Horus Heresy: Legion by Dan Abnett
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Book Reviews of Horus Heresy: Legion
Book Review: Slow start, fast finish
Summary: 4 Stars
I agree with several reviewers who say the book starts out slowly. I had this book waiting for me when I returned from a tour overseas and immediately started reading, only to put it down about two chapters in. I admit that I was disappointed, as it was not a typical Dan Abnett story which normally begins with a quick and furious pace. I was intrigued by the setting- a desolate planet called Nurth, target of the 670th Expeditionary Fleet, led by Lord General Namatjira, a martinet whose success, like many weak but overly ambitious commanders, had been secured through the skill and blood of his subordinate units and their leadership.
I resolved to pick the book up a few days ago and give it another try, and it did not disappoint as the story went beyond what has become the norm for most of the Horus Heresy books: the descent of the Legiones Astartes into the depths of Chaos and their ultimate betrayal of the Emperor of Mankind.
Other reviewers have discussed the book's strengths and weaknesses effectively enough, so I will just say that despite the slow start, Abnett recovers well and finishes with a flourish. I must say that I did not see the ending coming, and the Alpha Legion's reasons for joining with Warmaster Horus Lupercal are the stuff of what Abnett's great writing and imagination brings to the series. He's does well with his depiction of the Imperial Guard units, and I think his work with the Gaunt's Ghosts series serves him well. I also found his take on the Alpha Legion interesting and compelling; they are one of the traitor legions that little is known about, but after reading this book, you'll have a greater perspective and depth of knowledge about the legion and its primarch, Alpharius (not to mention the neat twist Abnett throws in about the primarch that I won't spoil here).
While a good book for the series, I don't feel it is 5-star worthy, but is nonetheless a worthwhile read. I like it infinitely better than the previous book in the series, "Descent of Angels", but is not quite as good as Abnett's first book in the series "Horus Rising", or Ben Counter's "Galaxy In Flames."
Book Review: Just Because It's called 'Warhammer' Doesn't Mean It's All About the Fighting
Summary: 4 Stars
I hope that every morning when Dan Abnett wakes up and goes outside to pick up his bottle of milk from the stoop there is a Games Workshop staffer waiting for him. The staffer holds in one hand a gift basket full of fresh fruit and chocolates and in the other hand a large sack full of money.
I say this because Dan Abnett is simply the best author Games Workshop has available and the moment that he figures out he can earn more cash not leashed to Games Workshop's setting, the Black Library will burn to the ground.
Witness 'Legion', the latest in the Horus Heresy series. Deftly written, this is a story about intrigue and deception, not about dudes shooting other dudes. It builds on one of the least developed Space Marine chapters, the Alpha Legion, and gives them a place in the setting. It also develops the history of the setting even more through details of the Geno, a human army, and the memories of Grammaticus, one of the story's principal characters.
The story is a mind-twist and rightly does not feature a lot of Space Marines. Why should it? Most of the mysteries of the Alpha Legion could be answered in two pages at the start of the book, which wouldn't leave much of a story. Instead, the reader gets to follow a handful of characters (one of the hallmarks of Abnett's style is the use of a cast of POV characters) as they get enveloped deeper and deeper within the Legion's coils. The revelations at the end of the book are both shocking and satisfying and Abnett knows his craft well enough to end the story there.
So if you enjoy the setting of the Warhammer 40k universe, pick this book up. Read it for the characterization and plot and don't fret that you don't see too many world-spanning, gut-eviscerating chaotic action scenes. Because Abnett's 'Legion' is akin to the Alpha Legion itself - cunning, deliberate, and always worth getting to the bottom of.
Book Review: Book Seven, 3.5 stars
Summary: 4 Stars
The Alpha Legion does not fight like the other Legions. They practice war in the most insidious way. Their methods seem underhanded, sly, devious, and even lacking in honor at times. They are currently on a heathen world to support the Imperial Army against an uncanny force, Nurthene magick.
A xenoform faction called the Cabal claims to possess vital info to the Imperium of Man and believes that, out of all the Astartes' Legions, the Alpha to be the most receptive to its message. Primarch Alpharius will be forced to see the future in all its madness, as well as the Alpha Legion's horrible choices.
**** Going by the several books I have read by Dan Abnett, he is a very good writer; however, this is not one of his better stories. Abnett keeps many secrets from the reader, as those in the Alpha Legion are supposed to do. This means readers will find themselves confused at times, yet all will become clear by the end. Most of this story is viewed from select members of the Imperial Army. Readers can easily empathize with how these normal humans view the Legion and its actions. The Imperial Army has its own curse words, but common sense tells you what "fug" and other terms mean. The majority of readers will not be confused at all when those strange words pop up. Much of the story came across to me as simple filler, but it is all told in a way that only Abnett can do. ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Book Review: Entertaining
Summary: 4 Stars
The poor quality of writing in the striking majority of Warhammer 40K novels forces a more discerning reader to adopt a simple standard - whether or not the novel in question is going to repeatedly insult his intelligence. I am glad to report that Legion does not.
I had low expectations for Mr. Abnett's latest addition to the Horus Heresy series, mostly due to the absolute disaster his previous Warhammer 40k work was. In Legion, the author sticks to what he does best; namely, taking an Imperial Guard (in this case, a proto-Guard) unit, and focusing on the interaction of several well fleshed out characters. The setting created, though hardly memorable, is not terribly generic and, most importantly, believable, as far as w40k goes. Abnett also manages to avoid, by design or happenstance, the pitfall of writing the characters too similarly to his earlier novels. This is commendable.
Naturally, Legion isn't perfect and sports a few annoyances, such as the unsatisfyingly bland depiction of Alpharius and the use of euphemisms where stronger language is more appropriate. These, however, are not considerably detracting.
I found the plot's progress well-paced and finished the book in 2 days. I enjoyed it and was entertained by the story, which is precisely what I was hoping for.
Book Review: Elusive and cunning to the very end...
Summary: 4 Stars
Internal intrigue, espionage, and alien conspiracy intertwine in this 7th book of the Heresy series. As always, Abnett launches us into a story already in progress and weaves it through without needless inconsistencies and of course, with his signature pacing and plot development. Stuck in a war of attrition against a seemingly weaker foe, the Imperials are hard pressed and frustrated. This backdrop is but the beginning stage that will drive the forces of the Emperor's might into a stunning climax where only one choice can be made. -As it has already been noted in the following books of this Heresy series, nearly every story line was dedicated to the legions of the Emperor as they turn toward the darkness and fall from grace. This ongoing epic seems to develop by either one of three ways: (1) They are thoroughly deceived, (2) They are forced into rebellion and are overwhelmed, or (3) They with full knowledge willingly submit to a path of rebellion, ruin, and destruction. So it goes with human nature and so it goes with fate. As Dan Abnett adds further to this convoluted volume, he gives us a rather unique take on apostasy and the forces that turn brother to war against brother.