What do you think?
Rate this book
The Legacy of Caliban #1
Ravenwing
The Ravenwing stand apart from the rest of the Dark Angels Chapter - these dynamic Space Marines take to the battlefield upon steeds of adamantium and plasteel, and swoop from the skies in lightning-fast speeders to bring death to the foes of the Imperium.
When he joins their prestigious ranks, Brother Annael finds himself thrust into a whole new world of shadowy intrigue, and privy to secrets unknown to his common battle-brothers. In the wake of the conflict at Kadillus, hints of a dark conspiracy begin to emerge, and it soon becomes apparent that the Ravenwing has a sacred duty far more vital than hunting down orks...
Read it because
It's a fast-paced action-adventure tale that pits the Dark Angels against greenskins, pirates and Chaos Space Marines and lays the groundworking for the mind-bogglingly epic drama to come in the rest of the trilogy.
416 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2014
43 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Gav Thorpe
377 books577 followersGav spent 14 years as a developer for Games Workshop, and started writing novels and short stories in the worlds of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 when the Black Library imprint was launched in 1997.
He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.
Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.
He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.
Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 19, 2017
A fast paced action packed sequel to Gav Thorpe's Angels of Darkness (that I really should have re-read before starting this. Oh well, next time) and a strong opening tale to the Legacy of Caliban trilogy.
Loved the storyline and the rivalities between 2nd and 5th Dark Angels companies, and the Astartes of the 5th Battle Company steal often scene and screen time from their secretive Ravenwing battle brothers.
A must read for all fans of the former First Legion.
March 7, 2014
"The Dark Angels have secrets, layers within layers - yes we know this!"
No disrespect towards Gav Thorpe, but he is one of several authors BL have whom I'd say is a work horse. He always presents the fans of Black Library with a solid read. From his Sundering series to this current series The Legacy Of Caliban. The first in Gav's new trilogy is Ravenwing, concerning the bike marauding Dark Angels. The jeist of the story is essentially one of secrecy within the Dark Angels. During the Horus Heresy part of the garrison of the DA's home world sided with Luther, who was second in command of the garrison forces. They are now referred to as 'The Fallen' and have been hunted down for 10,000 years. Now that's a grudge!!
The real problem with Ravenwing lies with both the dialogue and over used tried and tested formula with the Dark Angels; secrecy. The dialogue is very much unique, but doesn't sit well with other incarnations of marine novels - they are speaking with the same syntax as if pulled from Spartacus - Blood And Sand TV show -
"Set us to purpose"
None of this going on - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1y_q3... - disclaimer harsh language
Where did that come from? I've never read dialogue involving any Space Marine or Dark Angels before. As for the characters, their identity comes from their position within the hierarchy. Annal is a new initiate into the Ravenwing, but previously had four centuries of combat experience as a squad member with the DA. That's a fairly long time, even for one of the Astrates, however he is treated as a new recruit. Then there's the layer of secrets within secrets (just like a onion, yes!). Essentially a handful of Dark Angel's know what happened during the Horus Heresy, which descends down the hegemony of command, though the lesser rank you are, the less you know. What doesn't sit right with me, is Space Marines are meant to project a strong union of brotherhood. The Dark Angel's have none, or if they do it feels falsified. The theme seemed wasted within the novel.
If you've read The Purging Of Kadilus this is a sort-of-follow on and allows for readers to see what happened at the end of the previously mentioned Space Marine novel. Other than that, I felt the characters to be lifeless, the story convoluted and fairly overused within BL novels. Some of the action scenes were given a different slant, but the marines seemed to be glued to their mounts. I realise there is meant to be a feeling of honour between rider and mount, when you are getting shot at from a elevated position, dismount and fire back -
"No sorry we can't do that, we love our bikes too much"
PAH I say!
Slim pickings with any actual information forthcoming about The Fallen. There's nothing definitive and nothing of interest revealed to the reader. Just conjecture. Much like the novel itself. Personally I'd avoid this and read Angels Of Darkness.
No disrespect towards Gav Thorpe, but he is one of several authors BL have whom I'd say is a work horse. He always presents the fans of Black Library with a solid read. From his Sundering series to this current series The Legacy Of Caliban. The first in Gav's new trilogy is Ravenwing, concerning the bike marauding Dark Angels. The jeist of the story is essentially one of secrecy within the Dark Angels. During the Horus Heresy part of the garrison of the DA's home world sided with Luther, who was second in command of the garrison forces. They are now referred to as 'The Fallen' and have been hunted down for 10,000 years. Now that's a grudge!!
The real problem with Ravenwing lies with both the dialogue and over used tried and tested formula with the Dark Angels; secrecy. The dialogue is very much unique, but doesn't sit well with other incarnations of marine novels - they are speaking with the same syntax as if pulled from Spartacus - Blood And Sand TV show -
"Set us to purpose"
None of this going on - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1y_q3... - disclaimer harsh language
Where did that come from? I've never read dialogue involving any Space Marine or Dark Angels before. As for the characters, their identity comes from their position within the hierarchy. Annal is a new initiate into the Ravenwing, but previously had four centuries of combat experience as a squad member with the DA. That's a fairly long time, even for one of the Astrates, however he is treated as a new recruit. Then there's the layer of secrets within secrets (just like a onion, yes!). Essentially a handful of Dark Angel's know what happened during the Horus Heresy, which descends down the hegemony of command, though the lesser rank you are, the less you know. What doesn't sit right with me, is Space Marines are meant to project a strong union of brotherhood. The Dark Angel's have none, or if they do it feels falsified. The theme seemed wasted within the novel.
If you've read The Purging Of Kadilus this is a sort-of-follow on and allows for readers to see what happened at the end of the previously mentioned Space Marine novel. Other than that, I felt the characters to be lifeless, the story convoluted and fairly overused within BL novels. Some of the action scenes were given a different slant, but the marines seemed to be glued to their mounts. I realise there is meant to be a feeling of honour between rider and mount, when you are getting shot at from a elevated position, dismount and fire back -
"No sorry we can't do that, we love our bikes too much"
PAH I say!
Slim pickings with any actual information forthcoming about The Fallen. There's nothing definitive and nothing of interest revealed to the reader. Just conjecture. Much like the novel itself. Personally I'd avoid this and read Angels Of Darkness.
