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Ahriman #2
Ahriman: Hechicero
Ahriman, greatest sorcerer of the Thousand Sons and architect of the Rubric that laid his Legion low, continues to walk the path towards salvation, or damnation. Searching for a cure for his Legion, he is forced to consider - was the great ritual somehow flawed from the very beginning? The answer may lie within the mysterious artefact known as the Athenaeum of Kallimakus, a grimoire of forgotten lore which is reputed to contain the exact words of the lost Book of Magnus - or, perhaps, even a transcription of the primarch's deepest and most secret thoughts.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 2014
45 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
John French
154 books298 followersJohn French is a writer and freelance game designer from Nottingham, England. His novels include the Ahriman series from Black Library, and The Lord of Nightmares trilogy for Fantasy Flight. The rest of his work can be seen scattered through a number of other books, including the New York Times bestselling anthology Age of Darkness. When he is not thinking of ways that dark and corrupting beings could destroy reality and space, John enjoys talking about why it would be a good idea... that and drinking good wine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
September 8, 2019
'Are you ready?' he asked again.
Carmenta's head came up again. The light of her eyes fluttered, brightened, and became hard and steady.
'To destroy a world?' Somewhere far beneath the bridge, the Sycorax began to tremble as breeches swallowed shells, landing bay doors opened to the void, and the engines began to push the ship towards the lone star burning brighter than the rest of the heavens. 'Yes, we are ready.'
An excellent second volume of John French's Ahriman trilogy, with former First Librarian of the Thousand Sons on a quest to cure his brothers, after the events of Ahriman: Exile.
The Rubric ritual, perhaps one of the greatest works of sorcery in history, went disastrously wrong and turned most of former XV Legion from flesh into sealed suits of armors, animated by the vestige spirits of those that wored them.
After leaving the Eye of Terror, Ahriman is looking for the mysterious artefact known as the Athenaeum of Kallimakus, a grimoire of forgotten lore which is reputed to contain the exact words of the lost Book of Magnus or, perhaps, even a transcription of the primarch's deepest and most secret thoughts, and a way to cancel the Rubric and save what is left of former XV Legion.
And degenerate Vlka Fenryka hunters who spent too much time inside the Eye, a trio of Inquisitors and their Grey Knights retinue, and Ahriman's treacherous allies are not going to stop him.
Well fleshed interesting characters, action, major void battles, betrayals, intense scenes and a couple of unexpected final twists that just made my day. Author really made a good job here, and I can't wait to read Ahriman: Unchanged, the final chapter of this trilogy.
A must read to every fan of Chaos and Thousand Sons but beware: after reading first novel you need to read Ctesia's e-shorts collected in Ahriman: Exodus digital collection or, better, inside Ahriman: The Omnibus to fully appreciate this second volume. They add much more backstory and explain how Ahriman and his fleet escaped from the Eye of Terror bypassing Cadia's defences. To say nothing about making you see the arch-sorcerer's manipulations through new eyes and experience some of the horrors he inflicts on his followers before the ones here descripted.
You"ve been warned.
October 5, 2015
There seems to be a running trend in Chaos novels these days. In several of their bigger successes of late, the objectives seem to be less focused upon a thrilling tightly written narrative than the ideas it can accomplish or explore as the story goes on. This can be seen as the case again for Ahriman: Sorcerer, as the overall arcing plot feels very much like the first book. It follows a very direct story, the threat and overall objective are obvious, and once you spell it out the main narrative is rather simple. The real meat instead stems from the political intrigue within a Chaos warband and the drama between such a diverse array of characters.
Set some time after the events of Ahriman: Exile, the former Chief Librarian of the Thousand Sons now serves as a leader for many of his kind. Having abandoned all efforts to bury himself, dying quietly in some forgotten abyss within the galaxy, his goal is now to finally mitigate his greatest failing. Yet even as he gathers the tools required to make the first step on this new journey, old loyalties and ambitions drive others to bring the sorcerer low…
Despite ending on a relatively high note in the previous novel, this latest book clearly establishes just how monumental a task is before him. French manages to simultaneously acknowledge his new role, all the while maintaining the hollow sense of hopelessness building a nihilistic atmosphere. Much of this comes down to the descriptions and slow burn of the novel, opting to create a bleak darkness which encompasses the entire story. While many choose to describe Chaos as a living infection, some virulent thing which crawls between the pages, the nature here makes it cold and oddly ethereal; a theme which befits the nature of the Thousand Sons in this story.
