Fallen Angels

The Horus Heresy #11

by Mike Lee

With news of Horus’s treachery spreading across the galaxy, the Great Crusade grinds to a halt as the primarchs and their Legions decide where their loyalty lies – with the Emperor, or with the rebel Warmaster. The Dark Angels, too, face a time of testing, both among the stars and on their home world Caliban. Luther, once Lion El’Jonson’s trusted second-in-command, now languishes as an exile in all but name while his master struggles to thwart the traitors’ advance upon the forge world Diamat. But an ancient evil gathers its strength beneath the surface of Caliban, and the First Legion will soon be thrust into a deadly conflict where all that they know will be cast into doubt.

Read it because
The divide in the Dark Angels Legion, between those loyal to the Lion and those who declare for Luther, becomes clear... but even more important might be what happens off Caliban, as Lion El'Jonson battles the traitors for control of dangerous weapons, and then delivers them to the last person you'll expect...

The eBook edition includes integrated illustrations of characters and events from the story, and an afterword that places the story in context within the series.

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, War, Space Opera

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Mike Lee is an author, scriptwriter and game designer whose most recent credits include Fallen Angels, the latest installment in Black Library Publishing’s best-selling Horus Heresy series, and the dark fantasy epic Nagash the Sorcerer. Along with UK author Dan Abnett, Mike also wrote the five-volume Chronicles of Malus Darkblade, whose signature character has become a cult favorite among fans of Black Library’s Warhammer Fantasy fiction.

In addition to his novels, Mike’s scriptwriting credits include Tom Clancy’s HAWX, a game of near-future jet combat, and Splinter Cell: Conviction, the hit sequel to the popular Splinter Cell franchise published by Ubisoft Entertainment. He has also contributed to more than two dozen pen-and-paper role-playing games and supplements, including the award-winning Vampire: The Masquerade, Adventure!, Vampire: Dark Ages and Hunter: The Reckoning, published by White Wolf Games Studio.

An avid wargamer, history buff and devoted fan of two-fisted pulp adventure, Mike lives with his wife, artist JK Lee, and their family in the United States.

Reviews

[Alexander Draganov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind says - Alex, you can't give this book more than four stars. It had some serious issues. It started slowly. There were some long descriptions of tech which did nothing to clear the picture in your mind. It had two plotlines which never met.
All true, but heart insists - yeah, maybe, but it had SPEHS MAHREENS fighting mutant worms, zombies, cyborgs and other SPEHS MAHREENS! Also treachery and mighty fallen heroes!
And I am like, OK, five stars.

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-De nuevo, más sobre los Ángeles Oscuros que sobre la propia rebelión de Horus.-

Género. Ciencia ficción.

Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Los ángeles caídos (publicación original: Fallen Angels, 2009), con el subtítulo Engaño y traición, nos lleva al momento en que llegan las noticias de la rebelión de Horus y comienza la movilización de los Ángeles Oscuros para actuar en Diamat, un mundo forja del sistema Tanagra que resulta importante para la logística de los rebeldes. Pero no toda la legión se moviliza, sino que buena parte de los que parecen haber sido apartados de los combates de la Gran Cruzada con anterioridad también son mantenidos en Caliban para, en teoría, cuidar del planeta y supervisar el entrenamiento de nuevos reclutas. Sin embargo, los acontecimientos en Caliban también se precipitan y nuevos secretos serán descubiertos. Decimo primer libro de la serie La herejía de Horus.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...

[Chris Berko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story in the Heresy saga but the writing was lacking in some areas. I really liked the two alternating storylines but the action scenes were sort of choppy and overall it didn't have that smooth flow that every other book in the series up until now has had. A solid entry nonetheless.

[Nikola Pavlovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jako dobra knjiga rekao bih. Na svetu Kaliban, domu prve legije, bukti ustanak koji predvode glavesine stanovnistva koje je naseljavalo planetu pre dolaska Impratora. Lutor koji je pao u nemilost kod prajmarha Lajonela El Dzonsona vlada ovim svetom i u situaciji je gde mora da izabere da le ce ostati lojalan Imperiji i svojoj legiji ili ce se prikljuciti ustanicima i postati izdajnik. Bibliotekar Zaharijel se ponovo susrece sa mracnim silama iz svoje mladosti i dok ustanak bukti shvata da je opasnost koja preti Kalibanu veca od svih mogucih sukoba koji su tako nistavni pred opasnoscu koja nosi barjak smrti.

Sa druge strane svemira prajmarh Lajonel El Dzonson upoznat sa Horusovom izdajom napusta Imperatorov Veliki Krstaski Rat i krece u opasnu misiju sa ciljem da osujeti planove pobunjenika.
Poznat kao vrsni vojni takticar Dzonson sklapa kockckice i koristeci se informacije koje ima sa svojom malom grupom Svemirskih Marinaca pokusava da Horusu i njegovoj pobuni zada tezak takticki udarac.

[mikey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

If I gave Descent of Angels a 3.5/5, I have to give this one just a bit higher.

Fallen Angels picks up very close to where we left off at in DoA, and details the great schism between the loyalists of the legion, and the 1/4 that chose to rebel after being neglected by The Lion on Caliban. A very cool story to take a look at, as the modern day Dark Angels have kept the secret of this betrayal to this very day.

I’ll start with what I liked:

The prose and overall writing here, are an upgrade, but that does not save the plot from being lopsided. We constantly flip back and forth between POVs of The Lion’s secret mission to undermine Horus, and the rebellion of the rest of his forces on Caliban.

If this sounds interesting to you, I think you might even like it more than me, I just found myself much preferring to read from the traitors’ POVs. Because of this, I found myself rolling my eyes every time we would swap.

I also have to put a disclaimer here: I audiobook’d about 90% of this book, and I think it soured some of my experience. The narrator just didn’t do it for me, and I think that might have degraded what could have otherwise been a 5/5 experience for me. This might not be a problem for you though, and I don’t want to discredit the Black Library’s audiobooks, they’re usually fantastic.

I’ve got one book left in the Dark Angels trilogy, and I’m slightly tempering my expectations for it, in hopes that it’ll be an even bigger jump in quality from DoA and FA.

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dark Angels act like they're not the drama when in reality, they're the whole damn play. Reading their arc, while they're in the spotlight, has to be some psychic shit my subconscious is on or the good Lord's love because I finalized my TBR in January, took an unforeseen 3-month break, and even a side quest. So how is my timing so flawless??

Fallen Angels delivered the spooky, sad boy hour vibes that I look forward to and love. Mike Lee pulled a genius move, adding Nemiel's POV to Zahariel's; the back and forth elevated the story and offered such dimension! The multiple layers of sibling dynamics that were up for analysis, especially because of when this book is in the timeline. The Lion... I'm starting to think that if he were a better firstborn, this would never have happened, including the Heresy. Like babe, stand up fr. Time to turn into a firstborn daughter, girl son because my guyyyy, this isn't working.

Also, the horror! If you liked the 2nd Halo book...The Flood by William C. Dietz, I got you with this rec.

If Goodreads provided a Spotify equivalent recap, my top series would be 40K, with a whopping 12% of my total. I have laughed, paced back and forth, had tingles up my spine and all the hair stand on my arms, argued with men that don't exist, written essays, grieved multiple times over the inescapable, foregone conclusion, and suffered heartbreak (again, over men that don't exist...they're tall, idk). I thought I was gonna read 6 out of the 56 book series and jump into the Siege of Terra, what a clown. Here we are after 12 books, with at least 12 books to go before we start the 8-book finale.

Lovely.

[Andrew Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fallen Angels is the last bite of food you are going to get for a long time during this meal we call the Horus Heresy. The next books are a scant 8 months away now, and this is continuation of Descent of Angels is all we have to tide ourselves over.



And what a meal it is. Food metaphor over. I very much enjoyed Fallen Angels for two reasons. Firstly, it gave meaning and purpose to Descent of Angels. I railed against that novel in this series how it was a fine stand alone book but did not deserve a slot in the Heresy. However, with Fallen Angels here picking up basically after the last page of DOA, everything is justified. We watch as the two cousins continue to mature as Astartes. One banished to Caliban, the other furthering the crusade. Ultimately both of them are fighting in a much larger war that they are just starting to grasp.



Secondly, the turn of the Calibanites against the Emperor is written with a lot of care towards the why and how, fleshing out a lot of curiosities for this very popular chapter. More importantly than that is the fact that Fallen Angels falls back into the overall time line of the Horus Heresy. It happens after Istvaan III and before Istvaan V.



Finally, bringing Astelan back as a character is a nice tip of the hat that Tales of Heresy Started and Fallen Angels picks up. Astelan's tale does not quite get back to where it begins in Angel's of Darkness, but I am hoping another story will take us through his final moments as an active Astartes.



Fallen Angels formula is just like Angel's of Darkness, one chapter dealing with one character and plot, and the next dealing with the other. The book has a lot of good action and the marines are well written.



I am really happy to recommend this book to any fan of the 40K universe and especially of the Heresy series.

[Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first I was furious with the beginning action sequences because the traitor legions seemed to behave so damn stupidly in their loses. By the end of the book, things definitely evened up. This book is definitely for those who think of Chaos in black and white and wonder why anyone would be 'stupid' enough to secceed from the Imperium. Wake up! You REALLY think the Imperium is such a nice place? In many ways, Chaos is just like the Imperium. Chaos will give you everything you've ever wanted in turn for everything you've always valued. the Imperium will give you freedom from uncertainty in turn for your freedom of thought. Oh and the way the book ends? Be aware. Traitors are everywhere!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caliban storyline: 5/5. (Very engaging, especially knowing what eventually will happen to Caliban).
Diamat storyline: 2/5. (This story arc was totally uninteresting.)

So many unanswered questions!!! As a Dark Angels space marine player in my youth, I desperately want to know the answers. I will have to wait for the next Dark Angels book I suppose.

[Carol Zafiriadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much potential that was a bit thrashed by a mediocre writer who also wrote Legacy of Dorn. Somehow deeper and more action packed than Descent of Angels, but it lacks a cool ending.

Or so i think after the cool ending was ruined by the epilogue that, funny enough, had a nice ending. Quite perplexing. Overall, it’s a nice read/listen (voice acting sucks, trust me..ooh I miss Toby Longworth).

[Magicswordz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of my problems with this book come from problems caused by the first Dark Angels book in the Horus Heresy series.

Nevertheless, this is one of the easily skip-able books in the Horus Heresy series.

[Arnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fallen Angels kā nosacīts turpinājums Horus Heresy vispārējās sērijas sestajam romānam Descent of Angels turpina stāstu gan par Caliban planētu, uz kuras primarks Lauva El’Džonsons ar uzticamās ‘’labās rokas’’ Lutera palīdzību apvienoja visus bruņinieku ordeņus uz planētas, lai atbrīvotu to no milzu zvēriem, kā arī pēcāk pievienotos Impērijai, kad pats Imperators uz tās ierodas, gan grāmatas otrā sižeta ietvaros sekotu līdzi primarkam El’Džonsonam cīņā ar nodevējiem un Horusa līdzskrējējiem.

https://poseidons99.com/2024/09/14/mi...

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved descent of angels. This one was pretty good, but took way too long to GET good. Some of the descriptions of battles didn't actually clarify what was happening well and made me more confused. The writing just felt a little less concise.
HOWEVER
I still had a lot of fun with it when I got to the good parts. The storytelling for the warp monsters and chaos kept me very invested, and I had to stop for a second with my head in my hands bc the choices that were made that led them to where they are. It got real heavy real fast. Once the drama started it did not leave my hands. Good stuff

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was pretty good! That said, at times it could have been balanced a bit better. One of the benefits of having an alternating narrative - switching back and forth between two sets of characters each chapter - is being able to build in cliffhangers and take diversions from extended combat sequences or extended downtime. Instead, sometimes both "sides" of the narrative would be battling at the same time, which made things feel lopsided. Indeed, this entry had more combat than it needed, especially when the mysteries behind what was going were so much more interesting.

All that said, this almost single-handedly redeemed the prior book "Descent of Angels." It couldn't fix all (or even many) of the problems that book had, but it at very least made this story thread of the greater tapestry interesting enough to care about.

The final section of the Epilogue makes the Lion look like a bit of a buffoon, though.

[Matej Houdek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bloody sacrifice that ended in vain. Lies and deciet prevails once more.

[Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mucho mejor de lo que esperaba. La precuela me gustó pero no me pareció tan destacable. Este título tiene mucha acción relevante para el hilo principal de la HH, y trata todos esos detalles de desconfianza y "traición" que rodean a esta gran legión. No sabes en qué lado posicionarte y eso le da más juego y complejidad.

[Jason Ray Carney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 11th book in the Horus Heresy. It focuses on the Dark Angels Legion. There are two main pov characters: (1) Nemiel, who fights with the Dark Angels' forces on the Forge World of Diamat against heretics and rebels; (2) Zahariel, who fights with Luther, the Knight of Caliban, and other Calibanites and Dark Angels to quell a conspiracy and rebellion on his homeworld. This was generally well-written and engaging. One of the greatest features of the Horus Heresy books has been the way the supernatural has been presented as an abomination, a truly evil transgression. To an extent, the supernatural has lost some of its edge in this novel. Hordes of zombies are less a transgression against the very nature of reality (as in previous novels in the series) and have instead become a plot function horde, a mass to be mowed down by bolter fire. The battles were exciting but this is the first novel where the tropes of the series started to feel (slightly) stale. This isn't to say Mike Lee isn't a talented writer. It may be that at book 11, the series is reaching a lull. I'm happy to have read this and will read more Horus Heresy novels. Note: this is somewhat of a sequel to the Horus Heresy novel, Descent of Angels, which tells the origin of the Dark Angels legion.

[Frank Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just sensational. There's so much going on in this story. I thought I had it all worked out near the start but I was wrong, sort of. There are more conflicting sides than I would have guessed possible but each is convincingly justified. Other than Horus' overarching Heresy, the disputes and rebellions that form this story have little to do with jealousy and power-mongering. It's great storytelling and it makes it hard to vilify any particular side in many of the conflicts.

I recommend reading 'Descent of Angels' first which gives all the background required to follow who is who and what is happening on Caliban in this story.

[Ryry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book! I can understand where the rebels are coming from. Cant wait to buy my next ones.

[Veronica Anrathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, not good. My review for the Descent of Angels can work for this one too. Definitely had a few interesting moments, but not really impressive overall.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Caliban story line carried the book to be honest. The other arc was a struggle.

[Jake Samuels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fallen Angels continues the story of the Dark Angels, doing a solid job of exploring how the Lion's abandonment of his sons has begun to corrupt them. There's some really strong characterisation of both Lion El'Johnson and the dark angels in general, which helps us understand the weapons-grade daddy issues that a lot of the legion have started to develop. A lot of time is given to understanding how the Lion thinks, we see a some real flaws that add a lot to his character. He's defined by being incredibly skilled in everything but interacting with others, a weakness that Luther used to mask.

There are some issues though, mainly that the plot feels a little meandering. The pace randomly picks up and drops, which really loses some of the tension later in the book. The end of the Lion's story, while important for his character, essentially makes half of the book pointless and we don't even see him actually confront his failures yet. A lot of setup and very little payoff.

[James Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never really feels like it amounts to much, the moment to moment writing is engaging enough but its two plotlines do not intersect with one of them feeling utterly superfluous both in the context of the book and the context of the greater Heresy. The Johnson plot on Diamat just feels like they had to have half the book focused on the Primarch despite it ultimately amounting to nothing, a small scale feeling fight that is rendered pointless by the ending. The twist where they are too late to stop the tech priests betrayal was good but the rest of it was just a bit pointless. The combat in the book manages to feel ridiculously small scale too Perhaps the book would have been better if it was just about Luther but that storyline wasn't particularly exciting either.

[Seburath · Rating 4 out of 5]

El inicio me fue muy difícil de asimilar, hay mucho combate espacial y no sé los nombres de todas las naves.

No es un libro que recomendaría, pero entiendo que empezar a leer libros de una serie empezando por el 11 pudo haber sido mi error, porque, una vez terminan los conflictos de las naves, la forma de narrar los conflictos bélicos en tierra es muy entretenido.

Me gusto la manera de escribir del autor, no tenía idea de lo grande que era este universo literario y después de este libro estoy enganchado.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic Horus heresy book, characters we like tragically and very understandably fall to chaos. Overall I enjoyed it far more than it's previous book, enjoyed that the Lion is absolutely not a perfect being in contrast to other books depicting the Primarchs.

The structure though is jarring and makes it too slow to enjoy in the beginning. I think it'd be better to have part 1 Zahariel, part 2 Nemiel. The fact that the two stories don't meet makes the structure not quite work.

[Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a dark angel fanboy, we are all mature enough to admit. This is a slow book and may be a bit of a rough one for most readers. Even a die-hard like me had to force myself through. Definitely not one I'd recommend to convince someone of the series, but certainly worth a look for a dark angel fanatic.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be biased since the Dark Angels are my favorite legion, but damn, I loved this book.

All the characters had such a cool evolution since the last time we saw them and I'll just say.. if in Descent of Angels I liked Zahariel the most, this round goes to Nemiel, hands down.

Can't wait for the next part.

[Albert Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Los Ángeles Caídos se podría resumir que es un libro entretenido dentro del universo de la herejía. Pero me ha dejado la sensación que, sobre todo, toda la primera parte le falta algo de personalidad. Se hacía fácil desconectar. En todo caso, la parte final el autor consigue concluir las dos historias de una manera increíble. Con múltiples tramas realmente interesantes

[Joshua Loiselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally not as big of a fan of Dark Angels Lore but the book was solid. Very interesting to get the Calibanite factions perspective and glad it wasn’t a stereotypical evil guys fall. Overall good read and liked the two brothers opposite storylines.

[Matthew Hipsher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a turning point in the Heresy series, as we see how Horus's actions affect non-astartes humans and planets embroiled in civil war. An awesome story and a great ending!