Tag Archives: Horus Heresy

QUICK REVIEW: Champion of Oaths – John French

John French’s Horus Heresy short story Champion of Oaths is a characterful little vignette portraying two key moments in the life of Sigismund, who would become First Captain of the Imperial Fists. In the drift camps of the Ionus Plateau, a scared boy stands against a vicious gang of youths preying upon terrified orphans, defending his fellows. In the Temple of Oaths, a warrior faces two hundred of his brothers in a trial of combat, one after the other – should he defeat every one of them, he will be proved worthy to lead his brotherhood as the First of Templars.

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Saturnine – Dan Abnett

Black Library’s Siege of Terra series reaches its halfway point with Saturnine by Dan Abnett, a 500+ page beast of a book in which secrets are revealed, big names start to fall, and the stakes – somehow – get even higher. Having taken Lion’s Gate spaceport, the traitor host marches on the fortifications of the Lion’s Gate itself while simultaneously driving at the Eternity Gate spaceport, stretching the loyalist defenders to breaking point. With battles raging on multiple fronts and resources dwindling, Dorn faces impossible questions of compromise and sacrifice, as he searches for a strategy that might tip the balance in his battle of wills and wits with Perturabo.

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RAPID FIRE: Dan Abnett Talks Saturnine

Welcome to this instalment of Rapid Fire, my ongoing series of quick interviews with authors talking about their new releases. These are short and sweet interviews, with the idea being that each author will answer (more or less) the same questions – by the end of each interview I hope you will have a good idea of what the new book (or audio drama) is about, what inspired it and why you might want to read or listen to it.

For this interview I spoke to legendary Black Library author Dan Abnett about his novel Saturnine, book four in the epic Siege of Terra series which is forming the conclusion to the Horus Heresy. If you’ve been following the Horus Heresy series then you’re going to want to read Saturnine – so read on to find out a little bit more about what you can expect…

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RAPID FIRE: David Guymer Talks Lion El’Jonson Lord of the First

Welcome to this instalment of Rapid Fire, in which I spoke to Black Library author David Guymer about his new novel Lion El’Jonson: Lord of the First, his second contribution to the Horus Heresy Primarchs series. It was available to order in Limited Edition hardback format as part of the 2020 Black Library Celebration, and while the standard edition was delayed for a few months over the summer, it’s now available to order at last. If you’re a Dark Angels fan, or have been looking forward to finding out more about the Lion, this is going to be the book for you.

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RAPID FIRE: Gav Thorpe Talks The First Wall

In this instalment I spoke to veteran Black Library author Gav Thorpe about his new novel The First Wall, the third book in the Siege of Terra series. After its initial release in Limited Edition hardback in November 2019, it’s now available in standard formats, so if you want to find out what happens next in the concluding part of the Horus Heresy, now’s your chance. Here’s Gav to give you a head’s up on what to expect…

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RAPID FIRE: Graham McNeill Talks Sons of the Selenar

In this instalment I spoke to legendary Black Library author Graham McNeill about his new Horus Heresy novella Sons of the Selenar, which is the first novella in the Siege of Terra series that’s concluding the Heresy as a whole. The Limited Edition hardback of this novella has been released and subsequently sold out, but whether you grabbed a copy of that or you’ve been waiting for the standard release, read on to find out more about what you can expect from the latest exploits of the Shattered Legions.

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QUICK REVIEW: Morningstar – Graham McNeill

A companion piece to Magnus the Red: Master of Prospero, Graham McNeill’s 24-minute Horus Heresy audio drama Morningstar is set just before the Siege of Terra, with Magnus and Ahriman venturing into what remains of Tizca. As father and son explore the ruins of the City of Light, Ahriman questions their purpose in returning to the site of such pain, but Magnus – now largely restored – once more plays the role of teacher, and reveals an unexpected secret to his favoured son. The truth of Morningstar offers power to be wielded, but at a great cost to both Magnus and Ahriman.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Revelation of the Word – David Annandale

David Annandale’s 25-minute Horus Heresy audio drama The Revelation of the Word features a great cast of Black Library audio stalwarts and tackles one of the most delicious ironies of the series. During his Shadow Crusade against Guilliman’s 500 Worlds, Lorgar Aurelian’s meditations are disturbed by one of his sons bringing word of a strange discovery. Travelling to its source, Lorgar finds an underground church and a congregation basing their forbidden worship of the Emperor on the Lectitio Divinitatus. Aurelian’s initial rage as his words are turned against him soon gives way to further scorn of his distant father’s followers.

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QUICK REVIEW: Illyrium – Darius Hinks

A quiet, low-key 27-minute Horus Heresy audio drama featuring Barnaby Edwards, Jonathan Keeble, Penelope Rawlins and Andrew Wincott, Darius Hinks’ Illyrium explores the character of Rouboute Guilliman through the memories of his chamberlain, Tarasha Euten. With the Macragge’s Honour under attack, Euten and Ultramarines Sergeant Ammon find themselves cut off and trapped as fires rage all around. While they wait for assistance to reach them, Euten tells Ammon the real story behind one of Guilliman’s early campaigns on Macragge, demonstrating how the reality of Guilliman’s genius differs from the official history books.

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The First Wall – Gav Thorpe

Following on from The Solar War and The Lost and the Damned, Gav Thorpe’s The First Wall tackles the next brutal stage of the Siege of Terra as the traitors push hard against Terra’s defences, both physical and metaphysical. Determined to prove himself to Horus and humble his loyalist brother Dorn, Perturabo tasks the blunt instrument of Warsmith Kroeger with taking the Lion’s Gate spaceport. As the Iron Warriors and Imperial Fists clash in their thousands, Custodian Amon Tauromachian investigates the growing influence of the Lectitio Divinitatus within the Palace, while in distant Afrik proud volunteers of Addaba Hive join the muster, and embark on an epic journey to Himalazia.

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