"Aurelian" by Aaron Dembski-Bowden

Yipes! It's been a long time since I started this review. Let's get right down to it.

Still one of the best covers in the series (I guess I say that a lot).

'Aurelian' works best as a companion piece to 'The First Heretic', but that's by no means the only HH book it's linked to. Ostensibly this novella is split into two sections, and cuts between them effectively. Firstly, at the end of 'Pilgrimage' (part II of 'The First Heretic'), Lorgar went into the Eye of Terror on the advice of Argel Tal, his trusted son who he'd just damned to daemonic possession. The primary thrust of 'Aurelian' deals with what he saw/experienced/learned there. But the beginning and end of the novella show the period immediately following TFH's conclusion, with Isstvan V in ashes and Horus' plans moving into their next phase.

If I said this book featured every traitor Primarch, would you get hyped? HELL YEAH YOU WOULD. Sadly, this is a novella, so for reasons of space this primarily focuses on Lorgar's relationships with Fulgrim, Magnus and (to some extent) Horus. The verbal sparring between Lorgar and Angron is an excellent prelude to the dynamic ADB worked so well in 'Betrayer', and Alpharius' brief appearance is very cool (and, I can't help but feel, somehow deeply significant), but Perturabo, Curze and Mortarion are just there to make up the numbers. No space for the incredible antipathy between Lorgar and the Night Haunter, or recriminations for their... unpleasant encounter with Corax on Isstvan. And I get SO butthurt every time a book mentions Mortarion then does nothing with him. (So thanks for taking care of those blueballs, 'Scars'!) But... fuck. Can't get greedy; let's focus on what IS here.

'Aurelian' follows Fulgrim's revelation to Horus at the end of his titular book that the preening, compulsively perfect III Legion Primarch was now a daemonhost. As you might recall, Horus reacted with distaste and discomfort, but seemed to accept it as a necessary evil. At this novella's opening, Lorgar finds out the same information and takes a far more hardline stance, beating daemon-Fulgrim's ass like he stole somethin'. Even when calm is restored, Lorgar doesn't hesitate to put Horus in his place when Lupercal attempts to assert "big bro" status, and heavily threatens Fulgrim's 'passenger' with some diabolical shit. It's a harsher side of Lorgar than we might be accustomed to.

Retreating to meditate in his sanctum, Lorgar gets another visit from Magnus' psychic projection. This is another great character development segment, fitting in nicely with the two brother's chat in TFH and setting the foundations for their wound-salting talk in 'Betrayer'.  Even with his best-loved brother, though, Lorgar can't resist flexing his muscles and trying to cause him discomfort with his psychic strength (Magnus is meant to be the leader among the Primarchs as far as psychic power goes, but we get the feeling Lorgar's giving him a run for his money now) as well as obliquely warning him about Ahriman and the Rubric. The conflict prompts Lorgar to reminisce back to 43 years before Isstvan, and we see what happened in the Eye of Terror all that time ago. On the surface of one of the Crone Worlds, Lorgar meets with his Legion's self-appointed spirit guide, Ingethel. They have a well-written and illuminating but maddeningly tense conversation about the Warp, daemons and the fall of the Eldar. Lorgar kills an ancient, desiccated Avatar (not as impressive in terms of combat feats as Fulgrim punching a hole through an Avatar's head, BUT STILL), experiences a vision of the Siege of Terra, and fights a colossal Bloodthirster Lord. All the experiences Lorgar has within the Eye are lessons in some way and his conclusions - as well as the not-always-reliable information Ingethel gives him - play a big part in forming the man Lorgar's become by the time of the Heresy.

Complaints? 'Aurelian' falls prey to the only flaw ADB's writing has for me: dude seems committed to never using the word 'day' again. Seems like a lot of the time when it would be natural for a character to say 'day', they say 'night'. I do understand the rationale behind the phrase (more so when he's writing Night Lords, who are heavily influenced by the culture of a planet which had, in effect, no concept of 'days') but I feel like he could stand to use it a little less. That's basically the only problem I have with the book, and it's a very minor one.

A personal favourite moment here is Lorgar's vision of the Imperial palace, first in its 'peacetime' majesty, then in the thick of the Battle of Terra. Terra-related stuff is some of my favourite material in the HH series and ADB's is some of the best - I not only look forward to 'The Master Of Mankind' when (if?!) it emerges, but also any HH books ADB gets to write set during the Siege of Terra. Lorgar's horrified reaction to seeing his Legion completely changed and ravaged by Chaos seems genuine. But though he seems to take comfort from the fact this vision isn't guaranteed truth, we know that ultimately, the Urizen will come to embrace that shit. After much prodding and conniving by Erebus and Kor Phaeron maybe, but we see the beginning of that acceptance here.  There are some great, chilling moments where Ingethel tells Lorgar of different realities where he has died already, and of future situations where he will die if he's not careful. This explains his apparent "cowardice" that so disgusted Kurze at Isstvan - Lorgar knew if he were to draw a weapon against Corax, there was a good chance he would be killed, and he would rather choose humiliation in battle than dying with his work incomplete. It also explains why Kor Phaeron was so terrified when Lorgar went to confront Corax (which I always used to see as a bit disrespectful of his Primarch's combat ability).
Lorgar even gets to time-travel and see the Planet of the Sorcerors - visiting Magnus and his Legion just after the events of 'A Thousand Sons'. There's a great moment where Lorgar notes the Thousand Son's flesh-changed Astartes are vastly different from the much more... functional changes of the Gal Vorbak. Last of all, Aurelian is visited by a Tzeentchi ambassador, Kairos Fateweaver; I understand this guy's a pretty big wheel in 'modern' 40k fiction. His section is also badass and supplies another bit of prophecy/backstory explaining Lorgar's action/inaction in certain situations.

Back in the present, there's an inconclusive square-off between 'Fulgrim' and Lorgar again, but this time Lorgar plays it a bit closer to the chest, and by the ending he's obviously aware of when and how the "true" Fulgrim will re-take command of his body. I'd still like explanation on this, A LOT MORE OF IT, but I'm willing to wait. I'm confident it will be explained in time. And what a cool moment to end the book with.
Along with TFH, 'The Underworld War', 'Butchers Nails', and 'Betrayer', this book forms the best arc by a single writer in the entire HH series. Hell, the best arc IN THE SERIES full stop, if we add 'Know No Fear'. On its own, I give it 8/10. But who's going to read it on its own? I'd be surprised if you can read it and NOT want to read (or re-read) Lorgar's whole saga. Here's one last complaint, not to do with the book itself: the fact this was limited edition means a VITAL part of the Calth/Word Bearers arc was not readily available to fans until recently. And that's fucked up and stupid. BL's eagerness to charge double price for a 'limited edition' novella makes financial sense, but fucking hell. Two whole years delay until it's widely available? What the hell. And that's why I'm gonna be buying all of them as soon as they go on sale from now on... even the Nick Kyme ones, haha...

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