Wolfsbane

The Horus Heresy #49

by Guy Haley

The time has come. Leman Russ, primarch of the Space Wolves, withdraws his Legion from Terra and makes all haste for Horus’s position, to try and end the traitor once and for all.

The time has come for Leman Russ, primarch of the Space Wolves, to fulfil his vow and attempt to stop Warmaster Horus before he breaks through to the Segmentum Solar. In the face of opposition from three of his brother primarchs, Russ withdraws the Space Wolves legion from Terra and makes all haste for Horus’s position. Reports from Malcador the Sigillite’s agents suggest that Horus is utterly changed, and infused with a diabolical power so great that no man can stand against him. A warrior of Fenris would never willingly abandon his oaths, but with Horus beyond the touch of mortal blades, the Lord of Winter and War may have doomed himself for the sake of honour…

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Fiction, Audiobook, Fantasy, Action, Novels

341 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2018

About the author

Guy Haley is the author of over 50 novels and novellas. His original fiction includes Crash, Champion of Mars, and the Richards and Klein, Dreaming Cities, and the Gates of the World series (as K M McKinley). However, he is best known as a prolific contributor to Games Workshop's Black Library imprint, and has sold over 2 million books set in their Warhammer universes.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ragnar's Claw was first novel about Space Marines I've read a life ago when moving my first steps into vast, grim universe of W40K, after First and Only and the short stories inside the two pairless Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness and Realm of Chaos: The Lost and The Damned handbooks that I used to flesh mutants, beastmen, and Chaos Warriors while mastering Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay for my old group of roleplaying friends.
Because of that, the Space Wolves Vlka Fenryka had a special place in my heart... before reading about the razing of Prospero and the decimating of the Magnus' sorcerer sons in A Thousand Sons, a real shame that made hate for good the VI Legion and made XV Legion one of my most favourite one ever: so much that I hoped had a different ending when I've read that book.
But this excellent novel from Guy Haley, who already blown my mind with Pharos and is quickly becoming one of my most favourite one authors from GW's Black Library, made me love the Wolves again, with Leman Russ' quest for redemption, filled with remorse and regret (but not wanting to admit it) after slaughtering Magnus the Red and his Sons because of Horus' schemes.
Loved the storyline, full of action and twists (but really no need of much knowledge about W40K lore to foretellthe ending) and the characters, it was just great finding here two iconic ones like Bjorn the Fell-Handed (the oldest and most badass warrior of the Imperium, so much that you can find him in the setting 10000 years later entombed in a Dreadnought sarcophagus, and saver of his chapter again and again) and, surprise, young Mechanicum Adept Belisarius Cawl (the soon-to-be infamous Archmagos Dominus responsible with the Ynnari for the resurrection of the Primarch Roboute Guilliman and the creation of the new overpowered Primaris Space Marines in the current W41K Dark Imperium setting).
Loved Russ' interactions with his brothers Primarchs and Malcador the Sigillite on Terra, his trip into the Underverse and his trials in the court of the false Wolf King was something out of the Prose Edda and Norse mythology, and the Wolves' suicide assault against the Warmaster's' flagship, the Vengeful Spirit, was just one of the most epic peaks of the Horus Heresy.

And with the Traitors finally moving to Terra, you can really feel at last the end is finally here.



Fenris Hjolda!

[Marc Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolfsbane is an interesting novel; in fact I think it might be the best look at the Space Wolves outside of Prospero Burns. While Dan Abnett sought to make the legion organic and believable, and succeeded in doing so, Wolfsbane does more to look at the how and the why of them and their King.

The Russ of Wolfsbane is a more personable individual than other iterations, one who is still struggling with his identity. Where before we have seen the warrior king motif as his disguise, here it is challenged. Russ is acknowledged as a son of two worlds, a being bestriding the clinical world of high-tech science and the rough superstitions of his upbringing. More than that, he is forced to accept that the old ways of Fenris have more worth than others credit them with. This angle gives the story a mythic sweep, a sense of sagas in its telling. There's a notable whole-plot borrowing from one of my favourite myths that feels remarkably at home nestled in the heart of this story. Bjorn's importance to the wyrd of the Primarch is also focal; with him and others still dismayed by Russ' faith in and reliance on him.

This is, however, not simply the story of Russ. It is last gasp of the war's prelude, as Horus readies to march on Terra. A lot of the plot thus revolves around, obliquely, the preparations for the Great Slaughter at Beta-Garmon. Whether that is the planning for it by Dorn and company, the movements of Horus, or the tangent we are presented with here. Said tangent is a system which could threaten any push on Beta-Garmon as a muster ground, and is presented to us through a young Belisarius Cawl.

Cawl is one of the best characters in the novel, though far removed from his equally compelling presentation in "In the Grim Darkness", also by Haley. Wry, self-assured and driven, Cawl is dynamic and interesting. Even those who dislike him are drawn in by his charisma. It's a shame that this attention comes so late; had work like this been done pre-Gathering Storm, there would be much less issue with him. Haley is an exceptionally safe pair of hands for him; though his role seems to contradict aspects of "Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus", unless he's already been mind-wiped once (plausible.)

All in all, it's a pretty solid novel. Tighter, richer and more dynamic than "Pharos", it does an able job of approaching Russ' nigh impossible mission. The central plot-macguffin is a little on the nose, but it makes some sense. The climactic battle itself is dealt with ably, though is by its very nature a swift and shocking affair. It's been long enough since "Vengeful Spirit" that the return is appreciated, and lavish detail is spared on how transformed the ship is.

More from Haley, please. And a modern 40k Cawl series for him too.

[Veronica Anrathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful book, definitely one of the strongest as of late. I would give it 4 stars, which I give to the books I enjoy a lot, but certain scenes really blew me away and took it to the next level, so it's a 5. I don't tend to sympathize with Space Wolves often, but Guy Haley did a great job portraying them in a way that makes it hard to not root for them, or for Russ. Speaking of, it is very unusual to see the primarch feel regret and remorse for the burning of Prospero, even when he does not want to admit he feels those things. After all these years it is a rather unexpected development that deepens his character. Chapter 13 for me was when I realized this book will find it's place amongst my favorites, the False Wolf King scene was truly fascinating. Another memorable part was the monologue of Horus explaining his ways to his brother, tragic and eerie, he has changed so much, but it's still him. I originally had a thought of this book being Space Wolves fan service, now I don't think it is. They definitely appear at their best here, but is this really bad, if the book itself is great? Somehow it is now a pleasure to see a loyal legion not act as shady a-holes, we've had enough of that. Overall it was an interesting journey, no part of it felt like a filler. Mechanicus chapters were a very pleasant thing of it's own. Guy Haley is for sure becoming one of my new Black Library favorites, after loving Pharos and Perturabo's Primarch book, this one did not disappoint.

[Andrey Nalyotov · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Lupus Lupus nobis”

Again the time has come to go on the adventure that is Horus Heresy. A totally new story, not like the previous book ‘Burden of Loyalty’, which was a compilation of old audios/shorts; and which included a ‘Wolf King’ novella mainly to build the bridge for the ‘Wolfsbane’. Here we have an absolutely new and ‘long awaited’ story (especially by the Vlka Fenryka fans). ‘Wolfsbane’ by the hand of the mighty grot himself, Pharos torchbearer and Skarksnik archivist Guy Haley.

The book is not in the full release yet (which will come late April/early May 2018), but I was able to get a pre-release copy at the Horus Heresy & Necromunda Weekender earlier in the month.

