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The Horus Heresy: Primarchs #3
Magnus: Der Herr Von Prospero
Lord of the mystical and uncanny, Magnus the Red has long studied the ancient crafts of sorcery. A psyker without peer, save only for the Emperor himself, he commands his loyal followers of the Thousand Sons Legion in the Great Crusade, though also vigilant for any lost knowledge they might recover from the remains of dead human civilisations.
Now, fighting alongside his brother Perturabo of the Iron Warriors, Magnus begins to foresee an approaching nexus of fate - will he remain true to their mutual aims or divert his own efforts towards furthering his own mastery of the warp?
Now, fighting alongside his brother Perturabo of the Iron Warriors, Magnus begins to foresee an approaching nexus of fate - will he remain true to their mutual aims or divert his own efforts towards furthering his own mastery of the warp?
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2017
88 people are currently reading
1062 people want to read
About the author
Graham McNeill
339 books904 followersHailing from Scotland, Graham McNeill narrowly escaped a career in surveying to work for Games Workshop as a games designer. He has a strong following with his novels Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, Dead Sky, Black Sun and Storm of Iron.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
December 22, 2019
'The Thaliakron,' said Magnus. 'You've begun work on it?'
'Not yet,' said Perturabo. 'Soon. When the Crusade is done and we have heroic tales aplenty to fill it with song, then I'll build it. On the mountain across from father's palace.'
'I will be there to see it unveiled,' promised Magnus, and his enthusiasm for his brother's works was genuine and contagious.
A Thousand Sons is one of my most favourite ones Horus Heresy novels, and reading more about XV Legion before its fall from grace is always a pleasure for me.
I really enjoyed the dynamics between Magnus, Perturabo, Ahriman and Forrix, with the sons of Prospero and Olympia united to save lives of imperial citizens on a dying world insteaf of the usual battle against xenos theme, overabused in other Great Crusade tales.
The many references to Graham McNeill's A Thousand Sons, Angel Exterminatus and Storm of Iron books were a much appreciated bonus, the Lord of Iron stole the stage like in many recent Horus Heresy/Siege of Terra novels and reading about two loyal sons of the Emperor before their joining Chaos and ascension to daemonhood was sometimes sad, same for Ahzek and Forrix almost aping their gene-sires with their newborn friendship.
Magnus let out a breath.
'You have a cruel streak in you, brother,' he said.
'Perhaps,' conceded Perturabo. 'But sometimes cruelty is the only way to make a point so clearly that nobody can ever mistake its intent.'
The ending was rushed but still a very good grim one, leaving me craving for more.
One of the best tales in the Primarchs series for me just too much short.
'Not yet,' said Perturabo. 'Soon. When the Crusade is done and we have heroic tales aplenty to fill it with song, then I'll build it. On the mountain across from father's palace.'
'I will be there to see it unveiled,' promised Magnus, and his enthusiasm for his brother's works was genuine and contagious.
A Thousand Sons is one of my most favourite ones Horus Heresy novels, and reading more about XV Legion before its fall from grace is always a pleasure for me.
I really enjoyed the dynamics between Magnus, Perturabo, Ahriman and Forrix, with the sons of Prospero and Olympia united to save lives of imperial citizens on a dying world insteaf of the usual battle against xenos theme, overabused in other Great Crusade tales.
The many references to Graham McNeill's A Thousand Sons, Angel Exterminatus and Storm of Iron books were a much appreciated bonus, the Lord of Iron stole the stage like in many recent Horus Heresy/Siege of Terra novels and reading about two loyal sons of the Emperor before their joining Chaos and ascension to daemonhood was sometimes sad, same for Ahzek and Forrix almost aping their gene-sires with their newborn friendship.
Magnus let out a breath.
'You have a cruel streak in you, brother,' he said.
'Perhaps,' conceded Perturabo. 'But sometimes cruelty is the only way to make a point so clearly that nobody can ever mistake its intent.'
The ending was rushed but still a very good grim one, leaving me craving for more.
One of the best tales in the Primarchs series for me just too much short.
August 22, 2017
Quite a decent read, definitely more exciting than Guilliman's. Not mindblowingly spectacular, but interesting. I truly enjoyed the dynamic between marines and Primarchs of the Thousand Sons and Iron Warriors, especially while still being loyal sons of their father. Always good to learn something new about the nearly unlimited powers of Magnus.
February 9, 2017
Graham McNeill crafts a tour de force of a novel which alloys together his phenomenal development on the Thousand Sons and the Iron Warriors into a sprawling story of tragedy and betrayal. Infinitely more than the blurb described, this is a gloriously beautiful novel- one which pits seemingly natural catastrophe and opportunistic human cruelty against the enlightened interest of the Imperium.
Framed by Magnus at his lowest in the ruins upon the Planet of Sorcerers, Master of Prospero brings us headlong into the death of a world. Morningstar is being rent apart by magnetic storms and riven by cult violence from the Sons of Shaitan. As apocalyptic Creed meets the apocalypse, the Thousand Sons and the Iron Warriors are caught in the middle. The Thousand Sons seem to care more for knowledge while the Iron Warriors take their logistically dim view of the populace to its end. As much as they are Legions in contrast, they are also unerringly similar. The friendship between Perturabo and Magnus is strong and a lodestone for the story, as is the developing bond between First Captains Forrix and Ahriman.
In the end it is a novel about hope and human cruelty, about the necessity of sacrifice and the poison of belief. It is the Great Crusade in microcosm, and shows us the hopes and fears of humans and transhumans alike. It is a novel that breathes and flows with life and emotion. Effortlessly McNeill weaves his best characters and ideas together into a tapestry of his greatest. Every character and setpiece feels on point and vital.
This Primarch novel more than any other feels like revisiting old friends. A must read for fans of the series and of the author.
Framed by Magnus at his lowest in the ruins upon the Planet of Sorcerers, Master of Prospero brings us headlong into the death of a world. Morningstar is being rent apart by magnetic storms and riven by cult violence from the Sons of Shaitan. As apocalyptic Creed meets the apocalypse, the Thousand Sons and the Iron Warriors are caught in the middle. The Thousand Sons seem to care more for knowledge while the Iron Warriors take their logistically dim view of the populace to its end. As much as they are Legions in contrast, they are also unerringly similar. The friendship between Perturabo and Magnus is strong and a lodestone for the story, as is the developing bond between First Captains Forrix and Ahriman.
In the end it is a novel about hope and human cruelty, about the necessity of sacrifice and the poison of belief. It is the Great Crusade in microcosm, and shows us the hopes and fears of humans and transhumans alike. It is a novel that breathes and flows with life and emotion. Effortlessly McNeill weaves his best characters and ideas together into a tapestry of his greatest. Every character and setpiece feels on point and vital.
This Primarch novel more than any other feels like revisiting old friends. A must read for fans of the series and of the author.
July 21, 2017
As with the other two books in the Primarchs series, I was impressed greatly with this book, but 200+ pages is just not enough! I wanted so much more. I am an Ultramarines fan and loved the first book, but when I read the Horus Heresy, most specifically Prospero Burns, which tells of the ultimate fate of Magnus and his Thousand Sons, I was a fan of Magnus the Red. Here lies the tale of before the Heresy, when Magnus and his brother and fellow primarch, Perturabo were invested in the evacuation of the planet Morningstar.
