The Flight of the Eisenstein (The Horus Heresy, #4)

by James Swallow

[Quirky Cat]

Flight of the Eisenstein is the fourth novel in one of the biggest events in Warhammer History; The Horus Heresy. Well, it's the fourth novel if you're following the recommended reading list on Goodreads. Really, I know and understand that there are a dozen different ways in which this event could be read.

The first move of the Horus Heresy involved the burning of Istvaan III – and those loyal to the Emperor, many of whom were unfortunately on the planet. However, not all of the loyalists burned. Deathguard Captain Garro survived, and he and the Eisenstein are flying with all the haste possible.

All with the goal of warning those loyal to the Emperor. Yet having evaded the tragedy of Istvaan III doesn't make Garro and his crew free from all dangers, as they become trapped in the warp as they make their way.

"This death," rasped the voder "this death is ours. We choose it. We deny you your victory."

Flight of the Eisenstein is a heavy and powerful read, but it also exactly what I needed to read after the events of Galaxy in Flames (I'm still feeling broken-hearted over that one, and I knew what was going to happen!).

It almost read like a palette cleanser, where everything that Garro and his men faced was solely the Chaos from the warp. As opposed to the threats brought about by those they considered to be kin. You can see why one would leave readers feeling more emotionally raw than the other.

That being said, it was still a harrowing trip, and read. It really showcased the determination he and the rest of the Eisenstein felt, and just how much they had to go through just to stand a chance of reaching their goals.

It really feels like it's cutting to the core of a Space Marine story, when you put it in that perspective. Though maybe I'm just feeling a bit biased, as I've very quickly grown fond of Deathguard Captain Garro, and everything he stands for. The power of brilliant writing, ladies and gentlemen!

This is a novel that does provide many perspectives, as have the rest of the series up until this point. It's refreshing to see a different side of events, and these perspectives really did help to create a new web for readers to follow.

The end result is at least one reader (myself, in case that wasn't obvious) feeling anxious to dive into the next novel in the series: Fulgrim. Now that is also going to be a major change in events, and I just cannot wait.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks