Sigismund: The Eternal Crusader

The Horus Heresy: Characters

by John French

A Horus Heresy Character Series novel

Sigismund, First Captain... Emperor's Champion. The Eternal Crusader! The founder of the Black Templars was many things, and this novel brings him to life as never before.

READ IT BECAUSE

Get a rare glimpse into the mortal life of one of the greatest champions of the Space Marines, before they were recruited. Sigismund’s beliefs would light a fire that still rages 10,000 years later.

THE STORY

The Great Crusade is ending. The Emperor has returned to Terra, while Horus remains among the stars to complete the unification of humanity.

As the Imperial armies fight the final battles of the age, Remembrancer Solomon Voss seeks the answer to one question: why does Sigismund, First Captain of the Imperial Fists and greatest champion of the Legions, believe that war will not end?

Granted a rare audience with the master of the Templars, the answer takes Voss on a revelatory journey to a time before Sigismund became a Space Marine, through his first battles and oaths, to the bitterest duels between Legions.

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Audiobook, Fiction, Fantasy, Action

192 pages, Hardcover

Published February 21, 2022

About the author

John French is a writer and freelance game designer from Nottingham, England. His novels include the Ahriman series from Black Library, and The Lord of Nightmares trilogy for Fantasy Flight. The rest of his work can be seen scattered through a number of other books, including the New York Times bestselling anthology Age of Darkness. When he is not thinking of ways that dark and corrupting beings could destroy reality and space, John enjoys talking about why it would be a good idea... that and drinking good wine.

Reviews

[Marc Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly sublime cross-reference of the character and, as Solar War was, a concise and enduring look at French's wider canon.

Sigismund is a book of profound depth and wondrous commitment to the writer's wider canon. A book at once personal and timeless.

[Simon Mee · Rating 5 out of 5]

You think we will always have to fight because even in the world we are building there will be the cruel and the monstrous.

Sigismund is an interesting attempt to thread the needle. If you know that everything you've seen, suffered, trained for, and carried out is evil, what should motivate you? Sigismund says: yes, your sense of self is good, doing it for your comrades is good but, yeah it all really really sucks doesn’t it and you should get used to doing it for eternity:

'One cut at a time. That's how we create eternity - by making the next cut.'

Sigismund is about sacrificing oneself for the greater good, while needling you about how there isn't really any greater good. Facing the roaming gangs in his youth, Sigismund witnesses the sacrifices of others but those he then tries to protect are left to die, leaving him with nightmares of their flayed faces. He displays courage in front of other trainees that he meets momentarily and it is all inconsequential from a plot perspective. He fights with and for other Legions… …as they commit war atrocities on otherwise peaceful worlds (witches turning their own citizens into reconstituted slurry notwithstanding).

At best, Sigismund becomes someone who respects those who fight the Imperium, though not what they fight for:

'But when you take everything from someone, you let them at least try to kill you for it. We owe them that much.

Sigsmund also runs with some interesting comparisons, not only with other Legions, but changes to what those Legions are. The Blood Hounds become the World Eaters and become quite different between encounters. The Night Lords rescued the orphan Sigismund, but he ends up hating them in particular. Sigsmund even stands for virtue (of sorts) of moderation against a Primarch:

'He will not yield without my willing it,' said Ferrus Manus.
'Would you kill him for it, Templar?'
'No, Lord,' said Sigismund. 'I would not see a brother die for pride.'

French is particularly strong with dialogue. It is not snappy lines as with Abnett, or two opposing monologues smashed together as with Haley. The exchange between Sigismund and Sevatar is not an elevated clash of philosophies, it’s an exchange of barbs:

'Second, I simply don't care.
Third, even though I swore I would stop at two, you are deadly and righteous, but this is not your war and never was, Templar.'

Sigismund is not a happy story. It foreshadows the eternal crusading of the Black Templar chapter Sigismund subsequently founds. He’s not happy:

'If you had known, would you have gone willingly?'
'No,' said Sigismund.

But he’s not stopping either.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

April 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XV Scale and Stone (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras.

Playing catch up here with a Horus Heresy Characters™ novel from two omnibussies ago!

