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Eisenhorn #3
Hereticus
In this concluding novel of Dan Abnett's sensational trilogy, a dark figure from the past returns to exact a cruel vengeance upon Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn.
Running time 9 hours 49 mins.
Running time 9 hours 49 mins.
Audiobook
First published July 30, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
December 5, 2019
Abnett went and saved the best for last. Hereticus contained everything I loved about the first two books in the trilogy but added a surprisingly emotional element to the story. I won't get into exactly what caused me feel all those emotions it would be too spoiler-ry but let me just tell you there were parts of this that were like a punch in the gut. Maybe it is because I read all three books in a row, as well as two short stories, and my attachment to the characters was sky high but goddamn some of the scenes impacted me in ways I was totally not expecting. The action was still incredible and impressive with the opening scene versus the Battle Titan taking a large portion of the cake, and the I loved how this was like a who's who of the previous books that brought almost everyone who wasn't dead yet together for a planet hopping, out of the blue backstabbing, wild and crazy, gigantic in scope, breathtaking adventure. Half of me wishes while reading these books now, knowing they have been out for as long as they have, that I had a time machine so I could go back and read these as they were released, because damn I have been missing out, while the other half is just as excited to know there are so many stories to explore in the Warhammer universe and there are so many others to choose from. I am impressed beyond measure by the quality of these books and cannot recommend them enough and though I am definitely going to be reading more in this universe (I've already bought another of the omnibus editions to read) this trilogy will always be remembered fondly because it is where my journey with Warhammer began. Bravo Mr. Abnett you have earned my respect.
April 25, 2014
If ‘Malleus’ was about choices then ‘Hereticus’ is about consequences.
It’s said that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, in which case ‘Hereticus’ details the reaction to the choices that the main character, Gregor Eisenhorn, has made up to the start of this novel. The choices that he made during his career as an Imperial Inquisitor have not always been easy. They have been hard, controversial, and some damn right blasphemous but they were all made in service to the Emperor and the Imperium of Mankind. But not even those good intentions will save him.
‘Hereticus’ is the final novel in the Eisenhorn trilogy and culminates the themes that have been progressing throughout its pages, the slow corruption of puritanical belief in favour of a more radical compromise. Eisenhorn as an Imperial Inquisitor began his career in the first novel as a puritan of the Amalathian faction of the Inquisitorial Ordos Helican, however over the course of that career he has had to make questionable decisions that would allow him to combat the enemies of mankind and win. These are decisions that Eisenhorn views as necessary to achieve the goals needed to attain victory over Chaos, however, some within the Ordos would see him as no better than the damned hellspawn the Inquisition is set to destroy.
For example summoning a daemonhosts to fight your battles is one that the Inquisition would frown upon even though it is perhaps the most effective weapon one can wield against a Chaos Warlord Titan.
But the means by which Eisenhorn has attained this knowledge has not gone unnoticed. Through attaining greater power through forbidden lore he has attained even greater enemies. So when a calculated threat emerges against Eisenhorn and his organisation, robbing him of his allies and conventional resources, he is left with no choice but to rely on this forbidden knowledge even more. But by doing so, Eisenhorn’s enemies multiply as even in the eyes of his closest friends he is only damning himself further.
In the end, with more friends being replaced by enemies, what ‘Hereticus’ leaves us with is the age old struggle between good and evil, right and wrong. How far can you compromise your beliefs to achieve your goals before you no longer recognise yourself in the mirror?
The traitor, Quixos, was an Imperial Inquisitor whom Eisenhorn defeated; he wielded Chaos against Chaos, summoned daemonhosts and consorted with psykers. Quixos was utterly corrupted by the power he attempted to wield and was hopelessly lost beyond redemption. How long until Eisenhorn, walking along a similar path, is just as corrupted? Can he save himself from damnation and still serve the Emperor?
With enemies all around, and his friends disappearing fast, ‘Hereticus’ is perhaps the most emotional of the Eisenhorn books. Some of the characters don’t make it to the very end. It is a testament to the writing of Dan Abnett, that characters who aren’t the main protagonist, there only to compliment the story, we become so attached to.
It’s a good job some of them do survive to live on into Dan Abnett’s next trilogy following the adventures of Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor.
Which I’m about to read again now…
It’s said that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, in which case ‘Hereticus’ details the reaction to the choices that the main character, Gregor Eisenhorn, has made up to the start of this novel. The choices that he made during his career as an Imperial Inquisitor have not always been easy. They have been hard, controversial, and some damn right blasphemous but they were all made in service to the Emperor and the Imperium of Mankind. But not even those good intentions will save him.
‘Hereticus’ is the final novel in the Eisenhorn trilogy and culminates the themes that have been progressing throughout its pages, the slow corruption of puritanical belief in favour of a more radical compromise. Eisenhorn as an Imperial Inquisitor began his career in the first novel as a puritan of the Amalathian faction of the Inquisitorial Ordos Helican, however over the course of that career he has had to make questionable decisions that would allow him to combat the enemies of mankind and win. These are decisions that Eisenhorn views as necessary to achieve the goals needed to attain victory over Chaos, however, some within the Ordos would see him as no better than the damned hellspawn the Inquisition is set to destroy.
For example summoning a daemonhosts to fight your battles is one that the Inquisition would frown upon even though it is perhaps the most effective weapon one can wield against a Chaos Warlord Titan.
But the means by which Eisenhorn has attained this knowledge has not gone unnoticed. Through attaining greater power through forbidden lore he has attained even greater enemies. So when a calculated threat emerges against Eisenhorn and his organisation, robbing him of his allies and conventional resources, he is left with no choice but to rely on this forbidden knowledge even more. But by doing so, Eisenhorn’s enemies multiply as even in the eyes of his closest friends he is only damning himself further.
In the end, with more friends being replaced by enemies, what ‘Hereticus’ leaves us with is the age old struggle between good and evil, right and wrong. How far can you compromise your beliefs to achieve your goals before you no longer recognise yourself in the mirror?
The traitor, Quixos, was an Imperial Inquisitor whom Eisenhorn defeated; he wielded Chaos against Chaos, summoned daemonhosts and consorted with psykers. Quixos was utterly corrupted by the power he attempted to wield and was hopelessly lost beyond redemption. How long until Eisenhorn, walking along a similar path, is just as corrupted? Can he save himself from damnation and still serve the Emperor?
With enemies all around, and his friends disappearing fast, ‘Hereticus’ is perhaps the most emotional of the Eisenhorn books. Some of the characters don’t make it to the very end. It is a testament to the writing of Dan Abnett, that characters who aren’t the main protagonist, there only to compliment the story, we become so attached to.
It’s a good job some of them do survive to live on into Dan Abnett’s next trilogy following the adventures of Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor.
Which I’m about to read again now…
June 19, 2017
I liked this book the least out of the three. One thing that really bugs me is that we all know Eisenhorn can't smile after what happened in book 1 -but there have been numerous mentions of him smiling in the following books. He might be feeling happy or amused, but he definitely wasn't smiling.
The ending felt really rushed, and there were story lines that weren't resolved:
I did enjoy this series, and I wasn't sure I would since I haven't played any of the Warhammer 40k games. I plan on going back to the Horus books and reading that series next.
The ending felt really rushed, and there were story lines that weren't resolved:
I did enjoy this series, and I wasn't sure I would since I haven't played any of the Warhammer 40k games. I plan on going back to the Horus books and reading that series next.
April 7, 2023
This was an great conclusion to the Eisenhorn Trilogy. A book like this is hard to review without spoiling it, and the trilogy is too good to ruin someone's experience by letting something slip. So, I'll keep this short: wow. Suffice it to say that the atmosphere of the first two novels is here, the characters are engaging and dynamic, and there are several complex enigmas explored. This is some of the best 40k fiction I've read.
May 4, 2021
Magnifico cierre a la trilogía y una vez leído, tiene mas sentido tratar todas las partes como una sola historia y novela, tal y como hace la edición Omnibus. Absolutamente satisfactorio en su conjunto.
November 1, 2018
-Traca final.-
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Hereticus (publicación original: Hereticus, 2002), el inquisidor Eisenhorn encabeza en la capital del planeta Uvege el interrogatorio a Udwin Pridde, acusado de contumancia, brujería y herejía junto a casi otros trescientos individuos que están bajo el escrutinio de la Corte Formal de Investigación. En el grupo de Eisenhorn hay algunas novedades, entre otras el inquisidor novato Verveuk, y pronto se pondrán en marcha cuando tengan pistas de Fayde Thuring, responsable de la muerte de un amigo de Eisenhorn, que resulta estar en el polo ártico de Uvege. Tercer y último volumen de la trilogía Eisenhorn.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Hereticus (publicación original: Hereticus, 2002), el inquisidor Eisenhorn encabeza en la capital del planeta Uvege el interrogatorio a Udwin Pridde, acusado de contumancia, brujería y herejía junto a casi otros trescientos individuos que están bajo el escrutinio de la Corte Formal de Investigación. En el grupo de Eisenhorn hay algunas novedades, entre otras el inquisidor novato Verveuk, y pronto se pondrán en marcha cuando tengan pistas de Fayde Thuring, responsable de la muerte de un amigo de Eisenhorn, que resulta estar en el polo ártico de Uvege. Tercer y último volumen de la trilogía Eisenhorn.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
October 20, 2018
*****light spoilers****
i have but one thing to say..what the hell was that ending?
