Alpharius - Head of the Hydra Book review spoiler free...ish

Alpharius - Head of the Hydra by Mike Brooks.

The Primarch Series novel about the most mysterious of the Emperor’s sons gives a supposed firsthand account of Alpharius’ discovery by his father, though, given Alpharius’ reputation as the ultimate unreliable narrator, you’re never quite sure how much to trust. He openly admits to lying, even saying he enjoys misdirection, so you’re constantly second‑guessing what’s real. If you take the story at face value, it suggests Alpharius was actually the first Primarch found, long before Horus, and that the Emperor immediately set him up as his secret “hidden blade.” At this point in history, the Imperium is only just beginning to take shape after the Unification of Terra, and only the Emperor and Malcador even know Alpharius exists. The plot follows Alpharius as he tries to stay out of sight while wrestling with the feeling that something inside him is missing — something he needs to find but has no idea how to search for. One of the more interesting details is how the book describes his ability to control his Primarch aura. He can dial it down so much that he appears physically smaller and can blend into a crowd without drawing attention. Corax can melt into shadows, and Curze can do something similar, but for Alpharius, this talent seems instinctive, almost automatic.

Again, like the Previous books from the Primarch Series, it is a short book, but it hits the target of quality and explains a little more about the nature of the 20th Legion's gene father than before. The plot flows smoothly between each point, without any long periods of filler pages that merely bulk it out. The plot itself keeps things interesting, showing the world of Terra at a time before the Great Crusade had started to search for the other Primarchs. We, the first steps of the Crusade, do begin. You see the Legions operating before they became known as the Angels of Death of the Emperor, and they are shown to be showing just how formidable they can be. Throughout, there are mentions of the other Primarchs being found, but you only really meet El'Johnson, and at the very end, Horus. But the Lion is not aware that there is a Primarch in front of him due to the Alpha Legion's favorite game of 'tag you're the Primarch'. The very beginnings of the personality of the Alpha Legion are seen clearly, and how they would become so very different from the other legions. This novel is up there with the best of the series, but just falls short of really breaking into the very best of the series. It is well worth reading if you want a taste of the very beginnings of the imperium and why the Alpha Legion likes to go their own way when it comes to