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The Macharian Crusade #1
Angel of Fire
At the dawn of the forty-first millennium, Lord Commander Macharius and his forces embark upon the re-conquest of over a thousand worlds. A man of steel and fire, Macharius is the only one with the will to lead the massed armies of the Imperium to victory. As the crusade rolls onwards, it reaches the world of Karsk. In the city of Irongrad, the Imperial forces face the crusade’s end, unless Macharius and his army can defeat the dreaded Angel of Fire.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2012
19 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
William King
349 books718 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 19, 2020
"Angel of Fire" is one of those interesting 40K novels in that it focuses on normal members of the Imperial Guard. The basis for this novel seems to be inspired by "All Quiet on the Western Front" and similar war novels. What I mean is that it follows a small unit of soldiers and revolves around their impressions and feelings.
The crew of the Baneblade tank "Indomitable" has been together for several campaigns. Told from the standpoint of Leo, it really covers the story of the members of the Indomitable. When their tank is sent to Karsk, as part of an Imperial armada, to fight possible traitors the story starts.
Along the way, as the crew suffers losses it also comes under the notice of Lord Commander Macharius. Macharius is a rather famous Imperial commander and this is the first novel exploring his adventures.
Without becoming spoilery- the crew becomes the personal guards of the Lord Commander. When it turns out that the traitors on Karsk are far more than what was expected and that the "Angel of Fire" is likely a daemon- that is when the events take a dark turn. Accompanied by the Lord Commander, Inquisitor Drake and an Imperial Assassin named Anna- they must work together to defeat a terrible threat to the Imperium.
It is not often that you will find baseline humans of the Imperial Guard as the main "heroes" of a massive campaign.I enjoyed this look at ordinary troopers and the style of the novel with Leo as the main protagonist, we see the conflict through his eyes. In fact the only time you will run into a Space Marine in this book is at the very start where the crew is saved from an enemy counterattack by a group of Death Spectres. The rest of the story is all about the Imperial Guard.
A good and fun read. I really liked them focusing on the Guard versus the standard Space Marine or super-powered Inquisitor or whatnot. A nice addition to my Warhammer 40k collection.
The crew of the Baneblade tank "Indomitable" has been together for several campaigns. Told from the standpoint of Leo, it really covers the story of the members of the Indomitable. When their tank is sent to Karsk, as part of an Imperial armada, to fight possible traitors the story starts.
Along the way, as the crew suffers losses it also comes under the notice of Lord Commander Macharius. Macharius is a rather famous Imperial commander and this is the first novel exploring his adventures.
Without becoming spoilery- the crew becomes the personal guards of the Lord Commander. When it turns out that the traitors on Karsk are far more than what was expected and that the "Angel of Fire" is likely a daemon- that is when the events take a dark turn. Accompanied by the Lord Commander, Inquisitor Drake and an Imperial Assassin named Anna- they must work together to defeat a terrible threat to the Imperium.
It is not often that you will find baseline humans of the Imperial Guard as the main "heroes" of a massive campaign.I enjoyed this look at ordinary troopers and the style of the novel with Leo as the main protagonist, we see the conflict through his eyes. In fact the only time you will run into a Space Marine in this book is at the very start where the crew is saved from an enemy counterattack by a group of Death Spectres. The rest of the story is all about the Imperial Guard.
A good and fun read. I really liked them focusing on the Guard versus the standard Space Marine or super-powered Inquisitor or whatnot. A nice addition to my Warhammer 40k collection.
February 4, 2017
To be fair to the author, the biggest problem I had with Angel of Fire was my mistaken assumption as to what sort of story it would be - to be fair to myself, this mistake could have been avoided had the blurb on the back of the book been more accurate. After parsing the blurb, I was under the impression that Angel of Fire would focus upon Solar Macharius: a general who conquers planets for breakfast, and who bears the weight of the universe on his shoulders. I liked the idea of reading about a strategist in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, rather than a warrior - but alas, what I found was the reverse. The story opens with a framing device not too dissimilar from that King employs in his books about Ragnar Blackmane or Gotrek and Felix, which makes it clear that the main protagonist will actually be a fairly normal Guardsman named Leo. Macharius is only seen fleetingly for the first half of the novel, which consists primarily of tank battles and the occupation of a hostile city; when Macharius eventually joins the main cast of characters for good, the plot proceeds with a 'trapped behind enemy lines' sort of scenario, rather than the 'overseeing everything from a command bunker' I had hoped for. Basically, I would have been very happy to read a book about Macharius where he never actually comes face-to-face with an enemy; instead, he comes away with a body count to rival that of Hot Shots Part 2. Similarly, I wanted a hero who used ingenious sci-fi strategies to rout his enemies; instead, Macharius basically saves the day by virtue of stealing something that seems insignificant but turns out to be very useful.
