bitterness of the Iron Warriors. The ending of the book is spectacular.
There's a lot to like about this book and I'm inclined to give it a 4, but it's more like a 3,5.
"'This is the beginning of the victory,' said Argonis from behind Volk. 'Even if the view from here does not allow us to see it - victory is coming.'
'Is it? said Volk. 'Is that belief or hope talking?' He turned away. Black smoke was drifting over the trench from lower down the mountain. The stuttering boom of a distant explosion rolled through the air. 'We will obey, brother. The end was only a dream, and what do dreams matter?'"
To my great surprise, Graham McNeill was actually able to write a compelling story. After slogging through the pile of hay that is Fulgrim (and Mechanicum) and now this, I realize that McNeill is an "okay" writer but just fucking sucks at keeping his different shits ogether. And being original. And not being boring. I'm not sure, I think I retract my previous statement --- he still sucks.
That said, this is one of his better books but if you, as I, do not like reading McNeill, just skim the boring ass parts and get the plot points. The book is worth reading and you kinda have to as it contains important parts of the Heresy, so yeah. Make the best of it.
I still give it 3 stars. It's decent.
It had its exciting moments, and I enjoyed the Cawl subplot in particular, but other than that I found the book to be below average compared to other HH books I have read.
Read it if you like Leman, Cawl or general Space Wolf fan. Otherwise, keep on trucking.
A solid 3,5. It's a great book about the defence of Terra and the initial attack. I'm happily surprised at how well John French wrote it and I'll be pleased to read more of his works.
One paragraph in particular stuck out:
"Orn shrugged and looked at his hands, continuing to run them slowly over each other. Myzamadra found her eyes pulled to the movement. In someone as precisely still as Orn, it was like a scream."
Not to mention the badass meeting with Dorn and Alpharius:
"From across the chamber Alpharius met his brother's gaze.
'There are things we should talk of, brother,' said Alpharius.
Dorn's face didn't move.
'Fire,' he said. The huscarls fired."
Worth the read.
Since the earliest days of the Great Crusade, Sanguinius — angelic primarch of the IXth …
It was a little less than decent. A load of text sprinkled with a topping of three or four great scenes. The epilogue is perfect. I miss Horus.
Of all the Legiones Astartes, the White Scars of Jaghatai Khan remain the most enigmatic …
A positively delightful read. I liked the difference in perspective between the beginnings of Torghun and Shiban, and seeing how their relationship evolved through the novel.
Good writing, possibly worth 4 stars, but for now 3 will suffice.
Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time, …
I was at first skeptical, but after a few chapters it really got started and I must admit to this being a piece of excellent writing. I can't help but applaud Vonnegut for writing this novel the way it is written.
So it goes.
Highly recommended, it's part sci-fi, part slice of life, part warstory, but most of all it's about experiencing a perspective.
To reread.
A supremely written novel by Abnett.
The author succeeds at building the tension and the prose is good enough to keep you reading, but in the end I have to consider this mainstream trash from the kiosk.
Can't really recommend it, I'm afraid.
Decent, readable, wouldn't hurt to have more horror elements to it though. A solid 3.
I liked the post script by the author regarding business and medicine. He makes quite a few good points, seeing how things have turned out.
It's a good book, but it could show more of the Word Bearers as well. I like how Guilliman is portrayed.
I'd recommend it for a good read, but you need some knowledge beforehand about the setting.
It is actually a great book and I really do like the characterization of Trazyn and Orikan.
It has several memorable moments and I think it's a great book for anyone interested in necrons or WH40k.
It reads very much like an action movie, and I suppose my own taste is for something more gritty, but that said, it's a good read.
The rating is 3,5.
What started out as a pretty slow start ended in a roaring bang. It finishes the story of Prospero and introduces the Space Wolves in the 30K universe.
I would, however, like to give Mr Abnett a slap over his face for the constant use of "wet leopard growl", not to mention "wet leopard purr". What even is that?
All in all, it's a good read. Probably better on the reread.
Amidst the galaxy-wide war of the Great Crusade, the Emperor castigates the Word Bearers for …
Much better than I first imagined. ADB is talented and there are quite a few juicy scenes in the book, of which the Emperor's descent to Monarchia remains a powerful impression.
"+Kneel+ it whispered with the power of a hammer to the forehead. There was no resisting. Muscles acted instantly, no matter that many hearts fought not to obey. Argel Tal was one of them. This was not fealty, nor worship, nor service. This was slavery, and his instincts rebelled at the enforced devotion even as he obeyed it.
One hundred thousand Word Bearers kneeled in the dust of the perfect city, rendered prone by the Imperial decree.
A Legion was on its knees."