that was the most anticlimactic ending to a book i ever read. the final battle with Glaw was great and it was what i wanted to read but after that it just ended abruptly. was it so he can sell more books? i have no idea but it was a bad ending to a good series
i have but one thing to say..what the hell was that ending?
that was the most anticlimactic ending to a book i ever read. the final battle with Glaw was great and it was what i wanted to read but after that it just ended abruptly. was it so he can sell more books? i have no idea but it was a bad ending to a good series
January 29, 2021
What was once considered a solid end to the Eisenhorn trilogy has since turned into a solid book three. Whether or not Black Library fancied milking the cash cow that is one of their highest selling trilogies of all time, or whether Dan has a seriously awesome story to tell that continues Gregor's fight against Chaos, I shall find out soon (I have book four ready to read and am looking forward to it).
I think Hereticus, whilst far from my favourite book in the Warhammer 40k universe, was probably my favourite book of the Eisenhorn series. It had a lot going for it and one major drawback. That drawback was that Gregor Eisenhorn is billed to be one of the shining lights of the Imperium. An Inquisitor who is famous for just being awesome. But, in actual fact, he's probably the most idiotic cretin that's ever drawn breath. Had he done things as they were supposed to be done in book one, literally every problem he encountered and every death of a friend, just wouldn't happen. He spends the entire book, and a good portion of book two, trying to convince the reader/himself, that he isn't a heretic. But, when you look back at everything he did, even though he was doing a few of them for half-decent reasons, by Imperial understanding, he's a card-carrying heretic.
My gripes about Gregor being an absolute moron aside, this book had so much going on. So much that, pretty early on, something entirely epic happened and I thought 'why fire such a big shot so soon? What else are you going to fill the pages with Dan?'. A question Dan Abnett answered quite well. There were streaks of epicness and snatches of brilliance throughout. There were moments that had me seeing why this was the perfect end to the trilogy (moments that kind of feel cheapened by the knowledge that the series has been resurrected but, as mentioned before, I shall withhold judgement until having got through book four).
The main drawback is that, ever since book one, it feels like Eisenhorn has been fighting the same enemy. It's a fight that feels needlessly long, rather than the battle for the ages I'm sure the publisher was hoping for. As mentioned above, if Gregor had behaved like a good little Inquisitor, rather than a moron, in the first book, his lengthy battles would have been over and we could have enjoyed a fresher story with different foes. Still, that gripe aside, the overall trilogy was enjoyable. It just wasn't world-beating (to steal Boris Johnson's favourite phrase).
I can only hope that the fourth book will at least feel like it's going off in a new direction, rather than Gregor ham-fistedly plodding down the same beaten path. I say this mainly because I have the audio book version and it's a little over twenty hours long. that's a lot of time to spend punching old enemies in the face.
My overall feelings on Hereticus were ones of enjoyment and I feel it reached a definite high-point in the series. I do feel that, due to the dour, miserable and just downright dreary personality of Eisenhorn, it will truly be a struggle to ever get too emotionally invested in this series, mainly because the man seems so devoid of emotion himself. Because we view this from his POV, this lack of emotion feels as though it bleeds through into other characters as well. It just feels as if I'm experiencing something in black and white or greyscale rather than glorious technicolour.
I think Hereticus, whilst far from my favourite book in the Warhammer 40k universe, was probably my favourite book of the Eisenhorn series. It had a lot going for it and one major drawback. That drawback was that Gregor Eisenhorn is billed to be one of the shining lights of the Imperium. An Inquisitor who is famous for just being awesome. But, in actual fact, he's probably the most idiotic cretin that's ever drawn breath. Had he done things as they were supposed to be done in book one, literally every problem he encountered and every death of a friend, just wouldn't happen. He spends the entire book, and a good portion of book two, trying to convince the reader/himself, that he isn't a heretic. But, when you look back at everything he did, even though he was doing a few of them for half-decent reasons, by Imperial understanding, he's a card-carrying heretic.
My gripes about Gregor being an absolute moron aside, this book had so much going on. So much that, pretty early on, something entirely epic happened and I thought 'why fire such a big shot so soon? What else are you going to fill the pages with Dan?'. A question Dan Abnett answered quite well. There were streaks of epicness and snatches of brilliance throughout. There were moments that had me seeing why this was the perfect end to the trilogy (moments that kind of feel cheapened by the knowledge that the series has been resurrected but, as mentioned before, I shall withhold judgement until having got through book four).
The main drawback is that, ever since book one, it feels like Eisenhorn has been fighting the same enemy. It's a fight that feels needlessly long, rather than the battle for the ages I'm sure the publisher was hoping for. As mentioned above, if Gregor had behaved like a good little Inquisitor, rather than a moron, in the first book, his lengthy battles would have been over and we could have enjoyed a fresher story with different foes. Still, that gripe aside, the overall trilogy was enjoyable. It just wasn't world-beating (to steal Boris Johnson's favourite phrase).
