Bloody Books Review: Echoes Of Eternity

It feels somewhat odd to say here we are at the penultimate volume of the Siege of Terra, especially as we enter the final days ahead of the confrontation it’s all been building to. And before Dan Abnett closes off the journey he began back in Horus Rising it falls to the ever-reliable Aaron Dembski-Bowden to tackle the moment where several of his pet-projects within the Heresy finally come together as the Loyalists find themselves either isolated in pockets of resistance or pushed back to the final wall before the Eternity Gate. And ADB does a magnificent job at intertwining the larger narrative and story arcs with a series of smaller, more intimate vignettes of defenders and attackers in their last moments. There is a palbable sense of despair on the side of the Imperium, whilst Horus’ Traitors continue their descent into madness and depravity (whether they intended to or not), all of which contributes to a building sense of finality - everyone knows that the final moments are approaching, although perhaps not how they might have expected.I am being intentionally cagey as there is so much good stuff in here that I can’t in good conscience spoil. What I will say though is that ADB delivers a masterful dissection of Sanguinius, Angron and their respective sons, really drilling down into similarities and differences between the two, the abject misery of Angron’s now-demonic existence vs the restraint Sanguinius employs each day against his worst instincts. And it is genuinely fascinating stuff (with special mentions to one last check-in with Lotora Sarrin aboard The Conquerer, and a most unexpected encounter between Vulcan & Magnus)*

Basically if you are in on the Horus Heresy or SIege of Terra then Echoes is essential reading, and recommended if you are a fan of either the Blood Angels or World Eaters and fancy a bit of insight into them.

*It is the position of the Fluffenstaff that this is the start of the Legion of the Damned - Adam