Grey Hunter Book review spoiler free...ish

 

Grey Hunter by William King.

The third and final book of the Ragnar Blackmane trilogy carries on the great storyline in fine form. Ragnar is unique in the fact that he was raised to the rank of Wolf Guard without ever being acclaimed as a Grey Hunter. This book tells the story of how this happened, it includes the Spear of Russ legion relic and some old dusty enemies, and one in particular seemingly difficult to kill sorcerer. I do find it ironic that the obvious Norse similar legion has problems with the high powered, one-eyed god like being that is obsessed with knowledge, but that is a discussion for another post.

Unlike the other books of this trilogy, there is a portion of the plot devoted to Ragnar having some soul searching moments, which leaves him similar to a moody teen. But there is a much larger portion of the book that is devoted to more brilliant battles, which are described in the clear and concise way William King has brought to the previous two books. This novel clarified to me why the Space Wolves are one of the more interesting legions to read about. Although they are still pious in their own way, it's not the religious ramblings of the other loyalist legions or the one-dimensional rantings of some of the chaos aligned legions. 

Only a short review for this one, I think the better plan would be for you to enjoy it for yourselves. It's more than worth it for any Space Wolf fan.

If you want to read more about Ragnar in particular, then I'd recommend-

• Wolfblade (carries on from this book)
• Sons of Fenris
• Wolf's Honour

 

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Lore post The Primarch Project.

 

The Primarchs Project.

At the end of the 30th millennium, the Emperor of Mankind had finished his dream of the Unification War of Terra. His thoughts were focused on the future and the next path he envisioned for humanity. This vision required the creation of genetically engineered transhuman generals, given Archeotech gifted abilities, along with warpcraft and the Emperor's own genetic material. These beings were to be his sons and lead not just humanity into the next age but also legions crafted from their genetic material, created in their own image. The dream that would become the Primarch Project actually started before the Unification War, but had to be stalled until Terra was in the Emperor's grasp. Twenty individual genetic templates were crafted in the Himalazian mountains (Himalayan) deep under the imperial palace.

 Even though the lab was guarded and under the strictest protections the Emperor could create, the Ruinous Powers somehow managed to scatter the nascent superhumans across the universe. Dismayed but not broken, the Emperor settled on a new plan. He would create the Space Marine Legions from the Primarchs' remaining DNA, and they would set out on the Great Crusade to find them. The worlds the Primarchs landed on would shape them for good or ill. Later research from imperial savants would postulate that the intervention of Chaos in the Primarchs' development was where the Heresy taint would take root.

The Emperors gene-crafted sons were created with a multitude of abilities and gifts, ready for their intended tasks and responsibilities. Their superhuman physiology enabled them to be larger, faster, and stronger, with a mind that could process data in larger quantities than could ever be truly quantified. They could survive toxins and poisons to an extreme level. Their regenerative healing could bring them back from the most extreme of injuries, with more focus and time needed for near-fatal injuries to regenerate. Once outside their gestation capsules, they aged to maturity rapidly within a few years, functionally immortal, with aging  stalled once there. The biological makeup involved with these beings is so complex that it probably will never be understood by anyone other than the enthroned Emperor. Within their minds, masses of information were loaded, instinctual understandings of combat strategy, a multitude of languages, and many complex subjects already known. Using these gifts, the majority of the Primarchs managed to revitalise or bring brand new ideas into being within the worlds they crashed into.

A connection to the Warp was within every member of this brotherhood; some say this was because the Warp was used in their creation. Varying levels of this are present within them, from having latent empathic abilities to having omega level psyker powers. They had an aura that, surrounded them nicknamed imaginatively the Primarch aura, which allowed them to inspire immediate loyalty. Some were even able to disappear from sight, avoiding attention from anything biological from viewing them or hiding their nature from people.