Despite not being what I'd hoped for, the book wasn't bad - if you're looking to see some Imperial Guardsmen engage in a variety of 40K battles, from armoured blitzkriegs to underhive gunfights, Angel of Fire delivers a decent quantity of a decent quality. There's some nice banter at times, too, with fellow Guardsmen affectionately ribbing one another - my personal highlight was the appearance of one nameless tech-adept, who only gets a few lines but utilises some excellent machine-analogies for talking with normal humans. However, as a story it feels more like a prologue than an actual novel - Macharius himself is far too perfect to require a character arc, and Leo might get a promotion but the narrative doesn't give him any conclusion more satisfying that blasting some folk with a shotgun. Indeed, the story ends very abruptly, without resolving any of the issues hinted at by the framing device (the very first page mentions an Inquisitorial report "pertaining to the proposed canonisation of Lord High Commander Solar Macharius and to the investigation of former High Inquisitor Hyronimus Drake for heresy and treason against the Imperium"), and giving most of the characters nothing to do save for basking in the glory of Macharius. Sometimes, the first book in a trilogy can feel a bit lightweight as the author holds matters of greater substance back for the subsequent stories; however, it can also be a result of the writer simply not telling a very interesting story, and I doubt I'll ever take the time to read on far enough into this series to find out which is the case here.
Overall, this is a tough novel to recommend - devout 40K fans and die-hard treadheads might glean more enjoyment from this than I did, but I'm sure there are plentiful books of similar tone and equal or superior quality. Indeed, I moved on to Guy Haley's Baneblade directly after finishing Angel of Fire, and (although I am only halfway through it) I would recommend the latter over the former. If you don't intend to subject the plot to any scrutiny, and just want to read about unnamed traitors getting lasgunned down and chainsworded in great numbers, you'll get a good dose of that here - but more discerning readers should avoid this like the Mark of Nurgle.
Despite not being what I'd hoped for, the book wasn't bad - if you're looking to see some Imperial Guardsmen engage in a variety of 40K battles, from armoured blitzkriegs to underhive gunfights, Angel of Fire delivers a decent quantity of a decent quality. There's some nice banter at times, too, with fellow Guardsmen affectionately ribbing one another - my personal highlight was the appearance of one nameless tech-adept, who only gets a few lines but utilises some excellent machine-analogies for talking with normal humans. However, as a story it feels more like a prologue than an actual novel - Macharius himself is far too perfect to require a character arc, and Leo might get a promotion but the narrative doesn't give him any conclusion more satisfying that blasting some folk with a shotgun. Indeed, the story ends very abruptly, without resolving any of the issues hinted at by the framing device (the very first page mentions an Inquisitorial report "pertaining to the proposed canonisation of Lord High Commander Solar Macharius and to the investigation of former High Inquisitor Hyronimus Drake for heresy and treason against the Imperium"), and giving most of the characters nothing to do save for basking in the glory of Macharius. Sometimes, the first book in a trilogy can feel a bit lightweight as the author holds matters of greater substance back for the subsequent stories; however, it can also be a result of the writer simply not telling a very interesting story, and I doubt I'll ever take the time to read on far enough into this series to find out which is the case here.
Overall, this is a tough novel to recommend - devout 40K fans and die-hard treadheads might glean more enjoyment from this than I did, but I'm sure there are plentiful books of similar tone and equal or superior quality. Indeed, I moved on to Guy Haley's Baneblade directly after finishing Angel of Fire, and (although I am only halfway through it) I would recommend the latter over the former. If you don't intend to subject the plot to any scrutiny, and just want to read about unnamed traitors getting lasgunned down and chainsworded in great numbers, you'll get a good dose of that here - but more discerning readers should avoid this like the Mark of Nurgle.
December 10, 2012
Angel of fire has an excellent story to be sure. I absolutely love reading about Macharius and his ability to unite everyone around him.
The writing was a bit..redundant. It has always bothered me when an author uses the same adjective within a few sentences. And the writing at times seemed a bit "choppy".
Despite this, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The writing was a bit..redundant. It has always bothered me when an author uses the same adjective within a few sentences. And the writing at times seemed a bit "choppy".
