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ratgrrrl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
CW: Self-Harm, Ignored Consent, Misogyny, Bioessentialism, False Sexual Assault Allegations
February 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus IV Shattersong (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus/iv-shattersong) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga.
***
Initial Reaction:
I believe this is at least the fourth time I've read this book with the majority of readings being a very different experience of, which this one was no different, although most likely the apotheosis of my feelings on this strange book.
- My first reads around the time of its initial publishing perfect 5/5 no notes.
- The last time I read it, while trapped within the soul-scouring and mind melting panopticon that is Twitter, and in the reactionary grips of way too online 'wokescold/ tenderqueer' brain (better referred to as 'faux progressive' to avoid using right-wing terms), I DNF'd the book and the series so hard.
Normally, this is book five, both in release and the generally recommended read order, but through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I am coming to this as the tenth Horus Heresy novel I've read so far this run, we well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, the two Betrayal at Calth novellas, eighteen short stories and audio dramas, four Primarchs novels, three Primarch's short stories and audio dramas, and two Warhammer 40K further reading novels...which is wild. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
The Bad, the Good, and the Ugly
This book has some serious issues that I'm not sure if I'm more embarrassed about initially being oblivious as the egg I was, or the vehemence with which I felt the need to rant into the void about how problematic this book is. It is problematic and those elements should be addressed in reviewing it, but letting myself get so caught up and consumed by that and the paranoia and anxiety of existing on social media as someone with autism, ADHD, C-PTSD, and various chronic conditions meant that much of my time I only had the brainpower and energy to be online was no good for anyone. I'll get into specifics later.
This book is also beautifully written with some exalted prose and descriptions of Chaos, as well as brilliant Legion and Primarch interactions, not to mention how amazing the scenes with the Eldar are, and action/ combat that vacillates between good and excellent.
This book has a tertiary thread of minor plots following three Remembrancers on Fulgrim's flagship that somewhat act of the spine of the novel, containing the creation an item and building to an epic crescendo, both of which are extremely important to the main plot, the Legion, and the Primarch himself. The characterisation of the human artists (sculpter, painter, and composer) and the disjointed and abrupt telling and escalation of their narratives, in my opinion, undercut the quality of the whole novel. It doesn't help that the problematic elements of the hook are all directly related to these Remembrancers, the caricatures of tortured artists they are, and McNeill's flagrant misogyny, sexism, and, frankly, archaic understanding of people, especially women. It's a broken support beam that is also riddled with termites on an otherwise resplendent ship.
I want to love this book and, honestly, there is so much I really do adore. I find it so confusing that McNeill is at his best and worst here in terms of the quality of prose, the plotting and characters, and his, seemingly, incredibly shitty and just plain wrong views about sex, gender, self-harm, and sexual assault.
I'm glad I can appreciate the good and call out, but not get lost in and put off by the bad. This is the book I've been waiting for a worrying about, after my last reading and failed attempt at completing the Horus Heresy. Art is complicated and everyone draws their own lines or has their own threshold and triggers around the inclusion and handling of certain topics and ignorant, harmful views.
There is the potential for one of the greatest Horus Heresy novels in these pages, marred by some bad writing and worse views.
(I'll hopefully come back to this when it's all had some time to percolate)
February 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus IV Shattersong (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus/iv-shattersong) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga.
***
Initial Reaction:
I believe this is at least the fourth time I've read this book with the majority of readings being a very different experience of, which this one was no different, although most likely the apotheosis of my feelings on this strange book.
- My first reads around the time of its initial publishing perfect 5/5 no notes.
- The last time I read it, while trapped within the soul-scouring and mind melting panopticon that is Twitter, and in the reactionary grips of way too online 'wokescold/ tenderqueer' brain (better referred to as 'faux progressive' to avoid using right-wing terms), I DNF'd the book and the series so hard.
Normally, this is book five, both in release and the generally recommended read order, but through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I am coming to this as the tenth Horus Heresy novel I've read so far this run, we well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, the two Betrayal at Calth novellas, eighteen short stories and audio dramas, four Primarchs novels, three Primarch's short stories and audio dramas, and two Warhammer 40K further reading novels...which is wild. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
The Bad, the Good, and the Ugly
This book has some serious issues that I'm not sure if I'm more embarrassed about initially being oblivious as the egg I was, or the vehemence with which I felt the need to rant into the void about how problematic this book is. It is problematic and those elements should be addressed in reviewing it, but letting myself get so caught up and consumed by that and the paranoia and anxiety of existing on social media as someone with autism, ADHD, C-PTSD, and various chronic conditions meant that much of my time I only had the brainpower and energy to be online was no good for anyone. I'll get into specifics later.
This book is also beautifully written with some exalted prose and descriptions of Chaos, as well as brilliant Legion and Primarch interactions, not to mention how amazing the scenes with the Eldar are, and action/ combat that vacillates between good and excellent.
This book has a tertiary thread of minor plots following three Remembrancers on Fulgrim's flagship that somewhat act of the spine of the novel, containing the creation an item and building to an epic crescendo, both of which are extremely important to the main plot, the Legion, and the Primarch himself. The characterisation of the human artists (sculpter, painter, and composer) and the disjointed and abrupt telling and escalation of their narratives, in my opinion, undercut the quality of the whole novel. It doesn't help that the problematic elements of the hook are all directly related to these Remembrancers, the caricatures of tortured artists they are, and McNeill's flagrant misogyny, sexism, and, frankly, archaic understanding of people, especially women. It's a broken support beam that is also riddled with termites on an otherwise resplendent ship.
I want to love this book and, honestly, there is so much I really do adore. I find it so confusing that McNeill is at his best and worst here in terms of the quality of prose, the plotting and characters, and his, seemingly, incredibly shitty and just plain wrong views about sex, gender, self-harm, and sexual assault.
I'm glad I can appreciate the good and call out, but not get lost in and put off by the bad. This is the book I've been waiting for a worrying about, after my last reading and failed attempt at completing the Horus Heresy. Art is complicated and everyone draws their own lines or has their own threshold and triggers around the inclusion and handling of certain topics and ignorant, harmful views.
There is the potential for one of the greatest Horus Heresy novels in these pages, marred by some bad writing and worse views.
(I'll hopefully come back to this when it's all had some time to percolate)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Self harm, and Misogyny
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