One of the best 40k books I’ve ever read. Fantastic read for canon and understanding the of the 40k warp mechanics/mythology. Exciting and engaging all the way through. I would have liked more development of the primaris marines and Belisarius Cawl’s effects on them, but so much got packed into this book already. Great read

Got a copy from Netgalley (but then downloaded the audiobook when it was on sale):

This is a great starting off for a newbie to 40k. It also works extremely well for people who've read a million of this books like I have (okay not a million but nearing a hundred at this point).

A compelling tale that captures the inherent satire at the core of the setting whilst also introducing characters you care about and want to follow, which is NOT common in Warhammer. Usually you are delighting in the exploits of irreprehensible monsters, BUT never fear the bastards are here!

Glorious action, WILD demons, great characters, and the start to a truly compelling story.

This story is the first in a series that Halley will be writing focusing on the Indomitus crusade in the 40k universe. As a 40k book it stands out as a great story, with excellent character and plot development. As a stand alone science fiction book it holds up as well. If your a 40k fan you will enjoy it. If not, some parts of the story will be confusing but i believe non fans will still find it enjoyable.

The story follows several different characters after a cataclysmic event rips the universe apart, separating the different parts of the empire of man into individual parts left to fend for themselves. The event also allows the forces of chaos to spill into the universe. The indomitus crusade is lunched to retake the lost parts of the empire and push back the chaos forces. The character development is excellent as each one advances further on their journey. The battles scene are done well and the emotion each character feels during the events of the story is conveyed excellently. Through the characters and battle scenes the reader really gets an impression of how dire circumstances are and how desperate things are for mankind in this age. But Halley also succeeds in creating a sense of hope that drives the characters to battles against insurmountable odds.

Overall, anyone who thinks themselves a warhammer 40k fan will live it. It’s filled with great world building, characters, and emotionally driven narratives. Anyone just a fan of epic science fiction war books should check it out as well.

Is there anything better than starting a new series within a favorite universe? Haley does a great job setting the tone of the Indomitus crusade, and furthering the worldbuilding that he, among others, have spent so much time and effort developing. He continues to show his skill at multi-POV writing, with each viewpoint adding to the story in a seamless manner. As a first book, it should set the hook for the rest of the series, and Avenging Son does that masterfully.

I did things slightly backwards, but that's okay. I read The Gate of Bones first, which is the second book in the Dawn of Fire series. So reading Avenging Son ended up as a prequel to me, even though it's the first book of the series. Star Wars prepared me well for such things.

Anyway, Avenging Son - the primarch reborn, Roboute Guilliman, launches the Indomitus Crusade, a military undertaking that eclipses all others in known history. As vessels in their thousands burn through the cold void, the attention of Fleetmistress VanLeskus turns to the Machorta Sound, a region under attack by a dreaded Slaughter Host of the Dark Gods. The success of the Indomitus Crusade will be determined by this conflict, and the desperate mission of Battlegroup Saint Aster, led by Space Marine Lieutenant Messinius.

The story is told from a few perspectives. Messinius and the new Primaris Marines give good contrasting accounts - Messinius is confident in not just his ability but in himself until he realises that the Primaris are really his replacement and other than experience, they're better than he is. The Primaris Marines know they're good but filled with so much self-doubt about how they fit in and their experiences. I particularly liked how they addressed that the Primaris are stronger, faster and all-around better equipped than a normal Space Marine, all except for those decades of inexperience that means they lose some of that edge. They question things, they worry about how they will do considering that they've never actually been to battle or killed anyone/anything before. Showing the inside of their minds before being awakened was something else and absolutely brutal - they die in the simulation and are told that the simulation will restart and they need to do better, kill more before they are killed. Basically told in no uncertain terms that they are a weapon and expected to die, but their aim is to take down the maximum number of whatever enemy they are against with them.

There are also some human elements mixed in with the Space Marines which add a different dimension to the Space Marines. These aren't people that are weapons, they're just people. Some with a higher purpose than others, like Inquisitor Rostov of the Ordo Xenos and Imperial Guard Lieutenant Lacrante, whose story I wanted more of. The team that Rostov is building and showing it from Lacrante's view could be in a book of their own and it'd be brilliant.

Then there's a small subplot about a scribe going through an Emperor inspired adventure through the hives of Terra, to bring a missive containing a warning about the Pariah Nexus. This sadly really became a subplot as it had a few chapters and then vanished for a massive part of the book. This story though is dark and depressing, which is well suited for a Warhammer 40k book.

Other interesting parts include showing how there's clear distrust between Guilliman and Cawl. Cawl is a showman, making announcements and displays to the Primarch with maximum flamboyance, and his comments on the history of the Space Marines was a real highlight, and it makes sense that he would know more about how they came to be and why than anyone else alive.

AVENGING SON takes a while to really get going as you jump from character to character, but when it does you're in for a ride, particularly as certain characters stories intertwine and the crusade kicks into motion. It's well-written, packed full of interesting characters and stories, including one of the more depressing W40K subplots than I can remember. Life on Terra is bleak!

Rating: 4/5

Avenging Son is a solid start to a new mega series. I very much enjoyed it and will certainly be reading the sequel.

All that being said, I did have a few quibbles - For a first book in a series, it left me with the feeling of missing information (vague references are made to major past events that don’t seem to be covered in any Black Library title). Unlike past Black Library titles, this novel also takes it as a given that the reader is intimately familiar with all the newly introduced troop designations for the armies involved and their equipment with insufficient context being offered to be able to understand what is being discussed (without consulting the Lexicanum).

Loved this book, the introduction of the Primaris marines and all that they may represent was very much something that I hadn't considered before their arrival, and in that, perhaps I was very much like the Imperium in how I viewed things. This was the book that opened my eyes to the fact that perhaps I wasn't the only one that thought like this.

The action scenes are nothing less than what I would expect from any 40k novel, but as with Helsreach, it was the characters that made this book as good as it was. I don't go for flawless characters, and in a universe like this, it would be easy to paint most of the characters as exactly that, but it wasn't the way it went. I like that the Primaris were acknowledged as faster, stronger, better equipped, every bit the equal of a normal marine, except that they hadn't had decades, sometimes centuries of experience, and that made them not a weapon that could contend.

I liked very much that there was a sense of conflict in Guillimans actions, an uncertainty, and although this may be the book that starts the Indomitus crusade, the crusade begins very differently from the Horus Heresy all those years ago.

It's an excellent start to the new story series, I hope that the rest of the books live up to the promise of this one.

Great book. Wonderful start to a new series set in the warhammer 40k universe. Can't wait to read book 2. Will tell my friends and family to definitely buy.

Avenging Son is the first novel in a new nine-part series, which tells the story of Roboute Guilliman’s Indomitus Crusade. I was surprised when this series was announced, set as it is prior to Haley’s Dark Imperium novels. Originally pitched as the start of the “new” WH40k meta-story, and set during the Indomitus Crusade, the Dark Imperium novels dropped readers into the action some decades into the Crusade. So, the fact that Black Library commissioned this series, before the Dark Imperium trilogy was completed, was interesting: perhaps they thought they needed to go back, fill in a bunch of details in order to better-situated fans of the franchise? No idea. Regardless, it’s a strong start to a series, and I enjoyed it.

The novel starts a bit shakily — not because there’s anything wrong with Haley’s writing or characters (they are, of course, excellent). Rather, it was a little unclear where the novel was actually going until about a quarter of the way in. The first few chapters introduce us to a handful of key characters, many of them new. It felt a bit fragmented, without much tying all of the characters together — perhaps this was done in order to reflect the fragmented nature of the Imperial forces at the time of the emergence of the Great Rift. When things started to click into place, the shape of the story became much clearer — normally, I would think this a bit too late to happen, but given that I’m pretty committed to reading the WH40k story, I was more forgiving.