This book really pulls you into the powerful Psyker that Magnus is and this book spells that out in detail, and man is he more powerful than I thought!
Mr. McNeill as always writes a compelling story about a tragic anti-hero. Chaos ends up claiming Magnus within the pages of the Horus Heresy, but here we see the Thinker, the Intellectual seeker of lost lore and hidden knowledge the is at his core, what Magnus is. He is an absolutely amazing character and there is so much more I want to know about him. I know he turns to the Ruinous Powers in the future, but here he is the loyal and Emperor fearing Primarch, the son. He loves and cares deeply for his sons and it is reflected here in many ways.
Overall this is a must read for folks who love reading about the Primarchs, and in my opinion this is the best in the series yet. Absolutely amazing but too short! LOL
Danny
This book really pulls you into the powerful Psyker that Magnus is and this book spells that out in detail, and man is he more powerful than I thought!
Mr. McNeill as always writes a compelling story about a tragic anti-hero. Chaos ends up claiming Magnus within the pages of the Horus Heresy, but here we see the Thinker, the Intellectual seeker of lost lore and hidden knowledge the is at his core, what Magnus is. He is an absolutely amazing character and there is so much more I want to know about him. I know he turns to the Ruinous Powers in the future, but here he is the loyal and Emperor fearing Primarch, the son. He loves and cares deeply for his sons and it is reflected here in many ways.
Overall this is a must read for folks who love reading about the Primarchs, and in my opinion this is the best in the series yet. Absolutely amazing but too short! LOL
Danny
April 5, 2017
Review also published here
Magnus the Red: Master of Prospero is, overall, a damn good novel for all manner of reasons. I have some gripes which relate to the usual issues with Graham McNeill's works, but at the end of the day, it worked. It felt like a fresh story, with early Great Crusade Legions still growing into what they'd become by the Heresy. Out of the three Primarchs novels out so far, I might like this best (though admittedly I stopped reading Leman Russ for the time being; the action-heavy start just didn't get me fully invested).
To get my big bugbear out of the way first, though: Yes, McNeill once again "recycles" his characters from previous books. Not only do we see Ahzek Ahriman, Hathor Maat, Phosis T'Kar and Atharva, who at least make sense being here in a Thousand Sons novel, but Graham also included his old Storm of Iron / Angel Exterminatus cast; Forrix, Obax Zakayo and Barban Falk accompany Perturabo, and while Forrix at least made sense considering his rank, I found the inclusion of Zakayo and Falk to be... redundant.
I didn't feel it added to the plot, and their roles could have easily filled by other, non-established Iron Warriors. In fact, I cannot recall a single, lasting Legion character of either TS or IW that we did not see before in another McNeill novel. Where both David Annandale and Chris Wraight have made efforts to play with a new roster of fresh characters, Graham is, once again, resting on his old creations. It strikes me as lazy, even if I can see why he would do it. Adding to that somewhat on-the-nose foreshadowing for Forrix and co, regarding Storm of Iron , didn't help me feel good about it.
Be that as it may, though, the rest of the book was pretty unconventional. Rather than big warfare, we get a logistics problem here. What fighting there is tends to be limited to short scenes, not drawn-out engagements, and McNeill implies more of the overall conflict than he clearly spells out. I bloody loved that!
I've talked about "battle fatigue" a few times before, and after seeing both previous Primarchs novels being heavy on action, this came as a pleasant surprise and relief. I didn't have to trudge through chapters full of bolter shells and psychic fizzing, but got to see a desperate evacuation of a doomed world that allowed for plenty of character development for Magnus, his sons and even Perturabo.
That isn't to say that the action was unsatisfying, not at all. It was on point and had a purpose beyond ticking checkboxes for the editors. There are spectacular scenes here, showcasing the psychic might of the Thousand Sons and their Primarch, and Forrix kicks ass. But everything serves the plot and the greater moral dilemma. McNeill made the correct choice going this route, in my eyes. It is too easy to fall into the trap of writing superhero-Primarchs doing everything by themselves. True enough, Magnus goes far and beyond what you might expect here, but it is all well-grounded and comes at a price. What he does here shapes his character in a way I didn't expect, and Perturabo too has some great scenes, including lines of dialogue that I'd quote here if they didn't involve spoiling some very well-handled scenes.
Where the book really shines in my eyes however is in depicting the youthful naiveté of the two Legions. They are still highly idealistic and think they can do no wrong. Many lines have not yet been crossed, and Perturabo and his Legion aren't worn down yet by disregard and being used as blunt tools of siege warfare. The sons of Magnus are still a little reluctant to show the full extent of their powers to the other Legions. It was refreshing, really, to see some characters like Ahriman still a little uncertain of their true potential, though I am a little disappointed in how his role grew exponentially throughout the book, taking the spotlight from Atharva. I'll really have to re-read A Thousand Sons soon as well, I think, even if just to see if Hathor Maat was as much of an annoyance there too...
The scale of the story, the early look at the Legions, the well-paced action and awesome twists that link back to the Sons' search for lost knowledge all made this book a truly enjoyable experience for me. I can overlook my nitpicks about recycled characters and heavy-handed foreshadowing if the overall framework and many of the close-ups of the story are as satisfying as with this novel. The book stands on its own pretty damn well, while offering readers of A Thousand Sons and Angel Exterminatus some really neat looks behind the curtain. If you've ever been interested in reading more about the Sons and their early days, this is about as good as it gets.
Magnus the Red: Master of Prospero is, overall, a damn good novel for all manner of reasons. I have some gripes which relate to the usual issues with Graham McNeill's works, but at the end of the day, it worked. It felt like a fresh story, with early Great Crusade Legions still growing into what they'd become by the Heresy. Out of the three Primarchs novels out so far, I might like this best (though admittedly I stopped reading Leman Russ for the time being; the action-heavy start just didn't get me fully invested).
To get my big bugbear out of the way first, though: Yes, McNeill once again "recycles" his characters from previous books. Not only do we see Ahzek Ahriman, Hathor Maat, Phosis T'Kar and Atharva, who at least make sense being here in a Thousand Sons novel, but Graham also included his old Storm of Iron / Angel Exterminatus cast; Forrix, Obax Zakayo and Barban Falk accompany Perturabo, and while Forrix at least made sense considering his rank, I found the inclusion of Zakayo and Falk to be... redundant.
I didn't feel it added to the plot, and their roles could have easily filled by other, non-established Iron Warriors. In fact, I cannot recall a single, lasting Legion character of either TS or IW that we did not see before in another McNeill novel. Where both David Annandale and Chris Wraight have made efforts to play with a new roster of fresh characters, Graham is, once again, resting on his old creations. It strikes me as lazy, even if I can see why he would do it. Adding to that somewhat on-the-nose foreshadowing for Forrix and co, regarding Storm of Iron , didn't help me feel good about it.
Be that as it may, though, the rest of the book was pretty unconventional. Rather than big warfare, we get a logistics problem here. What fighting there is tends to be limited to short scenes, not drawn-out engagements, and McNeill implies more of the overall conflict than he clearly spells out. I bloody loved that!
I've talked about "battle fatigue" a few times before, and after seeing both previous Primarchs novels being heavy on action, this came as a pleasant surprise and relief. I didn't have to trudge through chapters full of bolter shells and psychic fizzing, but got to see a desperate evacuation of a doomed world that allowed for plenty of character development for Magnus, his sons and even Perturabo.
That isn't to say that the action was unsatisfying, not at all. It was on point and had a purpose beyond ticking checkboxes for the editors. There are spectacular scenes here, showcasing the psychic might of the Thousand Sons and their Primarch, and Forrix kicks ass. But everything serves the plot and the greater moral dilemma. McNeill made the correct choice going this route, in my eyes. It is too easy to fall into the trap of writing superhero-Primarchs doing everything by themselves. True enough, Magnus goes far and beyond what you might expect here, but it is all well-grounded and comes at a price. What he does here shapes his character in a way I didn't expect, and Perturabo too has some great scenes, including lines of dialogue that I'd quote here if they didn't involve spoiling some very well-handled scenes.
Where the book really shines in my eyes however is in depicting the youthful naiveté of the two Legions. They are still highly idealistic and think they can do no wrong. Many lines have not yet been crossed, and Perturabo and his Legion aren't worn down yet by disregard and being used as blunt tools of siege warfare. The sons of Magnus are still a little reluctant to show the full extent of their powers to the other Legions. It was refreshing, really, to see some characters like Ahriman still a little uncertain of their true potential, though I am a little disappointed in how his role grew exponentially throughout the book, taking the spotlight from Atharva. I'll really have to re-read A Thousand Sons soon as well, I think, even if just to see if Hathor Maat was as much of an annoyance there too...
The scale of the story, the early look at the Legions, the well-paced action and awesome twists that link back to the Sons' search for lost knowledge all made this book a truly enjoyable experience for me. I can overlook my nitpicks about recycled characters and heavy-handed foreshadowing if the overall framework and many of the close-ups of the story are as satisfying as with this novel. The book stands on its own pretty damn well, while offering readers of A Thousand Sons and Angel Exterminatus some really neat looks behind the curtain. If you've ever been interested in reading more about the Sons and their early days, this is about as good as it gets.
December 6, 2019
6,75/10
Lectura más interesante que la dedicada a Guilliman, pero lejos de lo que esperaba. Magnus es uno de mis primarcas favoritos y mis expectativas estaban altas. Por ahora me ha dejado claro que esta saga no alcanza el nivel de la Herejía, lo cual es una pena, ya que los primarcas en general son unos personajes que podrían dar para muchísimo más.
Resumiendo, libro corto y fácil de leer, pero que no aporta nada nuevo ni a su protagonista, Magnus el Rojo, ni a su legión.
Lectura más interesante que la dedicada a Guilliman, pero lejos de lo que esperaba. Magnus es uno de mis primarcas favoritos y mis expectativas estaban altas. Por ahora me ha dejado claro que esta saga no alcanza el nivel de la Herejía, lo cual es una pena, ya que los primarcas en general son unos personajes que podrían dar para muchísimo más.
Resumiendo, libro corto y fácil de leer, pero que no aporta nada nuevo ni a su protagonista, Magnus el Rojo, ni a su legión.
February 20, 2020
Magnus is perhaps my favorite primarch, but at the same time I want to shake him and say "NO DON'T DO IT!" He's a scholar, I'm a scholar, he wants to help people, I want to help people, he's arrogant, I'm arrogant, but my arrogance never ends in exterminatus. This is a story of Magnus doing everything that makes me love and get angry at him. Perturabo is in it too, and I gotta admit, I really like Pertie. He could have been kept loyal so easily.
I got this as one of the Humble Bundle promotions of audio books, so I didn't pay full price. I'm content with that decision. It was okay, definitely not required reading for the 'verse.
I got this as one of the Humble Bundle promotions of audio books, so I didn't pay full price. I'm content with that decision. It was okay, definitely not required reading for the 'verse.
October 31, 2020
The concept for this story was really straight-forward and the early execution of it was done well. Unfortunately the ending added in too many unnecessary complexities and it kind of came off as an info-dump, which is odd for an ending. If the last 30 pages were different I would have liked this much more.
July 26, 2017
The core of the novel is good, but only Graham could make a 200 pages read to feel slow moving. Review in Bulgarian here:
http://citadelata.com/magnus-the-red/
http://citadelata.com/magnus-the-red/
June 11, 2024
Good for any tsons fan who cares about their lore. Also has loads of IW (forrix and perty especially).
December 15, 2020
Our big red boy doing big dumb things.
'I will not make the same mistake'
The main plot of Magnus is gibberish. Even by the standards of the Warhammer 40k universe, it barely rises above incoherent babble. The setpieces are interesting from a character perspective, but the plot can otherwise be described as one damn thing after another.
However, the wider story of Magnus is a Greek tragedy, possibly turned farce. Hubris meeting Nemesis. Avoiding fate only to crack his spine on it. Attempted patricide and fratricide. Making love to his mo… … actually, not that one.
'No, you will make new ones'
Magnus is also a Romantic, in that he profoundly emotes over a scene before profoundingly not giving a shit for the consequences.
It’s so sad my actions directly turned 24 of my own men to dust – oh well, better take a dozen or so more on another reckless trip totally unhelpful to the wider goal.
I’m not like Perturabo, cold-bloodingly calculating the percentage of refugees we can save. I will fight for every life – oops, this is all getting too hard, better deliberately kill all of them and, WOW, look at all these souls I can fit in my book to take on adventures.
The actual “plot” of this book is its symbiotic relationship with Magnus’ wider journey. He is incredibly powerful, more powerful even than any other Primarch in his own way. He does what he thinks is right in the moment, even when confronted with the ill effects of his previous decisions. He almost dies on several occasions because he doesn't comprehend his own limits, yet survives through good luck. He “saves the day” in the end, justifying every previous “bad” decision. You can see what that might do to his ego.
In the Horus Heresy arc, Magnus opens Pandora’s box.
'You will make worse mistakes because you still believe you can fix everything'
This book is a clue why he does.
'I will not make the same mistake'
The main plot of Magnus is gibberish. Even by the standards of the Warhammer 40k universe, it barely rises above incoherent babble. The setpieces are interesting from a character perspective, but the plot can otherwise be described as one damn thing after another.
However, the wider story of Magnus is a Greek tragedy, possibly turned farce. Hubris meeting Nemesis. Avoiding fate only to crack his spine on it. Attempted patricide and fratricide. Making love to his mo… … actually, not that one.
'No, you will make new ones'
Magnus is also a Romantic, in that he profoundly emotes over a scene before profoundingly not giving a shit for the consequences.
It’s so sad my actions directly turned 24 of my own men to dust – oh well, better take a dozen or so more on another reckless trip totally unhelpful to the wider goal.
I’m not like Perturabo, cold-bloodingly calculating the percentage of refugees we can save. I will fight for every life – oops, this is all getting too hard, better deliberately kill all of them and, WOW, look at all these souls I can fit in my book to take on adventures.
The actual “plot” of this book is its symbiotic relationship with Magnus’ wider journey. He is incredibly powerful, more powerful even than any other Primarch in his own way. He does what he thinks is right in the moment, even when confronted with the ill effects of his previous decisions. He almost dies on several occasions because he doesn't comprehend his own limits, yet survives through good luck. He “saves the day” in the end, justifying every previous “bad” decision. You can see what that might do to his ego.
