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The Horus Heresy #24
Betrayer
A Horus Heresy novel
As Calth burns, the Word Bearers and World Eaters begin a bloody crusade across Ultramar. Worlds will burn, legions will clash... and a primarch will fall.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's finally revealed why Lorgar didn't lead the assault on Calth... because he's burning his way across Ultramar. But why, and why is Angron with him? Mysteries abound, and primarchs meet on the battlefield...
THE STORY
The Shadow Crusade has begun. While the Ultramarines reel from Kor Phaeron's surprise attack on Calth, Lorgar and the rest of the Word Bearers strike deep into the realm of Ultramar. Their unlikely allies, Angron and the World Eaters, continue to ravage each new system they come across - upon the garrison planet of Armatura, this relentless savagery may finally prove to be their undoing. Worlds will burn, Legions will clash and a primarch will fall.
As Calth burns, the Word Bearers and World Eaters begin a bloody crusade across Ultramar. Worlds will burn, legions will clash... and a primarch will fall.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's finally revealed why Lorgar didn't lead the assault on Calth... because he's burning his way across Ultramar. But why, and why is Angron with him? Mysteries abound, and primarchs meet on the battlefield...
THE STORY
The Shadow Crusade has begun. While the Ultramarines reel from Kor Phaeron's surprise attack on Calth, Lorgar and the rest of the Word Bearers strike deep into the realm of Ultramar. Their unlikely allies, Angron and the World Eaters, continue to ravage each new system they come across - upon the garrison planet of Armatura, this relentless savagery may finally prove to be their undoing. Worlds will burn, Legions will clash and a primarch will fall.
343 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2012
189 people are currently reading
2,403 people want to read
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July 28, 2022
Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus!Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus!Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus!Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus!Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus! Fuck Erebus!
May 12, 2013
*WARNING THIS CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS*
My hear is broken. THANKS AGAIN WARHAMMER 40K FOR TAKING MY HEART AND RIPPING IT TO SHREDS. I read this book in under 24 hours and a day later I still get chest pain from how much it hurt me.
*Rant ended*
Once again my dear friends, well the rest of the girls where out watching "The Host" I was reading the "Betrayer".
Gawd, how do I even talk about this?
Well Lorgar and Angron are going on a big boy trip through Ultramars 500 billion worlds or something like that. Yeah, know screwing Ultramariens and burning worlds typical heretic thing.
Only as you can probably guess Lorgar is up to something, where as he has previously tried to calm Angron down, he know encourages it. (It's odd now having worked in a hospital I'm imagining some of the things we'd say to calm someone down said to Angron needless to say we'd all be dead.)
The story was brillient, Lorgar, Guilliman, Angron Argal Tal, Kharn+Lotar (They are the ship I have in my head so there names can't be seperated.) and that Motherfucker Erebus (Yes, THAT is his canon name now...) all made stunning apperances. I honestly can't say if I want to make passionate love with all the characters or kill them. (Fine line there, probably couldn't kill Erebus he's so fashionable.)
Some of the parts with the World Eaters where really enjoyable(mainly the part about the nails killing most psykers.) going through Kharn's mind was well done and a great way to see that side of the story.
Angron's conversation well fighting Guilliman was really good because I'd always thought all of that stuff....but no one would hear me say but as the blood god's son said it they kind of HAVE to listen.
Another great moment was when Lorgar brought up (yet another thing I thought off...and don't try and give me some crappy answer...)why couldn't the Emperor have helped Angron's ragtag army? Seriously, unleash the legion to war and he'd have a much loyaler son and one not so bent on his issues with what he felt was betraying his brothers and sisters.
Can we give Aaron around of applause for another book well done?
My hear is broken. THANKS AGAIN WARHAMMER 40K FOR TAKING MY HEART AND RIPPING IT TO SHREDS. I read this book in under 24 hours and a day later I still get chest pain from how much it hurt me.
*Rant ended*
Once again my dear friends, well the rest of the girls where out watching "The Host" I was reading the "Betrayer".
Gawd, how do I even talk about this?
Well Lorgar and Angron are going on a big boy trip through Ultramars 500 billion worlds or something like that. Yeah, know screwing Ultramariens and burning worlds typical heretic thing.