I can only hope that the fourth book will at least feel like it's going off in a new direction, rather than Gregor ham-fistedly plodding down the same beaten path. I say this mainly because I have the audio book version and it's a little over twenty hours long. that's a lot of time to spend punching old enemies in the face.
My overall feelings on Hereticus were ones of enjoyment and I feel it reached a definite high-point in the series. I do feel that, due to the dour, miserable and just downright dreary personality of Eisenhorn, it will truly be a struggle to ever get too emotionally invested in this series, mainly because the man seems so devoid of emotion himself. Because we view this from his POV, this lack of emotion feels as though it bleeds through into other characters as well. It just feels as if I'm experiencing something in black and white or greyscale rather than glorious technicolour.
September 14, 2013
Usually when we read a series, its quality goes down. The cliches appear, the setting gets stale, and the story is taken for a ride. Eisenhorn, I am very happy to say, breaks that trend.
Hereticus is a book of great sadness, a tome which brings the career of a celebrated Inquisitor and a great character to a close. The book is a good way to actually understand just how much you care for these characters. Abnett plays with the readers in a masterful way, making us hang on to every word, and he does so by virtue of story. He does embellish his stories with beautiful descriptions of the landscape and the world which his characters inhabit, but one has to say that the thing which makes Hereticus the stand-out book of the series is its story. Abnett mixes and matches the ways in which he deals with everyone,and the result is very satisfying, even if it leaves us with some questions.
Also its narration though. I have praised the first-person narration in my previous reviews for the insight it presents us with w.r.t. Eisenhorn's mind, and this continues to be a strong point. But again, Hereticus is a step ahead of the others in the way the style imposes a certain helplessness on Eisenhorn and by extension the readers as well. The Warhammer universe is huge but it is with certain events in this book that you realise how small Eisenhorn and his band is. And that in turn makes their acts even more heroic.
There are a few cliches in this book, but I sure enjoyed the hell out of it. I'll read more of Abnett. And I'll read more of Warhammer 40K.
The Emperor Protects.
Hereticus is a book of great sadness, a tome which brings the career of a celebrated Inquisitor and a great character to a close. The book is a good way to actually understand just how much you care for these characters. Abnett plays with the readers in a masterful way, making us hang on to every word, and he does so by virtue of story. He does embellish his stories with beautiful descriptions of the landscape and the world which his characters inhabit, but one has to say that the thing which makes Hereticus the stand-out book of the series is its story. Abnett mixes and matches the ways in which he deals with everyone,and the result is very satisfying, even if it leaves us with some questions.
Also its narration though. I have praised the first-person narration in my previous reviews for the insight it presents us with w.r.t. Eisenhorn's mind, and this continues to be a strong point. But again, Hereticus is a step ahead of the others in the way the style imposes a certain helplessness on Eisenhorn and by extension the readers as well. The Warhammer universe is huge but it is with certain events in this book that you realise how small Eisenhorn and his band is. And that in turn makes their acts even more heroic.
There are a few cliches in this book, but I sure enjoyed the hell out of it. I'll read more of Abnett. And I'll read more of Warhammer 40K.
The Emperor Protects.
June 27, 2018
Pure addictive popcorn. This stuff is dangerous.
December 30, 2023
Reality is that Eisenhorn likes demon power. All things which are capable to defeat chaos contains chaos. Eisenhorn is radical, he fell but can't fully realize this fact. Thus Eisenhorn brings herecy into the world just to defeat it after that. Suspicious way to serve God. Strange love affair between demon and man. Funniest thing is that he is too straight and can't understand situation.
February 23, 2021
Starts with a bang, dies off a little and the last quarter is quite the rollercoaster. Brilliant read from Abnett once again
September 15, 2023
A dark and a bit depressing conclusion to the Eisenhorn trilogy.
Hereticus is mainly about the transformation of Gregor Eisenhorn from a puritan to a complete self-acknowledged radical, as well as the downfall of everyone around him (genuinely depressing when the characters you've come to care about are simply no more.)
Overall - Dan Abnett has done an amazing job in 3 books. The only other downfall is the rushed ending - especially in Hereticus and Malleus.
Looking forward to more of Abnett, in the near future.
Hereticus is mainly about the transformation of Gregor Eisenhorn from a puritan to a complete self-acknowledged radical, as well as the downfall of everyone around him (genuinely depressing when the characters you've come to care about are simply no more.)
Overall - Dan Abnett has done an amazing job in 3 books. The only other downfall is the rushed ending - especially in Hereticus and Malleus.
Looking forward to more of Abnett, in the near future.
