REVIEW: False Gods

 False Gods
Author: Graham McNeill

I was there the day that Horus fell.....

False Gods is the second book in the Horus Heresy series. Warmaster Horus and the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet continue the quest to bring the galaxy under control of the Emperor. A world formerly brought into compliance has seemingly rebelled, so the Sons of Horus prepare to squash rebels, only to bring about a course of events that will bring about the great heresy. 

I loved this book! Lots of great fighting action, nurgle-ly undead fun and the beginnings of the slide into chaos. Fun times! From 40K lore I knew what was coming....but there was so much action, emotion and great story along the way. Some events I did not expect and a couple characters got what I felt they deserved. Several, of course, got what they did not deserve -- it is the 40K world after all. 

I listened to the audio book version of this story. Toby Longworth is a great narrator! He did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. The audio is just over 11 hours long. My son listened to the book as well and we had a great time discussing events as they unfolded. 

There are interesting differences between book one, Horus Rising, and this second book. Mostly because they were written by different authors. I like it when a series changes out writers like this -- it makes each story just that little bit different even if the characters are the same. The writing in Horus Rising got more atmospheric and almost poetical at times. That story built the legend of the Warmaster. This second book is more gritty and bloody, more action oriented. The more in-your-face style works better for this second story, as it shows the violence inherent in the quest to bring a galaxy into compliance one planet at a time. And, to show the beginnings of disintegration and descent into the heresy. 

Great book! Moving on to the next -- Galaxy in Flames.