Only as you can probably guess Lorgar is up to something, where as he has previously tried to calm Angron down, he know encourages it. (It's odd now having worked in a hospital I'm imagining some of the things we'd say to calm someone down said to Angron needless to say we'd all be dead.)
The story was brillient, Lorgar, Guilliman, Angron Argal Tal, Kharn+Lotar (They are the ship I have in my head so there names can't be seperated.) and that Motherfucker Erebus (Yes, THAT is his canon name now...) all made stunning apperances. I honestly can't say if I want to make passionate love with all the characters or kill them. (Fine line there, probably couldn't kill Erebus he's so fashionable.)
Some of the parts with the World Eaters where really enjoyable(mainly the part about the nails killing most psykers.) going through Kharn's mind was well done and a great way to see that side of the story.
Angron's conversation well fighting Guilliman was really good because I'd always thought all of that stuff....but no one would hear me say but as the blood god's son said it they kind of HAVE to listen.
Another great moment was when Lorgar brought up (yet another thing I thought off...and don't try and give me some crappy answer...)why couldn't the Emperor have helped Angron's ragtag army? Seriously, unleash the legion to war and he'd have a much loyaler son and one not so bent on his issues with what he felt was betraying his brothers and sisters.
Can we give Aaron around of applause for another book well done?
April 19, 2013
Aaron Dembski-Bowden hit it out of the park when he wrote this book. The characters were all amazingly fleshed out and you "love" each and every one of them. Par Erebus. That guys a jerk! I cant wait to read his next novel!
June 1, 2020
1. This book continues to uphold my belief that Aaron Dembski-Bowden is one of Black Library's best writers. It's a well-written sequel to The First Heretic, and I think it did great justice to the Word Bearer and World Eater Legions. You get a good look at the mind of the Primarch Angron from the perspective of his First Captain, Kharn. Lorgar Aurelian and his Legion also got a lot of airtime in this novel and with two Primarchs taking to the battlefield, the battle sequences were nothing short of incredible. Betrayer had some of the best sequences I've read in the series so far.
2. I didn't really like how Magnus was portrayed in this book. Graham McNeill did a stunning job fleshing him out in Thousand Sons, and since this novel takes place after those events, it was a bit jarring to see that he was portrayed as this arrogant figure who knew best. Whether or not this was fully intentional, we'll have to wait for future books about the Thousand Sons to find out.
3. On a somewhat related note, it's good to see that Black Library is finally moving its stories beyond the Isstvan V time frame. It seemed for the longest time they were content to write about events during and leading up to Isstvan V. This is a step into the next phase of the Heresy, and that can only mean good things.
2. I didn't really like how Magnus was portrayed in this book. Graham McNeill did a stunning job fleshing him out in Thousand Sons, and since this novel takes place after those events, it was a bit jarring to see that he was portrayed as this arrogant figure who knew best. Whether or not this was fully intentional, we'll have to wait for future books about the Thousand Sons to find out.
3. On a somewhat related note, it's good to see that Black Library is finally moving its stories beyond the Isstvan V time frame. It seemed for the longest time they were content to write about events during and leading up to Isstvan V. This is a step into the next phase of the Heresy, and that can only mean good things.
December 16, 2012
Possibly the darkest, most tragic book in the series yet. And that is saying something.
July 12, 2021
If you forgave Erebus for being a turdface in the first three books because E money and his empire was turds, this book will make sure you hate him.
It will also make you love angron and kharn.
It will also make you love angron and kharn.
December 28, 2012
In many ways the novel is very similar to Graham McNeill鈥檚 preceeding title in this series Angel Exterminatus. You have two very different legions working towards the same goal, one legion being shown its downfall to Chaos entirely, a primarch ascending to a greater power and with it linking directly into a multitude of other novels.
However Aaron Dembski-Bowden goes about covering events of prior Heresy installments in a very different way. In this, much of what is seen makes you want to go back to re-read titles and look at them again with the revelations now known. Right in the first few pages there are scenes which seem to address a number of criticisms and fan objections to Battle for the Abyss and the actions of Magnus the Red. Nothing so extensive that it smothers the opening of a very good tale. Instead feeling like it鈥檚 addressing older flaws on short notice while managing to make them feel at least somewhat meaningful. These scenes never last more than a few pages at a time but on almost every occasion they offer new insights into events, characters and even the primarchs themselves. Best of all none of them ever feel like they鈥檙e betraying said characters, simply expanding upon what was previously told.