September 24, 2021
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: The step from knowledge in the name of knowing your enemy to heresy is very fine indeed. So fine, in fact, that Eisenhorn’s companions begin doubting his sanctity, his truth, purity, seeing what feats he pulled with forbidden knowledge, forbidden power, to save them. In the end, they’ll have to decide whom can they trust, if anyone at all.
My Opinion: Now that worldbuilding is done, you’d think we can concentrate on knowledge, history, action. No. No we can’t. Instead we cheapen the solid plot by throwing in some love drama, making Eisenhorn human. Ah well. Ignoring that bullshit, we had some fine twisty plot, great fights, and SOME lore to enjoy. Good lore, so even a little bit is always greatly entertaining.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: The step from knowledge in the name of knowing your enemy to heresy is very fine indeed. So fine, in fact, that Eisenhorn’s companions begin doubting his sanctity, his truth, purity, seeing what feats he pulled with forbidden knowledge, forbidden power, to save them. In the end, they’ll have to decide whom can they trust, if anyone at all.
My Opinion: Now that worldbuilding is done, you’d think we can concentrate on knowledge, history, action. No. No we can’t. Instead we cheapen the solid plot by throwing in some love drama, making Eisenhorn human. Ah well. Ignoring that bullshit, we had some fine twisty plot, great fights, and SOME lore to enjoy. Good lore, so even a little bit is always greatly entertaining.
January 17, 2024
Hereticus by Dan Abnett is the third book in the Eisenhorn series, and seems to me like the ‘Return of the Jedi’ of this series. Except with a lot more heartbreak. And violence.
This book was a whirlwind of violence and death wrapped in an invigorating plotline following a varied and complex band of heroes- well heroes is an overstatement as this book deals with heresy and ‘what are you willing to do to win’ more than most other books I’ve ever read. Eisenhorn’s moral dilemma as he descends further into the grey and possibly even evil is fascinating.
Hereticus is everything that 40K should be. Morally gray, complex, violent and filled with interesting moral quandaries that leave you thinking about the nature of evil and how easily one can slide into that sphere.
This book was a whirlwind of violence and death wrapped in an invigorating plotline following a varied and complex band of heroes- well heroes is an overstatement as this book deals with heresy and ‘what are you willing to do to win’ more than most other books I’ve ever read. Eisenhorn’s moral dilemma as he descends further into the grey and possibly even evil is fascinating.
Hereticus is everything that 40K should be. Morally gray, complex, violent and filled with interesting moral quandaries that leave you thinking about the nature of evil and how easily one can slide into that sphere.
May 24, 2019
This book was amazing. I only really have an issue with the ending. It felt too rushed and ended abruptly. Some main characters' endings were ignored entirely. Despite this the characters' development was enjoyable and engaging throughout the series. It is the characters that carry the Eisenhorn trilogy. I would highly recommend this book for those interested in warhammer 40k.
July 14, 2022
"I still believe in fruit juice" -Gregor Eisenhorn
hell yes I loved this book. more of the puritan/radical discussion and gregor trying to toe the line, lots of call-backs which is fun too. i dunno this isn’t a long review but there isn’t much to say other than i thoroughly enjoyed it, also i'm very hungry so want to stop writing this so i can go get a buger
hell yes I loved this book. more of the puritan/radical discussion and gregor trying to toe the line, lots of call-backs which is fun too. i dunno this isn’t a long review but there isn’t much to say other than i thoroughly enjoyed it, also i'm very hungry so want to stop writing this so i can go get a buger
February 26, 2023
El tercer y último tomo del desenlace de la trilogía de Eisenhorn mantiene el nivel de acción de las dos anteriores entregas. El carisma del protagonista y su sutil viraje al antiheroicismo crean una progresión argumental bastante más compleja que la que se esperaría de un libro de ciencia ficción belica.
September 26, 2024
Чудова космічна фантастика, наповнена пригодами, зрадами, політикою та великою кількістю піу-піу-піу
August 16, 2021
So far my experience with the Warhammer 40k books has been that they're thoroughly, extremely entertaining while at the same time lacking in characters or a story that jumps out at you.
While I enjoyed knowing the characters of the Eisenhorn series, when many of them meet their inevitable demises I was thinking "Who was that again? I think I remember them." The problem being that three books in and the only character that has stayed in my mind is Eisenhorn and maybe the guy that says "Most perturbatory," all the time, and I can't even remember his name. I liked the characters of this series, but unfortunately because Eisenhorn is so cool and the obvious focus, the others tend to blend together and I feel like the reader should feel more when something happens to them.
The plot is the same way. I can tell you this is an exciting book that I was completely entertained by, but it's just like an action B-movie you'd watch on Netflix: thrilling, but fails to move you in any meaningful way, and starts to fade shortly after you've experienced it. I can't really even tell you what all went on in this book, other than that there was a lot of shooting, fighting, accusing of heresy, and dabbling in said heresy, and even more shooting.
