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A review by aoc
Fulgrim by Graham McNeill
4.0
As seems to be the practice with Horus Heresy novels we are yet again moving back to an already visited point in time from a different perspective. With Fulgrim we go all the way back to the beginning and step into the shoes of the eponymous Primarch of the Emperor's Children Legion. We see the man before the fall and all the choices that lead to his regret.
Keeping in mind these reviews come from someone familiar with events transpiring in Warhammer 40 000 these novels get to flesh out in greater details, how could you NOT think Fulgrim was bad news? We're talking about about a Primarch who's all about striving for perfection, be it martial, artistic, etc. and molding his entire Legion in both ethos and image. That kind of mentality easily lends itself to arrogance and sense of superiority. Not even the brotherly relationship he has with Ferrus Manus really tempers that as it is an awkward dynamic where one is too blunt to care for subtlety while other considers himself so superior to overlook perceived jabs. These are important things to keep in mind because although Fulgrim the novel covers the cataclysmic fall the Emperor's Children undergo it is more so pivotal in portraying Fulgrim the Primarch. In minor part it also features Ferrus Manus who sadly leaves the events of Horus Heresy early on and as such never receives much characterization. I found it intriguing that he of all the Primarch, one who is very straightforward in both artisan and martial ways, works so well paired with artiste that is Fulgrim, and two of them have some tremendous moments. Sadly they all come too late as events of Isstvan V roll around and Heresy is underway making this galactic tragedy all the greater for it.
Would I recommend Fulgrim? By this point you already know if you're into the series or not, but it is an important novel if you wish to see how Chaos works its way through the cracks of Astartes' armor. Fulgrim also happens to set the stage for greater events as more Primarch are name dropped. I just hope we can finally move past these events we've been revolving around since book one.
Keeping in mind these reviews come from someone familiar with events transpiring in Warhammer 40 000 these novels get to flesh out in greater details, how could you NOT think Fulgrim was bad news? We're talking about about a Primarch who's all about striving for perfection, be it martial, artistic, etc. and molding his entire Legion in both ethos and image. That kind of mentality easily lends itself to arrogance and sense of superiority. Not even the brotherly relationship he has with Ferrus Manus really tempers that as it is an awkward dynamic where one is too blunt to care for subtlety while other considers himself so superior to overlook perceived jabs. These are important things to keep in mind because although Fulgrim the novel covers the cataclysmic fall the Emperor's Children undergo it is more so pivotal in portraying Fulgrim the Primarch. In minor part it also features Ferrus Manus who sadly leaves the events of Horus Heresy early on and as such never receives much characterization. I found it intriguing that he of all the Primarch, one who is very straightforward in both artisan and martial ways, works so well paired with artiste that is Fulgrim, and two of them have some tremendous moments. Sadly they all come too late as events of Isstvan V roll around and Heresy is underway making this galactic tragedy all the greater for it.
Would I recommend Fulgrim? By this point you already know if you're into the series or not, but it is an important novel if you wish to see how Chaos works its way through the cracks of Astartes' armor. Fulgrim also happens to set the stage for greater events as more Primarch are name dropped. I just hope we can finally move past these events we've been revolving around since book one.