December 30, 2012
“Fast paced, action packed, Ravenwing is a great opener to the trilogy that will leave fans desperatley for more.” ~The Founding Fields
I wasn’t quite as looking forward to Ravenwing as some people were. Whilst I enjoy the majority of Gav Thorpe’s works (The Purging of Kadillius aside), I’m not the biggest fan of the Dark Angels Chapter. In fact, every novel that I’ve read about their chapter (Descent of Angels, Fallen Angels and The Purging of Kadillius) were let downs, and I’m a fan of the Space Wolves, their rival chapter, and despite disliking a few of the actions of the Sons of Russ, I would take them as my favourite legion/chapter over the Wolves anyday. So I went into Ravenwing ready to not enjoy it. But as it turned out, not only did I enjoy it, Ravenwing was a powerful enough read to get the Dark Angels into the Top 5 of my list of Space Marine Chapters for the first time since… well, ever – alongside the Space Wolves, Ultramarines, Blood Angels and Salamanders. So – what made Ravenwing so good? This is what I’m going to be explaining in this review.
"The Ravenwing stand apart from the rest of the Dark Angels Chapter – these dynamic Space Marines take to the battlefield upon steeds of adamantium and plasteel, and swoop from the skies in lightning-fast speeders to bring death to the foes of the Imperium.
When he joins their prestigious ranks, Brother Annael finds himself thrust into a whole new world of shadowy intrigue, and privy to secrets unknown to his common battle-brothers. In the wake of the conflict at Kadillus, hints of a dark conspiracy begin to emerge, and it soon becomes apparent that the Ravenwing has a sacred duty far more vital than hunting down orks…"
Apparently, whilst Ravenwing is the first novel in a trilogy, it follows on from the events in Purging of Kadillius and Angels of Darkness by the same author. Whilst I have not read Angels of Darkness, I still managed to understand what was happening and got along without any issues in the book. As it’s been a while since reading Purging of Kadillius, I probably should go back and re-read it, but I didn’t like it a lot so I probably won’t. But whether you’re a newcomer to the Dark Angels or an old die-hard, you’ll be able to follow what’s going on in this book with little difficulty, as Thorpe manages to superbly introduce the Chapter to new readers whilst providing several references that will satisfy the older fans.
Read the full review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/12/....
I wasn’t quite as looking forward to Ravenwing as some people were. Whilst I enjoy the majority of Gav Thorpe’s works (The Purging of Kadillius aside), I’m not the biggest fan of the Dark Angels Chapter. In fact, every novel that I’ve read about their chapter (Descent of Angels, Fallen Angels and The Purging of Kadillius) were let downs, and I’m a fan of the Space Wolves, their rival chapter, and despite disliking a few of the actions of the Sons of Russ, I would take them as my favourite legion/chapter over the Wolves anyday. So I went into Ravenwing ready to not enjoy it. But as it turned out, not only did I enjoy it, Ravenwing was a powerful enough read to get the Dark Angels into the Top 5 of my list of Space Marine Chapters for the first time since… well, ever – alongside the Space Wolves, Ultramarines, Blood Angels and Salamanders. So – what made Ravenwing so good? This is what I’m going to be explaining in this review.
"The Ravenwing stand apart from the rest of the Dark Angels Chapter – these dynamic Space Marines take to the battlefield upon steeds of adamantium and plasteel, and swoop from the skies in lightning-fast speeders to bring death to the foes of the Imperium.
When he joins their prestigious ranks, Brother Annael finds himself thrust into a whole new world of shadowy intrigue, and privy to secrets unknown to his common battle-brothers. In the wake of the conflict at Kadillus, hints of a dark conspiracy begin to emerge, and it soon becomes apparent that the Ravenwing has a sacred duty far more vital than hunting down orks…"
Apparently, whilst Ravenwing is the first novel in a trilogy, it follows on from the events in Purging of Kadillius and Angels of Darkness by the same author. Whilst I have not read Angels of Darkness, I still managed to understand what was happening and got along without any issues in the book. As it’s been a while since reading Purging of Kadillius, I probably should go back and re-read it, but I didn’t like it a lot so I probably won’t. But whether you’re a newcomer to the Dark Angels or an old die-hard, you’ll be able to follow what’s going on in this book with little difficulty, as Thorpe manages to superbly introduce the Chapter to new readers whilst providing several references that will satisfy the older fans.
Read the full review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/12/....
April 11, 2013
can't wait for the next part of this Master of Sanctity
May 19, 2013
Not my favourite Warhammer 40K book. Read too much like an advert for the (then just released) new Dark Angels models. This wouldn't be much of a problem, but it seems incongruous, and items, vehicles and characters/squads just appear and disappear really quickly.
Other than that, basic knowledge of the overall Dark Angels backstory leads to obvious plot occurrences, and a final twist that you can see a mile off. You just want to shout at characters and tell them what is really happening. But this isn't really the books fault, the characters shouldn't know certain truths, but the over abundance of pre-existing stories makes it easy to second guess everything that is happening.
The names annoyed me too. The Horus Heresy books help a lot with a character list the beginning of the book, similar to A Song of Ice and Fire's appendices, but several characters have very similar names, and I personally found it really hard to keep track of who was who other than the main characters.
Battles are well written, and have the suitably gory action you'd expect of a 40K book.
Other than that, basic knowledge of the overall Dark Angels backstory leads to obvious plot occurrences, and a final twist that you can see a mile off. You just want to shout at characters and tell them what is really happening. But this isn't really the books fault, the characters shouldn't know certain truths, but the over abundance of pre-existing stories makes it easy to second guess everything that is happening.
The names annoyed me too. The Horus Heresy books help a lot with a character list the beginning of the book, similar to A Song of Ice and Fire's appendices, but several characters have very similar names, and I personally found it really hard to keep track of who was who other than the main characters.
Battles are well written, and have the suitably gory action you'd expect of a 40K book.
March 7, 2020
No, sorry. The concept of Space Marine Attack bikes is acceptable in the greater context of how over the top 40k in general is. But fighting with 2-ton bikes on a space station? No. That's just stupid.
The story is shallow as a puddle. The ever present „secret” of the Dark Angels is referred to on every other page, but the novel doesn't add anything beside what seemingly everyone with the exception of the rank and file Dark Angels already knows.
The characters are dull at best, interchangable and forgettable. There are way too many names without background for whom the reader has no chance to even care for. All we learn is that there is more mistrust and rivalry within the Dark Angels than during the Horus Heresy. But we knew that already, too.
The story is shallow as a puddle. The ever present „secret” of the Dark Angels is referred to on every other page, but the novel doesn't add anything beside what seemingly everyone with the exception of the rank and file Dark Angels already knows.
The characters are dull at best, interchangable and forgettable. There are way too many names without background for whom the reader has no chance to even care for. All we learn is that there is more mistrust and rivalry within the Dark Angels than during the Horus Heresy. But we knew that already, too.
