Customer Reviews
My First 40k Novel 
2008-08-09
I am a long time 40k player and this was my first 40k read. I thought it really enriched my vision of the 40k universe. The book will keep you hooked all the way up until the end even though I felt that the climax of the book came too early and the end left something to be desired but that is alright. I would recommend this book to any Death Guard players that want to know a bit about the chapter before it turned. The only let down is the cheesy dialog and the inopportune times the explanations as to what some things looked like came. I think the author (Swallow) is decent, not great you may want to look towards Dan Abnett if you'd like better descriptions and more suspenseful writings.
Worst author of the HH cabal. 
2008-05-27
To begin with, the Horus Heresy story is one of the richest and coolest foundations any author could hope to work with. But yet again James Swallow found a way to cheese it up. This man has no concept of subtlety. While this book is likely to be enjoyed by people whom are already fans of the HH tale, it is a total flop as a scifi novel. In comparison to the books written by Dan Abnett it is a childish attempt.
This series could have been a major work of scifi writing if it had been left to the masters, but instead it will just be a another never-ending expense to already addicted 40k fans.
A Gripping Series Continues 
2008-04-14
If you're a fan of 40K, especially the backstory to pivotal events in the history of the Imperium, then you're probably already immersed in this series. Fans of Chaos can find quite a bit to latch onto as well, as this series delves into the 'turning' of some of humanity towards Chaos, as well as the role(s)and faces Chaos plays and takes.
This book continues the standards set by the previous titles of being well-written with plenty of action and intersecting plot lines and intertwining charachters. I was surprised at how well the books were written- there is some imaginative and well-worded prose to be found, and this book and author are no exception.
If you're not familiar with Games Workshops 'Warhammer 40K' universe, this series will appeal to readers who enjoy a very expanisve and richly developed universe of charachters, history and mythologies. Think of a cross between the 'Dune' universe and Tolkien.
Enjoyable 2008-04-11
This is one of the best books in the Horus Heresy line of fiction. I have read all of the books except legion so far and this is the best one in my opinion. I dont know much about the author, but I hope he writes more books. I felt very satisfied after reading it.
the flight of the eisenstein 2008-03-02
My favorite of the series so far, well written, with resonant characters, and a simple, yet elegant storyline. Not as grand in scope as the others, but with a visceral feel and sense of hope that put the rest of the books into even better perspective. A fine addition to an amazing line...
Excellent!! 2008-01-07
Having witnessed the events on Istvaan III, Deathguard Captain Garro seizes a ship and heads to Terra to warn the Emperor of Horus's treachery. But the fleeing Eisenstein is damaged by enemy fire, and becomes stranded in the warp. Can Garro and his men survive the depradations of Chaos and get his warning to Terra in time?
Bit of a letdown 2007-08-01
I probably would have liked this novel better if it had not been part of the Horus Heresy series. We've had three good novels leading up to it, and most readers of this series already know what's going to happen: the Eisenstein will flee through the terrors of the warp in attempt to warn the Emperor of his betrayal. The problem is that Swallow doesn't spend very long on the journey through the warp, and the horrors that he describes are predictable, not very scary, and easily dealt with. It's not a bad novel, but it's also not a very creative or exciting treatment of a famous event in the world of Warhammer 40,000.
Mediocre addition to this series 2007-06-19
This was an enjoyable book, but I think this is more for the actual subject matter (the Horus Heresy) than the writing itself. As with all of this series, I assume the writer had a fairly tight outline to work with.
As already noted, the story follow Captain Garro from events well before where Galaxy in Flames left off through their arrival to the Sol system. Villains were uniformly 1 or 2 dimensional, a weak point of this novel. Some plot devices (Garro's sword) were so transparently telegraphed early on that his use of the sword to kill the psyker alien in the first part of the book was almost anticlimatic.
Worth reading more for the events it describes than the writing itself.
He is of Purpose 2007-06-06
WOW...did I love this book. Yes I did. Now I have been a historical wargamer for decades, but with my young son have begun building armies for Warhammer 40K. Up until recently I had been reading Abnett's wonderful stories about Ibrahm Gaunt and the Tanith. I was on the verge of reading another of Abnett's books when I spotted Swallow's Eisenstein. After juggling which to get, I settled on this one. I have always been intrigued by the Horus Heresy stuff and this looked like a great entry into learning something about it. And I would recommend to any newbie to the hobby that this book is a great way to see how the heresy unfolds and how one Death Guard Captain finds the measure of his life's purpose as he flees with a message of betrayal back to the Emperor.
The story builds nicely and the characters really grow before your eyes. A good book often reads itself and this one definitely did. I couldn't wait to pick it up each lunch hour and in the late hours of the night. I wanted to know how Nathaniel Garro would get the warning back to Terra and would he indeed discover his purpose.
Of course the answer is YES, but the how is so worth the time in discovering. So throw on the ceramite and clean your bolter, it's time my brother Astartes to follow the trials and redemption of Honour Brother Nathaniel Garro.
The Emperor Protects.
Saved by the last half 2007-05-31
This book was easily on its way to becoming the most disappointing of Black Library's "Horus Heresey" series, but, fortunately, is saved by the end, and is worth reading.
The first half of the book is largely disappointing because it is mostly a rehash of events we have already seen, told from another perspective, instead of picking up where "Galaxy in Flames" left off.
Garro's experiences through the first 170 pages or so are largely redundant to what we've experienced through the series' former protagonist, and really add very little aside from the small pieces involving Death Guard Primarch Mortarion and First Captain Typhon, and even these are largely undeveloped and bland.
But if you can stick it out, the latter part of the book is rewarding for the savvy 40k fan. Casual fans may be disappointed.
