Horus Rising (The Horus Heresy)

In the vast expanse of science fiction literature, few works stand as tall and as influential as *Horus Rising* by Dan Abnett. This novel, the opening salvo in the epic *Horus Heresy* series, is nothing short of a masterpiece, deserving of every one of its five stars. From the moment readers dive into the pages of *Horus Rising*, they are transported to a universe teetering on the brink of cataclysmic conflict. Set in the grim darkness of the far future, the novel introduces us to the sprawling empire of the Imperium of Man, ruled by the enigmatic God-Emperor and beset by threats from within and without. At the heart of the story lies the primarch Horus, beloved by his brothers and revered by his legion of Space Marines. As Warmaster of the Imperium, Horus is tasked with leading humanity's crusade to conquer the galaxy in the name of the Emperor. But as tensions simmer and betrayals brew, Horus finds himself torn between loyalty to his father and the seeds of rebellion sown by dark forces. One of the greatest strengths of *Horus Rising* is its rich and immersive world-building. Abnett effortlessly brings to life a universe brimming with detail, from the war-torn battlefields of distant planets to the labyrinthine corridors of the Imperial Palace. Every aspect of the setting feels meticulously crafted and authentic, drawing readers deeper into the story with each turn of the page. But perhaps the true triumph of *Horus Rising* lies in its characters. From the noble warriors of the Adeptus Astartes to the scheming politicians of the Imperium, each character is rendered with depth, complexity, and nuance. Horus himself is a particularly compelling figure, a hero torn between duty and ambition, grappling with the weight of his destiny and the whispers of darkness that threaten to consume him. Abnett's prose is equally impressive, combining visceral action with introspective moments of reflection to create a narrative that is as gripping as it is thought-provoking. The dialogue crackles with wit and tension, driving the plot forward at a relentless pace while also providing insight into the minds of the characters. In conclusion, *Horus Rising* is a tour de force of science fiction storytelling that deserves its place among the genre's greatest works. With its epic scope, richly drawn characters, and masterful prose, it is a novel that will linger in the minds of readers long after they have turned the final page. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the Warhammer 40,000 universe or simply someone looking for a gripping tale of heroism and betrayal, *Horus Rising* is not to be missed.

Wow! What an awesome book! But first, my background: I am such a devout SF reader, that I have an Excel spreadsheet where I log my SF books in alpha order, and I grade each one after I read it. I have so many still unread in my garage, that I rarely buy new ones unless something catches my fancy. One day two weeks ago, I was trawling through the Amazon SF books, reading about some other book, and down below it said that I might enjoy "Horus Rising". So I linked to it, and saw it was part of a games group known as Warhammer 40,000, and part of a sub-group called the Horus Heresy. Not being a game-player, I had never heard of either. Still, I read the reviews, and thought the book sounded interesting -- but probably doubtful -- since I was not a big space opera fan, and particularly not in the war genre. Nevertheless I ordered it. Twenty pages into it I liked it so well that I ordered the rest of the (currently) five-book series the same day! I came away from "Horus Rising" with these impressions: First, that the author Dan Abnett has a great gift of drawing the reader into the novel, giving the characters distinctive identities with enough depth that you care about them - and writing real dialogue that is in keeping with the respective personalities. Second, I expected about 70-80% blood, war, and gore, but was pleasantly surprised to discover that there are enough undercurrents and side-issues going on -- often handled using flash-backs and flash-forwards -- that the blood, war, and gore-meter only came up to a reasonable 25-30%. Third, it's hard for an author to come up with new ideas, words, and concepts that I haven't come across in my SF reading, but there are some intriguing ones here which add fascination and mystery to the reading process. Fourth, another word about the characters: no pun intended, the characters are larger than life, and they need to be, because the dangers they face in the universe of 30,200 A.D. are very great. I'm glad the good guys are on my team. Although it becomes a little less clear as time goes on exactly who the good guys are... Finally, even though I read the reviews of all five books so far in print -- and thus I know basically how it all turns out -- still, it didn't dampen my interest at all about book one. In a sense, it added intrigue to it by my wondering how everything was going to get resolved by the end of the series. So in this sense, the series is not only an "action adventure", but also a "mystery". Hat's off to Dan Abnett, and soon I expect to say that for the authors of the other four books. (A different writer writes each successive book -- like a handoff from quarterback to halfback) Oh. About that grade that I give each book after I read it. I rate the books from 0.0 to 10.0 in 0.5 step increments. The highest grade I had given to date, were three books at 9.0: Frank Herbert's "Dune", Jack McDevitt's "Chindi", and Alastair Reynolds' "Revelation Space". But now (ta da!) they are matched by the new "Horus Rising" rating of 9.0 on my spreadsheet.

As someone new to Warhammer 40,000, I approached Horus Rising with hesitation. Could a novel about genetically engineered super-soldiers in a dystopian future hold my interest? Dan Abnett’s gripping storytelling turned that question into an emphatic yes. The story follows Horus, the Emperor of Mankind’s chosen Warmaster, as he leads the Great Crusade to unify humanity. Told through the eyes of Captain Garviel Loken, the book explores the camaraderie, moral dilemmas, and cracks forming within the Imperium’s seemingly perfect vision. What surprised me most was how personal the narrative felt. Despite the epic battles and vast scope, the characters – especially Horus and Loken – are richly human. Horus is both inspiring and flawed, burdened by immense responsibility, while Loken’s introspection and growing doubts make him a compelling guide through this universe. Abnett’s worldbuilding is immersive yet accessible, striking a balance that welcomes newcomers without overwhelming them. The grim, gothic atmosphere of starships and the philosophical debates surrounding the Emperor’s secular vision add depth to the action. The battles themselves are brutal but purposeful, advancing both the story and the characters’ arcs. Themes of loyalty, faith, and ambition resonate powerfully, making the book more than just military sci-fi. It’s a tale of humanity’s fragility and the cost of idealism. For newcomers, Horus Rising offers a thrilling, approachable entry point into Warhammer 40,000. It’s a story of epic scale grounded in intimate, relatable struggles. By the end, I was captivated and eager to see how the haunting opening line – “I was there the day Horus slew the Emperor” – would unfold. A must-read for anyone who loves stories of ambition, betrayal, and the weight of destiny.

This first book of the Horus Heresy series sets the stage for a tale of personal growth and moral responsibility. The central character is Garviel Lorken, 10th Company Captain of the Luna Wolves Legion, though it features many other canonical characters from Games Workshop's Warhammer 40K universe, including three Primarchs and a host of infamous figures from later in its history. Canonical characters that make appearances include: Horus, Rogal Dorn, Sanguinius, and Abaddon. M. Abnett was the ideal author for the beginning of this project. He excels in atmospherics, moral quandary, foreshadowing, and parallels. The book opens with an ominous parallel of how we know the series must end (I assume that most readers will have some familiarity with the history and background of 40K, though it is by no means necessary), and throughout are questions of morality and responsibility that foreshadow future events. Likewise, the growth of the main character, Lorken, is mirrored by the development of those around him. The Black Library is lucky to have a writer of M. Abnett's talents, and I can only hope that latter writers will be able to live up to his high standards. His characters spring off the page, with good depth, realistic motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. He has a true talent for bringing the gothic feel of the 40K universe to the reader. Both action scenes and more subtle elements of plot development are handled adeptly, including villains every bit as complex and clever as the protagonists. In addition to excellent characters, there's plenty of tech and military hardware for lovers of fluff. Writing a good climactic ending, one of his few weaknesses, is minimized here, as the entire novel is clearly a preface for the rest of the tale. The only other weakness of the tale is the somewhat clumsy setup for the next book in the series. Literally within the last few pages, he brings an antagonist into the spotlight that has had only minimal prior development. It's one of the only disappointing pieces of writing in the work. The rest (read: majority) is excellent, and one can hardly wait to see what happens next, particularly given the moral questions and foreshadowing utilized to pique the reader's curiosity. In short: an auspicious start for the tale, well worth reading for any fan of good sci-fi, but highly recommended for 40K fans.

One of the best books I have ever read. The story is well written and so exciting. Definitely going to read the next book.

This is a great start to an amazing series based on the Warhammer universe. The character development is very engaging, and the world settings are rich and emersive, giving a very enjoyable juxtaposition to reality, allowing the reader to completely engage with the story. This is a violent setting and may not be suitable for readers under the age of seventeen. There are no explicit scenes and no foul language, though. Instead, the author develops the story using classical literary writing techniques that are a breath of fresh air in this age of pop fiction. I would strongly recommend this book, and I look forward to continuing this epic adventure.

If you've read much Warhammer 40k, then this is the novel you've been waiting. Black Liberty sends out one of their best authors to make it count. Finally, you see the formation of the Imperium and the ultimate betrayal! Well, not really. The book picks up somewhere a couple centuries after the Crusade just started. Horus has already been made Warmaster. At first this was disappointing, but I think they're leaving themselves some wiggle room to tell another precursor series of books down the road. There are quite a few mentions of the times before the Crusade started and events that took place between then and Horus' promotion. Seems like Black Liberty will have material for a good long time to come. There are just too many great parts of this book to list them all. From the first battle where Horus kills the "Emperor" (not a spoiler, it's literally the 2nd sentence of the book!) to the battle vs the giant spider aliens on Murder everything is nicely polished. Even the slower parts in between battles are still compelling. and actually found the story of the mortal rememberers to be interesting. I did think there was just a little too much heavy handed foreshadowing being thrust upon the reader at times, but generally it was handled very subtly which I appreciate. After all the bad things written about Horus, it was pretty interesting to see a time when he was the favored son. You'll find yourself thinking him very reasonable and likable. You can also see both why he was the perfect one to take over for the Emperor, both in battle prowess and in political savvy, but at the same time by giving someone so good at the job that level of power you can see how he was able to move so many against the Emperor. I've already purchased the other two books in the initial Horus trilogy and a couple later on in the series. I just hope the others are half as much fun as this one was.

This is a great start to what could have been a great franchise. Abnett's ability to create compelling characters is a credit to the franchise. Good pacing, characters face real opposition both in combat and intelectually. the entire series goes downhill from here though. This trollogy, is enjoyable, but don't expect anything above OK after that.

Good book and seller for the serries.

Everything is alright except how the book was packed the glue sticked to the book and now I have to get it off somehow

My boyfriend loves it and it arrived in good condition!

Really good condition. As advertised.

The headline is evident enough. Nothing else needs to be said. If you have been seeking for a piece of fiction that reveres great plot, characterization, thematic depth, and fine prose in equal measure - read this one. Irrespective of whether or not you are acquainted with the Warhammer 40k universe.