In the Horus Heresy arc, Magnus opens Pandora’s box.
'You will make worse mistakes because you still believe you can fix everything'
This book is a clue why he does.
May 13, 2022
Slow starting compared to the first two entries into the primarchs series, but the latter half of the book makes up for it.
June 9, 2024
Wszystko jest pyłem
June 21, 2025
Really enjoyed this book, far more than the Rogal Dorn Primarch book. Some really good characters and a good story, with some twists and turns right at the end with a few moments I where I couldn’t put it down. Was pleased to see Ahriman play a large role, and his bromance with Forrix was fun, and Magnus turns out to be one of the more likeable Primarchs and felt an affinity with him.
January 21, 2019
My one-man war against irritating references in Graham McNeill books continues unabated, unacknowledged and ineffective.
This is a quality of his books which, once you notice it, gradually makes them worse the more of them you read, like a toxin building up in the blood over time. They are not that irritating in any particular book but the more of them show up the more annoying they are.
Worst offenders in this one were a book randomly picked up by MegaMag in his burnt library being a copy of Shakespeare, the symbol of the chinese space force apparently surviving near-unaltered and a thingy made by Pertuarbo being a recreation of the Ankythera mechanism.
Why this is bad - there are literally 40,000 years of pseudohistory in the universe being described and every historical referent used comes from 'modern' history of the last 2000 years. The likelihood of *anything* surviving so long, or any any unaltered cultural product is close to zero.
Its not so much the individual unlikelihood of the particular choices but the fact that it collapses a sensed history into this tiny small box. As much as the success of the Heresy series has crushed and folded up the 10,000 years of the Imperium, so that the histories of modern codexes read like bookends with the heresy fading out directly into the present day, with many of the exact same people continuing the exact same stories, legend and myth deflating into soap opera, so McNiells overuse of these modern tropes and objects destroys any felt sense of deep history in the fiction
Other mild irritations;
Primarchs doing EXTREME FORSHADOWING of future actions. Pertuarbo smashes a precious object to make a point, MegaMag reduces a bunch of his dudes to dust through heroic hubris. I am not sure if this is good or bad writing, re-use of ideas or reverse-engineering of personality flaws, I think I am slightly against it as it seems sometimes a little too pat.
That's about it. Other than that I largely liked the book.
Good elements - as usual McNeil excels in baroque and specific detail, the omni scale of the 40k universe comes through neatly.
He can write *scenes*, neatly placed micro-dramas with a strong sense of identity and feel. Magnus fights a bunch of tanks. Pertuarbo flies through a superstorm using his cursed sight of the Eye of Terror as a compass. Ahriman hangs out with an Iron Warrior and they do the buddy cop thing.
The key climactic scenes of the book are very effectively drawn and work well, megaships fall from the sky, cults engage in super-treason, ancient thingys are discovered.
MegaMag and Pertuarbo both come through neatly with all of their obessions, flaws and quirks. McNiel wrote the key books on both of these very different weirdos and he did a good job of both of them. As much as the flickers of his writing style irritate me, he can (largely) fucking tell a story and he can grab personality with strength and firmness, if not always with perfect grace.
He can show not tell. Though he tends do both just to make sure you get the point, unlike Nick Kyme who tells without showing or ADB who shows without telling.
A pleasing element of the book is getting to witness two guys who will ultimately become SUPERDEMONS while they are still nominally on team good-guy and trying to get along. They are locked in the 40k universe so the horror/movie/tragedy ending is fitting. Its a testament to the writing that I actually wanted MegaMag and Perty to somehow win at the end and felt bad when they were trapped by foreshadowing of their inevitable DOOM.
This is a quality of his books which, once you notice it, gradually makes them worse the more of them you read, like a toxin building up in the blood over time. They are not that irritating in any particular book but the more of them show up the more annoying they are.
Worst offenders in this one were a book randomly picked up by MegaMag in his burnt library being a copy of Shakespeare, the symbol of the chinese space force apparently surviving near-unaltered and a thingy made by Pertuarbo being a recreation of the Ankythera mechanism.
Why this is bad - there are literally 40,000 years of pseudohistory in the universe being described and every historical referent used comes from 'modern' history of the last 2000 years. The likelihood of *anything* surviving so long, or any any unaltered cultural product is close to zero.
Its not so much the individual unlikelihood of the particular choices but the fact that it collapses a sensed history into this tiny small box. As much as the success of the Heresy series has crushed and folded up the 10,000 years of the Imperium, so that the histories of modern codexes read like bookends with the heresy fading out directly into the present day, with many of the exact same people continuing the exact same stories, legend and myth deflating into soap opera, so McNiells overuse of these modern tropes and objects destroys any felt sense of deep history in the fiction
Other mild irritations;
Primarchs doing EXTREME FORSHADOWING of future actions. Pertuarbo smashes a precious object to make a point, MegaMag reduces a bunch of his dudes to dust through heroic hubris. I am not sure if this is good or bad writing, re-use of ideas or reverse-engineering of personality flaws, I think I am slightly against it as it seems sometimes a little too pat.
That's about it. Other than that I largely liked the book.
Good elements - as usual McNeil excels in baroque and specific detail, the omni scale of the 40k universe comes through neatly.
He can write *scenes*, neatly placed micro-dramas with a strong sense of identity and feel. Magnus fights a bunch of tanks. Pertuarbo flies through a superstorm using his cursed sight of the Eye of Terror as a compass. Ahriman hangs out with an Iron Warrior and they do the buddy cop thing.
The key climactic scenes of the book are very effectively drawn and work well, megaships fall from the sky, cults engage in super-treason, ancient thingys are discovered.
MegaMag and Pertuarbo both come through neatly with all of their obessions, flaws and quirks. McNiel wrote the key books on both of these very different weirdos and he did a good job of both of them. As much as the flickers of his writing style irritate me, he can (largely) fucking tell a story and he can grab personality with strength and firmness, if not always with perfect grace.
He can show not tell. Though he tends do both just to make sure you get the point, unlike Nick Kyme who tells without showing or ADB who shows without telling.
A pleasing element of the book is getting to witness two guys who will ultimately become SUPERDEMONS while they are still nominally on team good-guy and trying to get along. They are locked in the 40k universe so the horror/movie/tragedy ending is fitting. Its a testament to the writing that I actually wanted MegaMag and Perty to somehow win at the end and felt bad when they were trapped by foreshadowing of their inevitable DOOM.
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. I am using https://sites.google.com/site/tymells... as a guide on which books to read in chronological order.
I found the book to be very entertaining and would recommend to others looking to delve into the origin story of the Thousand Sons and Magnus. As I have little to no knowledge of the history\characters in the Thousand Sons I found it very helpful to look up in advance of reading the book http://wh40k.lexicanum.com to give an overview of the Thousand Sons and other key characters. Once I read the Lexicanum I found I was engrossed in the book even more than I believe I would have otherwise.
The initial opening of the book starts shortly after the burning of Prospero, then delves into the Thousand sons run in with Chaos on Morningstar in 30,853. The story and characters I felt were well written.
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 very entertaining and would recommend to others looking to delve into the origin story of the Thousand Sons and Magnus. As I have little to no knowledge of the history\characters in the Thousand Sons I found it very helpful to look up in advance of reading the book http://wh40k.lexicanum.com to give an overview of the Thousand Sons and other key characters. Once I read the Lexicanum I found I was engrossed in the book even more than I believe I would have otherwise.