February 4, 2013
Ravenwing is the brand new book from Warhammer 40k writer Gav Thorpe and is the first of a new three book series called The Legacy of Caliban Trilogy. The book is also a sort-of sequel to the other Warhammer 40k book, The Purging of Kadillus that I reviewed a few weeks ago. In this novel we follow Brother Annael; a new recruit to the Ravenwing. The Ravenwing are a group of Dark Angels that are above the usual Space Marine. They ride around on giant motorcycles and land speeders and are usually used as reconnaissance for the Dark Angels when they are fighting battles or chasing down their foes. However, unknown to Annael until his acceptance into the Ravenwing, they are also used to hunt the Fallen, the evil Space Marines who turned on the Emperor during the Horus Heresy and killed their own Patriarch- Lion El’Johnson.
When a distressing signal is received from the planet of Piscina IV, the Ravenwing are sent on the hunt for a powerful Fallen Librarian. The Librarian manages to ‘turn’ the leader of the Dark Angels on Piscina IV, Grand Master Belial, (from The Purging of Kadillus!) and makes him doubt his faith in the Dark Angels, forcing him to kill himself and his brothers. However before his death, Belial leaves the leader of the Ravenwing, Grand Master Sammael, a message directing him to the infamous pirate Space-Port of Port Imperial. When the Ravenwing arrive at the Port, they find that the pirates have formed a cult around the Fallen Librarian and fight a fierce battle to protect him from the justice of the Dark Angel Inquisitors as he manages to flee. However, the trail is not lost and the hunt is still on as the Ravenwing follow the mysterious Librarian to his lair where more of his loyal and corrupt followers fight to the death to defend him.
This was another good book from Gav Thorpe but I honestly didn’t enjoy it as much as The Purging of Kadillus. I don’t know why this was, I think it might be to do with the fact that The Purging is a Space Marines Battle Novel and was really fast paced, full of battles, action and all in all, for someone like me, a great book to get into the Warhammer 40K literary world. Ravenwing on the other hand, is the first book in a series so perhaps was not going to be as fast paced as the one-off Space Marine Battle Novel. I also didn’t enjoy the characters as much as I thought I would. I think that this might be because I’m not that big off a fan of the Ravenwing as a unit anyway- which probably explains why Telemenus was my favourite character!
Nevertheless, saying that the novel wasn’t fast paced and then reading it in 3-4 days might seem a bit contradictory. Don’t get me wrong I did enjoy the book but not as much as The Purging and I’d suggest that you read that book before you read Ravenwing. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to the next book in the series Master of Sanctity!
For more book reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
When a distressing signal is received from the planet of Piscina IV, the Ravenwing are sent on the hunt for a powerful Fallen Librarian. The Librarian manages to ‘turn’ the leader of the Dark Angels on Piscina IV, Grand Master Belial, (from The Purging of Kadillus!) and makes him doubt his faith in the Dark Angels, forcing him to kill himself and his brothers. However before his death, Belial leaves the leader of the Ravenwing, Grand Master Sammael, a message directing him to the infamous pirate Space-Port of Port Imperial. When the Ravenwing arrive at the Port, they find that the pirates have formed a cult around the Fallen Librarian and fight a fierce battle to protect him from the justice of the Dark Angel Inquisitors as he manages to flee. However, the trail is not lost and the hunt is still on as the Ravenwing follow the mysterious Librarian to his lair where more of his loyal and corrupt followers fight to the death to defend him.
This was another good book from Gav Thorpe but I honestly didn’t enjoy it as much as The Purging of Kadillus. I don’t know why this was, I think it might be to do with the fact that The Purging is a Space Marines Battle Novel and was really fast paced, full of battles, action and all in all, for someone like me, a great book to get into the Warhammer 40K literary world. Ravenwing on the other hand, is the first book in a series so perhaps was not going to be as fast paced as the one-off Space Marine Battle Novel. I also didn’t enjoy the characters as much as I thought I would. I think that this might be because I’m not that big off a fan of the Ravenwing as a unit anyway- which probably explains why Telemenus was my favourite character!
Nevertheless, saying that the novel wasn’t fast paced and then reading it in 3-4 days might seem a bit contradictory. Don’t get me wrong I did enjoy the book but not as much as The Purging and I’d suggest that you read that book before you read Ravenwing. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to the next book in the series Master of Sanctity!
For more book reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
September 18, 2013
When I first started reading this book I was a little disappointed because it appeared to be a mix of battle scenes showcasing new units from the Dark Angels Codex (which is my favorite Space Marine Chapter and one of the Warhammer 40,000 armies I play) but then my interest peaked when I realized that I was reading a pseudo-sequel to one of my favorite books, Angels of Darkness. Sadly, while this story continues to offer intriguing insight in the Dark Angels Chapter, I just didn't feel the same effect from the author's writing as I did in the previous book. The tone, controversies and dilemmas did not have the same amazing effect as they did in the previous book. Hopefully the next books in the series will improve.
September 29, 2019
Ravenwing is very straight forward, no nonsense science fiction. It draws on what we already know about the Dark Angels and neatly adds all of the new stuff Games Workshop wants us to buy in plastic form. It introduces some very strong, one dimensional, characters and runs them through a linear plot. Apart from some stand out "Boo yeah!" moments, there is not much to celebrate about this book. Compared to the narrative I already have running in my head, inspired and driven by much earlier and crustier works, Ravenwing is a shallow foray into the Dark Angel mythos. Damn.
August 9, 2021
This is the third book I’ve read so far this year that was written with the specific intention of selling little plastic toys to adults. I guess I’m in the target audience for these kinds of books because I like to buy these little plastic toys. Slivers of carefully crafted plastic that I glue together and painstakingly apply coats of paint to so that they look like an army in miniature.
First the dark green over the whole figure, and then the light wash of anther green to shade in the recesses. A third green – this one lighter – on the raised parts of the soldier to simulate the places where light would hit. Then on to the details. A gunmetal color across his weapons, a dark wash overtop to mute the metallic and to give a sense of the dirty business of war.
I can spend weeks getting one of these things painted up. An hour here and there before work while the wife still sleeps (let her enjoy the summer while she can – before the schoolyear demands she be up in the pre-dawn hours) and the kids fight to control early-morning cartoon selection. They’re not works of art when I’m done with them – though there are people with the talent and the commitment to do some really amazing things with these tiny men and their tiny tanks – but they look pretty cool all painted up.
In theory, these are for an overly complex table game. My little marines on their futuristic and wildly impractical war-motorcycles are to be placed across a tiny hellscape from someone else’s little painted men so that we can mov them about and roll dice to decide who kills who and who saves the day or destroys the city. It’s not so different from what my little daughter does upstairs with her barbies. Moving them about the house, narrating their challenges and objectives. There’s just a more sophisticated set of rules for this make believe is all.
