The Talon of Horus (Volume 1) (The Black Legion)

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Not Me This Time: The Inquisition attempts to pin a load of aliases and crimes on Khayon whilst he is in their custody. It should be noted that he doesn't deny committing acts of mass genocide but that he mildly resents being accused of things he didn't do. Abaddon: "The Imperium is ours. We fought for it. We built it with blood and sweat and wrath. We forged it with the worlds we took. The empire is built upon foundations of our brothers' bones...We didn't rebel out of petty spite, Sigismund. We rebelled because our Lord and master played us false. We were useful tools to bring the galaxy to heel, but He would have cleansed us from the Imperium the way He purged the Thunder Legion before us, wiping us all from history like excrement from His golden boots." Going into this, I had a few assumptions about what a novel focusing on the chaos space marines may look like, and I'm happy to say I was completely off the mark. I was NOT expecting the level of respect, honour, brotherhood, and even humour that I read. Sure, they are evil, evil in a universe where even the best examples of the "good guys" are comparatively evil by modern standards. The characters can be cruel, blood-thirsty, and hold little value for lives that aren't their own, or that of their fellow chaos space marines, but, in this novel they are made to be very easy to follow along with and root for throughout their journey. Batman Gambit: Abaddon reveals that he sent Sargon counting on Falkus summoning Khayne and Lheor to aid him and the three of them acting just like they did, unable to resist the prize that is the Vengeful Spirit.

Dual Wielding: Telemachon fights with two swords, adding to his Master Swordsman repute. Khayon speculates that he decided on this style because of its inherent Rule of Cool, but it works for him nevertheless. Ugrivian shows this while fighting. He tries to approach the Butcher's Nails with a more intellectual degree, trying to see its effects and limits during practice. If you want to get the best out of your time in the warp, you need this book. When there's so many slaves to take and so little time, you really need to maximise your killing"- Falkus Kibre. The Talon of Horus was an interesting read. It was my very first book told from the viewpoint of the Traitor Legions. Iskandar Khayon is a Chaos Marine and a sorcerer. Embroiled in the conflict between the various Traitor Marines, also known as the Nine Legions, Khayon and a mixture other Astartes from various Traitor Legions decide to try to change things.Born on Terra and raised to the Legiones Astartes as the Great Crusade was at its height, he ascended in rank and renown thanks to a simple fact: he was a warrior of unparalleled lethality and ability. Beneath the primarchs there has perhaps never been a more skilled warrior in combat. While the story isn't as well written as some of the other Warhammer books it is still good. I enjoyed the interesting look at the Chaos Marines. Also this version of Abaddon seems far more mature, intelligent and cynical than the old First Captain from the Horus Heresy books. This takes places roughly a few thousand years after the events of the Heresy. But with all that said, there were some issues with this book, beyond the before mentioned toeing of the Mary Sue line. My biggest has to do with the clone of Horus. It is mentioned time and time again in 40k fiction that the primarchs were to the space marines as the space marines are to normal humans. This can actually be seen in the current release of the primarchs in the game itself. Yet in the confrontation with the cloned Horus in this, the way everything plays out not only downplayed the primarch (maybe a cloning flaw?), but also made him sized the same as Abaddon in his terminator warplate, which shouldn't have been the case. Most people wouldn't have noticed this, but it really took me out of the story. It was his skill and fire that brought Sigismund to command the Templars of the Legion's 1st Company, and the most exalted position in the Imperial Fists beneath Rogal Dorn himself. Dorn then disowned Sigismund as one of his sons, for no matter what his future held, Sigismund would never again be one of his own.

High Marshal Sigismund, using his last breath to curse Abaddon the Despoiler after being torn in two by the Talon of Horus Within this volume, you will also find some interesting and original interpretations on some of the events of the Horus Heresy – the causes of the destruction of Prospero and of the failure to conquer the Imperial Palace being two of the main examples. Also included are a number of “teasers”. One relates to the next volumes of ADB’s trilogy. Iskandar is a prisoner of the Inquisition somewhere near Saturn, but a prisoner who surrendered voluntarily and who presents himself as messenger. Other “teasers” allude to past climatic events when mentioning the Talon of Horus, in particular Horus’ duels against his brother and then against his father, which we might hopefully be able to read about in the Horus Heresy series in the not too distant future. The Solar Priest calls itself several ways apart from this - the Avatar, the Astronomican, the Imperious, the Voice and the Ghost among others. Khayon: He did not answer, nor did he watch as I left. He was seeing Sigismund again, dwelling on replies he could never speak to a brother he had once admired and who had died despising him. Dead All Along: Nefertari has been dead since a battle with Zarakynel, a Keeper of Secrets, and Khayon has been sustaining her existence with his psychic powers. Khayon believes if she learns about this she would die for real.Telemachon eventually serves as Abaddon's, going from warband to warband giving Abaddon's offer of alliance and threat of reprisal. Ashur-Kai Qezremah, 'The White Seer' - XV Legion warrior, born of Terra. Sorcerer of the Kha’Sherhan warband and voidseer of the warship Tlaloc. Supernatural Gold Eyes: Abaddon's eyes are colored gold, which he claims is a result of staring into the light of the Astronomicon. Unreliable Narrator: Despite all his claims to be only telling the truth and revealing a huge amount of information to the Inquisition, it should be remembered that Khayon is a chaos marine and one of Abbadon's lieutenants. First Captain Sigismund sharing his private thoughts with Captain Tarik Torgaddon, Second Captain of the Luna Wolves Legion

Sigismund's will was Dorn's, and through his primarch, the Emperor's. Dorn had trusted him, and Sigismund had squandered that trust on pride and superstition, not unlike those who now rebelled against the Emperor. Shamed, Sigismund offered his blade to his gene-father to take his life, but the primarch refused. He would retain Sigismund as first captain, but none would ever know of what he had done. Dorn would not allow Sigismund's fear and pride to sow doubt in their ranks. His shame would be his to bear alone. In ADB's previous series, Night Lords, First Claw meets Falkus Kibre and the remains of the Justaerin, noting that they reek of corruption and possession. In The Talon of Horus we find out how it happened.

Tropes featured

The main character is Khayon, a legionnary from the Thousand Sons, who stumbles into a quest to help some remnant of the fading XVIth chasing after legends.