A Thousand Sons review

A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill

This book is part of a series and as such not really recommended for newcomers to the series. It relies heavily on the reader having some previous knowledge of the setting and events of the previous books. If you haven't read any of the Horus Heresy novels before I recommend you start here.

The latest release in the Horus Heresy series of books from The Black Library, “A Thousand Sons” by  Graham McNeill (author of a number of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 novels, including the Ultramarines series and Storm of Iron), gives us a closer look at the Space Marines of the Thousand Sons legion and its founding father and primarch, Magnus the Red. 

We follow the legion on its crusade to reunite the Imperium of Man with her lost colonies and partake in some of the events that will define the role of the Thousand Sons in the Heresy.
After uncovering an ancient secret hidden beneath a great mountain made by aliens at the primitive planet of Aghoru the Thousand Sons join the Space Wolf legion and the Word Bearers in the assault on the fiercly independent world known by Imperials as “Shrike” due to the giant birds indigenous to the planet. There animosity ignites between the Sons and the Space Wolves, setting of a chain of events that will ultimately decide the role and fate of the Thousand Sons in the coming Heresy.

Having read some of Graham McNeill's previous work for The Black Library I picked up this book expecting more of the well written action, intrigue and suspense that got me hooked on the Ultramarines series, Storm of Iron and his previous Horus Heresy novels, and I must say, I was not disappointed!

Although the Space Marines and mortals in “A Thousand Sons” initially comes off as rather stereotypical (the extremely beautiful but non-sexual female remembrancer, the wise and patient Librarian and the hot-blooded and arrogant Space Marine Commander are all good examples), McNeill still manages to make them interesting and likeable, and even gives us a glimpse into the mind of Magnus the Red himself, portraying a primarch from a first hand perspective (something I believe few if any authors have dared try before).

The story itself is well paced and engaging, and I found it very hard to put the book down, always aching to find out what happens next and I rarely found it too predictable (well, as far as details go at least, most readers will be quite aware of how the over-arching story of the Heresy ends). While not as action-filled as might be expected from a novel about Space Marines, it more than makes up for it in intrigue and drama, and the tragedy of the Sons inevitable fate as the Imperium unravels and turns upon itself is quite simply gripping and what really makes this book shine.

Summary:

An almost essential read for fans of the Warhammer 40,000 setting. While the characters are not the most original or fleshed out, the drama and intrigue as well as the exploration of one of the Heresy's most iconic legions are more than enough to keep the reader hooked.

Mr. McNeill again proves that he really knows how to tell a balanced and intriguing story!

 
9 out of 10