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I started reading the Horus Heresy novels a while back, randomly picking whichever book was available in the FLGS, which led to a few great reads (like Legion and Scars) but also to a few more dubious ones (like Cybernetica). I was wondering if anyone on Dakka is regularly reviewing the various HH novels, and if not, if anyone would be interested in reading such reviews.

I often look, but there are no serious or trustworthy reviewers I could find. Most of the stuff is pretty bad, but asking around for suggestions will score you some decent ones.

I would recommend A Thousand Sons and Mechanicum books. Still I would not write a review.

I've heard some great things about both books, I'll definitely pick them up sometime in the future

There's just a lot of stuff from Black Library that isn't well-known enough to get many reviews, which makes it pretty hard to choose new reading material outside the 'big' releases, and even those aren't always that great...

I've read a few HH novels, and I find them generally superior to other 40K books. Well, maybe, typically as good as the best of other 40K books is more accurate. That's probably by design, I think they are meant to put the BL's best foot forward. Now, I never met a BL book I didn't like because I read them for the subject matter, not the prose. If it's fine reading I want, I tend to read classics. But, snobby as that sounds, I notice I own and have read more Dan Abnett books than any other author. No matter, a 40K/HH books has to be judged compared to its peers. If you want to read a great war novel, read For Whom the Bell Tolls. If you want to read a great HH book, read Know no Fear.

Yeah, I've really enjoyed reading the Horus Heresy series so far, it's just that I've recently started to take an interest in the more low-key releases from the series, like the audiobooks or the quick reads, and those just aren't as popular as the main books.

...which means you can end up with books like Cybernetica, where one of the characters is named after a James Bond villain (the fact that he's the only character from a Traitor Legion doesn't help much either)

Not to mention the book felt like it was written more as the storyline for a videogame (which, to be honest, I certainly wouldn't say no to) rather than a regular novel.

Horus Rising
False Gods
Galaxy in Flames
The Flight of the Eisenstein

the first 4 books in the series are an excellent setup to the main characters of the Luna Wolves that become central to events that kick off the core action of the heresy. I would say they're all action packed reads with characters you can get into and find yourself literally looking up from your book and realizing it's 5 AM and you've read through most of the night not realizing it.

Fulgrim

This book has to stand on it's own. I haven't read a book that's gone quite that extreme. It's a good book, with some disturbing imagry. It depicts the fall of the Emperor's children. If I had to categorize this book it would be a something that Marquis de Sade would be proud of, and I think a lot of what happens in this book is actually taken in parts from 101 days of Sodom, so, no surprise there. Again it's a good read, but a tough read in some parts.

Mechanicum

One of the few non-marine HH books that are also a good read. This book starts thousands of years in the past and then jumps forwards but provides some interesting insight into the Mechanicum, and the politics of Mars. It's a recommended read.

Prospero Burns
The Outcast Dead
A take it or leave it novel. It's a good read as a stand alone story but none of the players are main characters and it's another novel that if you skipped you wouldn't really miss too much about actual events of the heresy. It's still a good read, but I would look at it as more of a stand alone novel that could exist outside the events of the heresy and be a good read.

Deliverance Lost
The events that lead to Corvus Corax hiding himself away and the horrible secret of Raven Guard following the dropsite massacre. Read it or not. You actually wont' miss too much. It's not that great of a read. But it does spend a book on the Ravens so if you're a fan it's a must read.

Know No Fear
A must read. The events that lead up the Betrayal At Calth. A great read action packed and a lot of primarch action.

The Primarchs
One of the few short story books that's worth a read. Go for it. You won't be overly dissappointed. It's not a great read, but it does spend some time on the primarchs as central characters.

Fear to Tread
The Blood Angels trap that nearly causes their fall to chaos. A great read it's a recommended book.

Angel Exterminatus
another great read. We bring the focus back to the Emperors Children as well as Perturabo and the Iron Warriors. while the Emperiors Children are fully gone to chaos they seem to have worked out the crazy depravities of Fulgrim and are on a normal level of Chaos crazy in this novel. A good read and more insight into primarch motivations.

Descent of Angels
If your looking for an origin story on the Dark Angels. It's a must read. As it relates to the HH it's a weak link at best. It does provide some insight into the relationship between Luther and his primarch and the ultimate seeds of betrayal that tears the legion apart, but really if you want to focus on the actual events of the heresy. Skip it. You won't miss a thing.

Legion
This is a book that's mostly a yawn read. It's supposedly focused on the Alpha Legion but they are actually side actors to the main character of John Grammaticus and the introduction of his special ability. The book is not particularly well written and might as well have avoided the Alpha Legion references entierly and it would have become a better book. Read it because while Grammaticus' character is not really in a lot of the HH novels, he is a lynchpin to the ultimate result in the heresy.

