BOOK REVIEW
Title: False Gods
Author: Graham McNeill
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks Guest Reviewer Exclusive
Rating: 6 / 10
Brief Plot Outline (NO spoilers!):
This book continues only a few years after the events of Horus Rising. The Luna Wolves, now renamed the 'Sons of Horus' are drawn into a battle on the moon of Davin, a world, the first infact, to rebel against the Imperium, and are branded Traitors. The Sons of Horus wage the battle on the moon, which is host to all manners of foul warp-spawned creatures. Horus fights the rebelious leader, and kills him in combat, but not without being wounded.
The Traitor is a worshipper of Nurgle. Nurgle is a Plauge God of Chaos, which are the real antagonists in Warhammer 40,000. The Traitor is bloated, immensley fat and desiesed, but fights in a way his body should not be able to, with a quickness only reserved for the Astartes. His blade is one that was stolen during Horus Rising by Erebus, First Chaplain of the Word Bearers Legion.
Horus is badly wounded, and dying. Nobody, not even the senior Apothecaries of the Legion can cure Horus. Erebus comes forward and suggests a radical approach, which is to take him to the spiritual healers on Davin's surface. Once there, Erebus enter's the unconcious Horus' mind, and turns him against The Emperor.
The events since the last section of Horus Rising and most, if not all of False Gods is an elaborate scheme orchestrated by Erebus. Once healed, Horus is a changed person, now dealing with Daemons, and plotting the downfall of his own father, the Master of Mankind, The Emperor.
The humans once again play a big part, including the events that make Keeler a saint. Her and Sindermann translated a section of text, that which is tatooed on Erebus' head, and it summons a Daemon, and somehow, Keeler saves them, and is praised as a living saint.
Also, the other characters are slowly changing, Abaddon especialy, he is turning against the Emperor also, and is prone to periods of extreme anger and violence. Little Horus is doing what he thinks will be for the best, he doesn't like it, and hates himself for it, but sides with Abaddon. Tarik and Loken, however, are against healing Horus using sorcery, and are firmly against Abaddon and Aximand, and thus, the Mournival starts to break.
Review:
Writing: McNeill is a good writer, not the same style as Abnett when it comes to describing war or the Primarchs, but is still good. The book does have morality questions, mainly about the way the Astartes see themselves as above the humans, even going as far as to kill 21 of them when they bring an injured Horus on board their ship, the Vengeful Spirit. It also throws in the dilemma, do what is best for one you love, but break the law, or stay by the law, even if the loved one dies.
Overall: Even though the events on Davin are a key part of the Horus Heresy, the book portays it poorly, I think. The book is almost forgettable, even though some parts of it are truly memorable.