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?

Garro: Oath of Moment by James Swallow. Read by Toby Longworth

Garro: Oath of Moment : James Swallow / Toby Longworth

“My name is Nathaniel Garro, and I am a Legion of One.”

In surviving the horrors on board the Eisenstein, Nathaniel Garro proved his courage and absolute loyalty to the Emperor. On his return to Terra, Garro is dispatched on a mission of even greater importance – a mission given to him by Malcador the Sigillite himself. He soon finds himself back amongst the stars and on the fields of battle, thrust into a warzone where the Ultramarines are purported to be battling a greenskin invasion. Once again Garro must fight for survival, but now he also fights to achieve a higher purpose...

~http://www.blacklibrary.com/Horus-Heresy/Garro-Oath-of-Moment.html

Now then, where to start? I guess; as this is an audiobook, I will be doing a few things differently to a novel review, just to let you know. This is the second audiobook that I’ve ever brought, the first being Throne of Lies and I can say that I found it interesting, very interesting, particularly since it focuses on Nathaniel Garro, whom many of you will remember from Swallow’s non-audiobook, also a Horus Heresy novel, called The Flight of the Eisenstein.

Although Oath of Moment seemed short compared to standard Black Library novels, being 70 minutes in length, it was a nice listen.

Oath of Moment is a fast-paced, action packed listen, and although it had a weak plot (come on, it’s basically Garro searching for somebody to help Malcador), it does feature the Battle of Calth, which was touched on in The First Heretic, and is of course the Battle between the Word Bearers and the Ultramarine loyalists.

However, there are a few bad things about this audiobook; an error that I noticed is the first one. It’s an error that not many new 40k fans will notice really, but it’s something the die-hard fluff followers will be annoyed about. Swallow mentioned Adeptus Astartes instead of Legio Astartes, which was what they were called during the Heresy. However, maybe I’m just nitpicking – after all, it’s something that I missed out on during the bit on the Black Library Website.

Another disappointing thing in this audiobook is that the scene changes & flashbacks are hard to spot, as one second I was with Garro and the Ultramarines, and the next I found myself with Garro and Malcador the Sigillite. 

Oh, and saying Malcador’s name reminds me of a key thing that happens in this audiobook that sheds some light on one the Imperium’s past (past from present 40k, not past from Horus Heresy).

Now, you’ll probably be wondering by now what the sound effects are and whether the voice acting is any good or not – well, let me tell you, it’s a lot better than the extract from Horus Rising: Abridged Audio, and the A Thousand Sons: Abridged Audio extract. Garro, and Olan, the lieutenant of the Ultramarines PDF at the start has been done very well. Toby Longworth, who is the reader, manages to make each person’s voice fit their description.

Also, if you haven’t read The Flight of the Eisenstein, Swallow explains a rough outline of what happens in this audiobook, but I would still recommend you get the novel first.

Oh yes, a disappointing part is that we don’t find out what happens to the Rembrancers (not sure if this is spelt right or not, could someone please check for me?) and the other Marines, including Iacton Qruze, who joined Garro on the Eisenstein, and I found this annoying as I wanted to know what happened to the people who accompanied him.   

And on that bombshell, I will leave you with two final bits, ones that you'll all be familiar with if you've read my reviews in the past.

Rating: 7/10

Should you buy this book? Well, if you’re a fan of Garro or the audio Horus Heresy books , or simply want to hear Ultramarines getting cut down by Word Bearers, or see Word Bearers in action – then this is for you.

Mechanicum: Graham McNeill

Mechanicum: Graham Mcneill

IN THE 31ST Millennium, as the flames of treachery spread outwards across the Imperium, Horus mobilises those forces who are loyal to him, and plots to subvert those who stand against him. A Battle is being fought for the heart and soul of the Imperial forces, the Astartes, the Imperial Army, the Titan Legions and more. In this epic tale, author Graham McNeill tells the story of the civil war on Mars, and the genesis of the Dark Mechanicum.

Mechanicum is the last book I’m yet to read on the Horus Heresy, featuring the mysterious occupants of Mars rather than the Astartes legions such as the Sons of Horus that we’re used to.

Like Legion, Mechanicum is a standalone in the Horus Heresy, so you don’t have to read the whole series beforehand. (8 books before this)

Nonetheless, this is another good entry to the Horus Heresy series, starting with the arrival of the Emperor on Mars with his golden legions and takes us on a ride through civil war, friendship and believe it or not, there’s also romance between two characters.

The hero of Graham McNeill’s novel is a woman named Dalia Cythera, a transcriber, servant of the Mechanicum, arriving on Mars from Terra. Shortly after, we’re introduced to the characters, civil war breaks out as the Warmaster Horus betrays the Emperor and the origins of the Dark Mechanicum is revealed, and we also get some Imperial Fist action towards the end, as well as some Titan vs Titan battles.

If you’re confused about the timeline when Mechanicum is set, it takes place immediately after the events of Isstvan III, (See Galaxy in Flames, Flight of the Eisenstein, Fulgrim), and the Furious Abyss, the ship that appears in Battle for the Abyss, is still being constructed. So overall, it doesn’t move the series along, only drags it out.

High Point: The Battle between Cavelerio’s Warlord Titan and an Imperator. Epicness.

Low Point: Not seeing enough of the Imperial Fists

Rating: 6/10

Should you buy this book? If you’re looking for some Titan vs Titan action and the back-story of the Mechanicum, then feel free.

Legion: Dan Abnett *Spoilers*

I'm baaacckk, with two reviews for Legion and Mechancium. Legion's First.

Legion: Dan Abnett

A GREAT WAR is coming, and it will engulf the Imperium of Man. The Space Marines of the Alpha Legion, last and most secretive of all Astartes brotherhoods, arrive on an heaven world to support the Imperial Army in a pacification campaign against strange and uncanny forces. But what drives the Alpha Legion? Can they be trusted and what side will they choose when the Great War begins? Loyalties are put to the test and the cunning schemes of an alien intelligence revealed in this latest instalment of the ground-breaking SF series as the fate of mankind hangs in the balance.

Okay, so I’m reviewing Legion by Dan Abnett, author of the Gaunt’s Ghosts this time. It’s the first Horus Heresy Novel I’ve read in ages, so I found it once again confusing at the start, but once again, the Dramatis Personae helped with that.

In this Horus Heresy novel, we follow Peto Soneka, a hetman of the ‘Dancers’, a group of Imperial Army soldiers of the 670th Imperial expedition fleet, as they attempt to liberate Nurth, two years before the Heresy begins.

Legion also features a lot of plot twists, as one could guess from the subheading, called Secrets and Lies. This novel also features a twist towards the end which I didn’t see coming myself. (Very rare, I know).

And, this novel also stars the Alpha Legion, one of the few legions I’ve never read anything about (fluff wise), before. And this also features a Cabal Agent John Grammaticus, who can steal identities of the dead.

High Point: (Spoiler Alert!) The Twist at the end where Soneka fools the Cabal agent.

Low Point: The name “John” used by Grammaticus. It doesn’t feel very, 40kish. If you get what I mean.

Rating: 7/10

Should you buy this Book?: Yes, especially if you like the Alpha Legion. The best part is, Legion is a standalone in the Horus Heresy series, so you can start with it if you wish.