Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4841 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Customer Reviews

The missing part of the first novel
"Fallen Angels" picks up where "Descent of Angels" left us hanging. At the end of the latter novel the cousins Zahariel and Nemiel were sent their different ways. This book picks up their separate stories some fifty years later.

I won't spoil the plot, but basically Zahariel is investigating some strange events on Caliban and Nemiel is involved in a desperate bid to stop the traitor legions getting their hands on an important forge world.
The style is a bit odd, jumping from one thread to another in each chapter without ever linking them together. The plot and characterisation are okay, nothing special but nothing wrong either (most readers are probably familiar with space marine novels by now: gory violence, deadpan jokes about missing limbs, heroic feats of arms ('scuse the puns) and so on).

The real reason I've given this three stars is because it should have been part of the previous book. A well-edited 800-page epic on the Dark Angels could have got five stars. Instead I'm left feeling that the Black Library cheated me out of some money. Come on, try it, give us a big novel to get our teeth into! We can handle it.

I should probably add that this book doesn't advance the central plot of the Heresy series nor tie off all the threads. However, it does give us a good idea of what really happened to the Dark Angels and why. It also has quite an amusing twist at the end which made me laugh out loud.

In summary, it's worth buying to find out about the history of this mysterious but famous chapter. And when you're finished you can tie it to Descent with an elastic band.

Fallen Angels
Fallen Angels is a very worthy sequel to descent of angels, and will no doubt please those who disliked the originals focus on the pre-heresy history of Caliban as the novel takes place during the opening stages of the heresy. I was in the minority for appreciating the first novels approach to the legion (especially the focus on the knightly orders), and thankfully I still found that plenty of that original intrigue and deception was present throughout Fallen Angels.
Fallen Angels focuses on the two main protagonists from the first novel Nemial and Zaharial. Nemiel, now a redemptor chaplain is fighting the Great Crusade at the Lion's side, whilst Zahariel has been exiled to Caliban with Luther. This split in the story is the novels main weakness, as the chapters alternate between the two stories without ever feeling linked in any way. I also found I was far more interested to find out what was happening on Caliban, rather than the planet Diamat where Nemiel and a small force of Dark Angels are fighting for control of a forge world.
The Caliban chapters are brilliant, continuing the mysteries hinted at in DOA. Luther is developed further with his fall far more convincing than Horus's in the earlier novels. His jealousies, love of his people, craving for forgiveness, and his desire to once again be a great hero all play a part in his evident corruption by the finale of the novel. He naively believes he has his peoples best interests at heart rather than his own vanity. In short an interesting character has been deveoped from the introduction in DOA.
Zahariel's role in uncovering the corruption that was suggested in DOA on Caliban is impressively written, with him seemingly unaware of how naive he is of the powers he is facing. His loyalties to Caliban and the legion are both tested as he battles to save his planet from oblivion.
The plot on Caliban evolves around a rebellion amongst the population against the Imperial rule of the planet, and of course darker powers are at play. The investigation led by Zahariel leads to great action set pieces, such as an epic battle with a giant worm in a thermal core!
Unfortunately I found the Nemial chapters not to the same standard. The banter between Nemial and his squad is standard Horus Heresy spacemarine 'heavy laughs' and 'humour in the face of adversity'. The plot takes predictable twists, and there is an error made in regard the Son's of Horus armour. I only found this section of the novel enjoyable during the final diaogue in which the Lion shows the real flaws and arrogance of his character that will ultimately split his legion. No spoilers here though!
All in all, I found the book very enjoyable, though it does feel like the middle book of a trilogy with its open ending. Hopefully we will not have to wait too long for the concluding novel. Zahariel is in partcular in an interesting place by the conclusion and i'm interested to see how the character further develops. A great sequel to Descent of Angels and recommended to anyone who enjoyed that novel.

4.5 stars!
Mostly set in the 200th year of the Emperor's Great Crusade. On Caliban civil war erupts. Many strive to break from Imperial rule. Brother-Librarian Zahariel and his men, under orders from El'Jonson's second-in-command (Luther), fight almost nonstop. An evil taint seems to suffuse parts of the planet itself. Roots and vines seethe with corruption of an awful, otherworldly sentience.

Meanwhile in the stars, Lion El'Jonson believes that Warmaster Horus will attempt to take the fully-operational forge within the Tanagra system. He sends a small, hand-picked force to the keep the wealth of Diamat out of Horus's hands. Brother-Redemptor Nemiel (cousin of Zahariel) and Brother-Sergeant Kohl lead this force. However, El'Jonson knows of another reason the Warmaster is interested in Diamat.

***** FOUR AND A HALF STARS! This is the sequel to book six, Descent of Angels. Unless you read it first, you may find yourself lost in this story. Events basically pick up where Descent of Angels left off. (Zahariel and Luther land on Caliban after El'Jonson sent them away.) The author had to show what was happening on Caliban, as well as in the Crusade, and he did an admirable job of it! Zahariel and Nemiel are cousins. Zahariel is on Caliban with Luther. Nemiel is with El'Jonson in space. I found it very interesting to see how the author juggled the two similar men and how the battles end up shaping each.

This well crafted story will keep your attention and perhaps give you a few surprises as well. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.