I've said this shpiel a bunch now, but this is the last time it's relevant and I can move on with my life. I have always been a bit leary of the Imperial Fists, Rogal Dorn, Sigismund, and the Black Templars. I have come to realise that this largely comes from my lack of faith in Games Workshop, Black Library, and certain parts of the hobby for how these things are presented and perceived. So much so that I passed on grabbing this and Dorn's books on sale, but they and especially this were worth a full credit. I also just thought the Fists were a bit dull, but I have come around to finding them and Dorn compelling, if repellent, in a similar way I feel about the I and XIII and their Primarchs. On the other hand, between the Horus Heresy and John French, I have really pulled a 180 and have become a unwitting Sigi Stan. With French's writing, Khârn's favour, and just how heartbreaking his scene with Dorn is in The Crimson Fist, there's no way I couldn't fall at least a little in love with this guy. In many ways, he's a Loyalist analogue for my favourite bad boys like Khârn, Argal Tal, and the mirror of Sevatar.

In the waning years of the Great Crusade the (in)famous Remembrancer extraordinaire, Solomon Voss, tracks down the cagey at first, but with more candour and some fascinating and insightful moments of dialogue and interview between the Templar and the poet throughout, the Marshall weaves a narrative from his earliest memories as an orphan on newly united Terra through an exclusive and detailed look at the early selection and induction of Astartes for the Legions when they still only had numerical designations, and many of his famous relationships, for better or worse, with other notable characters, all the way to Ullanor and beyond...

I've read nearly all the Primarchs novels now, but this is my first Characters one and I was unsure if it would be like the Primarchs or more like French's brilliant Praetorian of Dorn, of which half is Dorn's other favoured son's Characters moment. I would say this mostly resembles the Curze and Khan Primarchs books with the framing device and vignettes, but what sets this apart is how strong and contrary to a lot of Imperial perspectives it takes. Sigismund is a loyal son and an honourable warrior, but he never asked to be made into an Angel of Death and he doesn't buy the platitudes about the crusading being over one day. He and French see the monstrous aspect of humanity made manifest in Astartes.

The part thar most intrigued me and felt like the most beautifully wrought was the story of how he came to be Space Marine and his experiences of that process. I don't want to get into detail and spoilers, but I truly admire and appreciate just how warts and all French goes with it. There's such a glorious bleakness that French prioritises and I love that. A lot of Warhammer is all big big baddaboom dakka dakka and that's cool, but this is a grimdark nightmare and that's where French lives. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are many different perspectives and presentations of the Dark Millennia, but my sweet spot is where John's, Blanche and French, and the incredibly grim and ludicrous campness of the Warhammer Monthly comics converge. This isn't particularly camp, bur the induction does have nightmare Blanche vibes.

If I'm completely honest, some of the vignettes are better than others and I would have loved to see more Khârgismund, but as Horus Heresy Characters novel and just a Warhammer book in general it's bloody good and well worth the time for somone who doesn't really care for Sigismund because being the Eternal Crusader, you get to see the changing seasons of the Imperium and the different characters he collides with.

I went back and forth on whether this was a big four or to give it full marks, eventually deciding to give it full marks because it's just so very good, unique, and does something far more interesting with a wonderfully refreshing perspective. I'm also just a sucker for the gorgeousness of French's prose and the incredible way they are able to show the monstrousness of Space Marines and the awful futility of war, while exploring complicated characters with some genuinely heartwarming fraternal relationships and positive masculinity (maybe) without erring into heroics and oohra!

I had a really good time with a book I was sure I wouldn't bother with and that makes me incredibly happy for neurodivergent completionism.

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 32 Horus Heresy novels (including 1 repeat), 20 novellas (including 2 repeats), 111 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 16 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 1 Characters novel, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.

[NekroRider · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 May write more on both Sigismund and Valdor later. But a couple of thoughts on the two Character books. I think I liked Valdor somewhat more because I "felt" more of his introspection from the start (although Sigismund was a child in the beginning). The narratives in both books had a kind of quiet sadness and melancholic atmosphere that worked well. Both champions were taken as children with no choice in their fate. Their "genehancing" and training eventually resulting in an unshakeable acceptance and dedication to duty, which made both books compelling and intense. Worthwhile reads for sure.

[Zare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was truly great read.

Set very near to the start of the Horus Heresy we follow visit of rememberancer Solomon Voss to the Templar unit of the Imperial Fists on the remote battlefield amongst the stars. He is there to write down the personal experiences of one of the most iconic Imperial Fists - Sigismund, commander of the Legion's Templars.

