The End and the Death vol. 3

By Dan Abnett

Since Horus Rising was published in 2006, we’ve had 66 books, a host of short stories, novellas and audiobooks to finally come to the end. This is the final book in the Siege of Terra series, and it has a lot to live up to. So how good of a job does it do? Let’s find out in this spoiler review. Do not keep reading if you want to avoid spoilers, there’s your warning.

Yes there’s big moments. No there are not huge deviations from what is known. And, it makes for a fairly enjoyable read. The End and the Death is at times epic, at times makes you smirk and at times, reminds you to be angry at Erebus.

The book does several things well. This is Dan Abnett writing, and as is typical, his descriptions and dialogue tend to be high quality.

The dialogue is often laced with deeper meaning, references or even more philosophical. I do think there is a refreshing freedom in this book. Sometimes the message is wider than expected, such as this quotation which speaks of the ethos of the Imperium moving forward:

“Words heal. You can close a wound with a good story, and let it mend, and make it better.“

“Even when it’s a lie?” Asks Agathae

Lies are more efficacious still. Moriana smiles. A good lie is better than a bad truth. Their healing powers are miraculous. Tell a good story and you can restore things to the way they were, tell a good lie and you can make them the way they should have been.”

(TEATD audiobook, Fragments, 1 00:06:00)

This approach is also questioned elsewhere in the book by other characters. Was the Emperor correct in shielding humanity from knowledge of chaos? Would things have turned out differently if he’d approached it differently?

Anabasis

There’s a host of events in this book I could cover. Oll Persson and John Grammaticus play a crucial role, getting the anathema to the Emperor (who has to renew the weapon). Loken getting stabbed in the back was a sad but perhaps necessary moment – it was probably time for Loken’s story to end, to provide a sense of finality that is not present with many other threads. Since it was done by Erebus is likely to intensify everyone’s hatred for him too. It was a big moment that had the kind of impact I wish we’d seen more often. The reaction of the Blood Angels, and Azkaellon becoming a beast had some of the best sections and descriptions of the book. You really feel the bestial rage of the loss of their father and how close they are to falling to Khorne. Or Sigismund escorting Keeler, and being assisted by the Fallen. These are great scenes that have a great blend of action and interplay between characters.

The clash between Horus and the Emperor is suitably epic, with the duel being revisited repeatedly. In fact Horus effectively beats the emperor several times, as we return to the fight again and again. It was expected that this would be present, and the action and Horus’s perspective make it work quite well. We continue to retain the mystery of seeing things from the Emperor – instead usually seeing Horus’s perspective, or a custodian speaking for the Emperor for example. It is a clever way to avoid the Emperor’s views being revealed to much, although some may feel that a missed opportunity for the final book. Personally I felt it worked well - providing great insight into Horus’s hubris and ambition, and even regret at the very end which added depth to his character.

As for the final confrontation, Loken shows up, who was such a pivotal character in Horus Rising. Some of the dialogue with Loken and Horus is great, the son reunited with his traitorous father. It is fitting then that Loken plays a large part at the end. Loken tries to persuade Horus to turn back, show his heart and that he should prove he succeeded as Horus Lupercal rather than a pawn of the chaos gods. Horus at last admits that he doesn’t want to remain on the path he’s going. But it turns out Loken was an illusion taken up by the Emperor. They resume fighting, and Horus eventually tells the Emperor to kill him rather than let him become a puppet for chaos. The Emperor forgives Horus at the last instant before running him through with the anathema.

The Dark King thread we saw in volumes 1 and 2 didn’t get as much attention, but parallels were drawn between the two: especially the accusation that chaos was just trying to use everyone, as the Emperor tries to use everyone. Loken’s defence – ‘I was his to use’.

In the aftermath, one scene turns to Abaddon and his plan to go on without Horus. He has a discussion with Loken, (the real one, rather than the Emperor's illusion of Loken) there is somewhat of a reconciliation – they agree not to fight for now, but if they see each other again they will. It makes a lot of sense that Abaddon is focussed on as he will be the figurehead of chaos in 40k. Yet a few question marks still remained from the reading of this book: what happens to the Vengeful Spirit, for example, but perhaps it was intentional as we know Abaddon makes it into the 41st millenium.

It is said that if a third more loyalists had survived, they could have wiped out the traitors. I found this a lazy phrase – presumably to suggest that they could have totally won had the Space Wolves Ultramarines and any other remaining forces made it to Terra. But this doesn’t add gravitas, and it also seems counter to the repeated descriptions in the lead up that we’ve seen that the chaos forces are innumerable. Of course many would have been lost in the assault, but doesn’t it seem like maybe they were not so limitless given this statement?

There are turns of phrase that are clever and impactful, many of which may go unnoticed: someone mentioning Bitter Vengeful Spirit,  the reference to the High Priest from Watson’s inquisition War. I still feel he was the right man for the job, and more freedom to ply his craft. At times it really pays dividends, in how action or descriptions are delivered.

The End and the Payoff

Most people’s interpretation of the quality of this book will be based on whether they thought there was enough payoff relative to the length. This was the shortest book in the trilogy of The End and the Death, and the audiobook still clocked in at over 15 hours.

The trilogy is essentially supposed to be a single book, and I think especially in volume 2, there wasn’t enough payoff. This third volume arguably plays it fairly safe. It’s hardly a surprise that Oll and John Grammaticus played a pivotal role in the Emperor killing Horus. Perhaps the best example is the Terminus decree, the weapon Basilio Fo created that is to be used if it looks like chaos is going to win. Amon Tauromachian sanctions its use, but is told to hold off. Again, not surprising and this route involved a lot of development in prior books to it basically not being used. My criticism is not that it should have been used, but maybe it could have had more impact.

Conversely some threads in prior books go missing. We don’t really know what happens to the Alpha Legion, who had some interesting sections so far in trilogy. The loose threads makes it seem likely that there is still more to come, unless the decision was taken that leaving some inferences and questions to be used or developed in 40k was the intention. There were also plenty of threads left unfinished from earlier books – such as Barthusa Narek – but I hardly think that this is really going to be the end of Horus Heresy books. I suspect we may go to the scouring or some other kind of series may get revealed.

There has been a delicate dance in this series. So many different characters and factions. Sometimes the Horus Heresy spread itself too thinly in my opinion, and at other times introduces characters that have a lot of time spent on them for little payoff. In this book it is a blend, some sections stay with you – Loken and Abaddon, Erebus, Azkaellon and the Blood Angels rage, of course Horus and the Emperor. But others play bit-part roles – Vulkan, Kyril Sindermann. It feels frustrating to me that some threads seem almost neglected, especially with so much room to play with, whilst some sections seem unnecessary.

Final score

So to reach the conclusion. The End and the Death volume 3 Is a solid end, but I thought it could have had a lot more gravitas. There are plenty of clever turns of phrase and allusions, but sometimes I wonder if the central themes and characters could have their events fleshed out more at the expense of sections that feel extraneous. In hindsight I perhaps reviewed volume 2 too generously, as before I read volume 3 I felt like volume 2 was even worse for filler content, and may be deserved a lower rating. Despite these flaws, the final battle was as epic as I had hoped. The grief of the Blood Angels, the shock of Loken’s ending, Oll’s sacrifice and Abaddon escaping to continue to wage war.

It has been a hugely enjoyable series for many years off reading, and at least the end didn’t have gigantic retcons which was my main fear. In conclusion, a decent but slightly muted end to a huge and epic series.

7/10