While Ahriman himself is still the core focus here, much of the tale slows down to better establish a new ensemble of characters on both sides. As opposed to the handful of renegades from before, what we have now are a wide variety of extremely different loyalist and traitor characters to help better flesh out this part of the universe. There’s a real sense of the story gradually carving out its own mini-narrative in a manner akin to the Gaunt’s Ghosts and Soul Drinkers sagas, serving as a mini-universe within a much larger setting of sorts. It allows the series to better stand out on its own, and as we grow to see some of these characters develop and shape this mini-verse, it permits French more freedom. It allows the saga to be more open about certain departures from previously depicted events and even certain facts, as it has a solid an definitive personal identity unto itself without dramatically breaking from the entire canon. While this might sound like something expected of every story, we so often see such attempts going wrong that it’s only right to praise an effort which accomplishes this while maintaining such stellar quality.
Many of the book’s scenes, even as they deal with certain characters or ideas, help to better explore the metaphysical aspects which are so often at the core of any Thousand Sons story. For much of the book the subject of knowledge, the Warp’s impact upon the universe and the question of loyalty is examined from every possible angle. One of the best such examples stems from a slave bound to the Thousand Sons and a conversation he holds with one of his masters, covering several such points in surprising detail. While it ultimately does not directly further the plot of Ahriman’s goals or the main themes of the story, the points it discusses build a real sense of mysticism and depth to the setting, and to the Thousand Sons legion itself. It’s quite the accomplishment that, while doing so, he makes so many seemingly irredeemable monsters sympathetic even at their worst moments.
The actual fighting and action itself largely comes down to a few specific moments, primarily just before the end. Save for a handful of duels between single figures and a lengthy psychic interrogation, much of the explosive warfare the setting is best known for is saved for the finale. During this we see combat on a much bigger scale than in the previous book, with multiple factions engaging in a massed void war even as Ahriman fights for his life on a world far below. While highly detailed, much of the carnage maintains an odd poetic quality which stops just short of presenting a truly vivid image yet uses oddly archaic language, descriptions and sudden twists to keep things interesting. It might be bolter porn at these points, but it manages to be a unique form of bolter porn – a high quality, dactylic style of bolter porn. The kind of action which seems more Guillermo Del Toro than it is Michael Bay.
However, while the book is beautifully described and narrated, it does have a few notable shortcomings in some obvious areas. The first and most infamous among these is how many narrative plot points from Ahriman: Exile are abruptly dropped or abandoned entirely. Even those which served as a stinger, a major twist and hook to ensure the audience returned for another read, are ignored for most of the story and then very abruptly resolved. This can make for an extremely frustrating read, and the lack of real call-backs to the prior events save for Amon’s leadership makes this feel more like an isolated episode than an ongoing story. While the sheer number of characters on offer can make this feel like a Song of Ice and Fire affair, with anyone at risk, it’s hard to overlook just how many specifically tied into the first novel’s events. Others even seem just abandoned, disappearing entirely from the story towards the end.
As mentioned above, a great deal of what is found here is ultimately buoyed up by its side stories and secondary events than its core narrative. These prove to be extremely interesting to be sure, yet at the same time all too often the story seems to be relentlessly dragging things out. The lack of real progression, especially after the prior novel seemed to truly establish the story was going somewhere, can turn it into an exercise in tooth grinding frustration as you hope things would just move on. French’s themes and ideas are fun to be sure, but having finished this it’s hard not to wonder if he would have been better off penning a series of short stories rather than a full novel.
One thing which is sure to infuriate many however, is the treatment of certain factions within the book. While a little weighed against Chaos worshipers of a Khornate nature (and given this is following a Thousand Sons character, it’s to be expected) the story was relatively balanced in terms of depicting the forces involved. Here though, it’s a little different, and a few of the older story’s more negative aspects seem to have been exaggerated. Ahirman in particular was a wreck in the prior story, which much of his old knowledge and power intentionally locked away. A husk of his former self, the story showed him at his weakest and on the verge of death at every turn, but ended on an apparent return to form. Despite that though, Ahriman here seems to be as weak as ever, and many straight forwards spells, acts and psychic abilities seem to rapidly burn him out, with a constant emphasis upon his near-death state. This could have had a point, but he’s not alone, with many marines on traitor and loyalist sides being written with human frailty. Sure, not every astartes needs to take an entire clip to the face to show they’re tough, but there’s only so many times you can read about astartes reacting in terror, being one-shotted or having limbs ripped off by bolters before they stop feeling like post-human brick shithouses. Combine this with treatment of the Space Wolves which just makes them seem like utter morons, and it really seems that the astartes are all too human at the best of times.
