Descent Of Angels (WH40K) Question (spoilers)

[Aaron]

First off the Lion comes off as a massive cock in the last third of the book. I also felt that it was the worst book of the HH yet, as it seemed the events were only distantly related to the actual HH. I was also left with a question:

• Why did Luthor and the psyker get booted from the Crusade, didn't they save the Lions life and flagship?

[Kuja]

My thought is that the Lion suspected something of them. Withholding information at the best, outright treachery at the worst.

Unfortunately for both Zahariel and Luthor, they were keeping the truth from El'Jonson. It isn't outside the realm of possibility that they might have explained themselves given time, but Luthor's initial desire to let the primarch be assassinated couldn't have boded well for the relationship between the two men. If the Lion felt he could no longer trust Luthor or Zahariel with his own safety, he'd want them as far away as possible.

In addition to all that, I get the vibe that Hadariel's anxiety and over-reacting to every percieved threat was a metaphor for the Lion's own fear of failure and disgrace in front of his peers. El'Jonson seemed snappish and short compared to his old self, perhaps such a rush of new responsibility and pressure upset his humors and he was acting without taking the time to properly second-guess himself.

In the end, trust was what broke down, and without that trust, so did the friendships the Lion held.

[Imperial Overlord]

Although flawed, I liked the book as it actually bothered to lay the grounds for the betrayal and develop it instead of ramming the treason through via brute authorial fiat. Sure it didn't advance the overall storyline of the Heresy much, but the chain of events that leads to Luthor's treason makes sense. First overshadowed by his friend, then feeling the greatness that would have been his taken by another, then not even a full marine, and finally the moment of weakness and his dismissal from El Johnson's company. All of these feeding his anger and resentment and his eventual betrayal. Far better than Horus's fall.

[Flakin]

Frankly, I've always felt that this is by far the weakest of the HH series so far. In fact, it reads to me like it was another story completely (Perhaps even one that could of been set in the Warhammer series rather than 40K) that had some changes and additions bolted onto it to port it into the HH series.

Apart from that, Scanlon's writing style sometimes is not the easiest to trudge through. He lacks the snap of Abnett and McNeill, and the descriptive abilities of Counter.

So, not my favorite. I also agree with Kendall's comment - the Lion seemed to change from being a proud but loyal to his troops leader, into being a bell-end of the highest order in the last third of the book. I'm sorry, but the long buildup to the first action that Zahariel sees as a Space Marine only to be faced with "Time to go home!" after that just makes little sense to me.

The major part of the book that I did enjoy was the portrayal of Luthor. To be the second greatest man on the planet to someone you have grown up like a brother to? Could be very reminiscent of many Princes in history who have struggled with a similar crisis of conscience.

Legion should finally make it into my greasy paws in the next day or two, from the non-spoiler reviews I've read, I'm looking forward to it.