Avenging Son is very much an opening act. It serves to introduce readers to the various Imperial forces being marshalled for the crusade, it establishes the galactic situation, and also gives readers far more insight into the unveiling of the Primaris Marines. I thought the latter was particularly well-done, and Haley spends quite some time giving the readers an idea of what these new warriors are actually like — not as in other BL fiction, but right from the start. They are prodigiously talented, but utterly inexperienced. Messinius (the fellow in white on the cover) is attached to a force of Primaris, and it’s his job to provide real-world training, to help forge them into a functioning battle force and simultaneously encourage them to see themselves as protectors of humanity, while not being separate from them:

‘It goes further than being unblooded, in truth they lack direct experience of anything,’ Guilliman went on. ‘Most of them, Cawl says, have been in suspended animation for millennia, with only a few days truly awake. They were boys when they were taken. The Imperium they were born into is gone. Everything they know was inculcated into them by hypnomat. They have no actual training, in the main. The usual problems recruits face post-apotheosis are exaggerated by their sense of displacement in time. They will compound each other. It is vital that we, as posthuman creations, hold tight onto our humanity, or we shall forget who we were made to serve. Who knows how much of their essential humanity the Primaris retain? You were your Chapter’s master of recruits. I cannot think of a more qualified man to undertake this task.’

Present at the unveiling of the Primaris, Messinius — a “regular” Space Marine — is also confronted by his own obsolescence:

These were not Space Marines. They were something else. They were his replacements. He realised, as he watched, that he was witness to the dawning of a new breed, and by extension, the end of his own.

Messinius’s chapters offer plenty of context for the WH40k setting, as well as some excellent world-building. Haley weaves these moments into the story very well, and should help new readers situate themselves very easily. For more familiar readers, these moments are also useful for filling in some gaps and establishing certain new aspects of the lore. There’s also some interesting discussion about the place of faith in the WH40k universe, particularly in relation to the Primaris and other Space Marines. The Horus Heresy books have established pretty clearly that the Primarchs and their Legions do not think of the Emperor as a god (aside from Lorgar, briefly). That hasn’t always been the case in BL’s other WH40k fiction, but with the return of Guilliman, it had to be addressed.

As usual, for me, I really enjoyed those chapters and scenes that build up the lore and add to our understanding of how the Imperium works and how the various characters/factions operate within it. The growing gap between the general Imperial belief system, and that of the Space Marines is interesting, and poses plenty of interesting questions and opportunities for the future of the franchise. Guilliman, too, continues to provide plenty of opportunities for commentary on the state of the Imperium, and how far it has moved from the Emperor’s dream.

Everything I have seen since I awoke has shown me nothing but decline.

… there was no time left in the Imperium for anything other than war.

One thing of particular note is the novel’s slightly lighter tone: I was pleasantly surprised to discover the wry humour and moments of mild levity in the story. This is mainly provided through Fabian’s perspective, as well as a couple of other moments, and it suggested that Black Library was allowing Haley to take the setting just a shade less seriously — aside from Sandy Mitchell’s Ciaphas Cain series, the WH40k fiction line has often seemed a tad poe-faced. Sure, it’s grim, dark, and violent fiction, but it could feel like it was taking itself too seriously. But, don’t get me wrong: Haley hasn’t injected Pratchett-levels of comedy or satire into the novel, but there is definitely a dash of natural humour to certain scenes and characters that felt like a much-needed breath of fresh air.

There were certain aspects of the novel that, I think, worked better having read some of the other novels Haley’s contributed to the series — not only Dark Imperium and Plague War, but also The Great Work (which focuses very much on Cawl). I don’t think it’s essential to have read any of these in order to enjoy Avenging Son, but there might be a few things that click into place for you if you have, and some cameos that maybe carry a little more weight. (If you haven’t read the other books, you’ll probably experience that clicking-into-place when you get around to reading the chronologically-later novels.)

Anyway, I could write more about the book, but I’ll end there. If you’re a fan of WH40k fiction, and want to know how the “current” situation came to be, then I strongly recommend you read Avenging Son and Haley’s other recent WH40k novels. Well-written, populated by interesting and well-drawn characters, and gripping, action-packed stories. Recommended.

Guy Haley’s novel Avenging Son kicks off the nine-part Dawn of Fire series, which promises to explore in detail the events of the Indomitus Crusade – the driving force behind the ‘current’ Warhammer 40,000 timeline. This first instalment features the first great battle of the Era Indomitus, as Fleetmistress VanLeskus leads Fleet Tertius against the Khornate Crusade of Slaughter for control of the Machorta Sound, determined to stop the forces of Chaos from claiming territory that would allow them to threaten Terra itself. Before the returned Primarch Roboute Guilliman can dispatch VanLeskus and Fleet Tertius, however, he has to navigate his way through the byzantine politics of an Imperium still reeling from the opening of the Great Rift, a task which even a Primarch can’t manage alone.

