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The Horus Heresy #Short Story
The Last Son of Prospero
The Thousand Sons sorcerer Revuel Arvida guided his White Scars kinsmen through all the horrors of the ruinstorm, even though the psychic exertion almost killed him. Now on Terra, he clings to life by the merest thread, his body ravaged by the curse of his Legion - the insidious flesh-change. The primarch Jaghatai Khan demands that Arvida be saved, no matter the cost. But even if such a thing were possible, what would remain of his mind and soul?
Read it because
His Legion may be traitors, but Revuel Arvida has proved himself among the most loyal of the Emperor's servants, bringing himself to the point of destruction in defence of the Imperium. What will his fate be?
24 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
7 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Chris Wraight
218 books380 followersChris Wraight is a British author of fantasy and science fiction.
His first novel was published in 2008; since then, he has published books set in the Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate:Atlantis universes, and has upcoming titles in the Warhammer 40K setting.
He is based in the south-west of England.
His first novel was published in 2008; since then, he has published books set in the Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate:Atlantis universes, and has upcoming titles in the Warhammer 40K setting.
He is based in the south-west of England.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 23, 2019
Read in the Heralds of the Siege anthology
‘Magnus is dead.’
‘No, Jaghatai, he is not. You know he is not. You met him yourself, on Prospero.’
‘I met a shade.’
‘One of many. The Crimson King has been broken, shattered like a mirror thrown in anger. It began when he breached the wards on Terra, and it was ended by the Wolf’s wrath. No, Jaghatai, he is not dead. He has become legion.’
A breath-taking short tale of death, sacrifice and rebirth, giving a just perfect ending to the long storyline of Revuel Arvida, a fan favourite Horus Heresy character of mine, and starting a legend.
An amazing well written milestone of a tale.
I thought reading Chris Wright's Rebirth years ago that the loyalist Thousand Son was going to be the founder of the Blood Ravens chapter, but his final fate was totally better and unexpected.
A real gem.
December 28, 2016
I think BL might have saved the best for last, as day 24 of the Advent Calendar brings us Chris Wraight's The Last Son of Prospero. Following his Thousand Sons character from the White Scars novels and a couple of stories Revuel Arvida. The story was masterfully written, and told a beautiful tale of sacrifice and rebirth. The characters were all exceptionally well done, the plot fast paced and immensely interesting, it's definitely one of the best Horus Heresy shorts to date, and definitely worth picking up by itself.
April 1, 2024
March 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XI Ordu of the Khan (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus series and extras.
On the 24th of December 2016 and on the 29th of March 2024 Chris Wraight gifted something special with this Black Library Advent Calendar short that is truly epic.
Between depression as dark as the the 13th Black Crusade and appreciating and respecting, but unfortunately bouncing hard off The Path of Heaven, I've felt unable to engage for the last few days. The Soul, Severed kept my hand in a little, but this was just the kind of story I needed to feel fully back in both the Horus and Wraight Heresies!
Following Rebirth, through Scars, all the way down under The Path of Heaven, the eponymous last Thousand Son wearing Legion crimson, lies on a gurney in some secret operating theatre on Terra in the hands of the Sigillite. His body wracked by the Flesh Change and whatever of Malcador's machinations, Revuel Arvida, complicated Corvidae, finds himself at another intersection between life and death, Chaos and stagnation, and those who seek to use him as a tool for their own ends and one who has come to embrace him as a son...
This is the Wraight I truly adore. Unfettered, loosed upon a story and character he has full creative control over that is intimate, immediate, and powerfully charged in many ways!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the narrative I have come to call the Wraight Heresy, what the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project calls Omnibus XI Ordu of the Khan, which has charted Revuel Arvida and the kith he has found in the White Scars as they have made their tempestuous way to Terra. So, I didn't love The Path of Heaven and realise it's just not my kinda book, but it absolutely is for a while bunch of other folx, who cares? Finally seeing this narrative within the gran narrative of the series move into the final stages is unbelievably exciting. This story being so electric and recharging the energy I lost in depression and bouncing off the last book, makes it all the more invigorating!
