Since Horus Rising, in 2006, I've waited for every book in this series to be released eagerly. Now bear with me, I'm trying to do this without spoilers and aim to eer on the side of caution.A Thousand Sons has not disappointed, taking slightly longer than usual for me to read over three evenings (not wanting to damage the shiny gold cover dragging it to work in the bag). But was definitely worth it.
The book opens to the typical image in the series of a legion as it was 10,000 years before the current game universe (for anybody not familiar with the Horus Heresy, the series is set 10,000 years before the current setting of Warhammer 40,000).
Graham McNeill sets a good scene, portraying well the idea of the genetically enhanced psychic warrior scholar, but also plenty of hooks and flags that keep you guessing what is going to happen, or make you realise you should have guessed that earlier, but without making it too obvious. There's a good use of background from the series, and the wider game universe, and it's always interesting to see the different Black Library authors portrayal of the Emperor of mankind, which i think McNeill does well.
I like how Magnus is written, with the arrogance of a demi-god shining through unfiltered, but not the same violent arrogance of Russ. I always had the image of Magnus as a fantasy type cyclops, but prefer the missing eye, and the explanation, version here. And the wolves of Russ are captured better in the few chapters they appear than the last two books of the space wolf series...
It will be interesting to see the similarities and differences in Prospero Burns.
My main criticism would be it needed another 50-100 pages, the end felt too rushed, too crammed in and too many loose ends(I REALLY HATE LOOSE ENDS LOL), which just seems a shame after the impressive build up, but I enjoyed the book over all and I'm still wanting to know what's happening and what will happen next...
Posts
