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The Horus Heresy: Characters
Eidolon: The Auric Hammer
A Horus Heresy Novel
Lord Commander Primus Eidolon has claimed many titles along the annals of his infamy. He is the Exemplar and the Risen, the Soul-Severed, and the Auric Hammer. Now, fallen far from his primarch’s grace, he carves a path to Terra, where the culmination of Horus’ grand heresy awaits.
READ IT BECAUSE
Eidolon has been a key figure of the Emperor's Children Legion from the beginning. Now, on the eve of the Siege of Terra, he’s fallen far from grace and is facing a long overdue reckoning for his many misdeeds during the Horus Heresy. Can he come to terms with his tainted legacy?
THE STORY
Coaxed and goaded by the wiles of the warp – and an entity whose whispered truths stretch even his credulity – Eidolon finds himself stranded around the world of Tatricala, where the ghosts of his past haunt every fated step. Now he must choose which life he wants to lead… and how much of his soul he is willing to sacrifice for it.
If Eidolon cannot banish his daemons, then they will surely take him for their own.
Written by Marc Collins.
Lord Commander Primus Eidolon has claimed many titles along the annals of his infamy. He is the Exemplar and the Risen, the Soul-Severed, and the Auric Hammer. Now, fallen far from his primarch’s grace, he carves a path to Terra, where the culmination of Horus’ grand heresy awaits.
READ IT BECAUSE
Eidolon has been a key figure of the Emperor's Children Legion from the beginning. Now, on the eve of the Siege of Terra, he’s fallen far from grace and is facing a long overdue reckoning for his many misdeeds during the Horus Heresy. Can he come to terms with his tainted legacy?
THE STORY
Coaxed and goaded by the wiles of the warp – and an entity whose whispered truths stretch even his credulity – Eidolon finds himself stranded around the world of Tatricala, where the ghosts of his past haunt every fated step. Now he must choose which life he wants to lead… and how much of his soul he is willing to sacrifice for it.
If Eidolon cannot banish his daemons, then they will surely take him for their own.
Written by Marc Collins.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2024
43 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Marc Collins
30 books72 followersMarc Collins is a speculative fiction writer from Glasgow, Scotland, covering diverse topics from Norse werewolves to the grim darkness of the far future. When not working in Pathology, he enjoys a dram and pondering our transhuman future, inspired by writers such as Iain M Banks.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 31, 2024
The Emperor’s Children are one of the most compelling legions to read about, and the same must be true of writing about them- they feature a lot across the Heresy and all too often steal the show.
Eidolon does exactly what I want from the Heresy, but far too few books manage to- it gives us all traitors, all the time. There really is no need for those loyal to Terra to appear in every single story, so ones where they are absent are to be cherished.
Thankfully, however, it’s not just its relative novelty that makes this book stand out. Collins does a wonderful job of giving us a bunch of gloriously viscous popinjays and hedonists and tells a great story with them. I’m not the biggest fan of warp-based confrontations but this book handles them very well and the way the story concludes is really well done. It’s a worthy companion to the best works featuring the III Legion.
Eidolon does exactly what I want from the Heresy, but far too few books manage to- it gives us all traitors, all the time. There really is no need for those loyal to Terra to appear in every single story, so ones where they are absent are to be cherished.
Thankfully, however, it’s not just its relative novelty that makes this book stand out. Collins does a wonderful job of giving us a bunch of gloriously viscous popinjays and hedonists and tells a great story with them. I’m not the biggest fan of warp-based confrontations but this book handles them very well and the way the story concludes is really well done. It’s a worthy companion to the best works featuring the III Legion.
November 10, 2024
A lot of this book felt like a fever dream mixed with LSD.
It felt more like a 40k novel and less like something from the Horus Heresy. It was an enjoyable read. There's just not a lot to like about the characters. Maybe that's the point.
It felt more like a 40k novel and less like something from the Horus Heresy. It was an enjoyable read. There's just not a lot to like about the characters. Maybe that's the point.
October 19, 2024
Listened to this today, short and given its Eidolon and the EC most definitely not sweet! I agree with other readers that I would have preferred a tale not sandwiched in to fit SoT, superbly narrated by Toby Longworth as always
October 28, 2024
Eidolon is such a fun character as he is an EXTREMELY flawed asshole and the book really sets him on an satisfying arc.
Collins definitely manages to make this feel uniquely Horus Heresy era Emperor's Children with many of their alterations feeling like they are direct from Graham McNeil's Fulgrim book.
The ending to this book was SO GOOOOOOOD, featuring a character I really hope Collins gets the chance to write more of in the future.
