The First Heretic

By: Aaron Dembski-Bowden

Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong

Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

Amidst the galaxy-wide war of the Great Crusade, the Emperor castigates the Word Bearers for their worship.

Distraught at this judgement, Lorgar and his Legion seek another path while devastating world after world, venting their fury and fervour on the battlefield. Their search for a new purpose leads them to the edge of the material universe, where they meet ancient forces far more powerful than they could have imagined.

Having set out to illuminate the Imperium, the corruption of Chaos takes hold, and their path to damnation begins. Unbeknownst to the Word Bearers, their quest for truth contains the very roots of heresy.

©2010 Games Workshop Limited (P)2015 Games Workshop Limited

Critical piece of lore

Great story, great narration. One tiny gripe is the narrators portrayal of the femal voice. It's kind of... Silly. Still, a very good story overall

Best book so far in the series!

I think it’s the best book because it’s so enlightening. As well as fills in some things lacking thus far in the series.

Start the HH with this book!

Enjoyed the narration detailing the major prelude to the Heresy. Both author and narrator did a brilliant job making Lorgar sound insufferable. Would read/listen again.

very captivating story and great performance

after having a hard time getting thriugh book 13 of the series i was excited to know this book would cover the fall of the word bearers to chaos. great story arc , and character development. gareth armstrong narrates the book beautifully.

The Word Bearers are actually likeable!

I've read about 10 books and the Word Bearers are always painted in a fanatical chaos light. However, I was surprised that the characters in this book were the funniest and most likable of all the legions thus far. That's what makes their fall all that much sadder. Like the Thousand Sons their fall to chaos is a tragedy.

An Excellent Intro to the Word Bearers

This is one arc of the Horus Heresy that I knew very little about. Now, I am hooked and can't wait to start Know No Fear. I personally didn't like how it jumps around at times, but once is I finished I see now that it needed to complete the story. Overall, this is a great book, and another awesome reading by Gareth Armstrong.

Oh Lorgar....

Loved the book, a very cool look into a legions fall and their gene loyalty

But oh Lorgar you loathsome piece of piss, you who think of yourself as compassionet, yet sacrifice your own Sons in your desperat quest, you who betray your Sons, just as you feel betrayed by the Emperor (although he, as always, does seems like a grade A arse)... And worst of all, You a Primarch let yourself be manipulated by your own Son and a Mortal... Oh Lorgar you weakest of Primarchs... I Body , Mind and Soul....

Excellent and important piece of the epic

Gareth Armstrong is once again a superb narrator of the Horus Heresy and Mr. Dembski-Bowden a consistently fine writer. This installment follows much of the perspective of the Word Bearers and their Primarch in the inception and early stages of the tale as a whole. The insight the reader gains is powerful.

Best of the series

First Heretic is just an amazing piece of 40k lore, Argel Tal is easily one of the most compelling characters the authors have spit out, the background for events prior to Horus Rising is well executed and really gives emotion to the whys behind the traitors. Erebus' is perfectly political in his scheming. This is also the first introduction to Cadia and the book offers the best explanation of what exactly a daemon consists of. Very difficult novel to shut off.

4/4 Chaos Gods loved this book

Pronouncing wrath as "roth" took some grubby used to. Lorgar is given a very effete voice.

I now feel fully prepared to bring enlightenment to humanity and spread the Word of Lorgar.

Great story, was surprised by how good it was.

After losing a considerable amount of enjoyment for this series after fulgrim and mechanicum, this book really saved it for me. I thought the Word Bearers were a very "meh" legion. This book completely changed that. Yes the time jump halfway through was confusing, but the characters were rich and well fleshed out. The story wasn't so formuleic, and the demon ingethel was genuinely a little disconcerting.
Performance was perfect all the way through. This book is a must read for any fans of the series.

Performance was good but a little quiet.

Overall a good book. However the narration is very quiet which means that headphones have to be turned up to hear at a normal level. This wouldn't be a problem if the book didn't have terribly loud, low quality, tiny music during interludes. The first time I almost perforated an eardrum.

brilliant

One of the best booked in the horus heresy
ADB at his best
narrated very well

Must read for every heretic!

A must read (or listen:) for any Horus heresy fan. It puts the heresy in perspective. After read/listening the mandatory books until Fulgrim, I highly recommend listening to this before progressing any further. The Emperor must fall!

My first real experience of the Horus Herecy!

I found myself thoroughly invested in the characters, who by their very nature have huge shades of grey dictated by their faith, wether warranted or not. I've had to take a star off due to a "flash forward" which at one point made me think that tracks were missing until things slotted back into place. My only regret is that I should've really started with "Horus Rising" but the writer placed enough word building and background detail here for me to learn from it quickly.

good read

loved it, Aaron Dembski-Boweden knows how to make you both hate and love a character, As well as deliver some of the best exposition and context to a character previously lacking depth and complexity.

Horus heresy at its best

I'm so happy to have finally sat down and listened to this incredable book!! A must buy!!

Shows the roots of the Horus Heresy ..... Almost

Excellent account of the origin of the Heresy, unfortunately the account of the real first heretic hasn't been written...... Erebus. Shame it doesn't expand on his corruption earlier still than that of his legion but the book is otherwise brilliant and will have your shouting "why didn't the Emperor do this or that and he'd have avoided the whole affair?!"

Disappointed

I’ve read the hard copy book before and loved it. I decided to pick up the Audio Book to refresh on what happens, I was really disappointed by the reading and voices. I was unable to listen for any longer than an hour....

very good

Very well written and well narrated from start to finish. Easy to become involved and emerged