I truly like the way author managed to show Sigismund from the very beginnings, as a refugee in the destroyed parts of Europe (I think) immediately after Unification, fighting for the very survival against the crazy gangs, to his induction into the Legions and finally assignment to the Imperial Fists.

Sigismund is very down to earth person - he himself admits that if he knew he would end up in the Legions he would try running and escaping that fate. But finally finding himself on the front-lines he decides to become the best at the war. His instructors teaching him the ways of war and tactical combat - they all come out being very humane. They are all people that saw tremendous destruction and blood spilling and understand that they are but the tool to achieve a higher goal. And when one is thrown unwillingly into the fray he can at least make sure he survives. And this is what Sigismund does, he trains mercilessly and fights and trains and finally enters the coveted troop of Templars while building his reputation as a swordsman without a peer. His views on Night Lords and World Eaters (two most murderous legions) are also very interesting - Sigismund understands that war is bloody but also understands the need to keep the blood-letting (so to speak) in a way honorable and with certain, lets call it, warrior code ruling it. And here he sees difference between these two psychotic legions.

But being down to earth person means not being able to lie to oneself - and Sigismund surprises Voss when he says that war will never end. And this takes Voss by surprise because everyone expects Great Crusade to finish soon (even Rogal Dorn). Sigismund accurately identifies the one thing that will force the Legions to remain active even after Crusade is over (as I said this takes place before the rebellion of Horus) - need to defend what was conquered during the Crusade because there will always be something threatening the Human Empire. And because of that there will be eternal war amongst the stars.

Excellent novella, I enjoyed the descriptions of Unification era Terra and way Legions treat their recruits. We definitely need more from this period.

Highly recommended.

[Dan Findlay-Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable book, following Sigismund from his days as a child through various periods of his life to the Parade on Ullanor.

Gives a great insight into Sigimunds mindset and that of his brothers.

[Ed Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

John French is a master at this.

[Tazio Bettin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not easy to write an engaging story when centered on a character who is known for having a monolithical, singleminded personality. But in the hands of a capable writer, nuances can appear and make a difference in having a likable, if not relatable character. John did a great job with this. The novel expands on Sigismund's past, exposing his origins and giving us glimpses of why he is the way he is, all the while maintaining the image of Sigismund as the Eternal Crusader, the father of the Black Templars. I especially appreciated his bond of friendship with the World Eaters having exposure. All in all, a good novel to examine the character of Sigismund in depth, and a great little addition to the Horus Heresy novel series.

[AA_Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest entry in the Horus Heresy: Characters series follows the pattern established by the previous two- told through a series of anecdotes, studded with stellar cameos, it’s a really excellent book. John French can be a bit hit-and-miss for me; perhaps it’s the relatively small page count that helps, but of all his books I’ve enjoyed this one by far the most. His Sigismund is perhaps as dour as we’ve come to expect, but his charisma shines through. It’s a proper character study- we get right into his head and see what motivates and shapes him, and by extension his Legion. For want of a better word, this is another mature look at Astartes; like those in Hayley’s ‘Great Work’ they are aware of what has been taken from them and we get one of the most brutal looks at recruitment.

A fantastic book.

[Blazej · Rating 5 out of 5]

John French managed quite a task: he gave substance and context to one of the most mysterious heroes of the Imperium in a way that meshes seamlessly with his Horus Heresy and Siege of Terra appearances. On the way, Sigismund's perspective on the Grim Darkness adds some welcome detail to Primarchs and to the role of religion in Warhammer 41K.

[Kate Curtis-Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been laudatory towards most of the Black Library books that I have read of late. There seems to be a concerted effort on the part of the editorial staff and the writers to craft narratives and characters that go beyond what anyone would expect of a novel that ties in a game that pits armies of assembled and painted plastic warriors against one another, and Sigismund: The Eternal Crusader is no exception. If anything, it stands out from a crowd chocked full of great titles as an excellent one, and I loved every page of it.

Sigismund follows a remembrancer named Solomon Voss as he gets deployed to a combat zone after receiving clearance to interview the first company captain of the Imperial Fists legion of space marines. This captain is named Sigismund and he has recently made a declaration that war will never end, a declaration which has brought the remembrancer forward so he can explain why he believes in such a bleak vision of the future. Over the course of nearly two hundred pages, Sigismund tells his life story to Solomon Voss, and the reader is taken along with the poet as he scribbles out the story while the sounds of war echo out of the battlefield and into the tent where their conversation is set.

