"Fear To Tread" by James Swallow

Ahh, the Blood Angels... who haven't really made much of an appearance in the Heresy series, aside from their 'supporting role' in the great 'Brotherhood In Spiderland' segment of 'Horus Rising'. And here we are, Book 21, finally a Blood Angels-centred book. Funny, because they are probably one of the most well-known Legions - if Black Library were REALLY as evil and profit-driven as many angry nerds think, surely they'd just keep churning out book after book of poorly written Heresy-era Blood Angels drivel featuring the chapter doing absolutely fuck-all, since they know there's more of a guaranteed audience for it than, say, a story about the inner workings of the Heresy-era Mechanicum. What's that you say? "That sounds exactly like how they've treated the Dark Angels so far?" What an ugly, cynical world we live in...

*guttural screams, blastbeats*

'Fear To Tread' reminds me of nothing more than 'The First Heretic' in its structure. Like with that book, we begin with an event that casts a dark stain on a Legion's honour, long before the Heresy erupts. We then take on the perspective of some battle-brothers of that legion, as well as a healthy dose of Primarch-shadowing, as they learn gradually about the existence and nature of Chaos. We also get some fucking massive battles of incredible import. I know all this mucking about in THE PAST or THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT ALREADY is going to get up the ass of some HH followers who are eager for the books to follow a chronological arc, and for this to continue right after 'Know No Fear' left off. But in case 21 books hadn't already showed you, let me spell it out... that's never going to happen. I'm a firm believer that the several (or 18, or 50, or 100) converging and diverging storylines all need to be done justice, separately or together, before they can progress...

I've compared 'Fear To Tread' to 'The First Heretic'. Of course, the primary difference between the books is the side of the Heresy on which the Legion falls. Lorgar's story was given a hugely tragic aspect by making him a much more sympathetic, interesting character than the fluff previously allowed - but Sanguinius' tragedy is already well known. Horus' treatment of his brother is just as awful and horrifying as his treatment of Magnus, with the added horror that Sanguinius was probably the Primarch closest and dearest to the Warmaster, once upon a time. I mean, we're often told that in no uncertain terms in previous books, but actually seeing them interact is a different matter. It gives the pre-fall scenes between them an added poignance that is sometimes nearly unbearable. Another difference (and possibly a hindrance) between this and First Heretic is 'big name battles'. First Heretic's third act hinged on the Isstvan betrayal. Fear To Tread's third act hinges on the battle of Signus Prime, which I've never even fucking heard of before (but I'm not really 'up on things' re: the Blood Angels history, to be fair). As long as you're not bummed out that you don't see any Primarchs apart from Sanguinius getting their swords wet, I think Signus Prime easily stacks up against ANY Isstvan sequence we've had so far. Yeah, I said it.

The characters are great as well. Of course, Sanguinius (the Primarch with 'the gift' of psyker powers - so what's Magnus, chop liver?) is a colossal figure in the mythology of 40K and the Imperium, so Swallow had to deal with him carefully so as not to tarnish his 'gay space Jesus' image. I personally think he pulled it off magnificently; the Angel is a likeable, awe-inspiringly talented figure who also nicely misses the pitfall of being 100% AWESOMESAUCE WITH NO FLAWS. There are a few other major Blood Angels characters, an ex-Librarian and an Apothecary plus the heroic 'everyman' First Captain Raldoron, and all are done very well; they're certainly leaning more on the side of 'goody-two shoes marines', but what's wrong with that? It just makes it all the more shocking if they get a lil bit dirteeeeeeee. Evil schemes are provided by the Word Bearer 'advisors' who are seconded to the Blood Angels fleet, and a few nice little glimpses of Fabius Bile and Erebus. We also have a sassy Keeper Of Secrets and a surprisingly loquacious Bloodthirster. The supporting cast is handled well, too. I'll be honest, I never gave a fuck about the Loyalist chapters (heretic bias much?) but 'Fear To Tread' gives us a nice 'flavour' of the 9th Legion, from its more bloodthirsty sons, to the resented arrogance and entitlement of the Sanguiniary Guard; from the antagonistic Wardens who are like parole officers for former Librarians, to the Legion's hidden shame of its nascent Black Rage. I liked the glimpses of figures who will play a large part in the future of the Legion, like Furio or Amit the Flesh Tearer.

This is how the Prince of the 9th rolls, you devils.

At first I almost thought it unfair to compare 'Fear To Tread' and 'The First Heretic'. After all, TFH is by my (second?) favourite Black Library author. Dembski-Bowden is arguably better at giving his characters more rounded, believeable personalities, at writing dialogue, and his dark sense of humour can give you some real kneeslapper moments. However, I would say in some ways 'Fear To Tread' is even better. You know, 'First Heretic' would probably still win, but it might get its hair mussed. Swallow has the advantage with action sequences I think (the battle scene against creatures constructed out of a dead city's detritus and refuse is a high point) but he also might be the very best HH author at relentlessly driving the plot forward. At no point in the 500+ pages did I think COME ON MAN, GET TO THE POINT, THIS SCENE IS WORTHLESS like I often do with Ben Counter, those Dark Angels-writing chumps and sometimes (Emperor forgive me) m'Lord Graham McNeill. There's no fat on Swallow's plotting at all. It was certainly the case with 'Flight Of The Eisenstein', but it's even better here. Now sure, it's great there are books like 'The First Heretic' or 'Prospero Burns' where we have divergences and branches shooting off from the main plot - they're an excellent way to learn background about a Legion or an event - but it's also nice to have a book that just doesn't let up for a second. Out of the 19 novels and 8 authors across the HH series so far, this is only the second time I've read an HH novel and wanted to read non-HH fiction by the same author. ('First Heretic' was the first one, obviously, since I was already a Fan Abnett before I started this hellish journey.)

The cover art is acknowledged by Swallow as 'the best death metal album cover ever' and it really is amazingly over the top: a ginormous Bloodthirster (as we all know, probably the closest thing in 40K to the 'typical' perception of Satan) apparently besting the much smaller, angelic Sanguinius. Yeah, you know those Khornate hordes fucking thrash it to Deicide before their gigs. Speaking of metal fandom in 40K, there's a nice little allusion to a Lieutenant-Commander Reznor, who has an aquiline nose and a curtain of black hair. He would, quite possibly, rather die than give you control.

Geneseed insertion is like being raped by a million grasping pigs *sobs convulsively*

My only nitpick with this book is that many characters here use 'Throne' as an oath and, I mean, would that happen yet? I know the Golden Throne technically exists at this point of the timeline, but is it already an object of almost religious significance? Wouldn't they be more likely to swear by Terra or something? I've noticed this in a few of the recent books. Anyway, just a minor issue, which I'm probably not even right about...

I know I said that this was action packed, but the last 100 pages or so are, well, action-stuffed. As well as heroically overwrought battles, the Blood Angels experience the beginnings of a more widespread Legion-wide Black Rage, one major character suffers a ridiculously dark fate (which I hope will be built upon in future volumes) and the pieces are re-arranged for the beginning of the next round. It builds nicely on the end of 'Know No Fear' and (I hope) the Lion's closing statements in 'Savage Weapons'. There's an epilogue; another opportunity for Horus to crow over his sick Eye glyph and mutter some more vague descriptions of how amazing he is. Suddenly... Wait. What. WHAT. HOLY FUCKING SHIT.

A motherfucker is really on some House Bolton shit though

It's safe to say the last couple pages of 'Fear To Tread' are some of the most unexpected, disturbing shit in the whole book. And this is after Erebus' ascension to god-knows-what at the end of 'Know No Fear', so you know it takes some fucking juice to smack him about like this. All in all, the closing of this tale almost has an 'Empire Strikes Back' feeling to it. Both sides took some licks, and next time, it's gonna be personal. Here's hoping they don't decide the White Scars have spent all this time fighting Ewoks.

I give this 8/10. It only misses out on a 9/10 by a tiny amount. Oh, and the last comparison between 'First Heretic' and this: both are really long, but when I finished the last chapters, I immediately wanted more.

PS Sanguinius tattooed a single tear on his face to show love to his dead homies. THAT'S GANGSTA.

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