Bloody Books Reviews - The Beast Arises Book Seven: The Hunt for Vulkan by David Annandale

Well. This was a trip.

David Annandale returns to take on the seventh chapter in The Beast Arises, which may be the worst spoiler giveaway I've seen. Seriously, it would have been incredible if the title didn't give it away.

However, we continue to follow Koorland as he takes on the title of Chapter Master proper, discovers that the Orks have come from Ullanor of all places, and raises the banner from the Adeptus Astartes chapters to come support his war on the Greenskins. To do this, he has decided to find a warrior of great power and renown.

Guess who.

It's a big moment to have directly there, front and centre, but in all honestly, the impact isn't lessened any by it. Vulkan strides into frame and dominates all and every scene he's in, and it's wonderful to see the big man in action again. His reveal is so well crafted, mired in desolate, apocalyptic imagery that once he arrives, its impossible to not be grinning from ear to ear. It's a tonally lighter book than the last few entries but that's no bad thing as within the writhing despair of utter calamity comes a calm hope. It's small, but it's lit and the pulsing action sequences do bring some catharsis to the ever increasing tension It's also the book with the least amount of Terra-based scenes so far, staying mostly with Koorland, and introducing a few new elements and characters into the mix as it barrels along. Koorland is a marvel of a character to behold now, a walking weapon firing disgust and snarls at all who cross his path. Vulkan himself is spectacular, his presence never fully explained but left somewhat ambiguous. The questions of how he got to here are to be left for another day, all that is important is that he is here.

It's probably the quickest read in the series so far, and in all honesty, it may have been well served to have been pushed to full novel length. It's a little bare in places, a little too quick when taking a moment to breathe in the air would have upped just how good it could have been. As it stands though, as part of a greater whole, it's damn good, and introduces the new elements well enough to make me excited for the final stretch.