Dark Apostle (Warhammer 40,000 Novels: Chaos Space Marines) [Mass Market Paperback]

Anthony Reynolds (Author)

Book Description

Series: Warhammer 40,000 Novels: Chaos Space Marines | Publication Date: September 25, 2007

Driven on by dark visions, Dark Apostle Jarulek of the Word Bearers and his force lay waste to the Imperial planet of Tanakreg. After brutally enslaving the population, they set them to work building a monstrous, kilometres-high tower. What is the Word Bearers' vile purpose, and can they achieve it before the Imperial forces arrive to reclaim the planet?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anthony Reynolds worked in Games Workshop's Design Studio in the UK for over five years. He is currently living in Australia, where he works as a freelance writer.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Games Workshop (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844165078
• ISBN-13: 978-1844165070
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #478,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great 40K story, July 9, 2009

By 

Joker (Athens, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Apostle (Warhammer 40,000 Novels: Chaos Space Marines) (Mass Market Paperback)

The book is written well! Sometimes 40k books can get caught up in the technicals, trying to show off how much they know about the lore of the universe or introduce as many different units as possible in the story. The writer only adds as much as he needs to advance the story. Some people complain about the scenes of carnage or lack of character development, and I must echo the comments of other reviewers: this is the world of 40k! To say that it is not a happy place is an understatement. There is nothing but violence in the grim dark future. These guys play rough and lots of them die, if you can't take it, go read a romance novel instead :)

As a last note, as a Chaos Space Marines player, I would also like to add that I like the fiction is set from the point of view of Chaos, and of my favorite Chapter, the Word Bearers. It's refreshing to read 40k fiction that isn't completely focused on the pawns of the false Emperor struggling valiantly to succeed against all odds.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great dark fiction, October 16, 2007

By 

Brian Long "Brian" (Ogden, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dark Apostle (Warhammer 40,000 Novels: Chaos Space Marines) (Mass Market Paperback)

Dark Apostle follows several Chaos Space Marines as they assault a distant Imperial world, searching for a lost artifact seen in the visions of Jarulek, the Word Bearer Dark Apostle, who has to fend off the Imperials long enough to complete his scheme while keeping his own men at bay from pouncing on him in a moment of weakness.

This book conveys the point of view from the forces of Chaos, almost always antagonists in other books, giving insight into how the Ruinous Powers manage to corrupt and seduce with such apparent ease. It gives good insight into how such a group functions without ripping itself to pieces, which is still an ever-present possibility.

I would say the only drawback is, if you're a fan of the universe, the ending leaves it to possible to seriously disrupt the status quo. The 40k verse seems to be on the verge of collapsing in on itself, as there are too many enemies, who're too powerful, and in too great a number. Without going into too much detail, it is very easy to see how, following this book, the Imperium could well and truly be crushed.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some interesting aspects, somewhat repetitive, not too bad, August 30, 2008

By 

A. Nonimowse. "bomber214" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Apostle (Warhammer 40,000 Novels: Chaos Space Marines) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book wasn't too bad. It's an interesting change to see Chaos so featured, from their perspective, and so successful. Clearly Chaos Space Marines, at least in this book, are pretty rough customers. Some of the rather extensive combat scenes are a bit over exaggerated, and become repetitive. The combat scenes, however, do evoke images of a massive almost planetary scale conflict, and true to WH40K there are grisly and desperate deaths. The book takes a weird turn near the end as it completely shifts where you think the story line is going. The very end certainly leaves it open for more books in this particular series.

I'll probably look into them because this book wasn't too bad, though certainly not one of the better ones I've read.

One story arc stood out above all the rest in the book -- the one of an Imperial Enforcer who becomes enslaved by the invading Chaos forces. His story becomes one of slow perversion as he is twisted and turned toward Chaos. I won't say much more because it would be a spoiler, but afterwards it kind of makes you think about all the Chaos cultists described in other books -- and how they got that way.

Overall, an interesting change from the steady flow of Imperial-centric Hero-Against-All-Odds style of WH40K stories. A fan of WH40K will want to read this, but a casual reader may want to select other more solidly written books.