First and foremost amongst these are the primarchs, superheroic beings who have led the Emperor’s armies of Space Marines in victory after victory. Triumphs are raised on a million worlds to record the epic deeds of his most powerful and deadly warriors. Gleaming citadels of marble and gold celebrate the many victories of the Emperor. The dawn of a new age of supremacy for humanity beckons. The vast armies of the Emperor of Earth have conquered the galaxy in a Great Crusade – the myriad alien races have been smashed by the Emperor’s elite warriors and wiped from the face of history.

Mighty heroes battle for the right to rule the galaxy. Nevertheless, I still recommend False Gods, if only to give context to the next Horus Heresy book: Galaxy in Flames, since False Gods ends on a cliffhanger that sets Galaxy in Flames up.THE HORUS HERESY It is a time of legend. Characters are also reduced to one-note personalities and there are way too many descriptions of battle scenes. It feels like there should have been another few more books to flesh out Horus’s story before his embrace of Chaos, considering he is the namesake of the entire Horus Heresy. Ultimately, I was left disappointed by False Gods. This cult venerates the Emperor as a living god despite him outlawing all forms of religion. Meanwhile, a cult has sprung up on Horus’s flagship, The Vengeful Spirit, thanks to a book called the Lectitio Divinitatus. His descent also happens offscreen, so we never really get to witness his decisions to forsake humanity and the Emperor. In hindsight, it is a bit hard to believe that Horus of all people would believe in such patently false dreams. This is where the Chaos gods begin their plan to corrupt Horus by showing him visions of a future wherein, he is forgotten by everyone. Speaking of Erebus, he is written to be so cartoonishly evil that one can’t help but wonder how Horus trusted him in the first place.Īfter being grievously wounded by an anathame, Horus is taken to the Serpent Lodge temple to recover.

Horus constantly allows himself to get manipulated by Erebus and other members of the Mournival into making rash decisions. Whereas Horus was previously portrayed as thoughtful and nuanced by Dan Abnett, he instead devolves into a hot-headed, ruthless person. Unfortunately, this is where McNeill’s writing falters. It is here that we are first introduced to the forces of Chaos. Written by Graham McNeill, False Gods picks up right where Horus Rising ended, with the Luna Wolves (now renamed the Sons of Horus) arriving on the planet Davin to deal with an insurrection. The second Horus Heresy book following Horus Rising, False Gods shows Horus’s eventual fall to Chaos and how the machinations of the Word Bearers – particularly Chaplain Erebus –tear his legion’s loyalties apart.

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