The initial opening of the book starts shortly after the burning of Prospero, then delves into the Thousand sons run in with Chaos on Morningstar in 30,853. The story and characters I felt were well written.
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.
February 13, 2017
capax Dei/capax infiniti
(capable of receiving God/holding the infinite - from From Augustine, De Trinitate XIV, 8.11: Mens eo ipso imago Dei est quo eius capax est,"The mind is the image of God, in that it is capable of Him and can be partaker of Him.")
And thus we have another beautiful example of the Primarch serie. Shining - in beautiful box and with amazing cover it's presentable view is beyond doubt. But does the 'words' content suffice to our standards? Especially if the novella is written by Graham McNeill - a long headliner for the Black Library.
Let's make something clear from the start. 'Primarchs' series consists of novellas - not novels. Illusionary desire of GW and BL to call 126 pages books with double intervals a novel, is absolutely not funny anymore.
But let's focus on the book.
Plot. New story from Graham McNeill, author of an amazing stories 'Storm of Iron' and masterpiece of 'The Thousand sons' can't stir us wrong?
As far as synopsis for the novella goes: Lord of the mystical and uncanny, Magnus the Red has long studied the ancient crafts of sorcery. A psyker without peer, save only for the Emperor himself, he commands his loyal followers of the Thousand Sons Legion in the Great Crusade, always vigilant for any lost knowledge they might recover from the remains of dead human civilisations. Now, fighting alongside his brother Perturabo of the Iron Warriors, Magnus begins to foresee an approaching nexus of fate. Will he remain true to their mutual aims, or divert his own efforts towards furthering his own mastery of the warp? Has nothing to do with the plot and narrative of that novella.
Chronologically novella take place in 2 time periods - during an early years on intergalactic Great Crusade and after the 'Razing of Prospero'. We saw Magnus at it's worse - shattered and broken, in search for the meaning of his further existence and meaning to being 'alive'. In contradiction to his father/brother desires.
In search of that and being at some island of time and space in the warp Magnus remember that one time - then everything was not as it seems. And how good intentions and knowledge could stir you into the dead end.
Story is goes from Magnus at his lowest in the ruins upon the Planet of Sorcerers after the 'Razing of Prospero' take us straight into the death of a world. World of Morningstar gives us a glimpse of a Hollywood apocalyptic movie in the prose form. And Graham truly shines here. The world is being rent apart by magnetic storms and tectonic disaster which eventually lead to total society collapse, catastrophe and preceding it evacuation.
Right in that 'shit storm' 15th Legion and their brothers from the Iron Warriors arrive. Here Graham McNeill gives us a shining example of the Legions doctrine. While TS save population and it's knowledge in any form, brutal and methodic Iron Warriors build fortress, clear the zone and proceed with logistics for the people evacuation.
And that author did amazingly too. In accordance to the strange grim dark of the humanities lost colonies and grandeur of the Great Crusade another enemy arrive in the face of the cultists from the Sons of Shaitan. As cult demagogues and zealots strive for the apocalypse and magnetic whirlwinds destroy the planet, the Thousand Sons and the Iron Warriors are caught in the middle. As usually goes with Graham - eventually where would be a twist. And sure - it's here and will take you by surprise.
The Thousand Sons and good old friend Atharva investigate lost ruins, libraries and caches of the world - Iron Warriors take their logistically dim view of the populace to its end. And Magnus tries to figure out why and how this planet survived the Dark Age of Darkness then all the others in that universal sector of the galaxy did not.
Also novella shines at the moment of true disaster and body count. As our better said: cadavera vero innumera (truly countless bodies). They give it the true level of grim darkness. As the true face of the Sons of Shaitan and 'that' ending.
And again Graham McNeill shines in that condition as a W40K and HH author. He was able to show similarities between the 'so' different Legion doctrines and at the same time directly view their differences. Both has the 'standards' of the Emperor as their moto, both strive for the greatness (through different views and definitely different methodology) and both fail to see the cornerstone of the Imperial Truth due to the absolutely different reasons.
For the TS who after the reunion with their Primarch (to whom they are young kids whom he justly aptly saved from the doom) - knowledge, their physics powers and mysteries of the Universe is the main moto by which they would see their work in the future. For Iron Warriors and their also 'almost' new Primarch Perturabo - their future based on mathematics/logistics through which and only through which Imperium could strive and achieve greatness.
And most of all that similarities and differences were planned to be shown through the bonds of friendship between Primarchs. Between Perturabo and Magnus.
And that's where it all went wrong.
Characters:
Probably the main reason why this novel suffers from delusions of grandeur is the bad choice and reasoning for it's main characters. Which could be explained by the page count. I'm sure if that would have been a full (at least 300 pages) novel - it would be an absolutely different and amazing story.
Combining 2 Legions into one novella - Thousand Sons and the Iron Warriors should have given us a lot of new and amazing characters contrived into a sprawling story of tragedy and betrayal. Instead, especially due to low page count Graham McNeill wasn't been able to give new characters their due and thus he used his old ones... And from here it all went downhill very quickly.
Yes - instead of new characters, except for the Primarchs you thought you would get a new interesting characters, but no. It's old same company which went with us in 'Storm of Iron', 'Angel Exterminatus', 'Thousand Sons' etc.
Ahriman, Forrix, Hathor Maat, Obax Zakayo, Phosis T'kar, Barban Falk and Harkor - they are all the main characters of this story. In case of Hathor Maat - that character was truly butchered. From the stoic and persistent character from the 'TS' - here we have a rash and dim person who would have been a better Imperial Fist instead of 15th.
Additional storyline, as is the developing bond between First Captains Forrix and Ahriman only worsen the case. Especially the way it was shown for us. And that's the best example why this novella stirred us wrong...
Instead of show us young but already experienced legionaries, so well known to us - we get absolutely 'non Ahriman' and 'non Forrix' characters. Sure - the story take place long before the HH and it's events. But universal view of this too are truly butchered.
Ahriman on the other hand is too flawed and inconsistent - that's not Ahriman from amazing TS. And yes I know that he is a lot younger then he is in TS - BUT! A big but! We saw his younger self at Beotia and at Tizca - and he was not that naive student who are afraid to do what needs to be done. Plus all that foreshadowing into the future (Forrix case). It seems that author simply shown it as a fan-service. Nothing more - cause Ahriman did nothing on what he saw at Morningstar etc. The line is simply severed here - and everyone went on their own business - like nothing has happened.
And as for the Primarchs... We are shown Magnus in the process of trying to figure out his limits and the full range of his abilities. Which in itself contradicts a lot of TS fluff. Especially the point that - Magnus already know the range of his abilities after his deal and compact with Tzeentch to save his sons.
As for Perturabo, yeah, he's different - it is still very early for him and even though he is cold and calculating I think by the time of this novella he is still in awe of the Emperor and this fills him with optimism and certain gentleness. The problem is - his character was used and written by 4 authors to date. And so his true image is too different in each novel.
Forge World HH books took John French characteristic for him. In Crimson Fist he is a cruel master - here we saw streaks of his cruelness, but at the same time he is such a funny fella... In all seriousness - Perturabo would have never destroyed that occullus, he has created for Magnus. And time has nothing to do with it. Even if we take McNeil image - it's already 4 years since he saw the Emperor etc.