Atop of these revelations, the book carries directly on from what we were shown from First Heretic. The scenes featuring Lorgar, Argel Tal and other feel like they were direct extensions from their previous novel and have fantastic continuity with what came prior to this. There are certainly some eyebrow raising moments such as the decision to resurrect yet another character from the dead but it doesn鈥檛 feel like a decision beyond those attempting the act. It鈥檚 only the choice of having the act take place which feels wrong, not the fact the characters themselves are performing it. Furthermore the author manages to reconcile Erebus between both what we saw in First Heretic and the treacherous viper he is from the others. I don鈥檛 want to ruin it but how he is presented here and treated by his primarch is closest to the brief scenes of him from Anthony Reynolds鈥� Word Bearers trilogy.
As for the battles, they鈥檙e competently written. While never feeling beyond anything we鈥檝e seen in the past they鈥檙e certainly no worse than what we鈥檝e encountered in ground engagements. Where the book seems to truly shine however is when it takes time to emphasise upon space warfare and duels between specific characters. Every time guns start firing in the void and one warrior singles out the other, you know some outstanding battles are about to take place.
Still, for all this praise I鈥檓 sure many of you are wondering about the opening statement.
Each of the Horus Heresy novels had the tenancy to do two things: Progress the story towards the endgame at Terra in some way and flesh out the legions. In Prospero Burns we learned of the Space Wolves鈥� outlook on life, in Legion we learned of the Alpha Legion鈥檚 role and methods, A Thousand Sons shone light on that legion鈥檚 culture, so on and so forth. Betrayer though? We learn nothing we didn鈥檛 already know of the World Eaters. Plenty about figures within the legion and a little more about Angron but not the legion itself. In what could be their one chance to shine in the Heresy they end up being constantly overshadowed.
It would be wrong to say they鈥檙e not integral to the plot but nor are they the focus of it or the ones in control. No that constantly goes to the Word Bearers and Lorgar, the acts and fates of who Betrayer constantly veers towards exploring over that of Kharn and his ilk. While seeing Argal Tal鈥檚 story furthered is a more than welcome addition, their presence really makes it clear that this is their story. The World Eaters are just there as an objective or have their veterans show just how big a joke the legion has become.
The World Eaters have consistently been written as berserkers to be unchained and let loose, but they鈥檝e always been presented as an effective force. One with a high attrition rate, but that was usually put down to their deployment against foes dangerous enough to be completely annihilated. In this they seem to be written as dangers to themselves, especially in the invasion of Armatura, undisciplined and only achieving victory due to more controlled elements outside of the legion. Fine they鈥檙e attacking a fortress world, supposedly one amongst the best in the galaxy despite the lack of Dorn or Perturabo鈥檚 involvement, but they seem to be massacred in easily avoidable situations. Entire elite detachments abandon their posts and hundreds are cut down in situations you鈥檇 expect even semi-lobotomised killers to be smart enough to avoid. It feels especially wrong when they thoroughly outmatch their enemy a hundred times over both in numbers and firepower.
There is method to the decision to portray them in this light. Unlike other authors who come to mind, Dembski-Bowden isn鈥檛 writing this to beef up another legion to make them look more impressive. A very intricate plot revolves around internal decay involving Angron, his relation to the legion and the changes of the butcher鈥檚 nails. An extremely well handled an interesting one.
Dembski-Bowden has shown he is willing to display as many flaws as strengths within legions and resist treating them as being powerful beyond reckoning. Even emphasising those flaws when he sees it needed to enhance character or improve a tale. Were this a standalone tale I鈥檇 be praising this decision, but when following on from novels showing every other legion as an effective force it becomes a huge black mark against what should have been a much better book. The problem is this feels wrong in their one big chance to be the focus of a story, especially when next to the Word Bearers. Taking what should have been a display of a legion鈥檚 individuality and strengths as with all preceding novels, then limiting their presence and exploring how massive a failure they are.