Collins definitely manages to make this feel uniquely Horus Heresy era Emperor's Children with many of their alterations feeling like they are direct from Graham McNeil's Fulgrim book.
The ending to this book was SO GOOOOOOOD, featuring a character I really hope Collins gets the chance to write more of in the future.
December 4, 2025
Book Review: Eidolon: The Auric Hammer (A Horus Heresy Novel) by Marc Collins
Coming into Eidolon: The Auric Hammer as a brand-new, casual Warhammer 40,000 reader felt like walking into the middle of a galaxy-wide civil war with nothing but vibes and a vague idea that “Space Marines are probably important.” And honestly? That might be the best way to read this book. Marc Collins throws you into the blazing heart of the Horus Heresy with zero handholding, but somehow still makes the chaos gripping instead of confusing.
This was only a few books into my Warhammer reading journey, and I expected to feel lost. Instead, what surprised me the most was how emotional the book ended up being. Yes, there are ridiculous amounts of violence, massive battles, dramatic speeches, and characters with names that sound like they were invented by a metal band—but underneath that is a character study of a man who really, truly believes he is destined for greatness… and is slowly being crushed by that belief.
Eidolon himself is not an easy character to like, which oddly makes him fascinating. He’s arrogant, cruel, obsessed with glory, and so convinced of his own importance that it’s both impressive and embarrassing. But the novel doesn’t just present him as a cartoon villain. Instead, it digs into how that arrogance was built—how the Emperor’s Children Legion worships perfection and how Eidolon clings to that idea even as it eats him alive. As a new fan, I found myself constantly torn between rolling my eyes at his decisions and feeling a weird sympathy for how desperately he wants to matter.
What really hooked me was the atmosphere. The title The Auric Hammer isn’t just cool-sounding—it matches the mythic, tragic tone of the book. Everything feels heavy, golden, and doomed from the start. Even when characters are celebrating victory, there’s a sense that something rotten is growing underneath it all. The Horus Heresy setting already feels like history written in blood, and this story leans hard into that idea: every triumph tastes bitter, every speech feels like it’s delivered at the edge of a cliff.
Marc Collins’ writing style is dense but cinematic. Some sections honestly felt overwhelming with their detail, especially for a casual reader. There are moments where you feel like you’re drowning in unfamiliar terms, Legion politics, and military terminology. But at the same time, the scenes of battle and emotional breakdown are so vivid that you don’t really need to understand every word to feel what’s happening. You get the idea: this is a galaxy falling apart, and Eidolon is one of its sharpest, most delusional fragments.
The combat scenes deserve special praise. Even as someone who is not primarily reading Warhammer for tactics or lore, I could still visualize everything clearly. The book doesn’t just describe who is shooting whom—it turns warfare into spectacle and horror all at once. When characters die, it usually matters. When armies clash, it feels enormous. The violence is intense but not meaningless; every fight seems to push Eidolon closer to becoming something monstrous.
One thing I didn’t expect was how tragic the book would feel. There’s a real sense that Eidolon might have been something greater—something better—if the universe around him wasn’t so utterly broken. And yet, so much of his downfall is self-inflicted. He doesn’t just live in the shadow of gods and demigods; he actively burns himself trying to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. As a newcomer, that emotional clarity helped ground the huge, overwhelming setting into something personal and human.
That said, this is not the easiest Warhammer novel for beginners. If you’re expecting a gentle entry point into the universe, this probably isn’t it. The story assumes you have at least a faint understanding of the Horus Heresy and the role of the Emperor’s Children. But if you’re someone like me—curious, willing to Google a few words, and ready to roll with the confusion—you might actually enjoy being dropped into the deep end. It makes the galaxy feel vast, alien, and ancient in a good way.
By the end of the book, I walked away feeling like I had just watched a beautifully animated tragedy—one filled with gold-plated armor, shattered pride, and cosmic horror. Eidolon may not be a hero you root for, but he is a character you won’t forget. And for a universe as massive as Warhammer 40K, that’s a powerful first impression.
Final verdict:
Eidolon: The Auric Hammer isn’t the warmest welcome into Warhammer 40K—but it is a dramatic, emotionally heavy, visually stunning plunge into its darkest heart. For new fans who enjoy morally messy characters, tragic arcs, and epic sci-fi myth, it’s a brutal but memorable ride worth taking.
Coming into Eidolon: The Auric Hammer as a brand-new, casual Warhammer 40,000 reader felt like walking into the middle of a galaxy-wide civil war with nothing but vibes and a vague idea that “Space Marines are probably important.” And honestly? That might be the best way to read this book. Marc Collins throws you into the blazing heart of the Horus Heresy with zero handholding, but somehow still makes the chaos gripping instead of confusing.