Battle for the Abyss
A good read, but again this was another book that might as well have not been about the heresy for all the impact it had on the actual events of the heresy. I think of this book as filler fluff in between the actual events of the heresy you're interested in reading about. Read it because it's a good read, not because it tells you anything worthwhile about the HH.

Tales of Heresy
A reasonable collection of short stories. Not a whole lot info as it relates to the HH. This is another book to read because it has good stories, not because it advances the HH in any meaningful way.

Fallen Angels
Several books later we return to the Dark Angels and an actual story at least somewhat tied closer to the actual events and timeline in the HH. Not a good read, but if you're a fan of the Dark Angels it's a recommended read. It does go into good depth regarding Luther and his motivations as well as Zahariel. the Lion is mostly an afterthought in this novel. It's focused mostly on the Caliban actors of the HH.

A Thousand Sons
Back to the actual events of the Heresy now. A key event is the council of Nikea and the betrayal of the Emperor's decree by Magnus and their Greek Tragedy of events that leads to their downfall. It's a must read.

Nemesis
Another book you could skip and not miss anything. It follows a Dream Team of assassins as they try to kill Horus. Nothing here that advances the HH plot. It's just another filler piece. It's a good read as a stand alone 40K novel, but has no place in the Heresy series. Read it because it's a good read, not because it's a good HH novel.

The First Heretic
A dozen or so books in and this is the actual start of the HH as most people would see it. It's the fall of the Word Bearers legion and the start of the seeds of heresy in all other legions. Gain good insight into the legion and it's main players. A definite Must Read

Prospero Burns
Part 2 in the destruction and decent of the Thousand Sons. A must read.

Age of Darkness
The short stories are starting to get thin on good story telling and some of them are starting to look like forced fillers. I'd skip this one entirely.

Shadows of Treachery
A good selection of worthwhile short stories that actually outline semi-important events in the HH timeline. A worthy read.

Vengeful Spirit
This book seems to re-write some of the Emperor's abilities. He was essentially a god before he visits Molech and somehow he's more of a god after visiting Molech. I dunno. It's a dubious Deus Ex Machina for how Horus gets to Big E level of power to face of against him. But at least read it because it does advance the HH events, if albeit somewhat conspicuously. The writing is good. The actual planning of the story and plot is not well thought out in my opinion.


Legacies of Betrayal
Skip it. More short stories that don't advance the HH events in any meaningful way. It feels like they're just stretching out the main stories now.

Betrayer
The Word Bearers and World Eaters are running amok in Ultramar space. Primarily focuses on the two primarchs and their related captains. A great read.

Mark of Calth
I could take it or leave it. It's a good stand alone HH novel. It does nothing to advance the HH events but it does give you some ideas about what life is like on Calth for whoever is left alive

Vulkan Lives
A ridiculous novel that should not have been written. I look at it as though it's a What If Marvel Comic book and I can stomach the read.

The Unremembered Empire. Whoever wrote this obviously was not comparing plot and notes with the writer and editors of Vulkan Lives. And that's why you have to look at Vulkan Lives as though it's a What If because Vulkan goes from being an iron willed primarch who can survive anything to being a mentally handicapped Chekov's Gun. He's just a writer's trope in this story so why bother? Otherwise this has an epic battle of primarchs and it's a worthwhile read if you can get past Vulkan.

Scars
All the White Scars short stories compiled and re-sold to you again... If you can look past that it's actually a good read and provides the only real info on what the hell was going on with the White Scars this whole time.

The Damnation of Pythos
It's another standalone store that at least for the time being appears to have no actual bearing on the real events of the HH. It could be it's own stand alone space marine novel set in 40K time instead of 30K and you wouldn't know the difference.

@disdamn's reviews are fantastic and I agree with nearly everything there.
I would add the one book missed:

Deathfire
Adds to the storyline of Vulkan Lives and actually improves that story considerably by association. It also touches slightly on the story of The Unremembered Empire and again slightly improves it. Read if you have any interest in the Salamanders, but if you despise them you could skip.

I would also add that all the short story compilations could be skipped with little impact. If you aren't sure try The Primarchs, if this doesn't satisfy then the rest wont.

@disdamn: I found your list to be a good comprehensive guide.

Thanks for the feedback. Appreciate that people seem to agree with my reviews. These only cover the novels I've read so far. I hadn't read Deathfire so I didn't put it up for review.

Thanks for the reviews disdamn! I don't agree with everything you've said, but that was to be expected

By the way, I've read a couple of Black Library's Quick Reads recently, would anyone like a review on them?

disdamn's review roundup stands alone, and is a must read! Thanks, Man!