If you鈥檙e after more Word Bearers action, insight into Angron or are interested in seeing older novels shown in a new light, look this one up. If you鈥檙e here to see worlds being eaten, re-read previous instalments like The Outcast Dead.
December 17, 2012
Blood... FOR THE BLOOD GOD!
April 21, 2013
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!
October 12, 2022
Holy fething shite!
July 15, 2023
I found it surprisingly enjoyable. The story is told from the heretics' perspective and even managed to make me feel sympathy for Angron. This is among the good ones in the 40k series.
March 25, 2024
March 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus X Shadow Crusade III Chosen of Chaos () as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.
It's taken me a while to get around to writing this as I have been feeling awful, my new sleeping tablets have been absolutely ruining me the day after, and I wanted to be able to really give this the effort it deserves.
This is by no means the objectively best or most perfect Horus Heresy novel, but I do believe this is my current favourite with so many of the characters that mean the most to me and some of the most impactful and epic scenes.
Towards the end end of the Shadow Crusade in Ultramar tensions are running high between the increasingly distracted, belligerent, and bloodthirsty Angron (who I've been calling the Red Angel in all previous reviews as he stated Angron was his slave name, but he states in this he hates being called the Red Angel) and his World Eaters, and the meticulous and scheming Lorgar and his Word Bearers. Unaffected by the increasing hostilities, Kh芒rn and Argal Tal remain the best buddies and coolest dudes in the galaxy with the Possessed Astartes acting as the conscience and bodyguard of the berserker who fights as though possessed. Angron is becoming so consumed by his fury and need for violence that he is a real danger to himself, needing the assistance of his sons and brother on a number of occasions, while Lorgar impresses and endears himself to his bloody brother by going beast mode, taking some serious damage like an absolute champ, and bringing him into his machinations with the Darker Powers. With Erebus on the outs after making a meal out of Calth, but still with his own powers and schemes, and the Urizen taking things to the next level everyone is in serious danger and everything is on the line.
The balance of action and epicness with the genuine and manipulative fraternity and camerdarie makes this book absolutely sing. Of course Kh芒rgal Tal are the heart and split soul of this tale with their genuine connection and the way secrets, prophecy, and lies enshroud and ultimately damn them being a microcosm of everything happening to their Legions. Angron and Lorgar mirror a facsimile of this writ large. On the Conquerer, Captain Sarin and the venerable Warhound dreadnoughts abruptly roused from slumber reflect the steady hands desperately trying to keep a grip on a wild tiller as everything changes and degrades around them. Lorgar and Erebus are the flies in the ointment, tainting everyone and everything around them with honeyed words and false benevolences.
From Angron nearly burrowing himself to death with wild axe swings like the most terrifying mole of all time, through Lorgar taking some titanic shots to the face and keeping on keeping on, to Captain Sarrin venting her frustration on her absent ship defence in one of my favourite scenes in the entire series and the brutal, but so perfectly written and in the Legion's mien, way the awol captain earns his brothers' respect again, this book is filled with epic and powerful moments crafted with care and skill to match their impact.
This is one of those books that makes me feel all of the emotions and succeeds in making me cry, which is something I always appreciate.
I wish I knew what else to say, but this really is a wonderful story of the bonds between brothers and corruption and destruction that can come from manipulating and abusing those bonds.
Bloody marvellous stuff!
***
Well, this might just be my favourite so far!
More thoughts when I've had time to percolate and process just how much happens in this one book. It feels like a miniseries in and of itself.
**Imagine more review and positive emotional ranting here that will come when my new sleeping tablets stop absolutely ruining my brain during the day**
In case I forget later, I absolutely adore this book, but it's not perfect and I don't appreciate the continued fatphobia and misogyny for quick and cheap insults, I've explained in detail before how misogyny either wouldn't exist or would be very different in the Imperium as it is significantly more egalitarian across sex and gender than our world. I also found the liberal and othering use of "cripple" and its derivatives to be crass and disappointing. These were relatively small things in the grand scheme and I ultimately loved this book, but I thinks it's important to call out this kind of stuff, especially in things we are fond of.
So bloody good!