Despite this, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
December 27, 2023
A great start into the warhammer 40k universe.
April 13, 2019
Excellent book
August 13, 2013
As a work of fiction Angel of Fire is a hard book to judge. While writing it William King made some unusual choices which, while you can see why they were made, hinder the book as much as they serve to strengthen the narrative.
Following the events of the seven year Macharian Crusade, the book is told through the eyes of Baneblade crewman Leo Lemuel and his fellow soldiers as they mount an assault against a major target of the crusade. Fighting their way inside the Hive City of Irongrad, Lemuel and his comrades find themselves fighting at the side of astartes and even Lord Commander Macharius himself as they successfully take the city. However, it quickly becomes clear that occupying the hive is a far more difficult task. Especially in light of what lurks within its walls…
In many ways the book shares a number of parallels with that of the Ciaphas Cain series. It is written in the manner of a soldier’s diary, recording the events of the battles which are being collected following the campaign. Between the chapters are the occasional reports of Inquisitors and other reports, often used to flesh out events which could not be seen or explained by Lemuel himself. However whereas the Cain series is a work of comedy, Angel of Fire is played far more straight and has a far more tricks to make it seem like the genuine article.
Many quite obvious spelling errors occur with certain terminology or in records, often with words being done in two or more ways throughout the book. In any other novel this could be put down to bad editing, but combined with the ultra-short sentences and uncultured nature of the protagonist it’s more an effort to make it feel as if this is a record. Lemuel was a soldier after all, not a writer, and the style in which it is done is comparable with what you would expect of a soldier’s diary from the First World War. Very blunt, very basic, structure and lacking in a number of key areas.
In many respects this makes it more effective than the similar Last Chancers series, showing the mind of someone involved and those around him. From Macharius to his crew, you are given some indication of each person’s personality. While none of them are extraordinarily complex or overly compelling, they’re written with an element of humanity which manages to make each stand out. Despite the intentional shortcomings, the writings of Lemuel himself constantly felt as if they had originated from a person, unlike those from Vulkan Lives.
Most surprisingly the battle scenes are not hurt by this change in perspective, often having much of the strength and impact they would in any other tome. Lemuel’s notes do make them lack scope beyond skirmishes or what is directly in front of him, yet what he does see is fast paced and well documented.
For all it works however, the style does fail the story in a number of key areas, especially with Macharius himself. Being low ranking soldiers the characters see little of Macharius himself until a considerable way into the book, and despite this being his series we are given little insight into his personality. There’s no real opportunity to explore what makes him tick or his ultimate skills. Even for all the book tries to show his charisma and influence, it fails to truly back it up save for one or two scenes towards the conclusion. The distinct lack of any grandiose or weighty descriptions hardly helps.
Furthermore, Angel of Fire never feels as if it is trying to push any boundaries. Besides the way in which the book is written, no events ever surprise you and it never feels as if it is trying something with the story which hasn’t been done before. Or, unfortunately quite often, been done better in another Black Library book. The lack of a single discernible villain or a face to their enemy hardly helps matters.
While the cult of the Angel of Fire is shown to be a force of powerful zealotry and a true danger, no single leader ever appears to help characterise it. While some of the psychers help give their foe an identity, it just doesn’t go far enough. This shortcoming is hardly helped by the fact that King eventually resorts to an almost Gotrek and Felix style conclusion to events. An ending which feels more at home in a book of high adventure rather than the semi-stylised realism being presented in the first person perspective.
Ultimately this is very much a love it or hate it novel, depending very much upon the reader’s patience and enjoyment of its style. If you are an Imperial Guard fan or have enjoyed more characterised depictions of events, Angel of Fire will be worth your time but don’t expect to read it more than once or twice. As a trilogy opener it does its job, but fails to truly stand out.
Following the events of the seven year Macharian Crusade, the book is told through the eyes of Baneblade crewman Leo Lemuel and his fellow soldiers as they mount an assault against a major target of the crusade. Fighting their way inside the Hive City of Irongrad, Lemuel and his comrades find themselves fighting at the side of astartes and even Lord Commander Macharius himself as they successfully take the city. However, it quickly becomes clear that occupying the hive is a far more difficult task. Especially in light of what lurks within its walls…
In many ways the book shares a number of parallels with that of the Ciaphas Cain series. It is written in the manner of a soldier’s diary, recording the events of the battles which are being collected following the campaign. Between the chapters are the occasional reports of Inquisitors and other reports, often used to flesh out events which could not be seen or explained by Lemuel himself. However whereas the Cain series is a work of comedy, Angel of Fire is played far more straight and has a far more tricks to make it seem like the genuine article.
