"Betrayer"

Betrayer (Aaron Dembski-Bowden)

It's finally happened: ADB has written a book that isn't an instant masterpiece. In a way, I'm relieved; I was running out of praise to heap on the guy, and it's nice to be able to present a more nuanced review.
None of this should imply that the book is bad - it's just very good instead of great. This novel is a follow up to both Know No Fear and The First Heretic, centered mostly on Angron and the World Eaters. I'm not sure why ADB isn't able to give the World Eaters a rehabilitating coat of nuance as he did with previous legions, but for whatever reason it never quite gels; for all that the World Eaters are painted as tragic figures who willingly subjected themselves to getting brain implants that mimics the one Angron has (which has reduced him to a total wreck), they still come off as rather interchangeable guys who get really angry. Angron himself is more interesting, and him and Lorgar of the Word Bearers have an fascinating, complex relationship which carries the book with an able assist by ADB's usual awesome action scenes. To sum up, this book is easy to recommend, just be aware that you're getting a B+ instead of an A. (Spoiler alert!)

Grade: B+