This was only a few books into my Warhammer reading journey, and I expected to feel lost. Instead, what surprised me the most was how emotional the book ended up being. Yes, there are ridiculous amounts of violence, massive battles, dramatic speeches, and characters with names that sound like they were invented by a metal band—but underneath that is a character study of a man who really, truly believes he is destined for greatness… and is slowly being crushed by that belief.
Eidolon himself is not an easy character to like, which oddly makes him fascinating. He’s arrogant, cruel, obsessed with glory, and so convinced of his own importance that it’s both impressive and embarrassing. But the novel doesn’t just present him as a cartoon villain. Instead, it digs into how that arrogance was built—how the Emperor’s Children Legion worships perfection and how Eidolon clings to that idea even as it eats him alive. As a new fan, I found myself constantly torn between rolling my eyes at his decisions and feeling a weird sympathy for how desperately he wants to matter.
What really hooked me was the atmosphere. The title The Auric Hammer isn’t just cool-sounding—it matches the mythic, tragic tone of the book. Everything feels heavy, golden, and doomed from the start. Even when characters are celebrating victory, there’s a sense that something rotten is growing underneath it all. The Horus Heresy setting already feels like history written in blood, and this story leans hard into that idea: every triumph tastes bitter, every speech feels like it’s delivered at the edge of a cliff.
Marc Collins’ writing style is dense but cinematic. Some sections honestly felt overwhelming with their detail, especially for a casual reader. There are moments where you feel like you’re drowning in unfamiliar terms, Legion politics, and military terminology. But at the same time, the scenes of battle and emotional breakdown are so vivid that you don’t really need to understand every word to feel what’s happening. You get the idea: this is a galaxy falling apart, and Eidolon is one of its sharpest, most delusional fragments.
The combat scenes deserve special praise. Even as someone who is not primarily reading Warhammer for tactics or lore, I could still visualize everything clearly. The book doesn’t just describe who is shooting whom—it turns warfare into spectacle and horror all at once. When characters die, it usually matters. When armies clash, it feels enormous. The violence is intense but not meaningless; every fight seems to push Eidolon closer to becoming something monstrous.
One thing I didn’t expect was how tragic the book would feel. There’s a real sense that Eidolon might have been something greater—something better—if the universe around him wasn’t so utterly broken. And yet, so much of his downfall is self-inflicted. He doesn’t just live in the shadow of gods and demigods; he actively burns himself trying to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. As a newcomer, that emotional clarity helped ground the huge, overwhelming setting into something personal and human.
That said, this is not the easiest Warhammer novel for beginners. If you’re expecting a gentle entry point into the universe, this probably isn’t it. The story assumes you have at least a faint understanding of the Horus Heresy and the role of the Emperor’s Children. But if you’re someone like me—curious, willing to Google a few words, and ready to roll with the confusion—you might actually enjoy being dropped into the deep end. It makes the galaxy feel vast, alien, and ancient in a good way.
By the end of the book, I walked away feeling like I had just watched a beautifully animated tragedy—one filled with gold-plated armor, shattered pride, and cosmic horror. Eidolon may not be a hero you root for, but he is a character you won’t forget. And for a universe as massive as Warhammer 40K, that’s a powerful first impression.
Final verdict:
Eidolon: The Auric Hammer isn’t the warmest welcome into Warhammer 40K—but it is a dramatic, emotionally heavy, visually stunning plunge into its darkest heart. For new fans who enjoy morally messy characters, tragic arcs, and epic sci-fi myth, it’s a brutal but memorable ride worth taking.
May 9, 2025
Disclaimer: I'm no great fan of Eidolon. I have a lot of time for his unfairly maligned Third Legion colleagues including the visionary Fabius, the flawless warrior Lucius and even the misguided Tarvitz, but my memory of Eidolon in the early Heresy books is of a vapid egotist obsessed with his own self-importance; and Erebus without the noble strategic goals.
Collins' late-Heresy version of Eidolon is true to these traits in a way that works well in small doses but translates less well to a novel, even a short one. The choice of antagonists is good and it's nice to not have Imperials everywhere, but Eidolon and his desperation for power and recognition at all costs are difficult to sufficiently get behind.
Collins' late-Heresy version of Eidolon is true to these traits in a way that works well in small doses but translates less well to a novel, even a short one. The choice of antagonists is good and it's nice to not have Imperials everywhere, but Eidolon and his desperation for power and recognition at all costs are difficult to sufficiently get behind.
December 14, 2024
Really did not like this one.
Before this I read the last 5 excellent Siege of Terra books, and now this comes out as the last book with the "Horus Heresy" logo on it and its a very forgettable tale.
Before this I read the last 5 excellent Siege of Terra books, and now this comes out as the last book with the "Horus Heresy" logo on it and its a very forgettable tale.
June 28, 2025
Eidolon is the first EC focused book I’ve ever read and it does an excellent job of giving me what I know of the post-Heresy EC, in all their terrible and broken glory. What I really enjoyed the most in this book though, was Eidolon’s inner voice. He acts like someone on the verge of a crashout the entire time lmao but I do mean that in the best way 😂 The rage in his inner voice is palpable and very entertaining.
The final confrontation with Fulgrim though, oh that was everything. Fulgrim was almost shocking in his cruelty and callousness to his once-favoured son. I ached for Eidolon, because for all his now unfavourable feelings towards Fulgrim, it cant be easy hearing such vitriol from a father figure, someone he once loved. Fulgrim was giving “manipulative, toxic, narcisstic parent” energy lmao especially that part where he was someone enraged that Eidolon had the nerve to still be upset about him KILLING him, because “I brought you back to life, why are you still angry at me?” The absolute gall and entitlement of that whole bit had me actually being like “wtf??” but hey, its totally in character for demon Fulgrim and I give kudos to the fact that it invoked such a feeling in me.
Overall, highly enjoyed it for what a short read it was.
The final confrontation with Fulgrim though, oh that was everything. Fulgrim was almost shocking in his cruelty and callousness to his once-favoured son. I ached for Eidolon, because for all his now unfavourable feelings towards Fulgrim, it cant be easy hearing such vitriol from a father figure, someone he once loved. Fulgrim was giving “manipulative, toxic, narcisstic parent” energy lmao especially that part where he was someone enraged that Eidolon had the nerve to still be upset about him KILLING him, because “I brought you back to life, why are you still angry at me?” The absolute gall and entitlement of that whole bit had me actually being like “wtf??” but hey, its totally in character for demon Fulgrim and I give kudos to the fact that it invoked such a feeling in me.
Overall, highly enjoyed it for what a short read it was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2025
An interesting book about a really flawed main character with lots of interesting twists.
At first it was a slog with introducing all the characters of the third legion, but in the second chapter the book picks up and is crazy and interesting to read.
This book does a special job with the interesting characters! The third legion is a cool sort of weird or non-weird people. It is especially a blast to read anything about what the kakophoni are up to :D.
I am also glad the book does not have many tie-ins into the overall story of the Horus Heresy, since I like reading the individual stories more than delving into the whole HH saga. This is my second HH book and I did not miss almost any information.
At first it was a slog with introducing all the characters of the third legion, but in the second chapter the book picks up and is crazy and interesting to read.
This book does a special job with the interesting characters! The third legion is a cool sort of weird or non-weird people. It is especially a blast to read anything about what the kakophoni are up to :D.
I am also glad the book does not have many tie-ins into the overall story of the Horus Heresy, since I like reading the individual stories more than delving into the whole HH saga. This is my second HH book and I did not miss almost any information.
February 21, 2025
Eidolon is a very cool character. Really good battle of inner demons as it were. Really short though. Not a bad thing, but pretty quick.
May 21, 2025
A little slow to get into, but warms up as it gets going with some good action. An interesting insite to where the Emperors Children are currently. Eidolon isn’t a particularly nice character but he is interesting. Most of the others are a little forgettable.
February 26, 2025
Possibly the worst heresy book I have read not written by Nick Kyme.
I count five instances of the word “atomize” in this short text, four of which are about heads.
I count five instances of the word “atomize” in this short text, four of which are about heads.
January 9, 2025
2024 was a great year for Warhammer fiction, especially as the Black Library released a ton of awesome books across the various sub-series and franchises, including The Horus Heresy series, which serves as a major prequel to the Warhammer 40,000 books I usually look at. One of the last releases of the year was The Horus Heresy character novel, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer. Written by Marc Collins, who previously impressed me with his Warhammer Crime novel, Grim Repast, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer was a fast-paced and compelling read that dove into the twisted mind of an ambitious traitor as he travels to the final battle of the great war.
Eidolon: The Auric Hammer was an excellent addition to the canon, and one that will really appeal to those readers who dove into the extended Horus Heresy series. Like many of the Horus Heresy character books, The Auric Hammer focuses on one of the interesting supporting characters in the larger franchise and provides a compelling story around them, while also diving into their past. In this case, Marc Collins tells a quick and entertaining story around Eidolon, one of the commanders of the now fallen Emperor’s Children legion, who has given in to the hedonism and worship of Slaanesh, the Chaos God of pleasure and obsession.
