Book Review // A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill
Look at this: we have made it to book twelve in the Horus Heresy series, and now we finally get some Thousand Sons action. Sadly, it will be their ultimate demise at the hands of the Space Wolves, but still, it should be an enjoyable read as Graham McNeill wrote the title. So lets dive in.
Book Details
Title: A Thousand Sons
Author: Graham McNeill
Publisher: Black Library
Type: Paperback
Page Count: 558
Fluff: Censured at the Council of Nikea for his flagrant use of sorcery, Magnus the Red and his Thousand Sons Legion retreat to their homeworld of Prospero to continue using the arcane arts in secret. But when the ill-fated primarch foresees the treachery of Warmaster Horus and warns the Emperor of the very powers he was forbidden to use, the Master of Mankind dispatches fellow primarch Leman Russ to attack Prospero himself. But Magnus has seen more than the betrayal of Horus, and the witnessed revelations will change the fate of his fallen Legion and its primarch forever.
Review
This wasn't my first time reading this book, but it was so long ago that I had forgotten much more than I remembered. The main point of this tale is that pride always comes before a fall. The pride was Magnus, and the fall was the Thousand Sons.
Graham McNeill makes a point of showcasing the Thousand Sons as the Emperor's most loyal sons, and as you delve deeper, you realize you are watching a car crash in slow-mo, and you can't turn away. Unlike many of the Space Marines showcased before, the Thousand Sons are unique because they are free thinkers, trained to ask questions, learn from other cultures and face the powers of the warp and harness them. Even stranger for them is the fact that they are preparing for life after the crusade. We find out that Ahriman is learning to be a winemaker! 40k artisanal wine from Ahriman’s Vinyard.
The novel starts slow, very slow, to be honest, but soon gains pace until we are running headfirst into the title fight of this stage of the Horus Heresy. For most of the tale, we view it through three sets of eyes, Ahriman - The favoured son of Magnus and future Chaos Champion, Magnus - Proud Primarch of the Thousand Sons and three Rememberancers - Sucked into the action due to having particular powers. This gives us some interesting viewpoints to follow, Ahriman a trusting son who believes his legion is loyal and saving the galaxy from ignorance. Thinking he knows everything, Magnus allows his arrogance to get the better of him and blinds him to the dangers around him. The Remembrancers - Believing they are with some of the best Space Marines, they wear rose-tinted glasses right up to the end when the truth becomes known.
Overall, it was a great read that showed the Thousand Sons at their best and worst. It also had some great links to the Ahriman series and even some sneaky mention of Blood Ravens. It is well worth the read and has reinvigorated my joy for the Thousand Sons. I would love to hear your thoughts on this novel. Have you read it? Drop me a comment below.