This book contains some of the most interesting discussions and stories surrounding war, martial combat, and the cruelty of men that I’ve ever read, but it’s the strength of characterization that Mr. French dedicates to the protagonist that truly sets this novel apart. Sigismund is a character that, like a lot of Warhammer, is incredibly tragic at his core. He was born in a region of Terra that was ruled by violent gangs and, as a result, he was forced to learn how to fight for his own survival and the survival of his loved ones. Something that would eventually lead him to be taken away from his home by the space marines of the eighth legion. It’s a recruitment that he didn’t ask for, but the legions care very little for the opinions of their recruits, they simply need warriors to supply the legions with troops in the coming great crusade.

Perhaps the greatest chapter in the novel is when Sigismund is sent to the World Eaters legion to investigate reports that they’re fighting with tactics that are unnecessarily brutal. Mr. French sets the reader up to expect that the legion is about to do something incredibly awful, but instead, we are given a martial culture that leans into the reality that they are constantly at war. Space marines are nothing but warfighters for the Imperium. They have no future as politicians or world builders, but they try to sugarcoat their exploits in the grand idea that the wars they fight mean something greater simply because there is an ideology behind them. What Sigismund, and the reader, learn is that the World Eaters have no ideological stake in anything, they understand what they are and have chosen to build their culture around combat as a purifying and strengthening force since that is all they will ever do.

We see how this plain acceptance of reality can actually lead to a reduction in cruelty as well. Sigismund and a captain from both the World Eaters and the Ultramarines meet with a rebel leader towards the end of the chapter in the hopes that they can sue for peace. Sigismund realizes that this effort is futile and says that they’ll have to fight because this man and his army are never going to come into compliance with the Imperium. He chooses to ignore the wishes of the Ultramarines captain and orders the engagement to be on foot rather than an orbital bombardment. He explains to the dissenting captain that while decimating his forces from orbit would save Imperial army lives, it would be a denial of everything this man has believed in and his willingness to die in order to stave off the Imperium.

It's a simple conversation and it's one that could have been interpreted very differently if the context surrounding it was a regular war story, but Mr. French is using this moment to discuss the plain realities of war. Combat involves men, men who have complex inner lives that have shaped them and led them to the ideologies that they believe in. It would be easier to see the other side as just “the enemy” and to destroy them without a thought, but that would betray the reality that if the roles were reversed, you’d want a chance to fight as well. Both methods of engagement will be cruel, brutal, and full of death, but only one of them will actually give your enemy some level of respect and humanity.

It’s a chapter that’s contrasted incredibly well with Sigismund’s encounter with the Night Lords, the legion who originally recruited him. These men are the most horrific, barbaric people that bring worlds into compliance through terrorism and outright torture of the populace, and when Sigismund sees it firsthand, he threatens to report what they’ve done and have the legion censured. However, Sevatar, the first company commander of the Night Lords, explains that they are doing what they have been ordered to do by Terra. Sigismund could report it, but there would be no censure.

This contrast between the World Eaters and the Night Lords is nothing short of a masterstroke by Mr. French. One legion has decided to embrace their position as warfighters and has developed a culture of gladiatorial combat and honor around that position, which has led to suspicion and a need for investigation by the Imperium. Another legion has been ordered to terrorize a populace in increasingly brutal ways, and it's by orders of the Imperium. It makes the reader question exactly what sort of government this is, that perhaps its high-minded idealism is false, and whether or not there’s any difference between it and the lawless gang syndicates of Sigismund’s youth.

It's these sorts of moral questions that have continually brought me back to stories set in the Warhammer universe. These kinds of issues can be underrepresented in modern science fiction, and Mr. French wrote about them better than any Black Library I’ve come across. He developed deep questions surrounding war, mortality, cruelty, and humanity and he did it in less than two hundred pages while writing an incredibly fascinating cast of characters. It’s even a story that lends itself to being re-read, there are details about his recruitment and his interactions with Solomon Voss that will likely only be noticed after a reader has already experienced where the story goes, and that’s a tremendous feat no matter what genre a book is written in.

