Corax: The Horus Heresy, Book 40

This is a relatively good collection of stories with the author going out of the way to present the evolving and troubled personality of Corax, Primarch of the Raven Guard in the years following the “Great Betrayal” at Isstvan V (yes, again!) and how he rallies the remnants of his Legion and warriors and loyalists of other scattered forces (a few Imperial Fists and Iron Hands, but also a loyalist Iron Warrior and a Night Lord).Some pieces are rather interesting and pretty good. One such includes Corax encountering in the years after Isstvan V two of his senior officers that were believed to be lost during this massacre and which have developed very different attitudes towards him. A related point is to show the trauma resulting from this catastrophe as some kind of PTSD.Given Corax’s own growing doubts and despair, I couldn’t help wondering whether the rather idealistic Primarch, the defender of slaves and the oppressed, was also subject to it. The characterisation of Corax is rather interesting, especially when contrasted with Angron of the World Eaters who descends in mindless violence. Both characters seem to be variations of some kind of Spartacus theme, but Corax, unlike Angron, clings to hope. This is the hope that the Emperor will prevail and set everything right, including the salvation of Corax’s Raptors, those of his new generation of warriors that suffer from genetic and fast evolving malformations that make them similar to creatures from Chaos.The evolving war across the galaxy is also a source of growing despair for Corax. Despite all his efforts to weaken Horus and his followers and despite numerous tactical victories, worlds reconquered and convoys destroyed, the enemy seems unstoppable, just as it had seemed in Path of Heaven when the Khan and his Scars were also attempting and failing to stem the tide. Corax is also clearly shown as running out of options and this also feeds his despair.Two final nice touches are the reuniting of Corax the Ravenlord and Russ the Wolflord, in rather dramatic circumstances, and how Corax, well after the war and as the Scouring of the traitors is almost finished, finally exercises justice and keeps his promise, despite what it costs him to do so.Needless to say, the stories also includes multiple battle scenes. While many show an almost invincible Corax, some show him as rather reckless, for instance when confronting single-handed some of the creations of the infamous Fabius Bile. Four stars.

A good collection of the short stories that bring you up to speed on what the Reaven guard did next and their struggle for survival.

Awesome! Still did not get to find out what happened to him at end of/after the heresy but really enjoyed it.

Corax is rapidity becoming my favourite primarch. Surprising wealth of information in the book about the Raven Guard.

Dark good pace very Human

Maybe I've just come to the end of my time with the Horus Heresy, I have read them all to this point but this is the first time I've struggled to finish a book. Not saying that this is the worst in the series, but its pretty pointless. There has been nothing to motivate me in any of the stories, and as another reviewer has said, it is largely boring.I'm sorry to say but as the strapline beneath the title suggess for me, Gav Thorpe's books - Nevermore!Upgraded to two stars as the last story 'Waregeld' is pretty decent.

Bought as a gift

Great story, enjoyed reading that book even though I am more of a Space Wolves fan.