That said, hey it's a Warhammer 40k book. It's fun as hell. What more do you expect? These are miles ahead of every Magic the Gathering book...Those were...ugh.
While I enjoyed knowing the characters of the Eisenhorn series, when many of them meet their inevitable demises I was thinking "Who was that again? I think I remember them." The problem being that three books in and the only character that has stayed in my mind is Eisenhorn and maybe the guy that says "Most perturbatory," all the time, and I can't even remember his name. I liked the characters of this series, but unfortunately because Eisenhorn is so cool and the obvious focus, the others tend to blend together and I feel like the reader should feel more when something happens to them.
The plot is the same way. I can tell you this is an exciting book that I was completely entertained by, but it's just like an action B-movie you'd watch on Netflix: thrilling, but fails to move you in any meaningful way, and starts to fade shortly after you've experienced it. I can't really even tell you what all went on in this book, other than that there was a lot of shooting, fighting, accusing of heresy, and dabbling in said heresy, and even more shooting.
That said, hey it's a Warhammer 40k book. It's fun as hell. What more do you expect? These are miles ahead of every Magic the Gathering book...Those were...ugh.
September 26, 2021
The final, and most intense book of the Eisenhorn trilogy.
Abnett really pulls all the stops out, dragging Eisenhorn closer to the edge he always said he wouldn't cross.
The characters really step up in this book. Fischig especially, as he reminds Eisenhorn of a promise made years ago.
There are tough choices to be made, and a thin line between doing the Emperors work and descending into Chaos.
Abnett really pulls all the stops out, dragging Eisenhorn closer to the edge he always said he wouldn't cross.
The characters really step up in this book. Fischig especially, as he reminds Eisenhorn of a promise made years ago.
There are tough choices to be made, and a thin line between doing the Emperors work and descending into Chaos.
April 17, 2021
I've enjoyed all the Eisenhorn books as the fairly empty yet thrillingly addictive sci-fi they are, but I think this is the best. While previous novels lacked much of a character arc here, quite suddenly, all the risks and tensions of an inquisitor's life come home to roost in a satisfyingly bleak fashion.
August 27, 2017
English (but not so good) / Italiano
The story is very fascinating, especially as regards the relationship with Godwyn Fischig, with Cherubael, and the slow but steady approach of the protagonist to radicalism – a dangerous dance with heresy. The clashes are surprising, and I'm not talking about those against Vessor janissaries, where – despite the notorious name – it’s enough Eisenhorn alone to defeat them (although I admit that the one on the Trans-Atenate Express was nice... it also has "recycled" the corpse of the enemy).
Unfortunately, however, there is a serious defect that is repeated on every page in this book: the heaviness. A multitude of invented names regarding the carthean Ewl Wyla Scryi combat style, places, means of transport, and their descriptions; they confuse me and more than once pushed me to peek how many pages were missing at the end of the chapter. This slows not only the fluency but also the pleasure of reading, a bit like the artificial legs of our Inquisitor. And then, yes, we are in the 41st millennium of Warhammer, but some of the author's outputs, few fortunately, are exaggerated in this context as well. Ex. the size of the demon king's tomb: "The tomb was a salon where could stay comfortably a continent." -_-
At plot level is a volume worthy to conclude the Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn's trilogy, which here pay the debt with the decisions taken, but about its realization, well, it could be done better. Certainly, his path marked the character indelibly.
Italiano
La storia è molto avvincente, soprattutto per quanto riguarda il rapporto con Godwyn Fischig, con Cherubael, ed il lento ma costante avvicinarsi del protagonista al radicalismo – una pericolosa danza con l’eresia. Gli scontri sono sorprendenti, e non mi riferisco a quelli contro i giannizzeri di Vessor, dove – nonostante la famigerata nomea – basta il solo Eisenhorn a sgominarli (anche se ammetto che quello sul Trans-Atenate Express è stato bello… ha pure “riciclato” il cadavere del nemico).
Purtroppo però c’è un grave difetto che si ripete in ogni pagina di questo libro: la pesantezza. Una moltitudine di nomi inventati riguardo allo stile di lotta cartheano Ewl Wyla Scryi, a luoghi, mezzi di trasporto, e le loro descrizioni; mandano in confusione e più di una volta mi hanno spinto a sbirciare quante pagine mancassero alla fine del capitolo. Questo rallenta non solo la scorrevolezza ma anche il piacere della lettura, un po’ come fanno le gambe artificiali con il nostro Inquisitore. E poi, vabbè che siamo nel 41esimo millennio di Warhammer, ma certe uscite dell’autore, poche fortunatamente, sono esagerate pure in questo contesto. Es. le dimensioni della tomba del re dei demoni: “Il sepolcro era un salone nel quale poteva starci comodo un continente.” -_-
A livello di trama è un volume più che degno di concludere la trilogia dell’Inquisitore Gregor Eisenhorn che qui salda il debito con le decisioni prese, ma per quanto riguarda la sua realizzazione, beh, si poteva fare di meglio. Certo è che il suo percorso ha segnato indelebilmente il personaggio.