Just why it is that Sigismund believes war will never end, I won’t say. You should read the book yourself for that answer, but it's difficult to argue with his reasoning, and how the life he lived would lead to any other belief.

[A.R · Rating 3 out of 5]

An... interesting book. Honestly I am probably not being fair to this book. This is my first 40k book, and is more of a deep dive into a specific character than a true book. It goes through years of his life, from before he was a space marine to well into him becoming a big name. It was interesting, but just snippets of different times without going deep into any one specific timeframe. I would not recomend this book to anyone trying to get into 40k. Will have to try another series.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sort of stuff that the Horus Heresy novel series was launched to achieve. Intelligent, meditative, lyrical, and an attempt to be truly honest about what the Adeptus Astartes are, and why. This is one of the more accessible Heresy books I've read, but it's still going to be pretty thick to outsiders.

Fans of 30K-40K, the Imperial Fists, and most especially the Black Templars should not miss this one.

[Jonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, John french is a master at what he does, really enjoyed this one and also interesting to see interactions between Sigismund and other notable Characters.

[Richard Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Horus Heresy novel, and is written with the assumption that a reader has a pretty strong familiarity with the series and the larger Warhammer 30k/40k universe. A reader without at least a passing familiarity with the Horus Heresy, the major events, the characters, and Sigismund himself will likely not get much out of this novel.

For Horus Heresy fans who want to engage with this novel primarily for pulpy Warhammer goodness (stoic Space Marine heroes, bloody battles, and being moved by reading a story about future space conquerors naively believing they can progress forever), this novel will give you more than you fill of it while telling you the story of a very important figure in the Horus Hersey. And as to be expected from John French, his prose very much evokes the "civilized Roman brutality" feel one wants within the Horus Heresy setting.

On a deeper level, the novel invites the reader to understand a man on a quest for principles to live in the face of a (frankly horrific life) as a transhuman super-soldier in a universe that knows "only war." It is fascinating how Sigismund, in the course of this novel, relates to other characters who are similarly committed to maintaining their principles in the face of hardship. It is surprising to find a Warhammer novel willing to explore existentialist themes, and for that reason I would rate this novel as one of the best Warhammer fiction to come out of Black Library in years.

[Hallien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good read, but I think it is targeted mainly at Horus Heresy veterans. It feels like a character study - most of the book is composed of scenes from Sigismund's past as he recalls them for the remembrancer Solomon Voss to capture. Voss' role in the story is very limited - he is a mouthpiece that poses philosophical questions about the purpose of the Legiones Astartes and Sigismund's motivations and goals.
There are some very good scenes here, although the book jumps between fast paced action segments and slow descriptions during moments of importance such as Sigismund's oath or the triumph at Ullanor somewhat jarringly.
I think it is a must read for all Horus Heresy fans, but I would not recommend it to readers unfamiliar with the setting or the characters. So an easy 4/5 for veterans, but probably more like a 2/5 for newbies.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Find the Truth and you will need nothing else"

This book is a masterclass in how to write portraits of epic characters. This book, for me, stands with only one other amongst the Primarchs and Characters series, the other being Brooks' Alpharius.

French has real poetry to his narrative, something that strikes an emotional chord, understanding the driving forces behind all of the characters he works with.

Many of the books in this series are, largely pointless, crusade era yarns without heart or connection that, in many cases, have but a passing connection to the key character on the cover. This is a true character portrait, as these books should be.

Superb.

[Christopher Prats · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this book a five star rating if for no other reason than because I’m a massive Imperial Fist, Black Templars fan, but for all this book’s good points.

It’s ultimately a short story, and much of what it adds are the things you expect, have heard about already, and would have expected. Nothing is surprising, and while that’s not a bad thing, it’s just not spectacular either.

Good book, and Sigismund is, as ever, the eternal badass.

[Vigneswara Prabhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

After completing ‘Sigismund-Eternal Crusader’ by John French, I was left with more ambiguity than when I had first started reading. Before going into the story, the only things I knew about the character was for being the Emperor’s Champion, as well as the first High Marshall of the newly formed Black Templar chapter.

