Amidst the galaxy-wide war of the Great Crusade, the Emperor castigates the Word Bearers for their worship. Distraught at this judgement, Lorgar and his Legion seek another path while devastating world after world, venting their fury and fervour on the battlefield. Their search for a new purpose leads them to the edge of the material universe, where they meet ancient forces far more powerful than they could have imagined. Having set out to illuminate the Imperium, the corruption of Chaos takes hold and their path to damnation begins. Unbeknownst to the Word Bearers, their quest for truth contains the very roots of heresy -
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Editorial Reviews
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"Aaron Dembski-Bowden is heretically good" - Dan Abnett
About the Author
Aaron Dembski-Bowden is a British author with his beginnings in the videogame and RPG industries. He was the Senior Writer on the million-selling MMO Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. He's been a deeply entrenched fan of Warhammer 40,000 ever since he first ruined his copy of Space Crusade by painting the models with all the skill expected of an overexcited nine-year-old. He lives and works in Ireland. His hobbies generally revolve around reading anything within reach, and helping people spell his surname.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of The Best in the Horus Heresy Series,
This review is from: Horus Heresy: First Heretic (The Horus Heresy) (Mass Market Paperback)
I was a little anxious about buying this book at first. The Word Bearers have never been my favorite space marine chapter, not by far. While I enjoyed ADB's Soul Hunter I was not a fan of Cadian Blood or Helsreach. With that in mind I do not rate his latest work lightly. For some time I've been wondering what all the hype is about, lots of reviewers are saying ADB is the next Dan Abnett. The First Heretic is, to me, a full realization of Aaron's potential and by far one of the best books in the entire Horus Heresy series.
The First Heretic has a very good setup. From the eyes of a civilian on a world brought to compliance by the Word Bearers Legion you get to see a whole new side of the Emperor's finest. The Ultramarines come to the planet on less than friendly terms and order that all the cities be evacuated. In the midst of the confusion and fear you see the Ultramarines, not as knights but instead autonomous oppressors. To me this created a stark contrast to the standard noble warrior image that worked especially well. When the Word Bearers finally come into the picture you view a space marine legion that is so unlike all the rest. Lorgar, Primarch of the XVII legion, is not the military genius that his brothers are. Instead Lorgar is more of a priest, an ardent believer in the Emperor's divinity. This book is extremely emotional, between revelations and confrontations you can feel a true bond building with the legion. I myself am not a fan of chaos marines, but the Word Bearers decent into heresy is probably the most compelling of all the tales of betrayal in the series thus far. With Horus, arrogance gets in the way of reader empathy. With Fulgrim, avarice is a glaring fault to overlook. James Swallow spent too little time on Mortarion in Flight of the Eisenstein to gain any real insight. In comparison to the Primarchs destined to become traitors, Lorgar is most similar to Magnus of the Thousand Sons. Lorgar's fall is tragic, the tale of a forsaken son who's only sin was a single minded devotion to his father. ADB shows Lorgar in an almost human way that is a testament to his writing prowess. There is some action in The First Heretic, though minimal, but the real focus is on plot and the novel benefits from this. This book has insight into faith and the way a person's world can be shattered when their beliefs are taken into question. This is a much deeper, darker story than the general Black Library faire. You grow an attachment to the characters that makes it all the more difficult to watch the story unfold and for this I commend ADB. The First Heretic is, without a doubt, in my top 3 favorite Horus Heresy novels and though it is part of a much larger series it also provides a good start for new readers. I highly recommend this book.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chaos is not as it seems,
By WordSmith (San Marcos, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Horus Heresy: First Heretic (The Horus Heresy) (Mass Market Paperback)
The first heretic is the continuation of the warhammer 40 K epic series of novels that followed the major (and unknown) characters that shaped the imperium of man at its inception, this novel in particular is a stand alone and follows the fall of Lorgar. Unlike the rest of the primarchs, Lorgar does not wish to be a warrior and would rather spend his time creating ideas of significance that will eventually help humanity become better and he cannot fathom a universe without religion. Anyoen who has not read the Horus Heresy novels will be confused since the 40 K books are about the imperial religion. At this time the Emperor has outlaws any religion or faith, only reason will help humanity prosper (if you haven't read any Horus books stop immediatly and at least read the short story anthology to understand what is happening). The novel shows how Lorgar was a fervent follower of the God-Emperor until his Father showed him "the error of his ways" and thus is cast as the only son who has failed the Emperor. After this traumatic experience he goes into a deep depression and decides to go into a pilgrimage that will take him to the gates of chaos, I will not explain anything more because this is a book well worth reading. aside from the fact that the Warhammer fictional universe is full of warfare and bloody, this novel shows how a loyal son can become a traitor seeking an ideal in an obsessive behavior.
In a few words let me just say this book is a masterpiece because you go into the psyche of an extremely moral and well-meaning man and see how anyone can become what one hates. War is not everything there is to Warhammer, "the First heretic" is testament to the genius of ADB (the author) since he has brought the reader deeper into the Heresy.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shockingly Good,
By Immortal (Östergötland, Sweden) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Horus Heresy: First Heretic (The Horus Heresy) (Mass Market Paperback)
This was just spectacular. Aaron Dembski Bowden killed it. For me he established himself as the best BL writer at the moment with this piece of art, every damn character is well made and most of the time even beyond well made. The action will surge though you! The plot is great and the amount of epicness made me read this in an almost fanatical way. To finish reading this book made me sad and angry because by the God-Emprah I wanted and still want more of this. To go on and read the next book in the series (prospero burns by the legendary Dan Abnett) felt like a disgrace.
Cheers and thanks to Aaraon for this even though in a sense he ruined the series in the long run because he just raised the bar and I can't see many books reaching this high. BRAVO
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