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The First Heretic (2010)

by Aaron Dembski-Bowden(Favorite Author)

4.21 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1844168840 (ISBN13: 9781844168842)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Black Library

series

The Horus Heresy

review 1: Now that I've finished this novel, it occurs to me that I should have read it before Aurelian. I would have done so, too, but Black Library's suggested reading order for the Heresy mislead me in that regard.Nevermind. I know now that The First Heretic goes hand in hand with Aurelian, as this novel tells the majority of the story that is the World Eaters' fall to Chaos. Whereas the novella centers on Lorgar, this book deals more with the entire Legion's descent. Most of the action is seen from the viewpoint of Argel Tal, who is a most interesting character indeed. The revelations about him, Terra and the primarchs did blow my mind. His whole arc is incredibly tragic — great writing from ADB.I can recommend this book wholeheartedly to any 40K fan. The Heresy is definitely ... morepicking up again at this point.
review 2: By the gods what an amazing novel. Truly at my number 1 spot in the Horus Heresy alongside "Fulgrim".The First Heretic depicts the fall of the Words Bearers Legion, from 47 years before Istvaan V, to shortly before the battle of Calth. And what an eventful 47 years it was!The novel opens up with the Word Bearers greatest failure, and it was expertly written. I felt Lorgar's anxiety, his fear and doubt, and his anger so truly, it was as if they were my own! That has only happened to me with a small handful of novels, and I fear I have to go back through goodreads and change my ratings for some books!The venture into the Eye of Terror was extremely interesting, as was seeing the totality of the war on 1031-16(right?) from "Scions of the Storm" by Anthony Reynolds. Though the novel really picked up once Istvaan started. We have seen Istvaan V from the perspective of the Iron Hands and Emperor's Children in McNiell's masterpiece "Fulgrim" and again from Corax's perspective in Gav Thorpe's "Raven's Flight". And this bit does just as much justice to the Dropsite Massacre as those works. The entire novel was flawless and perfect from start to finish. The way the characters evolved, their interactions, the human characters and their role with the demigods of war.And Argal Tal. By the gods Argal Tal. What an amazing character, truly. I would actually venture to say he is written better than Loken or Tarvitz! As long as it is known he is on that level of amazing as the series best non-Primarch characters.Truly amazing. Death to the False Emperor! less

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