Many quite obvious spelling errors occur with certain terminology or in records, often with words being done in two or more ways throughout the book. In any other novel this could be put down to bad editing, but combined with the ultra-short sentences and uncultured nature of the protagonist it’s more an effort to make it feel as if this is a record. Lemuel was a soldier after all, not a writer, and the style in which it is done is comparable with what you would expect of a soldier’s diary from the First World War. Very blunt, very basic, structure and lacking in a number of key areas.
In many respects this makes it more effective than the similar Last Chancers series, showing the mind of someone involved and those around him. From Macharius to his crew, you are given some indication of each person’s personality. While none of them are extraordinarily complex or overly compelling, they’re written with an element of humanity which manages to make each stand out. Despite the intentional shortcomings, the writings of Lemuel himself constantly felt as if they had originated from a person, unlike those from Vulkan Lives.
Most surprisingly the battle scenes are not hurt by this change in perspective, often having much of the strength and impact they would in any other tome. Lemuel’s notes do make them lack scope beyond skirmishes or what is directly in front of him, yet what he does see is fast paced and well documented.
For all it works however, the style does fail the story in a number of key areas, especially with Macharius himself. Being low ranking soldiers the characters see little of Macharius himself until a considerable way into the book, and despite this being his series we are given little insight into his personality. There’s no real opportunity to explore what makes him tick or his ultimate skills. Even for all the book tries to show his charisma and influence, it fails to truly back it up save for one or two scenes towards the conclusion. The distinct lack of any grandiose or weighty descriptions hardly helps.
Furthermore, Angel of Fire never feels as if it is trying to push any boundaries. Besides the way in which the book is written, no events ever surprise you and it never feels as if it is trying something with the story which hasn’t been done before. Or, unfortunately quite often, been done better in another Black Library book. The lack of a single discernible villain or a face to their enemy hardly helps matters.
While the cult of the Angel of Fire is shown to be a force of powerful zealotry and a true danger, no single leader ever appears to help characterise it. While some of the psychers help give their foe an identity, it just doesn’t go far enough. This shortcoming is hardly helped by the fact that King eventually resorts to an almost Gotrek and Felix style conclusion to events. An ending which feels more at home in a book of high adventure rather than the semi-stylised realism being presented in the first person perspective.
Ultimately this is very much a love it or hate it novel, depending very much upon the reader’s patience and enjoyment of its style. If you are an Imperial Guard fan or have enjoyed more characterised depictions of events, Angel of Fire will be worth your time but don’t expect to read it more than once or twice. As a trilogy opener it does its job, but fails to truly stand out.
April 1, 2023
I struggled to get through this. I think it’s an older type of black library writing. Characters are good enough and I will carry on but felt as times like generic. Sci fi writing.
March 13, 2015
A long time since he last wrote in the 40k Universe, Angel of Fire sees William King's return to the Grim Darkness (TM) of the Far Future, and it's a welcome comeback. It is the dawn of the 41st Millennium, and for once things are looking bright for the Imperium of Man. After centuries of civil war, mankind is once again being united world by world and system by system by the galaxy's greatest soldier, Lord Solar Macharius.
Macharius himself is not the main character here, though. Instead, we are introduced to the close-knit crew of a massive Baneblade super-heavy tank, a few men among millions in the armies of the Macharian Crusade. This is a wise choice, as Macharius himself - very clearly modelled on Alexander the Great - would be a dull POV character, a strategic genius whose mind operates on a level far beyond the comprehension of the reader, and too perfect and saintly to relate to.
The action - and there's a lot of action here - concerns a Hive World's capture by the crusade, and the struggle to hold it against a bizarre local cult of powerful pyromancers. The scale of the conflict might be massive, involving tens of thousands of men, thousands of tanks, and the massive god-like Titan battle machines, but we only ever see the carnage through the eyes of the tank crew, making it not just comprehensible but visceral, and grounded by a constant stream of gallows humour.
This is a terrific read, fast-paced, action-packed, and not too long. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed every page.
Macharius himself is not the main character here, though. Instead, we are introduced to the close-knit crew of a massive Baneblade super-heavy tank, a few men among millions in the armies of the Macharian Crusade. This is a wise choice, as Macharius himself - very clearly modelled on Alexander the Great - would be a dull POV character, a strategic genius whose mind operates on a level far beyond the comprehension of the reader, and too perfect and saintly to relate to.