I don’t really get to play though – and that’s not anyone’s fault. It’s mostly just a time thing. And perhaps a confidence thing. I haven’t actually played the game yet at all. I’ll probably be no good. And it’s not like this is a hobby I share in common with my best friends. It’s relative strangers I’d have to set up across from. People who have airbrushes and who know how to effectively paint their figures with zenithal highlighting techniques. People whose knowledge of the rules means they’ve optimized their army to take advantage of the best figures and bring out unexpected strengths from units I’d have overlooked completely.
It can be intimidating. And it’s time-consuming as well. Playing a game of Warhammer is your whole afternoon.
So I picked up this book – and I’ve picked up a few other books this year – because I wanted to inhabit the universe my little plastic men are supposed to be trying to save. The Warhammer 40K universe is full of aliens trying to overwhelm human worlds, space orks born from spores marching onward to endless battle, corrupted figures drawing their dark strength from actual demons, and the space marines – who are supposedly the best hope of humanity against all of this. They genetically modified giants in massive suits of futuristic armor imagined to make Iron Man jealous.
I read the book – honestly – so I can imagine my little plastic men in a little more detail as I paint the crest of their armor gold or as I try to get the papyrus color just right on the little purity seals they affix to their motorcycles with wax like they’re ancient warrior priests or knights errant on a holy quest in Medieval Europe. I didn’t pick up this book because I thought it would be good – it isn’t – but because it would help me to pretend, to give backstory and purpose to these little plastic people in my garage. I read this book so that when I try to paint up someone’s itty bitty helmet I can imagine what his name might be, and who he is going to shoot his little rifle at and why. While I grip my tiny paintbrush and curse at my mistakes and errant strokes I like to think about what kind of man this is and what he might accomplish and what he wants to accomplish in life.
I’ll probably read at least one or two more books in this vein before the year is through.
First the dark green over the whole figure, and then the light wash of anther green to shade in the recesses. A third green – this one lighter – on the raised parts of the soldier to simulate the places where light would hit. Then on to the details. A gunmetal color across his weapons, a dark wash overtop to mute the metallic and to give a sense of the dirty business of war.
I can spend weeks getting one of these things painted up. An hour here and there before work while the wife still sleeps (let her enjoy the summer while she can – before the schoolyear demands she be up in the pre-dawn hours) and the kids fight to control early-morning cartoon selection. They’re not works of art when I’m done with them – though there are people with the talent and the commitment to do some really amazing things with these tiny men and their tiny tanks – but they look pretty cool all painted up.
In theory, these are for an overly complex table game. My little marines on their futuristic and wildly impractical war-motorcycles are to be placed across a tiny hellscape from someone else’s little painted men so that we can mov them about and roll dice to decide who kills who and who saves the day or destroys the city. It’s not so different from what my little daughter does upstairs with her barbies. Moving them about the house, narrating their challenges and objectives. There’s just a more sophisticated set of rules for this make believe is all.
I don’t really get to play though – and that’s not anyone’s fault. It’s mostly just a time thing. And perhaps a confidence thing. I haven’t actually played the game yet at all. I’ll probably be no good. And it’s not like this is a hobby I share in common with my best friends. It’s relative strangers I’d have to set up across from. People who have airbrushes and who know how to effectively paint their figures with zenithal highlighting techniques. People whose knowledge of the rules means they’ve optimized their army to take advantage of the best figures and bring out unexpected strengths from units I’d have overlooked completely.
It can be intimidating. And it’s time-consuming as well. Playing a game of Warhammer is your whole afternoon.
So I picked up this book – and I’ve picked up a few other books this year – because I wanted to inhabit the universe my little plastic men are supposed to be trying to save. The Warhammer 40K universe is full of aliens trying to overwhelm human worlds, space orks born from spores marching onward to endless battle, corrupted figures drawing their dark strength from actual demons, and the space marines – who are supposedly the best hope of humanity against all of this. They genetically modified giants in massive suits of futuristic armor imagined to make Iron Man jealous.
I read the book – honestly – so I can imagine my little plastic men in a little more detail as I paint the crest of their armor gold or as I try to get the papyrus color just right on the little purity seals they affix to their motorcycles with wax like they’re ancient warrior priests or knights errant on a holy quest in Medieval Europe. I didn’t pick up this book because I thought it would be good – it isn’t – but because it would help me to pretend, to give backstory and purpose to these little plastic people in my garage. I read this book so that when I try to paint up someone’s itty bitty helmet I can imagine what his name might be, and who he is going to shoot his little rifle at and why. While I grip my tiny paintbrush and curse at my mistakes and errant strokes I like to think about what kind of man this is and what he might accomplish and what he wants to accomplish in life.
I’ll probably read at least one or two more books in this vein before the year is through.
April 27, 2013
You can find the full review over at The Founding Field:
http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/04/...
Shadowhawk reviews the first book in the Legacy of Caliban trilogy, penned by Black Library’s resident Dark Angels expert.
“A worthy successor to the classic Dark Angels tale, Angels of Darkness, this book furthers the plots and events of that novel and presents a really intriguing look into the chapter from the perspectives of the specialist warriors of the Ravenwing.” ~The Founding Fields
The Dark Angels are one of the most intriguing Space Marine (Adeptus Astartes) chapters within the Warhammer 40,000 setting. They are certainly the most secretive and one of the most accomplished, with a roll of honour that goes back to the Imperium’s founding, to a time when the Emperor himself still walked among Mankind. They were the First Legion to be created, and that is a mark of their distinction among their fellow cousins of the Adeptus Astartes. There have been several stories about them in various formats over the years – audio dramas, short stories, novels, etc – that explore their secretive nature, both cause and effect, and they have all been fairly intriguing to say the least. In the ongoing 50-book Horus Heresy series, the entire mythology behind the Warhammer 40,000 setting is being explored and the Dark Angels and their Primarch, Lion El’Jonson, have featured in a few of the more prominent stories, as the various writers explore how and why the Dark Angels came to bear the great shame that the chapter still endures ten thousand years later.
Ravenwing is Gav Thorpe’s latest book, a direct (continuity-wise) successor to Angels of Darkness, which remains one of the best written 40k books to this day, pretty much a classic, if I may be so bold. Angels of Darkness presented some rather shocking revelations about the Dark Angels, and these revelations have been the cornerstone of their lore ever since. The stories featuring them in the Horus Heresy series have either supported or invalidated these revelations, depending on how you look at them, and the overall picture is of a chapter that is conflicted with its own past down to the very core of its existence. In this new book, the first in a new trilogy exploring the chapter and its the arch-enemies of the Fallen, Gav Thorpe takes the strands first woven in Angels of Darkness, further and shows what the fallout of these events has been.
