Red Fury

Red Fury picks up after the Blood Angels Akrio insurrection. After gathering the succesor Chapters of the Blood Angels to Baal, Dante leads a discussion of the potential survival of their Chapter. At the same time, the Apothecaria is working on a radical new procedure to replenish the ranks of the Blood Angels in one swift stroke: the lost art of replicae. This book is beautiful, with fantastic flavor for all of the arriving Chapters, as well as the structures on the Blood Angels homeworld. the description of the coffin of Sanguinus, the chapel of the Red Grail. Character interactions are rife with strain, without being either over the top or seeming like petty whining. The storyline starts slowly, in runs at a breakneck pace from about 2/3 of the way through the book. Probably my biggest criticism of Red Fury, and indeed the majority of recent 40k fiction, is the overarching drift. The Imperium fails, and fails, and fails some more. The concept of victory is now turning a slaughter into a mere disaster. Chaos wins and wins and wins, and while the Guard or the Marines gets a lieutenant here, and a commander there, there has not been a definitive Imperial victory since Sabbat Martyr, and not one before then to my memory. Everything crumbles, and only the bad guys seem to grow stronger at every conflict. GW better have another worldwide campaign soon so the good guys have a chance to turn the tide, because its going to be hard to reconcile a 2-4,532 record into a "narrow defeat" of the Imps.

This is one very interesting book. It is also very different from standard 'kill things and break stuff' Space Marine book. The story is intense and gives a rare insight into the Blood Angels environment, relationships with their kin, and, most importantly, the politics that plague them through the entire book. And the story line is begging for a few more books to work out the problems they still face. Very well written, great story, Blood Angels. What more could you ask for?

Any Blood angel fan will absolutely love this book. I play the Flesh Tearers alot, and it was good to seem them get some attention in a very well written novel. Not as long as I would have liked, but develops Rafens character a little more and sets the stage for the next book (possibly) nicely.

Inquisitor Ramius Stele had engineered a hideous plan with a warp daemon. Brother had turned against brother, putting the Blood Angels on the brink of a civil war within their Chapter. Many brothers are now dead. Unless a solution can be found, the IX Legion Astartes may be forced to recluse themselves. They have new inductions of aspirants, but they will not be enough. This is talk of cloning, but the possibility of mutation is daunting. A gathering of the entire successor Chapters is called for. The conclave will decide whether or not the Blood Angels survives to see the next millennium. Brother-Sergeant Rafen is given the difficult task of convincing Seth, the Chapter Master currently on the planet of Eritaen, to answer the conclave summons even though it would interfere with his sacred duties. Seth's Flesh Tearers will do their utmost to goad Rafen into challenge, but Rafen has been ordered not to engage them no matter how much they might deserve being beaten to a pulp. The biggest problem is that Astartes always seek for a tactical advantage in all situations. Should Seth's Chapter find out how weak the Blood Angels have recently become, would they use the knowledge to their own advantage somehow? If so, what would the repercussions be? If not, can everyone put aside their rivalries and work together to rebuild their force before their enemies show up? ***** The Astartes is too proud for its own good sometimes, and it makes for some volatile scenarios. I especially enjoyed watching Rafen and Noxx go head-to-head more than once. The author, James Swallow, has done an incredible job with all the character developments and individual characteristics. If you have not read the Blood Angels Omnibus, I urge you to do so. Knowing the background makes everything in this book so much clearer. If you do not read the omnibus, you will not find yourself floundering too badly. The author gives new readers a pretty good picture. I look forward to the next installment! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Excellent launchpad for the next Blood Angels series. Lots of tension between the various "sons" of Sanguinius, especially the Flesh Tearers and Blood Angels. The last 2 chapters or so are just one battle, and it is arguably one of the most insane I've ever read. Highly recommend.