The story is very fascinating, especially as regards the relationship with Godwyn Fischig, with Cherubael, and the slow but steady approach of the protagonist to radicalism – a dangerous dance with heresy. The clashes are surprising, and I'm not talking about those against Vessor janissaries, where – despite the notorious name – it’s enough Eisenhorn alone to defeat them (although I admit that the one on the Trans-Atenate Express was nice... it also has "recycled" the corpse of the enemy).
Unfortunately, however, there is a serious defect that is repeated on every page in this book: the heaviness. A multitude of invented names regarding the carthean Ewl Wyla Scryi combat style, places, means of transport, and their descriptions; they confuse me and more than once pushed me to peek how many pages were missing at the end of the chapter. This slows not only the fluency but also the pleasure of reading, a bit like the artificial legs of our Inquisitor. And then, yes, we are in the 41st millennium of Warhammer, but some of the author's outputs, few fortunately, are exaggerated in this context as well. Ex. the size of the demon king's tomb: "The tomb was a salon where could stay comfortably a continent." -_-
At plot level is a volume worthy to conclude the Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn's trilogy, which here pay the debt with the decisions taken, but about its realization, well, it could be done better. Certainly, his path marked the character indelibly.
Italiano
La storia è molto avvincente, soprattutto per quanto riguarda il rapporto con Godwyn Fischig, con Cherubael, ed il lento ma costante avvicinarsi del protagonista al radicalismo – una pericolosa danza con l’eresia. Gli scontri sono sorprendenti, e non mi riferisco a quelli contro i giannizzeri di Vessor, dove – nonostante la famigerata nomea – basta il solo Eisenhorn a sgominarli (anche se ammetto che quello sul Trans-Atenate Express è stato bello… ha pure “riciclato” il cadavere del nemico).
Purtroppo però c’è un grave difetto che si ripete in ogni pagina di questo libro: la pesantezza. Una moltitudine di nomi inventati riguardo allo stile di lotta cartheano Ewl Wyla Scryi, a luoghi, mezzi di trasporto, e le loro descrizioni; mandano in confusione e più di una volta mi hanno spinto a sbirciare quante pagine mancassero alla fine del capitolo. Questo rallenta non solo la scorrevolezza ma anche il piacere della lettura, un po’ come fanno le gambe artificiali con il nostro Inquisitore. E poi, vabbè che siamo nel 41esimo millennio di Warhammer, ma certe uscite dell’autore, poche fortunatamente, sono esagerate pure in questo contesto. Es. le dimensioni della tomba del re dei demoni: “Il sepolcro era un salone nel quale poteva starci comodo un continente.” -_-
A livello di trama è un volume più che degno di concludere la trilogia dell’Inquisitore Gregor Eisenhorn che qui salda il debito con le decisioni prese, ma per quanto riguarda la sua realizzazione, beh, si poteva fare di meglio. Certo è che il suo percorso ha segnato indelebilmente il personaggio.
January 8, 2023
The plot is peerless as always, and from a top down view we receive a fitting conclusion to Eisenhorn's adventures, and especially his decisions, so far.
But the writing was, in my opinion, sloppy. It starts with a more than average frequency of typos and missing small words, followed by many small inconsistencies that are simply not typical for Abentt. Eisenhorn can't smile, for instance, and there were at least two more occasions where facial expressions on characters where either impossible or should have been hidden from view.
I'm especially picky with swordfighting, and though Abnett did not slip into the great art of Hollywood bullshido, it are details like having a fighter keeping his eyes on the opponent's sword that should not happen. Doing so will get you killed in a duel, always pay attention to your opponent's eyes especially and body in general, but never focus on their weapon.
Another big sore thumb standing out was that This sticks to my memory because it was the moment I lost my grip on the story, after which I struggled to find back in for the rest of the book.
In general this is one of those reviews where you can't weave an argument without going through the whole book and keep notes of everything you spot, but I don't want to make a case against Abnett. I'm just trying to illustrate what put me off, so you can decide if you might handle this better than I did.
Talking subjectively, the immersion did not happen as I am used to expect from Abnett, and after reading Xenos I know that he is well capable of delivering outlandish, alien and mind-baffling stories in a measure that entertains, thrills and maintains the flow of reading.
In a nutshell, the story is epic, but the writing is not the best available from Abnett.
But the writing was, in my opinion, sloppy. It starts with a more than average frequency of typos and missing small words, followed by many small inconsistencies that are simply not typical for Abentt. Eisenhorn can't smile, for instance, and there were at least two more occasions where facial expressions on characters where either impossible or should have been hidden from view.