Ultimately, while Ahriman: Sorcerer has some distinct flaws though, it’s nevertheless an enthralling read. Even at its slowest moments you’ll find something worthwhile among its pages, encouraging you to appreciate some of the deeper elements of the setting and the Warp itself. Its less action driven dramatic scenes provide a very distinct theme not often seen in Black Library, and as a Chaos book it’s a definite essential. If you’re after something Thousand Sons focused, you could do far worse than this novel.
Set some time after the events of Ahriman: Exile, the former Chief Librarian of the Thousand Sons now serves as a leader for many of his kind. Having abandoned all efforts to bury himself, dying quietly in some forgotten abyss within the galaxy, his goal is now to finally mitigate his greatest failing. Yet even as he gathers the tools required to make the first step on this new journey, old loyalties and ambitions drive others to bring the sorcerer low…
Despite ending on a relatively high note in the previous novel, this latest book clearly establishes just how monumental a task is before him. French manages to simultaneously acknowledge his new role, all the while maintaining the hollow sense of hopelessness building a nihilistic atmosphere. Much of this comes down to the descriptions and slow burn of the novel, opting to create a bleak darkness which encompasses the entire story. While many choose to describe Chaos as a living infection, some virulent thing which crawls between the pages, the nature here makes it cold and oddly ethereal; a theme which befits the nature of the Thousand Sons in this story.
While Ahriman himself is still the core focus here, much of the tale slows down to better establish a new ensemble of characters on both sides. As opposed to the handful of renegades from before, what we have now are a wide variety of extremely different loyalist and traitor characters to help better flesh out this part of the universe. There’s a real sense of the story gradually carving out its own mini-narrative in a manner akin to the Gaunt’s Ghosts and Soul Drinkers sagas, serving as a mini-universe within a much larger setting of sorts. It allows the series to better stand out on its own, and as we grow to see some of these characters develop and shape this mini-verse, it permits French more freedom. It allows the saga to be more open about certain departures from previously depicted events and even certain facts, as it has a solid an definitive personal identity unto itself without dramatically breaking from the entire canon. While this might sound like something expected of every story, we so often see such attempts going wrong that it’s only right to praise an effort which accomplishes this while maintaining such stellar quality.
Many of the book’s scenes, even as they deal with certain characters or ideas, help to better explore the metaphysical aspects which are so often at the core of any Thousand Sons story. For much of the book the subject of knowledge, the Warp’s impact upon the universe and the question of loyalty is examined from every possible angle. One of the best such examples stems from a slave bound to the Thousand Sons and a conversation he holds with one of his masters, covering several such points in surprising detail. While it ultimately does not directly further the plot of Ahriman’s goals or the main themes of the story, the points it discusses build a real sense of mysticism and depth to the setting, and to the Thousand Sons legion itself. It’s quite the accomplishment that, while doing so, he makes so many seemingly irredeemable monsters sympathetic even at their worst moments.
The actual fighting and action itself largely comes down to a few specific moments, primarily just before the end. Save for a handful of duels between single figures and a lengthy psychic interrogation, much of the explosive warfare the setting is best known for is saved for the finale. During this we see combat on a much bigger scale than in the previous book, with multiple factions engaging in a massed void war even as Ahriman fights for his life on a world far below. While highly detailed, much of the carnage maintains an odd poetic quality which stops just short of presenting a truly vivid image yet uses oddly archaic language, descriptions and sudden twists to keep things interesting. It might be bolter porn at these points, but it manages to be a unique form of bolter porn – a high quality, dactylic style of bolter porn. The kind of action which seems more Guillermo Del Toro than it is Michael Bay.
However, while the book is beautifully described and narrated, it does have a few notable shortcomings in some obvious areas. The first and most infamous among these is how many narrative plot points from Ahriman: Exile are abruptly dropped or abandoned entirely. Even those which served as a stinger, a major twist and hook to ensure the audience returned for another read, are ignored for most of the story and then very abruptly resolved. This can make for an extremely frustrating read, and the lack of real call-backs to the prior events save for Amon’s leadership makes this feel more like an isolated episode than an ongoing story. While the sheer number of characters on offer can make this feel like a Song of Ice and Fire affair, with anyone at risk, it’s hard to overlook just how many specifically tied into the first novel’s events. Others even seem just abandoned, disappearing entirely from the story towards the end.
