Astorath: Angel of Mercy

Warhammer 40,000

by Guy Haley

A Blood Angels Limited Edition

In the aftermath of the Devastation of Baal, Astorath, Redeemer of the Lost, is drawn to Dulcis by the call of the Black Rage. There he finds a successor Chapter on the brink of destruction and something that will shake all the sons of Sanguinius to their core.

READ IT BECAUSE
Discover one of the Blood Angels' most fascinating characters, the warrior tasked with the grim duty of ending the threat of the Black Rage wherever it occurs.

THE STORY
Following the Devastation of Baal and the arrival of the Primarch Roboute Guilliman’s Indomitus Crusade, Commander Dante of the Blood Angels has been appointed Lord Regent of all Imperium Nihilus. Working with the successor chapters of the Blood Angels, Dante commands that the area around the Red Scar be scouted in preparation for reconquest. The Red Wings’ sweep has led them to the foetid world of Dulcis, dangerously near to the Cicatrix Maledictum itself. Decimated by the tyranids during the war for Baal and only lightly reinforced by Primaris Space Marines, the Red Wings Chapter are in no position to deal with the events that unfold there. Strange psychic phenomenon and a deadly xenos enemy threaten the great hope of all the Chapters of the Blood – that the flaw in Sanguinius’ geneseed has at last been tamed. Drawn by the Black Rage to Dulcis, Astorath the Grim, Lord High Chaplain and Redeemer of the Lost, comes to aid the Red Wings. But what he discovers there will shake the Chapters of the Blood to their very core.

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Military Fiction, Novella, Fiction, Audiobook

205 pages, Leather Bound

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Guy Haley is the author of over 50 novels and novellas. His original fiction includes Crash, Champion of Mars, and the Richards and Klein, Dreaming Cities, and the Gates of the World series (as K M McKinley). However, he is best known as a prolific contributor to Games Workshop's Black Library imprint.

When not writing, he'll be out doing something dangerous in the wild, learning languages or gaming.

Reviews

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Astorath is a bit of an enigma and this book somehow fleshed him out whilst also adding to his mystery.
What was written best was making the Space Marines menacing to normal humans through their actions rather than telling you that they are scary.
The start was a little slow, but I understood it was necessary for the latter half.

[AA_Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not only the antagonists of this book that have a very Rogue-Trader vibe; the deployment of Astartes as law-enforcement is very reminiscent of the early days of 40K and is refreshing for that. Guy Hayley is surely now the main writer of the Blood Angels and their successors and has such a good grip on writing them. This novel, though short, sheds light on an aspect of the chapter that I was largely unaware of until now and the function of Astorath adds an interesting new depth to my appreciation of the chapter.

As is often the case with Hayley, the world building is nicely done (after Dark Harvest a second BL novel full of killer eels maybe qualifies as a trend or stealth Idoneth marketing) and there are fresh and original takes on Xenos PoV scenes.

[Max Falcon · Rating 4 out of 5]

First blood angels novel and it really makes it interesting being such a standalone story. The rage and primaris interaction is really interesting and Astorath is completely different then how I thought in the best way. Only issue id say is a fight that feels not only unnecessary, but one that should have been significantly more one sided.

[Kyle Harrivel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haley is one of my favorite writers of Warhammer novels. He always tell an excellent story and creates such good characters. Astorath is no exception.

The book initially follows a group of Red Wings, a successor chapter of the blood angels, as they investigate strange occurrences on the planet Dulcis. As events progress It becomes necessary for Astorath, High chaplain of the blood angels, to get involved. I don’t wish to spoil any of the books events but if you know anything about the lore behind the Blood Angels, you kinda know why Astorath gets involved in anything. The novel does reveal a bit more about the “black rage” and its origins, but not anything super eye opening or revolutionary. It does reveal some things about the new Primaris space marines and how the rage effects them though.

The book is told from multiple points of view and the characters, besides Astorath, are not too fleshed out. Although to his credit, Haley does a great job developing characters in so short a novel, as he always does in his writing. The novel did not heavily focus on combat like some warhammer novels, but that’s ok because the events of the book progress more like a hunt than a battle or war. The combat scenes that it does contain are well done and very descriptive. The reader is able to view each attack and defense easily and with great detail. Haley creates vivid images of combat in this novel.

If you are a fan of Haley’s work get this one. If you like the Blood Angels chapter of the space marines, you’ll want to get this as well. Overall it’s another very well donde warhammer novel by Haley.

[antik04 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short novel mirrors "Lemartes" in scope, focusing on another key Blood Angels character. The book serves as a small epilogue to the Tyranid invasion trilogy ("Devastation of Baal" and "Darkness in the Blood").

