Baal has been saved from the tyranids, yet the Blood Angels' greatest challenge awaits them. Reinforced by the new Primaris Space Marines, Commander Dante has been made warden of Imperium Nihilus. But to save the shattered Imperium, he and his brothers must first defeat the darkness within themselves.
Listen to it after the Devastation of Baal comes the next great test for the Blood Angels - rebuilding their broken empire, even as their broken souls threaten to overwhelm them.
The the galaxy is in flames. Chaos is in the ascendant across the stars. The Great Rift has split the holdings of the Imperium in twain, isolating entire sectors from the light of Holy Terra.
But all hope is not lost. The Primarch Roboute Guilliman has returned from deathless sleep and appointed Commander Dante, lord of the Blood Angels, as Regent and Warden of the newly dubbed Imperium Nihilus.
In the Baal system, the shattered holding of the Chapter is being rebuilt, and Dante plans the greatest campaign of his long life, to retake half an empire. And yet at this moment of rebirth there are dangers close to home that could overwhelm all those who carry the blood of Sanguinius in their veins, stopping Dante's noble endeavour before it has even begun.
The Flaw in Sanguinius’ sons is growing. As the twin curses of the Red Thirst and the Black Rage threaten everything, the hardest ordeal will fall upon Mephiston, twice-born Lord of Death and Chief Librarian of the Blood Angels. Among the mighty lords of Baal, perhaps only he can save them all, by mastering the darkness in the blood....
Guy Haley is the author of over 50 novels and novellas. His original fiction includes Crash, Champion of Mars, and the Richards and Klein, Dreaming Cities, and the Gates of the World series (as K M McKinley). However, he is best known as a prolific contributor to Games Workshop's Black Library imprint.
When not writing, he'll be out doing something dangerous in the wild, learning languages or gaming.
The third of Guy Haley’s 40k Blood Angels novels, Darkness in the Blood is a bleak tale of duty and necessity which explores both Commander Dante’s new role as Warden of Imperium Nihilus, and the unsettling growth of Chief Librarian Mephiston’s psychic might. In the wake of Hive Fleet Leviathan’s defeat at Baal, and the arrival of Roboute Guilliman with Primaris Space Marine reinforcements for the Chapters of the Blood, Dante plans his campaign to purge the remaining Tyranids and begin retaking Imperium Nihilus. Before that can happen, however, Mephiston’s burgeoning powers appear to herald a new danger for the sons of Sanguinius, as the Flaw rises in even the new Primaris Marines. Meanwhile, an agent of Belisarius Cawl travels to Baal bearing gifts of science and technology that might just offer a little hope.
It’s an interesting story with lots of moving parts - being a direct sequel to The Devastation of Baal, a link to Darius Hinks’ Mephiston novels and a general exploration of the Blood Angels in post-Great Rift 40k - and overall it's another smart, engaging story from Haley, neatly balancing elements of character study, explosive action and progression of 40k’s ‘current’ lore. Where it doesn’t quite have the impact of Dante or The Devastation of Baal, however, is in the way it splits its focus between Dante and Mephiston. It does make sense to do this, but while both main characters’ arcs are individually interesting, neither one has the space to perfectly shine, and there are one or two supporting threads which serve their purposes but aren’t quite fully wrapped up. That being said, for a book with an awful lot of ground to cover it does a remarkably good job…which perhaps isn’t surprising considering Haley’s strong form with this sort of storytelling.
I need to recover from this to write a proper review but in short
Plot is all over the place but surprisingly well connected and it all comes together at the end. It gives conclusion to the story arc of Dante-Devastation of Baal and therefore i recommend reading it, as it definitely functions as a trilogy yet it is not as good as DoB. It does have some very good plot twists at the end, but there was something missing. I believe it was sudden conclusion at the end.
As for characters, you will love them, and there's plenty of interesting revelations. I recommend reading this one through Lords OF Blood: Blood Angels Omnibus since it's now newly released and it puts all three books + Astorath's stories.
"Die Finsterkeit im Blute " reiht sich direkt hinter "Dante" und "Die Verheerung von Baal" ein.
Es erwartet einen wieder ein actionreiches Geschehen, welches einen gut geschrieben in seinen Bann fesselt und die Geschichte von Commander Dante im Imperium Nihilus fortsetzt. Eine klare Leseempfehlung für jeden der die beiden Vorgänger bereits gelesen hat.
I really struggled with this and for such a short book it took me a pretty long time to actually finish it. The length is probably the only reason I did.
I really enjoyed the previous 2 Guy Haley Blood Angels story but this story just dragged and kept bouncing between story beats. It felt more like an anthology of stories stitched together rather than a cohesive novel.
The third part of the Lords of Blood Trilogy surrounding the Blood Angels chapter and the devastation by the tyranids. If you liked the previous two books, you’ll like this one. It is more of the same.
I had pretty high expectations for this based on Dante and Deviation of Baal, which form a loose trilogy with this book, but it didn't really hold up to them. The different aspects of the book don't hold together very well. Those parts that are a sequel to Dante don't really add much of interest, and the rest of the story is not really engaging enough to compensate. It feels like it could have been a couple of short stories/novellas which have been crammed together and stretched out to full novel length and the division of the narratives feels unnatural.
Darkness in the blood", another book I have wanted to read for a while and I won't lie I found it a bit of a slog. I am struggling to put my finger on it but I had moments where I would just burn through pages and then next I was barely making any progress. It's another book that I would say if you are after non stop battles and blood shed then move on because this is not for you. It is very focused on the chapters chief librarian "Mephiston" and how he is changing and becoming more powerful. We get to see him take on a greater demon of slaanesh and the aftermath. On returning a representative of Belisarius Cawl is waiting for them and tells them he has been instructed to tell them the method for turning first born into primaris marines. I really enjoyed the interaction between Dante and the representative as there is this wonderful unspoken spite but also the understanding that they both need each other. My favorite part was when the process for crossing the rubicon primaris is described as it is bonkers and just wonderfully 40k in its method. There is also another plot which is about the admiral of the Blood Angels fleet and how he essentially feels like he is losing his mind as his past actions come to haunt him and make him question himself. Dante takes it upon himself to talk to this man to help him and I found this one of the sections that were maybe a bit meaning less. I will try to explain my thinking. Dante talks to the admiral and tells him the story of how he came to be chapter master (again some really wonderful lore and just more fleshing out of this great character) with the idea that even the transhuman space marines have moments of doubt. The problem is that Dante has several of these meetings and in each one tells the admiral a bit more of the story and comes across as very caring until the last meeting when it is like Dante does this complete 180 and suddenly goes, so stop feeling sorry for yourself and do what I bloody tell you to. It felt like they wanted to tell the story of how Dante became chapter master but couldn't think of a way to get it into the story so created the "troubled" admiral to give a reason. Feel free to disagree in the comments. Mephiston is the best thing in this book and I honestly would have been happy if it had just focused on him and his fight to control his growing power in the warp. I'm hoping there are some more Mephiston based stories that are set after this book as I'd love to see just what he can do in a fight. This is another book that if you are a fan of the 9th legion it's a must read but if not I might give it a miss. Tell me what you thought if you've read it in the comments.
Essentially, it is an epilogue for the Devestation of Baal.
It follows a few months after the invasion from Hive Fleet Leviathan. Where the Blood Angels are now hunting the remnants of the fleet and have to deal with a new incursion due to The Genestealer Cults.
They are also faced with inner cultural problem from newly inducted Primarius Space Marines into their ranks. Though they may be created from the gene seed of dead sexy angel man Sanguinius, they have not been educated about the customs and traditions of the chapter, thus are at risk of losing their identity.
Its great to see this aspect explored.
Dante, Dante. O my tired boy who just wants to die, but now is challenged by sore knees and a terrible back.
Dante is offered a miracle drug to fix his old man problems...
Dante's backstory is further expanded upon and used as a motivational story to inspire an important character in the story who faces similar challenges that he must now also overcome.
Mephiston you edgy boy, with your deus ex machina abilities to pull wins out your ass, but now is suffering from performance issues and needs the miracle drug too.
The story has some reveals about the mysterious Sanguinor. From the reveals, it also seems to confirm some theories about the primarchs and their souls.
Overall a must read for any fan of the characters or the Blood Angels chapter. Or if you want to see newly inducted Primaris Space Marine interact with the First born
The Darkness in the blood is an amazing book that really Captures the Greatness of the blood angels while also capturing the Grim Place the imperium is in at the moment with the great rift opening splitting the imperium in two Dante Chapter master of the Blood Angels has been crowned regent of imperium Nihlias and must defend an entire half of the milky way galaxy with only his blood angels as the stalwart against the Horrors of the Galaxy, on top of this there have been grave news the Newly acquired Primaris Space Marines are able to fall to the Thirst and the Rage just as any first born brother can the curse never ends for the blood angels, this book really Captures the Blood angels artistic side as well which really made me fall more in love with them with most Space Marine Chapters they are all based around war and fighting to pass the time but I find it poetic that the blood angels can be the Emperors Rage incarnate but at the same time build his statues and right Poetry it brings me a weird sense of joy to know that in the blood angels down time the write poetry and draw and paint, I highly Recommend The Darkness in the blood to any Warhammer Fan and if you aren't a blood angels fan after reading this Prepare to be one !
After repelling the Tyranids in a costly defence of Baal the newly christened Lord Regent of Imperium Nihilus, Dante, has to reorganising Baal, the home world of the Blood Angels, as the military and administrative hub North of the Great Rift. However while hive fleet Leviathan has suffered grave losses it still lingers. Swift action is required to expel it once and for all from the Red Scar otherwise it will feed, grow and threaten the imperium again. While planning for an ambitious campaign of reconquest the Blood Angels realise that the newly initiated Primaris Marines might not be the salvation of their curse after all.
Wow ... what a novel this is! With threads connected to The Devestation of Baal, Dante (Warhammer 40,000) and Belisarius Cawl: The Great Work many of Guy Haley's recent work influences this one. This book feels like it is Tying a bunch of Blood Angel lore and characters together and prepares them for future exploration. Additionally the story of how Dante rose to his office as Chapter Master is further explored. This in an almost fatherly way during his meetings with an emotionally broken Admiral.
As a bite-sized extra in the short-story Teus of Baal we get what feels like a passage that was cut from The Devestation of Baal.
In short I recommend this book to everyone who has any interest in the Blood angels.
The novel Dante was about how a Blood Angel is made, providing a wealth of lore for fans. The Devastation of Baal was the "last stand" of the Blood Angels, where the chapters came together for one final clash. Darkness in the Blood is a slower, more personal story about the cost of duty and how things always push forward and change. It is important to realize that when going in, otherwise you might be disappointed with the lack of action and the slower pace it takes.
The core of the story is about how the Blood Angels change. Dante gets a much more important job. Mephiston struggles to control his evolving power, afraid of becoming something more. And the Marines are given a chance by Cawl to become a new generation of super soldier. Along the way you get takes on duty, fear, and just how tired all of these people are of fighting an endless war.
It's good. If you've already read the above stories, I recommend it. It's just that there's nothing memorable about the book.
The book is great, dont get me wrong, but it feels like it lacks "true" purpose and meaning, especially as a final book in quite a very important trilogy. As a standalone book, it is worth a 4 to a Blood Angels fan, yes, but it is a letdown for me. Except from Mephiston's primaris ascention, there is nothing memorable. This books feels like a boring filler to just cement the new primaris marines lore. It's like GW went "Ok, Mr. Haley, we need you to make people like and accept our new primaris, so the new plastic will sell. Just write a book after your big hit with Devastation of Baal and show the people how cool and fancy the new marines are. Just weave some plot in there and dont worry about a specific ending." I am dissapointed with this. I wish it was not part of the trilogy, as it is the only reason I got it. I say skip if you are on the fence and just read about it online in short.
Rebuilding from the devastation of Baal and near extinction of the Blood Angels is nor easy feat. Even with the influx of new Parimaris space marines their fight is still not done. Dante is weakening. Mephiston is loosing control as he grows ever more powerful. On the brink of a decision a new option is given. The Rubicon Primaris. Cawl's procedure to take an Adeptus Astartes and remake into the newer Parimaris version. Deciding on what to do with an out of control Mephiston, Dante takes a gamble and submits the Lord of Death one final rebirth which may renew him enough to give him back control of himself. No one could predict what happens next and this is so worth the read.
The follow up to 'Devastation of Baal' and a great entry into the events currently unfolding in the lore. It doesn't have the same grand scale as the last book, instead, it focuses on Mephiston and his 'upgrade' to a Primaris Marine (not a spoiler as we have the new model for tabletop). A solid follow-up to the events in Devastation of Baal and I look forward to the continuation of this series. Now we need to see Commander Dante's ascension to Primaris level. Once again, I listened to this as an Audio Book and it was just as immersive as previous audio books from Black Library.
Once again, very good character writing from Guy Haley. Mephiston is the star of the show here, and the arc of Dante > Devastation of Baal > this book is complete with a rebirth of the Blood Angels producing something perhaps darker than expected. The golden/black angel duality is a great way to plot any future stories, and I hope it's picked up more. That said, I feel like the book is two halves of two incomplete or not fully fleshed out stories, with the half with the new Phobos marine rushing as fast as the Mephiston resurrection half towards it's end.
It serves a purpose but its not good, okay. None of it feels like any of dialogue, plot or decisions and rational outcomes of those, ever feel natural or logical at times. Games Workshop gave them a list of things to include and as the writing is okay at best it never feels organic and doesn't flow well. I wish we could see both; a good writer to see how good a the 40K setting really is and also a extensive visual production by a good writers, directors and animator! Wishes and dreams!
This was a surprisingly quick but deep read into Dante’s headspace and the relationship of heroism, truth, and the limitations of the Imperium. Herein, Mephiston is upgraded to Primaris status and we check in with the Blood Angels’ contribution to the setting’s new dynamism. I really enjoy reading about named characters. The action was just ok because I want to read about these names characters in epic scale campaigns and battles!
An adequate read. Very choppy with its delivery of story pieces and the point of several stories running that really had no point to the overall narrative seemed pointless. I also sense a "modern" ethics creep into stories which is really counter the 40K universe. Still a few nuggets of background information on the Blood Angels worth filing away. An average read.
Must read for fans of the Blood Angels. Moves the lore of Lord Commander Dante (including how he became chapter master) & the Chief Librarian Mephiston (including his undergoing the Rubicon Primaris). An ancient enemy of the Blood Angels from the days of Sanguinius returns with his "Sword of 6000 miseries".
I really wish I could have enjoyed this more. The problem is how disjointed the story of this book is. It jumps between times and scenarios without any real pay off. I understand that it supposed to set everything up before the story of Psychic Awakening: Blood of Baal but still I wish it could have been done in a more coherent way.
I enjoyed reading this book. the pacing was well done and the writing was quality, just like most of Guy Haley's other work. Some parts were unclear and only after finishing the book and some thought they where understandable. The developmeant of Mafiston was interesting but some parts needed more.
Somewhat lacking in plot, it is a snippet of the two biggest Blood Angels characters and deals with a single issue quite clumsily. The end of the book is rushed and is seemingly only there to segue into the new model range. All in all I wouldn't recommend it to all but the staunchest of Blood Angels enthusiasts.
Mid. Mid narration and writing. Side characters were pretty uninteresting, did somewhat redeem itself in the second half. Probably could have cut 4 chapters from it.
Defo not Guy Haley’s best work
Can’t expect every 40k novel to be a banger though
He gets a pass this time bc devastation of Baal was incredible
The first proper Warhammer 40 novel I read, I'm pretty sure. I just really adored the story and atmosphere so much but Dante was everything. Bless him. I hope he has peace eventually. Go, grandpa, go...