Horus Heresy: Battle for the Abyss by Ben Counter
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Book Reviews of Horus Heresy: Battle for the Abyss
Book Review: An OK side story in the Heresy
Summary: 3 Stars
A lot of readers of the Horus Heresy series complained about the fact that the previous two books (Descent of Angels and Legion) did not advance the epic where it left off at the end of Fulgrim.
If you felt that way, this book isn't going to help that at all.
I personally enjoyed the previous two books, (especially Legion) because they reveal a lot of things about the the Astartes Chapters they dealt with, their Primarchs, histories and various plots leading up to the Heresy. Battle for the Abyss has almost nothing like that at all.
It's plot is interesting enough and the book itself is nicely written, but it doesn't feel like a dramatic part of the Horus Heresy epic. Since the story mostly only involves relatively low ranking Astartes, it could very easily have been made into a regular "40K" novel with a few tweaks to the characters (basically by making the Chaos guys more "Chaotic").
If you are following the Horus Heresy series, you are probably going to want to end up reading it no matter what...just lower the expectations for new revelations/Heresy story advancement and enjoy some decent Space Marine action.
Book Review: Disappointing
Summary: 3 Stars
Initially, there were a number of things I liked about the book. I liked the different Astartes legions that were involved, and how this added some depth and mystery to the characters and their motivations. You were never completely sure who might turn traitor, and that added a nice suspense element. So I wasn't as troubled about these being lower ranking individuals, since it meant they weren't carrying the baggage of what we already know about the results and history of the Heresy. I was, however, deeply bothered by the ending. Since I assume this is just the first book of the battle for Calth, I was hoping to see some of the characters, good or evil, carry over to the likely sequel, in the same manner that certain lower characters helped bridge the first three books of the Horus Heresy series. Also, I'm a little bothered by the way this series flits among stories without really finishing them. A Descent of Angels clearly needs a sequel, but it appears that book is in the distant future.Book Review: Okay, but nothing special
Summary: 3 Stars
I was hoping that Dan Abnett's "Legion" was a sign that the HH series was back on track and moving towards bigger and better things. However, Ben Counter's latest entry is only so-so. Much like "Flight of the Einstein", we are following a band of loyal space marines struggling through the warp to spread word about Horus' betrayal. A few small skirmishes here and there, leading up to the big conclusion at the end. Certainly not groundbreaking stuff here.
While it does advance the plot a tiny bit, the novel failed to capture the epic scope that I felt reading the first three novels. It seems like the series jumped out to an excellent start and then has been tripping and stuttering forward ever since. And judging by the upcoming release schedule (the battle on Mars and then a collection of short stories from the HH timeline) I am not expecting to be reading anything new about the Sons of Horus anytime soon.
Book Review: Getting warmer
Summary: 3 Stars
While it doesn't directly move the plot of the Heresy much further along, it does get a little closer; unlike the last two, the events it describes directly relate to the Horus Heresy. What it's missing, and what made the first four so intersting are the Primarchs themselves.
Also this book seems intended as a Battlefleet Gothic tie-in. It's heavy on the naval warfare, and at times sounds like it was adapted from Patrick OBrian.
Overall, lots of warp-infused gore, wooden characters (with the exception of a pretty cool Thousand Sons Captain), and a pretty conventional plot.
Book Review: Not Bad
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is ok, although I'm still missing the great stories telling of the first 3 books from this series.
This book offers interesting but stereotyped of the 4 legions (ultramarines, world eaters, word bearers and space wolves). The warp attack on the loyalist ship is repetitive, and maybe more should have been told and developed about the lone world eaters's adventure in the Abyss.
Overall, it's not bad.