Deliverance Lost (Horus Heresy) Mass Market Paperback – 26 Aug. 2014

It has been a long, long time since the HH series have moved along: they have seemed "stuck" at Isstvan, with numerous books telling us what was happening elsewhere at the same time, and a few telling us about a few things about what happened immediately after. This one, however, seems to get things moving a bit as we learn about Corax, nineteenth Primarch of the Raven Guard, and his efforts to warn the Emperor about what has happened and reconstitute his badly depleted Legion (after Isstvan, of course).As other reviewers have mentioned, this one is one of the good ones in the series. It is also full of information on four additional topics:- one is the background an,d history of the Raven Guard and the reason for their speciality: guerilla warfare, hit-and-run tactics and sudden attacks more generally- another is the defense of Terra, the fortification of the Imperial Palace and the role of the Imperial Fists and Rogal Dorn- a third is that we learn more about both the Emperor and his creations - the Primarchs, although more is to come in the future- the last is about the attempts of Corax to fight back after the traitor Legions and the struggle that Corax has to put up when his own system is attacked from within. The Alpha Legion's infiltration was great, but I will say no more about it so as to avoid spoilers.There is however one thing that I found odd or even confusing. The title of the book seems to suggest that Deliverance (the name of a planet) is lost. In fact, it isn't when the book end, although the title's meaning may have to be taken figuratively perhaps?

I'd like to thank Gav Thorpe for yet again delivering one of the most entertaining and unusual stories published by the Black Library so far. Thorpe's Last Chancers trilogy has always been among my favourites because they introduce such likeable characters; considering their horrible natures and desperate situation, this is a big compliment to Thorpe's writing, and to his understanding of his fellow man.There are no long-winded descriptions here. Unlike Graham McNeill, Gav Thorpe can have a shuttle landing without spending EIGHT PAGES describing its journey. In fact Thorpe once again ditches wordy prose in favour of action and blunt, entertaining dialogue. This isn't to say this book is one long battle. Far from it, there isn't that much fighting here, the enemies are time, and those unseen forces who loom over the Raven Guard even though they never actually appear in the book. "Action" is probably not a good word as "direction". Thorpe is taking this story towards a conclusion and doesn't often stop to mess around.The story's direction springs from the needs, requirements and decisions of the Raven Guard characters; mainly Primarch Corus, although his commanders get a chance to shine as well. Fortunately there are no whining, attention-grabbing remembrancers here, they're all dead, along with SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND Raven Guard. When the story opens, only a few thousand traumatised and battle-weary Ravens are left to quit the field. They're rescued thanks to the psychic vision of an Imperial Guard commander who, frankly, brings nothing to this story, and whose every scene could have been cut. (Why do we care about how his servant relishes his status as some kind of high-faluting errand boy? What's that got to do with Horus heading for Earth and the Raven Guard all being dead?)I like Corus. While it's true he lacks some of the depth of Lorgar for example, Corus does not display the tortured anguish every other Primarch has so far - which is actually a breath of fresh air. He's practically destroyed inside by the death of his entire Legion, but he is a hero. He (usually) listens to the counsel of his subordinates and has plenty of time for the "mortals" who serve with his Legion, counting some of them as very close personal friends.Corus, nicknamed "Corax" which means "saviour", was found on a prison planet where he was adopted by the prisoners and raised not in hatred and fear, but in understanding that his people are being oppressed and he is the only man who can actually do something about it. He's taught about morality and friendship BY THE PRISONERS, he discovers innate abilities that make him a devastating killer, yet he is not a brutal or callous murderer and he uses his brains and his fledgling sense of morality to decide what to do. He's not shy of taking action, be it nuking the enemy cities or fighting hand-to-hand with TWO rebel Primarchs at the same time, but he is a good man who lives up to the nickname his fellow prisoners gave him, and destroys only the enemies of mankind and those who would harm the people he loves. So those who claim he is two dimensional are basically missing the point. Men like Corus are the men who held the Imperium together during the Heresy.The cast of Raven Guard are extremely likeable for the most part with funny, robust dialogue which separates them from the warrior-monks of 40K. Little touches, like the Imperial Fists being drawn up in rigid formation while the Ravens stand before them in a loose mob, distinguish the Legion's character from most of the others. The Raven Guard simply do not stand on ceremony, and they are allowed a fair degree of lateral thinking, which causes Corus some headaches towards the end but introduces tension and drama that simply couldn't happen with any other Legion.The dialogue is far better written than in McNeill's (apparently) more popular books, and while Thorpe simply does not have the verbal artistry of Dembski-Bowden (sp?) or James Swallow, he writes good, solid, entertaining stories that are damn well worth your time. Alpharius and Omegon are unfortunately pale shadows of the sinister and frightening creatures from Dan Abnett's "Legion", Alpharius in particular coming across as weak and rather pathetic, not the master of galactic destiny he actually is. However the Alpha Legion infiltrators who pose as Raven Guard bring a far more interesting level of intrigue. They don't know what their mission is and they don't even recognise each other, and at least one of them becomes more sympathetic to the Ravens as he shares death and fear with them.The plot involves Corvus' attempts to rebuild his annihilated Legion and becomes deeply enmeshed in some of the most primordial 40K mythos. The Ravens spend quite a while on Earth unravelling the Emperor's most formidable creation, the Labyrinth, but fortunately Hedgewart/Hogwart/Hoggle is standing outside having a p*ss... only kidding, it's not THAT Labyrinth, it's a damn sight tougher to get through alive. As usual this is a Heresy story that balances on a knife edge between hope and tragedy and while you suspect what's going to happen, you are never quite sure.The introduction of the mark 6 "beaky" power armour is handled well. It's known as the Corvus suit and the beaked helmet is an Imperial in-joke that the Primarch appreciates, even if his men don't. Oh, and Corvus' only surviving ship is called the Avenger... about time we had a Heresy-era ship with an awesome name!So yeah, I absolutely LOVED this despite its flaws. Reading this and Fulgrim back to back really shows the Thorpe's direct, minimalist style compared to the struggling, amateurish way McNeill writes. While Fulgrim is absolutely amazing and so much better-written than his other works it makes me suspicious, it would have been better if a skilled author had attempted it... but better Graham McNeill than Ben Counter.There's lots going on, I loved the dialogue, it's just a good solid book without Remembrancers and it's infinitely more relevant than the TWO Dark Angels books (come on, where are the World Eaters and Blood Angels?).Note: My apologies to McNeill fanboys, but come on, eight pages to describe a shuttle journey... :\

