Galaxy in Flames by Ben Counter

Begun in Dan Abnett’s Horus Rising, and continued in Graham McNeill’s False Gods, the Horus Heresy’s opening trilogy comes to a conclusion in Galaxy in Flames, by Ben Counter. This trilogy is the beginning of the Horus Heresy series, a saga of the epic civil war that created the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Galaxy in Flames wraps up the trilogy following Garviel Loken, captain in the Sons of Horus legion, and space marine, future fighter for the Imperium of Man. His legion is led by the Warmaster Horus, who has, over the first couple novels, begun his path from favored son of the Emperor to traitor. In Counter’s first contribution to the series, Horus attacks the rebelling world of Isstvan III, but it is all a set up. Horus uses bombs of horrible effectiveness to destroy life on Isstvan III, including thousands upon thousands of space marines. In a huge move, Horus tries to eradicate those warriors who would remain loyal to the Emperor during his great betrayal. After a warning gets out, a few soldiers, including Loken, begin an impossible battle against Horus’ overwhelming forces, knowing that they can’t win, but wanting to do some damage and avenge their fallen brothers.

Counter does a wonderful job of wrapping up the initial set that tells of Horus’ fall from grace and eventual heresy, as he turns his face from the Emperor and embraces the gods of Chaos. This novel ties up everything from the first two books, with many of the characters finally having their face-to-face confrontations, and many major players, both heroic and villainous, perish. While the book does a great job of ending the story begun in Horus Rising, it at the same time sets up the next novel, Flight of the Eisenstein by James Swallow, very well. I look forward to the continuation of this wonderful series, as well as my new copy of Grey Knights, written by Ben Counter just like this novel.

8/10

False Gods by Graham McNeill

Dan Abnett's Horus Rising (review) began the saga of the fall of Horus, the greatest hero of the Imperium, in The Horus Heresy, the prequel series to Black Library's famous shared universe saga Warhammer 40,000, based on the Games Workshop game of the same name.  Abnett's novel was my introduction to the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and also my favorite entry into the world thus far.  It was with great excitement, and very high hopes, that I began False Gods, the second installment of The Horus Heresy.

After the events of Horus Rising, the Sons of Horus (formerly the Luna Wolves) head to Davin, where a traitor to the Empire of Mankind has set up shop.  Flowing along with the dark, almost demonic hints of magic in the undertone from the first novel, there are whispers of darker possibilities, and the rest of the novel reflects that, giving a far darker, bloodier, more violent tale.  We still follow Loken, as well as other members of his Legion, as they fight to bring together all mankind, and destroy those that don't want to take part.  After Horus is mortally wounded, the Legion starts to take sides, those that want to uphold the ideas of the Great Crusade being undertaken, and those that will do anything to save their dying Warmaster, all while a religious cult that worships the Emperor is on the rise.

This huge level of conflict, with dozens of key characters, would be lost and fumbled in the hands of a lesser author, but McNeill matches and surpasses Abnett's prior entry, flinging caution to the wind, and leaving characters that are long-standing beaten, broken, dead, or acting like we never thought they would, yet these drastic changes of life and attitude are all done fully and well, with enough time for change and plenty of reason to make it all feel very organic, and completely realistic.  As the battle lines are drawn, their are people you care about on both sides, and confusion in the air about the level of power this mysterious Emperor holds, and the many chilling moments are more than enough to make you question what you presumed about all of the characters.

This novel was more action-packed, more suspenseful, more affecting, more intriguing, and more exciting than any other Warhammer 40,000 novel I have read yet.  McNeill does a masterful job with these characters and situations, and leaves on an ending that begs for you to move straight to the sequel.  This book, from what I have read so far, sets the bar for all over Warhammer 40,000 novels.  It will be a tough one to top.  I can't wait for the next Horus Heresy book, or to read the other books out by Graham McNeill.  I'm a fan.

9/10

Horus Rising by Dan Abnett

Horus Rising is the first book of the Horus Heresy series published by Black Library. The series chronicles what is potentially the most important event in the history of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe. Having never read a Warhammer 40,000 novel before, this was an interesting start. Many of the readers who pick up this book will be familiar with the universe, and will know the events of this series. However, as a first timer, the book was full of tension and excitement. While the series title gives away a bit of what might happen to the character Horus, the rest was certainly interesting.

In the 31st millennium, the universe is full of war as the Imperium seeks to reunite all of the worlds and all of the disparate groups of man together once again, be choice or by force. When these planets choose not to join willingly, the space marines are sent in to change their minds.

The novel follows Loken, a superhuman space marine who fights to unify the universe. He gradually builds a closer relationship to Horus, named Warmaster by the Emperor, and leader of all of the Imperium's might military arm. Loken shows early success, and, after the loss of an officer in the first couple of pages, is given a "promotion" of sorts, moved up into Horus' advisor board. As the novel progresses, the innocent flamboyance of Horus is revealed to hide a very calculating and deeply intelligent man who is slowly moving away from the side of good.

The only setback (and it is minor) is a very sudden scene and character jump midway through the novel, that was a little off-putting at first, but worked well when tied back into the lead story of Loken. I very much look forward to seeing the rest of his story.

Ostensibly part of an unofficial trilogy (the other two books being False Gods by Graham McNeill and Galaxy in Flames by Ben Counter), making up the first three books of the Horus Heresy and all following the character of Loken, this novel does a very effective job of pulling you in and making you relate to Loken. As the voice of reason, Loken can be a very reassuring lead character. Abnett certainly mixes in high levels of action, but the book is framed with an enthralling story that is about far more than just fighting.

I was pleasantly surprised at the sheer depth and maturity of this tie-in novel shows a vast universe in which a host of powerful stories could be written. I went in unsure as to the story-telling ability of an author and a work set in a universe based upon a table top miniatures game, but it flew past all of my preconceived notions. This book was a wonderful start to what I hope is a long relationship with the fictional works of Warhammer 40,000.

9/10