The action - and there's a lot of action here - concerns a Hive World's capture by the crusade, and the struggle to hold it against a bizarre local cult of powerful pyromancers. The scale of the conflict might be massive, involving tens of thousands of men, thousands of tanks, and the massive god-like Titan battle machines, but we only ever see the carnage through the eyes of the tank crew, making it not just comprehensible but visceral, and grounded by a constant stream of gallows humour.
This is a terrific read, fast-paced, action-packed, and not too long. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed every page.
September 3, 2012
5/5. Without doubt one of the better books I have read. William King portrayed the character of Macharius perfectly, all from the great leader to the political animal he is. All the characters in the book had great distinctive personalities, and it was very easy to relate to main character and what he was feeling. The story was engaging, full of memorable moments and kept me on my toes from start to finish, never quite knowing what would happen. Certainly one of the best Warhammer 40,000 books on the market.
January 10, 2019
A Divine Read!
As always Kings excellent characterisation and plot adds depth and a touch of humanity to the Warhammer world.
Written from the perspective of the Imperial Guard King takes the reader first into the horrors of tank warfare and then into a battle with the forces of chaos!
As always Kings excellent characterisation and plot adds depth and a touch of humanity to the Warhammer world.
Written from the perspective of the Imperial Guard King takes the reader first into the horrors of tank warfare and then into a battle with the forces of chaos!
Read
September 13, 2019Great Start
This is a great start to what I hope will be a great series. I like reading 40k fiction and this is a treat, reading about one of its legends. Glad to have this in my library.
This is a great start to what I hope will be a great series. I like reading 40k fiction and this is a treat, reading about one of its legends. Glad to have this in my library.
July 22, 2014
Like every single book by William King, this one was fantastic.
November 8, 2018
its ok i guess.
August 24, 2020
I've decided that William King is the best writer of Warhammer. This book (and I've read enough of Gotrek & Felix + #2 of this series to believe it holds for the rest of The Macharian Crusade) is a perfect example of this.
His characters are realistic inhabitants of an absolutely horrible world yet retain their humanity so you can identify them.
The battle scenes are interesting & add to the themes rather than just being Space Marines killing everything. However, the first scene with Space Marines is absolutely brilliant.
He has an ability to move rapidly, coherently, and seamlessly from the "big picture" of the Crusade to wonderful details and vignettes of the grimdarkness the soldiers find themselves in.
Lots of other bits and pieces, but there is a wide scale of quality with Warhammer and this is right near the top --- with Gotrek & Felix, Ciaphus Cain, and Eisenhorn.
His characters are realistic inhabitants of an absolutely horrible world yet retain their humanity so you can identify them.
The battle scenes are interesting & add to the themes rather than just being Space Marines killing everything. However, the first scene with Space Marines is absolutely brilliant.
He has an ability to move rapidly, coherently, and seamlessly from the "big picture" of the Crusade to wonderful details and vignettes of the grimdarkness the soldiers find themselves in.
Lots of other bits and pieces, but there is a wide scale of quality with Warhammer and this is right near the top --- with Gotrek & Felix, Ciaphus Cain, and Eisenhorn.
December 11, 2021
Classic Warhammer. Enjoyable to have the perspective of normal people in a bonkers universe.
June 23, 2025
I enjoyed it immensely. Just wish the follow on parts were still in print.
April 9, 2020
Ein weiteres riesiges Buch aus der Black Library, das eine ganze Trilogie in sich vereint. Zum Glück! Denn ein weiteres Mal bin ich froh, dass ich gleich alle drei Bücher zusammen lesen konnte.
William King hat eine ganz besondere Trilogie über einen glorreichen Helden geschrieben. Erzählt aus der Sicht seines Bodyguards. Macharius ist so ein überpowerter Charakter, dass ein Buch aus seiner Sicht wahrscheinlich gar nicht lesbar wäre. Aber aus Leos Sicht bekommen wir dessen Heldentaten mit und erhält einen eindrücklichen Blick auf den Kreuzzug.
Kings Stärke ist eindeutig die Charakterbeschreibung. Leo und seine Freunde sind so echt und lebensnah beschrieben, der Krieg so greifbar, dass man sie am liebsten aus dem Buch rausziehen würde, um ihnen eine Tasse Tee anzubieten. Wobei ein Leben auf dem Sofa für diese drei auch kaum denkbar wäre...
