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The Beast Arises #7
The Hunt for Vulkan
The Imperium is on the verge of destruction. It needs a miracle to reunite the feuding High Lords and lead the armies of mankind to victory. It needs a primarch.
Tearing itself apart from within, the Imperium is still virtually powerless to resist the ork advance. When the Adeptus Mechanicus reveal they have discovered the orks' point of origin, the Adeptus Astartes start to gather their forces for a massive assault on their enemy's home world. But what the Imperial forces need is a figurehead, a hero from legend to lead them - a primarch. Meanwhile, on the planet Caldera, a mighty armoured warrior fights tirelessly against the orks - is he the saviour the Imperium seeks?
A legend returns to the Imperium in its hour of need… if Koorland and his warriors can fight their way through an army of orks to reach him, that is.
Tearing itself apart from within, the Imperium is still virtually powerless to resist the ork advance. When the Adeptus Mechanicus reveal they have discovered the orks' point of origin, the Adeptus Astartes start to gather their forces for a massive assault on their enemy's home world. But what the Imperial forces need is a figurehead, a hero from legend to lead them - a primarch. Meanwhile, on the planet Caldera, a mighty armoured warrior fights tirelessly against the orks - is he the saviour the Imperium seeks?
A legend returns to the Imperium in its hour of need… if Koorland and his warriors can fight their way through an army of orks to reach him, that is.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2016
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August 10, 2016
Review also published here
The Hunt for Vulkan has to be the most direct and contained book in the series so far. In fact, I was surprised to find that I was already half through the novel at some point, with not much complicated happening. It is focused on one thing: Finding Vulkan, and it did so well.
The downside to the Primarch focus is, obviously, that we get to see little of Terra or the wider Imperium once the hunt is on. While there are some very cool moments involving Koorland and the High Lords in the first few chapters, parallel to the Fists Exemplar's trip to the red planet, kicked off in the previous installment, the bulk of the story is set on Caldera, where Vulkan is rumored to reside nowadays.
Some people may notice that Caldera isn't new to Black Library fiction. While I haven't seen it brought up on fan forums before, this is the world Vulkan named himself in Nick Kyme's Promethean Sun for the Horus Heresy series. It wasn't an arbitrary choice to place Vulkan there, but one that makes a degree of sense in context of what came before. Though I am a little disappointed that David didn't take the opportunity to indulge in some dino-warfare, only mentioning shortly. Either way, bonus points for linking Vulkan back to the Great Crusade here.
This was Annandale's first Primarch outing. While he has written for the Horus Heresy already, he didn't get to tackle the super-superhumans there. After reading this book, I'm confident that he will do well once he gets the chance to do it again. Vulkan comes across as a force of nature, and in a way it felt like he was actively drawing strength from Caldera itself. We know that Vulkan is, physically, the strongest of the Primarchs, but held back a lot. Here, he is an unleashed Hulk, crushing Orks left and right, including their war machines. It is over the top action that set him clearly apart from any Space Marine, but is not without precedence if we look at the HH.
Direct ties to the HH series are kept to a minimum, though, and a lot about Vulkan himself is left open and mysterious. The small tidbits we get are neat, but nothing that will blow your mind with revelations for the Heresy.
The Hunt for Vulkan is the first book in the series that I'd really say the Imperium is striking back against the orks in. For the first time, they are not just reacting to a threat but forcing the orks on the defensive. A lot of that is down to Vulkan's battle prowess, but also to the newfound unity under Koorland's leadership. Unlike before, the everybody for themselves mentality got replaced by everyon for the Imperium. Where before we had some characters and groups act with the Imperium in mind, or even offering sacrifices, they were always somewhat contained to their respective situations. Now they are acting for a greater purpose, and the result is an important victory for the Last Wall and the wider Imperium.
Fans have long criticised that the other, non-Imperial Fists Chapters were missing from the stage. We have been told that various big Chapters were engaged in their own parts of the galaxy, but now we have a call to Terra that promises Blood Angels, Space Wolves, Dark Angels and Ultramarines for future installments. We only get a glimpse of their reactions here, but they are promising and in-character.
Yet still, at the end of the book I was surprised it was already over. It didn't have as much going on for it as previous novels with their various plotlines all over. There were various angles to it, of course, but mostly confined to the action on and around Caldera. The Hunt for Vulkan is the heaviest book on action so far, and rightfully so, but I was still disappointed by the lack of complexity in the wider sense.
It could have been more, but then, it didn't need to be. This was Vulkan's show to run, and as such, it succeeded.
The Hunt for Vulkan has to be the most direct and contained book in the series so far. In fact, I was surprised to find that I was already half through the novel at some point, with not much complicated happening. It is focused on one thing: Finding Vulkan, and it did so well.
The downside to the Primarch focus is, obviously, that we get to see little of Terra or the wider Imperium once the hunt is on. While there are some very cool moments involving Koorland and the High Lords in the first few chapters, parallel to the Fists Exemplar's trip to the red planet, kicked off in the previous installment, the bulk of the story is set on Caldera, where Vulkan is rumored to reside nowadays.
Some people may notice that Caldera isn't new to Black Library fiction. While I haven't seen it brought up on fan forums before, this is the world Vulkan named himself in Nick Kyme's Promethean Sun for the Horus Heresy series. It wasn't an arbitrary choice to place Vulkan there, but one that makes a degree of sense in context of what came before. Though I am a little disappointed that David didn't take the opportunity to indulge in some dino-warfare, only mentioning shortly. Either way, bonus points for linking Vulkan back to the Great Crusade here.
This was Annandale's first Primarch outing. While he has written for the Horus Heresy already, he didn't get to tackle the super-superhumans there. After reading this book, I'm confident that he will do well once he gets the chance to do it again. Vulkan comes across as a force of nature, and in a way it felt like he was actively drawing strength from Caldera itself. We know that Vulkan is, physically, the strongest of the Primarchs, but held back a lot. Here, he is an unleashed Hulk, crushing Orks left and right, including their war machines. It is over the top action that set him clearly apart from any Space Marine, but is not without precedence if we look at the HH.
Direct ties to the HH series are kept to a minimum, though, and a lot about Vulkan himself is left open and mysterious. The small tidbits we get are neat, but nothing that will blow your mind with revelations for the Heresy.
The Hunt for Vulkan is the first book in the series that I'd really say the Imperium is striking back against the orks in. For the first time, they are not just reacting to a threat but forcing the orks on the defensive. A lot of that is down to Vulkan's battle prowess, but also to the newfound unity under Koorland's leadership. Unlike before, the everybody for themselves mentality got replaced by everyon for the Imperium. Where before we had some characters and groups act with the Imperium in mind, or even offering sacrifices, they were always somewhat contained to their respective situations. Now they are acting for a greater purpose, and the result is an important victory for the Last Wall and the wider Imperium.
Fans have long criticised that the other, non-Imperial Fists Chapters were missing from the stage. We have been told that various big Chapters were engaged in their own parts of the galaxy, but now we have a call to Terra that promises Blood Angels, Space Wolves, Dark Angels and Ultramarines for future installments. We only get a glimpse of their reactions here, but they are promising and in-character.
Yet still, at the end of the book I was surprised it was already over. It didn't have as much going on for it as previous novels with their various plotlines all over. There were various angles to it, of course, but mostly confined to the action on and around Caldera. The Hunt for Vulkan is the heaviest book on action so far, and rightfully so, but I was still disappointed by the lack of complexity in the wider sense.
It could have been more, but then, it didn't need to be. This was Vulkan's show to run, and as such, it succeeded.
July 26, 2016
The Beast Arises series continues with ‘The Hunt for Vulkan’ by David Annandale! Man, what a novel! As the title suggests, most of the novel focuses on finding our lost Primarch Vulkan, and we will get to him in a bit.
The start of the novel was some of my favourite, showing Koorland politicking on Terra and the Fists Exemplar making a pit-stop on the Red Planet. I literally cannot express how absolutely amazing this set of scenes was. That right there, penned by the absolutely masterful David Annandale was easily some of the BEST writing and pacing I have ever read. I couldn’t put it down, my kindle couldn’t load the pages fast enough/my pages blurred by in my excitement, I don’t think I have ever sat on the edge of my seat like that and Gods damn did it really set the tone for an exciting novel. The actual hunt for Vulkan slowed the pacing down a touch. The action was still intense, and the characters and events were still wonderful, horrific, or wonderfully horrific. One thing that really did shine within this part of the novel though was the unity of the Imperial forces. Throughout most of the Beast Arises series thus far, we have seen A LOT of action, and most of it involves just one faction at a time. The Navy pulling off a glorious victory, the Last Wall saving Terra, the Guard trying to hold off the Green Tide across the vast expanse of the Imperium, etc. But we never really see the forces of the Imperium working together. Here, during the first real strike back against the Orks, we do finally see that unity that makes the Imperium such a force to be reckoned with. I must say, on Caldera (*Wonderful tie-in there Mr. Annandale!), when the combined forces of man fought together, it was awe-inspiring. Through those glorious victories and relentless retreats it was amazing to see the branches of the Imperium waging war together.
And now I suppose we are at Vulkan. By the Gods what a character! We have seen quite a bit of him in the Horus Heresy to date, and those ranged from goody-two shoes humanity lover to bat shit insane wrecking ball. I think this novel actually captured him a fair shot better than he has been portrayed in the HH so far. His trademark compassion is there for sure and evident in his actions on Caldera, but we get to see him as he is I think; a walking, hammer swinging atom bomb. It really shows the difference between one of the Primarchs of Myth (at this point in the Imperial story) and a standard (or even above standard) Space Marine. He’s mowing through armies of orks like they’re infants, crushing super-heavy vehicles with ease. He’s an unstoppable force of nature, and the orks are trying to contain him with several different armies. Gods so much of the novel from that point on just blew my mind! The whole void war over Caldera was insanely awesome, and the war against the orks on the ground was even more entertaining. With the whole series ramping up to take the fight to the orks, I really can’t wait to see where else this series goes!
I would also like to point out that Mr. Annandale did a phenomenal job of throwing in little extra bits here and there. Showing us some characters from previous books to show kinda what they have been up to/that they still exist. As well as the small amount of time dedicated to the other First Founding chapters. I am REALLY looking forward to their involvement in the war to come, but I am really crossing my fingers that we get to see some Soul Drinkers pop up at some point!
Easy 5/5
The start of the novel was some of my favourite, showing Koorland politicking on Terra and the Fists Exemplar making a pit-stop on the Red Planet. I literally cannot express how absolutely amazing this set of scenes was. That right there, penned by the absolutely masterful David Annandale was easily some of the BEST writing and pacing I have ever read. I couldn’t put it down, my kindle couldn’t load the pages fast enough/my pages blurred by in my excitement, I don’t think I have ever sat on the edge of my seat like that and Gods damn did it really set the tone for an exciting novel. The actual hunt for Vulkan slowed the pacing down a touch. The action was still intense, and the characters and events were still wonderful, horrific, or wonderfully horrific. One thing that really did shine within this part of the novel though was the unity of the Imperial forces. Throughout most of the Beast Arises series thus far, we have seen A LOT of action, and most of it involves just one faction at a time. The Navy pulling off a glorious victory, the Last Wall saving Terra, the Guard trying to hold off the Green Tide across the vast expanse of the Imperium, etc. But we never really see the forces of the Imperium working together. Here, during the first real strike back against the Orks, we do finally see that unity that makes the Imperium such a force to be reckoned with. I must say, on Caldera (*Wonderful tie-in there Mr. Annandale!), when the combined forces of man fought together, it was awe-inspiring. Through those glorious victories and relentless retreats it was amazing to see the branches of the Imperium waging war together.
And now I suppose we are at Vulkan. By the Gods what a character! We have seen quite a bit of him in the Horus Heresy to date, and those ranged from goody-two shoes humanity lover to bat shit insane wrecking ball. I think this novel actually captured him a fair shot better than he has been portrayed in the HH so far. His trademark compassion is there for sure and evident in his actions on Caldera, but we get to see him as he is I think; a walking, hammer swinging atom bomb. It really shows the difference between one of the Primarchs of Myth (at this point in the Imperial story) and a standard (or even above standard) Space Marine. He’s mowing through armies of orks like they’re infants, crushing super-heavy vehicles with ease. He’s an unstoppable force of nature, and the orks are trying to contain him with several different armies. Gods so much of the novel from that point on just blew my mind! The whole void war over Caldera was insanely awesome, and the war against the orks on the ground was even more entertaining. With the whole series ramping up to take the fight to the orks, I really can’t wait to see where else this series goes!
I would also like to point out that Mr. Annandale did a phenomenal job of throwing in little extra bits here and there. Showing us some characters from previous books to show kinda what they have been up to/that they still exist. As well as the small amount of time dedicated to the other First Founding chapters. I am REALLY looking forward to their involvement in the war to come, but I am really crossing my fingers that we get to see some Soul Drinkers pop up at some point!
Easy 5/5
June 19, 2017
You can read the full review over at my blog:
https://shadowhawksshade.wordpress.co...
When politics gets in the middle of prosecuting a war effectively, then that usually spells doom for the good guys. As we’ve seen in The Beast Arises over the last six novels, this has been a central theme, something that has let the resurgent Ork threat run wildly rampant across the Imperium. And those who must fight this untenable war have grown ever more disillusioned of those who run the Imperial government, their incompetence a direct threat to the safety and security of the Imperium. But now that’s about to change.
In David Annandale’s The Hunt For Vulkan, we see one of the biggest turning-points in the conflict. The Last Wall is sent on a mission to locate the last known living Primarch, Vulkan of the Salamanders, and bring him back to the larger Imperial fold so that he can lead the resistance against the Orks. The how and the why of it is wrapped in multiple mysteries, and that’s part of what made this novel so damn good. As before with The Last Wall, David really captures the essence and motivations of his characters, telling one hell of a story here.
Note: Some major spoilers from the previous novels and this novel are mentioned here.
I called the previous novel, Echoes of the Long War, a fulcrum point in the series. It physically occupied that space in the series entire and it certainly had some major moments that way. But, spiritually, that title goes to The Hunt For Vulkan. It is actually mind-boggling. In all the M41 stories I’ve read, it has been a common refrain that the Primarchs of old are gone, either dead or missing, and that if only they would come back then the Imperium would be much stronger against its myriad enemies. There is such a huge gulf between the Horus Heresy series and the M41 era, and that is the space that The Beast Arises occupies. As such, it actually makes sense that we would get to see a Primarch again. After all, it is only a mere 1,500 years after the Heresy and the wounds of that conflict are still fresh, though much has already been forgotten.
The description of the novel already gives away that Vulkan is alive and well and that is, for want of a better word, available. Inquisitor Veritus, a staunch opponent of Chaos who insists that the Ork threat is merely a sideshow and a distraction, tells Chapter Master Koorland that to fight a myth, he needs a comparable legend to lead the Imperium’s forces. The final sentence of Echoes of the Long War ran thus:
“Ullanor! The Beast arises on Ullanor”
This is pretty damn significant and only raises my expectation of the novels that follow in the second half of the series. From the in-universe lore, we know that the Ullanor campaign was the high-point of the Emperor’s Great Crusade which launched Mankind back into the galaxy to reclaim its proud dominance of the stars. It was the final campaign that the Emperor fought in personally before he confronted Horus at the end of the Heresy. It was a campaign in which hundreds of thousands of Astartes fought alongside billions of Imperial Army troops and thousands of ships and numerous other forces. It was the capstone of Mankind’s struggle to restablish itself, a resurgent golden era. The greatest Ork empire in history was destroyed at Ullanor, and both the Emperor and Horus fought the Warlord of Ullanor. The Triumph at Ullanor was the greatest achievement of the new Imperium.
So much history. A war of legends fought by legends greater still. Koorland has slowly been building his legend as the last Imperial Fist alive, but he’s not a myth. That’s where Vulkan comes in.
https://shadowhawksshade.wordpress.co...
When politics gets in the middle of prosecuting a war effectively, then that usually spells doom for the good guys. As we’ve seen in The Beast Arises over the last six novels, this has been a central theme, something that has let the resurgent Ork threat run wildly rampant across the Imperium. And those who must fight this untenable war have grown ever more disillusioned of those who run the Imperial government, their incompetence a direct threat to the safety and security of the Imperium. But now that’s about to change.
In David Annandale’s The Hunt For Vulkan, we see one of the biggest turning-points in the conflict. The Last Wall is sent on a mission to locate the last known living Primarch, Vulkan of the Salamanders, and bring him back to the larger Imperial fold so that he can lead the resistance against the Orks. The how and the why of it is wrapped in multiple mysteries, and that’s part of what made this novel so damn good. As before with The Last Wall, David really captures the essence and motivations of his characters, telling one hell of a story here.
Note: Some major spoilers from the previous novels and this novel are mentioned here.
I called the previous novel, Echoes of the Long War, a fulcrum point in the series. It physically occupied that space in the series entire and it certainly had some major moments that way. But, spiritually, that title goes to The Hunt For Vulkan. It is actually mind-boggling. In all the M41 stories I’ve read, it has been a common refrain that the Primarchs of old are gone, either dead or missing, and that if only they would come back then the Imperium would be much stronger against its myriad enemies. There is such a huge gulf between the Horus Heresy series and the M41 era, and that is the space that The Beast Arises occupies. As such, it actually makes sense that we would get to see a Primarch again. After all, it is only a mere 1,500 years after the Heresy and the wounds of that conflict are still fresh, though much has already been forgotten.
The description of the novel already gives away that Vulkan is alive and well and that is, for want of a better word, available. Inquisitor Veritus, a staunch opponent of Chaos who insists that the Ork threat is merely a sideshow and a distraction, tells Chapter Master Koorland that to fight a myth, he needs a comparable legend to lead the Imperium’s forces. The final sentence of Echoes of the Long War ran thus:
“Ullanor! The Beast arises on Ullanor”
This is pretty damn significant and only raises my expectation of the novels that follow in the second half of the series. From the in-universe lore, we know that the Ullanor campaign was the high-point of the Emperor’s Great Crusade which launched Mankind back into the galaxy to reclaim its proud dominance of the stars. It was the final campaign that the Emperor fought in personally before he confronted Horus at the end of the Heresy. It was a campaign in which hundreds of thousands of Astartes fought alongside billions of Imperial Army troops and thousands of ships and numerous other forces. It was the capstone of Mankind’s struggle to restablish itself, a resurgent golden era. The greatest Ork empire in history was destroyed at Ullanor, and both the Emperor and Horus fought the Warlord of Ullanor. The Triumph at Ullanor was the greatest achievement of the new Imperium.
So much history. A war of legends fought by legends greater still. Koorland has slowly been building his legend as the last Imperial Fist alive, but he’s not a myth. That’s where Vulkan comes in.
June 10, 2016
And here goes a review for episode 7 of TBA season. First of all let's congratulate David Annandale (a very prolific author) with his second episode in Black Library 'GoT' and a definite improvement comparing to his first novel in TBA 'The Last Wall'.
If in his previous book he had a lot of problems making a clear plotline for all the characters in the series, here he has done an amazing job in that case. This book is much more focused, much more straightforward. But in that the monster lay.
So, we will proceed from point to point. First - the prose. David is not Chris Wraight in english battle fiction, but he definitely could right battle scenes and horrors. This time he outdid himself - due to my previous reservation for David novels, I was pleasantly surprised with his depiction of destruction/action, behavior under the fire. It would have been a masterpiece, if .... the novel wasn't so straightforward and being a stairwell and a plug for the next novel with main event in the series.
Characters - that's where a casual TV watcher will understand that this episode is a step on a road to greatness, which will come at the season's final. The same range of our beloved heroes are all here, but book mostly focused on Koorland and his party searching for guess who. Yes - Vulkan. And minor spoilers ahead - they did FIND HIM. And.... that's the problem. It seems Grandpa Vulkan hasn't improved his ingenious character from the Horus Heresy times. He was, pardon my language, an 'altruistic idiot' (plus he had a misfortune being given a place of story plug) then and he left at the same point. All the plot of this episode is based on his search - which in the retrospective for the end of the novel 'failed miserably' - not because BL has created an overbalanced orcs in TBA, but because Primarchs are 'IDIOTS'. And Vulkan is first in the list. Especially with his main decision.
In all else - novel has it's moments to shine (especially at the beginning on Mars), but fails into the trap of being a novel (second in a raw) from the 'Space Marine Battles' bolter-porn series, instead of TBA.
Author did tried his best to create a good book and definitely improved from 'The Last Wall', but comparing all the blocks and details - he failed. As with the previous novel #6 'Echoes of the Long War' - we congratulate author on a good SMB novel and wish him good luck with the next episode. Near the final - it should definitely must have more grandeur.
As it is 'The Hunt or Vulkan' gets 4 stars for being a good (but not an outstanding) book.
P.S. And I definitely hope that next time someone will write about Primarch - we will get one from the range of the first ten Horus Heresy books. Cause the last 20 or so, with the sole exception of Wraight's Khan are 'drama queens' (Burlliman amongst them) and a failure.
But an author did all he could with the characters who has plot armor. And so he has my respect for creating a good read to spend some evening time upon.
If in his previous book he had a lot of problems making a clear plotline for all the characters in the series, here he has done an amazing job in that case. This book is much more focused, much more straightforward. But in that the monster lay.
So, we will proceed from point to point. First - the prose. David is not Chris Wraight in english battle fiction, but he definitely could right battle scenes and horrors. This time he outdid himself - due to my previous reservation for David novels, I was pleasantly surprised with his depiction of destruction/action, behavior under the fire. It would have been a masterpiece, if .... the novel wasn't so straightforward and being a stairwell and a plug for the next novel with main event in the series.
Characters - that's where a casual TV watcher will understand that this episode is a step on a road to greatness, which will come at the season's final. The same range of our beloved heroes are all here, but book mostly focused on Koorland and his party searching for guess who. Yes - Vulkan. And minor spoilers ahead - they did FIND HIM. And.... that's the problem. It seems Grandpa Vulkan hasn't improved his ingenious character from the Horus Heresy times. He was, pardon my language, an 'altruistic idiot' (plus he had a misfortune being given a place of story plug) then and he left at the same point. All the plot of this episode is based on his search - which in the retrospective for the end of the novel 'failed miserably' - not because BL has created an overbalanced orcs in TBA, but because Primarchs are 'IDIOTS'. And Vulkan is first in the list. Especially with his main decision.
In all else - novel has it's moments to shine (especially at the beginning on Mars), but fails into the trap of being a novel (second in a raw) from the 'Space Marine Battles' bolter-porn series, instead of TBA.
Author did tried his best to create a good book and definitely improved from 'The Last Wall', but comparing all the blocks and details - he failed. As with the previous novel #6 'Echoes of the Long War' - we congratulate author on a good SMB novel and wish him good luck with the next episode. Near the final - it should definitely must have more grandeur.
As it is 'The Hunt or Vulkan' gets 4 stars for being a good (but not an outstanding) book.
P.S. And I definitely hope that next time someone will write about Primarch - we will get one from the range of the first ten Horus Heresy books. Cause the last 20 or so, with the sole exception of Wraight's Khan are 'drama queens' (Burlliman amongst them) and a failure.
But an author did all he could with the characters who has plot armor. And so he has my respect for creating a good read to spend some evening time upon.
August 14, 2016
Nice addition to the series, good book by Annandale.
First scene with Vulkan is impressive, a worthy return of a legend, inspiring. Scenes with the Fists Exemplar and Mechanicum on Mars are well done : things get worse and worse, and as a reader you ask yourself : how far will both sides go ? When will this madness stop ? Annandale then shifts between the senate on Terra and the situation on Mars, which increases the tension. The scenes in the senate influence the situation on Mars, step by step. Good writing, well done.
A large part of the book is then about the search for Vulkan. A search for a hero in the jungles with orks and dinosaurs may not be that interesting, but it's entertaining and the orks keep surprising, which they have done almost every book in this series. A compliment to Annandale and all the authors for finding new orkish ways to overwhelm time and again. Just when you think the imperial forces are at the point of victory, the orks come up with some surprise attack or secret weapon.
In my opinion, there is then a bit too much "ordinary" fighting with Thane and the Fists Exemplar in the capital city on Caldera. We have had a lot of these scenes in this series, space marine vs ork, so this could have been shorter. On the other hand : a bit more Vulkan action would have been nice. In the last chapters Annandale works toward a good climax, with a worthy battle and some sacrifice at the end, both on the planet and in the void. Although the main characters in the void war are only recently introduced, you immediately get some love for Groth and Rodolph, which is done well by Annandale. Here also, you don't know if the imperial forces will prevail or if the orks come up with some trick again, which makes for exciting reading.
So, a nice addition to the series. Some very strong scenes and entertaining from start to finish. Therefore 4 out of 5 stars. There could have been more chapters about the politics and backstabbing on Terra, but perhaps this was not the book for more about that.
First scene with Vulkan is impressive, a worthy return of a legend, inspiring. Scenes with the Fists Exemplar and Mechanicum on Mars are well done : things get worse and worse, and as a reader you ask yourself : how far will both sides go ? When will this madness stop ? Annandale then shifts between the senate on Terra and the situation on Mars, which increases the tension. The scenes in the senate influence the situation on Mars, step by step. Good writing, well done.
A large part of the book is then about the search for Vulkan. A search for a hero in the jungles with orks and dinosaurs may not be that interesting, but it's entertaining and the orks keep surprising, which they have done almost every book in this series. A compliment to Annandale and all the authors for finding new orkish ways to overwhelm time and again. Just when you think the imperial forces are at the point of victory, the orks come up with some surprise attack or secret weapon.
In my opinion, there is then a bit too much "ordinary" fighting with Thane and the Fists Exemplar in the capital city on Caldera. We have had a lot of these scenes in this series, space marine vs ork, so this could have been shorter. On the other hand : a bit more Vulkan action would have been nice. In the last chapters Annandale works toward a good climax, with a worthy battle and some sacrifice at the end, both on the planet and in the void. Although the main characters in the void war are only recently introduced, you immediately get some love for Groth and Rodolph, which is done well by Annandale. Here also, you don't know if the imperial forces will prevail or if the orks come up with some trick again, which makes for exciting reading.
So, a nice addition to the series. Some very strong scenes and entertaining from start to finish. Therefore 4 out of 5 stars. There could have been more chapters about the politics and backstabbing on Terra, but perhaps this was not the book for more about that.
January 4, 2018
I shouldn't really expect too much from Black Library, especially when it comes to unabashed bolter porn, but this book was a slog to get through. Despite its short length, wall to wall action, and the relative quality of Annandale's writing, you can only read about void shields flickering and bolts pulping things so many times before it all sloughs into mind numbing mush. Black Library is at its best when the action is on equal footing with--or takes a back seat to--exploring the ridiculous characters and the wacky grimdark galaxy. The combat here is too short on emotional stakes, and the visceral thrill of mindless action doesn't pack enough punch in text to warrant the time spent. I recommend watching a movie instead and putting your reading time towards something more absorbing.
June 21, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Straight forward and direct to the point this book does not disappoint. Really looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here.
July 22, 2022
Review to come
September 30, 2018
It’s been a while since I reached the halfway point of Games Workshop/Black Library’s epic 12 part “The Beast Arises” storyline. Not because I’m not a fan. It’s just life and and an ever expanding reading pile happened. So I was excited to finally get a chance to get back into the ork fighting action with “The Hunt for Vulkan” by David Annandale. It’s book 7 in the storyline. I worried though that my months away from the saga make it harder to get back into. Turns out all my worries were for nothing because “In the Hunt for Vulkan” Annandale welcomed me back into the “War of the Beast” with open arms. It was a fun tale bursting with action that made me eager to dig into the back half of the 12 part tale.
“The Hunt for Vulkan” features a huge cast of characters, but it mainly follows a core cast of intriguing ones. At the center of the tale is Koorland, the last member of the Imperial Fists Space Marine chapter who we met back in the opening installment of this series. Part of the highlight of “The Beast Arises” has been Koorland’s journey as a character from survivor to Lord Commander of the Imperium. In “The Hunt for Vulkan” we get a chance to see him reflect on that journey and deal with some of the ghosts that still haunt him after the tragic loss he experienced in book one. We also get to see his growth as a political and military leader.
Annandale opens the book with a crisis on Mars that threatens to turn the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus against each other. That’s where we get to see Koorland’s mettle as a political leader tested. I was riveted watching him face off against the Mechanicus’ Fabricator General in a game of chicken. In the latter half of the book you get to see Koorland back on the battlefield as he leads a vast Imperium strike force in the titular “Hunt for Vulkan.”
The other major character of “The Hunt for Vulkan” is Thane, the Chapter Master ofdavid_annandale the Space Marine Legion known as the Fists Exemplar. We primarily get to see Thane on the battlefield in this book, but he’s a fun character to watch in a fight, and this novel also continues his growth from the previous ones. Some other character moments I enjoyed included the ones we spent with the crew of an Imperial Navy ship as it tried to survive a void battle against an ork armada and an ork Attack Moon, and checking back in with a Loyalist Space Marine Legion that’s been forced into an alliance with the Traitorous Iron Warriors Legion.
The best character moments for me though were the few ones we got to spend with my favorite Primarch, Vulkan. Annandale does let us get inside in Vulkan’s head in several powerful and inspiring moments. and he nails the character’s voice. Vulkan’s thoughts and deeds in the novel illustrate why he and the Salamanders are my favorite Loyalist Space Marine Legion and Primarch.
The other thing I loved about “The Hunt for Vulkan” was of course the wall-to-wall action of the book. The novel opens with an intense and desperate battle between the forces of the Imperium and then the latter 2/3 are an epic war on a crumbling planet. Annandale is fantastic at these scenes too. The book’s battles were full of powerful, bone crunching descriptions, and twists and turns that chilled me and made me cheer.
So, with “The Hunt For Vulkan” I was plunged back into the excitement of “The Beast Arises.” It was also another fantastic 40K book from Annandale. I’ve read three Black Library books by him now and I’ve loved everyone.
“The Hunt for Vulkan” features a huge cast of characters, but it mainly follows a core cast of intriguing ones. At the center of the tale is Koorland, the last member of the Imperial Fists Space Marine chapter who we met back in the opening installment of this series. Part of the highlight of “The Beast Arises” has been Koorland’s journey as a character from survivor to Lord Commander of the Imperium. In “The Hunt for Vulkan” we get a chance to see him reflect on that journey and deal with some of the ghosts that still haunt him after the tragic loss he experienced in book one. We also get to see his growth as a political and military leader.
Annandale opens the book with a crisis on Mars that threatens to turn the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus against each other. That’s where we get to see Koorland’s mettle as a political leader tested. I was riveted watching him face off against the Mechanicus’ Fabricator General in a game of chicken. In the latter half of the book you get to see Koorland back on the battlefield as he leads a vast Imperium strike force in the titular “Hunt for Vulkan.”
The other major character of “The Hunt for Vulkan” is Thane, the Chapter Master ofdavid_annandale the Space Marine Legion known as the Fists Exemplar. We primarily get to see Thane on the battlefield in this book, but he’s a fun character to watch in a fight, and this novel also continues his growth from the previous ones. Some other character moments I enjoyed included the ones we spent with the crew of an Imperial Navy ship as it tried to survive a void battle against an ork armada and an ork Attack Moon, and checking back in with a Loyalist Space Marine Legion that’s been forced into an alliance with the Traitorous Iron Warriors Legion.
The best character moments for me though were the few ones we got to spend with my favorite Primarch, Vulkan. Annandale does let us get inside in Vulkan’s head in several powerful and inspiring moments. and he nails the character’s voice. Vulkan’s thoughts and deeds in the novel illustrate why he and the Salamanders are my favorite Loyalist Space Marine Legion and Primarch.
The other thing I loved about “The Hunt for Vulkan” was of course the wall-to-wall action of the book. The novel opens with an intense and desperate battle between the forces of the Imperium and then the latter 2/3 are an epic war on a crumbling planet. Annandale is fantastic at these scenes too. The book’s battles were full of powerful, bone crunching descriptions, and twists and turns that chilled me and made me cheer.
So, with “The Hunt For Vulkan” I was plunged back into the excitement of “The Beast Arises.” It was also another fantastic 40K book from Annandale. I’ve read three Black Library books by him now and I’ve loved everyone.
October 12, 2017
This is the 7th book in the year-long event known as The Beast Arises. At the end of the 6th book, we learned that The Beast has Arisen on Ullanor. Ullanor, the turning point of the Great Crusade. Ullanor, where The Emperor Himself and his sons ground the greenskins into mulch. Ullanor, where The Emperor bestowed unto his son Horus the title of Warmaster. Ullanor, a place no one has had the slightest reason to think about for 1500 years... until now!
Magos Biologis Urquidex understands the Beast's origin. Chapter Master Koorland, the last Imperial Fist and now the Lord Commander of the Imperium, needs Urquidex back, and to do this, he orders space marine to Mars:
There is so much history in this book, you'd think it was a wiki article, but no. This is a book that forces people to update their goddamned wikis.
And then it's time: Acting on a tip from Inquisitor Veritus that one of the primarchs still lives, Koorland leads the Last Wall to the distant world of Caledera. (If you're curious why Vulkan was hiding on the planet in question, it's explained at the end of Promethean Sun.) There is no time for politics, not now. This book is nonstop action. Everyone has something to prove: the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Imperial Army, the Imperial Navy, and of course, the Adeptus Astartes. The action, the dialogue, the details, and the character development are all top notch.
The payoff is superb:
Magos Biologis Urquidex understands the Beast's origin. Chapter Master Koorland, the last Imperial Fist and now the Lord Commander of the Imperium, needs Urquidex back, and to do this, he orders space marine to Mars:
Orks are kicking the Imperium's ass from one segmentum to the next, and the Imperium's response is civil war. Literally unbelievable, but grimdark af!No room to manoeuvre now, no avoiding the worst. No more pretence. No more hope.
There is so much history in this book, you'd think it was a wiki article, but no. This is a book that forces people to update their goddamned wikis.
(Emphasis mine.)Odaenathus stood firm. He felt his ship’s pain, and he also felt its anger. ‘Shipmaster!’ he called. ‘Maintain fire,’ Odaenathus said. ‘Keep them busy taking down our ordnance. Some may yet get through.’ To Macrinus he said, ‘Your absence will be hard. But the Ultramarines were late coming to the aid of Terra once. It will never happen again.’
‘It will not,’ Macrinus agreed. ‘So ordered, Chapter Master. We leave for Terra. Courage and honour.’
‘Courage and honour, captain.’
And then it's time: Acting on a tip from Inquisitor Veritus that one of the primarchs still lives, Koorland leads the Last Wall to the distant world of Caledera. (If you're curious why Vulkan was hiding on the planet in question, it's explained at the end of Promethean Sun.) There is no time for politics, not now. This book is nonstop action. Everyone has something to prove: the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Imperial Army, the Imperial Navy, and of course, the Adeptus Astartes. The action, the dialogue, the details, and the character development are all top notch.
The payoff is superb:
This is poetry, the only acceptable way to (re)introduce a primarch. Anything less would be criminal, but David Annandale is no lawbreaker. He is the fucking law.It was all Koorland could do not to fall to his knees. He was not alone. ... Though Koorland had witnessed a moon open its jaws and roar, it was only now that he felt the true touch of the sublime.
February 20, 2018
This book is one of my favourites of the series so far.
From the moment it starts the book is pretty much a non-stop rollercoaster of action and violence that doesn’t let up for the whole of the book. As title suggests this book concerns itself primarily with the hunt for the Primarch of the Salamanders chapter of Space Marines to act as a figure head for the Imperium, which at the outset of this book is teetering on the edge of oblivion. The pace is frenetic, not giving you the time to draw breath as it storms from one action scene to the next, culminating in a tremendous set piece at the end. The fights and battles are gritty and really give you a sense of the brutality of war in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, as it’s essentially Space Marines and Orks pummelling each other for most of the book, that’s pretty brutal indeed.
The characters are as usual well written and believable. Whilst this book covers in small parts the stories of others, the core story arc mainly focuses on Koorland and Maximus Thane, and their battles to keep the Imperium alive. I really like the dynamic between these two, it’s in stark contrast to Zerberyn and Kalkator in the last book. Where that focused on Zerberyn’s struggles in working with a traitor and a heretic, and Kalator’s efforts to do whatever it is he was doing. This book continues to explore the growing friendship between Koorland and Thane, two people thrust into positions they never thought to find themselves. Their respective struggles to lead, whilst constantly battling self-doubt are enthralling and lends a sense of humanity rarely seen in Space Marines.
There are however, as with all the other books in this series all sorts of other stories going on, with people of varying levels of significance. This I think is one of the strengths of this series of books, especially this book, it’s all the individual stories that come together in the end to build a larger narrative. This serves to give an idea of how the events of the book affect different people, without sacrificing the scale of the story, indeed oftentimes it serves to entrench the sense of despair and hopelessness.
To sum up: This book is feast of action and violence delivered at a relentless pace, that leaves you wondering at times how things could actually come together for the Imperium. The main characters are well written and surprisingly relatable, an unusual trait for characters in this universe. At the same time there are a wide array of secondary plotlines moving through the book, all coming together in the end.
Five out five stars.
From the moment it starts the book is pretty much a non-stop rollercoaster of action and violence that doesn’t let up for the whole of the book. As title suggests this book concerns itself primarily with the hunt for the Primarch of the Salamanders chapter of Space Marines to act as a figure head for the Imperium, which at the outset of this book is teetering on the edge of oblivion. The pace is frenetic, not giving you the time to draw breath as it storms from one action scene to the next, culminating in a tremendous set piece at the end. The fights and battles are gritty and really give you a sense of the brutality of war in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, as it’s essentially Space Marines and Orks pummelling each other for most of the book, that’s pretty brutal indeed.
The characters are as usual well written and believable. Whilst this book covers in small parts the stories of others, the core story arc mainly focuses on Koorland and Maximus Thane, and their battles to keep the Imperium alive. I really like the dynamic between these two, it’s in stark contrast to Zerberyn and Kalkator in the last book. Where that focused on Zerberyn’s struggles in working with a traitor and a heretic, and Kalator’s efforts to do whatever it is he was doing. This book continues to explore the growing friendship between Koorland and Thane, two people thrust into positions they never thought to find themselves. Their respective struggles to lead, whilst constantly battling self-doubt are enthralling and lends a sense of humanity rarely seen in Space Marines.
There are however, as with all the other books in this series all sorts of other stories going on, with people of varying levels of significance. This I think is one of the strengths of this series of books, especially this book, it’s all the individual stories that come together in the end to build a larger narrative. This serves to give an idea of how the events of the book affect different people, without sacrificing the scale of the story, indeed oftentimes it serves to entrench the sense of despair and hopelessness.
To sum up: This book is feast of action and violence delivered at a relentless pace, that leaves you wondering at times how things could actually come together for the Imperium. The main characters are well written and surprisingly relatable, an unusual trait for characters in this universe. At the same time there are a wide array of secondary plotlines moving through the book, all coming together in the end.
Five out five stars.
May 17, 2018
This is a continuation of the generally excellent "The Beast Arises" series by David Annandale.
This surprised me slightly as to it;s quality on two counts. Firstly, I had never previously rated Annandale particularly highly as a 40K author so this came as a pleasant surprise to me Secondly, it's far more focused than most novels in this series. Mostly the novels cover two or three seperate stories varying from the frontline Battle with the marauding Orks on whichever battle to the attempts of Vangorich to moderate the venal self aggrandisement of the High Lords to the efforts of series hero Koorland with the Last Wall of the reforged VII Legion.
This is more mono tracked than any previous volume. Vangorich and the High Lords only appear two or three times, there is virtually zero politicking and instead we get the eponymous hunt for Vulkan the reemerged Primarch of the Salamanders legion on the volcanic world of Caldera. The book does not try to be a thriller with regards to the actual hunt. Somebody mentions the Primarch is there and so they launch a military mission come invasion to find him. Instead of this it contents itself with Vulkan laying waste entire Ork amies, Koorland bringing his forces to locate and aid the Primarch and a particularly well described naval conflict
What this book delivers in spades is Bolter porn. The fighting is near endless and the writing style is punchy enough to make it more exciting than silly or boring. The story is pretty much self contained and short so this makes it a more than worthy addition to the series.
This surprised me slightly as to it;s quality on two counts. Firstly, I had never previously rated Annandale particularly highly as a 40K author so this came as a pleasant surprise to me Secondly, it's far more focused than most novels in this series. Mostly the novels cover two or three seperate stories varying from the frontline Battle with the marauding Orks on whichever battle to the attempts of Vangorich to moderate the venal self aggrandisement of the High Lords to the efforts of series hero Koorland with the Last Wall of the reforged VII Legion.
This is more mono tracked than any previous volume. Vangorich and the High Lords only appear two or three times, there is virtually zero politicking and instead we get the eponymous hunt for Vulkan the reemerged Primarch of the Salamanders legion on the volcanic world of Caldera. The book does not try to be a thriller with regards to the actual hunt. Somebody mentions the Primarch is there and so they launch a military mission come invasion to find him. Instead of this it contents itself with Vulkan laying waste entire Ork amies, Koorland bringing his forces to locate and aid the Primarch and a particularly well described naval conflict
What this book delivers in spades is Bolter porn. The fighting is near endless and the writing style is punchy enough to make it more exciting than silly or boring. The story is pretty much self contained and short so this makes it a more than worthy addition to the series.
September 7, 2022
Well, that was weird.
Of all the novels so far, this is the one with the most action. 80% of the novel is constant combat against the orks, but, despite the delirious amount of destructive scenes of epic proportions, it feels rather weak. The combat only contributes as spectacle, and unlike the Proletarian Crusade, the weight here is felt less and the risks are more imaginary. The novel sacrifices character development, intelligent dialogue and structured narratives in order to give us war.
But most disappointing is Vulkan. A primarch, one of the great leaders and demigods of the Imperium, and he acts in such an immature and unexpected way. Humanity is on the brink of extinction, and Vulkan refuses to help and lead the empire, with the excuse that he will only help when humanity is at its worst... ??? Sorry, but I think the Beast, with billions of orks, attacking sectors and conquering planets in days, and attacking the very capital of the empire, that seems to me like one of the worst moments for humanity, and Vulkan just saying ''No'' to the request of help by Koorland is just hilarious.
Anyway. I guess the only thing that saves it from pure fall is the action. While repetitive, it still shows some really massive fights that put the scale into the universe.
Of all the novels so far, this is the one with the most action. 80% of the novel is constant combat against the orks, but, despite the delirious amount of destructive scenes of epic proportions, it feels rather weak. The combat only contributes as spectacle, and unlike the Proletarian Crusade, the weight here is felt less and the risks are more imaginary. The novel sacrifices character development, intelligent dialogue and structured narratives in order to give us war.
But most disappointing is Vulkan. A primarch, one of the great leaders and demigods of the Imperium, and he acts in such an immature and unexpected way. Humanity is on the brink of extinction, and Vulkan refuses to help and lead the empire, with the excuse that he will only help when humanity is at its worst... ??? Sorry, but I think the Beast, with billions of orks, attacking sectors and conquering planets in days, and attacking the very capital of the empire, that seems to me like one of the worst moments for humanity, and Vulkan just saying ''No'' to the request of help by Koorland is just hilarious.
Anyway. I guess the only thing that saves it from pure fall is the action. While repetitive, it still shows some really massive fights that put the scale into the universe.
November 12, 2024
Early on in this series I bemoaned the focus on Space Marines, fearing book after book of mindless punching and hoping instead for something a little more nuanced. Well, be careful what you wish for, as for many of the subsequent books it has felt like someone at Black Library believes that the biggest problem with the Phantom Menace was that it needed a lot more politics and trade disputes.
So, thankfully and full of reticence, it's nice to get back to ceramite-clad superhumans smashing their foes (and occasionally their friends). The opportunity to involve the titular Vulkan has the opportunity to shake up the galaxy regardless circumstances, and Annandale has fun exploring both the political and battlefield ramifications.
A fun, action-packed entry that might not live long in the memory but gives a lot more hope for the rest of the series.
So, thankfully and full of reticence, it's nice to get back to ceramite-clad superhumans smashing their foes (and occasionally their friends). The opportunity to involve the titular Vulkan has the opportunity to shake up the galaxy regardless circumstances, and Annandale has fun exploring both the political and battlefield ramifications.
A fun, action-packed entry that might not live long in the memory but gives a lot more hope for the rest of the series.
December 1, 2017
This was one I simply couldn't stop reading. There were a few parts that were lacking (the final planet was very weirdly done in reference to time and travel) but the action was superb and the build up amazing. All the big characters have a bit of a play in it and you can finally feel the story moving along.
January 22, 2024
I loved the many reversals in the caldera war... Smart orcs outwitting the empire was cool. However, Vulkan felt way too powerful in this book... fighting the whole orc army for days is too much, even for a primarch.
September 28, 2017
I really enjoyed this. They actually find Vulkan!
And there are some pretty awesome battles
And there are some pretty awesome battles
July 21, 2018
Best yet
Probably my favourite in this series so far. Good to have a primarch back in the game 👍🏻. I will keep reading the series, this one has reignited my love for it
Probably my favourite in this series so far. Good to have a primarch back in the game 👍🏻. I will keep reading the series, this one has reignited my love for it
September 8, 2019
Lots of action in this book but it doesnt get dull. Liked this installment
January 22, 2020
Quite interesting view on planetary conflict and the way joint warfare operations between different agencias go in the Empire. Enterntainment.
November 6, 2021
I actually liked this one again, it manages to feel tense and helps to push forwards the plot of the War of the Beast as the series approaches its end without feeling rushed.
January 5, 2025
Vulkan stoke the show here and this one felt a lot more focused whilst still keeping all the characters actions upto date without bogging the main story down.
July 17, 2016
"Before I go into detail here, I'm pretty sure that this is the shortest entry thus far in the series. Also, the entire plot synopsis is right there in the title. In brief, predicated upon the revelation that the Beast is based on Ullanor, Koorland begins preparations to lead a massive Imperial force to kill him. Veritus, the Inquisitorial leader on Terra, prompts him to seek out no less than a legend to aid in the strike. He tells Koorland that the last intelligence on Vulkan's whereabouts were on the planet Caldera; and so, the hunt is on.
The rest of the book deals with the hunt, and with the saving of Caldera itself, which is also beset by an ork moon.
The Hunt For Vulkan is almost entirely an action piece, with little room for character growth. A lot of the enjoyment of that aspect lies in how Annandale presents those characters. He gives us a solid Koorland; troubled, capable, and fantastically wrathful. This Slaughter is a win. Thane is another well-balanced presence; but he is still lacking a special spark to make him truly memorable. There are a number of secondary characters mentioned who fill their roles in a satisfactory manner. One standout is General Imren of the Lucifer Blacks, who Annandale infuses with a vital lust for redemption.
The rest of the familiar dramatis personae are relegated to cameo status, and in their limited capacity they make the best of their minute word counts. A particularly poignant example of this is the brief conversation between Kalkator and Zerberyn.
On the other side of the bolter, Annandale gives us some more ferocious, bestial greenskins to act as perennial foils to the Imperium. He displays a real acumen for constructing devious plots and plans to allow the orks to keep one step ahead of the good guys at each turn.
This is a book that will live or die on the quality of its action scenes. Because of this, I was a little bit worried in the beginning, which gives us a standoff between the Fists Exemplar and the cohorts of Mars as Thane is charged with retrieving Urquidex before Kubik can have his mind completely wiped. This encounter reads like a tabletop battle report, and seems more of an excuse to name drop AdMech unit types. The whole thing seems tacked-on, and it reads as such.
Annandale is a writer whose action scenes only compel when they have emotional or ideological underpinnings to them. So, while that initial scene reads as stale, the events on Caldera are truly rousing. Annandale knows how to cultivate despair, how to put victory within reach, and how to make redemption an attainable goal if the hill is charged with enough fervor. These are savage, bloody action scenes, with a strong attention to the details of unit and armament types.
There are a few other solid elements here, but I don't want to teeter too far into spoiler territory. In short, Annandale does a real fine job cultivating the legend of Vulkan, and that, along with the action sequence which is the entire second half of the book, make this a strong entry in the series."
You can read my full review here:
http://hachisnaxreads.blogspot.com/20...
The rest of the book deals with the hunt, and with the saving of Caldera itself, which is also beset by an ork moon.
The Hunt For Vulkan is almost entirely an action piece, with little room for character growth. A lot of the enjoyment of that aspect lies in how Annandale presents those characters. He gives us a solid Koorland; troubled, capable, and fantastically wrathful. This Slaughter is a win. Thane is another well-balanced presence; but he is still lacking a special spark to make him truly memorable. There are a number of secondary characters mentioned who fill their roles in a satisfactory manner. One standout is General Imren of the Lucifer Blacks, who Annandale infuses with a vital lust for redemption.
The rest of the familiar dramatis personae are relegated to cameo status, and in their limited capacity they make the best of their minute word counts. A particularly poignant example of this is the brief conversation between Kalkator and Zerberyn.
On the other side of the bolter, Annandale gives us some more ferocious, bestial greenskins to act as perennial foils to the Imperium. He displays a real acumen for constructing devious plots and plans to allow the orks to keep one step ahead of the good guys at each turn.
This is a book that will live or die on the quality of its action scenes. Because of this, I was a little bit worried in the beginning, which gives us a standoff between the Fists Exemplar and the cohorts of Mars as Thane is charged with retrieving Urquidex before Kubik can have his mind completely wiped. This encounter reads like a tabletop battle report, and seems more of an excuse to name drop AdMech unit types. The whole thing seems tacked-on, and it reads as such.
Annandale is a writer whose action scenes only compel when they have emotional or ideological underpinnings to them. So, while that initial scene reads as stale, the events on Caldera are truly rousing. Annandale knows how to cultivate despair, how to put victory within reach, and how to make redemption an attainable goal if the hill is charged with enough fervor. These are savage, bloody action scenes, with a strong attention to the details of unit and armament types.
There are a few other solid elements here, but I don't want to teeter too far into spoiler territory. In short, Annandale does a real fine job cultivating the legend of Vulkan, and that, along with the action sequence which is the entire second half of the book, make this a strong entry in the series."
You can read my full review here:
http://hachisnaxreads.blogspot.com/20...
May 17, 2021
Nothing happens for ages and then they find Vulkan who’s just been sulking or something for the last few thousand years like an asshole
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2016
Black Library’s ongoing The Beast Arises series moves one step closer to completion with book 7, David Annandale’s The Hunt for Vulkan. Annandale’s second contribution to the series, it focuses primarily on Chapter Master Koorland of the Imperial Fists who, after forcing the Adeptus Mechanicus to reveal the origin of the ork invasion – legendary Ullanor, calls for aid from other First Founding chapters. Recognising that the Imperium needs a powerful figurehead if they are to strike at the heart of The Beast’s forces, an unlikely source points him in the direction of a mythical figure who might just fit the bill.
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
June 29, 2016
Well, Hunt for Vulcan they certainly did. Unlike the previous books in the series, this one essentially focuses on just one part, one battle, on Caldera. And I think that it takes away something from the book, it's been so much fun reading about the politics on Terra, almost as fun as reading about all the battles, that it is so missed here. Another solid book though, and the series continues apace.
July 8, 2016
*yawn*
October 21, 2016
Always good to read a book with a Primarch in it which isn't part of The Horus Heresy. Even though Vulkan's inability to die limits the thrills a bit in my view.
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