Guy Haley is a long time science fiction journalist and writer. He has been deputy editor of SFX magazine, and editor of Death Ray and Games Workshop’s gaming magazine White Dwarf. He is the author of Reality 36, Omega Point, Champion of Mars, Crash and a lot of W40K novels, etc.

‘Wolfsbane’ is his second foray into the Horus Heresy long-form fiction. This book is based on the event long-discussed on each self-respecting forum/group online —’Wolf Cull’. That particular event each of us saw at the big events with the Horus Heresy timeline presentation. Each forum (BaC, the first expedition, heresy-online etc.) since 2015 (at least) was debating as to what this ‘Cull’ will detail. Most of the fans (at least the part who read previous books and know what they are talking about) deducted that this story will cover events of the infamous attack of the Rout on the Horus Lupercal himself. We already saw the aftermath of this in the novella ‘Weregeld’. And how it all ended up for the ambitions incarnate.

By the author words himself, we’re many years and books on, from that point in time Dan Abnett sat down to put his finger to keyboard and begin the grand saga, named Horus Heresy. It has been a decade and more in the making, but we’re now at a point in the Horus Heresy where the end is in sight. (Which in particular was a strange road indeed. We had mighty tomes of wisdom, joy incarnate, foretold adventures, amazing crossroads and shoes to fill).
But at the same time there were a lot of titles which made disastrous mistakes and were failures in the solid road of success.
Branching the series with such prejudice is the reason why we are now getting ourselves into the 50! book range. 50! And a lot more to come.
But the myriad victories and failures of the Horus Heresy as a book series is not the point we need to discuss here.

Narrative, characters and issues:
Chronologically, ‘Wolf Cull’ takes part before the events of the ‘Weregeld’ novella, even if the last one was written first years ago. Written by Gav Thorpe; its sole focus is on Corax and his late period of actions in the Horus Heresy. By which he gets himself to Yarant, where he founds his brother Leman and his VI Legion a broken shell of itself. So, in Wolfsbane’ Guy Haley shows us how it happened that Russ was at Yarant with the leftovers of his forces.

Mainly by the Vlka Fenryka’s own words: ‘They are choosing where we are going to die’.
It is a time of great mustering for Beta-Garmon. A time of joy because 4 loyal brothers have met at Terra and the time of the dark prophecies is coming true.

Spoilers aside from the branching stories of the Legions, who are braiding themselves together into one mighty thread here. Legions that should have arrived to Terra, to stand proud and tall with the great Custodian are here. As Horus commits to his move on Terra, things that we have known will happen for a long time are now happening. And one of those events, so-called ‘Wolf Cull’, is the heart of this book.

Storywise connections of branching Legions; these threads are done here seemingly without stitches. They are fluid and masterfully integrated by focusing on the soul and body of the one Legion, who in contradiction to it’s barbaric ‘view’ is one of the most ‘human’ in the universe.

Authors are indeed future historians, and like historians it is their job to make sense of these pivotal events, and construct feasible narratives as to why they happened. Why, for example, is Russ so neglectful of the Emperor’s Spear? Why does he, against all good sense. strike out to face Horus one on one? We, as readers know these things happened.

It is future historical fact. The ‘why’ is the interesting part. The why is where BL novels come into their own, both in the writing and the reading.
But here – its singular focus on one primarch makes it a very different novel to ‘Pharos’ (his first HH entry), which has several subplots of equal weight.

What author has done totally right is Leman Russ, The Great Wolf and his Legion body and soul.

Using his own words – he came to love Russ’ impudence, his thoughtfulness and his loneliness. Russ is among the more human of the Primarchs – so human he had his Legion find a way to get Space Marines drunk. Human enough to hide his ability and his wisdom to better fit in with his Fenrisian peers. Each of the primarchs are fascinating, and as authors write about each one they find them deeply compelling figures, but of all those who have been featured in stories so far, Russ is the only one we would wish to befriend , and the only one who might return the favour.

His Legion, too, are more human than many Space Marines. They are so grounded in the culture of Fenris that they could not be any other way. Humorous, quarrelsome, yet mighty and noble, their legacy passes from their Legion to their Chapter in the wake of the Heresy, and makes them among the most relatable of the Adeptus Astartes. Like the Blood Angels, Ultramarines and Salamanders, the Space Wolves care. Though they appear savage, they see the inherent value in life. Their dogged belief in fate means they also see the inevitability of death, but they do their best to cheat it. And, unlike the other three Legions mentioned here, they’re the only ones who’d invite you round for a drink once they’d saved you.

Again, using the author’s own words, by the 41st millennium most Space Marines Chapters have an element of cultish mysticism to them, but the Space Wolves are among the few Legions that started out that way. Exploring their belief was one of the most enjoyable parts of this process. In a strange way, creating the part where Russ passes through Syrtyr’s door to the Underverse linked satisfyingly with the sometimes oddly transcendental aspect of writing a book. Through the exercising of the joined imaginations of writer and reader, we create a kind of reality between us, somewhere new that is different every time the words are read, and somehow real because of it. Moments you will see the gothi of the Rout making the magic and Russ’ entry to the court of the Elrking you would be reminded of the best from the mythology of Nordic and Celtic cultures.

It’s a peculiar, sometimes frightening thought.

But then not so good things happened to the skald story. Separating the storytelling into the 3 ‘different’ subplots was not a very good idea. Maybe in the mind of the one who suggested that idea (and I personally don’t think it was an author) it was a strategically solid plan, but it failed in the running of campaign and implementation. Let me extrapolate. 3 lines by which our narrative is separated are: Leman Russ and Horus, Rout soul and war, and Belisarius ‘fucking’ Cawl (sorry, but you will not get Cawl love here).

First is a line of a Great Wolf, as a soul of the Rout, brother who failed to save his sibling and master without a plan.

Next line is the soul of the Rout, the VI Legion — as to how and why they are so ‘human’ and ‘unique’. Including the direct and honest assault on the Warmaster himself, good old fella Bjorn and one of the new characters Blackblood from the Varagyr (yes they should have appeared, after all the models were done already) 😉

Third line is what actually ruined the structure and storytelling in full. Third storyline is fully set on Belisarius Cawl and his adventures at Trisalon system, the same Cawl who would make a colossal change to the W41K setting 10000 years later. Cawl is, by using Haley’s a term from his other novel ‘Shadowblade’, is a ‘devil in the bush’. He appears out of the blue to take pages, make a subplot — that should have never been in the Horus Heresy novel at all. Here we have Cawl as a young acolyte who hasn’t become ‘that’ Belisarius from the Gathering Storm and Dark Imperium times. I do appreciate that planning team want to connect the universe further and give some so needed background to his figure. So Cawl should have appeared somewhere. But not in the one of the numbered novels, especially in the novel about events which has nothing to do with Cawl at all. Also, as a character Cawl ‘view’ is ruined anyway. Instead of show how he get to the point of absolute belief in the Emperor and innovation, we get Cawl as a acolyte who already think the Emperor is one and only Omnissiah, future of the Mankind. And as a ‘devil from the bush’ Belisarius is already a genius inventor, who knows almost everything without any background to that knowledge.