Die Trilogie ist jetzt schon ein Jahreshighlight für mich und auch ein Highlight unter all den Warhammer-Büchern, die ich bisher gelesen habe. Von denen ist es sogar die Nummer eins.
William King hat eine ganz besondere Trilogie über einen glorreichen Helden geschrieben. Erzählt aus der Sicht seines Bodyguards. Macharius ist so ein überpowerter Charakter, dass ein Buch aus seiner Sicht wahrscheinlich gar nicht lesbar wäre. Aber aus Leos Sicht bekommen wir dessen Heldentaten mit und erhält einen eindrücklichen Blick auf den Kreuzzug.
Kings Stärke ist eindeutig die Charakterbeschreibung. Leo und seine Freunde sind so echt und lebensnah beschrieben, der Krieg so greifbar, dass man sie am liebsten aus dem Buch rausziehen würde, um ihnen eine Tasse Tee anzubieten. Wobei ein Leben auf dem Sofa für diese drei auch kaum denkbar wäre...
Die Trilogie ist jetzt schon ein Jahreshighlight für mich und auch ein Highlight unter all den Warhammer-Büchern, die ich bisher gelesen habe. Von denen ist es sogar die Nummer eins.
June 20, 2012
Original Post: http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/06/...
“William King is back with an awesome novel that proves that he can still write in the grimdark far future. A great ride.” ~The Founding Fields
William King’s Angel of Fire is the Warhammer 40,000 trilogy that he’s working on alongside the Warhammer Fantasy trilogy. Whilst that trilogy tackled the legendary Tyrion and Teclis, Angel of Fire tackles a character who is just as legendary, if not even more so, than th elven twins, and that character is none other than the famous Lord Solar Macharius, one of the biggest Imperial Guard commanders, and one of the most famous Imperial figures since Horus Lupercal himself. So this was always going to have to be an epic book, after all – How does one tackle the Lord Solar Macharius, who is one of those characters that is so big he doesn’t have a model/rules (Or at least, not in the current edition) in the Warhammer 40k tabletop game?
The answer, quite simply, is don’t show the book from his point of view, but from the ranks of a lowly Imperial Guardsman. Macharius gets no POV chapters whatsoever, making out the Imperial Guard characters looking up to Macharius in a kind of way that is very similar to John Watson and Sherlock Holmes. Now, there may be complaints about so-called ‘false advertising’ when it comes down to the fans who were expecting a full novel from Macharius’ POV, However, I for one, disagree. A novel from Macharius’ POV just wouldn’t work. It would be like reading a Sherlock Holmes novel from Sherlock’s POV, rather than John Watson’s. It just wouldn’t fit. We wouldn’t have a character to relate to. We’d need an ordinary person to tell us that character, so we can understand just how awesome that character is.
At the dawn of the forty-first millennium, Lord Commander Macharius and his forces embark upon the re-conquest of over a thousand worlds. A man of steel and fire, Macharius is the only one with the will to lead the massed armies of the Imperium to victory. As the crusade rolls onwards, it reaches the world of Karsk. In the city of Irongrad, the Imperial forces face the crusade’s end, unless Macharius and his army can defeat the dreaded Angel of Fire.
So a short blurb, however – it tells you pretty much everything you need to know about King’s first Black Library novel in what seems like ages. It’s as straightforward plot, and pitches the numberless army of the Imperial Guard against the forces of the mysterious Angel of Fire, which is the book’s namesake. If you thought that Macharius was going to be the Angel of Fire, then think again – because he’s not. That’s the bad guy.
The pace of Angel of Fire is fast, action-packed and similar to King’s older works in the Warhammer 40k universe. If you’re looking for the next Charles Dickens, then this won’t be the book for you, but it’s nonetheless an entertaining read that if you find yourself enjoying it, the first novel in the Macharian Crusade is a page-turner that you should whizz through in one sitting. Looking for Macharius in action? You have it. Looking for armoured assaults, and the POV of the crew of the fearsome Baneblade tanks? You have it. Angel of Fire proves that King has not lost his touch when it comes to writing Warhammer 40k, and he can still write a good book, and Angel of Fire is more than a good book. It’s an amazing read, and I loved it, and I’m holding to the belief that it’s my new favourite non-Gaunt’s Ghosts Imperial Guard novel, just edging over Aaron Dembski-Bowden’s debut novel, Cadian Blood.