The Primarchs and their legions were as follows - 

1. Lion El 'Johnson - Dark Angels
2. Redacted - all information destroyed 
3. Fulgrim - The Emperor's Children
4. Perturabo - Iron Warriors
5. Jaghatai Khan - White Scars
6. Leman Russ - Space Wolves
7. Rogal Dorn - Imperial Fists
8. Konrad Curze - Night Lords
9. Sanguinius - Blood Angels
10. Ferrus Mannus - Iron Hands
11. Redacted- all information destroyed
12. Angron - World Eaters
13. Raboute Guilliman - Ultramarines
14. Mortarion - Death Guard
15. Magnus the Red - Thousand Sons
16. Horus - Sons of Horus
17. Lorgar - Word Bearers
18. Vulkan - Salamanders
19. Corvus Corax - Raven Guard
20. Alpharius Omegon (twins) - Alpha Legion

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Ragnars Claw Book review spoiler free...ish

 

Ragnar's Claw by William King.

The second installment of the Space Wolves Trilogy, following the exploits of Ragnar Blackmane on the world of Aerius, along with Inquisitor Sternberg. Sent to find the Talisman of Lykos to save the world from the forces of Nurgle, to cure the world's corruption, and with a cameo from marauding Orks. The prologue of this novel is similar to the previous book, with it being ahead in the timeline on the world of Hesperida, which leaves Ragnar reflecting on the memory of Aerius. This Novel is as good as the first, with some really good moments of combat and parts of expanding Ragnar's character, expanding on the fact that Ragnar struggles to control the beast within sometimes, and the ever present danger of becoming a twisted Wulfen. Strybjorn and Sven feature heavily, along with Ragnar, as their task unfolds. Some middle trilogy books fall into the danger of just being a filler book with no real storyline or a boring plot. This book dodges that trap and adds another great read to the Space Wolves library and enhances the legend of Ragnar altogether. 

William King delivers a great read with a dynamic plot that flows nicely with all the aspects you want from a 40k universe book. Carrying on from the first and setting up the third book well, King manages to make Ragnar stand out from a character heavy world and shows off his unique qualities without it being too obvious. Even though Strybjorn and Sven are heavily involved, he manages to bring Ragnar to the forefront without sidelining them. The unique aspects of the Space Wolf culture and the idiosyncrasies of the chapter are shown in good detail, which feels natural to the reader. Finishing the book makes you eager to begin the third and it doesn't repeatedly go over the same details that are in the first book. if you are interested in the Space Wolves or Ragnar himself, then you will enjoy this and I recommend it as a book you can't miss out on. 

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Corax Lord of the Shadows spoiler free...ish

 

Corax Lord of the Shadows by Guy Haley.

The Next book from the Primarch Series I am reviewing is one of my favorites. Again, this novel is only a short story, but it makes up for the lack of length with its content and pacing. Based during the Great Crusade Corvus Corax is tasked to bring the city of Zenith of Carinae into compliance, but because of a bio-weapon, it does not quite go to plan. Because of the upbringing that the Raven Lord was forced to endure, he is more sensitive to the problems regarding freedom and where freedom is denied to the people of the worlds brought into the Imperium. He finds himself unable to look away from the needs of the common people when they are repressed and forced into what is effectively slavery. He is more than happy to become the scourge of the oppressors, their plight hits too close to home for him to ignore. This novel highlights parts of that nature, showing his compassion. This installment to the series also addresses briefly what the gene-flaw called the Sable Brand does to his sons, and that some of his sons are blessed with a lesser form of his stealth ability and why they are put into the special units of Shadow Wardens.

I really got into this novel when I first read it, and since then have read a few other books of the Raven Guard books. Corax is one of the Primarchs I really find interesting, and the fact that he has now become a Warp twisted shadow of death and pointy things obsessed with hunting down and killing the universe's least likable Primarch (my opinion only) makes him even more likable. This novel has all the qualities you could want from a Great Crusade era book, action, politics, moments of danger for the protagonist, and a real antagonist to throw the heroes against. I would have liked this to be longer, but overall the pacing works with the plot of the balance of action is equalled out, so there aren't many lulls of action and filler parts to the story that are there to pad it out. This is for me one of the top books of the series, and I recommend it as a must read for any Raven Guard fan or if you want to read any more Crusade era books.