His story would have been better told in a separate novella and not in ‘Wolfsbane’. Especially if his storyline has absolutely nil impact on the ‘Wolf cull’ plot/story etc.
As for the main event of the novel — the direct attack on the Warmaster, the so called ‘Wolf Cull’ went exactly as we have expected (if you read Weregeld — you will know it went not very well for the Wolves). The VI Legion was a shadow of itself long before the ‘Wolf Cull’. Rout has suffered massive casualties in the Great Crusade, later punishing Magnus and razing Prospero, with further horrendous losses in dozens of ships and thousands of the Rout at Alaxxes nebula. Even reinforced and refitted at Terra they suffered more, because Russ never was an idle Primarch. And while waiting for repairs he went to make slaughter at Vanaheim. All in all 40000 of the Rout left as a solid active force (not minding separate small companies and garrisons). And the Wolf took them all for the strike at the throat of the Warmaster. As mentioned above due to the branching of the narrative planning and attack are spliced with Cawl. But some of the attack planning and how they get from Point A to Point B is lost cause the pages are taken…again, ‘Because Cawl’.

Another, now my personal issue is the very rare entries of void warfare, which in total take 3 pages of the full novel. I do understand that it is tabletop armies and squads vs armies and squads game. And not a BFG story. But having fleets fighting each other and ‘neglect it’ in almost full totality is a crime.

Boarding actions and Rout on the murder wake are done ‘almost’ brilliantly, killing the bear by a thousand cuts is what’s happening to the ‘Vengeful spirit’. But storywise, Russ is not intent on killing Lupercal’s flagship, he is after his brother. Horus, whom he loved as a brother. And an enemy he should kill as an Emperor’s ‘executioner’ (yes that ‘role’ and self-proclaimed title mentioned over 50 times in the book — it seems VI status for the 30K is cemented for good).

But if Haley was able to show us one of the best images of Leman Russ and Vlka Fenryka, he failed to show true changes with Horus himself.

By implementing the first chapter as a prequel story to the Great Crusade (a meeting of the Horus with the newly founded brother — Leman Russ) they (in tow with the editorial team) wanted to show how jealous Lupercal was to the Russ, who was found second. And that should have shown that his pride was a downfall from the beginning. But on a background with Emperor and Russ — we see him more as a misguided son, who was jealous for father attention which would be now given to another son. That’s why Horus’ later appearance as a monster has absolutely zero impact because we saw that already in the ‘Vengeful Spirit’ a long time ago. And the Warmaster here is simply a ‘cartoonish’ monster cliche overused by the series for a long time.

And the biggest point is that Russ, in his current state, wounded Horus in ‘his’ current state. I do understand that it was necessary plotwise; but after Molech, Chaos-infused Horus is above Russ’ paygrade. Horus is a god-like being and he should have slaughtered Russ after a quick struggle, not the other way around.

Also, after a decade with Horus Heresy as a long running series, I came to the point that I have the strangest feeling about each novel as a story and a long cycle of ones. It could be only me but it does seem to me that the best Horus Heresy novels now are the ones which have nothing to do with the Primarchs at all. I know it is strange, especially with the fact that ‘alive’, the Emperor himself and his sons are what is making the Horus Heresy different to W40K. Primarchs were a backbone and a core of the Heresy novels. But now, each time they appear they are doing the same dialogues, plannings etc., that we previously saw since book one. It is absolutely the same ‘stuff’ we have seen before. It’s like reading the same novels all over again with copypaste. And it is ‘boring’. That’s why the novels which cover actions of some chapter masters, companies, grunts and Imperial characters are more interesting than several “Primarch Party” books combined.

Personally, I have high hopes for the upcoming (hopefully 2019) novel about Titandeath at Beta-Garmon, which would be written by Haley. Because having a Titan Maniple, we know nothing about, as a main characters and not the Primarchs should make it really interesting for a fan with long history with HH and a new reader, who simply love Warhammer.

Another point that has ruined some of the immersion into the story are mistakes. It is not a stone into the author’s garden. It is a direct shoutout to the editors team. With the leave of Laurie Goulding, who went to make League of Legends a better (or worse, depends on the one you asked) lore-wise experience, it seems there was an editorial struggle inside the BL. I’m not a native english speaker, but even I saw a lot of grammatical mistakes just in the first 100 pages. But what is much worse, is that there are lore mistakes which totally ruin your joy of reading by shooting into your face something like ‘Regdan Xenocide’…sigh.

Verdict:

So, is the ‘Wolfsbane’ a bad novel? Far from it.
Even though the Cawl storyline was pointless and absolutely unnecessary; here we got a solid skald tale of adventures, war and loss, culture and ‘human’ spirit, belief that is bordering on zeal and fires of soul burning bright. And even a small glimpse of redemption forgotten on the other side of the bridge.

Is this a wonderful Horus Heresy tale? Far from it.

But is it a bad Horus Heresy book on par with the worst we read in the 48 titles before? Far from it. But it could definitely would have been better with better planning, removing some ‘lines’ (Cawl) and editing with greater prejudice.

On par with Chris Wraight’s ‘Wolf King’ novella it is by far the best ‘description’ of the Rout, its culture and it’s role in the M30K to date. It has it’s own soul, it has fire in it, it has a unique author’s touch on each page.

Is it a good ‘non-Heresy’ related book and a story? Yes, it is.

Do you need to read this one? It’s your decision to make.
After all, a story is the safest way to explore such lands, for in these places lie the domains of the Erlking.

I give this novel a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It's more 3,5 than 4, but Haley tried :)

And I don’t know about you, but I will be getting myself a Beta-Garmon ‘Titandeath’ story from Guy for sure.

'May the saga of these bold times, strong warriors fire your own courage, and entertain you on the coldest of nights.'

Fenrys hjolda Guy Haley! May the Allfather watch over is Battlebrothers and sisters!

[Callum Shephard · Rating 3 out of 5]

As events are finally tied up and plotlines close off, this series is at long last moving toward an endgame. Khan has shown up on Terra, the Imperium Secundus has been dissolved and the Blood Angels are soon on their way there. Yet, there are a few big ones still yet to be resolved. Chief among these is the presence of the Space Wolves. Rather than being tied up at Prospero as the original lore inspired, Russ' group arrived back on Terra with time to spare. This is their final chapter within the Heresy, and offers something the series has needed a great deal of in recent years: Closure.

Synopsis:

Initiating one delaying action after another, the Space Wolves have not been idle since their arrival at Terra. With Khan's arrival, what little stood in their way is now gone and nothing has been left to slow down the Traitor Legions. Rather than wait for them, the Wolves decide to take the fight to them. This is it. For better or worse, the Space Wolves are set to gamble everything on a final opportunity to kill Horus Lupercal once and for all, and end this insanity before it reaches Terra's gates.

The Good

This is one of those books where you can very easily tell it's going to be a late series classic from the opening chapters. Rather than moving forward as so many previous books have, this one not only re-introduces some long forgotten figures but offers a glimpse into the history of the Great Crusade. The first among these is the meeting between Horus Lupercal and Leman Russ, directly after the latter has been found on Fenris. Through this we see Horus' initial thoughts, role and even jealousy of the apparent savage before him. It serves as an early look into the primarch offering some greater character examination, as he only has shades of the primarch we would see in Horus Rising. The scene equally serves both Russ, who is shown to already have a grasp of hiding guile behind barbarism, and the Emperor, who is a far cry from the cold, calculating tyrant seen in Master of Mankind or others.