The protagonists of this story, outside of Macharius, are as mentioned earlier, the crew of a Baneblade tank. Their names are Leo, Anton and Ivan and they make up some very interesting aspects of the novel, and they gain most of the light-hearted moments in Angel of Fire, with my favourite moment being between these trio, where one of them only joined up with the Imperial Guard because he thought that was the first step onto becoming a Space Marine. Leo is the driving force of the novel, the Watson to Macharius’ Holmes, and he’s a likable character that will keep you rooting for the Imperium over the Chaos opposition.
Angel of Fire is the superb start to a trilogy which I will certainly be reading more of, and it stands firmly on its own with no cliffhanger which would leave the reader waiting until the second book, which is what I like to see in the opening novel of a trilogy. I prefer reading trilogies that don’t have cliffhangers, or have a cliffhanger at the end of the second book, and I wonder if King has anything in store for us in the future.
Verdict: 4/5
“William King is back with an awesome novel that proves that he can still write in the grimdark far future. A great ride.” ~The Founding Fields
William King’s Angel of Fire is the Warhammer 40,000 trilogy that he’s working on alongside the Warhammer Fantasy trilogy. Whilst that trilogy tackled the legendary Tyrion and Teclis, Angel of Fire tackles a character who is just as legendary, if not even more so, than th elven twins, and that character is none other than the famous Lord Solar Macharius, one of the biggest Imperial Guard commanders, and one of the most famous Imperial figures since Horus Lupercal himself. So this was always going to have to be an epic book, after all – How does one tackle the Lord Solar Macharius, who is one of those characters that is so big he doesn’t have a model/rules (Or at least, not in the current edition) in the Warhammer 40k tabletop game?
The answer, quite simply, is don’t show the book from his point of view, but from the ranks of a lowly Imperial Guardsman. Macharius gets no POV chapters whatsoever, making out the Imperial Guard characters looking up to Macharius in a kind of way that is very similar to John Watson and Sherlock Holmes. Now, there may be complaints about so-called ‘false advertising’ when it comes down to the fans who were expecting a full novel from Macharius’ POV, However, I for one, disagree. A novel from Macharius’ POV just wouldn’t work. It would be like reading a Sherlock Holmes novel from Sherlock’s POV, rather than John Watson’s. It just wouldn’t fit. We wouldn’t have a character to relate to. We’d need an ordinary person to tell us that character, so we can understand just how awesome that character is.
At the dawn of the forty-first millennium, Lord Commander Macharius and his forces embark upon the re-conquest of over a thousand worlds. A man of steel and fire, Macharius is the only one with the will to lead the massed armies of the Imperium to victory. As the crusade rolls onwards, it reaches the world of Karsk. In the city of Irongrad, the Imperial forces face the crusade’s end, unless Macharius and his army can defeat the dreaded Angel of Fire.
So a short blurb, however – it tells you pretty much everything you need to know about King’s first Black Library novel in what seems like ages. It’s as straightforward plot, and pitches the numberless army of the Imperial Guard against the forces of the mysterious Angel of Fire, which is the book’s namesake. If you thought that Macharius was going to be the Angel of Fire, then think again – because he’s not. That’s the bad guy.
The pace of Angel of Fire is fast, action-packed and similar to King’s older works in the Warhammer 40k universe. If you’re looking for the next Charles Dickens, then this won’t be the book for you, but it’s nonetheless an entertaining read that if you find yourself enjoying it, the first novel in the Macharian Crusade is a page-turner that you should whizz through in one sitting. Looking for Macharius in action? You have it. Looking for armoured assaults, and the POV of the crew of the fearsome Baneblade tanks? You have it. Angel of Fire proves that King has not lost his touch when it comes to writing Warhammer 40k, and he can still write a good book, and Angel of Fire is more than a good book. It’s an amazing read, and I loved it, and I’m holding to the belief that it’s my new favourite non-Gaunt’s Ghosts Imperial Guard novel, just edging over Aaron Dembski-Bowden’s debut novel, Cadian Blood.
The protagonists of this story, outside of Macharius, are as mentioned earlier, the crew of a Baneblade tank. Their names are Leo, Anton and Ivan and they make up some very interesting aspects of the novel, and they gain most of the light-hearted moments in Angel of Fire, with my favourite moment being between these trio, where one of them only joined up with the Imperial Guard because he thought that was the first step onto becoming a Space Marine. Leo is the driving force of the novel, the Watson to Macharius’ Holmes, and he’s a likable character that will keep you rooting for the Imperium over the Chaos opposition.