If you want to read any more Corax or Raven Guard books I would suggest -

• Corax Soulforge
• Deliverance lost
• Ravenlord
• The Shadowmasters
• The value of Fear
• Sons of Corax 

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Path of the Seer book review spoiler free...ish

 

Path of the Seer by Gavin Thorpe.

The second book in the Path of the Eldar series focuses on the Eldar Thirianna from the Craftworld Alaitoc. She begins on the path of the poet, but seeks a change and the path of the seer calls to her. Once she starts and is diving into the warp to see the many threats and dangers of the immaterium, she comes across a vision that shows a devastating danger approaching. Although the Path of the Eldar is not my favorite trilogy from the 40k universe, I did enjoy learning more about how the pathways work, along with the activities of the Eldar on the Craftworlds. Thirianna is known from the Path of the Warrior book, but in this book we see her perspective much more as a character. I found her quite vanilla, but the path of the seer and how it works once on the path was interesting.

In my opinion, the novel isn't groundbreaking, but it's also not terrible. I would say it's a comfortable middle ground between them both. It is worth reading if you want to learn more about the Craftworld Eldar, and it brings with it some nice bits of information about their lifestyles. Gav Thorpe has managed to bring some good aspects into the novel, like parts where she goes into the webway whilst in astral form, and some interesting bits about Bonesingers and others like them. There are a few parts of action and more information about the War Masks donned by the Eldar for battle. All in all, the book was good but not quite managing to reach the heights of other books of the series.

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The Black Legion book review spoiler free...ish

 

The Black Legion by Aaron Dembski-Bowden.

The next book is the second in the Black Legion series imaginatively named Black Legion. Name aside, this is another fantastic book from Dembski-Bowden. Iskandar Khayon is one of the strongest psykers in the Black Legion, being the only one strong enough to bring Magnus the Red to his knees. He was also one of the few to try to stop the Rubric of Ahriman. Khayon's sister, Itzara was a victim of the immaterium native Psychneuein attack. which left her with irrecoverable brain damage. She was given to the Mechanicum of Prospero as part of their anamnesis project, leaving her installed as part of the warship Talocs machine spirit. In this novel Khayon is a captive of the imperium after he handed himself in voluntarily. 

I find Iskandar Khayon a very captivating character; his reasoning for becoming a renegade is understandable, as he actually has some morals regarding the crew and lower status warriors. This middle novel of the trilogy does a disservice to him by not highlighting that, but it's only a small negative for what all in all is a good, solid addition to the lore of the black legion. I enjoyed this novel and how the plot unfolds. Dembski-Bowden really starts with a brilliant opening and carries it on going forward. I preferred these books compared to the Ahriman trilogy and other books featuring the Thousand Sons legion so far. As of yet, we're still waiting for the final installment of this trilogy, and I hope it's as strong as these two. 

If you're interested in other Thousand Sons related books, I recommend,

• A Thousand Sons
• Prospero Burns
• The Crimson King
• Last Son of Prospero

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Manflayer book review spoiler free...ish

 

Manflayer by Josh Reynolds.

The final book of the fantastic Fabius Bile series. This novel starts off just after Fabius has returned from the Dark City Commorragh, where he had a very twisted version of an apprenticeship with the Haemonculus coven the Thirteen Scars, which ended with him absconding, leading to the beginning of the novel. Within this novel we meet up with some old friends and enemies, including a Slaanesh warped Fulgrim and a rather offended Daemon. Fabius brings his usual special blend of moody genius and martyrdom to enjoy, and for me it really hit the mark and brought his character full circle. Fabius is one of my favorite characters, and I enjoy his books each time I read them. 

Josh Reynolds does a brilliant job of showing the scale of what is at stake for Fabius and his sometimes allies. The truth of this is shown by the actions of his consortium when the final part of this novel begins. There are many part answered questions from the previous two novels that get fully answered here. The book isn't only about these questions, there are new aspects brought in to enjoy. If you would like to read something that doesn't just include nothing but bolters and chainblades, then this series is a must read for you. It's a well thought out and presented novel that you will enjoy if you want more of Fabius, the final climactic chapters really do bring it all together and for me it's one of my favorite endings to any 40k universe novels.

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