Now, if you know anything about the Black Templar, if there is a word which defines the entire purpose of the chapter, it would be ‘zealous’; or you know ‘Crusading’ of the eternal kind. These guys are the 40k equivalent of the Knights Templar in real history, devoted to the Emperor to an almost pathological degree, and willing to scour entire civilizations should they happen to run counter to the emperor’s light. As such, they maintain something called the eternal crusade, forever committed to wage war in the name of the Emperor in whichever battlefield needs them. Seeing as how this is Warhammer 40000, it’s fertile grounds for purveyors of war, as there is much to go around.

In a surprising departure from most 40K novels, the narrative is not centered around any particular war or invasion. Anyone who has read more than a couple warhammer novels, especially those featuring Adeptus Astartes, can attest to this structure. There is some overarching campaign or invasion, Space Marines are deplored to the warzone, a series of battles and confrontations ensue, with intermittent periods of story and character development (if any).

This story instead, could be considered a character study, of the undefeated champion of the Imperial Fists champion, from the moment he is first unwittingly ‘volunteered’ for the dangerous and inhumane procedures and training leading to the formation of humanity’s finest super soldiers. We see through a series of recollections, as he learns, hones his skills in battle, rising through the rank to become a veteran confidant of the primarch Rogal Dorn.

While performing his duty with the characteristic stoicism and poise that defines his legion, Sigismund has nonetheless a seed of contention festering in his soul. As to what the purpose of his existence is. The genetic enhancement and psycho indoctrination tell his rational mind, his purpose is to be a weapon, to be waged by the emperor, for the good of humanity. Still, that part of him, perhaps a relic of the times before, gazes at the abyss and struggles to seek purpose, the end, his ultimate calling.

We see, in his memories, how he meets and learns from personalities in his life, from his own battle brothers to brothers from other legions to his venerable gene-sire and even the venerable God Emperor, blessed by his name in the hallowed grounds of Holy Terra. Each experience brings him closer to the answer, that vague specter which has eluded him all his life.

The other half of the narrative, interspersed with his memories, is the interview he’s engaged in at current time, with respected remembrancer Soloman Voss, who, despite being only human, is able to gleam from the stoic warrior, answers which centuries of war and seeking had not yet manifested.

Now, around this part is where the story sort of leaves you hanging, with no satisfactory conclusion. This might in part be, due to the fact that chronologically, the novel takes place in a past, the future of which has already come to pass. Or because Sigismund, our protagonist, is a character who is still in midst of his Hero’s journey; the conclusion of which we the readers are privy to, not he himself.

It’s the problem with these sorts of prequels; the story you tell has to incorporate events which have already transpired. Not everyone can pull off a ‘Better Call Saul’ nicely tying into ‘Breaking Bad’.

Lastly, when I mentioned that the story was different from your usual 40K fanfare, this doesn’t mean there is no fighting. Astartes are genetically engineering war machines, and said process often tends to strip them of their very identities. With it, common human emotions and empathy. In fact, it’s mentioned multiple times how, when interacting with normal people, Space marines are either awkward, unable to grasp the nuances of human interactions, or in case of chaos marines, treat them as no better than slaves or meat bags.

So, the best and only way that the astartes are able to create a bond, is through battle. Sigismund is no exception, bonding with his battle brothers through training battles, with members of other chapters such as the world eaters and night lords through ultraviolet duels. The former of which is like the de facto and only way anyone can get those meat heads of the red sands to listen. While the latter, seeing as how we’re talking about Night Lords, is less about bonding, and more not ending up killing one another violently. Let’s face it, outside of the Night Lords trilogy, Konrad Curze and his legion tends to be grade A pieces of shits. Sort of comes with the whole sadistic torture and fear mongering amongst mortals schtick they have.

In conclusion, if you mind the slow burn, and entire chapters of grown men reminiscing about fond older times, Sigismund-the eternal crusader is a different flavor for those seeking to explore the lore of one of the arguably most entertaining loyalist factions in 40k. Good reading.

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

"To die in battle means that your enemy lived. Any enemy that you face in war should end at your hand. There is no exception to this. Victory, eternal victory, is about one strike, one kill, so that you can kill the next one, and the next, and the next after that. One cut at a time. That's how we create eternity - by making the next cut." - Appius Weapons Master of the Templars

Sigismund's past has been explored before in the audio drama "Templar" and the short story "Champion of Oaths" but this novel chronicles his life starting in the refugee camp in the Ionus platuea, and detailing the trials to select candidates to become Legiones Astartes and then continuing to his time fighting during the Great Crusade. The story is told through the framing device of remembrancer Solomon Voss (see the short story "The Last Remembrancer) approaching Sigismund after the Triumph of Ullanor to ask him why he believes the Crusade will never end.