I am not prepared for Angron: Slave of Nucrecia...
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project () and my own choices, I have currently read 19.41 Horus Heresy novels, 11 novellas, 51 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 9 Primarchs novels, 3 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
It's taken me a while to get around to writing this as I have been feeling awful, my new sleeping tablets have been absolutely ruining me the day after, and I wanted to be able to really give this the effort it deserves.
This is by no means the objectively best or most perfect Horus Heresy novel, but I do believe this is my current favourite with so many of the characters that mean the most to me and some of the most impactful and epic scenes.
Towards the end end of the Shadow Crusade in Ultramar tensions are running high between the increasingly distracted, belligerent, and bloodthirsty Angron (who I've been calling the Red Angel in all previous reviews as he stated Angron was his slave name, but he states in this he hates being called the Red Angel) and his World Eaters, and the meticulous and scheming Lorgar and his Word Bearers. Unaffected by the increasing hostilities, Kh芒rn and Argal Tal remain the best buddies and coolest dudes in the galaxy with the Possessed Astartes acting as the conscience and bodyguard of the berserker who fights as though possessed. Angron is becoming so consumed by his fury and need for violence that he is a real danger to himself, needing the assistance of his sons and brother on a number of occasions, while Lorgar impresses and endears himself to his bloody brother by going beast mode, taking some serious damage like an absolute champ, and bringing him into his machinations with the Darker Powers. With Erebus on the outs after making a meal out of Calth, but still with his own powers and schemes, and the Urizen taking things to the next level everyone is in serious danger and everything is on the line.
The balance of action and epicness with the genuine and manipulative fraternity and camerdarie makes this book absolutely sing. Of course Kh芒rgal Tal are the heart and split soul of this tale with their genuine connection and the way secrets, prophecy, and lies enshroud and ultimately damn them being a microcosm of everything happening to their Legions. Angron and Lorgar mirror a facsimile of this writ large. On the Conquerer, Captain Sarin and the venerable Warhound dreadnoughts abruptly roused from slumber reflect the steady hands desperately trying to keep a grip on a wild tiller as everything changes and degrades around them. Lorgar and Erebus are the flies in the ointment, tainting everyone and everything around them with honeyed words and false benevolences.
From Angron nearly burrowing himself to death with wild axe swings like the most terrifying mole of all time, through Lorgar taking some titanic shots to the face and keeping on keeping on, to Captain Sarrin venting her frustration on her absent ship defence in one of my favourite scenes in the entire series and the brutal, but so perfectly written and in the Legion's mien, way the awol captain earns his brothers' respect again, this book is filled with epic and powerful moments crafted with care and skill to match their impact.
This is one of those books that makes me feel all of the emotions and succeeds in making me cry, which is something I always appreciate.
I wish I knew what else to say, but this really is a wonderful story of the bonds between brothers and corruption and destruction that can come from manipulating and abusing those bonds.
Bloody marvellous stuff!
***
Well, this might just be my favourite so far!
More thoughts when I've had time to percolate and process just how much happens in this one book. It feels like a miniseries in and of itself.
**Imagine more review and positive emotional ranting here that will come when my new sleeping tablets stop absolutely ruining my brain during the day**
In case I forget later, I absolutely adore this book, but it's not perfect and I don't appreciate the continued fatphobia and misogyny for quick and cheap insults, I've explained in detail before how misogyny either wouldn't exist or would be very different in the Imperium as it is significantly more egalitarian across sex and gender than our world. I also found the liberal and othering use of "cripple" and its derivatives to be crass and disappointing. These were relatively small things in the grand scheme and I ultimately loved this book, but I thinks it's important to call out this kind of stuff, especially in things we are fond of.
So bloody good!
I am not prepared for Angron: Slave of Nucrecia...
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project () and my own choices, I have currently read 19.41 Horus Heresy novels, 11 novellas, 51 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 9 Primarchs novels, 3 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
October 31, 2024
So who is the betrayer?
November 4, 2024
Amazing writing. Managed to cover technical description without becoming overly wordy. Tempo was solid. Never a dull moment.
May 26, 2022
Dragged out, unnecessary filler. Did not finish. Recommend skimming or finding a summary.