As mentioned above, a great deal of what is found here is ultimately buoyed up by its side stories and secondary events than its core narrative. These prove to be extremely interesting to be sure, yet at the same time all too often the story seems to be relentlessly dragging things out. The lack of real progression, especially after the prior novel seemed to truly establish the story was going somewhere, can turn it into an exercise in tooth grinding frustration as you hope things would just move on. French’s themes and ideas are fun to be sure, but having finished this it’s hard not to wonder if he would have been better off penning a series of short stories rather than a full novel.
One thing which is sure to infuriate many however, is the treatment of certain factions within the book. While a little weighed against Chaos worshipers of a Khornate nature (and given this is following a Thousand Sons character, it’s to be expected) the story was relatively balanced in terms of depicting the forces involved. Here though, it’s a little different, and a few of the older story’s more negative aspects seem to have been exaggerated. Ahirman in particular was a wreck in the prior story, which much of his old knowledge and power intentionally locked away. A husk of his former self, the story showed him at his weakest and on the verge of death at every turn, but ended on an apparent return to form. Despite that though, Ahriman here seems to be as weak as ever, and many straight forwards spells, acts and psychic abilities seem to rapidly burn him out, with a constant emphasis upon his near-death state. This could have had a point, but he’s not alone, with many marines on traitor and loyalist sides being written with human frailty. Sure, not every astartes needs to take an entire clip to the face to show they’re tough, but there’s only so many times you can read about astartes reacting in terror, being one-shotted or having limbs ripped off by bolters before they stop feeling like post-human brick shithouses. Combine this with treatment of the Space Wolves which just makes them seem like utter morons, and it really seems that the astartes are all too human at the best of times.
Ultimately, while Ahriman: Sorcerer has some distinct flaws though, it’s nevertheless an enthralling read. Even at its slowest moments you’ll find something worthwhile among its pages, encouraging you to appreciate some of the deeper elements of the setting and the Warp itself. Its less action driven dramatic scenes provide a very distinct theme not often seen in Black Library, and as a Chaos book it’s a definite essential. If you’re after something Thousand Sons focused, you could do far worse than this novel.
August 3, 2017
The second book in French's Ahriman series continues what he started in the first and steps it up a notch.
French does an extremely good job with Ahriman, continuing to build upon his character and weaving more complex plots around him that culminate in a mind twisting ending to the novel. Throughout the novel I kept asking myself where was the Tzeenchian part of the story, where was the innocence of the Thousand Sons (that is debatable), and French came through.
There was a lot in this novel that shocked me, especially with the side characters. French does a wonderful job making them interesting and engaging. It helps to build upon the story and makes it that much more impactful when Ahriman either uses them or tosses them away. (intentionally or unintentionally is up to you) It builds a rich story that really sets the tone for the story itself.
The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the inclusion of the Space Wolves. My own personal dislike of them aside, they seemed to be a minor element included in the story that ended up playing a far larger, and delicious, roll in the story. Despite that though, they did feel a bit like filler, and even given the ending of the novel, they could have been removed and easily replaced.
In the end, all in all, this was a great novel. Everything that was set up in the first novel was doubled here, and as mentioned, the ending was amazing. An enjoyable read and had a very Thousand Sons feel to it and really captured the feel of the 40k universe. Well worth looking forward to if you start reading this series!
French does an extremely good job with Ahriman, continuing to build upon his character and weaving more complex plots around him that culminate in a mind twisting ending to the novel. Throughout the novel I kept asking myself where was the Tzeenchian part of the story, where was the innocence of the Thousand Sons (that is debatable), and French came through.
There was a lot in this novel that shocked me, especially with the side characters. French does a wonderful job making them interesting and engaging. It helps to build upon the story and makes it that much more impactful when Ahriman either uses them or tosses them away. (intentionally or unintentionally is up to you) It builds a rich story that really sets the tone for the story itself.
The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the inclusion of the Space Wolves. My own personal dislike of them aside, they seemed to be a minor element included in the story that ended up playing a far larger, and delicious, roll in the story. Despite that though, they did feel a bit like filler, and even given the ending of the novel, they could have been removed and easily replaced.
In the end, all in all, this was a great novel. Everything that was set up in the first novel was doubled here, and as mentioned, the ending was amazing. An enjoyable read and had a very Thousand Sons feel to it and really captured the feel of the 40k universe. Well worth looking forward to if you start reading this series!
February 8, 2021
This one took me a while to get through. The entire middle section of this just felt like padding to reach a minimum word count. The ending somewhat made up for this, but maybe that is just because something was actually happening.
Side note: The characterisation of Ahriman has done a complete 180 by the end of this book compared with how he was established in Exile. The reveal that all events were just-as-planned came off a bit Sunday morning cartoon villain. I understand what it was trying to achieve, but the execution was sub-par and to be brutally honest it would have been better off being left out.
Side note: The characterisation of Ahriman has done a complete 180 by the end of this book compared with how he was established in Exile. The reveal that all events were just-as-planned came off a bit Sunday morning cartoon villain. I understand what it was trying to achieve, but the execution was sub-par and to be brutally honest it would have been better off being left out.
April 5, 2023
Again a very amazing story of sorcerous cunning and adventure. Especially after having read other attempts at protagonists with superb scrying abilities I have to say that John French really, really, really knows what he's doing. And what a grand finale of twists and revelations!
However, what really confuses me is how everybody calls Ahriman a liar and a traitor. The traitor can be argued, but where the reader usually has a greater insight into a character, you never see him lie. I never saw him acting selfish or power hungry, like his father he would prefer to stay out of everything and receive the punishment for his mistakes. People don't let him, and for him like for Magnus, such behavior would have been irresponsible.
This inconsistency between how I experience Ahriman and how characters respond and react to him is often confusing, but in an intriguing manner that adds a new layer of complexity to the story. Intentional or not, John French created something special here. And I hope others will value it likewise.
However, what really confuses me is how everybody calls Ahriman a liar and a traitor. The traitor can be argued, but where the reader usually has a greater insight into a character, you never see him lie. I never saw him acting selfish or power hungry, like his father he would prefer to stay out of everything and receive the punishment for his mistakes. People don't let him, and for him like for Magnus, such behavior would have been irresponsible.
This inconsistency between how I experience Ahriman and how characters respond and react to him is often confusing, but in an intriguing manner that adds a new layer of complexity to the story. Intentional or not, John French created something special here. And I hope others will value it likewise.
August 13, 2023
A good but not great sequel to 'Ahriman: Exile', in which 40k's answer to Tim the Enchanter continues his quest to put right the wrongs of his past.
Despite an exceptionally competitive field Ahriman is a strong contender for the prestigious title of 'Biggest Ego in Warhammer', his extreme hubris driving him to make greater and greater sacrifices in the unshakeable belief that only he is capable of achieving his goals. This time around he's on a side quest in search of a magical maguffin, crafting clever schemes that French constructs with flair and panache. The action scenes are well written, as is the entire novel, but Ahriman is by far the most compelling character so it is strangely disappointing that he isn't always on center stage.
The scale is expanded compared to the previous book but as such it lacks the claustrophobia and urgency that made the original so compelling. Ultimately there wasn't quite the same sense of tension, but all signs suggest that we're building towards some explosive payoffs so I'm interested to see what happens next in the series.
Despite an exceptionally competitive field Ahriman is a strong contender for the prestigious title of 'Biggest Ego in Warhammer', his extreme hubris driving him to make greater and greater sacrifices in the unshakeable belief that only he is capable of achieving his goals. This time around he's on a side quest in search of a magical maguffin, crafting clever schemes that French constructs with flair and panache. The action scenes are well written, as is the entire novel, but Ahriman is by far the most compelling character so it is strangely disappointing that he isn't always on center stage.
The scale is expanded compared to the previous book but as such it lacks the claustrophobia and urgency that made the original so compelling. Ultimately there wasn't quite the same sense of tension, but all signs suggest that we're building towards some explosive payoffs so I'm interested to see what happens next in the series.
April 13, 2023
Third time reading and it’s still just as epic, everyone thinking they can out-do the titular character to find at the very end he’s been one step ahead of them the whole journey.
Fantastic world building for arch traitors, I’ve always thought it must be difficult to put concepts such as the unimaginable warp and the ensuing psychic powers and phenomena into words, but French does it brilliantly.
Fantastic world building for arch traitors, I’ve always thought it must be difficult to put concepts such as the unimaginable warp and the ensuing psychic powers and phenomena into words, but French does it brilliantly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2022
Naive sorcerer turns architect of fate in what is surprisingly experimental for a Warhammer novel. The warp is heavily explored and it's effect on time helps carry a plot befitting of a man who creates fate as he sees fit. The first half of the novel showing a hunt through an intersection of time was particularly interesting, acting from the past to create a moment to allow an ambush in the future just encapsulates Ahriman as a character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2017
I haven't finished this, but yet I'm writing a review. Let me tell you why. It's well written, Ahriman is a great character. But during reading this I always felt something was missing an it was two thirds through I realised what.
Levity, this novel desperately needs levity. Everything is so dank and depressing and melancholic. It fits with Ahriman and the Thousand Sons, but it made it a slog. Also it was had for me to differentiate the characters a lot of the Chaos Marines sounded the same as well as the two human characters.
Why do I still give it three stars? It had me pretty hooked until then and Sanakht is a cool character. The plot is interesting and I like the idea of the 'war against fate.' A war which I can understand and commend.
I will get back to it, finish it. It's good despite it's faults.
Levity, this novel desperately needs levity. Everything is so dank and depressing and melancholic. It fits with Ahriman and the Thousand Sons, but it made it a slog. Also it was had for me to differentiate the characters a lot of the Chaos Marines sounded the same as well as the two human characters.
Why do I still give it three stars? It had me pretty hooked until then and Sanakht is a cool character. The plot is interesting and I like the idea of the 'war against fate.' A war which I can understand and commend.
I will get back to it, finish it. It's good despite it's faults.
June 27, 2021
Just not my type of story. To be fair It is not badly written. I thought the end of the first book finally catched me. But this book was again very tough to read until the last chapters.
For now I can't feel the hype about the Ahriman books. There will be long break until I start reading the third and last one.
For now I can't feel the hype about the Ahriman books. There will be long break until I start reading the third and last one.
December 7, 2024
Es una ida de olla constante con varias perspectivas por capítulo. Es como una partida del lol de profesionales, todo se basa en hacer buenos predicts.
July 12, 2023
What a story!
This had me on my toes excited about what was to come all the time. With interesting characters and a great stroy, this is a book I'm really glad I started and finished.
Some of the negatives are that these ahriman stories seem to be little bit slower. And also this book did not feature ahriman that much, but nevertheless, it was epic and I'm glad I've read it.
Something is just so cool about the stuff that the characters can do, while it still makes sense from the set rules of the world.
This had me on my toes excited about what was to come all the time. With interesting characters and a great stroy, this is a book I'm really glad I started and finished.
Some of the negatives are that these ahriman stories seem to be little bit slower. And also this book did not feature ahriman that much, but nevertheless, it was epic and I'm glad I've read it.
Something is just so cool about the stuff that the characters can do, while it still makes sense from the set rules of the world.
June 25, 2018
A good sequel of the first book.
It is as usual a good insight on Arhiman's mind and there are also some interesting side stories.
The main problem is that also in this book Arhiman seems to be perfect: despite everyones keep saying to him that cannot escape from its past, there will always the burden of his mistakes etc... he is again never in trouble and in the end this result in a pretty boring book.
It is as usual a good insight on Arhiman's mind and there are also some interesting side stories.
The main problem is that also in this book Arhiman seems to be perfect: despite everyones keep saying to him that cannot escape from its past, there will always the burden of his mistakes etc... he is again never in trouble and in the end this result in a pretty boring book.
May 25, 2018
Ahriman musters his old brothers and other power hungry traitors to his banner as they search for means to rebirth the old Thousand Sons legion. Old Vlka Fenryka, Grey Knights and the Inquisition are manipulated and try to stop Ahriman. Some characters die while others are ridiculously unkillable. The action picks up a little. I look forward to a triumphant end to this trilogy.
May 25, 2023
Now established and on a path to redeem himself, Ahriman's journey slips into a slightly less enjoyable journey as he confronts his inner beliefs, past, present, and future. The relationship with Astreos begins to degenerate and forms a very interesting beginning to the subplot of their relationship devolving, which culminates in the third book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2025
I did mostly enjoy how this played out and the story was solid but I just could not connect with the book until about the halfway point and it never really had me hooked fully. I’m enjoying the characters and the manipulation of fate and there were a couple good twists and turns but it just didn’t grab me. Maybe it’s one of those where later in the series I’ll look back and appreciate it more.
December 9, 2025
8/10
Ahora sí. Tras todas las piezas puestas en el primer libro ves a Ahriman y su banda desatada. Ignis es un secundario buenísimo y Sanakht tampoco se queda demasiado atrás. Magia, engaños, conspiraciones y el destino todo dando una vuelta sobre sí mismo formando capas y capas. Muy buena recta final.