I'm especially picky with swordfighting, and though Abnett did not slip into the great art of Hollywood bullshido, it are details like having a fighter keeping his eyes on the opponent's sword that should not happen. Doing so will get you killed in a duel, always pay attention to your opponent's eyes especially and body in general, but never focus on their weapon.
Another big sore thumb standing out was that This sticks to my memory because it was the moment I lost my grip on the story, after which I struggled to find back in for the rest of the book.
In general this is one of those reviews where you can't weave an argument without going through the whole book and keep notes of everything you spot, but I don't want to make a case against Abnett. I'm just trying to illustrate what put me off, so you can decide if you might handle this better than I did.
Talking subjectively, the immersion did not happen as I am used to expect from Abnett, and after reading Xenos I know that he is well capable of delivering outlandish, alien and mind-baffling stories in a measure that entertains, thrills and maintains the flow of reading.
In a nutshell, the story is epic, but the writing is not the best available from Abnett.
January 30, 2018
A great end to the Eisenhorn trilogy, leaving us wondering exactly where Eisenhorn's path leads while also wrapping up a great deal of character arcs. Eisenhorn continues to straddle the line of Inquisitor and heretic while still ultimately serving mankind in a wonderfully gray capacity.
Once again, the only real downside I felt in the book was the usage of obscure, fictional words to describe sword stances and strikes. I really don't feel that it added much, and in many cases it detracted from the otherwise crisp and clear combat. Other than that, though, Hereticus was a great closing chapter for Eisenhorn.
Once again, the only real downside I felt in the book was the usage of obscure, fictional words to describe sword stances and strikes. I really don't feel that it added much, and in many cases it detracted from the otherwise crisp and clear combat. Other than that, though, Hereticus was a great closing chapter for Eisenhorn.
November 20, 2020
I really enjoyed the first two books, but this one felt kind of a let-down. Eisenhorn's estate is attacked and it's presented as a mystery, who could possibly be doing this to him and why... but Eisenhorn pretty much immediately realises who it is and their motives, then goes where they are and kills them, the end. There's a couple of minor twists that feel like they were meant to up the stakes, but nothing major and with a lot of what just feels like filler.
I thought it was going to turn out that Eisenhorn thought he was being attacked by his old enemy but actually the friend he'd given his inquisitor rosette to believed he'd been corrupted and had used the symbol of power to hire mercenaries to try and take him down, but no that just ended up being an irrelevant detail.
I thought it was going to turn out that Eisenhorn thought he was being attacked by his old enemy but actually the friend he'd given his inquisitor rosette to believed he'd been corrupted and had used the symbol of power to hire mercenaries to try and take him down, but no that just ended up being an irrelevant detail.
November 6, 2024
"Hereticus" mostra o Eisenhorn pagando, das piores formas possíveis, o preço pelos acordos faustianos dos livros anteriores até chegar ao limite e a um final duramente conquistado.
Vitórias pírricas, cenas épicas de confrontos demoníacos e traições dolorosas tornam a última obra do "007 de 40k" o melhor livro da trilogia¹.
Recomendo.
1. Feliz que ainda tem um livro de contos e as sequências com seus pupilos Ravenor e Bequin. Se eu fosse o Cavill, adaptaria essas séries para a Prime porque a estrutura é episódica e elas demandam pouco do do leitor em relação a lore de fantasia científica (sci-fantasy) de 40k
Vitórias pírricas, cenas épicas de confrontos demoníacos e traições dolorosas tornam a última obra do "007 de 40k" o melhor livro da trilogia¹.
Recomendo.
1. Feliz que ainda tem um livro de contos e as sequências com seus pupilos Ravenor e Bequin. Se eu fosse o Cavill, adaptaria essas séries para a Prime porque a estrutura é episódica e elas demandam pouco do do leitor em relação a lore de fantasia científica (sci-fantasy) de 40k
August 18, 2024
I thought this was really great. This is the final book in the trilogy for Eisenhorn, though the omnibus I'm reading has another full book in it, and its truly a great ending. Every little thing and mistake Eisenhorn has made throughout all the last two books come back and completely bites him in the ass in a way that feels very genuine and honest for what the consequences of messing with the warp should be. I really liked how it treats Eisenhorn truly coming into his own as a very extreme radical near the same as Quixos from the end of the last book in a way that feels really earned. Great book and ending.
February 3, 2020
Hereticus doesn't disappoint, it's the final book in this awesome trilogy and Dan Abnett saved the best for last.
It's emotional, fast paced and such an ending that made me audibly gasp. Absolutely fantastic.
MUST READ.
It's emotional, fast paced and such an ending that made me audibly gasp. Absolutely fantastic.
MUST READ.
September 2, 2019
The ending was meh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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