Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)It has been quite some time since Simon Spurrier's very enjoyable "Lord of the Night", and finally, the Night Lords Legion is deigned with another novel dedicated solely to them. Somewhat different in tone and atmosphere from much of the Warhammer 40,000 fiction, "Soul Hunter" is a well written, atmospheric romp centering on this enigmatic Legion that is a real page-turner.
Your enjoyment of this novel will likely be heavily based on three things. First, it requires you to be somewhat steeped in Warhammer 40,000 lore, and is not a very good introduction to the universe from someone not already familiar with it (I would point you to Dan Abnett's "Eisenhorn" omnibus as a good first introduction to Warhammer 40,000 universe instead). If you have never read a novel based in this universe, many references integral to the enjoyment of this book will be lost, or will break the flow of the book as you attempt to look them up. Therefore, it is a great Warhammer 40,000 novel, but perhaps not a great general science fiction novel, especially for those not familiar with the universe. I have rated "Soul Hunter" as a Warhammer 40,000 novel, since probably 90% of the readers looking at this entry have arrived here because it is one, but had I not been a universe affictionado, the rating would have probably been somewhere around 3 stars, as it holds far less appeal to the general public outside of the fans of the universe.
Second, while "Soul Hunter" is not a direct sequel to "Lord of the Night", it does throw in more than a few Easter eggs to those who have read the previous Night Lords novel. It should be noted that reading "Lord of the Night" is not necessary for you to enjoy "Soul Hunter", but it does enhance the experience (not to mention that "Lord of the Night" is a very enjoyable novel on its own merits).
Third, while there are numerous action scenes, the overall pace of the novel can be a bit slower at times, as the characters are often brooding and pensive, spending quite a bit of time in flashbacks, thoughts of the past, or pondering on their future. Personally, I find it to be a refreshing change from some of the faster paced Warhammer 40,000 fiction, but if you are looking for constant, non-stop action, there are many introspective parts within "Soul Hunter" that may not be to your liking.
Now that the basic criteria is out of the way, I shall spend a little time discussing the plot. Talos, a former Apothecary turned de-facto sergeant of the 10th Company of the Night Lords Legion is afflicted with a prophetic ability, which makes him valuable to both the leader of his warband, and to Warmaster Abaddon, the leader of the fractuous forces of Chaos Space Marines. Throughout most of the book, Talos is subject to the manipulations of his immediate superior, as well as powerful Abaddon, which place him and his warriors in mortal danger time and again.
The portrayal of the main character is rather sympathetic, and the many flashbacks give him depth, while parts written from the perspective of human serf Septimus provide for a good contrast with the Space Marine sections. The portrayal of the degenerate, disintegrating remains of the Night Lords 10th Company is handled very convincingly, and the novel succeeds in maintaining a gloomy, "grimdark" atmosphere that is a trademark of Warhammer 40,000 universe. Talos' struggles against the slow descend of the warband and the Legion into Chaos worship and corruption are portrayed well and with sympathy, The quotations at the beginning of each chapter are appropriate to the story, and add more to the ambience of "Soul Hunter" without being too predictable.
My only issue with the book was the ending, which felt like it left a lot of loose ends, and had some rather uncharacteristic behavior from one character (who shall not be named for the fear of spoiling the surprise). I understand that it is supposed to be a first novel in the series, and it does make me wish to see the series continued soon, but some of the events feel almost a bit rushed, their potential not fully realized (for example, the impact of Malcharion appears to have been much smaller than the earlier parts of the novel led me believe). At the same time, I hope that the sequel will resolve those lingering issues, so that they are seen as lead-ins into the next book in the series.
Overall, if you are a Warhammer 40,000 or Night Lords fan, I would highly recommend "Soul Hunter".
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The Night Lords are one of the most feared legions of Chaos Space Marines. Remorseless hunters and killers, they relentlessly battle the Imperium of Man to avenge the death of their Primarch Konrad Curze. Their dark crusade takes them to the valuable world of Crythe Primus, where they will fight Imperial forces to claim the planet. But will the allegiance with their cohorts in the Black Legion last long enough for them to be victorious?
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