The First Heretic

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

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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....

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Man....I hate Lorgar

Great book if you love WB. I personally hate them and still found the book to be good. The ending is awesome

WOW!

No joke this was an intense one to go through! The outcome may be known, but you really do start to feel for the characters after some time. Happy to finally have some more info on the Drop Site Massacre as well! Overall, this was one of the best on this series so far!

One of the best of the horus heresy.

one of the best since the first four books. I couldn't put down my headphones as I listened to it.

One of the better Horus Heresy audiobooks

A strong vocal performance delivers a twisted tale seen through many interesting viewpoints. Argel Tal is a better main character than most of the series and things he witnessed and endures himself are chilling and wonderous. An excellent read overall.

Really good 40k book

Really good and touching 40k book. Less action, character driven. Really recommend it to those who like 40k.

40k Horus Heresy EXCELLENCE by A. Dembski-Bowden!!

Loved it - great audio narration; never over the top. This tale is easily amongst the top 10 of 40k's heresy series, written by one of it's two most gifted authors.

lorgar is portrayed like a bitch.

narrator does not capture the badassery of a primaris. lorgar sounds like a whiney bitch

excellent.

likely the best book in the series, and definitely one of the best audiobooks. Definitely check this out folks, only the fear to tread, vengeful spirit and the opening trilogy come close!

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?!"