Im taking a guess that the only reason this book exists is that someone at black library woke up and thought "whats the worse Gav Thorpe can do the best selling horus heresy and does it matter since folks will buy it regardless of quality".Well folks this is the result.To sum the book up Corax and his legion escape the Isstvan dropsite massacre with massive losses. We really only spend a chapter on this mainly because Gav cant write massive battles and hes already covered it in a series of terrible audio dramas.Corax decides the rebuild his legion and his father the emperor of mankind agrees to give him the tools as long as they can solve his wacky dungeon crawl. What we get is a third of the book wasted to space marine fighting in a bad D&D dungeon in a seek and find quest.It gets better but not by much, the alpha legion have sinister plans to steal the Secrets the Raven Guard hold. Corax shares storys with us of his past and background as a rebel leader which is likely the books highlight.And thats it really. Nothing of great important, the books final battle just feels like Gav wrote a show case in which the Ravens win because the story says so...and its a perfect win because Gav so wants the Ravens to be awesome.There not a single likeable character on offer, besides Corax every character exists simply to say a couple of lines, get shot, die pointlessly or point out obivous plot points, they may as well call them Angry marine, Captain Emo and Sgt Plot point because not a one of them had anything to make them into the next Loken, Garro or Tarvitz.To sum up avoid if possible because there not a thing that will draw you back to re-read this snorefest again.

A ripping yarn about a guy and a war. But, yes a but, it could have gone further, deeper, faster, stronger. The treatment of the subject was a little one dimensional. And I think a point was missed, an opportunity to embelish the novel with lavish helpings of 40K horror. *SLIGHT SPOILER* How on earth does matter from the warp only affect the physicality of a Legionnes Astartes and not their psychology??? This point still rankles with me I'm afraid...

Enjoyable read. Gives good insight into Corax and the Raven Guard, with a bit of Alpha Legion espionage thrown in for good measure.