I am truly fascinated by the fractured facets of Magnus and how until I was reading Wraight, that never seemed to be a thing, but is absolutely perfect for the situation. Seeing Malcador being the cold, hard bastard he is is always a powerfully ambivalent experience, especially after listening to (and not being emotionally ready to to do so again when it's time), Malcador: The First Lord of Terra, but seeing him so over everything that he is speaking more freely is wild. The dedication and care of the Khan is so wonderful to see, and his while complex relationship with Terra, the warp, and everything going on right now is incredible.
There are Black Library Advent Calendar stories I have ranted about just how good they are, Graham McNeill's The Lightning Hall is an absolutely stand out, and this is another that does so much with so little, admittedly more than many advent calendar releases with its 45 minute run time, but this is rich, engrossing, and adding something that feels essential, at least to someone so invested in this narrative that goes all the way back, even beyond Rebirth, to McNeill's A Thousand Sons, Magnus' folly, and the ridiculous Council of Nikaea. I'm glad this got collected in a main series anthology at the very least.
Awesome story is awesome and I am all the hype again baybee!
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 21.41 Horus Heresy novels, 12 novellas, 59 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 10 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
On the 24th of December 2016 and on the 29th of March 2024 Chris Wraight gifted something special with this Black Library Advent Calendar short that is truly epic.
Between depression as dark as the the 13th Black Crusade and appreciating and respecting, but unfortunately bouncing hard off The Path of Heaven, I've felt unable to engage for the last few days. The Soul, Severed kept my hand in a little, but this was just the kind of story I needed to feel fully back in both the Horus and Wraight Heresies!
Following Rebirth, through Scars, all the way down under The Path of Heaven, the eponymous last Thousand Son wearing Legion crimson, lies on a gurney in some secret operating theatre on Terra in the hands of the Sigillite. His body wracked by the Flesh Change and whatever of Malcador's machinations, Revuel Arvida, complicated Corvidae, finds himself at another intersection between life and death, Chaos and stagnation, and those who seek to use him as a tool for their own ends and one who has come to embrace him as a son...
This is the Wraight I truly adore. Unfettered, loosed upon a story and character he has full creative control over that is intimate, immediate, and powerfully charged in many ways!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the narrative I have come to call the Wraight Heresy, what the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project calls Omnibus XI Ordu of the Khan, which has charted Revuel Arvida and the kith he has found in the White Scars as they have made their tempestuous way to Terra. So, I didn't love The Path of Heaven and realise it's just not my kinda book, but it absolutely is for a while bunch of other folx, who cares? Finally seeing this narrative within the gran narrative of the series move into the final stages is unbelievably exciting. This story being so electric and recharging the energy I lost in depression and bouncing off the last book, makes it all the more invigorating!
I am truly fascinated by the fractured facets of Magnus and how until I was reading Wraight, that never seemed to be a thing, but is absolutely perfect for the situation. Seeing Malcador being the cold, hard bastard he is is always a powerfully ambivalent experience, especially after listening to (and not being emotionally ready to to do so again when it's time), Malcador: The First Lord of Terra, but seeing him so over everything that he is speaking more freely is wild. The dedication and care of the Khan is so wonderful to see, and his while complex relationship with Terra, the warp, and everything going on right now is incredible.
There are Black Library Advent Calendar stories I have ranted about just how good they are, Graham McNeill's The Lightning Hall is an absolutely stand out, and this is another that does so much with so little, admittedly more than many advent calendar releases with its 45 minute run time, but this is rich, engrossing, and adding something that feels essential, at least to someone so invested in this narrative that goes all the way back, even beyond Rebirth, to McNeill's A Thousand Sons, Magnus' folly, and the ridiculous Council of Nikaea. I'm glad this got collected in a main series anthology at the very least.
Awesome story is awesome and I am all the hype again baybee!
