Book Review // The Path of Heaven by Chris Wraight
I feel it's finally time to get back to reading a full-length Horus Heresy novel. I've been living the audio junkie life for far too long! Unfortunately for me, the next book on the list is a White Scars novel, and I've never been the biggest fan of the Legion. Wish me luck!
Title: The Path of Heaven (The Horus Heresy #36)
Author: Chris Wraight
Blurb
For too long, the V Legion ranged beyond the sight of the wider Imperium, remaining largely ignorant of the Warmaster's rebellion and the war that followed. Only after Jaghatai Khan was satisfied that the path ahead was just and true did the White Scars choose their side, taking the fight to the traitors.
Four years later, however, the Legion has been worn down by relentless warfare against the Death Guard and Emperor's Children. Now the Khan's Stormseers must find a path to Terra if the White Scars are to take part in the final battle.
Review
Yep. Still not a fan of the White Scars. But...That didn't stop me from really enjoying this novel. The Path of Heaven is a great read. The pacing is excellent, with plenty of action, mystery, and enough twists to keep me interested throughout. More importantly, it feels like the overall Horus Heresy story is finally moving again. And let's be honest, after working my way through this many books, that is something I really appreciate.
Spoiler warning: I'm going to talk about some of the events in this book, so if you've somehow made it this far into the Heresy without reading it, consider yourself warned. It's an old book at this point, so those in the know probably already know what's coming!
If you haven't read Scars, go and read that first. Seriously. The Path of Heaven builds heavily on what came before, and it quickly becomes clear just how busy the White Scars have been. Because they've spent so much time operating on the fringes of the Imperium, they've found themselves behind enemy lines, and the Khan has decided to make the best of a bad situation.
Rather than simply trying to survive, the White Scars have been harassing the Warmaster's forces, attacking supply lines and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Unfortunately for them, the traitors have finally had enough, and a hunting fleet is dispatched to track them down and destroy them. From there, things really get moving.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book is the sense of momentum. After so many stories covering different corners of the Heresy, it feels like we're finally getting somewhere again. The wider plot moves forward, the stakes continue to rise, and the road towards Terra feels a little closer.
Chris Wraight is also a bloody good writer. I may not be converted into a White Scars fan, but I can't deny that he makes them interesting. His handling of the traitor forces in this novel was particularly good, and if I'm being completely honest, it made me wish he could spend more time writing some of the Traitor Legions. There are some fantastic characters and some genuinely great moments throughout the book, and the combination of mystery and action kept me turning the pages. So, despite my complete lack of affection for the White Scars, I'm glad I read this one.
It feels like a bit of a revitalisation for my Heresy journey. The story is moving again, I'm back into a full-length novel, and suddenly that finish line doesn't seem quite so far away. Although, let's be honest. I've still got a ridiculous number of books to get through.
What's Next? The next book chronologically should be The Silent War, but I'm already working my way through that one using Audible. So that means Angels of Caliban is next on the reading list and now I'm excited. Dark Angels…check. Night Lords…check. Gav Thorpe…check! Finally, a Legion and author combo I actually like!