February 17, 2025
The Horus Heresy visp膩r膿j膩s s膿rijas divdesmit tre拧膩 gr膩mata turpina no Know No Fear rom膩na nodev膿ju le模iona Word Bearers (WB)uz Imperatoram loj膩l膩 le模iona Ultramarines (UM)plan膿tas Calth ies膩kto. Betrayer ietvaros WB talk膩 艈em World Eaters (WE) le模ionu, lai vispirms izpaustos p膿c iesp膿jas liel膩kas posta啪as un upuru rad墨拧an膩, tai skait膩 ar墨dzan civiliedz墨vot膩ji, un p膿c膩k, lai pan膩ktu, ka UM, viens no liel膩kajiem le模ioniem, neb奴tu tik iev膿rojams faktors un trauc膿klis Imperatora pieveik拧an膩
March 20, 2025
Yeah this shit is awesome. Aaron Dembski-Bowden might be the GOAT tbh.
August 10, 2015
This is another of me "as I read it" reviews, which may not turn out all that coherent by the end, but the impressions are unmitigated by the passage of time.
I had a conniption over the repugnance I felt through "Angel Exterminatus" and left the Heresy. There was only one problem - the fact that I own a copy of "Betrayer". These audiobooks aren't cheap, and I decided to carefully weigh whether I should listen to it. Points against - my word that I was leaving the Heresy and the continued degredation of quality from low and mediocre to just bad. Points in favor - Sunk costs and the fact that Aaron Dembski-Bowden has a decent track record so far.
I decided I would at least listen to what I'd already paid for.
EDIT - My decision to listen to Beytrayer has already yielded entertaining fruit. It's only a mistake in math, but it's a funny one. While the Traitors are on approach to a major World of Ultramar, Kharn states that there are a billion soldiers down there, of which a tenth are youths undergoing implatation and gene therapy.
This number makes me laugh.
Anyone undergoing implatation and gene therapy in the service of Ultramar is on their way to becoming an Ultrasmurf. Now, at the start of the heresy, the 13th legion was a quarter of a million Ultrasmurfs strong. A tenth of a billion is a hundred million (in short count countries like the US at least, it's worse in long count countries). It takes between four and six years to complete the implantation and gene therapy to make an Ultrasmurf (cite Lexicanum, creating a space marine). That means this world would be churning out between sixteen point six million and twenty-five million every year. To stay at a mere quarter million, the legion would have to be taking between 6666% and 10000% casualties every year. That is, they would have to lose the entire legion sixty-six to a hundred times every year, or once every four to six days. This would make the Massacre at Calth just another Tuesday for Guilliman.
I know the explaination is that Kharn got the numbers wrong because he's got nails driven into his brain, but I find the Guilliman Meat Grinder explaination funnier.
EDIT 2 - I've finished Betrayer, and it was actually worth the time spent. But with the losses the Ultrasmurfs took throughout, it seems like the "Whole legion once a week" loss rate might actually be accurate.
While not rave-worthy, if it had been the baseline instead of the heights of the Heresey, this series might not have made me so cross.
I had a conniption over the repugnance I felt through "Angel Exterminatus" and left the Heresy. There was only one problem - the fact that I own a copy of "Betrayer". These audiobooks aren't cheap, and I decided to carefully weigh whether I should listen to it. Points against - my word that I was leaving the Heresy and the continued degredation of quality from low and mediocre to just bad. Points in favor - Sunk costs and the fact that Aaron Dembski-Bowden has a decent track record so far.
I decided I would at least listen to what I'd already paid for.
EDIT - My decision to listen to Beytrayer has already yielded entertaining fruit. It's only a mistake in math, but it's a funny one. While the Traitors are on approach to a major World of Ultramar, Kharn states that there are a billion soldiers down there, of which a tenth are youths undergoing implatation and gene therapy.
This number makes me laugh.