Sigismund is often held up as the ideal Astartes, as the Emperor's Champion, but what does it mean to be an Astartes?

The Matriarch of the Luna Gene Cults tells a young Sigismudn that: "You are not to be children of kindness, and your rebirth shall not be kind..... Unkind offspring for the last days of an age of ignorance."

Sigismund as an Aspirant, when asked what he believed the Astartes to be he answered: "A thing of the dark to sent to prey on the living". Even now as an accomplished veteran, he sees what happened to him as kidnapping, not something he would have submitted to if given the choice.

Fafnir Rann training as a Neophyte said to his brother: "We are becoming monsters Sigismund ... We are becoming things that will crush and kill, and our existence will create as much terror as hope. Monsters, death incarnate. Of all the things that the stars have seen, they will have seen nothing like us".

Rogal Dorn tells his warriors: "War is pain and suffering. It is loss and darkness and death. It is the bitterest of deeds. It is our burden my warriors. We are makers of war. We create it, we hold it in our blood. There will be no kind end for any of us. There will be only war."

Clearly to be one of the Legiones Astartes is not a pleasant fate. It is to live a life of suffering, with rest only coming in death. French really captures the bleakness of the Imperium and what it means to be one of the Emperor's Angels of Death.

The book really works well as a dissection of the character of Sigismund. Sigismund was taken as a child by the Nightlords, "We have come for you". As a matter of fate, he was a closer match for the Imperial Fist geneseed. But the idea that he could have been one of them, midnight-clad, lingers. Parallels can definitely be drawn between Sigismund and Sevetar, devoted sons seeking to uphold their father's ideals, trapped within the confines of the Imperium, made into weapons without their consent.

Also a brief but fantastic scene with Kharn, always a favourite of mine.

Sigismund is defined more than anything by duty. He does not appear to relish combat or find joy in war, rather he is committed to his orders, carrying them out with the steadfast diligence that so defines the Imperial Fist. It is almost as if he is an automata, almost but not quite. He is still a man, still capable of rage, doubt, and even faith. His conviction, his will is strong, but the universe challenges it constantly, and it is through that challenge that he becomes defined as a character. He exists in opposition to challenge. A boy made into a weapon. A man who knows that it was wrong to be made into a weapon. A weapon that will do its duty. It appears a contradiction but to me it seems to be at the heart of the character.

Sigismund goes on to appear in the Siege of Terra series, and his final duel takes place in "Black Legion" by ADB.

'Did you wish to be a warrior?' Asked the primarch.
'No' said Sigismund.
A flicker in the flame filled the depths of the primarch's gaze.
'Then why do you stand here?'
'For those who cannot.'
Dorn held his gaze and the grasped his hand in the flames.
'Speak your oath, Sigismund,' he said.

[Gordon Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horus Heresy fan favourite Sigismund, master swordsman of the Imperial Fists legion and proto-Templar, gets his own cameo-ridden novel and character study, light on plot but strong on philosophy.

To me, veteran of more 40k books than is healthy or sensible, the Imperial Fists are the most natural followers of the Emperor's vision for the universe. Where the Word Bearers revere Big E as a god and the Ultramarines apply logic and practical solutions to build an empire in his name, the Fists, on top of their deep love of fortifications, are crusaders at heart; purging aliens and spreading the secular Imperial Truth to the far reaches of humanity, and obliterating unbelievers not because they have been told to but because they believe in it. Sigismund, almost certainly the most famous Fist and the crusader's crusader, explores these themes via a bunch of statistically unlikely (it's a big, big galaxy yet paths cross as often as is narratively convenient) encounters with other great brains and some of the best swordsmen of other legions.

In the best possible way this leads to a character picture full of contradiction. Sigismund is both noble hero and brutal killer; a role model and example in a society of imperialist warriors. Any anti-Kaladin resolute in the belief of the virtue of endless war and genocide in search of a peace that will never be achieved.

A combat-enhanced thinker of a book that poses more questions than it answers, jam packed with Easter eggs for people very familiar with the many, many other books with which it shares a setting. Probably best avoided for 40k newcomers.