The introduction alone would have marked the book up by a couple of points, but it is immediately followed by the reintroduction of Garviel Loken to the saga. While he is only around for a short while, the scene offers a look at how the former Luna Wolf has changed. He is closer to his older self, less damaged than past depictions, but still carries clear scars from his experiences. While it's only a brief appearance, it allows him, Russ and a number of others to show how they have changed over the space of a few short years for better or worse. What is surprising is that almost every chapter is like this in many ways, taking far more time to delve into the quirks, strengths, and histories of those involved than other authors. While all novels have done this to some degree, Haley's efforts here are one of a relatively few which tries to do this to every single person involved. In doing so, it helps to offset the essential world building of the entire series with a few character studies before the end. Even Belisarius Cawl, young as he is, gets more than a few essential scenes to help truly flesh him out and show how dramatically he will change in ten thousand years. There's an essential spark which reflects his later life, a similarly self-assured arrogance, but little else.

More interestingly still, however, is how the book handles the Space Wolves. Prospero Burns is a contentious novel for many reasons, but at the time it was definitely needed. It granted the Wolves greater depth and curbed some of the more insane excesses that Edition's codex had brought about with some of its madness. Yet, an unfortunate downside of this was how many authors seemed to avoid or deride their more human qualities as a result. They were much more dour, grim and reserved, and lacked the bombastic joy we saw before. While the latter quality has started to make it back into more recent stories, this final chapter serves as something of a counterpoint to that depiction in the M32 era. All of them have regained more of the openly boisterous aspects they were originally known for. While it is never taken too far, and retains more of the general depth shown, it's built up as more of a core part of their culture and history over a guise they present to all outsiders.

Yet, for all the time taken to focus on the Space Wolves and their alone effort, there is a greater awareness of widespread events. For one thing, the book spends a significant portion of the opening showing the primarchs together again. Many of the loyalists have gathered on a single world for the first time in years, with Dorn, Khan, Sanguinius and Russ working together. While, frustratingly, they treat the Ultramarines as if they are equal to the entirety of the Imperium's remaining forces (to the point where it seems as if they can solo the Warmaster's entire battlegroup) it does at least address a few ideas.

With additional Imperial forces still out there, Dorn is actively trying to communicate with them in order to buy more time or drive back the Warmaster's initial strikes. Through these scenes, there are some very good contrasts between the various legions and their leaders in how they operate. It's the sort of thing the Heresy definitely needed more of, and it offers a glimpse into what the later novels might offer. There's a definite effort to still make this book about the Wolves while also addressing the fact that few forces are isolated. As a result, it manages to maintain a broad scope without making Russ seem like a guest character in his own book.

Speaking of which, Russ himself gains a few interesting new revelations when it comes to his actions. A number of these openly and subtly relate to Norse mythology and its tales, setting up Russ as a combination of Thor and Odin in each one. While this could have easily been heavy-handed, what helps to significantly counter this is how it's very effectively dressed up in Heresy era iconography. Much of it surrounds the spear that Russ seems to hate so much, and the imagery conjured by it as he claims the weapon as his own. Unless you have a particular obsession with mythological tales, it's the sort of thing you won't notice first time around if at all. Add to that a few remarkable revelations surrounding Russ and Fenris itself, and it grants the reader some fantastic insights into the figures who make up this universe.

At least the first two thirds do. Once you get into the last bit, some growing flaws become very evident.

The Bad

Many of the negatives unfortunately only become apparent quite late on into the story. It's the final third where so many become evident, and while there are certainly a few issues prior to that point, it's there where it loses many points. Up to the actual battle itself the novel was shaping to be another Betrayer. A story so good that, even with my own criticisms of how it handled the World Eaters, the content remains a gold standard for much of the series. Yet, it's as if one approach was traded for another in the final moments and as a result of this it fails to fully mash together. In fact, it's as if the finale of the book itself was something the story only dealt with as a necessity.

Much like the aforementioned Prospero Burns, we are given a great deal of insight into the overall legion but from its source this time. Yet, as was the case there, this largely sacrifices the premise in order to accomplish this. When Horus himself shows up and the whole final battle begins, it's remarkably underwhelming. While the grand scale of it works and there's plenty of descriptive bolter porn to enjoy, there's not enough of an emotional link to it. Why? Because the Wolves are clashing against the Sons in overwhelming odds, and it just feels like another grand scale battle.

The title of the book is Wolfsbane, this is featuring Lupercal himself fighting the Emperor's Executioner. These are two of the oldest primarchs, two of the Imperium's best commanders, a man who was expected to be second only to the Emperor himself against a warrior whose duty it was to kill any of them if they truly turned traitor. The opening establishes a link, and yet it then does nothing with it outside of Russ' own thoughts. Compare this to Praetorian of Dorn's treatment of the Dorn-Alpharius relationship. You have constant flashbacks comparing and contrasting the two, building their relationship and displaying their differences even as the main events play out. This means that their final battle carries so much weight. Here though? You have an excellent introduction which is never fleshed out. Short of a brief exchange between the two, there's never enough here to deliver on what the novel seemed to promise.

Many of the developments and promising ideas are sidelined or even outright abandoned in favour of a huge scale conflict here, and this leaves many sub-plots being quickly tied up. Usually by putting a bolt into the head of the character who it followed. This isn't true of everyone, but the overall response to resolving many ideas seemed to focus on outright murdering those it followed. There's the George R. R. Martin way of pulling abrupt deaths, and then there's just using murder to quickly wash one's hands of the finale. An obvious consequence of this is, unfortunately, throwing the Space Wolves under the proverbial bus. They fail, a move everyone expected, but why they fail undermines their very intended role within the Imperium. It does more damage to Russ' character than any other part of this series, and completely undermines his intended role within the setting. To give you some idea of just how poor a show this is, it would be like having Guilliman lose a battle due to him failing to account for logistics. Plus, even without that, this is yet another crushing defeat for the Space Wolves, which goes past "justified for story reasons" into "the primarch's actual name is Leman Worf".

This isn't even down to mishandled descriptions or writing. It's simply that the ideas driving them were horribly mishandled. Like so many things covered, the idea was good but the execution left a massive amount to be desired.

The Verdict

This one is very difficult to put down to a single score, as it both shows Guy Haley's talents at their best and worse. There are shades in here both of Pharos and Death of Integrity in its story structure, starting with the former and gradually shifting toward the latter. The final act of the book is truly where everything comes apart, and while the intentional goal is obvious, the means used in order to actually get there are unfortunately quite questionable. Even without getting into the fact that the Space Wolves are presented as losing yet another battle (marking them as just behind the Iron Hands in terms of their mistreatment), the reasoning just doesn't work. Even if what is implied might permit them victory, in the long run, does stem from this too much was sacrificed in the name of what was intended to be a clever twist.

The book is by no means poorly written, and Haley does still show plenty of the same skills we have come to know him for, but the actual plot itself is where it falters. The moment Horus himself is added into the mix, it upsets much of the excellent work done with Russ himself. Because of this, it seems as if it's baiting fans of this legion to have some hope before yanking the dog's chain. No pun intended. While it is worth it for its better qualities, you may wish to take a brief look at a synopsis of basic events before picking up the hardcover version. If you feel you wouldn't wholly enjoy it, wait for the softcover version or pick up a copy from a library instead.

[Kdawg91 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Warhammer dive..while I am not a big fan of the Space Wolves chapter, this book really make me like their primarch Leman Russ. As the Horus Heresy rages on and sides begin to form, Russ gets thrust into a situation he knows he probably can't win, and honor keeps him in it anyway. I love when these books get their pace built up and move along at ripping speed.

This was a terrific installment if you haven't read it already and you are a fan, pick it up.