Ahora sí. Tras todas las piezas puestas en el primer libro ves a Ahriman y su banda desatada. Ignis es un secundario buenísimo y Sanakht tampoco se queda demasiado atrás. Magia, engaños, conspiraciones y el destino todo dando una vuelta sobre sí mismo formando capas y capas. Muy buena recta final.
April 27, 2020
Mejor que el primero de la saga, pero vuelve a ser todo un libro de describir un viaje para alcanzar una meta que ni tan siquiera se usa en este libro, sólo para terminar diciendo que hay un siguiente destino al que ir.
September 22, 2020
One of the best 40K books I have ever read.
This one is on par with Black Legion and the best of the Horus Heresy.
If anyone asks for a 40K recommendation this book should be on your short list.
This one is on par with Black Legion and the best of the Horus Heresy.
If anyone asks for a 40K recommendation this book should be on your short list.
June 28, 2024
One of the better pieces of 40K fiction I have read so far. Suffers from some of the problems other books in the same universe suffer from, but had the most satisfying climax and conclusion of all the 40K books I have so far experienced.
October 1, 2017
wasn't that strong until the end, but it wrapped up well
June 14, 2021
Ahriman still makes me happy.
October 23, 2022
Felt tough to get into this one. Ultimately good finish but felt a bit of a slog to get there. Hoping the third party pays for all
October 9, 2023
Great Follow up!
I was Thinking this was going to disappoint but in truth, it delivered at the end! Thanks looking forward to number 3
I was Thinking this was going to disappoint but in truth, it delivered at the end! Thanks looking forward to number 3
April 22, 2024
I just did not care to be honest. I suppose it was fun at times.
July 28, 2024
“We followed dreams and never asked who was their master”
March 20, 2025
Great - shaping up to be a top tier 40k series. The Space Wolves felt a little redundant, however, but Ahriman and the gang got a great showing.
September 22, 2025
Great book, some really hard quotes in here. Looking forward to the next one.
December 30, 2014
The Review: http://thefictionalhangout.blogspot.c...
Ahriman, greatest sorcerer of the Thousand Sons and architect of the Rubric that laid his Legion low, continues to walk the path towards salvation, or damnation. Searching for a cure for his Legion, he is forced to consider – was the great ritual somehow flawed from the very beginning? The answer may lie within the mysterious artefact known as the Athenaeum of Kalimakus, a grimoire of forgotten knowledge that is reputed to contain the exact words of the lost Book of Magnus... or, perhaps, even a transcription of the primarch’s deepest and most secret thoughts.
I don’t read as much Black Library fiction as I used to – the days of me keeping up with pretty much every newly released book have fallen behind and now I only return to the worlds of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy sporadically. However, reading John French’s Ahriman: Sorcerer, even though it was the second novel in a series and I had not read the first, I didn’t encounter any major difficulties understanding who was who (because obviously, Ahriman is a major character in the Horus Heresy series and one of the more famous playable characters in the game.) He’s an intriguing character and I will leap at the chance to read anything Thousand Sons related, especially when it’s handled by John French, who is a reliable writer who has been previously responsible for the awesome short story The Last Remembrancer and the novella The Crimson Fist. This is the first full novel that I’ve read from French (his previous one is the first entry in the Ahriman series, Exile) and he certainly didn’t disappoint.
Let’s get this out of the way early on. The cover art is awesome. It pictures Ahriman in all his glory and it was one of the main reasons why the book screamed ‘must buy’ for me when I saw it on the shelf. It just looked so good, and certainly joins the list of impulse buys (one of which is Douglas Hulick's awesome Among Thieves) that I’ve made purely based on the cover alone. But then again, Black Library titles have for the most part earned excellent covers, so there’s always something to look forward to from the newer titles.
The book itself sees Ahriman searching for a cure for the Thousand Sons Legion, after being the architect who crippled them in the first place. For more backstory on why this happened you’ll have to check out Dan Abnett’s Prospero Burns and Graham McNeill’s A Thousand Sons, both of which are awesome and probably familiar to most Black Library fans by now. So chances are, if you’re coming into this book already, you’ll know the backstory, and it’s great to see that there are no pages wasted in repeating what you already know. French handles it very well, with Ahriman desperately searching for the Athenaeum of Kalimakus, a lost artifact of high value to his legion. However, Ahriman is being hunted, and has to deal with not only a fearsome Inquisitor, but also the Space Wolves on his tail. So needless to say, this makes for some thrilling reading indeed, with the novel balancing the action sequences with the more character driven ones pretty strongly. It certainly doesn't fall into the trap of being just another bolter-heavy novel.