The story's strength lies in its exploration of Primaris Marines joining the Blood Angels. It highlights their raw power but inexperience, contrasting with the Firstborn Space Marines who bring centuries of wisdom about their chapter's curses and challenges..

The book stumbles with its title character. Despite being the protagonist, Astorath barely speaks or acts during the story. A character of his significance deserves more development and screen time. The author missed an opportunity to dig deeper into this legendary figure.

As a continuation of the Tyranid invasion saga, the book adds value. But it fails to fully deliver on its premise of exploring Astorath himself.

Rating: 3/5

[Cory Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been a great book. The subject matter, characters, and setting were poised for greatness but alas, it comes up short in most regards. The scale is too small, the stakes too low (by Warhammer standards), and the characters that should be playing center stage are largely overshadowed by a confusing, stale, and sometimes hard to follow story.

I am a huge Guy Haley and Blood Angels fan and this book failed to excite me and often times bored me to the point of having to force myself to finish it.

An absolute missed opportunity for what could have been an amazing book. I still love Guy Haley as an author though and will give anything Blood Angels he writes a read 10/10 times.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A suitably bleak story about life in the grimdark future that puts the relationship of the Imperium’s super soldiers and common people into perspective. People die through no fault of their own and sometimes there’s just no helping it. Powerful people will do anything to keep their secrets. Such a necessary reminder of what a downer this setting is.

[Ronan Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very atmospheric short story about the loss of identity and the renewal of the Angel's struggle with the Black Rage. Guy Haley interprets the Rage very well, as a kind of original sin - the Angels identify themselves around it as a way of knowing Sanguinius, hence Astorath's central symbolic role and his somber characterisation. The Shadow over Innsmouth setting helps a lot with this, too.

[Joffrey Gielen · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book named for a character, that character is absent for half of the book. Even when the focus shifts to him and his group, we spent more time with one of the people closest to Astorath than the man himself. While this adds to the mystery of the eponymous character, it's also a bit of a let down. Despite this, the story isn't bad, just a tad standard.

[Stefan78s · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Something that will shake all the sons of Sanguinius to their core" is the literary equivalent of click bait. If you've played the games then you'll know this book is years too late for any kind of reveal. As it is nothing happens and even though the book is quite short it still seems to drag.

[Cheyne Pena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great Blood Angels novel for someone beginning to look into Astorath the Grim.
He is a complicated character that is often seen with suspicion as the Angels Reaper, and he will go to the galaxy's end to do his job.

[Jayme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe the Blood Angels are the coolest faction. Whole story about their secret Vampire hunter who tracks down those of their own too far gone. Super sick. And the climax was well worth the build up 🫡🫡🫡

[hank · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last few Chapters make this story worthy of 5 stars.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was kinda cool to learn a bit more about the issues affecting Primaris marines vs regular marines, but an otherwise rather bland story and characters. Nothing much really happens.

[Alan Aspinall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

If your a fan of the blood angels then this is the book for you. We follow a group of blood Angel successes as they battle an enslaved out brake on a world near the great rift

[Tom Forino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. Learned a lot about the Blood Angels that i didnt know about before and it fratured a very rare not often talked about Xeno race!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of the year, done!

Blood Angels are sad. Warhammer is sad really. But Astorath is cool and I enjoyed Guy Haley's writing a lot! Now to go back and read Dante and Darkness in the Blood.

[Igc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bão e sombrio

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but surprisingly fun. I liked that it was a low-stakes adventure for a change too.

Also, almost a take on Apocalypse Now at times, should maybe have leant more heavily into that.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"They are doom incarnate"

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh, hoped for more

[Alberto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creo que no me gustaría recibir la misericordia de ese ángel... Igualmente creo que preferiría no vivir en el universo Warhammer. ¿A alguien le gustaría? Me pregunto...
En fin, este libro está genial porque se adentra en los hijos de Sanguinius y nos da algunos datos extra del lore. La participación de Astorath fue muy buena, aunque no estoy seguro de qué pensar con respecto a la manera en la que enfrentó a un enemigo casi al final del libro (no daré detalles). Por otro lado, me encantó el desarrollo de los personajes y los giros inesperados de la trama. Realmente por ese tipo de cosas es que sigo leyendo estos libros. Comienzo a cansarme de las tramas predecibles. Esta no lo es... al menos no lo es tanto.

[Tepintzin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave this book a second chance with the audiobook. Still not a fan. Too much time spent on a character who is ultimately inconsequential and the action, which is mostly against giant eels, is tedious. Astorath and Dolomen have great banter, but we get far too little of it.

[Stefan Koepeknie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Marsh Eels !"