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this anywhere near what I wanted to. I have been looking forward to it as it is about leman russ and the wolves of fenris which are my favorite faction but even with that the author didn't do a great job. It is referenced in other books where leman russ and a group of space wolves get aboard horus ship for an attack and there is a big fight between leman and horus which was meant to be a pretty big deal and having leman basically beat horus then hesitate, that fight is mentioned quite a bit through out warhammer lore and was supposed to be explored in this book which it was but It just really wasn't good, I wasn't on the edge of my seat or excited during it and it was also a very short scene. Wasn't bad but it really could have been much better.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

April 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XVII Shadow of the Warmaster III Jaws of Defeat (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras.

Since posting my first reaction I have consumed half of Weregild and I'm soon to be heartbroken in one way or another, so it's time to do this. I also to a quick skim through ratings for this book without reading any reviews beyond the headlines and it seems I am in the minority again with many people feeling this is one of the better end of the main series entries. Compared to Vengeful Spirit? Absolutely. The Buried Dagger? Absolutely not. Oh, the joys of subjectivity!

Following the incredibly apropos title that I can't seem to find the specifics of while avoiding spoilers of something like Agent Alpha of Malcador's eclectic Strike Execution Kill Recon Team Force of Knight Errants and others to reconnoitre the Vengeful Spirit in the novel of the same name given to [Cerberus] as the big dog acting like a Son of the Hydra and the Wolf, while running with and for other Wolves. (Could you imagine the fragile sanity of somone trying to edit my writing or teach me grammar, despite my having a degree in English and Creative Writing?) After all that, the time has come for the Great Wolf to take up the Dionysian Spear, though only the Emperor and Chris Wraight know that name, and have it out with Horus...

I truly never know how I will respond to something. I knew nothing of Haley's Curze novel and absolutely loved it. It's not perfect by any means, but I thought it was orchestrated magnificently. A bunch of people I respect feel vehemently the opposite way. Now, I don't feel anywhere nearly as negatively about this books as some of those do about that, in fact I have a lot of nice things to say about this book and I am probably most accurately nonplussed with disappointment coming from the opening section that, frankly, blew me away and got me ridiculously excited. However, a lot of people are far more positive on this book than me, so this is going to be even more of a your mileage may well very situation.

I absolutely adored the whole first part of this book! At least the parts on Terra. The Wolf Comrades, whose camaraderie is infectious and the truly exquisite way the utter ridiculousness of the title, Space Wolves, is addressed and explained in the most eloquent, natural and in universe way possible, are wonderful (That sounds sarcastic, but I'm being genuine I loved it!). The relationships between Russ and his brothers, and even more with Malcador and Valdor, are beautifully rendered with so much being authentically on display, and what is told, particularly with some of what pertains to his brothers and Valdor, told in well written dialogue between the Great Wolf and his chosen Gothi, Kva 'Who-is-Divided', as well as the unique insights into Leman of the Russ' feelings and memories of Horus expressed in his own thoughts.

Every bit of that I love! From the bizarre, but definitely somewhat wholesome paternal warmth he receives from the Sigillite, and the truly unique relationship he has with Valdor who is oddly like a younger brother, perhaps step (not like that), as much as the herald and praetorian of his father. I could truly luxuriate in all of this and be happy as pig in grox spor! The dialogue and characterisation and dynamics are truly magnifique!

Which is probably why I got overexcited for the novel overall and got suckerpunched by the unbelievably annoying and tonally dissonant future endeavourer of The Great Work™, Belisarius Cawl. Admittedly, I only knew that there were books and maybe I had listed to an audio drama in which this Mechanicus/m Magos was mentioned and, honestly, despite loathing him and the way him and his entirely surplus storyline that I honestly don't feel adds anything to the quality, depth, themes, or anything to this novel beyond acting as a backdoor pilot for Haley to bring attention to/ plant seeds for his books, which I have no problem with at all when it's done well. Throne, nearly everyone with a 40K series that has Veterans of the Long War in or referenced in them has had their fun with that--McNeill is having a field day with the cast of his Iron Warriors and Ultramarines books, Kyme holds a torch for his Tomes of Fire, and Haley, himself, did some wonderful sewing of sinew and flesh with his Curze Primarchs book and ADB's fantastic Night Lords series. Get that bag. Make it work.

But make it good!

The other thing that really didn't ingratiate Cawl to me was the scene in which he is introduced in what I imagine Haley things is an utterly ingenious work modern post irony mechahuman feminism understanding, but read to me, as I posted when I first read it:

*Spends 3.14159 Hours Terran Standard in rites to the holy Omnissiah to have a wire monkey servitor reverently push my panoptical occulenses 1.618mm up my olfactory receptor*
You see, it's actually very clever and funny to objectify and dehumanise women, cataloguing body parts and relatative humanity and beauty standards, when they are a Magos of Mars, actually. I have alphanumeric acuity and invincible reason 707.

I could be totally wrong, and I have been before and held up my mechadendrites, but that introductory conversation, especially considering the varying payoffs at different points in the novel, just read as smarmy and reconstructed, not deconstructed, misogyny.

Anyways. Other than that I just found that Cawl turning up was the closest emulation I've had of reading A Song of Ice and Fire chapter that absolutely blew your mind and made you desperate to read all night...only to see the next chapter is a character you couldn't give a shite about and losing all motive force. It's not the worst, but it's diluting my Horus Heresy novel with a subpar 40K subplot.

It might be pertinent to point out that I am very autistic and really struggled with the very obviously purposeful and effective tonal clashes with the friend in Get Out the first time I watched it. So, do with that what you will.

The middle section, travelling back to Fenris, the impatience and brooding of the Great Wolf, and the fun, thematic retelling of classic Norse myths that I would absolutely look up so I could tell you exactly, but are probably set by Loki or Odin for Thor in their original tales, are all wonderful to great. Don't get me wrong, Haley is no Gaiman, but, in the same vein that one thing I adore about the Horus Heresy is the way that it uses myths, sci-fi, and fantasy seamlessly, but in doing so there is a modern, dynamic sensibility to the prose, which was something I was a little disappointed to not get from Gaiman's Norse Myths, but I understand the purpose was to be as faithful to the originals and the oral history as it was to make them accessible to new readers. Regardless, with so much taken whole cloth, but worked into Russ' Wyrd, it's genuinely impressive and well done, even if it is as subtle as the allusions and imagery in Kyme's Feat of Iron (which I absolutely adore!).

I also found the Rune Priest, Kva, an incredibly compelling character, and unbelievably awesome to have another and very different kind of disability represtation in the Astartes that isn't treated as negatively as Bjorn and others who suffer amputations and gain augmetics or as strangely reverent in a way I don't feel the kind of disabled or knowledgeable to discuss, but would make for fascinating discussion, as the Iron Hands do. I have chronic mental and physical conditions and seeing a major Space Marine character with an analogous condition treated with respect by the Rout and the author was absolutely meaningful. Where one is playing into the old Norse reverential discrimination of certain disabled people representation is going to be tricky, but Haley doesn't do a bad job. I do think some of the words and phrasing are a bit insensitive and awkward, but nothing that I found major, though that is just my own opinion base do my own experiences and I don't speak for any disabled people beyond myself.

Characters like this almost always have pluses and minuses and depictions of anything or anyone beyond the hegemonous are going to divide those represented. I know some people were happy with 'Fat Thor' in whichever Marvel movie he was in and I love that for them, but as a fat lass with C-PTSD, I was not personally a fan. The 'Thick Thor' reveal for God of War 2 though was awesome!

I feel like I've said so much good, despite how (possibly too) hard I've gone on Belisarius, but there's more. We've done the good and the bad (and as usual the rare three stars rating means I have to write so much more and spend a ludicrous amount of time on a review, apparently), now for the, not ugly, but...fine? Underwhelming, maybe?