The plot itself is handled well and the pacing is pretty good, with nothing ever feeling rushed or too slow. It remains engrossing throughout and as I was reading this on a long journey with nothing else to do, I managed to get through it in pretty much two sittings (I couldn’t quite finish it all in one go) and it was incredibly refreshing to read, feeling unlike anything I’ve read from Black Library in a while now.
It’s safe to say then, Ahriman: Sorcerer is for me, a welcome return to Warhammer 40,000 and has reignited my interest in the setting once again. I will most certainly be picking up Ahriman: Exile whilst I’m waiting for the third novel (in what is a planned trilogy) to be released and it’ll be very interesting to see where French takes the book going forward for sure. So if you’re looking for some continuation from the events of Prospero Burns/A Thousand Sons then this book is certainly going to be up your street, especially if you want something different from the usual bolter-heavy action. This is certainly one of the better impulse buys that I’ve had in a while, and as a result it comes recommended.
VERDICT: 8/10
Ahriman, greatest sorcerer of the Thousand Sons and architect of the Rubric that laid his Legion low, continues to walk the path towards salvation, or damnation. Searching for a cure for his Legion, he is forced to consider – was the great ritual somehow flawed from the very beginning? The answer may lie within the mysterious artefact known as the Athenaeum of Kalimakus, a grimoire of forgotten knowledge that is reputed to contain the exact words of the lost Book of Magnus... or, perhaps, even a transcription of the primarch’s deepest and most secret thoughts.
I don’t read as much Black Library fiction as I used to – the days of me keeping up with pretty much every newly released book have fallen behind and now I only return to the worlds of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy sporadically. However, reading John French’s Ahriman: Sorcerer, even though it was the second novel in a series and I had not read the first, I didn’t encounter any major difficulties understanding who was who (because obviously, Ahriman is a major character in the Horus Heresy series and one of the more famous playable characters in the game.) He’s an intriguing character and I will leap at the chance to read anything Thousand Sons related, especially when it’s handled by John French, who is a reliable writer who has been previously responsible for the awesome short story The Last Remembrancer and the novella The Crimson Fist. This is the first full novel that I’ve read from French (his previous one is the first entry in the Ahriman series, Exile) and he certainly didn’t disappoint.
Let’s get this out of the way early on. The cover art is awesome. It pictures Ahriman in all his glory and it was one of the main reasons why the book screamed ‘must buy’ for me when I saw it on the shelf. It just looked so good, and certainly joins the list of impulse buys (one of which is Douglas Hulick's awesome Among Thieves) that I’ve made purely based on the cover alone. But then again, Black Library titles have for the most part earned excellent covers, so there’s always something to look forward to from the newer titles.
The book itself sees Ahriman searching for a cure for the Thousand Sons Legion, after being the architect who crippled them in the first place. For more backstory on why this happened you’ll have to check out Dan Abnett’s Prospero Burns and Graham McNeill’s A Thousand Sons, both of which are awesome and probably familiar to most Black Library fans by now. So chances are, if you’re coming into this book already, you’ll know the backstory, and it’s great to see that there are no pages wasted in repeating what you already know. French handles it very well, with Ahriman desperately searching for the Athenaeum of Kalimakus, a lost artifact of high value to his legion. However, Ahriman is being hunted, and has to deal with not only a fearsome Inquisitor, but also the Space Wolves on his tail. So needless to say, this makes for some thrilling reading indeed, with the novel balancing the action sequences with the more character driven ones pretty strongly. It certainly doesn't fall into the trap of being just another bolter-heavy novel.
The plot itself is handled well and the pacing is pretty good, with nothing ever feeling rushed or too slow. It remains engrossing throughout and as I was reading this on a long journey with nothing else to do, I managed to get through it in pretty much two sittings (I couldn’t quite finish it all in one go) and it was incredibly refreshing to read, feeling unlike anything I’ve read from Black Library in a while now.
It’s safe to say then, Ahriman: Sorcerer is for me, a welcome return to Warhammer 40,000 and has reignited my interest in the setting once again. I will most certainly be picking up Ahriman: Exile whilst I’m waiting for the third novel (in what is a planned trilogy) to be released and it’ll be very interesting to see where French takes the book going forward for sure. So if you’re looking for some continuation from the events of Prospero Burns/A Thousand Sons then this book is certainly going to be up your street, especially if you want something different from the usual bolter-heavy action. This is certainly one of the better impulse buys that I’ve had in a while, and as a result it comes recommended.
VERDICT: 8/10
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