A short story examining one of the core aspects of the Blood Angels’ character in Warhammer 40,000, Guy Haley’s Redeemer sees High Chaplain Astorath the Grim on a mission to find a brother lost to the Black Rage, and end his suffering. Following a call that only he can hear, Astorath seeks out his lost brother on a world plagued by strange xenos creatures, where he finds the surviving Blood Angels, Primaris Marines who appear unaffected by the flaw yet troubled by what they’ve seen. Astorath’s duty is an onerous one, to preserve his Chapter’s secrets and save his brothers’ souls.
While nothing like as in-depth as his novels, this continues Haley’s excellent work with the Blood Angels, and starts to explore the implications of the Dark Imperium – the Great Rift, Primaris Marines, and so on – upon the Chapter. It’s quite low key, showing Astorath at rest as well as in action, and offers an unusual angle on the High Chaplain’s processes. The search for the fallen Blood Angel is interesting in its own right, but it serves as the backdrop for a fresh, engaging look at the burden which underpins this particular Chapter and what it means in the current timeline. It’s a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come, and a satisfying story in its own right.
I loved this one