The final part sees Russ and the Rout go take the war to Horus. This part is not bad. I also do not think it is good. I've talked a lot about how I'm not in the Heresy for the action, but then I go and find that I absolutely adored Annandale's Spear of Ultramar, even as I couldn't be care less about Thorpe's The Divine Word, but that has issues of already having pulled the pin on the whole load bearing premise in the novel preceeding it...

What I'm saying is the action here is *fine*. It's definitely not the worst, but it's nowhere near the best, and there is a distinct lack of immediacy and weight and momentum and excitement that not even Jonathan Keeble, who could read the phone book in a way to quicken the pulse, can save it. Perfunctory would be too disrespectful, but it's not a million miles away. There are some nice details about Chaos stuff, but not much. The only thing it conveys with appropriate force is that lots of Space Wolves die. It does that well. Everything else, beyond the Vengeful Spirit being all sorts of messed up and the Sons of Horus being weird, mean guys, not so much.

But if I don't find action all that important, why do I care and why does it matter? It's partly because it's the whole last section of the book so I want to be engaged, but even more there are serious stakes and potential tragedies aplenty here. OK. Obviously, Horus and Russ can't die and the war isn't just going to be over, this is book forty or fifty something out of fifty four, before the Siege of Terra even starts, but there are a lot of other characters, including the brothers, Wolf and gene, who could have truly meaningful and impactful moments. But I didn't feel anything, not even when the Warmaster and the Wolf talk and tussle.

There's a moment in the aftermath in which Russ speaks about talking to Horus and he builds up to it with such reverence that I genuinely thought I missed something and that he might be talking about something else!

I know some see colouring in between established plot points as lacking the opportunity for depth and emotion, but I disagree and we have seen time and again just how meaningful and impactful moments when we there is no doubt for anyone with even a soupson of Heresy or 40k knowledge would be in doubt as to who will be walking away. Some have been all the more powerful for using and playing with that momentum and finality.

Your Wyrd might be set when you are born and Morkai might know when your thread will be cut, but the part in the middle is when the saga happens!

I don't know. I feel like I'm being a real negative sook about a book that isn't even bad, which has parts, genuinely unexpected and truly appreciated parts, that are brilliant, but the B plot is Bad or at least not of the calibre of this series or novel, and the whole last act, which is what this and at least one other whole novel have been leading up to just...happened.

Lacklustre feels like a self-reflective-and-fulfilling tautology, but maybe it fits.

I am greedy, especially in wanting emotional pain, but I just wanted more for myself, this book, the Heresy, the readers (who largely seem satisfied, so this really is a me problem), and Haley, because if everything in this book was as good as the times ON Terra, this would be one of my favourite books of the Horus Heresy.

Alas.

It's still pretty good though.


***

I'm having a big chronic pain flare up day, so I need to come back to do a proper write up, but this looked good, was largely enjoyable to read, but lacked any real weight of substance, despite the opening scenes, dialogue, and interactions between major characters being handled with phenomenal care and subtlety. It's like it started with a beautiful, quiet flash, and never gathered any of that energy or quality again.

I hate feeling this way and it does seem incredibly unfair to an author who didn't do a bad job, but I can't help wishing Wraight, Annandale, French, or, and only if he could bring the magic from Prospero Burns back to the Rout, Abnett, were at the helm of this one.

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 33 Horus Heresy novels (including 1 repeat), 21 novellas (including 2 repeats), 112 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 16 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 2 Characters novels, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t...). I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.

[Christian Freed · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one falls in the pretty sure it didn't have to written category, but I still read them. I never understood leaders who insist on taking their entire armies on a suicide mission.....

[Matthew Hipsher · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first time since his turn to Chaos, a loyal Primarch will face off with Horace, the Warmaster and......well that's the book.

It mostly follows Lehman Russ, the Primarch of the Space Wolves and his quest to hunt down and kill his traiterous brother Horace. His character development in this book is amazing and it makes him so much more than "head super human viking wolf guy" he had been up to this book.

We also get a glimpse into the early stages of Belisarius Cawl and his work in the Imperium.

This was an awesome book and an ABSOLUTE MUST READ.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great HH book.

[Xavier Virsu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put off reading this because I wasn't really a space wolves fan, but I read enjoyed this book. Even though you know what is going to happen to hope for a different outcome. I'm down with the rout!

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected to dislike this one as I dislike most of the hypocritical Space Wolf stories, BUT this one was EXCELLENT! Really focused well on some of the primary characters and LUPERCAL!!! Finally got to see some Horus!

[Al Ubilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly appreciate the Space Wolves and Leman Russ so much more after this book…. Awhooooo!

[L.L · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Chad Eveleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a pleasant surprise to read this book by Guy Haley. Before this, I had not had the experience of reading any of his work, and I must say that I think he did a great job of setting the scene & tone for one of the most selfless acts portrayed during the events of the Horus Heresy. I will be interested in reading more from him, that's for sure!

To finish off, all I can is that if you are a Warhammer 40k fan, and furthermore a Space Wolves fan like me, then this book is definitely for you.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The introduction of Belisarius Cawl and Leman Russ versus Horus? How could it be anything but 5 stars?

[Matthew Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good LORE, but felt like it did drag on a bit

[Mhoram · Rating 3 out of 5]

The much built-up-to showdown between Leman Russ and Horus Lupercal has arrived. Russ and his Legion have been waiting at Terra, interviewing Loken's pathfinders, and now they are prepared to strike.
Wolfsbane was rather an ambitious book. Seeking to confront the disparate representations of the Wolves throughout the series, and amalgamate them together, was a worthy task to take on. So too was trying to do something with Sanguinius' personality, which has been even more inconsistently depicted than the Wolves. Add to this an actively positive relationship between a Primarch and Malcador, the attempt to address the hypocrisy of the Wolves keeping their Wolf Priests post-Nikaea, and a side-plot working the now-infamous Belisarius Cawl into the series, and the book begins to struggle under its own weight somewhat. An ambitious book indeed - perhaps just a touch more ambitious than Guy Haley could quite handle.
Regardless, the story is of reasonable quality. It does have a couple of unfortunate failings. The first is Russ' metaphysical adventures on Fenris. While they drop some implications that feel important, and that part of the story was necessary, it also felt very awkward and contrived. The actual events involved felt half-hearted, with a sense of wanting them to be over and done with to get back to the actual story. The biggest other problem is that Cawl's story feels completely detached from the rest of the book. It was a good story, certainly, but it deserved to be released as its own novella, or as part of a greater Mechanicum-focused novel.
Of final note, there were some unfortunate issues with the timing of when this book was released. The story of Cawl should certainly have come out prior to the first Gathering Storm book, rather than almost a year and a half after. Cawl needed actual /character/ in the Gathering Storm, he needed reason for the audience to care about him, and he didn't get that until Wolfsbane arrived. The second problem lies in the story's conclusion; there's a clear lead-up to a finale for the Wolves' story in the Heresy, but because the Horus Heresy release schedule has been an utter dumpster-fire since day one, that finale already existed in the novel Corax - released nearly two years earlier, and nine books earlier in the series. What absolute foolishness.

[Kevin Collett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prologue to this book was excellent, it got me really excited about reading the book.

The start was a dip but still good, the middle was hard work but it finished strongly with a very good ending.

