Customer Reviews

The First Heretic: Fall to Chaos (Warhammer 40,000 Novels: Horus Heresy)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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

I hate reviews that spoil the plot, so will not go there. Aaron is not the next Dan Abnett, he is quite simply the new holder of the Key to the Black Library! If you are a fan of the 40K universe, this book is a MUST for your collection. Finally, a release from the BL that compliments the first three novels of the Horus Heresy, if not eclipsing them. I was in shock that GW actually allowed someone other than Abnett a shot at creating a huge piece of the Heresy. I repeatedly read on in disbelief that Aaron was basically writing the franchise with this fantastic piece of work. So many of the other Heresy books have been "filler" material, this one delivers in spades!

Not the best, but damn well written.

Aaron Dembski-Bowden may not be a brilliant visionary, but he is certainly a master of his craft. Solidly written, insightful, technically flawless and a work with soul.

So what's missing?
- A bit internal consistency - the fall and the betrayal is there, but it's simply not set up to be wholly believable, even with a supposedly genetic predisposition for loyalty, it just seems a bit too easy for Argel Tal and his cohorts to just say "Ok, sure, let's get possessed by daemons now if that's what you need, boss!"
- Less than a hundred pages from the end of the book we're still getting introduced to characters and plotlines? Sure, I guess.

So what's awesome?
- Lots. Colchis, e.g.
- The end of the Custodes.
- This one sentence, though seemingly overwrought and pompously dramatic, in context actually fits just beautifully. A true masterpiece of word-smithing:

"Corax answered with a shriek of his own - the call of the betrayer, the cry of the betrayed - and the raven met the heretic in a clash of crozius and claw."

I've thoroughly enjoyed most of the books in the Horus Heresy series. This is one of my favorites.

It traces the Word Bearers from their fall from grace through their ultimate betrayal of the Emperor.

This is a very good showing for Aaron Dembski-Bowden in the HH series.

The characters are believable and engaging. In some of the HH books, you simply do not care about the characters. In this one you find yourself rooting for the Word Bearers and hating yourself for it.

Like all the good books in this series, First Heretic explains the origins of some of the Warhammer 40K lore. Without spoiling the surprise, you find out how the Primarchs came to be scattered throughout the galaxy.

Mr. Dembski-Bowden does a good job at tying some of the miniature gaming rules for the Word Bearers into his novel. That was a nice touch! You can definitely tell when someone who loves the mythology and games is at the other end of the quill.

I highly recommend this book for any Warhammer 40K and HH series fan.

In service,

Rich
the Original Dr. Games since 1993

I personally found the new insight into the Word Bearers and their Primarch, Lorgar to be both insightful and tragic. The author does a particularly excellent job of showing us the other side of the Heresy coin. While much of the WH40K cannon casts the Heresy and its players in stark black and white terms, the author of 'First Heretic' shines a 'gray light of doubt' that may cause many Imperiophiles to re-assess. Here's what I took away from the book: The Word Bearers were pushed down a dark path by a short-sighted tyrant of an Emperor who set ablaze any world that did not comply with his wishes. The Empire might have been an orderly utopia, but that didn't change the fact that it was built atop the ashes of those who failed to tow the imperial line. While the Word Bearers embrace of Chaos may seem diabolic, nothing they do is any worse than what the imperium does on a regular basis-- only the Word Bearers don't hide behind a veil of righeousness. Be forwarned--after reading this book, you just may dare to think( if not scream out): "Death to the false Emperor!"

Wow! I just finished this book and I was floored with it. Having read only a few WH40K books (Ultramarine Omnibus, Souldrinkers Omnibus, Soul Hunter, Storm of Iron, Grey Knights) I was blown away with all the primarchs that make appearances in this book as well as the Emperor himself! That right there had me hooked onto this novel. I almost think reading some of the post HH novels in which the Primarchs are Legendary beings, alluded to, but not corporeal, the Emperor is this god-like being entombed on a Golden Throne was a benefit, because when they make their appearance I was like an awe struck simpleton reading with my mouth hanging open thinking "holy smokes! Thats Lorgar!!!!, that's Roboute Guilliman!!!, OMG THATS THE EMPEROR!!!!!" After I picked myself up off the floor and wiped the drool off the pages of the book, I couldn't put this book down. From the Argel Tal's journey into the Eye, to Corax smashing onto the battlefield of Istavann V, to be confronted by Lorgar, I enjoyed every minute of it. In fact I am heading out right now to buy The Word Bearers Omnibus (Warhammer 40,000) which released today! Great book! 5 Stars +!

The First Heretic is the best story of the Horus Heresy series. ADB, the author, provides just the right amount of depth to all the characters of the story allowing the reader a better understanding of their motivations. ADB does such a good job with the characters and story, one could almost start rooting for them as they plot the end of the Imperium. The main character Lorgar comes across as tragic and pathetic especially during his encounter with Corax (Raven Guard Primarch). The real hero of the story is not the Primarch Lorgar, nor his conniving minions Erebus and Kor Phaeron; the hero is Argel Tal whose faith in his Primarch leads him to damnation. Highly recommend this book.

If you see any review that says this book is bad, someone is trying to throw Aaron under the bus for no reason. The way he wove the story to build to the climax (ha, ha) was great and seeing Astartes take their first fall will keep you hooked to the horus heresy series for good.