[Shaun Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second 40k(30k) novel, and after visiting the Black Fortress the first time around, I thought reading about some important characters in the lore might be a good idea, so I settled on Sigismund based on reviews here and what B&N had on the shelf.

It's a pretty interesting book, told via something of an interview between Voss, a sort of scribe/writer of history and important figures, and Sigismund himself. The story starts when Sigismund is just a young lad on his homeworld, follows his abduction by the Astartes and his ascension through the 7th Legion's ranks, eventually becoming First Captain.

Not knowing a ton of lore (just enough to be dangerous at this moment) I felt this book shone a decent light on an important man's past life and showed how he got to the respected position he now holds. He is a man who is a perfect soldier but doesn't like the war the Imperium is waging and the thought that the Grand Crusade will never end weighs on him throughout the book.

Ultimately the story ends with the Emperor making Horus the Warmaster for the crusade (and we all know how well that's going to go) and the 7th (and Sigismund) discovering they will now be the Emperor's personal guard on Terra. It all wraps up with a neat bow leading directly into the Horus Heresy.

All in all, I enjoyed this book even if it may not be essential reading to understanding the 40k universe.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A more detailed dive into a fan favourite character

I kept asking myself did I need this story? did we need this story? the other two character pieces by blacklibrary were very much appreciated and incredibly interesting explorations of their respective characters that needed to be explored more due to either their fleeting presence throughout the horusvheresy or the elusive presence during it.

However sigismund has been featured recently and often, throughout the horus heresy and thus the question 'did we need this? The answer is.... yes and no. Yes its a little more history and exploration of sigismund with some great new perspectives on some key events. No as it did not add anything new that we didn't already know. Fans will love this and will be very happy with some of Sigismund's famous duels.

[Ahmed Abdelmotal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me preface my review with the admission that I'm not a fan of the Imperial Fists, Black Templars or Dorn, but I am a fan of the Crimson Fists- but then again who doesn't love those guys? :D

Wasn't expecting much from this novel and most of the first half barely held my attention. Came off as very generic Astartes action and origin story with a Remembrancer thrown in for a little flavour.

Second half was much better and that's only because we got a lot of interactions with other characters that are much more beloved. Kharn and Sevatar breath life back into this novel. Seeing Primarches interacting during the Great Crusade is always interesting, especially Ferrus Manus since we see so little of him for obvious reasons.

Overall, a novel for Dorn and Imperial Fist fans, but even with the cameos, this is one those novels that can be skipped by everyone else. For me the cameos were the only reason I gave this novel 3 stars.

[Gamer Gamersson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book! The earlier chapters on Sigismund's life before he was a Space Marine and his sense of unease at becoming a glorified weapon of war are both really compelling. His interactions with other legions are also really really cool.

Once again, John French has turned what I believe are some of the most boring characters in most Warhammer media (Dorn and his yellow boys) into really deep characters, which are really fun to delve into. Up to par with what I've grown to expect from him.

[Tyson Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigismund the Eternal Crusader tells the story and origin of Sigismund, the mightiest space marine and future Black Templar Founder. The book shows Sigismunds interaction with other space marines from different legions which gave interesting insight. Overall an enjoyable read and I would recommend to 40k fans.

[Jayme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the Templars. Sigismund is a pretty interesting contrast to Rogal Dorn. I think they create a great dyamic. Sigismund being the goat at swordfighting is cool because when he inevitably goes full religious (not in this book but well known in the cannon) it seems to retroactively validate everything prior - which this book covers. Great read.

[N L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book into the insight of what a super human bred for war would feel like. Although I am just getting into 40k, it still provides a lot of context and more questions if you want to learn more about other factions. I did find it hard to read, but if you read slower, it is much better, and I had difficulty with speed reading until this one. Each word is important, and great care is within each sentence. I suggest getting a little context before reading then hitting this one up!

[Maginnis Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, got a better understanding of the primarch Rogal Dorn, but It was a bit short, and lacked a real I threshing connected plot. It was more like a bunch of little short stories with a little bit of sentence between

[Jason Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of praise out there for John French's Sigismund. It's a good book - but I don't think it's one of the better Warhammer books. The plot jumps around a lot and I never truly invested in the main character. I'm hopeful that some of French's other work lives up to the hype.