Anyone undergoing implatation and gene therapy in the service of Ultramar is on their way to becoming an Ultrasmurf. Now, at the start of the heresy, the 13th legion was a quarter of a million Ultrasmurfs strong. A tenth of a billion is a hundred million (in short count countries like the US at least, it's worse in long count countries). It takes between four and six years to complete the implantation and gene therapy to make an Ultrasmurf (cite Lexicanum, creating a space marine). That means this world would be churning out between sixteen point six million and twenty-five million every year. To stay at a mere quarter million, the legion would have to be taking between 6666% and 10000% casualties every year. That is, they would have to lose the entire legion sixty-six to a hundred times every year, or once every four to six days. This would make the Massacre at Calth just another Tuesday for Guilliman.
I know the explaination is that Kharn got the numbers wrong because he's got nails driven into his brain, but I find the Guilliman Meat Grinder explaination funnier.
EDIT 2 - I've finished Betrayer, and it was actually worth the time spent. But with the losses the Ultrasmurfs took throughout, it seems like the "Whole legion once a week" loss rate might actually be accurate.
While not rave-worthy, if it had been the baseline instead of the heights of the Heresey, this series might not have made me so cross.
January 21, 2018
One of my favorite reads in the the series so far. Dembski-Bowden has proven himself time and again to be a powerful writer, skilled with imagery and language and full of powerful psychological insights. He does in this book what seems impossible, he makes Angron a sympathetic character.
May 25, 2016
At first the book did not get to me, perhaps I have read a bit too much warhammer 40k of late but in addition it might have also been my disinterest for Lorgar and the wordbearers and dislike of Angron and the worldeaters. Up until this book they always felt like one dimensional characters but Aaron changed my opinion on this. He made both legions and primarchs interesting to me, I started to feel bad for Angron and get what Lorgar was trying to achieve. But more importantly he also gave enough attention to regular space marines and humans. Now it is up to someone to finally convince me that Roboute Guilleman isn't such a bland character, I will be really impressed if someone can achieve this.
One remark though, for all his writing talent and character building I feel as if Aaron has a specialty that he can't shake off. Tragic characters, primarchs that are mentally broken and at ill ease with their legion and legionnaires that are melancholic. When comparing his nightlords novels to this one, you can't ignore the similarities between Konrad and Angron's tormented minds and Talos linked to both Kh芒rn and Argel Tal even if Talos was more developed and complex as a character. Regardless, this was an excellent book that I will proudly place in my collection but I do hope the author has another literary trick up his sleeve.
One remark though, for all his writing talent and character building I feel as if Aaron has a specialty that he can't shake off. Tragic characters, primarchs that are mentally broken and at ill ease with their legion and legionnaires that are melancholic. When comparing his nightlords novels to this one, you can't ignore the similarities between Konrad and Angron's tormented minds and Talos linked to both Kh芒rn and Argel Tal even if Talos was more developed and complex as a character. Regardless, this was an excellent book that I will proudly place in my collection but I do hope the author has another literary trick up his sleeve.
October 14, 2013
Excellent. Dark. Sad.
This novel was really good, but hey, it is more about the success of the non-loyal forces and not the Imperials.
Erebus, once again, the largest of the c-bags, EVER, makes an appearance in this book. He was not in it for more than 20 pages in total and yet he made me so angry I had to put the book down a couple of times to calm myself down.
The Primarchs are much more powerful than I thought they were. MUCH more physically powerful than I had imagined at this point. I mean, look at the death of Ferrus Manus, it seemed almost easy in the novel Fulgrim. But here, here we see Lorgar take a Vulkan Plasma blast to the FACE and live. And Angron catch a Titan's foot and hold it in place. I was shocked.
The battle between Roboutte and Lorgar was wonderful...especially with Lorgar seeing it all coming apart and finally feeling bad about it. BUT BUT BUT, being saved magically by Angron a second time, at the cost of the justice I so want to be thrown on Lorgar's head was infuriating to me, and ultimately with the death of another major character, why I when I finished this novel I was depressed and angry. Especially with the next book being a compilation novel that is a prequel to this story.
FINISH THIS SERIES.
This novel was really good, but hey, it is more about the success of the non-loyal forces and not the Imperials.
Erebus, once again, the largest of the c-bags, EVER, makes an appearance in this book. He was not in it for more than 20 pages in total and yet he made me so angry I had to put the book down a couple of times to calm myself down.