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 21.41 Horus Heresy novels, 12 novellas, 59 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 10 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
June 3, 2018
This story is exceptionally well written, a new one added to the list of my top favorite shorts from BL. As much as I loved Scars and The Path of Heaven, this takes it all to the next level. Tales involving Malcador always reveal small but important bits of information, both him and Khan here are absolutely mesmerizing. Nothing but applause for Chris Wraight. I am absolutely fascinated by the turn Revuel Arvida's life takes right here, even though I knew the spoilers, it did not ruin the experience for me in a slightest. Wonderful work, a must read after books 28 and 36.
December 24, 2016
Very beautiful and interesting story. As a reader who had paying close attention to Arvida adventure from the Rebirth I can say, that the ending was satisfying and it would be clearly understatement. While I wished and expected another fate for Arvida this resolution has won me over.
And style of the story is really great with all this casually mentioned “dust”, bitter irony about desert of Prospero… Malkador and important things that he mentioned, Khan and his reaction to Arvida wellbeing. It was fantastic.
My admiration to the Chris Wraight!
And style of the story is really great with all this casually mentioned “dust”, bitter irony about desert of Prospero… Malkador and important things that he mentioned, Khan and his reaction to Arvida wellbeing. It was fantastic.
My admiration to the Chris Wraight!
March 20, 2020
Very short read but one that marks the beginning of one of the Space Marines who will become one of the corner stones of Malcador's secret organization in days to come.
I have to admit that this one should be read after the novels involving the fall of Prospero and Jagathai Khan's ventures in the Prospero system to see what exactly happened between Wolves and Thousand Sons.
But even if you read it out of order - like me - you will find it short but very interesting read.
I have to admit that this one should be read after the novels involving the fall of Prospero and Jagathai Khan's ventures in the Prospero system to see what exactly happened between Wolves and Thousand Sons.
But even if you read it out of order - like me - you will find it short but very interesting read.
July 31, 2022
Perhaps an unfairly low rating as I came across this not realising it was closely linked to several other stories. I really liked a Thousand Sons and I've always liked the story of the Burning of Prospero, so I saw this and thought it'd be my sort of thing. It kind of was - a good story with some interesting little insights from Malcador, but I'm sure I'd have been more invested in the characters had I known them from earlier stories.
Still a good read, all the same.
Still a good read, all the same.
July 12, 2019
Great follow up to Path of Heaven and the fate of Revuel Arvida. If there is any problem I have with it, it's that I wanted more come the end.
January 11, 2024
Oh Magnus, you're such a screwup. Why your sons had any faith in you is beyond me.
July 21, 2025
Matter can never be destroyed. Only changed.
December 13, 2025
No tengo ni tiempo ni paciencia para decifrar este galimatías...
August 26, 2025
"The Regent of Terra was burning up, burning out, breaking himself on the anvil of the Imperium's slow collapse."
Arvida of the Thousand Sons first appeared in the short story"Rebirth" and reappeared in "Scars", "Allegiance" and "Path to Heaven". Cursed with the flesh change his faith now lies with Malcador the Sigillite.
Malcador has become one of my favourite Heresy characters, I particularly loved the Audio Drama "Malcador: First Lord of the Imperium". So getting more from him was great, I also loved the brief appearance of the Khan.
Overall very cool story with some big lore ramifications.
Arvida of the Thousand Sons first appeared in the short story"Rebirth" and reappeared in "Scars", "Allegiance" and "Path to Heaven". Cursed with the flesh change his faith now lies with Malcador the Sigillite.
Malcador has become one of my favourite Heresy characters, I particularly loved the Audio Drama "Malcador: First Lord of the Imperium". So getting more from him was great, I also loved the brief appearance of the Khan.
Overall very cool story with some big lore ramifications.
December 29, 2016
While one war is fought deep within Terra, Malcador the Sigillite battles to save Arvida from his legion’s curse at the request of Jaghatai Khan.
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews