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The Horus Heresy: Primarchs #5
Lorgar: Bearer of the Word
The fifth title in The Horus Primarchs series, delving into the story of Lorgar, primarch of the Word Bearers Legion and the first of the Emperor's sons to fall to Chaos.
Most devoted of all the primarchs, it was Lorgar who first fell to the lure of Chaos. Once known as Aurelian, this golden son of the Emperor of Mankind found himself an outcast because he worshipped his father as a god. Humbled before the ruins of Monarchia, chastened and brought low, Lorgar yearned for deeper meaning. He found it in the power of Ruin and thus began the descent into heresy. His fate had not always been so. On Colchis, his adopted birth world, Lorgar was not always the zealot, though his path would be nurtured by the priest Kor Phaeron.
Most devoted of all the primarchs, it was Lorgar who first fell to the lure of Chaos. Once known as Aurelian, this golden son of the Emperor of Mankind found himself an outcast because he worshipped his father as a god. Humbled before the ruins of Monarchia, chastened and brought low, Lorgar yearned for deeper meaning. He found it in the power of Ruin and thus began the descent into heresy. His fate had not always been so. On Colchis, his adopted birth world, Lorgar was not always the zealot, though his path would be nurtured by the priest Kor Phaeron.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published July 5, 2017
61 people are currently reading
907 people want to read
About the author
Gav Thorpe
377 books576 followersGav spent 14 years as a developer for Games Workshop, and started writing novels and short stories in the worlds of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 when the Black Library imprint was launched in 1997.
He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.
Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.
He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.
Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
February 12, 2020
He needed no surer sign of his destiny than that which had been sent to him dad in the guise of a child: a pupil ready to be enriched with faith and the Truth. What else would better show the people of Colchis that a new age had dawned, an age with the Covenant broken down and rebuilt by the hand of the great Kor Phaeron?
Vote: ☆☆☆1/2
Not bad at all, but in the end this novel set in Lorgar's past and uprising on Colchis was more a book about Kor Phaeron and I enjoyed a lot more the short Great Crusade/Horus Heresy parts than the rest of it.
Still a good read, but in the end it left me wanting more.
October 23, 2017
Review also published here
Lorgar: Bearer of the Word is a highly unconventional Horus Heresy / Primarchs novel. It features few boltshells fired at all and is relatively light on "present-day" Great Crusade/Horus Heresy content. Instead of showcasing the Word Bearers Legion's conquests, it showcases them only brielfy in interlude sections.
The bulk of the book? Lorgar's childhood and upbringing on Colchis. Almost the entirety of the novel is told not through the Primarch's eyes, but his "father" Kor Phaeron, probably the main architect of the entire Heresy. Besides Lorgar, the second viewpoint comes in the form of Nairo, one of Kor Phaeron's slaves at the time of Lorgar's arrival, whose views are juxtaposed against those of the ever-ambitious and corrupt archpriest of "the Powers" of Chaos.
Indeed, Lorgar: Bearer of the Word is taking the reader back to a time when the Primarchs were figures of myth and incredible awe, rather than the glorified action heroes of the later Horus Heresy series (looking at you, The Unremembered Empire ...). While the big focus of the novel, as he well should be, Lorgar is kept reasonably ambiguous in certain respects, while the interpretations of his character through Kor Phaeron and Nairo tell us a lot more about themselves.
Kor Phaeron, true to form, is a bastard of the highest order. This novel does little to really humanize him. He's corrupted by the Powers-that-be from the moment we first meet him here, preaching while raising himself up above others - despite being exiled from the Holy City of Vharadesh. He is abusive, quick to anger, arrogant, an egomaniac for all his worship and sermonizing on the glories of the Pantheon. If you think you've felt disgusted by this man before, you might find that you have underestimated his spite greatly.
Growing up as the acolyte of Kor Phaeron, Lorgar actually did pretty well for himself. Despite brutal punishments even just for daring to raise questions, it seems strange that the Urizen would stay with his father-figure for so long, to the point of defending him and saving his life, obedient to a fault and despite the urgings of Nairo. The final section of the book manage to leave the reader with a new perspective on this, however - and I felt a little chilled thinking about the nature of the Aurelian's own ambition and calculations. If you've ever wondered why Lorgar may be inclined to throw his First Captain into the meat grinder of Calth and expecting him to lay down his life there, this story may give you plenty of reasons for it.
On the other hand, Nairo is a more tragic figure. Being an older slave, he is lucky to still be alive in his lord's service (or not, depending on how you look at it). He has dreams of his own, a different moral compass to all other highlighted characters and could be described as the angel in Lorgar's ear, opposed to Kor Phaeron's status as the devil. He wishes for equality and the abolishment of slavery, urges caution against his master's ambition and develops a deep friendship with the new messiah. His relationship with Lorgar highlights the best of the Primarch and gives us a look at what he might have become, had he not been stuck with the Dark Heart as his adoptive father...
The polarity between the two point of view characters does a solid job showcasing the various aspects that the young Primarch might represent for the preacher, the slave, and Colchis as a whole. Threat? Opportunity? Freedom? Conquest? Religious Truths? Maybe even a son?
Despite this being a Black Library novel, action is for the most part glossed over unless necessary to further Lorgar's (or Nairo & Kor Phaeron's) development. Late in the book, cities fall one after the other with no more than a name drop, for example, whereas the first and final compliances are showcased with a little more detail to characterize Lorgar's twin approaches: The Word, or the Mace. I applaud Gav for not making this a Primarch action flick - it is with in-depth characterizations that this Primarchs series scores, not "Bolterporn". The strongest parts of all previous books were when the Primarchs were left to talk and interact with their environments, or butt heads in the case of Russ, and the weakest when the Emperor's sons were reduced to the gods of war that they are. We've seen plenty of the latter throughout the galactic civil war already, and Primarchs should instead focus on giving the reader a greater understanding of its protagonists instead.
Lorgar: Bearer of the Word does that swimmingly. While hardly a bad word can be said about Aaron Dembski-Bowden's foundation for the Urizen via The First Heretic , Betrayer and connective tissue stories throughout, it only briefly looked at where the Aurelian came from, his very humble beginnings in the deserts of Colchis, beaten by his master and all too impressionable. Where Dembski-Bowden's Heresy work gives us a Lorgar that falls from the Emperor's Grace, and vice versa, turning from naive worship and making him a force to be reckoned with and the architect behind the Heresy itself, this prequel hands us the idealistic Lorgar, the ecclesiarch, the one to turn Colchis from the Powers to the Emperor's light, making the eventual reversal all the more tragic.
Stylistically, Gav Thorpe is also playing to his strengths. His origins in writing lore material are evident in a lot of his work, down to his narrative approach. With Lorgar being delivered in a more historically-inspired fashion and married to mythological, spiritual metaphor and accounts by what may be described as the messiah-Primarch's apostles, with a strong focus on dialogue over frantic action, the novel benefits greatly from his fairly unique style.
Thorpe even goes so far as to reinvent Colchis's whole calendar system, turning the world's days into trials in their own right, further reinforcing the hold religious tradition may have on a civilization that experiences as much as seven whole days during one full rotation of their world. While the impacts of the "Translator's Note on Time" included at the start of the novel are rarely make a massive impact on the unfolding story, they do explain much and give everything an interesting vibe. Colchisian culture is just as much a factor in Lorgar's relative childhood as his master and confidant are.
One thing that did disappoint me about the novel was the relatively abrupt end to it. Don't get me wrong, I liked the end, and it ended on an important event for Lorgar. However, I would have really liked to see a little epilogue about the Emperor and Magnus coming to meet Lorgar on Colchis, as it felt like the natural end point to Lorgar's ongoing visions about "The One". That this didn't happen confused me, as it'd have held great opportunity for Thorpe to pitch Lorgar's faith against the insidious nature of Kor Phaeron one final time and giving the reader an understanding of the Emperor's opinions on the zealotry rampant on his son's homeworld.
Another small nitpick would be that Erebus got only token mentions throughout the interlude chapters, but I guess including him in greater capacity would have diluted the exploration of Lorgar's relationship with Kor Phaeron, which I'd consider the highlight of the book.
One final note on the Dark Heart before I wrap this up, though. I saw some comments about Kor Phaeron still being depicted as a meanspirited, vile being with little redeeming qualities and that making it hard to empathize with the character. While I can see the hiccup for some people, I feel that this is exactly as it should be. Kor Phaeron was ruined by the Powers long before Lorgar appeared on Colchis. His exile made him even more bitter and wrathful, the effects of which we see here. We don't need to turn villains into victims of circumstance every time. Kor Phaeron is an utterly ambitious, zealous, calculating madman whose ambition, zealotry and madness needed a little more depth, as did his relation to Lorgar. He needed to be a fleshed-out villain, not a misunderstood tragic anti-hero. He'll never be that, and for that I am thankful. In my eyes, Lorgar: Bearer of the Word did a great job turning Kor Phaeron from an oftentimes shallow, mustache-twirling Bond-villain into a believable antagonist full of spite but also with his own insecurities and doubts, his own burdens and faults. He has become relatable, if not exactly somebody to empathize or even sympathize with.
Be that as it may, I quite enjoyed this book. I'd say it ties with Perturabo: The Hammer of Olympia for my favorite in the series so far. It lends credence to Kor Phaeron, makes subtle comments on Lorgar Aurelian, shows the immediate effects of Monarchia in its brief interludes and connects a lot of dots in a creative and engaging way. The new perspective on well-established characters has also made me enthusiastic about the Word Bearers again and I am sorely tempted to re-read The First Heretic sometime soon.
Lorgar: Bearer of the Word manages to uphold the high standard of the Primarchs series with little trouble and is essential reading for any fan of the Word Bearers or devoted acolyte of the Pantheon, if you ask me.
Lorgar: Bearer of the Word is a highly unconventional Horus Heresy / Primarchs novel. It features few boltshells fired at all and is relatively light on "present-day" Great Crusade/Horus Heresy content. Instead of showcasing the Word Bearers Legion's conquests, it showcases them only brielfy in interlude sections.
The bulk of the book? Lorgar's childhood and upbringing on Colchis. Almost the entirety of the novel is told not through the Primarch's eyes, but his "father" Kor Phaeron, probably the main architect of the entire Heresy. Besides Lorgar, the second viewpoint comes in the form of Nairo, one of Kor Phaeron's slaves at the time of Lorgar's arrival, whose views are juxtaposed against those of the ever-ambitious and corrupt archpriest of "the Powers" of Chaos.
Indeed, Lorgar: Bearer of the Word is taking the reader back to a time when the Primarchs were figures of myth and incredible awe, rather than the glorified action heroes of the later Horus Heresy series (looking at you, The Unremembered Empire ...). While the big focus of the novel, as he well should be, Lorgar is kept reasonably ambiguous in certain respects, while the interpretations of his character through Kor Phaeron and Nairo tell us a lot more about themselves.
Kor Phaeron, true to form, is a bastard of the highest order. This novel does little to really humanize him. He's corrupted by the Powers-that-be from the moment we first meet him here, preaching while raising himself up above others - despite being exiled from the Holy City of Vharadesh. He is abusive, quick to anger, arrogant, an egomaniac for all his worship and sermonizing on the glories of the Pantheon. If you think you've felt disgusted by this man before, you might find that you have underestimated his spite greatly.
Growing up as the acolyte of Kor Phaeron, Lorgar actually did pretty well for himself. Despite brutal punishments even just for daring to raise questions, it seems strange that the Urizen would stay with his father-figure for so long, to the point of defending him and saving his life, obedient to a fault and despite the urgings of Nairo. The final section of the book manage to leave the reader with a new perspective on this, however - and I felt a little chilled thinking about the nature of the Aurelian's own ambition and calculations. If you've ever wondered why Lorgar may be inclined to throw his First Captain into the meat grinder of Calth and expecting him to lay down his life there, this story may give you plenty of reasons for it.
On the other hand, Nairo is a more tragic figure. Being an older slave, he is lucky to still be alive in his lord's service (or not, depending on how you look at it). He has dreams of his own, a different moral compass to all other highlighted characters and could be described as the angel in Lorgar's ear, opposed to Kor Phaeron's status as the devil. He wishes for equality and the abolishment of slavery, urges caution against his master's ambition and develops a deep friendship with the new messiah. His relationship with Lorgar highlights the best of the Primarch and gives us a look at what he might have become, had he not been stuck with the Dark Heart as his adoptive father...
The polarity between the two point of view characters does a solid job showcasing the various aspects that the young Primarch might represent for the preacher, the slave, and Colchis as a whole. Threat? Opportunity? Freedom? Conquest? Religious Truths? Maybe even a son?
Despite this being a Black Library novel, action is for the most part glossed over unless necessary to further Lorgar's (or Nairo & Kor Phaeron's) development. Late in the book, cities fall one after the other with no more than a name drop, for example, whereas the first and final compliances are showcased with a little more detail to characterize Lorgar's twin approaches: The Word, or the Mace. I applaud Gav for not making this a Primarch action flick - it is with in-depth characterizations that this Primarchs series scores, not "Bolterporn". The strongest parts of all previous books were when the Primarchs were left to talk and interact with their environments, or butt heads in the case of Russ, and the weakest when the Emperor's sons were reduced to the gods of war that they are. We've seen plenty of the latter throughout the galactic civil war already, and Primarchs should instead focus on giving the reader a greater understanding of its protagonists instead.
Lorgar: Bearer of the Word does that swimmingly. While hardly a bad word can be said about Aaron Dembski-Bowden's foundation for the Urizen via The First Heretic , Betrayer and connective tissue stories throughout, it only briefly looked at where the Aurelian came from, his very humble beginnings in the deserts of Colchis, beaten by his master and all too impressionable. Where Dembski-Bowden's Heresy work gives us a Lorgar that falls from the Emperor's Grace, and vice versa, turning from naive worship and making him a force to be reckoned with and the architect behind the Heresy itself, this prequel hands us the idealistic Lorgar, the ecclesiarch, the one to turn Colchis from the Powers to the Emperor's light, making the eventual reversal all the more tragic.
Stylistically, Gav Thorpe is also playing to his strengths. His origins in writing lore material are evident in a lot of his work, down to his narrative approach. With Lorgar being delivered in a more historically-inspired fashion and married to mythological, spiritual metaphor and accounts by what may be described as the messiah-Primarch's apostles, with a strong focus on dialogue over frantic action, the novel benefits greatly from his fairly unique style.
Thorpe even goes so far as to reinvent Colchis's whole calendar system, turning the world's days into trials in their own right, further reinforcing the hold religious tradition may have on a civilization that experiences as much as seven whole days during one full rotation of their world. While the impacts of the "Translator's Note on Time" included at the start of the novel are rarely make a massive impact on the unfolding story, they do explain much and give everything an interesting vibe. Colchisian culture is just as much a factor in Lorgar's relative childhood as his master and confidant are.
One thing that did disappoint me about the novel was the relatively abrupt end to it. Don't get me wrong, I liked the end, and it ended on an important event for Lorgar. However, I would have really liked to see a little epilogue about the Emperor and Magnus coming to meet Lorgar on Colchis, as it felt like the natural end point to Lorgar's ongoing visions about "The One". That this didn't happen confused me, as it'd have held great opportunity for Thorpe to pitch Lorgar's faith against the insidious nature of Kor Phaeron one final time and giving the reader an understanding of the Emperor's opinions on the zealotry rampant on his son's homeworld.
Another small nitpick would be that Erebus got only token mentions throughout the interlude chapters, but I guess including him in greater capacity would have diluted the exploration of Lorgar's relationship with Kor Phaeron, which I'd consider the highlight of the book.
One final note on the Dark Heart before I wrap this up, though. I saw some comments about Kor Phaeron still being depicted as a meanspirited, vile being with little redeeming qualities and that making it hard to empathize with the character. While I can see the hiccup for some people, I feel that this is exactly as it should be. Kor Phaeron was ruined by the Powers long before Lorgar appeared on Colchis. His exile made him even more bitter and wrathful, the effects of which we see here. We don't need to turn villains into victims of circumstance every time. Kor Phaeron is an utterly ambitious, zealous, calculating madman whose ambition, zealotry and madness needed a little more depth, as did his relation to Lorgar. He needed to be a fleshed-out villain, not a misunderstood tragic anti-hero. He'll never be that, and for that I am thankful. In my eyes, Lorgar: Bearer of the Word did a great job turning Kor Phaeron from an oftentimes shallow, mustache-twirling Bond-villain into a believable antagonist full of spite but also with his own insecurities and doubts, his own burdens and faults. He has become relatable, if not exactly somebody to empathize or even sympathize with.
Be that as it may, I quite enjoyed this book. I'd say it ties with Perturabo: The Hammer of Olympia for my favorite in the series so far. It lends credence to Kor Phaeron, makes subtle comments on Lorgar Aurelian, shows the immediate effects of Monarchia in its brief interludes and connects a lot of dots in a creative and engaging way. The new perspective on well-established characters has also made me enthusiastic about the Word Bearers again and I am sorely tempted to re-read The First Heretic sometime soon.
Lorgar: Bearer of the Word manages to uphold the high standard of the Primarchs series with little trouble and is essential reading for any fan of the Word Bearers or devoted acolyte of the Pantheon, if you ask me.
September 5, 2017
Sadistic and abusive priest meets impressionable little boy. What could go wrong?
December 21, 2019
6/10
Curioso que en las otras entregas reclamara más contexto acerca de los Primarcas, y en esta que nos explican muchísimo sobre Lorgar y el motivo de su futura traición, haya disfrutado tan poco. Quizás sea porque los Portadores de la palabra son una de las legiones que menos me interesa, todo el tema de fanatismo religioso me atrae entre poco y nada.
En cualquier caso, misma opinión que los anteriores, recomendable solo para aquellos fans acérrimos de la Herejía de Horus, y tampoco es que sea imprescindible.
Curioso que en las otras entregas reclamara más contexto acerca de los Primarcas, y en esta que nos explican muchísimo sobre Lorgar y el motivo de su futura traición, haya disfrutado tan poco. Quizás sea porque los Portadores de la palabra son una de las legiones que menos me interesa, todo el tema de fanatismo religioso me atrae entre poco y nada.
En cualquier caso, misma opinión que los anteriores, recomendable solo para aquellos fans acérrimos de la Herejía de Horus, y tampoco es que sea imprescindible.
November 19, 2017
In the Warhammer 40K universe the one name, inside the Imperium of Man, linked with heresy and treason is Horus the Warmaster. Yet Horus fell to the forces of Chaos due to the events engineered by Erebus of the Word Bearers. This is the story of Erebus' Primarch-Lorgar.
Lorgar the Bearer of the Word could rightly be said to be the cancer in the body of the Astartes. It begins on the strange religious world of Colchis. The Prophet Kor Phaeron (yep-the Dark Apostle Kor Phaeron of the Chaos Marines) finds an amazing young boy in the desert and raises him to worship the "powers". Now these powers represent the primal forces and while called different things their names are merely the old, or original if you prefer, names for the Chaos powers. Notice the following names and titles? Khaane, the King of Storm and Lord of Blood; Tezen, Queen of Mysteries and Lady of Fate; Slanat, Prince of Hearts and Sire of Dreams; and Narag, Princess of Life and Mother of Hope. Now compare these old Varadeshian (a place that is obliquely referred to in the Horus Heresy books as the birthplace of the corrupt power's direct influence in the corruption of the Word Bearers and Horus, eventually) names to the names used 10K years later to describe the Chaos Gods, aka Ruinous Powers, such as Khorne (Dark God of Warfare, violence and murder); Tzeentch (Dark God of Change and Sorcery); Slaanesh (God of Pleasure and Pain); and Nurgle (God of Disease and Pain). See the connection?
We find the precursors to the Word Bearers (bear in mind this takes place before the Emperor came to claim Lorgar) to be religious fanatics. We find them worshiping the Ruinous powers, though they don't call them that. It shows from the very start Lorgar and his order were corrupted. Though it doesn't go into the details-this is why the Word Bearer's were punished by the Emperor for venerating him as a god. Strangely this only led the Word Bearer's further down the path of heresy. We see the foundation of why the Word Bearer's were the focus of the Ruinous powers as the way to infiltrate the Astartes Legions and the eventual corruption of Horus (Erebus plays a major part).
So why didn't I give this a 5 star review? Primarily because the book focuses on the story of Lorgar before the Emperor's coming. But the momentous events are barely hinted at- from the Emperor's coming, the events that led to the Emperor censuring the Word Bearers for their non-secualr veneration of Him nor the "turning" of Lorgar into the corrupted leader of the first of the fallen Legions.
Still this is a well written story-the events before the coming of the Emperor shed light on what drives Lorgar. His religious upbringing made him easy prey for the Chaos Gods. His ability to spread his Legions among the other Marine Legions and especially to set up Horus, falsely led by Erebus, to become the supreme Heretic. I just wish they had told us more about the momentous events. Merely hinted at it would have been a great background tale. Still it was a great and fun read to learn about Lorgar. It answered a lot of questions I had about just how the Legions were infiltrated by the forces of Chaos.
Lorgar the Bearer of the Word could rightly be said to be the cancer in the body of the Astartes. It begins on the strange religious world of Colchis. The Prophet Kor Phaeron (yep-the Dark Apostle Kor Phaeron of the Chaos Marines) finds an amazing young boy in the desert and raises him to worship the "powers". Now these powers represent the primal forces and while called different things their names are merely the old, or original if you prefer, names for the Chaos powers. Notice the following names and titles? Khaane, the King of Storm and Lord of Blood; Tezen, Queen of Mysteries and Lady of Fate; Slanat, Prince of Hearts and Sire of Dreams; and Narag, Princess of Life and Mother of Hope. Now compare these old Varadeshian (a place that is obliquely referred to in the Horus Heresy books as the birthplace of the corrupt power's direct influence in the corruption of the Word Bearers and Horus, eventually) names to the names used 10K years later to describe the Chaos Gods, aka Ruinous Powers, such as Khorne (Dark God of Warfare, violence and murder); Tzeentch (Dark God of Change and Sorcery); Slaanesh (God of Pleasure and Pain); and Nurgle (God of Disease and Pain). See the connection?
We find the precursors to the Word Bearers (bear in mind this takes place before the Emperor came to claim Lorgar) to be religious fanatics. We find them worshiping the Ruinous powers, though they don't call them that. It shows from the very start Lorgar and his order were corrupted. Though it doesn't go into the details-this is why the Word Bearer's were punished by the Emperor for venerating him as a god. Strangely this only led the Word Bearer's further down the path of heresy. We see the foundation of why the Word Bearer's were the focus of the Ruinous powers as the way to infiltrate the Astartes Legions and the eventual corruption of Horus (Erebus plays a major part).
So why didn't I give this a 5 star review? Primarily because the book focuses on the story of Lorgar before the Emperor's coming. But the momentous events are barely hinted at- from the Emperor's coming, the events that led to the Emperor censuring the Word Bearers for their non-secualr veneration of Him nor the "turning" of Lorgar into the corrupted leader of the first of the fallen Legions.
Still this is a well written story-the events before the coming of the Emperor shed light on what drives Lorgar. His religious upbringing made him easy prey for the Chaos Gods. His ability to spread his Legions among the other Marine Legions and especially to set up Horus, falsely led by Erebus, to become the supreme Heretic. I just wish they had told us more about the momentous events. Merely hinted at it would have been a great background tale. Still it was a great and fun read to learn about Lorgar. It answered a lot of questions I had about just how the Legions were infiltrated by the forces of Chaos.
November 25, 2018
Checked this because of the author and was very disappointed. Boring, pretentious and obnoxious - read a quarter of it and gave up. Gav Thorpe is a wonderful author and the Malekith novels are to this day my favorite epic fantasy books. However now BL has stopped publishing stuff about Elves, everything is dedicated to neverending Horus Heresy sequels and spin offs which made the series a drag and a bore. They should have wrote the final battle for Tera a long time ago and be done with it. Now it is too late to salvage anything, methinks. Two stars only because of the author.
August 29, 2021
Lorgar is very religious. I just have no idea what he believes.
Not really. We know his homeworld is in the thrall of the four powers of Chaos, but how that actually governs society or actual beliefs is kinda hazy. Chaos isn’t exactly known for unified action, so it is a surprise we don’t get any portrayal of rivalry between those four.
In this book Lorgar comes to believe in a fifth god, “The One” that binds them all. And that’s it. We’re not really given a run down on the theology. Swap in and out whatever you like.
Is it really a big deal that we aren’t given the articles of faith? In a book of only 200 odd pages, you probably don’t want to bog that narrative down on whether you can spin the censer clockwise or anticlockwise.
But Lorgar is very religious.
My problem is that it’s just a little too vague. Because this is a prequel, we do know where Lorgar ends up, so the book sort of makes sense, in that Lorgar’s faith leads him into trouble. The problem is that Lorgar’s future worship of the Emperor of Mankind doesn’t work when Lorgar hasn’t even met the Emperor yet. What we’re left with is that Lorgar is very religious and I don’t know why.
Well, that’s a little unfair. His mentor is a disgraced holy man, who trains/abuses Lorgar, so Lorgar’s perspective is through that. Except at the end his mentor wonders if Lorgar was the master manipulator all along. It’s an interesting element of complexity to the relationship that also undercuts the reasoning why Lorgar is religious – if it wasn’t his mentor, then who/what was?
A novel doesn’t have to spoon feed the answers to me. There doesn’t even have to be answer. But it’s very important to Thorpe that we know Lorgar is religious – tied in with his mentor, perhaps, but something else as well. And it’s a gap that I don’t think is deliberately ambiguous, more an expectation that simply saying Lorgar was religious would be enough.
Not really. We know his homeworld is in the thrall of the four powers of Chaos, but how that actually governs society or actual beliefs is kinda hazy. Chaos isn’t exactly known for unified action, so it is a surprise we don’t get any portrayal of rivalry between those four.
In this book Lorgar comes to believe in a fifth god, “The One” that binds them all. And that’s it. We’re not really given a run down on the theology. Swap in and out whatever you like.
Is it really a big deal that we aren’t given the articles of faith? In a book of only 200 odd pages, you probably don’t want to bog that narrative down on whether you can spin the censer clockwise or anticlockwise.
But Lorgar is very religious.
My problem is that it’s just a little too vague. Because this is a prequel, we do know where Lorgar ends up, so the book sort of makes sense, in that Lorgar’s faith leads him into trouble. The problem is that Lorgar’s future worship of the Emperor of Mankind doesn’t work when Lorgar hasn’t even met the Emperor yet. What we’re left with is that Lorgar is very religious and I don’t know why.
Well, that’s a little unfair. His mentor is a disgraced holy man, who trains/abuses Lorgar, so Lorgar’s perspective is through that. Except at the end his mentor wonders if Lorgar was the master manipulator all along. It’s an interesting element of complexity to the relationship that also undercuts the reasoning why Lorgar is religious – if it wasn’t his mentor, then who/what was?
A novel doesn’t have to spoon feed the answers to me. There doesn’t even have to be answer. But it’s very important to Thorpe that we know Lorgar is religious – tied in with his mentor, perhaps, but something else as well. And it’s a gap that I don’t think is deliberately ambiguous, more an expectation that simply saying Lorgar was religious would be enough.
March 10, 2024
I love DUNE!
(Also: get effed Kor Phearon, you little bitch. I loved every bit of this book that was actually about Lorgar it gave a great perspective on a Primarch I didn’t care about too much before but Kor Phaeron POV just had me go: 🔪🔪🔪)
(Also: get effed Kor Phearon, you little bitch. I loved every bit of this book that was actually about Lorgar it gave a great perspective on a Primarch I didn’t care about too much before but Kor Phaeron POV just had me go: 🔪🔪🔪)
July 15, 2017
Of all the Primarch novels thus far, Lorgar may be the most interesting in terms of execution. Gav Thorpe deftly takes what we presume to know of Lorgar and his upbringing, of Kor Phaeron, Colchis and the Covenant, and turns elements of it on its head.
The prose has an odd feel to it. When action comes it is all too often glossed over, save a few notable exceptions. At first this felt as though Thorpe were holding back, and to an extent he is. Between the conceit of having it be an in-universe text (complete with notes on the passage of time on Colchis, and being divided into discrete books), as well as an interest numerical divider (Book, Chapter, Segment; i.e 1 1 1), I realised what the objective was. This book is steeped in minimalist mimicry of religious texts. The vibe that bleeds from it is of proper Old Testament, the language hinting at far more than it conveys.
Lorgar is, as is to be expected, bursting with religious metaphor and symbolism as Lorgar gradually comes to terms with the divided faiths of Colchis. Whether it is being schooled in the divergent creed of Kor Phaeron or to his own conception of the Truth of the One, Lorgar is every part the devoted disciple. While many beliefs are forced upon him or around him, perhaps the most compelling is the efforts of the slave Nairo to act as a moral compass for Lorgar.
What is interesting is that Lorgar himself is rarely the focus of his own story. Instead we see much of what he does through the lenses of Kor Phaeron and Nairo. Again, this speaks to the religious mimicry of the novel; almost set up like competing gospels regarding Christ.
Another fascinating angle is how real the novel feels. Yes, it's a feudal broken desert world with only slivers of technology still extant; yes it takes place in the 31st Millennium, but ultimately it is the story of a boy finding his way in the world. The abuse that Lorgar suffers at the hands of Kor Phaeron and his all-too-human reactions to it are an uncomfortable read, but which enriches the novel all the more. I was struck by the notion that where others are overwhelmed by awe in the presence of Primarchs, the default instinct of Kor Phaeron is to beat it into submission, to try and force it to fit his mould and his design. Of all the origins of the Primarchs, perhaps only Angron has been as ill-treated and abused; even Mortarion's dark father at least pretended to love him.
The meat of the novel is interspersed with vignettes from the Great Crusade. Kor Phaeron secreting away the Old Faith, the Purge of the Loyalists, the Burning of their Emperor worship. Also touched upon again is an extension of the scene where Lorgar takes counsel with Kor Phaeron and Erebus, flagellating himself in the aftermath of Monarchia. The constrasts drawn between the main text itself and these segments help to root our understanding of Lorgar in how he goes forward, a relvelatory path that we end up finishing alongside Kor Phaeron.
The last pages of this novel are definite food for thought, and perhaps illustrate as much of the secret drives of Kor Phaeron down the millennia as much as it broadens and deepens Lorgar.
The prose has an odd feel to it. When action comes it is all too often glossed over, save a few notable exceptions. At first this felt as though Thorpe were holding back, and to an extent he is. Between the conceit of having it be an in-universe text (complete with notes on the passage of time on Colchis, and being divided into discrete books), as well as an interest numerical divider (Book, Chapter, Segment; i.e 1 1 1), I realised what the objective was. This book is steeped in minimalist mimicry of religious texts. The vibe that bleeds from it is of proper Old Testament, the language hinting at far more than it conveys.
Lorgar is, as is to be expected, bursting with religious metaphor and symbolism as Lorgar gradually comes to terms with the divided faiths of Colchis. Whether it is being schooled in the divergent creed of Kor Phaeron or to his own conception of the Truth of the One, Lorgar is every part the devoted disciple. While many beliefs are forced upon him or around him, perhaps the most compelling is the efforts of the slave Nairo to act as a moral compass for Lorgar.
What is interesting is that Lorgar himself is rarely the focus of his own story. Instead we see much of what he does through the lenses of Kor Phaeron and Nairo. Again, this speaks to the religious mimicry of the novel; almost set up like competing gospels regarding Christ.
Another fascinating angle is how real the novel feels. Yes, it's a feudal broken desert world with only slivers of technology still extant; yes it takes place in the 31st Millennium, but ultimately it is the story of a boy finding his way in the world. The abuse that Lorgar suffers at the hands of Kor Phaeron and his all-too-human reactions to it are an uncomfortable read, but which enriches the novel all the more. I was struck by the notion that where others are overwhelmed by awe in the presence of Primarchs, the default instinct of Kor Phaeron is to beat it into submission, to try and force it to fit his mould and his design. Of all the origins of the Primarchs, perhaps only Angron has been as ill-treated and abused; even Mortarion's dark father at least pretended to love him.
The meat of the novel is interspersed with vignettes from the Great Crusade. Kor Phaeron secreting away the Old Faith, the Purge of the Loyalists, the Burning of their Emperor worship. Also touched upon again is an extension of the scene where Lorgar takes counsel with Kor Phaeron and Erebus, flagellating himself in the aftermath of Monarchia. The constrasts drawn between the main text itself and these segments help to root our understanding of Lorgar in how he goes forward, a relvelatory path that we end up finishing alongside Kor Phaeron.
The last pages of this novel are definite food for thought, and perhaps illustrate as much of the secret drives of Kor Phaeron down the millennia as much as it broadens and deepens Lorgar.
October 30, 2017
A nice read, but I wanted more from it. On one hand the story is quite short and I would love to learn more about Lorgar, I would especially appreciate more data on him meeting the Emperor for the first time. On the other hand, the second half of the book seemed a little blurry to me compared to the first one. The story of Aurelian's origin is very interesting. I questioned why people seem to hate Kor Phaeron as much as they hate Erebus, it often seemed he was just there and played a lot lesser part in the overall mess than the First Chaplain. Now I have enough reasons to hate Kor Phaeron! If you want some - go ahead and read this book. As a boy Logar had it as shitty as his unfortunate brothers - Angron and Konrad. The main difference is that they knew exactly who their enemies were, when little Bearer of the Word was abused and lied to by someone he trusted most. Some parts were especially heartbreaking. Gav Thorpe managed to give us some very well written characters, I am always impressed when "normal humans" in HH or 40k novels turn out interesting. I wish this novel had a stronger finale though.
January 31, 2024
Big CW for Child/ Adolescent Abuse from a Paternal Figure (Beating, Whipping, Verbal), Self Harm (Flagellation), Religious Extremism
I *enjoyed* reading this because I am feeling absolutely filled with a sympathy and empathy for Lorgar after reading The First Heretic again, but it's very unpleasant to read because of its content. However, I haven't given it a higher mark because I don't really know how *good* it actually is. I think if I'm honest with myself, I wouldn't be that impressed and might even have DNF'd of this wasn't set in a galaxy and following a character I was already heavily invested in outside of this book.
This tells the story of Lorgar's time on Colchis before the coming of the Emperor, from being discovered by desert outcasts and taken as an acolyte by the disgraced priest, Kor Phaeron, through becoming the Bearer of the Word for the Powers, to his ascension as the first Ecclesiasrch and conquering/ uniting Colchis under the faith of the One.
It truly is awful to read so much about how Kor Phaeron was a horrifyingly abusive, manipulative, and scheming master, arch deacon, and reluctant father, and to see Lorgar as such a sweet, naive child who's entire life has been lies, manipulations, othering, and trauma. Witnessing the XVII Primarch suffer under his father and eventual first captain that moulds him into the traumatised 'kicked puppy' that informs so much of his life is, frankly, horrible, and seems to be more drawn out and one-dimensional than necessary.
Young Lorgar destroyed me. He's such an absolute sweetheart.
"It doesn't hurt there. It hurts in my soul and in my hearts."
This is an issue with Lorgar and Kor Phaeron, and Colchisian culture to be honest--a lack of detail and depth. Kor Phaeron doesn't actually get fleshed out anymore than the Darth Vader by name, Darth Sidious by nature, we know him as, beyond being an outcast pagan Chaos Revivalist conman. He is just the dark father archetype, without the depth expected from Horus Heresy characters. In the same way Lorgar is Kal-El/ Clark Kent, but his superpower is oration and proselytising, but raised in an incredibly abusive household, eventually going on a Daenerys arc.
Early on we see the facets of the Chaos Gods worshipped on Colchis with different names and a single aspect which is awesome, for example their Nurgle being closer the Aeldari lost goddess, Isha, trapped in the Grandfather's garden. Honestly, the worship of Chaos as a recognisable analogue to paganism is fascinating, but beyond there being lots of strange books, many different roles and titles, and a version of karma and caste system, we don't get much more than that, which is a real shame, especially as Colchis is pretty brutal and ruthless, but seemingly not necessarily anymore than any other extremely religious society from the medieval period or earlier, which raises interesting questions about the [Darker?] Powers.
There is also the tiniest thought to the 'Fifth Power' that Lorgar is thought to be the Herald of, which is tantalising...
Ultimately, this is a little by the numbers, repetitive, and drawn out. I think would have actually made a better novella with the fat trimmed, rather than a short novel. I definitely benefited from having the audiobook with some great Jonathan Keeble work, so I could stim and bimble, while listening. I don't think I would actually recommend this for anyone who isn't Lorgar-obsessed and a completionist, like myself. Rather disappointing for how good Thorpe and the Horus Heresy can (and I think should) be.
I *enjoyed* reading this because I am feeling absolutely filled with a sympathy and empathy for Lorgar after reading The First Heretic again, but it's very unpleasant to read because of its content. However, I haven't given it a higher mark because I don't really know how *good* it actually is. I think if I'm honest with myself, I wouldn't be that impressed and might even have DNF'd of this wasn't set in a galaxy and following a character I was already heavily invested in outside of this book.
This tells the story of Lorgar's time on Colchis before the coming of the Emperor, from being discovered by desert outcasts and taken as an acolyte by the disgraced priest, Kor Phaeron, through becoming the Bearer of the Word for the Powers, to his ascension as the first Ecclesiasrch and conquering/ uniting Colchis under the faith of the One.
It truly is awful to read so much about how Kor Phaeron was a horrifyingly abusive, manipulative, and scheming master, arch deacon, and reluctant father, and to see Lorgar as such a sweet, naive child who's entire life has been lies, manipulations, othering, and trauma. Witnessing the XVII Primarch suffer under his father and eventual first captain that moulds him into the traumatised 'kicked puppy' that informs so much of his life is, frankly, horrible, and seems to be more drawn out and one-dimensional than necessary.
Young Lorgar destroyed me. He's such an absolute sweetheart.
"It doesn't hurt there. It hurts in my soul and in my hearts."
This is an issue with Lorgar and Kor Phaeron, and Colchisian culture to be honest--a lack of detail and depth. Kor Phaeron doesn't actually get fleshed out anymore than the Darth Vader by name, Darth Sidious by nature, we know him as, beyond being an outcast pagan Chaos Revivalist conman. He is just the dark father archetype, without the depth expected from Horus Heresy characters. In the same way Lorgar is Kal-El/ Clark Kent, but his superpower is oration and proselytising, but raised in an incredibly abusive household, eventually going on a Daenerys arc.
Early on we see the facets of the Chaos Gods worshipped on Colchis with different names and a single aspect which is awesome, for example their Nurgle being closer the Aeldari lost goddess, Isha, trapped in the Grandfather's garden. Honestly, the worship of Chaos as a recognisable analogue to paganism is fascinating, but beyond there being lots of strange books, many different roles and titles, and a version of karma and caste system, we don't get much more than that, which is a real shame, especially as Colchis is pretty brutal and ruthless, but seemingly not necessarily anymore than any other extremely religious society from the medieval period or earlier, which raises interesting questions about the [Darker?] Powers.
There is also the tiniest thought to the 'Fifth Power' that Lorgar is thought to be the Herald of, which is tantalising...
Ultimately, this is a little by the numbers, repetitive, and drawn out. I think would have actually made a better novella with the fat trimmed, rather than a short novel. I definitely benefited from having the audiobook with some great Jonathan Keeble work, so I could stim and bimble, while listening. I don't think I would actually recommend this for anyone who isn't Lorgar-obsessed and a completionist, like myself. Rather disappointing for how good Thorpe and the Horus Heresy can (and I think should) be.
November 12, 2017
Colchis, a planet of never ending religions, wars between religions, secretive sects and unknowable cults. Upon this planet the story of Lorgar, Primarch of the Word Bearers, the XVII Space Marine Legion, is birthed.
Kor Phaeron leads a ramshackle band across the burning sands of Colchis. He moves from place to place, delivering the Word of the Powers to those who will hear it, and beating those who need to hear it into submission and subjugation. Upon finding a village of the nomadic Declined, he is offered a hidden treasure, a boy. He has only been with the Declined for a few days and has doubled in size from a babe to a speaking young child. It is a sign from the Powers, thinks Kor Phaeron. He asks the boy, named Lorgar to come with him, for he sees things in the child. The Declined cry and wail at Lorgar's departure and Kor Phaeron calls his armed warriors to make sure the legend and memory of Lorgar is removed from the face of Colchis, to be forged by him into what it should properly become. Lorgar listens and stares as he hears the people who rescued him from the deadly sands, killed to the last man, woman and child.
So begins Lorgar's education at the hands of Kor Phaeron. He is made to listen and learn, beaten and made example of, and taught that he is but a servant, a slave and Kor Phaeron is the master. It isn't very long before Kor Phaeron knows that the boy is unusual and can pick up languages withing a fewminutes of reading them. He wants to read the books, not be taught the lessons. He is a raw blade, unforged and yet so very deadly straight from the fire. Kor Phaeron harnesses and molds this and turns Lorgar into a disciple.
As Lorgar grows in knowledge and strength, he gains size as months pass. He surpasses Kor Phaeron in knowledge, power and influence amongst the followers of the Powers. He kills finally for Kor Phaeron and the path is laid ahead for a retribution towards the Covenant, the most far reaching of religions on Colchis. The wars begin and city after city fall. Lorgar stops referring to the Powers and has visions of the Golden One and the One Eyed Seer. He carries this message to his hordes and though Kor Phaeron is ever the servant of the Powers, Lorgar is not, as he follows the One from his visions. These visions carry the war and the Word across Colchis and the planet eventually is delivered to Lorgar's vision. And the One arrives on Colchis and changes everything.
This book was amazing! The emphasis on the religious nature of the Word Bearers, including the breaking of their belief in the Emperor as a god, and their zeal and unbreakable will to be the fervent warriors that they become is laid bare before the reader. Why Lorgar is the way he is shows strongly here and Mr. Thorpe has delivered yet another wonderful entry into the fifth book of the Primarchs series. This one really kept me turning pages, because Lorgar's motivations and beliefs are always hinted at in the Horus Heresy books, but mostly the workings of Erebus and Kor Phaeron are written about. This book shows what power Lorgar, the Urizen has over his chapter and his sons. I really recommend this one. It was so very good!
Danny
Kor Phaeron leads a ramshackle band across the burning sands of Colchis. He moves from place to place, delivering the Word of the Powers to those who will hear it, and beating those who need to hear it into submission and subjugation. Upon finding a village of the nomadic Declined, he is offered a hidden treasure, a boy. He has only been with the Declined for a few days and has doubled in size from a babe to a speaking young child. It is a sign from the Powers, thinks Kor Phaeron. He asks the boy, named Lorgar to come with him, for he sees things in the child. The Declined cry and wail at Lorgar's departure and Kor Phaeron calls his armed warriors to make sure the legend and memory of Lorgar is removed from the face of Colchis, to be forged by him into what it should properly become. Lorgar listens and stares as he hears the people who rescued him from the deadly sands, killed to the last man, woman and child.
So begins Lorgar's education at the hands of Kor Phaeron. He is made to listen and learn, beaten and made example of, and taught that he is but a servant, a slave and Kor Phaeron is the master. It isn't very long before Kor Phaeron knows that the boy is unusual and can pick up languages withing a fewminutes of reading them. He wants to read the books, not be taught the lessons. He is a raw blade, unforged and yet so very deadly straight from the fire. Kor Phaeron harnesses and molds this and turns Lorgar into a disciple.
As Lorgar grows in knowledge and strength, he gains size as months pass. He surpasses Kor Phaeron in knowledge, power and influence amongst the followers of the Powers. He kills finally for Kor Phaeron and the path is laid ahead for a retribution towards the Covenant, the most far reaching of religions on Colchis. The wars begin and city after city fall. Lorgar stops referring to the Powers and has visions of the Golden One and the One Eyed Seer. He carries this message to his hordes and though Kor Phaeron is ever the servant of the Powers, Lorgar is not, as he follows the One from his visions. These visions carry the war and the Word across Colchis and the planet eventually is delivered to Lorgar's vision. And the One arrives on Colchis and changes everything.
This book was amazing! The emphasis on the religious nature of the Word Bearers, including the breaking of their belief in the Emperor as a god, and their zeal and unbreakable will to be the fervent warriors that they become is laid bare before the reader. Why Lorgar is the way he is shows strongly here and Mr. Thorpe has delivered yet another wonderful entry into the fifth book of the Primarchs series. This one really kept me turning pages, because Lorgar's motivations and beliefs are always hinted at in the Horus Heresy books, but mostly the workings of Erebus and Kor Phaeron are written about. This book shows what power Lorgar, the Urizen has over his chapter and his sons. I really recommend this one. It was so very good!
Danny
October 15, 2023
Ultimately a missed opportunity.
This tells the necessary story of Lorgar's rise to power on Colchis. There's some decent characterisation of Lorgar and Kor Phaeron and their backstory supplements existing lore. There's also some interesting dialogue.
Unfortunately there's a few problems. The reader is bombarded with talk of 'The Powers' though the belief system is never explained even in basic detail, nor how Kor Phaeron or the inhabitants of Colchis came to believe in it. This leads into my next point - for a world so deeply rooted in Chaos worship, there's little to no signs of Chaos corruption whatsoever. The whole thing is totally unbelievable. There are some great examples in previous Black Library titles of how chaos corruption can take hold.
Gav Thorpe also fails to bring Colchis to life. There was a solid start with explanations on how the passing of time differs on Colchis but this was about it. Colchis is basically a huge sandy ball inhabited by culturally and spiritually similar/identical peoples.
This tells the necessary story of Lorgar's rise to power on Colchis. There's some decent characterisation of Lorgar and Kor Phaeron and their backstory supplements existing lore. There's also some interesting dialogue.
Unfortunately there's a few problems. The reader is bombarded with talk of 'The Powers' though the belief system is never explained even in basic detail, nor how Kor Phaeron or the inhabitants of Colchis came to believe in it. This leads into my next point - for a world so deeply rooted in Chaos worship, there's little to no signs of Chaos corruption whatsoever. The whole thing is totally unbelievable. There are some great examples in previous Black Library titles of how chaos corruption can take hold.
Gav Thorpe also fails to bring Colchis to life. There was a solid start with explanations on how the passing of time differs on Colchis but this was about it. Colchis is basically a huge sandy ball inhabited by culturally and spiritually similar/identical peoples.
January 6, 2023
Pretty okay Primarch book where we actually get to follow their origin from a young child to an adult.
The setting is pretty interesting set on a desert world where a zealous spiteful priest takes up a young Lorgar to be his student.
I just wish the writer took it a few steps further and added some twists along the way as the story was pretty straightforward and predictable. There could have been some more visual worldbuilding as well the stuff that was in there was intruiging but needed a bit more explanations for me to grasp the visuals. I understand it's tough to push an entire origin story and build a whole world around it in a novella though.
The setting is pretty interesting set on a desert world where a zealous spiteful priest takes up a young Lorgar to be his student.
I just wish the writer took it a few steps further and added some twists along the way as the story was pretty straightforward and predictable. There could have been some more visual worldbuilding as well the stuff that was in there was intruiging but needed a bit more explanations for me to grasp the visuals. I understand it's tough to push an entire origin story and build a whole world around it in a novella though.
September 18, 2017
I have loved all of the Primarchs books until this one. I found the story to be disappointing and a bit disjointed. I couldn't get into the characterization in spite of the fact that I think Lorgar is probably one of the most interesting characters in the entire WH40k universe.
I'm glad I read it, and I would encourage anyone who is looking for a fleshed out view of the primarchs to do so, but it was not my favorite and I won't be rereading it like I do most other WH40k books.
I'm glad I read it, and I would encourage anyone who is looking for a fleshed out view of the primarchs to do so, but it was not my favorite and I won't be rereading it like I do most other WH40k books.
February 4, 2021
This one is a bit harder to judge. It is creative and thoughtful, and very harsh and bitter.
July 30, 2021
Fuck Kor Phaeron
August 14, 2017
The story of Lorgar and his youth has always been one of great interest to me; it sets the seal on his and his Legion's ultimate path to becoming the fanatical disciples of the Chaos Gods, and what I've read of his backstory always sounded like it would make a good story, so I was most excited to read this. I haven't read (and at present) have little desire to read the other Primarchs books, so I'm not sure how this compares to them, but Lorgar is a very unusual beast of a book; certainly not what I was expecting, and I will always wonder what another writer might have done with the story (particularly Aaron Dembski-Bowden, who did a fantastic job of bringing the Word Bearers to life for me in the Horus Heresy series), but Gav Thorpe has certainly done a good job with this and his works makes for a very intriguing read.
Bolter porn, this is not; more thoughtful than something you might expect for something set in the Warhammer universe, with the exception of a few segments set during the Great Crusade (which tie nicely into 'The First Heretic' as the Word Bearers discard their devotion to the Emperor and set the foundations of their fall into the embrace of Chaos), the book focuses mostly on Lorgar's youth on the planet Colchis and his tutelage under the disgraced priest/his adoptive father figure, Kor Phaeron. I confess the initial relationship between the two was not what I expected- more akin to that of master and slave than father and son, but it seems fitting, given the characterisation of the latter (namely a power-hungry wretch) to see the young Primarch that falls into his lap as a tool to feed his ambition than as an adopted son, and he is disdainful, even abusive to his charge initially. But as time develops and he is exposed more and more to the characteristics of Lorgar, that shifts, and the dynamic between the two moves closer to what is seen between them during the Heresy novels.
Thorpe has done a great job of capturing the character of Lorgar in this novel; the Primarch of the Word Bearers was never a warrior or a general, he is a orator, a statesman, a philosopher and while he is capable of killing (and willing to), it is not the first avenue he chooses. Lorgar prefers to win battles through appealing to people's hearts and minds, through the power of his oratory than the spilling of blood, and the charisma and charm he has to win over the more recalcitrant of those he encounters, while not what I expected, makes more sense for this character than to make him a blood-soaked zealot who leads from the front. Thorpe with his development of the characters also ties Lorgar: Bearer of the Word nicely into other books to contain these characters; Lorgar's compassion, devotion to those who show him loyalty and kindness to the lesser, even to the point of risking death to defend them, fits in with his actions in First Heretic and Betrayer (his willingness to throw himself into a hopeless battle against Corax to save his sons, his devotion to Angron, his gentle nature around the Blessed Lady), as well as Kor Phaeron's fear he will be cast aside should Lorgar have no further need of him, a fear proved accurate by the events of 'Know No Fear'. Kor Phaeron is also a complex character, at times seeing Lorgar as nothing but a tool to claw his way back into power in the sect that threw him out, at others, genuinely concerned and caring in his attitude towards his adopted son, though his greatest concern is clawing his way back into power. Some of the other background characters are also intriguing, not just by themselves, but also their role in shaping the developing Primarch and the views that will ultimately see him become the architect of the greatest war in the galaxy.
As I say, 'Bearer of the Word' was not what I was expecting, but overall, a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable read that gave a great level of depth and dimension to one of the most pivotal characters of the Horus Heresy that fits well with the other books he has a prominent role in and I recommend this to anyone with an interest in the Word Bearers, the Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 in general, or who just fancies a different and thought-provoking sort of book.
Bolter porn, this is not; more thoughtful than something you might expect for something set in the Warhammer universe, with the exception of a few segments set during the Great Crusade (which tie nicely into 'The First Heretic' as the Word Bearers discard their devotion to the Emperor and set the foundations of their fall into the embrace of Chaos), the book focuses mostly on Lorgar's youth on the planet Colchis and his tutelage under the disgraced priest/his adoptive father figure, Kor Phaeron. I confess the initial relationship between the two was not what I expected- more akin to that of master and slave than father and son, but it seems fitting, given the characterisation of the latter (namely a power-hungry wretch) to see the young Primarch that falls into his lap as a tool to feed his ambition than as an adopted son, and he is disdainful, even abusive to his charge initially. But as time develops and he is exposed more and more to the characteristics of Lorgar, that shifts, and the dynamic between the two moves closer to what is seen between them during the Heresy novels.
Thorpe has done a great job of capturing the character of Lorgar in this novel; the Primarch of the Word Bearers was never a warrior or a general, he is a orator, a statesman, a philosopher and while he is capable of killing (and willing to), it is not the first avenue he chooses. Lorgar prefers to win battles through appealing to people's hearts and minds, through the power of his oratory than the spilling of blood, and the charisma and charm he has to win over the more recalcitrant of those he encounters, while not what I expected, makes more sense for this character than to make him a blood-soaked zealot who leads from the front. Thorpe with his development of the characters also ties Lorgar: Bearer of the Word nicely into other books to contain these characters; Lorgar's compassion, devotion to those who show him loyalty and kindness to the lesser, even to the point of risking death to defend them, fits in with his actions in First Heretic and Betrayer (his willingness to throw himself into a hopeless battle against Corax to save his sons, his devotion to Angron, his gentle nature around the Blessed Lady), as well as Kor Phaeron's fear he will be cast aside should Lorgar have no further need of him, a fear proved accurate by the events of 'Know No Fear'. Kor Phaeron is also a complex character, at times seeing Lorgar as nothing but a tool to claw his way back into power in the sect that threw him out, at others, genuinely concerned and caring in his attitude towards his adopted son, though his greatest concern is clawing his way back into power. Some of the other background characters are also intriguing, not just by themselves, but also their role in shaping the developing Primarch and the views that will ultimately see him become the architect of the greatest war in the galaxy.
As I say, 'Bearer of the Word' was not what I was expecting, but overall, a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable read that gave a great level of depth and dimension to one of the most pivotal characters of the Horus Heresy that fits well with the other books he has a prominent role in and I recommend this to anyone with an interest in the Word Bearers, the Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000 in general, or who just fancies a different and thought-provoking sort of book.
February 8, 2018
see my Magnus review...
March 25, 2018
It is not a bad book but a perfect example of a meh book.
It is the rise of power of Lorgar who used religion as the way to conquer his homeworld. That should make an interesting tragic story and there is a sub-plot on how Lorgar could have been a force of good for the 40k universe in the long run that should have been gripping.
should have been.... this book should be called Kor-phaeron: the huge d*ck. I get why even so many Wordbearers hate his guts and I can't understand why he is still around in the 40k universe. He has little to no redeeming qualities or qualities at all that would explain his longevity. Erebus on the other hand is a vile piece of scum but at least he has a certain twisted charm to him and sickening cunning that easily explains his survival and influence.
The subplot as said, there are a few as unsubtle as it gets in the 40k universe moments, where Lorgar made a choice that doomed him in the long run; but I don't get them. It never really became clear to me why Lorgar would defend Kor-Phaeron, except for the father son relation that is forced in there, that I believe has little foundation other then plot necessity. In the end we get a sort of reflection that hint's that Kor-Phaeron was used by Lorgar all along, but no I don't see that; for Lorgar never ever needed him so why pretend the entire time?
Lorgar did not act like a primarch at all, it almost felt like a failed clone of Lorgar was playing his part, oh and the lay-out of the book was weird.
It is the rise of power of Lorgar who used religion as the way to conquer his homeworld. That should make an interesting tragic story and there is a sub-plot on how Lorgar could have been a force of good for the 40k universe in the long run that should have been gripping.
should have been.... this book should be called Kor-phaeron: the huge d*ck. I get why even so many Wordbearers hate his guts and I can't understand why he is still around in the 40k universe. He has little to no redeeming qualities or qualities at all that would explain his longevity. Erebus on the other hand is a vile piece of scum but at least he has a certain twisted charm to him and sickening cunning that easily explains his survival and influence.
The subplot as said, there are a few as unsubtle as it gets in the 40k universe moments, where Lorgar made a choice that doomed him in the long run; but I don't get them. It never really became clear to me why Lorgar would defend Kor-Phaeron, except for the father son relation that is forced in there, that I believe has little foundation other then plot necessity. In the end we get a sort of reflection that hint's that Kor-Phaeron was used by Lorgar all along, but no I don't see that; for Lorgar never ever needed him so why pretend the entire time?
Lorgar did not act like a primarch at all, it almost felt like a failed clone of Lorgar was playing his part, oh and the lay-out of the book was weird.
November 13, 2018
Gav Thorpe, nails it on this book. It is certainly not your conventional hack and slash narrative in the grim-dark universe. Thorpe uniquely going to and from points in time of the Word Bearers Legion that are weaved masterfully together enabling for a holistic perceptive on not only the philosophy of the Legion but that of their Primarch. It is catalogs the growth of Lorgar from a young-boy to his ascendance of ruling his home-planet of Colchis under the tutelage of his adopted-father, Kor Phaeron. To understand the values and ethical standards that Lorgar impresses upon himself and that of his Legion. This book is a must. Delightful, yet slow at times. Thorpe provides a categorical account of this development whilst, subtly or not, eluding to far greater forces at play.
A solid read for anyone a fan of the 40k Universe.
Best.
A solid read for anyone a fan of the 40k Universe.
Best.
August 8, 2020
It started off well, but it just sort of flattened out. I didn't feel like it added much of anything to the history of the 30K/40K setting in general, or to Lorgar's history, that makes any real difference or provides ant real insight. It was well written, but it left me feeling a little disappointed.
November 11, 2022
It wasn’t bad at all, but it certainly wasn’t great.
I read Lorgar because Word Bearers are my personal favourite Chaos Legion and wanted the background on the primarch. Lorgar certainly delivered on that, but I find Gav Thorpe’s writing very one dimensional, and I think that was the main let down
A solid three stars
I read Lorgar because Word Bearers are my personal favourite Chaos Legion and wanted the background on the primarch. Lorgar certainly delivered on that, but I find Gav Thorpe’s writing very one dimensional, and I think that was the main let down
A solid three stars
December 20, 2024
To give an idea of how bad I think this book it should be known that this is my first ever comment and I adjusted the ranking of several other books to make this one star fitting. I would give non if I could.
The book takes us to a desert planet which pretty much is a contorted version of the Middle East at around 1400 AD. Already in the first chapter we learn that Lorgar proves indifferent towards arbitrary slaughter. Furthermore, he lacks understanding of who he is and his role to play is. He’s stronger and smarter than the average human and yet lets a fraudulent preacher abuse him. While manipulating a child is not unrealistic, it is all the more for a primarch. The consistent narrative of the primarch novels is that these beings are born with an understanding of themselves and their role far beyond a child could have. Lorgar knows none of that, not even his name although it’s well established that the primarchs knew those from the beginning. The author also breaks with the narrative of the primarchs cognitive capabilities making Lorgar throughout his adolency and adult life open for the kind of manipulation that would not work on a 6 year old human.
Making the “old faith” the worshippers of chaos has no plausibility given that the primarchs are not directly aware of the chaos forces until it’s too late. For all his flawed conduct it seems as unlikely that the emperor would not see the stain of chaos on Lorgar or his followers when he comes to the godforsaken desert planet. That the chaos gods would not realize they are being worshipped by a primarch and immediately use that for their plans is makes just as little sense as someone with the intellect of a primarch reads the books of chaos and fails to grasp even the concept of the chaos gods.
If anyone has the mental strength to ignore all these nonsense they are rewarded with approximately 200 pages of pseudo religious ramblings. These empty sermons and contorted psalms prove a mockery of anything actually religious and further deteriorate the plot. You have the feeling of reading a book of the Old Testament but without any of the wits or lessons or even religion, just senseless phrases of desert life being written one after the other.
I have read 10 of the primarch novels in about the last 14 days as I have been addicted to it but this book was bad enough for me to read sth else as a palate cleanser now.
The book takes us to a desert planet which pretty much is a contorted version of the Middle East at around 1400 AD. Already in the first chapter we learn that Lorgar proves indifferent towards arbitrary slaughter. Furthermore, he lacks understanding of who he is and his role to play is. He’s stronger and smarter than the average human and yet lets a fraudulent preacher abuse him. While manipulating a child is not unrealistic, it is all the more for a primarch. The consistent narrative of the primarch novels is that these beings are born with an understanding of themselves and their role far beyond a child could have. Lorgar knows none of that, not even his name although it’s well established that the primarchs knew those from the beginning. The author also breaks with the narrative of the primarchs cognitive capabilities making Lorgar throughout his adolency and adult life open for the kind of manipulation that would not work on a 6 year old human.
Making the “old faith” the worshippers of chaos has no plausibility given that the primarchs are not directly aware of the chaos forces until it’s too late. For all his flawed conduct it seems as unlikely that the emperor would not see the stain of chaos on Lorgar or his followers when he comes to the godforsaken desert planet. That the chaos gods would not realize they are being worshipped by a primarch and immediately use that for their plans is makes just as little sense as someone with the intellect of a primarch reads the books of chaos and fails to grasp even the concept of the chaos gods.
If anyone has the mental strength to ignore all these nonsense they are rewarded with approximately 200 pages of pseudo religious ramblings. These empty sermons and contorted psalms prove a mockery of anything actually religious and further deteriorate the plot. You have the feeling of reading a book of the Old Testament but without any of the wits or lessons or even religion, just senseless phrases of desert life being written one after the other.
I have read 10 of the primarch novels in about the last 14 days as I have been addicted to it but this book was bad enough for me to read sth else as a palate cleanser now.
January 4, 2018
I don't know a damn thing about 40k universe other than what I've picked up from the video games I've played. But, here's a brief breakdown.
This book doesn't take you into much about the 40k universe. It is set in Colchis, a dry, arid planet of sand and intense climate changes, where the days and years exceed that of Earth. Lorgar is discovered by the prophet Kor Phaeron, a over zealous madman hell bent on revenge after his exile from Vharedesh, the capital city of Colchis, by the Covenant (a religious sect based on "The Old Faith"). Lorgar is adopted and put under the tutelage of Kor Phaeron, where his gifts and talents begin to mold under the word of the truth from Kor Phaeron. Lorgar's thirst for knowledge eclipses what Kor Phaeron can offer through studies of the word and begins to quench his thirst through the slaves aboard the temple rig of Kor Phaeron, creating a confidant in Nairo, the head slave. This adds moral conscience to Lorgar's development, helping aid his decision to purge the planet of heresy.
If you don't know much about 40k, then you'll need to have a phone or computer nearby to look up some of the names and other words being tossed around. The book is a page turner that's for sure, but I don't think I would start here in the series.
Also, any 40k enthusiasts out there that read this review please correct me if I'm mistaken anywhere.
This book doesn't take you into much about the 40k universe. It is set in Colchis, a dry, arid planet of sand and intense climate changes, where the days and years exceed that of Earth. Lorgar is discovered by the prophet Kor Phaeron, a over zealous madman hell bent on revenge after his exile from Vharedesh, the capital city of Colchis, by the Covenant (a religious sect based on "The Old Faith"). Lorgar is adopted and put under the tutelage of Kor Phaeron, where his gifts and talents begin to mold under the word of the truth from Kor Phaeron. Lorgar's thirst for knowledge eclipses what Kor Phaeron can offer through studies of the word and begins to quench his thirst through the slaves aboard the temple rig of Kor Phaeron, creating a confidant in Nairo, the head slave. This adds moral conscience to Lorgar's development, helping aid his decision to purge the planet of heresy.
If you don't know much about 40k, then you'll need to have a phone or computer nearby to look up some of the names and other words being tossed around. The book is a page turner that's for sure, but I don't think I would start here in the series.
Also, any 40k enthusiasts out there that read this review please correct me if I'm mistaken anywhere.
May 13, 2019
This book was so engrossing and fascinating to me that I managed to read it all in a single session, coming out of it very much doubting the thoughts I'd entered it with.
There's an incredibly common fan joke to curse out Erebus, saying he manipulates Lorgar and caused the carnage of the Horus Heresy... but man, Kor Phaeron gets let off the hook far too much. This book changed that for me, showing what a sadistic, self-absorbed and cruel abuser he is, alternating between a fatherly role he reluctantly takes with the mysterious bronze-skinned youth who seems to be a messiah-like figure to himself and his cultists, and a barbaric abuser whom savagely beats a boy just looking for approval and acceptance.
Even the interactions between a younger Lorgar and the fellow slaves is amazing, seeing a man who would go on to be a traitor to his gene-father and brothers of titanic proportions, be so kindly and sweet to slaves wasn't just heartwarming, it was tragic.
If you're looking for a Warhammer 40k book filled with brawling and wars and battlefields, it's best to search elsewhere, because like Lorgar this book is philosophical and not keen on the acts of war and slaughter, unless it's showing Phaeron's darker side. A beautiful book showing the softer, and more sinister, side to a man who just wanted the truth.
There's an incredibly common fan joke to curse out Erebus, saying he manipulates Lorgar and caused the carnage of the Horus Heresy... but man, Kor Phaeron gets let off the hook far too much. This book changed that for me, showing what a sadistic, self-absorbed and cruel abuser he is, alternating between a fatherly role he reluctantly takes with the mysterious bronze-skinned youth who seems to be a messiah-like figure to himself and his cultists, and a barbaric abuser whom savagely beats a boy just looking for approval and acceptance.
Even the interactions between a younger Lorgar and the fellow slaves is amazing, seeing a man who would go on to be a traitor to his gene-father and brothers of titanic proportions, be so kindly and sweet to slaves wasn't just heartwarming, it was tragic.
If you're looking for a Warhammer 40k book filled with brawling and wars and battlefields, it's best to search elsewhere, because like Lorgar this book is philosophical and not keen on the acts of war and slaughter, unless it's showing Phaeron's darker side. A beautiful book showing the softer, and more sinister, side to a man who just wanted the truth.
September 19, 2019
The tale told within this story was so different from the others but at the same time echoed all that was great about the previous Primarch novel's approach to telling the Primarch's backstory.
So far I've enjoyed them all, but I think I have to place this one at the top. At the very least as a close second or possibly tied for first.
Watching Lorgar grow from a child to the point of becoming the Bearer of the Word was an incredible journey to be a part of. All of the main characters felt very fleshed out and as it slowly became apparent that Lorgar was falling to the guiles of the Chaos Lords, it made me feel genuinely sad, as he could have been so much more if he hadn't been led by Kor Phaeron.
I think what I liked the most about this story was that it showed us a side to a Primarch and his followers outside and away from the indomitable force of the Space Marines. It allowed him to feel vulnerable even though we know he's a Demi-God.
On a closing note, the part referencing the possible arrival of the Emperor as the 5th Prophet of the word was very interesting. I love it when authors plant little seeds of information for us to pick out.
Onwards to the next one!
So far I've enjoyed them all, but I think I have to place this one at the top. At the very least as a close second or possibly tied for first.
Watching Lorgar grow from a child to the point of becoming the Bearer of the Word was an incredible journey to be a part of. All of the main characters felt very fleshed out and as it slowly became apparent that Lorgar was falling to the guiles of the Chaos Lords, it made me feel genuinely sad, as he could have been so much more if he hadn't been led by Kor Phaeron.
I think what I liked the most about this story was that it showed us a side to a Primarch and his followers outside and away from the indomitable force of the Space Marines. It allowed him to feel vulnerable even though we know he's a Demi-God.
On a closing note, the part referencing the possible arrival of the Emperor as the 5th Prophet of the word was very interesting. I love it when authors plant little seeds of information for us to pick out.
Onwards to the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2017
Like Guy Haley’s Perturabo this is an origin story, in this case the tale of how Lorgar came to unite Colchis under a single faith. In showing Lorgar’s rapid growth – physically, at least – from infant to demigod, under the harsh gaze of the powerful, manipulative Kor Phaeron it poses questions about nature versus nurture, and sheds light on what drove him even from an early age.
This isn’t always an easy book to read, dealing as it does with what is essentially an abusive sort-of father and son relationship. That relationship is the core of the story, however, and provides a very personal sense to the book that we haven’t seen very much with this sort of character before. It’s probably not the book for anyone wanting to see the Word Bearers in action, or really anything about the legion itself. Instead it’s for the reader who wants a tight, character-driven story, and who enjoys taking a step away from the battlefront.
Read the full review at
This isn’t always an easy book to read, dealing as it does with what is essentially an abusive sort-of father and son relationship. That relationship is the core of the story, however, and provides a very personal sense to the book that we haven’t seen very much with this sort of character before. It’s probably not the book for anyone wanting to see the Word Bearers in action, or really anything about the legion itself. Instead it’s for the reader who wants a tight, character-driven story, and who enjoys taking a step away from the battlefront.
Read the full review at
November 5, 2018
Having only read the first two books in the 50+ HH books a couple of years ago, I decided to give it a go at reading the entire HH series in chronological order. Starting with the "Last Church" audiobook set in 30,800. Next in the long list was "Lorgar: Bearer of the word" set roughly around 30,841 - 30,857.
I found the book to be entertaining and would recommend to others looking to delve into the origin story of Lorgar. For others like myself who have little to no knowledge of the history\characters in the Word Bearers I found it very helpful to look up in advance of reading the book http://wh40k.lexicanum.com to give an overview of who is who. Once I read the Lexicanum I found I enjoyed the book even more than I believe I would have otherwise.
The audiobook version was very well read and is ideal for anyone looking to listen whilst doing other things i.e. commuting or in the car etc.
I found the book to be entertaining and would recommend to others looking to delve into the origin story of Lorgar. For others like myself who have little to no knowledge of the history\characters in the Word Bearers I found it very helpful to look up in advance of reading the book http://wh40k.lexicanum.com to give an overview of who is who. Once I read the Lexicanum I found I enjoyed the book even more than I believe I would have otherwise.
The audiobook version was very well read and is ideal for anyone looking to listen whilst doing other things i.e. commuting or in the car etc.
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