The novel is told from three distinct and perspectives that are integral to the story. Each perspective offers a very distinct look at the Dark Angels’ hierarchy and shows how convoluted a system the Chapter has evolved to keep the terrible truths of the Horus Heresy from its rank-and-file members. This entire concept is at the heart of what Ravenwing is, and why I loved the novel so much. To my knowledge, there hasn’t been such a detailed look into the Dark Angels as yet, certainly not one that has been as compelling, not even Angels of Darkness, which had a completely different focus.
The first character we meet is that of Battle-brother Annael, newly inducted into the Ravenwing from the Fifth Company, and thus one of the few members of the Chapter who knows something of the truths that the Chapter has hidden for ten thousand of years at any cost. For a Chapter mired in secrecy and half-truths for the betterment of its battle-brothers, Annael’s arc throughout the novel exposes some of these secrets. Internal misinformation is something that the Dark Angels are very good, and through Annael we see how this entire web is woven by the Interrogator-Chaplains and the Grand Masters of the Chapter. Annael, given his new promotion, provides a sympathetic view on the warriors of the Ravenwing and the Second Company’s current leadership. He is one of them now and the novel is as much about his adjustment within his new Company, as well as him learning more about the Fallen and how these traitorous Space Marines have affected the course of the Chapter’s history.
With Annael’s induction into the Ravenwing, the character has already gone through his “loss of innocence” phase, where he learns of how the Lion was killed, and is promised eternal vengeance as long as he is a part of his new brotherhood. Gav takes things a few steps further and he teases out further hints that show how Annael grows over the course of the novel. He learns some further truths on his own, and is faced with moral dilemmas with respect to the consequences of his actions and his orders. The way the novel ends, Annael is still doing some soul-searching, and his need to learn the full truth is not sated.
Through him, we are also exposed to a whole different style of warfare within the setting: mobile assaults via bikes and land speeders. The Ravenwing, being a “pursuit” force that relies on speed and mobility, is all about hunting from the saddle. To the best of my knowledge, there are no other books in the setting that focus on this style of warfare, at least not to the degree that the character is a major one. There are several scenes in Rob Sanders’ Legion of the Damned with Space Marine Scouts on bikes, but the characters are fairly minor in the grand scheme of things. A case could also be made for Andy Hoare’s The Hunt For Voldorius which features the White Scars’ Third Captain Kor’sarro Khan and his bike-mounted Command Squad, but we never really get a good sense of mobile warfare in the book, not to the extent that Gav Thorpe handles it.
We see Annael and his brothers fight through huge city-blocks, open plains, and even a Star Fort (a very large space station). Each situation is different from the one previous, and while it took me a bit of creative adjustment to make sense of bike-mounted squadrons fighting through the tight corridors of a Star Fort, I can’t deny that Gav Thorpe wrote all these scenes with an eye for detail and that he made full use of bike-mounted tactics and strategies. These scenes made for some of the most thrilling moments in the novel, partly also because these were unique scenes.
Then we have Grand Master Sammael, the current senior officer of the Ravenwing, and thus one of the most highly-placed individuals within the Chapter who knows much about the deepest secrets held by the Dark Angels. He made for a very different sort of character than Annael. One of the reasons for this is because of the knowledge he possesses, and the duties and responsibilities that come with such knowledge. Another reason is that he is a much more confident character, confident in his purpose and confident in his command. Throughout, he makes some really tough decisions, and it is quite fascinating to see his thought-process. Given his status within the Chapter, I expected a much more… arrogant character, but Gav has done a great job at humanising him, at making him someone that I could sympathise with.
Much as Boreas was challenged in Angels of Darkness, so it is with Sammael in Ravenwing. It is given that in any story about the Fallen, any Dark Angels characters involved will face a certain crisis of faith. This is expected, and this is the norm since the very existence of the Fallen is a challenge to the authority and existence of the Dark Angels, one of their darkest secrets that if it is ever made public, the Chapter could very well be labeled traitor and rogue. Boreas, being an Interrogator-Chaplain, faced a great personal challenge when Astelan made him question his beliefs and his convictions in Angels of Darkness. In Ravenwing, Sammael has to do a lot of the resultant soul-searching on his own, particularly after he is made aware of Boreas’ final transmission to the Chapter forces at the end of Angels of Darkness. Interrogator-Chaplain Malcifer is able to provide a solid rock of belief and convictions for Sammael to latch on to, but the conflict exists until the very climax of the novel.
http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/04/...
Shadowhawk reviews the first book in the Legacy of Caliban trilogy, penned by Black Library’s resident Dark Angels expert.
“A worthy successor to the classic Dark Angels tale, Angels of Darkness, this book furthers the plots and events of that novel and presents a really intriguing look into the chapter from the perspectives of the specialist warriors of the Ravenwing.” ~The Founding Fields
The Dark Angels are one of the most intriguing Space Marine (Adeptus Astartes) chapters within the Warhammer 40,000 setting. They are certainly the most secretive and one of the most accomplished, with a roll of honour that goes back to the Imperium’s founding, to a time when the Emperor himself still walked among Mankind. They were the First Legion to be created, and that is a mark of their distinction among their fellow cousins of the Adeptus Astartes. There have been several stories about them in various formats over the years – audio dramas, short stories, novels, etc – that explore their secretive nature, both cause and effect, and they have all been fairly intriguing to say the least. In the ongoing 50-book Horus Heresy series, the entire mythology behind the Warhammer 40,000 setting is being explored and the Dark Angels and their Primarch, Lion El’Jonson, have featured in a few of the more prominent stories, as the various writers explore how and why the Dark Angels came to bear the great shame that the chapter still endures ten thousand years later.
Ravenwing is Gav Thorpe’s latest book, a direct (continuity-wise) successor to Angels of Darkness, which remains one of the best written 40k books to this day, pretty much a classic, if I may be so bold. Angels of Darkness presented some rather shocking revelations about the Dark Angels, and these revelations have been the cornerstone of their lore ever since. The stories featuring them in the Horus Heresy series have either supported or invalidated these revelations, depending on how you look at them, and the overall picture is of a chapter that is conflicted with its own past down to the very core of its existence. In this new book, the first in a new trilogy exploring the chapter and its the arch-enemies of the Fallen, Gav Thorpe takes the strands first woven in Angels of Darkness, further and shows what the fallout of these events has been.
The novel is told from three distinct and perspectives that are integral to the story. Each perspective offers a very distinct look at the Dark Angels’ hierarchy and shows how convoluted a system the Chapter has evolved to keep the terrible truths of the Horus Heresy from its rank-and-file members. This entire concept is at the heart of what Ravenwing is, and why I loved the novel so much. To my knowledge, there hasn’t been such a detailed look into the Dark Angels as yet, certainly not one that has been as compelling, not even Angels of Darkness, which had a completely different focus.
The first character we meet is that of Battle-brother Annael, newly inducted into the Ravenwing from the Fifth Company, and thus one of the few members of the Chapter who knows something of the truths that the Chapter has hidden for ten thousand of years at any cost. For a Chapter mired in secrecy and half-truths for the betterment of its battle-brothers, Annael’s arc throughout the novel exposes some of these secrets. Internal misinformation is something that the Dark Angels are very good, and through Annael we see how this entire web is woven by the Interrogator-Chaplains and the Grand Masters of the Chapter. Annael, given his new promotion, provides a sympathetic view on the warriors of the Ravenwing and the Second Company’s current leadership. He is one of them now and the novel is as much about his adjustment within his new Company, as well as him learning more about the Fallen and how these traitorous Space Marines have affected the course of the Chapter’s history.
With Annael’s induction into the Ravenwing, the character has already gone through his “loss of innocence” phase, where he learns of how the Lion was killed, and is promised eternal vengeance as long as he is a part of his new brotherhood. Gav takes things a few steps further and he teases out further hints that show how Annael grows over the course of the novel. He learns some further truths on his own, and is faced with moral dilemmas with respect to the consequences of his actions and his orders. The way the novel ends, Annael is still doing some soul-searching, and his need to learn the full truth is not sated.
Through him, we are also exposed to a whole different style of warfare within the setting: mobile assaults via bikes and land speeders. The Ravenwing, being a “pursuit” force that relies on speed and mobility, is all about hunting from the saddle. To the best of my knowledge, there are no other books in the setting that focus on this style of warfare, at least not to the degree that the character is a major one. There are several scenes in Rob Sanders’ Legion of the Damned with Space Marine Scouts on bikes, but the characters are fairly minor in the grand scheme of things. A case could also be made for Andy Hoare’s The Hunt For Voldorius which features the White Scars’ Third Captain Kor’sarro Khan and his bike-mounted Command Squad, but we never really get a good sense of mobile warfare in the book, not to the extent that Gav Thorpe handles it.
We see Annael and his brothers fight through huge city-blocks, open plains, and even a Star Fort (a very large space station). Each situation is different from the one previous, and while it took me a bit of creative adjustment to make sense of bike-mounted squadrons fighting through the tight corridors of a Star Fort, I can’t deny that Gav Thorpe wrote all these scenes with an eye for detail and that he made full use of bike-mounted tactics and strategies. These scenes made for some of the most thrilling moments in the novel, partly also because these were unique scenes.
Then we have Grand Master Sammael, the current senior officer of the Ravenwing, and thus one of the most highly-placed individuals within the Chapter who knows much about the deepest secrets held by the Dark Angels. He made for a very different sort of character than Annael. One of the reasons for this is because of the knowledge he possesses, and the duties and responsibilities that come with such knowledge. Another reason is that he is a much more confident character, confident in his purpose and confident in his command. Throughout, he makes some really tough decisions, and it is quite fascinating to see his thought-process. Given his status within the Chapter, I expected a much more… arrogant character, but Gav has done a great job at humanising him, at making him someone that I could sympathise with.
Much as Boreas was challenged in Angels of Darkness, so it is with Sammael in Ravenwing. It is given that in any story about the Fallen, any Dark Angels characters involved will face a certain crisis of faith. This is expected, and this is the norm since the very existence of the Fallen is a challenge to the authority and existence of the Dark Angels, one of their darkest secrets that if it is ever made public, the Chapter could very well be labeled traitor and rogue. Boreas, being an Interrogator-Chaplain, faced a great personal challenge when Astelan made him question his beliefs and his convictions in Angels of Darkness. In Ravenwing, Sammael has to do a lot of the resultant soul-searching on his own, particularly after he is made aware of Boreas’ final transmission to the Chapter forces at the end of Angels of Darkness. Interrogator-Chaplain Malcifer is able to provide a solid rock of belief and convictions for Sammael to latch on to, but the conflict exists until the very climax of the novel.
December 15, 2024
Enjoyable, but nothing special. There are very few 40k books I actually consider to be literature and this definitely doesn’t qualify, but still overall an entertaining ride.
I still think the Dark Angels are one of the sillier Space Marine chapters with their whole “oh no, we must forever hide our dark shame that 10,000 years ago some of us became traitors it would destroy us if the truth got out”, especially considering literally every other other loyalist chapter also had traitors. That being said, I’m a sucker for the whole “futuristic powered armor but also cloaks and swords” aesthetic so I’m inherently sold. Ravenwing aren’t my cup of tea though. I get that it’s supposed to harken back to knightly cavalry but the motorcycles don’t do anything for me.
3/5 for me (but I probably judge 40k books to generously this would be a 2.5 by any other scale)
I still think the Dark Angels are one of the sillier Space Marine chapters with their whole “oh no, we must forever hide our dark shame that 10,000 years ago some of us became traitors it would destroy us if the truth got out”, especially considering literally every other other loyalist chapter also had traitors. That being said, I’m a sucker for the whole “futuristic powered armor but also cloaks and swords” aesthetic so I’m inherently sold. Ravenwing aren’t my cup of tea though. I get that it’s supposed to harken back to knightly cavalry but the motorcycles don’t do anything for me.
3/5 for me (but I probably judge 40k books to generously this would be a 2.5 by any other scale)
January 29, 2021
Despite some cringy dialogue, this was rather fun.
As a man more used the the plain-spoken Space Wolves, the VERY archaic and formalised dialogue of the Dark Angels took some getting used to, and did often veer from 'knightly' into 'pretentious'. That said, I enjoyed this little look into the hunt for the Fallen, and I like how it went into the realities of how the chapter has to keep secrets within its own brotherhood - I thought that was handled very well.
The action was ok, though imho I'd have made some of the earlier battles a bit shorter and invested more time in the climax, but that's just me.
This was part of the omnibus so I shall be continuing with the next volume and look forward to seeing what comes next!
As a man more used the the plain-spoken Space Wolves, the VERY archaic and formalised dialogue of the Dark Angels took some getting used to, and did often veer from 'knightly' into 'pretentious'. That said, I enjoyed this little look into the hunt for the Fallen, and I like how it went into the realities of how the chapter has to keep secrets within its own brotherhood - I thought that was handled very well.
