Prospero Burns - Dan Abnett - Advanced Review

Prospero Burns: Dan Abnett

A Horus Heresy Novel

"There are no Wolves on Fenris."

The Emperor is enraged. Primarch Magnus the Red of the Thousand Sons Legion has made a terrible mistake that endangers the very safety of Terra. With no other choice, the Emperor charges Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves, with the apprehension of his brother from the Thousand Sons home world of Prospero. This planet of sorcerers will not be easy to overcome, but Russ and his Space Wolves are not easily deterred. With wrath in his heart, Russ is determined to bring Magnus to justice and bring about the fall of Prospero.

~http://www.blacklibrary.com/Horus-Heresy/Prospero-Burns.html

Before we start, I’d just like to point out this is an advanced review of Prospero Burns, don’t expect the copy to be out until Late December, or early January.

Now then, onto the actual Review, and I must say that Dan Abnett’s done fantastically well, delivering loads of background to the characters, fleshing them out and making them well likeable. My favourite character in Prospero Burns is actually Bear, a Space Wolf.

Surprisingly, Prospero Burns focuses more on the human companions than the Space Wolves, who prefer to be called the Vlka Fenrya, which is such a more badass name than the Space Wolves. Like previous Abnett Horus Heresy novels, he doesn’t just make these characters cardboard cut-outs though – remember he was responsible for Karkasy, Soneka and others, including the ‘Saint’, Keeler.

All though these are long gone, Abnett gives us a whole host of new characters to add to an exciting new story that gives a load of information about the Space Wolves, and brings me back to the awesome Vlka Fenrya.

Now, as this book is a tie-in to A Thousand Sons, I should probably give you lot my judgment on which is better. Well, let me tell you this, for all of you who thought Graham McNeill couldn’t be beaten, then you’re wrong. Dead wrong. Prospero Burns gets the top mark from me because, of a few reasons – 1 – I prefer Space Wolves to A Thousand Sons, - 2 – Dan Abnett is better than McNeill, - 3 -, Prospero Burns is a page-turning, plot twisting, epic book of awesomeness and I can give no higher praise to Abnett’s latest road down the Horus Heresy.

The characterization of the Space Wolves is superb, and Abnett really understands what they are and what they do best.

If I have one criticism, it is that Abnett doesn’t focus too much on the Battle of Prospero itself, leaving only a few pages, but I suppose that McNeill already delved into that part heavily.

Also, there are a few parts in this book that you won’t see coming. Sure, the twists are mainly at the end, but Prospero Burns was the first Black Library book in a long time that I’ve read to actually make me put the book down and take a few minutes to realise what had just happened.

You’ll know what it is when you get there, trust me.

Also, the description in this novel is awesome, much better than some BL books that I’ve read. Abnett describes not just the people, but the places. The pacing was fantastic as well, and it all lead up to a big climatic finish. You guessed it, The Space Wolves view of the infamous Battle for Prospero.

 And, on that bombshell, I’m going to have to leave you there. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the review, and trust me on this, the book will be amazing.

Rating: 10/10 – If I could take back the 10/10s for The First Heretic and A Thousand Sons, then I would, as this book is above and beyond both of them, sorry McNeill and A-D-B.

Should you buy this book? Well, isn’t it obvious?

Angels and Demons: Dan Brown [Minor Spoilers]

Angels and Demons: Dan Brown

When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol -- seared into the chest of a murdered physicist -- he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati... the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth.

The Illuminati has surfaced from the shadows to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy... the Catholic Church.

Langdon's worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the Vatican's holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces he has hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City. With the countdown under way, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival.

Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long-forgotten Illuminati lair... a secret location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.

An explosive international thriller, Angels & Demons careens from enlightening epiphanies to dark truths as the battle between science and religion turns to war...

~http://www.danbrown.com/

Hello, and once again I’m here with another review, this time it’s Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown, the very first novel starring the Harvard Symbologist, Robert Langdon.

Langdon comes from a unique background rarely seen in other novels, for example, you’ve all heard of wizards, assassins, aliens and Space Marines, but who’s heard of a symbologist? From Harvard?

Now, you’re thinking, how does Dan Brown tie in a Harvard Symbologist, the reappearance of the Illuminati, and a plot to destroy Vatican City? Well, let me tell you this, he does. And he doesn’t just do it well, he does it very well. Too bad I read the Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol, the next two books on the series before this. However, it still didn’t spoil me of the ending.

Dan Brown is possibly one of the smartest authors out there, and not only is he smart, he knows how to write a page-turning novel.

I found that the pace was very fast, mainly because I was desperate to get to the end to work out what the conclusion was. Would Vatican City get destroyed, or would Langdon and Vetra manage to save the day?

Yes, it was that unpredictable. Sure, I knew that Langdon wasn’t going to die because I’d read The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol, but the other characters, I had no idea. That aside, the twists in this story were excellent, as well as the background. I should point out, that if you lose your bookmark, or page, and lose out on the story, maybe skip a few pages or so, you won’t understand what’s happened, so you’ll have to go back and find where you were.

Despite this, Angels and Demons was an amazing read, and I can’t wait to read Digital Fortress, unfortunately not starring Robert Langdon but, based on what I’ve read, I have high expectations.

But I also had high expectations for The Chapter’s Due.

Also, may I point out, there’s a lot of gory details in this novel, and a bit of romance, but they still all make Angels and Demons interesting – they don’t ruin it.

Rating: 10/10 – I’ve been giving away a lot of 10’s recently, but I feel everything is deserved as normal.

Should you buy this book? You don’t need me to tell you that.

The First Heretic: Aaron Dembski-Bowden [Spoilers]

The First Heretic: Aaron Dembski-Bowden

Amidst the galaxy-wide war of the Great Crusade, the Emperor castigates the Word Bearers for their worship. Distraught at this judgment, Lorgar and his Legion seek another path while devastating world after world, venting their fury and fervor on the battlefield. Their search for a new purpose leads them to the edge of the material universe, where they meet ancient forces far more powerful than they could have imagined. Having set out to illuminate the Imperium, the corruption of Chaos takes hold and their path to damnation begins. Unbeknownst to the Word Bearers, their quest for truth contains the very roots of heresy…

~http://www.blacklibrary.com/Horus-Heresy/First-Heretic-The.html

Having finished The First Heretic around lunchtime, I enjoyed it greatly, and now holds the prize of being my favourite Horus Heresy Novel, outclassing even A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill.

And believe it or not, this is Dembski-Bowden’s first step down the Horus Heresy series and he’s pulled it off brilliantly. In this novel, as many have guessed, the focus is mainly on the XVII Legion, the scions of Lorgar, the Bearers of the Word. Yes, the Word Bearers are back.

Even though I haven’t read Anthony Reynolds’s Word Bearer Trilogy, I was wondering if ADB could still pull it off, and judging by the other reviews that I’ve read – he has.

There are several great moments in this book, and I especially like the fact that we see the discovery of a planet near the Eye of Terror that will prove such an important role in the 41^st Millennium, but is literally nothing in the 31^st. If you’re a fan of 40k then you’ve probably guessed what planet it is already. (Note for Heresy Online Readers: I cross-post this on other websites where people who read it might not always be 40k fans).

Another revelation in this novel is the identity of the first person to utter the words, “Death to the False Emperor.”

The First Heretic was well written, well paced and contained great action towards the end, although seemed to be more political in the beginning. Also, this novel was the first book that felt similar to the earlier novels that focused around the Sons of Horus, so I enjoyed it even more for that.

As well as being focused on the Word Bearers themselves, you also get a hint as to why the Ultramarine Legion might be so huge and a bit of information of the twenty Primarchs creation.

There is also a lot of character development, as the Word Bearers go from over-zealous followers, devout worshippers of the God-Emperor to renegade upholders of the Chaos Gods.

High Point: Returning to the Isstvan system again and learning about the backstory to the Word Bearers, learning about the Primarchs as well.

Low Point: What low point? There is no low point in this novel, a great book and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Rating out of 10: 10/10, Great stuff.



Firedrake: Nick Kyme

Firedrake: Nick Kyme

When Chaplain Elysius of the Salamanders is taken captive by Dark Eldar, he faces a fight for survival at the hands of these cruel aliens. The Firedrakes of 1st Company attempt a daring rescue mission, but much more is at stake than the Chaplain’s life. He holds the key to secrets buried beneath Mount Deathfire, secrets that could reveal the damnation – or salvation – of their home world. The Salamanders must penetrate the Port of Anguish and defeat the xenos threat there if they are to unveil the mysteries within the Tome of Fire. Meanwhile, Dak’ir battles to survive the brutal Librarian training, and in his visions liesan even darker future…

~http://www.blacklibrary.com/Warhammer-40000/Firedrake.html

Okay, here we go, and I’m back with the second instalment in the Tome of Fire Trilogy, appropriately titled Firedrake, and Tsu’gan and Dak’ir are thrown back into the action once again.

As Salamander was one of my favourite Black Library books, I had very high expectations for Firedrake, and I’m pleased to say that I got them. Kyme delivers a breathtaking page-turning novel that will leave you eagerly awaiting the ending, which will conclude in Noctrune, part three of the Trilogy.

I found Firedrake to be a great read, and not only does it bring back old characters from Salamander and also introduces a whole host of new ones, the main newbie, well, only a newbie to the Tome of Fire Trilogy, is Vulkan He’stan, and he’s just as awesome as I imagined him to be, and, not only are the characters written well, they also develop, which helps make this novel a great read.

The pacing is fantastic, not rushed, but still allows room for some great scenes, particularly where Elysius squares off against a Dark Eldar Leader, and you also get a few plot twists to keep this story interesting. Having picked up Firedrake & The First Heretic at the same time, I am glad that I read Firedrake first, as I really enjoyed the novel.

Now, unlike a few other books that I’ve read, Firedrake gives us enough description to let us imagine where the Salamanders are at, how they’re fighting and how they look, and who they’re up against.

In this novel, rather than being Iron Warriors and Orks like it was in Salamander, the enemies are Dark Eldar, and of course the Dragon Warriors, lead by Nilihan (I think that’s how you spell it, I don’t have the book on me at the moment).

Rating out of 10: 10/10, Great book and an awesome read. Fully deserves its title.

Should you buy this book? Well, If you’ve read Salamander then you defiantly should. Trust me on this, you will enjoy it.