Continuing on the subject of Warhammer 40,000, False Gods by Graham McNeill is the second book in The Horus Heresy series and the second book in the beginning trilogy. As with Horus Rising, False Gods is written from the point of view of Garviel Loken, a Space Marine of the Luna Wolves Legion, later renamed the Sons of Horus. For those who did not read my review of Horus Rising, here's a quick recap: The Emperor of Mankind, after many years of fighting in the Great Crusade, has given the reins of power over the Legiones Astartes to his favored son Horus, who is given the title of Warmaster. However, the title of Warmaster weighs heavily on Horus as he battles the jealousy of his brother primarchs and his own feelings about being abandoned by his father. On the planet of Davin, Horus is grievously wounded and lies near death while his Legion looks on helplessly. In False Gods, the Sons of Horus must battle infighting while also defending their fallen primarch. Loken is meanwhile struggling with secrets and plots from within his own Legion, for he is a steadfast and loyal soldier who is devoted to the Imperial Truth. His brothers are engaged in secret societies and clandestine meetings and Loken strives to remain true to his own ideals and beliefs. While Horus lies in a deathless state, he must battle his own inner demons while simultaneously fending off the temptations of the gods of Chaos, aided by the whispers of the treasonous chaplain Erebus of the Word Bearers Legion. Eventually, after a great struggle, Horus emerges from his coma and rejoins his Legion, but something isn't quite right with the Warmaster. Once Horus rejoins his Legion, he immediately orders sweeping changes in the Legions, and then orders that the Sons of Horus travel to the planet where his master plan is to take place, and where the Heresy truly begins: Istvaan V.
False Gods is a fantastic addition to the mythos of Warhammer 40,000 and to the Horus Heresy as well. Graham McNeill is one of my favorite authors from the Black Library and his skill at writing is shown splendidly in this book. One of the things I love most about the Horus Heresy novels is that they don't just focus on one chapter or Legion, but tell the story from the point of view of several Legions. I had to leave out a lot of characters in my synopsis, but they are all integral to the story, and they all play their own parts in shaping the narrative. The thing with the Horus Heresy novels is that they are so complex that summarizing them is difficult, because there is so much going on in the background and the universe is so rich. Hopefully I did a decent job of it. Anyways, moving on. The battle sequences are stunningly rendered and they pull you in so that you feel as though you are right there in the midst of the action. As well, McNeill's portrayal of Horus as a beautiful, noble, yet tortured being is amazing. Horus strives to live up to his father's expectations of him, just as any son does, but his own pride and hubris lead to his eventual downfall at the hands of Chaos. The Chaos gods see Horus' flaws and exploit them, worming their way into his heart and corrupting him for their own goals and amusements. It is because of them that Horus begins to turn from the light of the God Emperor to embrace the darkness in his own soul. It is heartbreaking to see such a noble being fall so utterly. I really can't say anything more about this book other than you need to read it. If you've read Horus Rising, then you absolutely need to pick up this book. As with most trilogies, you really can't get the full impact unless you read the preceding books, so I urge you, readers, to go and pick up Horus Rising first, and once you are finished with that, go give False Gods a try. My solemn oath as a geek, you'll enjoy it. False Gods gets 5 primarchs out of 5.
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