Angel of Fire is the superb start to a trilogy which I will certainly be reading more of, and it stands firmly on its own with no cliffhanger which would leave the reader waiting until the second book, which is what I like to see in the opening novel of a trilogy. I prefer reading trilogies that don’t have cliffhangers, or have a cliffhanger at the end of the second book, and I wonder if King has anything in store for us in the future.
Verdict: 4/5
February 14, 2017
This was a really rousing tale of Apocalypse level fighting as told by a humble Imperial Guardsman surrounding the legendary figure of Macharius. King has an elegant economy of words that allows him to convey action and emotion superbly, and for me, he is on the level of Gemmell and Abnett. The Macharian Crusade starts on a World fallen to heresy and they fight the population corrupted to Chaos. This book seems to set up the rest of the trilogy quite nicely.
August 28, 2023
A good story held down by rough editing.
August 26, 2012
It's been a long long time since William King wrote a Warhammer 40K novel. But he hasn't lost his touch.
Lord Commander Macharius and his forces embark upon the re-conquest of over a thousand worlds. A man of steel and fire, Macharius is the only one with the will to lead the massed armies of the Imperium to victory. Until it reaches the world of Karsk. In the city of Irongrad, the Imperial forces face the crusade's end, unless Macharius and his army can defeat the dreaded Angel of Fire.
Bringing a high level of brutal action in the form of tank warfare in the forty first millennium this story also touches on themes you could see affecting soldiers in our own time. Fighting not just against armies but ideas. How do you subjugate a population of millions when none of them want you there? How do you get them on your side when your faith clashes so drastically with theirs? Fact is you can't.
That is why: In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war...
Lord Commander Macharius and his forces embark upon the re-conquest of over a thousand worlds. A man of steel and fire, Macharius is the only one with the will to lead the massed armies of the Imperium to victory. Until it reaches the world of Karsk. In the city of Irongrad, the Imperial forces face the crusade's end, unless Macharius and his army can defeat the dreaded Angel of Fire.
Bringing a high level of brutal action in the form of tank warfare in the forty first millennium this story also touches on themes you could see affecting soldiers in our own time. Fighting not just against armies but ideas. How do you subjugate a population of millions when none of them want you there? How do you get them on your side when your faith clashes so drastically with theirs? Fact is you can't.
That is why: In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war...
March 27, 2014
At the time of this writing the third book isn't out and I'm glad it's a miniseries. The writing is pretty ggood and it expands on the already-huge lore behind Warhammer 40K with character you actually end up caring about. Imperial Guard are fragile individually which is what makes the characters' struggles so real and in a weird way relatable. Reading about a single Space Marine plowing through entire armies is fun but the fact that characters like the Space Marines don't ever struggle in the way that a conscripted, unmodified, under-equipped human soldier does is really what makes the difference between reading the adventures of a single soldier in a fighting force of literally trillions is what makes reading about Imperial Guard so exhilarating.
If you like science-fantasy you'll like this. I don't think I've ever read about someone reloading a gun in this world and it's perfect.
If you like science-fantasy you'll like this. I don't think I've ever read about someone reloading a gun in this world and it's perfect.
February 13, 2013
Like King's Space Wolves books, this is told in a massive flashback which immediately undermines the tension. There's never a sense of failure, no matter how "close" things get--it's Macharius after all. But King did a decent job of showing how the troops fell under the sway of Macharius' charisma.
August 16, 2014
William King is a very good writer and his books are always a pleasure to read. In this book you follow the adventures of Leo, a guardsman that by chance end up in the middle of epic happenings in a conquered world, where he helps the hero of Imperium General Macharius to turn the tide againt the heretics. It is the first book of a trylogy about the Macharius Crusade.
August 11, 2012
Excellent read though the large price tag on the eBook at Black Library isn't justified. It stinks of a greed move because they've only released it on hard back at the minute. Worth waiting for for when it's a normal price...
August 31, 2015
It felt quite bleak, maybe due to the world it was set in, and it took me a while to warm to any of the characters. However it was a well written story, which I eventually began to enjoy, with some humorous banter enlivening the dialogue.
August 5, 2024
This book might be misleading, as its more about the guard, than Macharius, but for an imperial guard book its pretty good, showing the everyday life of the emperors soldiers during a crusade, leading up to an okay final showdown.
February 15, 2014
Different story, but a good one.
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