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A review by st_ruben
Fulgrim by Graham McNeill
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The fifth book in the Horus Heresy series starts similar to the previous one; it recounts the events of the first three books from the perspective of a new legion/character. This time it’s the emperor’s children with their troubled, perfectionistic, primarch Fulgrim.
The books takes much longer to really show it’s hands compared to the previous ones. The stage-setting and characters seem almost comically stereotypical and the greater purpose of most is only made clear much later. But, the rollercoaster that follows a somewhat tame first half is worth it from a lore perspective alone.
The theme of the book is “pride”, with all its (im)perfections, glory, and sacrifices. I personally never felt much connection with the hedonic nature of the (post-heresy) Emperor’s Children. Yet, the undiluted suffering and guilt that has been the foundation of much of the choices made in the book gave the entire legion some depth that made me enamoured with (and grief-stricken for) these purple bois.
The books takes much longer to really show it’s hands compared to the previous ones. The stage-setting and characters seem almost comically stereotypical and the greater purpose of most is only made clear much later. But, the rollercoaster that follows a somewhat tame first half is worth it from a lore perspective alone.
The theme of the book is “pride”, with all its (im)perfections, glory, and sacrifices. I personally never felt much connection with the hedonic nature of the (post-heresy) Emperor’s Children. Yet, the undiluted suffering and guilt that has been the foundation of much of the choices made in the book gave the entire legion some depth that made me enamoured with (and grief-stricken for) these purple bois.