The action was ok, though imho I'd have made some of the earlier battles a bit shorter and invested more time in the climax, but that's just me.
This was part of the omnibus so I shall be continuing with the next volume and look forward to seeing what comes next!
May 27, 2019
Three stars for this one. Lots of action, however most of it is Dark Angels against vastly inferior chaos cultists, and therefore lacks any real sense of drama. It’s not until the end that the Dark Angels actually face a dangerous opponent.
The main villain of the story, if you can call him that, actually has the makings of an interesting character, but unfortunately only a very few pages are devoted to him.
All in all the book is pretty much a very straightforward space marine action, but nothing really special or exciting, apart from a few good scenes and dialogues.
The main villain of the story, if you can call him that, actually has the makings of an interesting character, but unfortunately only a very few pages are devoted to him.
All in all the book is pretty much a very straightforward space marine action, but nothing really special or exciting, apart from a few good scenes and dialogues.
April 13, 2018
Black Library fiction is never going to be the height of fiction writing, but this came pretty darn close. The Space Marines are well presented and Gav Thorpe does a good job of managing the different levels of awareness between the 5th,2nd and 1st companies. The plot is very action-centric and you can be assured that everything ends in bolter fire and overly gruff talking.
May 19, 2018
Fun, but not amazing. The first third just kind of flew past and didn't really catch me, but then I really got into it. I wished the Ravenwing used their motorcycles more. It was kind of weird to set a good chunk of the book in places that they can't use them (especially the climax). The ending was a little anticlimactic, but I definitely want to read the next one sometime.
February 5, 2019
This is another book set in the Warhammer 40K universe. This follows the space marines from the Dark Angels chapter. They have a dark secret, and will do anything to keep it. This drives the story and makes things interesting beyond the standard blow-stuff-up Warhammer storylines. I liked this one.
September 22, 2025
Wow what a ride this book was. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a real page turner. I really liked the tension between the Ravenwing and the 5th company. I highly recommend it and im looking forward to reading the next one!
March 8, 2019
"Where is he? Where is Cypher?"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2019
Decent book, I haven't read many of the Dark Angel books so this was a nice introduction.
July 25, 2019
Some great battle scenes and back story but complely let down by the very abrupt and rushed ending
April 4, 2025
Quite boring.
April 14, 2013
Gav Thorpe's latest take on the Dark Angels held my interest sufficiently. Previously he has written "Angels of Darkness" and "The Lion" about these grim warriors, the latter of which I found to be absolutely brilliant. Now he brings us a story focusing on the Chapter's outriders, the Ravenwing bikers of the second company.
Brother Annael is unexpectedly raised to the Ravenwing following the conflict at Kadillus, and begins learning the ways of this fast-moving formation, whose responsibility is to track down the enemies of the Chapter and seal off any escape. It quickly becomes obvious there is more to the Ravenwing than this, as the decisions made by Company Master Sammael seem to be following the guidelines of some greater goal, rather than simply tactical sense. This will come as no surprise to fans of the Dark Angels, for the Ravenwing's true mission, though they know it not, is to track down and capture those Dark Angels who rebelled against the Imperium following the dark days of the Horus Heresy, that they might be forced to repent for their heretical ways. From battlefield to battlefield, Sammael leads his company in pursuit of these Fallen Angels, and hints emerge that the hated Fallen known as Cypher may be once again commencing action against the Chapter.
The plot was not full of surprising twists or anything, but it was enough to hold my interest. Splitting chapters between the views of Master Sammael, brother Annael, and Telemenus of the fifth company allowed for the reader to gain an interesting perspective on the levels of secrecy within the Chapter, with Sammael knowing the truth of the Dark Angels' history, Annael knowing of the Horus Heresy but believing Horus slew the Lion, and Telemenus not even knowing of the Heresy. Having such differing perspectives on the same mission certainly made for an interesting read, and built to a dramatic climax with warriors acting against orders they didn't understand due to their lack of relevant knowledge. The high attrition rate of the Ravenwing was also fascinating, as it is quite unusual for any Space Marine company to lose warriors at such a rate, but it felt very appropriate to their needfully reckless style of combat.
This would have been deserving of four stars, but there were multiple instances where things like poor sentence structure or questionable choice or wording threw me off completely, and I found this quite frustrating. It's rather unusual for Gav, as he is normally quite a talented author, so I don't know what happened there.
Brother Annael is unexpectedly raised to the Ravenwing following the conflict at Kadillus, and begins learning the ways of this fast-moving formation, whose responsibility is to track down the enemies of the Chapter and seal off any escape. It quickly becomes obvious there is more to the Ravenwing than this, as the decisions made by Company Master Sammael seem to be following the guidelines of some greater goal, rather than simply tactical sense. This will come as no surprise to fans of the Dark Angels, for the Ravenwing's true mission, though they know it not, is to track down and capture those Dark Angels who rebelled against the Imperium following the dark days of the Horus Heresy, that they might be forced to repent for their heretical ways. From battlefield to battlefield, Sammael leads his company in pursuit of these Fallen Angels, and hints emerge that the hated Fallen known as Cypher may be once again commencing action against the Chapter.
The plot was not full of surprising twists or anything, but it was enough to hold my interest. Splitting chapters between the views of Master Sammael, brother Annael, and Telemenus of the fifth company allowed for the reader to gain an interesting perspective on the levels of secrecy within the Chapter, with Sammael knowing the truth of the Dark Angels' history, Annael knowing of the Horus Heresy but believing Horus slew the Lion, and Telemenus not even knowing of the Heresy. Having such differing perspectives on the same mission certainly made for an interesting read, and built to a dramatic climax with warriors acting against orders they didn't understand due to their lack of relevant knowledge. The high attrition rate of the Ravenwing was also fascinating, as it is quite unusual for any Space Marine company to lose warriors at such a rate, but it felt very appropriate to their needfully reckless style of combat.
This would have been deserving of four stars, but there were multiple instances where things like poor sentence structure or questionable choice or wording threw me off completely, and I found this quite frustrating. It's rather unusual for Gav, as he is normally quite a talented author, so I don't know what happened there.
August 30, 2013
The novel focuses on the point of view of three characters. Sammael, Grand Master of the Ravenwing, Annael, a newly appointed member of the Ravenwing and Telemenus, a battle-brother of the 5th. All three characters are written brilliantly, and we get to see what the Dark Angels are like from ordinary battle-brothers to the Grand Masters. It was also good to see that Space Marines aren’t cold and unthinking; Brother Annael comes across a group of renegades. The Space Marine in him says he should kill them, but his own self knows there is no honour in killing defenceless people in cold blood. Ultimately he leaves this decision to his superior. Sammael himself is stoic and wise, and always considers his options and he isn’t blind to the desperate measures he and his predecessors had to take to capture the Fallen. It takes a strong man to recognize this.
Telemenus comes across as being a glory seeker and quite arrogant, he is the best marksmen in the 5th and is eager to earn his laurels. He knows little about the truth of the Ravenwing’s hunt but when he finds out it shocks him to the core.
Over all Ravenwing was a good read, I didn’t really learn anything new but it is full of secrets and revelations. Gav Thorpe is the master when it comes to the Dark Angels, so I’m confident that this trilogy is in safe hands. I’d recommend this book to fans of the Dark Angels but others will enjoy this, even people who aren’t into 40k, although it would be useful to read the books Descent of Angels and Fallen Angels in the Horus Heresy series. I give Ravenwing four out of five stars, only because it tended to drag at times. But I hope the next book, Master of Sanctity lives up to it.
Telemenus comes across as being a glory seeker and quite arrogant, he is the best marksmen in the 5th and is eager to earn his laurels. He knows little about the truth of the Ravenwing’s hunt but when he finds out it shocks him to the core.
Over all Ravenwing was a good read, I didn’t really learn anything new but it is full of secrets and revelations. Gav Thorpe is the master when it comes to the Dark Angels, so I’m confident that this trilogy is in safe hands. I’d recommend this book to fans of the Dark Angels but others will enjoy this, even people who aren’t into 40k, although it would be useful to read the books Descent of Angels and Fallen Angels in the Horus Heresy series. I give Ravenwing four out of five stars, only because it tended to drag at times. But I hope the next book, Master of Sanctity lives up to it.
January 7, 2016
I really had no interest in reading this since a) I thought Purging of Kadillus was utter weaksauce, b) that was Dark Angels, like this one, by Gav Thorpe, c) I didn't want my memory of Angels of Darkness (which I love) spoiled any farther, and d) I've read two DA HH books fairly recently, and they aren't much more interesting back then. BUUUUT then I found out that Cypher apparently plays a decently large part in this trilogy, so I picked this up. Holy crap, this ALMOST redeems the monotony of Purging of Kadillus!
We follow a Ravenwing detachment of DA (but ... even that only like 50% of the time; we also follow a non-Ravenwing squad, so ... the title of the book is a bit misleading) as they follow a trail from planet to planet, searching for one of the Fallen. We get to visit some of the places talked about in AoD, as well as revisit Kadillus (whose fate is utterly creepy). We get to tackle the problem of, 'How do Ravenwings fight in a cramped space ship?' (the answer: pretty goofily, and yes, of course they take their goddamn motorbikes into the tiny-ass hallways of a cruiser ship)
I think the problem with Purging of Kadillus was that, since it was one big fight, there really wasn't much room for atmosphere, and that's what Gav seems to excel at. This book, however, pays as much attention to the time between the fights as the fights themselves (including one of the weirdest moments in a 40K novel, a Homeric-style Olympic match held on the way to a fight, in order to air some bad blood between squads), and is much better for it (AoD, of course, is like ... nigh-empty of fighting, and is one of the best 40K books out there). Overall, I dug it.
We follow a Ravenwing detachment of DA (but ... even that only like 50% of the time; we also follow a non-Ravenwing squad, so ... the title of the book is a bit misleading) as they follow a trail from planet to planet, searching for one of the Fallen. We get to visit some of the places talked about in AoD, as well as revisit Kadillus (whose fate is utterly creepy). We get to tackle the problem of, 'How do Ravenwings fight in a cramped space ship?' (the answer: pretty goofily, and yes, of course they take their goddamn motorbikes into the tiny-ass hallways of a cruiser ship)
I think the problem with Purging of Kadillus was that, since it was one big fight, there really wasn't much room for atmosphere, and that's what Gav seems to excel at. This book, however, pays as much attention to the time between the fights as the fights themselves (including one of the weirdest moments in a 40K novel, a Homeric-style Olympic match held on the way to a fight, in order to air some bad blood between squads), and is much better for it (AoD, of course, is like ... nigh-empty of fighting, and is one of the best 40K books out there). Overall, I dug it.
October 12, 2014
A book of secrecy, of lies, of doubt, and of hunt for retribution. The 2nd Company of the Dark Angels, Ravenwing, has to hunt the Fallen with every clue they can figure out. When a possible larger enemy force is ahead, they use the aid of fellow Companies of the Chapter, while preserving the existence of the Fallen a secret. As the story continues, this will become hard...
I've read the Descent of Angels and Fallen Angels and recommend this novel to all who has also, especially if you've read Angels of Darkness since I've heard it's a prequel to this. As you might've figured out, Ravenwing is not the typical Space Marine novel which purely bursts with honour, power and energy. Gonna read Angels of Darkness when it drops to my mailbox.
I've read the Descent of Angels and Fallen Angels and recommend this novel to all who has also, especially if you've read Angels of Darkness since I've heard it's a prequel to this. As you might've figured out, Ravenwing is not the typical Space Marine novel which purely bursts with honour, power and energy. Gonna read Angels of Darkness when it drops to my mailbox.
July 7, 2013
It’s Warhammer, there is space marines and Gav Thorpe is writing. Interested, you should be! The Ravenwing aren’t put across like the average space marine unit in your average 40k novel though, in an expected Thorpe style, there is way more than just your standard heavy artillery and massacre with just enough background to make it fun. There is a dark suspense about the unit that is played out and strong characters from the beginning. As far as I can tell, there is a bit of background from previous series’ in the setting but, in no way is there anything lost by not having read these first. Loads of little threads being played throughout and just spot on writing from beginning to end in the first part of a trilogy I can not wait to get hold of more of.
November 27, 2015
Absolutely awful. I have no issue with Gav's writing, normally, but this was boring, the background plot of the levels of secrecy in the dark angels is forced and ridiculous. Seriously, if I want bikers, I'll read a Scars book. Bikers on space stations? come on. WH40K is at times over the top, no doubt, but there is normally some level of practicality and logic. This book lacks that. Add in the obviously rushed job the editors threw into the mix (seriously, worst edited 40k book I've read so far), and this book took me months to struggle through. Months! For a 40k book! These normally take me a day or two, but I just struggled to care about this one.
April 21, 2014
Great read. I really like how the tensions between the 2nd and 5th companies of the Dark Angels grew while they moved from objective to objective, due to secrets that the Inner Circle of Dark Angels holds. Anneal and Telemenius provide an interesting viewpoint as they discover the deeper secrets that their chapter holds.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews