Lion El'Jonson: Lord of the First

The Horus Heresy Primarchs, Book 13

By: David Guymer

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Book 13 of the Primarchs series.

Listen to It Because

The Dark Angels have their secrets...and their primarch is no exception. Discover what the Lion was up to while the Great Crusade came to an end.

The Story

Each primarch is an exemplary being, derived from the Emperor’s own genetic stock to embody a facet of His personality. Their powers are unfathomable, but only one of them is the First. Lion El’Jonson is the paragon of what it is to be a primarch. His Legion, pre-eminent for most of their long history, typify the virtues of temperance, pride and martial excellency that the Lion embodies. They are the Emperor’s last line and final sanction. They are His Dark Angels.

Now, while the Emperor gathers His mightiest sons for an assault on Ullanor Prime, the Lord of the First instead draws his Legion to the farthest reaches of the known galaxy, seeking to subdue a single rebellious world. Is this but another example of the Lion’s infamous pride, or is there more afoot amidst that graveyard of empires that is the Ghoul Stars, more than the Lion will share even with his own sons?

Written by David Guymer. Narrated by Jonathan Keeble.

©2020 Games Workshop Limited (P)2020 Games Workshop Limited

Not what I was expecting (in a GREAT way)

Going into this novella I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was very pleasantly surprised that it took some twists and turns into the realm of horror and mystery.

I’ve never been a huge fan of the Lion and the First Legion, but this story turned that around for me. The characterization of the Lion as a dark genius who does what he must out of a sense of duty was a refreshing change, and it really endeared him to me as a character.

David Guymer’s very clever use of secondary and tertiary characters to set the mood and mystery of the story was clever, and I really appreciated all of the details and depth of the First Legion. Combat scenes came in fast and furious, like a hyperkinetic anime and it was a joy to follow along.

I definitely recommend this book to everyone, whether new to Warhammer or a grizzled veteran of the grim darkness of the future.

Fantastic!

I can’t recall reading or listening to any of Guymer’s books, but I really liked this one. Very well done! As always, Keeble is the best. Definitely my favorite of the Warhammer narrators. Use a credit on this one, you heretics!

Bit boring by comparison to the others in the seri

Read the title it said everything.

Nine eight seven six five for the two one

For the Lion

Entertaining. Interesting ending. A must read for any Dark Angel fan. Certainly one of the better Primarch novels but not top 5.

Good Dark Angels story

This book isn't really so much about the primarch, as it is about the legion of The Dark Angels themselves. The Lion plays a big role in the book, but it doesn't delve so much into his personality or thoughts as I would have liked. However, as an introduction to the wild world of Dark Angels secrets and inner working, this book does a fantastic job.

great 1st legion book

it stayed interesting, very good voice acting and it really shows how the 1st legion is secretly the most lethal chapter.

Nothing is overkill when you're The First

I might be new to this kingdom of lore so for my fellow newcomers only; if ya like the Astartes and the Inquisition, this is an excellent mix in my opinion.

Everything I wanted it to be.

I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. Great narration as usual from Mr. Keeble and fantastic story telling from Mr. Guymer. If you've wanted a deeper look into The First Legion you're going to love this. I immediately added it to my queue of books to repeat while impatiently waiting for more audio from Black Library.

I demand more First Legion stories by Mr. Guymer.

Excellent way to feel pride for the first

Loved the book, gav always does the first legion well in his books. You'll learn lore that has been missing for the first and get a better understanding of the lion.

A Good Look into the Dark Angels!

Though I did feel this book was a little hard to follow at times when it got too much into the Warhammer sci-fi terminology, the insight into the characters of the Lion and the Dark Angels was extremely satisfying to me, as a long time huge Dark Angels fan. If you want a look into the First Legion, definitely give it a try. Narration was spectacular as well.