This book did, however, clarify my main issue with books about the primarchs: they suffer from the Superman issue. Where Superman can only be harmed by Kryptonite it means that essentially all the peril in the stories have to come from the use of kryptonite. As the primarchs are nearly unstoppable killing machines it means the peril to them comes from either fighting another primarchs (which can’t happen that much) but more likely means they spend a lot of time being threatened / lured by chaos. The same happened in this book when Russ went to the underverse. It’s just not that great to read for the n-th time.

Not the best HH book, definitely not the worst; it’s alright.

[Andrew Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best Prologues in the Black Library, period. I really enjoyed the SW and Primarch characterization in this novel as well. I still don't quite get why this had to happen, I guess, Horus ending up with the ability to have regret? Who knows if that will play out in the later story. I want more novels, and less anthologies, so when a novel is more than average in quality I have to call it out. This was a welcome addition.

[Mryare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russ vs Horus. BE THERE

[Blair · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recognize my failing and will not be sure to correct it.

So close yet so far. Wolfsbane marks one of the last books in the narrative order of the story, closing in with the Beta-Garmon war and ending with the Solar War, so, quite the important book to read about what exactly happens before shit goes down south fast. It is a compelling read that starts pretty strong with some fantastical premises and re introduction of old characters, providing some really well-realized background bits of lore that are enjoyable to read, particularly the first meeting of the primarchs, Horus and Leman Russ. While the concept of it follows a very strong start that seems to indicate a fascinating ride, it, ultimately, boils down to mere vapor.

What's the point of it all? I ask myself, but before waning down on the bad side of this book, I'd like to mention some of the nice bits that I really enjoyed. The first third or so of this book is really fun and entertaining, particularly enlightening to those that enjoy learning about the lore and background of the characters. A great deal of it just consists of various long dialogues between characters, and it is honestly really damn good to just listen to what everyone has to say, particularly the conversations between Malcador and Russ, as well as the little scenes where other primarchs are involved, like Rogal Dorn. It poses questions that the readers have asked before, and tries to build the foundations of possible answers. It creates a dreadful atmosphere of impeding doom, and makes you feel the tiredness and fatigue of the loyalists characters so far into the heresy. It works well on its own and, had the novel kept up with the pace, it would have been so much better.

But then again, this is the HH, and every once in a while we have to read through some boring and slow burns that seem to go nowhere. So, here's a mild spoiler: The whole premise of this book is that Russ, somehow, just HAS to face down Horus in macho-to-macho combat, a personal duel of honor and weird shit that boils down to: because?

While it sure sounds pretty damn epic and takes a while to build some awesome tension, by the time the actual fight comes down is just a hurricane of messy descriptions and asinine words that lack any sort of emotional punch. Death is nothing compared to vindication, said someone somewhere, yet here we seem to get none, for even when a character falls, it just falls and that is it. Goodbye to a character that we've spent a few hundred pages reading about that somehow, just got the short end of the stick. There's a lack of proper foundation for the story to stand on its own, and it suffers greatly from its pacing that switches gears constantly. The first third we have some slow yet fun dialogues, and then it switches to a mushroom-filled hallucination that feels like it lasts for fucking ever, and then comes the final due, and then, that is it? Yeah, there was also Cawl added in the mix for SOME reason, but truth be told, his plot line is completely forgettable and rather lackluster. Guy Haley is the man in charge of writing about Cawl in the 40k line, so I imagine he felt compelled to sneakily add the most uninteresting origin story in a book that has really no true connection to Cawl or even the Mechanicum as a whole.

The reasons behind Russ idea of dueling Horus just seem superfluous and stupid as hell, and this is something the author is, apparently, aware of, as every single other major character advises Russ against this idea and urge him to instead focus his forces in the defense of Terra (which would have probably been more honorable but what do I know there's no FUCKING wolves on Fenris anyway right fuck off), and the thing is, Russ prepares this whole shamanistic ritual to use the Warp and try to see into the future, he loses his best psykers in the process (oh sorry, I MEANT Rune Priests because espeis cocks are special) and all the answers he gets are nonchalantly succinct: Nope, you are going to fail. And guess what?

And yet he still decides to go.

But then again, what do I know, 'cause espeis pupz are supposed to be nobles in disguise pretending to be barbarians, durrr durrr.

[Zare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read for multiple reasons.

First (sort of a side-story) we are given more details on Belisarius Cawl's early career. Because of his talents and constant unwillingness to gain higher Adeputs Mechanicum position he will find himself in crosshairs of his superior, commander of the security and troops defending the loyalist Mechanicum station placed in the vital Trisolian star system, very near to vital junction of Beta Garmon. This unwanted attention will make him member of Skitarii forces and in this position he will witness the events of this book.

Second reason is main story - one about Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves. We witness the Space Wolves getting involved in raids and attacks on the borders of the Solar system, biting into the traitors but not being able to inflict serious damage. This forces Russ to reconsider the direct attack on the Horus himself. Short meeting with Malcador's task force (Loken being one of the survivors) gives Russ an idea how to proceed but reports on the Horus' corruption and the level of powers he wields throw quite a shadow on the entire endeavor. But Space Wolves are Space Wolves, Emperor's Executioners, so details related to possible high casualties are not something that will make them change their mind.

And this is where inner workings of the Space Wolves are presented to the reader. Russ was the one of Primarchs asking for Librarium dissolvement in front of the Emperor but Russ and Space Marines of the Space Wolves have a much stroger link to the understanding of Warp than they let be known. Nothing shows this more than Russ' decision to go back to Fenris, famed Fang, and try to find the advice using his seers on how to proceed. This very scene of self-exploration and beautiful, wild nature images of Fenris and Fang, mountain fortress reaching to the very skies and starscape, are truly outstanding. Here we are given another Primarch with ties to Warp, but one that is as open in this as Thousand Sons and not hiding it that much (as First (Watchers in the Dark) or Blood Angels). Of course this are all inner workings of the Space Wolves, not open to the outsiders (but explains why Thousand Sons wanted to infiltrate it). Heavy presence of the seers in Space Wolves forces is visible to other Primarchs and they do call Russ a hypocrite. But this does not disturb him at all - Space Wolves are obviously force made with certain purpose in mind so presence of these Warp-wielders is expected. That this disturb his other brothers indicates that not everyone is aware of Emperor's plans.

I like how author is giving us scene where Russ discusses the situation with his chief seer but every time he starts talking about the mysteries of the past (lost legions amongst other things) his words are (for us, readers) drowned in noise coming from the outside. I especially liked Russ' comment on the way he came up with the name for the legion :)

What Russ learns (this part of the book truly makes you think what would the Primarchs be where they allowed to grow on Earth) makes him decide to attack Horus.

I wont go into much detail but what follows shows that Space Wolves are not berserkers and savages rest of the Emperor's armies sees them like. The very way they progress through Vengeful Spirit, orchestrate full offensive ship boarding and attack on multiple fronts, it just shows that they are enigma to everyone but Emperor.

Battle between Horus and Russ is brutal and short (not unlike combat with Sanginius) and shows how warped Horus has become. What Russ succeeds in is making a dent in the Horus' armor and maybe, just maybe, bringing old Horus back for at least a second. This just might prove to be an advantage that can be used in the future.

Unexpectedly good story (considering it is a side-story for the main events) and I truly enjoyed it. If you are interested in the Space Wolves and their Primarch I cannot recommend it enough.

Highly recommended.