Collins does a great job effectively introducing the character of Eidolon and thrusting readers into his personal madness. I must admit that I haven’t read any of the other Horus Heresy novels before, so I wasn’t especially familiar with the character of Eidolon, which did slightly reduce my appreciation for this book. However, readers with even moderate knowledge of Warhammer 40,000 lore and the Horus Heresy can easily follow along with Collin’s quick story without too much difficulty. Collins breaks this into a couple of fun parts, with a fight against daemons on the protagonist’s ship leading to an impromptu invasion of an isolated planet alongside “allies”. However, nothing goes to plan as Eidolon and his comrades find themselves best by the dark plots of a daemonic entity who desires to destroy him.
This last third of the book is probably the best, as Collins envisions a series of daemonic encounters that play in the ravaged psyches of the various Emperor’s Children characters. While I had a hard time connecting to some of the supporting cast members (Collins might have been better off with a more tightly focused narrative), it was interesting to see their various struggles, especially as it effectively showed how far their legion had fallen. Eidolon’s personal inner struggle was the strongest part of the book, especially as Collins dove into his many issues, including his ambition, resentments and the anger he has with the various father figures in his life. The protagonist comes out of this book stronger, and I particularly loved the reveal about who was behind everything at the end of the novel. The confrontation that Eidolon had with this figure was extremely entertaining, and you come away appreciating just how suicidally stubborn Eidolon can be.
As is my habit with most Warhammer fiction, I chose to check out The Auric Hammer on audiobook, mainly because it was voiced by one of my favourite audiobook narrators, Toby Longworth. A very effective narrator, Longworth perfectly captures the various elaborately dark characters featured with The Auric Hammer, and I love how he brings readers into the outrageous and grim Warhammer universe. Longworth’s already impressive voice is enhanced in various sequences by cool sound effects that help to showcase the various daemonic creatures that the protagonist encounters. These effects and Longworth’s fantastic voicework really make you appreciate the eldritch power and inherent evilness the various figures they represented, and I felt it did wonders on bringing me further into the narrative. Combine that with the excellent way in which Longworth captures the intense dark emotions of Eidolon, including his frustration and disgust at his Primarch’s actions and abandonment of him, and this proves to be an outstanding and addictive audiobook. Featuring a relatively short runtime of just under six and a half hours, The Auric Hammer is an easy audiobook to get through quickly, and I had a lot of fun knocking it off in a couple of enjoyable sessions.
Overall, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer was an awesome and exciting Warhammer audiobook from Marc Collins that is worth checking out. Cleverly focusing on an intriguing figure in the canon while also expanding on the massive Horus Heresy series, The Auric Hammer really grabbed my attention, and I had a great time getting through it. An excellent Warhammer book to check out, especially if you have been enjoying the other Horus Heresy books.
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Eidolon: The Auric Hammer was an excellent addition to the canon, and one that will really appeal to those readers who dove into the extended Horus Heresy series. Like many of the Horus Heresy character books, The Auric Hammer focuses on one of the interesting supporting characters in the larger franchise and provides a compelling story around them, while also diving into their past. In this case, Marc Collins tells a quick and entertaining story around Eidolon, one of the commanders of the now fallen Emperor’s Children legion, who has given in to the hedonism and worship of Slaanesh, the Chaos God of pleasure and obsession.
Collins does a great job effectively introducing the character of Eidolon and thrusting readers into his personal madness. I must admit that I haven’t read any of the other Horus Heresy novels before, so I wasn’t especially familiar with the character of Eidolon, which did slightly reduce my appreciation for this book. However, readers with even moderate knowledge of Warhammer 40,000 lore and the Horus Heresy can easily follow along with Collin’s quick story without too much difficulty. Collins breaks this into a couple of fun parts, with a fight against daemons on the protagonist’s ship leading to an impromptu invasion of an isolated planet alongside “allies”. However, nothing goes to plan as Eidolon and his comrades find themselves best by the dark plots of a daemonic entity who desires to destroy him.
This last third of the book is probably the best, as Collins envisions a series of daemonic encounters that play in the ravaged psyches of the various Emperor’s Children characters. While I had a hard time connecting to some of the supporting cast members (Collins might have been better off with a more tightly focused narrative), it was interesting to see their various struggles, especially as it effectively showed how far their legion had fallen. Eidolon’s personal inner struggle was the strongest part of the book, especially as Collins dove into his many issues, including his ambition, resentments and the anger he has with the various father figures in his life. The protagonist comes out of this book stronger, and I particularly loved the reveal about who was behind everything at the end of the novel. The confrontation that Eidolon had with this figure was extremely entertaining, and you come away appreciating just how suicidally stubborn Eidolon can be.
As is my habit with most Warhammer fiction, I chose to check out The Auric Hammer on audiobook, mainly because it was voiced by one of my favourite audiobook narrators, Toby Longworth. A very effective narrator, Longworth perfectly captures the various elaborately dark characters featured with The Auric Hammer, and I love how he brings readers into the outrageous and grim Warhammer universe. Longworth’s already impressive voice is enhanced in various sequences by cool sound effects that help to showcase the various daemonic creatures that the protagonist encounters. These effects and Longworth’s fantastic voicework really make you appreciate the eldritch power and inherent evilness the various figures they represented, and I felt it did wonders on bringing me further into the narrative. Combine that with the excellent way in which Longworth captures the intense dark emotions of Eidolon, including his frustration and disgust at his Primarch’s actions and abandonment of him, and this proves to be an outstanding and addictive audiobook. Featuring a relatively short runtime of just under six and a half hours, The Auric Hammer is an easy audiobook to get through quickly, and I had a lot of fun knocking it off in a couple of enjoyable sessions.
Overall, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer was an awesome and exciting Warhammer audiobook from Marc Collins that is worth checking out. Cleverly focusing on an intriguing figure in the canon while also expanding on the massive Horus Heresy series, The Auric Hammer really grabbed my attention, and I had a great time getting through it. An excellent Warhammer book to check out, especially if you have been enjoying the other Horus Heresy books.
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
October 17, 2024
This is definitely my favourite work by Collins since Grim Repast. I wouldn't say it's quite on equal footing, but the Crime range had few equals in Black Library. This didn't overstay it's welcome, it wasn't too big a story for this page count, and while it is bolter-porn, it's the good stuff. When I actually like a book with this much fighting, I'm always impressed.
I don't want to downplay Collins' strengths, because he has written tolerable bolter porn before, but I think the Emperor's Children are the secret sauce for this kind of book. They're all so murderously self-centred that their combat sequences are intrinsically tied to their motivation and character movement. The III Legion has this great built-in feature where if a scene would be boring, the EC find it boring also and don't give it time or attention. I observed the same phenomenon in the very entertaining Lucius: The Faultless Blade.
As for the man on the cover: who doesn't love to hate Eidolon at this point? The guy has come far from Abnett's bumbling III legion caricature. Who would have thought he'd become such a complex bastard? I'd be disappointed if he were anything but fascinating at this point, and Collins does a good job with him. Would I have preferred a wider look at his career instead of a new battle on the eve of the Siege? Yes, but I would prefer WARhammer books to relegate most of their battles to something of-screen. Does this book further illuminate an incredibly unique man to my satisfaction? Also yes. Collins uses references to past works, and new tidbits of Eidolon's history, very well when they come up. There's no extended flashbacks, but at the same time every revelation and reflection feels organic. It's always entertaining and doesn't leave you frustrated at the paths not taken by the end.
Speaking of the ending, the last chapter of this book is perfect. It is ~15 pages of peak character writing. As much as Collins does this action book well, that conversation is the perfect dessert to an already satisfying meal.
I don't want to downplay Collins' strengths, because he has written tolerable bolter porn before, but I think the Emperor's Children are the secret sauce for this kind of book. They're all so murderously self-centred that their combat sequences are intrinsically tied to their motivation and character movement. The III Legion has this great built-in feature where if a scene would be boring, the EC find it boring also and don't give it time or attention. I observed the same phenomenon in the very entertaining Lucius: The Faultless Blade.
As for the man on the cover: who doesn't love to hate Eidolon at this point? The guy has come far from Abnett's bumbling III legion caricature. Who would have thought he'd become such a complex bastard? I'd be disappointed if he were anything but fascinating at this point, and Collins does a good job with him. Would I have preferred a wider look at his career instead of a new battle on the eve of the Siege? Yes, but I would prefer WARhammer books to relegate most of their battles to something of-screen. Does this book further illuminate an incredibly unique man to my satisfaction? Also yes. Collins uses references to past works, and new tidbits of Eidolon's history, very well when they come up. There's no extended flashbacks, but at the same time every revelation and reflection feels organic. It's always entertaining and doesn't leave you frustrated at the paths not taken by the end.
Speaking of the ending, the last chapter of this book is perfect. It is ~15 pages of peak character writing. As much as Collins does this action book well, that conversation is the perfect dessert to an already satisfying meal.
October 28, 2024
🎶She's an easy lover, she'll have a hold on you, believe it... 🎶
So says the latest installment of the brilliant Horus Heresy: Characters series. Unlike Luther and Valdor which focused on more third-person perspectives of their title characters, Eidolon's outing is more like Sigismund, as a personal cross-refwrence of what defines his fierce independence to Fulgrim, but his dependence, and addiction to, leadership, along with Fulgrim's validation. It's not very often we also get a really good depiction of what makes Slaanesh so appealing that isn't just sex and rock and roll, and digs deep into Eidolon's sense of pride, entitlement, and self-perfection. While the language is at times a little didactic it manages to be poetic enough to give it punch. While Eidolon appears to fight himself and win, as classic 40k goes, if you fight yourself, one of you is going to lose. Eidolon ends the story in the run up to the Siege technically in charge, but at the price of his pride - once again, Slaanesh wins anyways. Like a vampire, you might be a ghoulish Victorian thrall or a liberated modern sex symbol, but either way, the vampire's control means you have no alternative.
🎶Like no other, before you know it you'll be on your knees...🎶
So says the latest installment of the brilliant Horus Heresy: Characters series. Unlike Luther and Valdor which focused on more third-person perspectives of their title characters, Eidolon's outing is more like Sigismund, as a personal cross-refwrence of what defines his fierce independence to Fulgrim, but his dependence, and addiction to, leadership, along with Fulgrim's validation. It's not very often we also get a really good depiction of what makes Slaanesh so appealing that isn't just sex and rock and roll, and digs deep into Eidolon's sense of pride, entitlement, and self-perfection. While the language is at times a little didactic it manages to be poetic enough to give it punch. While Eidolon appears to fight himself and win, as classic 40k goes, if you fight yourself, one of you is going to lose. Eidolon ends the story in the run up to the Siege technically in charge, but at the price of his pride - once again, Slaanesh wins anyways. Like a vampire, you might be a ghoulish Victorian thrall or a liberated modern sex symbol, but either way, the vampire's control means you have no alternative.
🎶Like no other, before you know it you'll be on your knees...🎶
December 27, 2025
What's a kid to do when your Dad beheads you, then has you resurrected only to abandon you to fend for yourself?
Well, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer posits that you take your Legion of Chaos Marines into a paranoid and ruthless battle against your allies while tripping balls on the Warp! Yeah, take that, Dad!
Eidolon is an insanely powerful, but emotionally shattered individual. His broken psyche allows the Warp (the infernal means for expedient interstellar travel in Warhammer 40k) to play upon his, understandable, insecurities to devastating results.
The book is a good character study with a psychedelic edge and an epic climax. If you're invested in how the traitor legions got the way they are during the Horus Heresy, you'll enjoy it. If you're looking for some Emperor's Children freak flag action, this probably won't quite scratch that itch, but if you're a Fulgrim stan, you should probably check it out.
Well, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer posits that you take your Legion of Chaos Marines into a paranoid and ruthless battle against your allies while tripping balls on the Warp! Yeah, take that, Dad!
Eidolon is an insanely powerful, but emotionally shattered individual. His broken psyche allows the Warp (the infernal means for expedient interstellar travel in Warhammer 40k) to play upon his, understandable, insecurities to devastating results.
The book is a good character study with a psychedelic edge and an epic climax. If you're invested in how the traitor legions got the way they are during the Horus Heresy, you'll enjoy it. If you're looking for some Emperor's Children freak flag action, this probably won't quite scratch that itch, but if you're a Fulgrim stan, you should probably check it out.
July 30, 2025
This book SO nearly only got 1 star - It’s more like 1 ½ to be honest.
The first 2 parts of this book are, frankly, shockingly awful - they are mind numbingly dry, dull and pointless. The author manages to drone on about one of the most potentially interesting legions of traitors and just send the reader to sleep with pointless verbiage which, ironically, doesn’t connect to any FEELING.
The book only comes to anything right at the end and, it seems to me, this whole book is essentially a 20 page short story pulled out to fill a whole volume.
Time is better spent cutting your toenails than bothering to read this but, the author shows his potential at certain points, but I really don’t think he “gets” the subject here at all - it’s not so offensive or awful that I would give it only 1 star but I really wouldn’t bother with this pointless dross.
The first 2 parts of this book are, frankly, shockingly awful - they are mind numbingly dry, dull and pointless. The author manages to drone on about one of the most potentially interesting legions of traitors and just send the reader to sleep with pointless verbiage which, ironically, doesn’t connect to any FEELING.
The book only comes to anything right at the end and, it seems to me, this whole book is essentially a 20 page short story pulled out to fill a whole volume.
Time is better spent cutting your toenails than bothering to read this but, the author shows his potential at certain points, but I really don’t think he “gets” the subject here at all - it’s not so offensive or awful that I would give it only 1 star but I really wouldn’t bother with this pointless dross.
December 29, 2025
this was going to be the first heresy book i was going to skip. eidolon was just never a super important character to me.
i’m pleased to say that i went against my gut and read this, and it was totally worth it!
it was quite a psychedelic / horror-ish read. i liked that throughout all the trials eidolon goes through in this, his inner voice was his hardest challenge. it’s a super fun way to experience a character. (them battling themselves)
the ending of this was sick as well!
my only complaint was the pacing. things moved quiiiiiickly. problems were being solved in the span of a chapter or two. i would have preferred a slower pace, but with more detail.
i’m pleased to say that i went against my gut and read this, and it was totally worth it!
it was quite a psychedelic / horror-ish read. i liked that throughout all the trials eidolon goes through in this, his inner voice was his hardest challenge. it’s a super fun way to experience a character. (them battling themselves)
the ending of this was sick as well!
my only complaint was the pacing. things moved quiiiiiickly. problems were being solved in the span of a chapter or two. i would have preferred a slower pace, but with more detail.
May 28, 2025
I really wanted to love this story. Eidolon is probably the least covered member of the 3rd despite being one of the most important. That final conversation is outstanding and could have been the focus of an entire book alone but so much of it was pushing towards where the story started, and ultimately fell flat
January 31, 2025
Decent novel about a character that people didn't really recognize but honestly I enjoyed the action scenes and the good vibes of the characters haha.
July 11, 2025
I've never liked Eidolon but this book delves into the dichotomy of the demon and the human part of the traitors faith as it is. It is also full of Slaanesh weirdness which is a plus.
January 5, 2026
for someone who has never read any of the Warhammer books and has zero knowledge of the world, Eidolon was easy to understand with little checking. very compelling read!
January 8, 2026
I love when they use this type of writing style for Warhammer books.
September 15, 2025
Eidolon: The Auric Hammer was very, very strong Warhammer 40,000 fiction, but it was only just that. The strongest Black Library works (Nagash Immortal, Fulgrim, False Gods) don't just stop at being action romps, but focus on deep, nuanced character work, philosophical and theoretical themes, AND Bolter Porn. Eidolon was a fun character, seeing the infighting between his lieutenants and the beef between the III and XVI Legions was an awesome conflict to follow, but it just didn't have enough substance to set it apart from something like Lucius: The Faultless Blade.
November 26, 2024
When it comes to Chaos Marines, Marc is one of the those authors whose work I love reading. Whilst the Emperor's Children have become a parody of their former selves, they're not caricatures in this novel which is a fine line to tread and which Marc has done with aplomb. The main characters - Malakris, Vocipheron and Plegua - are distinct from one another and make up the varied tapestry the III legion has become. The star of the show, Eidolon, draws that grudging respect from the reader for his defiance and thanks to this novel, becomes a memorable character up there with Abaddon and Lucius and Ahriman and Typhus etc.
August 15, 2025
I'm a big fan of the Horus Heresy Character Series. Taking the time to give depth and development to some of the key-players in the Heresy has definitely increased my investment in the setting.
Eidolon is a deeply unlikeable and flawed character, and that's why he's great. He is a true villian, cruel and vicious, and power-hungry. Ambition and resentment are the driving force of his character.
Marc Collins also provides a cast of characters to illustrate the depraved fallen nature of the Emperor's Children Legion. Collins focus on the ravaged psyches of the characters is engaging and well-developed. The appeal to me of Chaos Marines, is that they are deeply flawed and broken. This makes them more interesting and complicated (to me) than their loyalist cousins.
The reading order for Eidolon is as follows: Horus Rising, Galaxy in Flame, Fulgrim, The Reflection Crack'd, Angel Exterminatus, Amor Fati, Primacy, The Path of Heaven, The Soul, Severed, Slaves to Darkness, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer, Saturine.
Eidolon is a deeply unlikeable and flawed character, and that's why he's great. He is a true villian, cruel and vicious, and power-hungry. Ambition and resentment are the driving force of his character.
Marc Collins also provides a cast of characters to illustrate the depraved fallen nature of the Emperor's Children Legion. Collins focus on the ravaged psyches of the characters is engaging and well-developed. The appeal to me of Chaos Marines, is that they are deeply flawed and broken. This makes them more interesting and complicated (to me) than their loyalist cousins.
The reading order for Eidolon is as follows: Horus Rising, Galaxy in Flame, Fulgrim, The Reflection Crack'd, Angel Exterminatus, Amor Fati, Primacy, The Path of Heaven, The Soul, Severed, Slaves to Darkness, Eidolon: The Auric Hammer, Saturine.
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