The Indomitus Crusade is a grand, epic endeavour, and there’s a lot going on within the pages of this chunky book (it’s well over 500 pages in paperback) to begin to bring it to life. Four main arcs cover an incredible variety of characters and locations, both in the Sol System and out in the Machorta Sound, from lowly scribes in the depths of Terra’s bureaucracy to Space Marines, Astra Militarum, Imperial Navy, Adeptus Mechanicus, and even the Inquisition. Guilliman himself is present, but always seen from other perspectives, largely that of Captain Messinius of the White Consuls. Thoughtful and vigilant – verging on obsessively so – Messinius provides an insightful perspective on the Primarch, his challenges and the impact he has on everyone and everything around him, while also offering an interesting link between the existing Space Marines and their newfound cousins, the Primaris Space Marines.

Space Marines fans will find plenty to enjoy here, from battles against daemonic infestations to debates over the risks and rewards inherent in the Primaris project. Messinius in particular makes for a great protagonist, his posthuman strengths balanced by an unusual degree of introspection and an engaging sense of conflict between his disciplined caution and his inherent desire for violence. He gets arguably the most page time, in the process offering a fascinating exploration of the immediate aftermath of Guilliman’s return from the perspective of the Marines who came with him to Terra, but he’s balanced out by plenty of mortal viewpoints too. Naval officers, beleaguered Guardsmen and Inquisitorial agents (including an unusual but entertaining xenos presence) are all present in the sections taking place in and around the Machorta Sound, while back on Terra an expedition through the dilapidated halls of the Administratum offers a glimpse of everyday life for those towards the bottom of the pile.

With so many characters and so much going on there’s clearly a lot of groundwork being laid, introducing names and concepts and setting things up for the rest of the series to come, but nothing feels superfluous and Haley injects character and interest into every scene. There really should be something for every 40k fan here – at least from an Imperial perspective: politics, intrigue, bureaucratic horror, fleet warfare, Space Marines crushing everything before them, Space Marines taking a beating…the list goes on. The action when it comes is as visceral and thrilling as you like, in particular the fleet battles, and while it’s not as pacy or as action-packed as some 40k novels, the balance between exhilarating combat and slower, more insightful moments feels just right. Quiet scenes between Messinius and Guilliman or various members of the Imperial Navy have as much impact as explosive boarding actions, while the loosely linked but contrasting experiences of scribe Nawra and adept Fabian perfectly illustrate the maddening scale and futility of Imperial bureaucracy.

It’s testament to Haley’s talents that this feels like both a powerful, dramatic tale in its own right and an exciting start to a much grander story yet to be unveiled. If the first great engagement of Fleet Tertius doesn’t quite feel like a truly gargantuan conflict (and this is really nit-picking), the naval battle over the Machorta Sound is nevertheless portrayed brilliantly, and the wealth of rich 40k lore to absorb is worth the asking price alone. Comparisons to the Horus Heresy are inevitable for a series like this, and Haley drops in a few deliberate references to good effect, but this is clearly its own endeavour with a unique identity that’s already visible. It draws on Chris Wraight’s Terra-set series, Haley’s own (excellent and, arguably, definitive) Guilliman and Cawl stories and the wider events of the ‘new’ 40k narrative, but creates something unique in the process.

As the start of a series intended to portray an endeavour comparable to the Great Crusade (not to mention connect all sorts of existing 40k arcs and themes), this was always going to be a tough sell…but Haley has nailed it. A book like this will never be able to satisfy absolutely everyone, but this genuinely feels like the right way to begin the Dawn of Fire series. It’s very much an Imperium novel, with not even a single non-Imperial POV character, but these characters are well-chosen and the decision to focus solely on the Imperial point of view proves to be an effective one. It’s going to be fascinating to see how the series progresses and whether that changes at all, but on the basis of this novel – and Haley’s well-documented involvement in the series as a whole – it seems like there’s a lot to look forward to.

A good read. The story and character development was good. The first book of the series.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A glimpse of the indomitous crusade and a nice entry into the changes wrought by the black crusades. The multille perspectives help keep the action and tensions high with a tightly driven plot