[Rev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolfsbane provides easily of the most intimate and thematically rich explorations of Leman Russ and his fated confrontation with Horus. Here, Guy Haley presents a novel that is as much about the doomed last stand of the Wolf King as it is about the nature of fate, brotherhood, and the grim realities of a war that has long since passed the point of redemption. The narrative follows Russ as he prepares for a desperate and preemptive strike against the Warmaster, an assault born not only out of arrogance but of a deep, gnawing understanding that the Imperium's days are already be numbered in the face of Chaos. Haley's depiction of Russ here is nothing short of masterful, stripping away the common perception of him as the blunt instrument of the Emperor's will and revealing instead a warrior-poet and leader who understands, perhaps better than any of his brothers, the true weight of what is to come. Having Russ step away from the one dimensional role of merely the Emperor's executioner here in order to reveal that he’s a man who knows that his role, his very purpose, has been outmaneuvered by the tide of history. Though on the other side of the conflict, Haley's portrayal of Horus is equally striking. No longer the noble brother who once stood at the Emperor's right hand, nor even the tragic hero of earlier books, the Warmaster is now something else entirely after his visit to Molech. His ascension, his ultimate corruption is almost complete, and what remains is a figure both terrifying and strangely hollow, a creature becoming of something simultaneously more and less than human. another life, might have been allies to the end. The fight is brutal, almost mythic in scope, but it is the emotions beneath it and the sense of inevitability, of lost fraternity that really make it one of the most powerful confrontations in the Horus Heresy series, especially as during the fight Horus’s withering humanity still manages to shine through to his brother and with this being Russ’s more intimate portrayal in all facets it makes for what ends up being my favorite Horus fight in all of the Heresy.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never really was a space wolves fan. They and their primarch seemed to me to be to one dimensional and in particular his role as the emperors executioner did not interest me that much.

Wolfsbane however did turn me arround somewhat and for a large part that has got to be because of Björn the fell handed. There is something about him and his dealing with his unexpected role in the horus Heresy that is amusing to read. Less pleased I was with the forced pressence of Cawl as a young mechanicus adapt, his pressence felt weird and only there because they felt the need to put him in the heresy setting as to retcon his existence all the way back to the 30k millenium as to link him with Guilliman. The two stories of Russ and this of Cawl had little to nothing to do with onanother.

I am happy as well that they somewhat rectoned Leaman russ's attitude towards psychers and his own use of his wolfpriest psychers. Yet at the same time, it is too convenient. Now he is all like; ah but our wolfpriests like the Khans windwalkers are steeped in tradition of control and restraint thus we can use them. Sure but why did you not talk about this earlier? Why did the Khan not talk to his brother about how the wolfpriests are like his own psychers? true in the end it was Mortarion, not Russ, who gave the final blow at the council of Nikea to ban psychers, which set in motion the events that would lead to the burning of prospero, but this idea of restraint was never really explored. Would magnus the red have accepted such a compromise at the very least temporarily? Maybe not but we won't know now. So yeah, great insight from you Russ, to bad you only now came to vocalize it.....

Still it is a great read and a worthwhile addition to any horus heresy collection

[Glyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written piece that helps set up the Siege of Terral, that all 50 odd books over the 13 years that this series has continued for, have been leading to.

Haley does a great job in writing the Wolves and everyone of their characters seems real and likeable. There are moments of pathos and Leman Euss is shown to be a very noble if desperately flawed hero. Especially during the interlude on Fenris. Bjorn suffers slightly from the fact that everyone who reads these books knows what happens with the character and so it is difficult to feel any sense of tension about scenes with him.

There are a few scenes at the start which are some of the best in the series. The first meeting between Horus (only son syndrome) and Leman Russ *product of a culture unrecognisable to high Imperial protocols) are a joy to behold. Then you have the scenes where the Loyalist Primarchs discuss the war/ Again this handles those disparate personalities well. and all are in character throughout.

I did remove one star due to what I believe is the book;s great flaw. This whole story is a massive ret-con. That is nothing new for this series and is not in and of itself an issue. The whole attitude and nature of the VI Legion was ret-conned by Dan Abnett way back in "Prospero Burns" The issue is that this is not adding a new and exciting dimension like that did. This is at best a poor attempt to explain why the Wolves were not present at the end, and to justify the Ultramarines getting a mention At worst it is demeaning the one central fact that has always been true of our knowledge of the Heresy. If the latter is true then it will have profound and negative implications.

[J.P. Harker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fenris Hjolda!

I orignally thought this would be a 4 star, that became a 4.5, and would now be at least a 4.8 which is as close to a 5 as makes no odds!

I can't call it perfect for a couple of minor points, but they are just that; minor. The first is that twice we had prolongued fight sequences with no stakes (Cawl remote-controlling some drones to save some miners we know nothing about, and Russ fighting a 'no safeties' dreadnought in a training cage. Both sequences could have been shorter and given the same story message)

Apart from that, this was practically flawless. That first meeting of the two brothers (and learning that they are the two primarchs with the longest relationship) was simply epic, with real insight into both men. We see the beginnings, even then, of Horus' great weakness of pride.

The Wolf King is a more complex man than he is generally given credit for, and I liked the mirroring with Sanguinius of the wise man dressed in savage garb next to the savage dressed in a wise man's garb. We get so much more depth for Russ in this, and having recently read Emperor's Gift, it was nice to see young Bjorn at his side.

The 'Thor's Trials' bit was completely nicked from Norse Myth and I don't care at all - it worked perfectly and had just enough tweaks to keep it fresh.

The boarding action had me on the edge of my seat and was such a satisfying conclusion to the story, making me want to howl along with my brother executioners! One of the best of the HH so far

[Ardelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

i will say going into this leman russ was not my favorite primarch, i didn't like him at all. at the most he compelled me more than lorgar or the twins did, and that was it, and most of what "compelled" me was the fact that he made me angry. i haven't read his other book, i've only read a thousand sons and it colored my perception of his character pretty heavily. however, guy haley ensnares me again.

the first part of the book starts with a bit of frontloading for siege of terra as well as establishing a bit of background for horus and leman's relationship as first and second found, and its clear horus's betrayal hurt leman badly. there's literally a point during their confrontation where leman is in tears pleading for horus to see reason and then he stabs him. it's awesome. for everything he says his actions at prospero haunt him in some capacity and interestingly, the confrontation scene between him and horus mirrors the confrontation between him and magnus with one crucial difference: leman is the one losing this time.

cawl's storyline was partially superfluous but i did enjoy how it tied in with the main. and, i really just like seeing the inclusion of cawl. it was fun seeing him when he was younger!

anyways yeah, 4/5, 7.5/10 it was good.

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 49 in the Horus Heresy series, Wolfsbane is a pretty-much-direct sequel to Vengeful Spirit and Wolf King, and also a lead-in to Weregeld from the Corax anthology. The Vlka Fenryka have returned to Terra, but are champing at the bit to take the fight to Horus. Sanguinius’ arrival in the Sol system prompts Leman Russ, against his brothers’ wishes, to take his battered and bloodied legion back to Fenris in an attempt to divine Horus’ weakness. Meanwhile in the Trisolian system, gateway to Beta-Garmon, a young and disruptive tech adept named Belisarius Cawl finds himself under unwelcome scrutiny from his superiors.

Haley’s taken a smart approach to this story, offering believable explanations of not just what happened but also why – and that applies to Cawl as well as Russ. It might not please all Space Wolves fans (it’s not a big win for the VI), or indeed anyone who prefers the Heresy to stick to the ‘known’ facts…but there’s no denying it’s a typically smart and well written book that’s absolutely packed full of character.

Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/02/...