In contradiction of some reviewers who thinks that 'every character and setpiece feels on point and vital' - it is not so.
As for the prose - I can' say it provide us with something unique or special. Usual flow of the words and story to tell.
Verdict.
Infinitely more than the synopsis, that novella tried to chew more than it could (due to the aforementioned reasons). It is always an amaterish try to combine a catastrophe and opportunistic human cruelty with the Great Crusade enlightment and Imperial truth.
In the end it is a novella about hope and human cruelty, about the necessity of sacrifice and the poison of belief - which was ruined by it's own character range.
I give it 3,5 out of 5 stars. It has and amazing disaster scenario, adventures, great scenes depicting Astartes and imperium society. But failed where it actually matters - to show us the true greatness and 'flaw' of the Primarchs.
Can I suggest this novella to fans of HH - with some 'bad eyes' 'yes'. Can I suggest it as a must read and awesome book - with big if.
It is a novella which foreshadows the incoming Graham McNeill Horus Heresy novel 'The Crimson King'. And all the event's of Magnus the Red: Master of Prospero are simply a filler to continue the story after TS and went deeper in 'The Crimson King'. In which I have absolutely no doubt that Morningstar will be remembered.
(capable of receiving God/holding the infinite - from From Augustine, De Trinitate XIV, 8.11: Mens eo ipso imago Dei est quo eius capax est,"The mind is the image of God, in that it is capable of Him and can be partaker of Him.")
And thus we have another beautiful example of the Primarch serie. Shining - in beautiful box and with amazing cover it's presentable view is beyond doubt. But does the 'words' content suffice to our standards? Especially if the novella is written by Graham McNeill - a long headliner for the Black Library.
Let's make something clear from the start. 'Primarchs' series consists of novellas - not novels. Illusionary desire of GW and BL to call 126 pages books with double intervals a novel, is absolutely not funny anymore.
But let's focus on the book.
Plot. New story from Graham McNeill, author of an amazing stories 'Storm of Iron' and masterpiece of 'The Thousand sons' can't stir us wrong?
As far as synopsis for the novella goes: Lord of the mystical and uncanny, Magnus the Red has long studied the ancient crafts of sorcery. A psyker without peer, save only for the Emperor himself, he commands his loyal followers of the Thousand Sons Legion in the Great Crusade, always vigilant for any lost knowledge they might recover from the remains of dead human civilisations. Now, fighting alongside his brother Perturabo of the Iron Warriors, Magnus begins to foresee an approaching nexus of fate. Will he remain true to their mutual aims, or divert his own efforts towards furthering his own mastery of the warp? Has nothing to do with the plot and narrative of that novella.
Chronologically novella take place in 2 time periods - during an early years on intergalactic Great Crusade and after the 'Razing of Prospero'. We saw Magnus at it's worse - shattered and broken, in search for the meaning of his further existence and meaning to being 'alive'. In contradiction to his father/brother desires.
In search of that and being at some island of time and space in the warp Magnus remember that one time - then everything was not as it seems. And how good intentions and knowledge could stir you into the dead end.
Story is goes from Magnus at his lowest in the ruins upon the Planet of Sorcerers after the 'Razing of Prospero' take us straight into the death of a world. World of Morningstar gives us a glimpse of a Hollywood apocalyptic movie in the prose form. And Graham truly shines here. The world is being rent apart by magnetic storms and tectonic disaster which eventually lead to total society collapse, catastrophe and preceding it evacuation.
Right in that 'shit storm' 15th Legion and their brothers from the Iron Warriors arrive. Here Graham McNeill gives us a shining example of the Legions doctrine. While TS save population and it's knowledge in any form, brutal and methodic Iron Warriors build fortress, clear the zone and proceed with logistics for the people evacuation.
And that author did amazingly too. In accordance to the strange grim dark of the humanities lost colonies and grandeur of the Great Crusade another enemy arrive in the face of the cultists from the Sons of Shaitan. As cult demagogues and zealots strive for the apocalypse and magnetic whirlwinds destroy the planet, the Thousand Sons and the Iron Warriors are caught in the middle. As usually goes with Graham - eventually where would be a twist. And sure - it's here and will take you by surprise.
The Thousand Sons and good old friend Atharva investigate lost ruins, libraries and caches of the world - Iron Warriors take their logistically dim view of the populace to its end. And Magnus tries to figure out why and how this planet survived the Dark Age of Darkness then all the others in that universal sector of the galaxy did not.
Also novella shines at the moment of true disaster and body count. As our better said: cadavera vero innumera (truly countless bodies). They give it the true level of grim darkness. As the true face of the Sons of Shaitan and 'that' ending.
And again Graham McNeill shines in that condition as a W40K and HH author. He was able to show similarities between the 'so' different Legion doctrines and at the same time directly view their differences. Both has the 'standards' of the Emperor as their moto, both strive for the greatness (through different views and definitely different methodology) and both fail to see the cornerstone of the Imperial Truth due to the absolutely different reasons.
For the TS who after the reunion with their Primarch (to whom they are young kids whom he justly aptly saved from the doom) - knowledge, their physics powers and mysteries of the Universe is the main moto by which they would see their work in the future. For Iron Warriors and their also 'almost' new Primarch Perturabo - their future based on mathematics/logistics through which and only through which Imperium could strive and achieve greatness.
And most of all that similarities and differences were planned to be shown through the bonds of friendship between Primarchs. Between Perturabo and Magnus.
And that's where it all went wrong.
Characters:
Probably the main reason why this novel suffers from delusions of grandeur is the bad choice and reasoning for it's main characters. Which could be explained by the page count. I'm sure if that would have been a full (at least 300 pages) novel - it would be an absolutely different and amazing story.
Combining 2 Legions into one novella - Thousand Sons and the Iron Warriors should have given us a lot of new and amazing characters contrived into a sprawling story of tragedy and betrayal. Instead, especially due to low page count Graham McNeill wasn't been able to give new characters their due and thus he used his old ones... And from here it all went downhill very quickly.
Yes - instead of new characters, except for the Primarchs you thought you would get a new interesting characters, but no. It's old same company which went with us in 'Storm of Iron', 'Angel Exterminatus', 'Thousand Sons' etc.
Ahriman, Forrix, Hathor Maat, Obax Zakayo, Phosis T'kar, Barban Falk and Harkor - they are all the main characters of this story. In case of Hathor Maat - that character was truly butchered. From the stoic and persistent character from the 'TS' - here we have a rash and dim person who would have been a better Imperial Fist instead of 15th.
Additional storyline, as is the developing bond between First Captains Forrix and Ahriman only worsen the case. Especially the way it was shown for us. And that's the best example why this novella stirred us wrong...
Instead of show us young but already experienced legionaries, so well known to us - we get absolutely 'non Ahriman' and 'non Forrix' characters. Sure - the story take place long before the HH and it's events. But universal view of this too are truly butchered.
Ahriman on the other hand is too flawed and inconsistent - that's not Ahriman from amazing TS. And yes I know that he is a lot younger then he is in TS - BUT! A big but! We saw his younger self at Beotia and at Tizca - and he was not that naive student who are afraid to do what needs to be done. Plus all that foreshadowing into the future (Forrix case). It seems that author simply shown it as a fan-service. Nothing more - cause Ahriman did nothing on what he saw at Morningstar etc. The line is simply severed here - and everyone went on their own business - like nothing has happened.
And as for the Primarchs... We are shown Magnus in the process of trying to figure out his limits and the full range of his abilities. Which in itself contradicts a lot of TS fluff. Especially the point that - Magnus already know the range of his abilities after his deal and compact with Tzeentch to save his sons.
As for Perturabo, yeah, he's different - it is still very early for him and even though he is cold and calculating I think by the time of this novella he is still in awe of the Emperor and this fills him with optimism and certain gentleness. The problem is - his character was used and written by 4 authors to date. And so his true image is too different in each novel.
Forge World HH books took John French characteristic for him. In Crimson Fist he is a cruel master - here we saw streaks of his cruelness, but at the same time he is such a funny fella... In all seriousness - Perturabo would have never destroyed that occullus, he has created for Magnus. And time has nothing to do with it. Even if we take McNeil image - it's already 4 years since he saw the Emperor etc.
In contradiction of some reviewers who thinks that 'every character and setpiece feels on point and vital' - it is not so.
As for the prose - I can' say it provide us with something unique or special. Usual flow of the words and story to tell.
Verdict.
Infinitely more than the synopsis, that novella tried to chew more than it could (due to the aforementioned reasons). It is always an amaterish try to combine a catastrophe and opportunistic human cruelty with the Great Crusade enlightment and Imperial truth.
In the end it is a novella about hope and human cruelty, about the necessity of sacrifice and the poison of belief - which was ruined by it's own character range.
I give it 3,5 out of 5 stars. It has and amazing disaster scenario, adventures, great scenes depicting Astartes and imperium society. But failed where it actually matters - to show us the true greatness and 'flaw' of the Primarchs.
Can I suggest this novella to fans of HH - with some 'bad eyes' 'yes'. Can I suggest it as a must read and awesome book - with big if.
It is a novella which foreshadows the incoming Graham McNeill Horus Heresy novel 'The Crimson King'. And all the event's of Magnus the Red: Master of Prospero are simply a filler to continue the story after TS and went deeper in 'The Crimson King'. In which I have absolutely no doubt that Morningstar will be remembered.
June 22, 2019
Graham McNeill has done a great job with this novel. The relationships he established early on and throughout the story between Magnus and his Thousand Sons and Perturabo and his Iron Warriors was very well crafted and you could feel the struggles and tensions that each faced throughout the campaign on Morningstar.
I particularly like the contrasting approaches to the task taking by the Thousand Sons and Iron Warriors. Both factions are polar opposites, one being of the mind and psychic prowess and the other being of logic and stalwart physicality. It made for an interesting read.
Aside from the main narrative, there was a very enjoyable subplot between a Thousand Son named Ahriman and an Iron Warrior called Forrix. This along with the main narrative, left me wanting more by the end and it did a great job in building up my appreciation for Perturabo before delving into his Primarch Novel next.
It's a close call between this and Roboute Guilliman: Lord of Ultramar over which is my favourite Primarch novel so far. I'm sure my opinion may change as I go on, but regardless this is a very good read and I recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about the Primarchs and the Horus Heresy.
I particularly like the contrasting approaches to the task taking by the Thousand Sons and Iron Warriors. Both factions are polar opposites, one being of the mind and psychic prowess and the other being of logic and stalwart physicality. It made for an interesting read.
Aside from the main narrative, there was a very enjoyable subplot between a Thousand Son named Ahriman and an Iron Warrior called Forrix. This along with the main narrative, left me wanting more by the end and it did a great job in building up my appreciation for Perturabo before delving into his Primarch Novel next.
It's a close call between this and Roboute Guilliman: Lord of Ultramar over which is my favourite Primarch novel so far. I'm sure my opinion may change as I go on, but regardless this is a very good read and I recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about the Primarchs and the Horus Heresy.
February 10, 2024
I read this as the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project reading guide Omnibus III: The Burning of Prospero
(https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) additional material as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the series.
***
Presenting the newest recipient for The Unburdened Award for absolutely not having to be, but coming out of nowhere to be a practically perfect Horus Heresy book: Magnus The Red: Master of Prospero by Graham McNeill!
I will do a proper write up, but I'm all reviewed out after hyperfixating on mythology when I finished my Thousand Sons review earlier, but I absolutely adored this! Of the three Primarchs novels I've read, Lorgar's, Guilliman's, this blows them both out the water and absolutely hits everything on my what I want and need from a Horus Heresy book: deepens our understanding of the characters involved, adds context to the Horus Heresy and/not Warhammer 40K, fleshed out characters I can engage with, relationships and events with emotional weight and drama/ tragedy, great action (preferably not the main focus), etc., etc.
Perturabo made me cry with his fraternal concern and love! Truly magnificent!
Now odd to carry on the story with Morningstar and then to the Great Wolf and Prospero Burns!
(https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) additional material as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the series.
***
Presenting the newest recipient for The Unburdened Award for absolutely not having to be, but coming out of nowhere to be a practically perfect Horus Heresy book: Magnus The Red: Master of Prospero by Graham McNeill!
I will do a proper write up, but I'm all reviewed out after hyperfixating on mythology when I finished my Thousand Sons review earlier, but I absolutely adored this! Of the three Primarchs novels I've read, Lorgar's, Guilliman's, this blows them both out the water and absolutely hits everything on my what I want and need from a Horus Heresy book: deepens our understanding of the characters involved, adds context to the Horus Heresy and/not Warhammer 40K, fleshed out characters I can engage with, relationships and events with emotional weight and drama/ tragedy, great action (preferably not the main focus), etc., etc.
Perturabo made me cry with his fraternal concern and love! Truly magnificent!
Now odd to carry on the story with Morningstar and then to the Great Wolf and Prospero Burns!
February 8, 2018
I am a fan of Warhammer40k. In my view as a lifelong science fiction and fantasy fan, the Warhammer universe is basic goofy fun. What kid wouldn't love super soldiers, aliens and terrible danger wrapped in a big bow of explosions and bullets and swords?
I picked up reading The Primarch series on a whim and I needed a palete cleanser for my brain. I flew through this tale, enjoyed it and then..........it hit me.
My realization probably isn't a new one, but I will state it anyway. The Warhammer40k world bears a huge resemblance to mythology. The Primarchs, the emperor, all the players are just gods and demigods with all their flaws and massive power just making their way through the universe in a constant battle.
Yeah, you all knew that...my bad. Magnus is a good read, very fast and if you are like me, a casual fan of the universe and love to see the backstory and history of characters, check it out. You will be happy.
I picked up reading The Primarch series on a whim and I needed a palete cleanser for my brain. I flew through this tale, enjoyed it and then..........it hit me.
My realization probably isn't a new one, but I will state it anyway. The Warhammer40k world bears a huge resemblance to mythology. The Primarchs, the emperor, all the players are just gods and demigods with all their flaws and massive power just making their way through the universe in a constant battle.
Yeah, you all knew that...my bad. Magnus is a good read, very fast and if you are like me, a casual fan of the universe and love to see the backstory and history of characters, check it out. You will be happy.
July 20, 2025
every time i see the cover i can only think of starscourge radahn
Real review of the Magnus book - 3/5, but again a good 3/5 (similar to my Guilliman review)
I found this to be a pretty solid book! Most of what I know about Magnus is post-Hersey, daemon prince of Tzeentch Magnus, so reading about him (and Perturabo!) pre-all of that was really interesting!
Although it, like the previous two Primarch books, didn't focus fully on Magnus, I didn't actually mind it that time? I thought it was interesting to read about what the other groups were doing at the same time, especially when it (somewhat) joined together at the end. My only real issue with this book Was the ending, as it felt like a lot of information was dumped at once and then the book ended. I enjoyed this though, and definitely would have read more if it were longer!
Overall, a good book in my opinion!
Real review of the Magnus book - 3/5, but again a good 3/5 (similar to my Guilliman review)
I found this to be a pretty solid book! Most of what I know about Magnus is post-Hersey, daemon prince of Tzeentch Magnus, so reading about him (and Perturabo!) pre-all of that was really interesting!
Although it, like the previous two Primarch books, didn't focus fully on Magnus, I didn't actually mind it that time? I thought it was interesting to read about what the other groups were doing at the same time, especially when it (somewhat) joined together at the end. My only real issue with this book Was the ending, as it felt like a lot of information was dumped at once and then the book ended. I enjoyed this though, and definitely would have read more if it were longer!
Overall, a good book in my opinion!
October 31, 2017
The best book in the primarch series so far. Maybe because it deals with one of my favorite primarchs, Magnus the Red of the Thousand Sons, maybe because it was written by Graham McNeill, who also wrote "A thousand sons" and therefore is familiar with the characters in this novel. Maybe it was the setting: Instead of a planetary war, in which the Space Marines participate, two Legions join forces in this novel to evacuate a world that's ravaged by a cataclysm. It was a real treat to read, a welcome change of scenery from the countless other action-infused novels in the Warhammer 40k universe and valuable insights into the mind of Magnus the Red.
April 7, 2019
It's good to see 2 legions working together in an operation other than fighting a war, it's fantastic to see them join force in a rescue and humanitarian operation.
The book managed to show wholesome side of both Perturabo and Magnus without breaking characters at all.
The book also showed much both legions. cared for civilian and the length that they would go to save them. This book has turned Magnus's Crimson King title from just another soulless title, to a meaningful title that he has earned.
However, the ending felt too rush as if the author realized that he has reached his quota.
Such a change of taste in a grim dark universe with a grim twist.
The book managed to show wholesome side of both Perturabo and Magnus without breaking characters at all.
The book also showed much both legions. cared for civilian and the length that they would go to save them. This book has turned Magnus's Crimson King title from just another soulless title, to a meaningful title that he has earned.
However, the ending felt too rush as if the author realized that he has reached his quota.
Such a change of taste in a grim dark universe with a grim twist.
October 2, 2023
An interesting enough portrayal of Magnus, Primarch of the Thousand Sons, as well as his interactions with Pertersbo his brother as they try and prevent a “natural” disaster .
The best bits of the book are actually the bits that focus on young Ahzek Ahriman and his interactions with the Iron Warriors. I could have had an entire book of this to be honest, and it really cements my thoughts that the Thousand Sons were very much trying to be on the “right” side of the story.
We don’t really learn a lot about the origins of Magnus unfortunately, and I think that Alpharius and Kurze get better books, but it is still good stuff.
The best bits of the book are actually the bits that focus on young Ahzek Ahriman and his interactions with the Iron Warriors. I could have had an entire book of this to be honest, and it really cements my thoughts that the Thousand Sons were very much trying to be on the “right” side of the story.
We don’t really learn a lot about the origins of Magnus unfortunately, and I think that Alpharius and Kurze get better books, but it is still good stuff.
January 1, 2024
One of the best novels in the primary series, that you probably shouldn’t read. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great story about the thousand sons, but unless you’re in it for the Iron Warriors parts (which are soooo much better than what you’ll find in Perturabos own primarch novel) you’re better off reading the A Thousand Sons novel in the HH main series. It basically does all the lore on the Thousand Sons and Magnus that you can find in this book and more, so this book becomes a little “unnecessary?” if what you’re looking for is that.
That being said, it’s a good book with an interesting story.
That being said, it’s a good book with an interesting story.
January 19, 2024
I couldn't put it down! This is definitely my favorite Primarch book in the series so far. I've read Guilliman, Jaghatai Khan, Konrad Curze, and now this one. Coincidentally, I actually would rank them in that exact order from worst to best, haha. This book does a great job giving the reader action, mystery, character development, multiple viewpoints, and big revelations. I felt hooked into the world of Morningstar and the characters. The allusions to future events (if you're familiar with the lore) is a nice touch, and the unanswered questions the characters literally ask each other is great foreshadowing.
Highly Recommend!
Highly Recommend!
April 5, 2024
before i read this i’d only been casually absorbing warhammer trivia and lore from my group of friends who were more interested in it than i was and i did find it entertaining but was intimidated by just the amount of lore there is.
i read this kind of on a whim, i was intrigued by magnus the red, after having had many discussions about him with above mentioned friends. i didn’t really expect to follow the story as well as i did having not much prior knowledge into the setting but i was surprised.
i think this is a pretty good book, i enjoyed it as someone who doesn’t really know much about warhammer. i’m actually thinking of reading some of the other warhammer novels now.
i read this kind of on a whim, i was intrigued by magnus the red, after having had many discussions about him with above mentioned friends. i didn’t really expect to follow the story as well as i did having not much prior knowledge into the setting but i was surprised.
i think this is a pretty good book, i enjoyed it as someone who doesn’t really know much about warhammer. i’m actually thinking of reading some of the other warhammer novels now.
May 31, 2017
On the doomed Imperial world of Morningstar, Magnus and his brother Perturabo lead their Legions in an attempt to rescue as many civilians as possible before the planet tears itself apart.
At its core, this is McNeill exploring the conflicting aspects of Magnus – his self belief, his desire to do the right thing, his hubris…he’s a complicated guy with the best intentions, and there are so many great little hints here to the path that he’s already on.
Read the full review at http://www.trackofwords.com/2017/05/3...
At its core, this is McNeill exploring the conflicting aspects of Magnus – his self belief, his desire to do the right thing, his hubris…he’s a complicated guy with the best intentions, and there are so many great little hints here to the path that he’s already on.
Read the full review at http://www.trackofwords.com/2017/05/3...
April 12, 2019
I bought a load of warhammer books (in two different occations) on Humble Bundle. My plan was to read one or two and then move on to something completely different. Every time I decide that this will be the last, at least for a while, I stumble across something like this...
The book is well written and captures the grandeur and absurdities of the Imperium of Man. It fits well together with the other books I've read about The Thousand Sons and was simply a good read with nice mix of inner reflections, action and horror.
The book is well written and captures the grandeur and absurdities of the Imperium of Man. It fits well together with the other books I've read about The Thousand Sons and was simply a good read with nice mix of inner reflections, action and horror.
May 6, 2017
I thought this was a really good book following Magnus the Red and, returning to his past during the dark times of the Horus Heresy. However, the part of the tale I found most captivating was the insight we were given into the mindset of Perturbo, Primarch of the Iron Warriors. I would thoroughly suggest that people read this wonderful work by Graham McNeil, a tome I will definitely be returning too again and again
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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