Know No Fear

The Horus Heresy, Book 19

By: Dan Abnett

Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Unaware of the wider Heresy and following the Warmaster's increasingly cryptic orders, Roboute Guilliman returns to Ultramar to muster his Legion for war against the orks massing in the Veridian system.

Without warning, their supposed allies in the Word Bearers Legion launch a devastating invasion of Calth, scattering the Ultramarines fleet and slaughtering all who stand in their way. This confirms the worst scenario Guilliman can imagine - Lorgar means to settle their bitter rivalry once and for all. As the traitors summon foul daemonic hosts and all the forces of Chaos, the Ultramarines are drawn into a grim and deadly struggle in which neither side can prevail.

©2012 Games Workshop Limited (P)2012 Games Workshop Limited

Good, with some problems

This is a pretty good piece of lore, and is well told through its somewhat strange present-time battlelog-like narrative. The scale of this battle is truly incredible.

There were, however, FAR to many characters, at least twice as many as any other 40k book I've read. I had to make a spreadsheet to keep them all separate, and some served little to no purpose. I definitely felt that some of these characters could have been killed off very early, or cut entirely.

It can be difficult to immerse yourself in a story where you consistently have to check a sheet to even keep the characters straight. If you can get past that, there's a crucial piece of lore here.

A Great Introduction of the Ultramarines Arc

Great book, but would suggest reading/listening to First Heretic for Word Bearers PoV first. It makes it much more bareable to know the how and why.

One mark against this book is that it doesn't make the Word Bearers out as anything more than just cartoon villains. First Heretic at least gives you some bearings and understanding of them. I did love the arrogance shown by the Ultramarines. Made them a bit more believable as characters as a whole.

It has a very grimdark ending which fans of the universe will enjoy.

Great Warhammer book

Great book and wonderful audio. If you love warhammer series this is one to get. Fits nicely with the book Betrayer.

Stellar 40k novel

Armstrong is a fantastic orator, and Dan Abnett remains untouched as Black Library's best author.

Superb Story

Another Dan Abnett classic. If you love Warhammer 40k, Ultramarines or Heresy. get this book.

Dan Abnett #1

I love Dan Abnett is a awesome I love his books just want the narrator to be better

Ultramarines at their best

Really good story linking the story of the Horus Heresy, although I suggest reading/listening to The First Heretic before KNF.

The Ultramarines are often looked as the vanilla flavor of the W40K universe and that’s maybe a good thing. You’ll see them stoic and trying to react to something they weren’t expecting ever.

As far as the audiobook, love Dan Abnett and Mr. Armstrong’s performance is superb. Completely recommend it.

We march for Macragge!

probably relistened atleast 3-5 times

very solid, almost a comfort Audiobook sometimes.
the combination of the mark of Calth keeping everything in rough chronological order is way better and more helpful that you'd think at first.

It's an audiobook not an audio drama

I enjoy the narrator, and I enjoy the story. But I have been listening in the car, and it is incredibly frustrating to have some truly terrible, deafeningly loud, quasi-martial music come on between parts of the book. It really is just noise. There is nothing pleasant or inspiring about it, just a lot of bass. It's worse because it is about twice as loud as the speaking volume. To be clear, I listen to the speaking parts with the volume at 32. When that stupid music comes on I frantically spin the dial down to 18. I don't know why there has to be music, but all the 40K audiobooks seem to do it. Stop it.

This book is insane

One of the best in the series. This one will have you ready to give your life to fight heretics.