The first half of the book is genuinely amazing, a mood piece, seeing 60+ books of main characters all reduced to essentially Dark souls NPC's in a world that has well and truly fallen apart.

I Horus Rising • II False Gods • III Galaxy in Flames • IV The Flight of the Eisenstein • V Fulgrim • VI Descent of Angels • VII Legion • VIII Battle for the Abyss • IX Mechanicum • X Tales of Heresy • XI Fallen Angels • XII A Thousand Sons • XIII Nemesis • XIV The First Heretic • XV Prospero Burns • XVI Age of Darkness • XVII The Outcast Dead • XVIII Deliverance Lost • XIX Know No Fear • XX The Primarchs • XXI Fear to Tread • XXII Shadows of Treachery • XXIII Angel Exterminatus • XXIV Betrayer • XXV Mark of Calth • XXVI Vulkan Lives • XXVII The Unremembered Empire • XXVIII Scars • XXIX Vengeful Spirit • XXX The Damnation of Pythos • XXXI Legacies of Betrayal • XXXII Deathfire • XXXIII War Without End • XXXIV Pharos • XXXV Eye of Terra • XXXVI The Path of Heaven • XXXVII The Silent War • XXXVIII Angels of Caliban • XXXIX Praetorian of Dorn • XL Corax • XLI The Master of Mankind • XLII Garro • XLIII Shattered Legions • XLIV The Crimson King • XLV Tallarn • XLVI Ruinstorm • XLVII Old Earth • XLVIII The Burden of Loyalty • XLIX Wolfsbane • L Born of Flame • LI Slaves to Darkness • LII Heralds of the Siege • LIII Titandeath • LIV The Buried Dagger So, how does it do as the first part of the finale? Well, if the second volume is anywhere near as long as this I'm sure there's still a great deal to cover, but it does feel the story is right on the edge of the precipice before the final fights. Despite clearly being only a first part, I also think it ends in a place that makes the whole experience of reading the book fulfilling while leaving everything set to be finished in volume 2. Three stars because it isn't bad enough to warrant being given two stars in that it's a mostly an enjoyable read however it has problems. The sheer density of prose in this book makes it boring and awkward to read. Lots and nothing happens because of it. It could comfortably be half as long and still make perfect sense.Skin color changes, with lips and nail beds that are pale, bluish, or, in people of color, purplish The pre-active stage of dying can last around two to three weeks. That said, there are many factors that contribute to how long the entire process of dying takes for each person, such as their illness and medications. Since everybody knows how the story ends even if it is not in detail, Basilo Fo's story seems like an dead end. The Emperor lives and steps into the shadows as leader of the perpetuals. He assumed that suppressing religion would suppress Chaos. The strategy failed. He doesn’t give up on His vision. He re-strategises on how humanity can conquer the universe and free themselves from warp travel/the taint of Chaos. It takes 10,000 years but in 40k the Emperor is ready for another great crusade. The walls have fallen, the gates are breached, and the defenders are slain. It is the end and the death. After seven brutal years of civil war, the Warmaster stands on the verge of victory. Horus Lupercal, once beloved son, has come to murder his father. The Emperor, a shining beacon of hope to many, an unscrupulous tyrant to others, must die. The lives of uncountable numbers have been extinguished and even primarchs, once thought immortal, have been laid low. The Emperor’s dream lies in tatters, but there remains a sliver of hope. Now, at the final hour of the final day, the Emperor rises. With him come his Angel, his Praetorian, and his Captain, all determined to enact terrible vengeance. Yet the hope is slim, for the Warmaster sees all and knows all, and the ultimate victory of Chaos is at hand.

This was always going to be difficult, so many strands to weave together, to tie up but unfortunately not all the sub plots were good. Hard to be too harsh on one of my favorite authors so i'll say that all in all he's done a reasonable job. Vintage Abnett? Not for me and I'm hoping for better with volume 2. Gaunts ghosts is probably his best work. Siege of Terra? Definitely Saturnine volume 4. With all that said, the book deserves better than the three-star retirement home of mediocrity. Right here is the transformation of the 30k Imperium into the 40k Imperium, more than any other point in the Heresy series. The institutions that will define the setting we’ve known for decades are being made in the pressure cooker of the endless final day of the siege. The inquisition, ecclesiarchy, the malign fuel for golden throne and the birth of the cult of sacrifice are all in here in fascinating hints and suggestions. Which is just how Warhammer lore should be. There is a particularly noteworthy scene from Malcador’s point of view where he sits upon the Throne and we see the truly awful and eternal fate that awaits the man in gold. Ollianius Pius is still the one that sacrifices himself to save the Emperor from certain death. Only this time his final death would be MORE PAINFULBook have big problem with phasing. I need to elaborate a bit. Book have 4 large parts made of chapters. It's the beginning of the ultimate conclusion to the Horus Heresy, and hope still remains for the Loyalists! The Emperor plans a gambit that could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat – but at what cost? I look forward to more of the same in Part 2. Perhaps we could get a closer look at the Warmaster’s morning routine and finally answer the question of whether he preferred his eggs scrambled or sunny side up. Scintillating. Warhammer Community: Dan Abnett Interview – How to Start and Finish the Most Epic Series in Sci-fi (posted 8/6/2022) (last accessed 8/6/2022)