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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Richly crafted.,
This review is from: Angels of Darkness (Warhammer 40,000) (Mass Market Paperback)
A surprisingly cerebral and complexly crafted story from an author whose other offerings tend to entertain primarily through fast-paced, graphic action scenes rather than by way of thoughtful character development and mature dialogue. This book is much slower and deliberate than its predecessors but is far richer for it.
The book primarily centers around the interrogation of a captured "Fallen Angel" traitor by his erstwhile brothers in arms, the loyalist space marines of the Dark Angels chapter. For the first time that I'm aware of, the long hidden secret which torments the Dark Angels chapter is revealed and afficionados of the Warhammer 40K universe are treated to an in-depth examination of the tragic schism which nearly destroyed the Dark Angels during the height of the Horus Heresy. Far too often, chaos space marines and other foes of the Imperium are portrayed as mindless lunatics hellbent on destruction. Not so here. Thorpe's "antagonist" is lucid, articulate and just as convinced of the righteousness of his cause as are the Dark Angels of theirs. Through such a character, Thorpe admirably manages to capture all of the depth and nuance that the 40K setting has to offer. Highly recommended for all Dark Angel devotees and anyone who finds the backdrop of the 40K universe as entertaining and compelling as the game itself.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Like the Dark Angels? You'll like this...,
By Ty (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Angels of Darkness (Warhammer 40,000) (Mass Market Paperback)
Cast forward in time 10,000 years, force commander Astelan of the Dark Angels has been branded a heretic and condemned to death by torture. Switching back and forth between Astelan and his torturer, chaplain-inquisitor Boreas, this novel describes the history of the Dark Angels chapter back to the days before the Primarchs were rediscovered. The events taking place in Angels of Darkness are of secondary importance. What is interesting here is the conflicting points of view of the two main characters, Astelan and Boreas, as they argue in the interrogation chamber. These two marines showcase the change in attitude and psychology of the Dark Angels following the cataclysmic Horus Heresy. Also revealed is the terrible secret which the Dark Angels chapter has kept hidden from the Imperium for 10,000 years. The story keeps good pace, and delivers its intrigue at a measured rate which keeps things interesting.
This is a good book for 40k fans who are looking for a decent story with great background information. BUT if you haven't read all of Dan Abnett's books, definitely go read those first. The Eisenhorn trilogy and Gaunt's Ghosts series are the Black Library's best stuff! In comparison, Angels of Darkness is a bit clunky, and the space marines act like emotionally-disturbed teenage boys.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Knowledge is Power, Guard it Well...",
By Sergeant Psyanide (Terra) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Angels of Darkness (Warhammer 40,000 Novels: Space Marine Battles) (Mass Market Paperback)
I picked up this book as I have been a fan of 40K and the mythos of the Dark Angels since Rogue Trader days. Once I heard about this book in 2003, it was out of print. I picked up this book as soon as I found that it was once again available. For most of the book, I found it a page turner and finished it in approx. 2-3 days
The book is broken down into chapters, called Tales, surrounding the two main protagonists: Astelan: a captured Fallen and Boreas: an Interrogator Chaplain. At first I was skeptical of and annoyed by this layout, but having just finished the book, it makes total sense as both of the Tales evolve parallel. The building of the characters appears slow, but the material to be gleaned from each 'Tale' is subtle... and as you read this you may find yourself on the path of Heresy. ;) Gav Thorpe appears to have a firm grasp of the 40K universe and is able to portray it quite adequately and appears to be an average writer with a few flaws in story flow and character persona. Most of the battles are somewhat mediocre while some shine. The Interrogation sequences are quite interesting as they tell the tale and fill in gaps in the Dark Angels mythos. There are however some editorial errors I have found: ^ On Pg. 46, A young Initiate, Sanis was killed, but mysteriously reappears on Pg. 55. ^ Pg. 81, Boreas questions his own statement regarding 'whining priests' on Tharsis; I believe this should be Astelan's statement Boreas was questioning. ^ Pg. 192; Boreas makes a personal comment regarding Luther; this I believe should be Astelan speaking. Overall, Gav has done the Dark Angels justice in this book; it is solid Dark Angels material and captures the depressing and desperate feeling of the 40K universe quite well. This book should be required reading for Dark Angels aficionados as it provides details, persona and background essential to understanding them. However, those not interested in the Dark Angels chapter or looking for grand battle scenes can skip this book as it solely deals with them and has a limited scope in the 40K Universe.
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