The Primarchs are much more powerful than I thought they were. MUCH more physically powerful than I had imagined at this point. I mean, look at the death of Ferrus Manus, it seemed almost easy in the novel Fulgrim. But here, here we see Lorgar take a Vulkan Plasma blast to the FACE and live. And Angron catch a Titan's foot and hold it in place. I was shocked.
The battle between Roboutte and Lorgar was wonderful...especially with Lorgar seeing it all coming apart and finally feeling bad about it. BUT BUT BUT, being saved magically by Angron a second time, at the cost of the justice I so want to be thrown on Lorgar's head was infuriating to me, and ultimately with the death of another major character, why I when I finished this novel I was depressed and angry. Especially with the next book being a compilation novel that is a prequel to this story.
FINISH THIS SERIES.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2024
I had a hard time with the Betrayer - maybe my mind was a bit preoccupied or I went into the book with different expectations. I鈥檓 mainly reading the HH books for Word Bearers, so maybe the heavy focus on Angron here threw me off. The book gets better as it picks up speed, but after the likes of Know No Fear, everything else needs to do a tiny bit better as a consequence.
The action comes off well - from the exciting space battles to characters facing off, it was a joy to read. Angron鈥檚 fall came a bit from the left field for me (as mentioned, didn鈥檛 expect such a big focus on him and I haven鈥檛 ready much of him), but was ultimately enjoyable - and of course Erebus and Lorgar were bearing the word, as they do.
The action comes off well - from the exciting space battles to characters facing off, it was a joy to read. Angron鈥檚 fall came a bit from the left field for me (as mentioned, didn鈥檛 expect such a big focus on him and I haven鈥檛 ready much of him), but was ultimately enjoyable - and of course Erebus and Lorgar were bearing the word, as they do.
August 2, 2015
I went into this thinking I was not going to like it. I am not a World Eaters fan at all. By the end I really felt for Angron and Kharn is a great character. In truth I would give it 4.5 stars and not 5 because at times things were drawn out more than necessary and others were really rushed. There are also a lot of open threads to be wrapped up. Though this book at some great new characters like Lotara and more Eternals.
October 8, 2020
I got to witness the ongoing corruption of the World Eaters. I was given a better appreciation of the struggles of Angron and his ruination. I appreciated the friendship between Kharn and Angel Tal. There is more than enough savage, firey action in this book. I was surprised at how much Lorgar developed further into his role as the Arch Priest of Chaos, especially regarding the power under his control. I especially appreciated what happened to Erebus at the end of this book.
August 31, 2020
Fun installment with lots of backstory regarding the War Hounds/World Eaters and in particular Angron. Man, what a messed up Legion. They, more than perhaps any other legion I鈥檝e read about this far (well, except the Night Lords) seemed the most doomed from the outset. Wasn鈥檛 entirely sure where it was going, but then when it did, I can鈥檛 say I was surprised.
February 25, 2021
The book builds to a terrific crescendo much like the song Lorgar conducts throughout the novel. Certain characters get a satisfactory conclusion, others not so much, but that doesn't detract from the quality of the story. Kharn is the standout character for me and I'd recommend this to anybody wanting to learn more about this compelling chosen champion of Khorne!
July 22, 2023
I super, really love this one. I think one of the best things in the Horus Heresy is the loose trilogy that starts with First Heretic, goes to Know No Fear, and ends with this one. I love the World Eaters, I love the characters and the characterization of the Space Marines in this one, and I dearly love the ending.
February 15, 2023
I think if your a fan of the word bearers and world eaters then you will enjoy this. It heavily follows those 2 factions and features its 2 primarchs a lot. Features a little bit of guilliman and ultramarines also. If not a big fan of those factions then it can be skipped while going through the horus heresy series as it doesn't do much to advance the story.
March 18, 2021
gud buk
April 24, 2019
Again in this series we get the continuing story of the Horus Heresy told from the vantage point of 2 Primarchs, this time Angron and Lorgar.
The interplay between the 2 is interesting and the evolution of their roles and beliefs in the continuing rebellion makes the next books that much more important. Cannot wait to start the next one.
The interplay between the 2 is interesting and the evolution of their roles and beliefs in the continuing rebellion makes the next books that much more important. Cannot wait to start the next one.
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